Shifters, Beasts, and Monsters

by Aya Fukunishi, Linda Barlow, Elixa Everett, Virginia Wade, Savannah Reardon, Skye Eagleday, Giselle Renarde, Jessi Bond, Natalie Deschain, Audrey Grace, Francis Ashe, J. E.

  Shamus shifted uncomfortably on the pillows, trying to cover his growing erection. He had to keep his mind clear. Oracles were notorious for seducing their male visitors. He was all too aware of the dangers involved in coupling with an oracle. Once seduced by an oracle the man – mystical, human or otherwise – became enslaved to her until she tired of him. If she tired of him.

  Shamus had no intention of falling into that trap.

  "What is wrong with her luck? Why can't I help her?"

  The oracle turned her head to face him, her pearl white eyes looking into his dark ones. "It's a destined coupling."

  "And what's that have to do with my magic not working to help her?"

  "The only way to help her, to help yourself, is to be with her."

  "Be with her?"

  Oriena smiled at him. "A destined coupling. Mind, body and soul. Two halves of a whole will perish if divided." She gracefully raised her hands over her head, her body moving and twisting as though she were being intimately touched by her lover.

  Shamus kept an image of Suzanne in his mind as he watched the oracle. His cock was hardening, but his resolve won through. Suzanne is my concern. Suzanne, he told himself. Focus, keep focused.

  Even if he accepted them as a destined couple and was willing to give up his life, home and immortality to live in the human realm with her, he had no idea how he'd even get her to talk to him again. The look she’d given him when he’d told her he was a leprechaun had said it all to him. She thought he had lost his mind. He couldn't say that he blamed her. If the roles were reversed he'd have thought the exact same thing.

  "How do I..."

  "It was fated to be," Oriena said, cutting him off as she rolled back over to her side and faced him once again. "I've fulfilled my obligation to you Shamus; the slate is clean. Next time you require my services," she paused, trailing a finger across his jaw line, "then I expect you will have something to offer me in return."

  Shamus opened his mouth to speak, but quickly snapped it shut again.

  Oriena was gone. Vanished. Leaving him alone in the room still sitting on the pile of white satin pillows.

  He groaned in resignation, as he allowed himself to fall back onto the bed of pillows behind him. How to make a woman fall in love? That was the million dollar question to him at the moment, the semantics of the situation he would deal with later.

  "How to make you fall in love?" he muttered as he gave himself a moment to enjoy the luxurious comfort and tranquility of his current surroundings.

  ****

  With the exception of getting her dream job it was turning out to be a lousy week for Suzanne, plagued with plain old rotten bad luck. Still, just the knowing that she only had a few days left at the call center kept her spirits high.

  As Suzanne stepped out of the three-storey brick apartment building she was relieved to see the rain had stopped and the sun was now attempting to force its way into the sky, through the cloud cover. As luck would have it she hadn’t been able to get a parking spot close to her building the previous night; instead she had been forced to park a couple of blocks down from her building and walk home while sheets of rain poured down upon her.

  This morning seemed more promising. As she neared the location where she had parked the car the previous night, she began to rummage through her handbag looking for her car keys. She found them within seconds. "Well, Winters, today is starting to look up already."

  Lifting her head to the spot where she had left her car the previous evening she stopped dead in her tracks. There was nothing there. The ground where the car had been parked was visibly dry, evidence that a car had indeed been in that spot recently, but there was now no sign of that car.

  Suzanne glanced in both directions and over to the opposite side of the street. "I'm sure this is where I left it," she muttered. She walked back to the corner of the block and peered down the street, surveying both sides. No Ford Focus.

  She placed her hands on her hips and scanned her surroundings for a second time. Heaving a heavy sigh, she raked her fingers through her long locks and made her way back to the spot she was certain she had left the car. Still nothing. She looked at the building behind her and then it hit her. On a sign hanging from the convenience store outside wall, in bold red letters were the words No Parking: Tow Away Zone.

  "I can't believe this," she mumbled, certain the sign hadn't been there the previous night. Well, almost certain. It had been raining hard. She had only looked quickly. Or had she even looked? Suzanne ran a shaky hand though her long brown hair, once more. "Unbelievable!"

  "What's wrong?" a male voice with which she had become quite familiar asked from behind her.

  Suzanne spun around to see Shamus walking towards her. If possible he looked even sexier today than he had a few days ago. He wore his usual buckled shoes, which she was admittedly actually starting to almost like, black trousers and a tight-fitting forest green t-shirt that showed off the definition in his chest and abs. "My car. It's been towed," she replied.

  "I see." He allowed himself a brief moment for his eyes to drink in each and every detail of Suzanne before standing next to her, surveying the empty parking spot along with her. He nodded, "Yup. It's gone all right."

  Annoyed, Suzanne turned to face him, hands still on her hips. "If you've stopped by to feed me more nonsense about leprechauns and mystical dimensions then please save your breath and be on your way. I am really in no mood to hear it right now."

  "Wouldn't dream of it," he shrugged, giving her a friendly smile. "It just looked like you could use my assistance. I was mistaken." He nodded a good-bye as he turned to walk away.

  First my car gets towed and now I'm feeling like an asshole for being rude; wonderful day this is turning out to be. Suzanne hesitated then reached out, grasping his bare upper arm. The spark consisting of a rainbow of colours sprang out as their skin made contact. This time, however, the tremor of desire that shot through her body was stronger, more demanding than ever before. A burning sprung up between her legs, so hot it left her breathless. Suzanne's face flushed. Gasping, she pulling her hand quickly away, stepping back a couple of feet.

  "What's going on Shamus?" Suzanne demanded staring at him wide-eyed.

  Shamus returned her stare, his eyes heated. He replied, his voice thick with his desire: "We agreed to not discuss leprechauns and things of a mystical nature." He took a step towards her.

  This time she didn't back away. She allowed the distance to be closed. "Yes. But..."

  "If I told you, we'd be discussing just that," he reminded her. He turned towards the convenience store. "Stay here. I'll find out where they took your car."

  Suzanne watched him walk away and disappear into the store, while trying to make sense of what was going on between them. As much as she wanted to believe he had taken leave of his senses, she had no reasonable explanation for the reaction that occurred when their bodies came in contact with each other. Even if he could somehow fake the flare-up of colours that emerged when their skin connected he couldn't make her feel what she was feeling.

  He was back within a couple of minutes.

  "It's at the Smith and Sons holding yard. Not far from here, I was told," Shamus announced, giving her a reassuring smile.

  He didn't need to be touching her to make her heart flutter. The smile did it. For the past couple of weeks he seemed to always be there where she needed him. He was becoming her knight in shining armour, except with heinous-looking buckled shoes instead of the armour. Suzanne gave his shoes another look. As ugly as they were, they really did seem to be growing on her.

  "So I suppose a cab is just going to magically materialize now that we need one?" Suzanne asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

  "Sarcasm really doesn't become you," Shamus smiled, not appearing to be offended in the least and shook his head. "Nope. The clerk called one for me after I inquired about the car."

  His smile was infectious, causing Suzanne to return the smile. Crazy or not
, she decided at that moment to give him a chance. She could do a lot worse than the dark, sexy and mysterious man standing before her, even if he was slightly delusional.

  "You know. As a thank you for..." she spread her hands out, palms up, "all the help you've given me, I was thinking I at least owe you lunch." She chewed on her lower lip nervously looking up at him with tense blue eyes. She wasn't accustomed to asking men out on lunch dates, but she supposed there was a first time for everything.

  The bright yellow cab rounded the corner, pulling up beside them.

  "Now?" Shamus asked, stepping toward the car and opening the door for her.

  Suzanne shrugged. "I start a new job Monday morning anyhow, so, what the hell. Yes now."

  "Would love nothing better."

  Suzanne slid into the cab’s grey leather seat, closely followed by Shamus.

  She took a quick peek, from the corner of her eye, at Shamus sitting beside her. It occurred to her that he didn't seem the least bit surprised at her news of a new job. It was as if it were old news to him. Normally, the declaration of a new job came with offers of congratulations from the other person, even if just a half-assed one. When she came to think of it, it seemed he knew a heck of a lot more about her than he let on. Perhaps she'd find out some of the answers she sought over lunch.

  ****

  As they walked arm-in-arm through the gardens, Shamus was beginning to gain hope that perhaps there could be something between them. Something other than the spark, of course. She seemed to have given up on digging for information about him. Instead, the conversation between them throughout lunch and now as they walked through the Boston Public Gardens, enjoying the beautiful late-afternoon weather, was casual and general in nature.

  Each time she laughed when she thought something he said was amusing; each time she chewed on her bottom lip when she was nervous, or thoughtful; each time she looked up at him with those amazing blue eyes when she was considering something he said or did – all those things and a million more were convincing him that fate certainly had it right when it chose Suzanne for him.

  As her soft, shapely form brushed up against his as they walked, his body was finding yet another reason. He'd avoided physical contact with her throughout lunch, simply because he wanted to keep a clear head. But he was having a hard time fighting the urges his body was demanding on him currently. His one solace was that she seemed to be experiencing the same urges towards him as he was having for her. Misery sure does like company.

  "Oh here!" Suzanne exclaimed, dropping her arm from his and pushing open the delicate brown wooden gate that led into someone's private garden. "Come on, it's by far my favourite," she called over her shoulder when he hesitated.

  Shamus followed her through the archway and into the garden. He could see why she loved it. In the center of the twelve-foot squared area, give or take, sat a tall red and white marble fountain. Two cupids in white marble were positioned back to back, bows and arrows in hand as if ready to take aim at the next lucky couple to arrive. A white marble bench ran along the perimeter of the fountain's basin.

  The outer edge of the garden was lined with a variety of flowers, the vast majority being roses of all colours and varieties. He also spotted carnations, tulips and assorted wild flowers. He took in a deep breath, enjoying the sweet assortment of fragrances drifting towards him.

  For a moment he thought he had lost her, but as he rounded the fountain he found her sitting on the bench, back turned to the cupids, one shapely leg crossed over the other, eyes closed, head back exposing her long swanlike neck and enjoying her surroundings.

  Oh, how he yearned to press his lips to that neck. Run his fingers through her long dark hair, which was cascading down her back.

  It occurred to him once more just how lovely she was. As seductive to him as a siren, yet as enchanting as a forest nymph. He could almost envisage her dancing in the tall grass of an open field, her long brown hair flowing out around her; her knee-length skirt being blown tight against her thighs.

  Shamus took in a deep, unsteady breath. His cock became alert, begging to be freed from his trousers. He raked a shaky hand through his dark hair as he continued to watch the sun beat down upon her.

  Sensing the intensity of his gaze on her, Suzanne opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. A coy smile lit her luscious, frosted, pink painted lips. "Isn't it breathtaking?" She patted the bench beside her.

  Yes. She was breathtaking, the atmosphere was breathtaking. Everything about that moment drew him in, making him ache for her.

  "Amazing," Shamus confirmed, his eyes locking onto hers. The intensity of his gaze caused her to avert her eyes, her face reddening.

  Shamus accepted her invitation; in the matter of three strides he made it to her. He sat close to her, their legs grazing each other.

  Feeling his leg next to hers, Suzanne turned her head back to face him. The raw desire forming within her eyes unnerved, yet excited him.

  I have to have her, he thought as his eyes surveyed every inch of her body for what felt like the millionth time since he had first seen her through the molten liquid in his pot of gold.

  Reaching out, he caught a stray strand of hair that had fallen over her eyes and tucked it back behind her ear, the palm of his hand caressing her cheek as he did so. The contact spurred the now familiar array of colours to flash between them. His breath caught in his throat as the desire deepened within him, urging him to touch more of her.

  This time, however, Suzanne didn't seem surprised by the spark. She closed her eyes, and opened her lips slightly, inviting him to taste and explore them.

  Leaning over he lowered his lips to hers, claiming them.

  She sighed, responding to his kiss, her lips parting further, welcoming his tongue in. He happily obliged, his tongue seeking out hers.

  Her hand touched his strong, chiselled jaw as she leaned into him, her desire for him increasing to match his own in urgency.

  Shamus's hand slipped around to run its way through her soft, satiny hair.

  Suzanne moaned under his lips, letting her head fall back exposing the creamy flesh of her neck to him. His lips worked their way across her jaw and to her neck, his tongue teasing the delicate, exposed skin as he went.

  His stomach was in knots; his head felt light from his need for her. His cock continued to beg for release, to feel her hot, sensual body against his. He slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

  As Shamus's mouth reached her collarbone, Suzanne wrapped her arms around his neck, as she arched her back, thrusting her breasts out to him.

  Shamus pulled back to peer down at her. Her breathing was heavy and ragged. Despite having his t-shirt between them, he could still feel the sharp pinch as her fingernails dug into his shoulders.

  He trailed a finger across her collarbone until he hit the center. Suzanne's breasts strained against the delicate button of the blouse she wore. The collar of her thin white cotton blouse dipped dangerously low between her breasts before he even arrived at the first of just two pearl buttons holding it closed across her. He let his fingers move down her chest slowly, dipping between her breasts to the first button. He undid the first, then the second. The material fell away to expose her soft round breasts, her nipples small and tight under a white lace bra, with a little pink bow at the center.

  When Shamus hesitated, Suzanne snaked a hand up his neck and buried it into his hair, at the back of his head. Her hand urged his mouth down to her breasts.

  "So beautiful, Suzanne," he moaned as he lowered his lips between her two generous mounds.

  His body pushed hers back against the cool marble bench so he hovered over her, bracing himself up with one arm at the side of her head.

  She moaned once more, her arms leaving his neck to stretch up above her head. Her back arched, her breasts begging for him to release them from the lacy constraint.

  Shamus pulled back the lace covering her left breast to expose a small tight, p
ink nub. He lowered his mouth to take the nub between his teeth, gently nipping and sucking it as his hand cupped the other, kneading it, using his fingers to harden the tip.

  Suzanne moaned as his teeth gently tugged at her nipple. Her hands clutched at each side of the bench above her head. Fire burned between her legs, her matching white lace panties dampening with each nip of his teeth, and every flick of his tongue, across the hardened peak of her breast.

  "Oh Shamus," she moaned as his lips left the first breast to move on to the second. He pulled back the lace barrier to expose the second tight pink nipple. His mouth claimed it, sucking hard, his tongue circling the tip.

  He needed to feel each and every inch of her – and needed it now! Shamus's hand moved between them, seeking out the wet heat between her legs. The world around him seemed to disappear. Where they were, or who might be around to see or hear them, was no longer a concern to him. All that mattered was her, pleasing her, tasting her, feeling her body quiver under him as she came.

  Shamus had no idea just how much he loved skirts, until that moment. Reaching down his hand pushed the material up, as his fingers worked their way up the inside of her thigh.

  Suzanne gasped, her pelvis thrusting up against him.

  God, he wanted her!

  He lifted his mouth from her breast to claim her lips one more. So soft and sweet. She tasted like sweet nectar.

  His hand was mere inches from plunging into her moist depths...

  "Someone in there?" the voice coming from what sounded like an elderly woman demanded from outside the gate.

  Chapter 6

  Ah, hell, Shamus thought, quickly sitting up, pulling Suzanne into a sitting position with him.

  Suzanne looked over at him, with eyes glazed over and still burning with her passion for him.

  At the sound of somebody unhooking the latch to the garden, the look of passion in her eyes was quickly replaced by one of alarm. Her fingers fumbled, but still managed to redo the buttons on her cotton blouse and straighten herself before they heard the shuffle of two pairs of feet coming into the garden.