Shifters in the Shadows: Seventeen Paranormal Romances of Sexy Shifters, Dangerous Vamps, & Things That Go Bump in the Night

by J. K Harper

  Nate’s cheeks flushed a bright red, and he set his jaw. “I’m glad you’re finding my eternal torment so fucking amusing.”

  At once, Megan sobered up. “I don’t. Truly. But think about it for a second. I’m the one who kissed you, remember? You’re the one who put a stop to it.”

  “It doesn’t matter. The truth is, I enjoyed it. I shouldn’t have. I was tested, and I failed. And what’s worse … I wanted more.”

  Chapter 7

  Nate wanted to yank his hair out. Why the hell couldn’t Megan leave well enough alone? Seeing her standing there in her filthy pink hoodie with a streak of red paint on her sleeve shouldn’t have turned him on. But remembering the sweetness of their kiss that had morphed into passion hotter than he had ever imagined had his cock so hard he couldn’t stand it.

  “So what? I wanted more, too,” she admitted. “There’s nothing wrong with that. We’re both consenting adults.”

  He couldn’t have this conversation—or any other that was even remotely sexual in nature—with Megan. This had to end.

  “You don’t understand, sweetheart. I didn’t want love and roses like you did. I wanted to strip you down and fuck you up against a wall until I filled you with my seed, then be on my way.” He grabbed her hips and pulled her against his erection, showing her exactly what she did to him.

  The sadness in her eyes nearly killed him, but it was for her own good. Bad things happened to good spirits in the Shadow World. She might be the reason for him being there, but part of him still needed to protect her, damn it. He didn’t want to care, but he did. She had to leave.

  She pulled her hood off, releasing the riot of her blond pixie hair. She sought and kept his gaze. “Is that what you want, Nate?”

  “Damn right it is. Are you ready to be fucked and then left alone? Because that’s all I’m willing to give you.”

  She looked over his shoulder and sighed. Her pretty lips turned down at the corners. Any second now, she would push away from him. The hurt he’d caused her tore at him, but it would send her running. That was all that mattered. When she didn’t respond right away, he thrust his cock against her belly, underlining his sordid offer.

  When she finally faced him again, rather than disgust, her look was determined. Her black pupils all but swallowed the blue of her eyes. Blood surged to his cock when she licked her lips. She couldn’t possibly be considering it.

  “Yes, I’m ready. I want you to fuck me. Long, hard, sweet, or slow—whichever way you want it.”

  “Megan.”

  “I’m serious. I’ve fantasized about this for a long time, and if you’re going to rot in Hell anyway, then I might as well take this memory with me when I go,” she said.

  His cock jerked in his jeans. “Fuck.” He groaned and dug his fingers into the soft flesh of her hips.

  “That’s the idea,” she said as she leaned forward and licked the seam of his lips. “The question is, do we do it right here or somewhere more private?”

  It was a good thing he was already sentenced to his life of misery. Otherwise, he’d be sent straight there for what he was about to do. “Fine. And when we’re done, you go back. Alone.”

  * * *

  The idea had been born of desperation, but the more she considered it, the more it felt right. Jordan had said she had to find him and bind him to her, not the other way around. There had to be something she could do to anchor him to her, and what better way to do that than to get even closer? Nate had never come out and said it, but he loved her. That knowledge was soul deep, rendering his callous words harmless, even if infuriating. She had no doubt about it—just like she had no doubt that she loved him more than life itself.

  Nate grabbed her hand and led her down the litter strewn street. He took a left down an alley, then a right at the next corner. He kept his pace brisk, but she wasn’t running behind him. They walked for over an hour until the buildings became more scarce and they neared the edge of a forest. He didn’t stop until the sickly trees blocked the city entirely, and the eerily quiet nature surrounded them.

  Nate finally stopped and turned her to face him. “I can’t do it. You need to go.”

  “Nope. That wasn’t the deal.” She pulled her hand out of his grasp and glanced around. She took a deep, steadying breath, then pulled her hoodie over her head and tossed it to the ground.

  Nate’s breath hissed between his teeth, and he clenched his fists at his sides. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice husky.

  She looked down at her bra. It was one of her favorites. Her breasts looked amazing in the white lace, and it made her feel sexy. The darker pink of her nipples peeked through just enough to tease without showing too much. Nate’s gaze followed her finger as she stroked it from her neck to the swells of her breasts. “I’m getting ready for you, Nate. If we’re going to fuck, I think we both need fewer clothes.”

  “Jesus,” he said before he scooped up her sweater and tried handing it to her.

  She hid her hands behind her back, pushing her breasts out further, then took a step back. Nate groaned, but he dropped the hoodie on the ground again.

  “That’s better.”

  She didn’t wait for him to speak before she popped open the snap of her jeans and lowered the zipper. Nate swallowed hard, following each of her movements with his gaze. She shimmied out of them, wiggling a little more than she needed to get the job done. Nate groaned again.

  “Megan,” he said, his voice hoarse. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

  She came close again and took his hand. “I know exactly what I’m doing.” She grabbed his other hand, then placed them both on her breasts. Her nipples hardened into tight, little peaks at the first touch.

  Nate made a choking noise at the back of his throat. In the next instant, he was kissing her—hard—making her throb. He plunged his tongue between her lips, demanding the same. His thumbs stroked across her tender nipples, sending a jolt of electricity through her, straight to her clit.

  “Yes,” Megan sighed when he did it again then lowered his mouth to her breasts. He looked up at her before flicking his tongue over her nipple then scraped his teeth over the tight peak. With her fingers in his hair, she held him there, needing more. He moaned then shoved the delicate lace to the side, releasing both of her breasts. His warm tongue circled the tight nub before he sucked it between his lips.

  When she thought she couldn’t take any more of the sweet torture, he moved to the other. She rubbed her legs together, needing to relieve some of the pressure building in her pulsing clit.

  Nate released her and shook his head. “If you want me to fuck you, then we do it my way,” he told her. “Your pleasure is mine. You’ll get it if, and when, I choose to give it to you. Agree or the deal is off.”

  Chapter 8

  While walking through the forest, Nate had made up his mind that he would figure out a way to send Megan packing that didn’t involve his cock inside her pussy. But then she had bared herself for him, teasing him with her voluptuous body and sexy smile. He hadn’t stood a chance.

  He’d imagined her creamy skin and the feel of her soft body against him so many times, but none of his fantasies had done her justice. She was stunning.

  With her cheeks flushed pink and her breasts heaving with her quickened breaths, she was the perfect image of an innocent seductress. But she wasn’t so innocent, was she? She’d tempted him until he’d done the unthinkable and kissed her. Oh, she’d deny it, and she may have initiated the kiss, but he’d taken what she’d given and demanded more.

  Descendant of the Seven or not, she was a siren, luring him to his demise. Considering he was already paying the ultimate price, there was no reason to deny himself of what he’d wanted for so long.

  She nibbled on her lip and nodded. “Okay, I’ll do whatever you ask,” she said, her voice soft and sweet.

  Her lips, swollen from his kiss, parted, and her tongue darted out to wet them. What he wanted was her mouth on him. Hi
s cock jerked at the image the thought had conjured. “I want you on your knees in front of me. I want you to take my cock into your mouth and suck until I’ve had enough.”

  Her eyes widened, but within seconds, she was on her knees on the ground and had her fingers working at the fastening of his jeans. She had them lowered past his hips moments later. Nate expected her to be shy or even look away, but the instant he popped free from his pants, she had his cock in her grasp.

  “I’ve dreamed of this so often,” she said before she leaned forward and licked the bead of moisture from the slit. She stroked his shaft from base to tip and down again.

  Nate moaned and thrust into her fist. Nothing had prepared him for the pleasure of her touch. When Megan’s hot breath teased the head again, and she looked up at him, it was all he could do to keep from holding her in place and fucking her mouth. He could control the depths of his thrusts, go in all the way to his balls and hold himself there until her throat constricted around him, then pull out again, giving her only enough time to get a breath in before doing it again.

  Megan smiled at him then slipped his cock between her lips. She took the head in, and then some of the shaft before retreating. More moisture leaked from the tip, and she lapped it up, closing her eyes as she did. She took more of him the second time, the head bumping at the back of her throat. On the third pass, she took him all in. Her eyes widened for a second, and then watered, but she didn’t back down. She sucked him deep, swallowing when he was at her throat. Her fingernails dug into the back of his thighs. She held him as though she feared he might pull away.

  “Fuck, Megan,” he groaned as he thrust helplessly into her mouth. A few more strokes, and then he’d have to stop. But it felt so damned good.

  Fiery tingles started at the base of his spine, heading straight for his cock. His balls, drawn up tight, ached with the impending release, but he wouldn’t. Not yet. He pulled out with a pop and took a step back.

  “Stand up, but don’t touch me,” he ordered. With one touch, he would come. Nate waited until she was in front of him with her hands at her sides before slipping her panties down and off. “Now, I want you to sit on your sweater, spread your legs nice and wide, and let me look at that gorgeous pussy of yours.”

  Megan gasped. He’d meant to shock her, and it had worked. The flush in her cheeks burned a bright red, but she did as he asked.

  He stepped back, looking his fill. Each second that passed had his cock throbbing harder. He would have that pussy in every way possible before their time was through. Nate kneeled in front of her, took her right ankle, and lifted her leg over his shoulder before doing the same to the other.

  He took one long lick, and she tipped her head back and closed her eyes. “Watch me eat your sweet pussy, Megan.”

  Moaning, she brought her head up again and looked at him. Her lips parted when he dipped his head and twirled his tongue around her clit. Nate redoubled his efforts at the sounds of pleasure escaping from her mouth. With a moan of his own, he buried his face between her legs and feasted. Using his tongue, he speared into her, fucking her with it. His nose mashed against her clit as he did. The scent of her arousal filled his senses, driving him mad with the need soaring inside him.

  “Oh, yes,” Megan begged as her legs shook on his shoulders.

  Slathering two of his fingers with her juices, he poised them at her entrance. “You’re going to come for me, and you’re going to come hard,” he ordered as he plunged them in deep and latched on to her clit with his lips.

  He withdrew his fingers, then drove them in as he sucked on her. Within seconds, her hips thrust up to meet his mouth as the tiny muscles in her pussy strangled his fingers. But that wasn’t enough. If he was to be without her for eternity, he wanted it all. “You can give me more,” he told her as he crooked his fingers and stroked the sensitive nerves inside her. He flattened his tongue on her clit, applying pressure.

  Megan cried out, and this time, when her head fell back, he allowed it. A gush of fluid spilled onto his hand and down between her ass cheeks. When he withdrew his fingers from her body, he stroked lower, circling and teasing her rear entrance.

  He would have to keep that part of her for his fantasies. He didn’t have time to prepare her, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy at least a little of it. He circled the puckered flesh with his slippery finger and pressed in. Not hard, only to the first knuckle, just enough for her to feel it.

  Megan whimpered, but didn’t pull away.

  “Do you want me there too, Megan? Do you want me in your ass?”

  When she looked at him, there was no fear. Passion and love were the only things burning in her eyes.

  “Anything you want, Nate. If you want my ass, it’s yours,” she told him, eyes still closed.

  Fuck. His cock throbbed. “It’s a shame we don’t have more time. I would love to have it. But since I can’t, I want you to straddle my thighs. I need my cock inside you,” he told her as he released her legs and let them slide to the ground.

  Megan lay there for a beat, her breathing erratic and a hand on her chest. When she opened her eyes, she would not meet his gaze. His heart sunk. Had he hurt her?

  “I want that, too,” she said as she climbed onto his lap. She reached between them, grabbing hold of his cock, positioned herself over him, and sank until he was buried deep in the heaven of her body.

  “There’s a whole lot more that I want, Nate,” she continued. “And I’m taking it. Right now. I’m taking you.”

  Megan’s voice wove itself around him, arousing him to a level he could not fight. She looked at him then. Her eyes glowed brighter, shining bluer than the most brilliant summer sky. Her skin shone as though the sun itself had made a home inside her and could no longer be contained. She took his lips in a soft, soul-stealing kiss. One he wished would never end.

  She lifted her hips, then lowered, impaling herself on his cock. His moan broke free. Pleasure washed over him as his body attuned to hers. The perfect balance between his aching cock and the bliss she inundated him with had him thrusting up to meet her. He lowered his lips to her breast, sucking one nipple into his mouth as she rose and fell over him, riding him.

  He slid his hand between them and circled her clit with his fingers, rolling it and rubbing it until her sighs became constant music in the dreary forest. His balls drew up to his body as white hot pleasure streaked down his spine.

  “Now you’re going to come for me, Nate. You’re going to come hard, and you’re going to fill me with your seed, just like you promised,” she panted.

  When she came down over him again, he snapped his hips up and gave her clit a light pinch. Megan cried out, her pussy clenching and releasing him in tight spasms, milking his cock. He tried to resist, but there was no stopping it. With his cock deep inside her, he came, filling her.

  His heart raced as he wrapped her in his arms. Memories, fuzzy at first, started flashing in his mind. The night at her house came into clarity. The goblin. His fight to save her. Her act of bravery to try and save him. He took an agonized breath as he saw the creature lunge at her while he lay weak and powerless to stop it.

  Nate pulled back, seeing the dark purple bruises on her neck again. Remembering all the things he’d said… What he’d done… It all came back, and shame washed over him. He didn’t deserve her.

  Chapter 9

  Megan lay limp in Nate’s arms. She’d become aware of power trickling into her as Nate had looked upon her body. Every caress of his hands, his mouth—his tongue—had bolstered the power. Knowledge had come to her. Not in an intrusive way, but as though it had been there all along and she suddenly remembered.

  Nate buried his face in her neck, and his shoulders shook. “I’m sorry.”

  “There’s nothing to be sorry for,” she tried to assure him, but he wouldn’t have it. He lifted her from his lap, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze.

  “Please, get dressed,” he asked. He scrambled, locating the shirt Megan didn’
t even remember removing, and pulled up his jeans. “I want you to honor your word and leave this place.”

  The man was going to drive her insane. “I’m still not leaving without you.”

  He faced away from her and hung his head. “You have to.”

  Before she could say anything, a crash sounded and the smell of burning wood filled the air. Nate tossed her jeans at her and then her sweater. “Put your clothes on. Hurry,” he barked at her, his shoulders stiff and his eyes cold.

  It only took a minute to get dressed, but that was too long. A small, three-horned demon came crashing through the brush.

  “Go. Now,” he yelled. “I don’t want you, Megan.”

  The connection she’d felt with him had been real. She hadn’t imagined it. She opened her mouth to tell him so, but when he turned his head in her direction, all she saw in his eyes was fury and contempt.

  “I don’t want you here, Megan,” Nate continued, his voice harsh. “Hell has plenty of whores. I don’t need another one. Leave,” he ordered again. The small hint of desperation in his words wasn’t enough to soften the blow.

  She couldn’t move. Could hardly breathe. Pain sliced through her chest to the point she looked down to ensure there wasn’t a gaping wound where her heart should have been.

  The beast roared, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught the flash of orange fire streaking through the air, coming straight for her. Nate screamed, but she didn’t hear a word as the fireball hit her, sending her tumbling back and crashing into a tree.

  She expected pain, but none came. If anything, the weightlessness of her body was somehow distancing her. Her vision darkened, and she struggled to keep her eyes open.

  With a sudden jerk, she was hovering above, watching the scene unfold like a silent movie in shades of black and gray. Nate rushed to her side, dropping to his knees next to her. Agony flashed across his features. His hands clenched into tight fists as he stood and faced the enemy. His lips moved as he spoke, but nothing other than heavy silence surrounded her.