First Kisses: a Book+Main Bites anthology

by Book+Main Inc.

  “Lady Theodora, my most abject apologies for such uncouth behavior. I assure you there will not be a repeat of these actions.” He bowed and reached for her arm.

  The lady stepped back in a swish of skirts. “Whyever not?”

  Shocked by her question Stone stared at her, mesmerized as her eyes flashed in defiance, but then the spark fizzled out. He remained mute in the face of her curiosity. There was no good answer to her question. No clear way to return things to the cool civility from before their first waltz. “Consider our drive cancelled. I believe I shall depart.”

  She swept him with a gaze dappled by confusion. “As you wish, my lord.”

  For more Bites by Sorcha Mowbray, visit her at https://bookandmainbites.com/sorcham

  If you loved this Bite, read His Hand-Me-Down Countess (Lustful Lords, Book 1) on Amazon or on iBooks

  About Sorcha Mowbray

  Sorcha Mowbray is a mild-mannered office worker by day...okay, so she is actually a mouthy, opinionated, take charge kind of gal who bosses everyone around; but she definitely works in an office. At night she writes romance so hot she sets the sheets on fire! Just ask her slightly singed husband.

  She is a longtime lover of historical romance, having grown up reading Johanna Lindsey and Judith McNaught. Then she discovered Thea Devine and Susan Johnson. Holy cow! Heroes and heroines could do THAT? From there, things devolved into trying her hand at writing a little smexy. Needless to say, she liked it and she hopes you do too!

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  Paranormal

  It’s Only the Beginning

  Ally Summers

  Tonight, I was with a gorgeous woman.

  We walked outside. She flinched at the breeze picking up off the boardwalk.

  “You cold? Here. Take my coat.”

  Before she could protest, I draped my tuxedo jacket over her shoulders.

  “Thanks. It turned chilly all of a sudden.”

  “No problem.” I struggled to find something to talk about. First dates were awkward that way. I didn’t doubt I connected with this girl. I could feel it, but I hadn’t known her long enough to talk about a damn thing.

  “Want to try my favorite bar?”

  I saw her face. She was deliberating. “Depends. What is your favorite bar?”

  “It’s just around the corner. I stop there after work sometimes.”

  “Good. Let’s do it.”

  “You were going to turn me down if I had another place in mind?” I helped her navigate over the cracks in the sidewalk.

  “I try to avoid the college bars, that’s all.”

  “Ex-boyfriend or something?” I didn’t know why that mattered.

  “Something like that.”

  I smiled at Isaac as we entered the pub. He polished a glass. “Hey, brother. What can I get you and the lady?”

  I pegged her as a wine drinker.

  She looked at me. “Whatever beer you’re drinking.”

  “Two beers.”

  “Got it.” Isaac poured from the tap levers.

  “This place is different.” I watched as she surveyed the hole-in-the-wall I had found.

  I grabbed the beers and slid a bill across the bar. “Let’s try over there.”

  She followed me to a corner table. There was a candle flickering in the center, the wax pooling at the base.

  I had never sat at the tables. I was usually close to the TV at the bar where Isaac and I could trade our daily rundown.

  I wanted to say something cool—something that would impress her. But with a background in history, I didn’t know what we would have in common. I usually didn’t worry about it. I couldn’t figure out why it mattered now.

  She held the pilsner to her lips and smiled after a few sips.

  “So this is your place?”

  “Yeah, I guess so. I started coming here after work. Got to know Isaac, the bartender, a little. It’s good to have a place to go when you need to get away.”

  “Because working at the museum is demanding?”

  I couldn’t tell if she was being sarcastic or sincere. “It has its moments. After this festival is over, I’ll get back to the book I’m working on.”

  “Book? You’re a writer too?”

  “That’s the whole point of my research. I research so I can write. I think I’ve found my next topic too.”

  “What is it?”

  I leaned a little closer. The music was loud. The bar was dark. I liked how the single flame flickered in her eyes. “I thought I’d try to unearth the mystery of the famous she-panther. But really give the story some depth.”

  She broke the stare. “Oh.”

  “What? You don’t like her story?”

  “No, it’s not that. She’s fascinating. A strong character. But what kind of angle are you taking with it?”

  I scratched the back of my head. “I don’t know yet. Thought I’d talk to a few of the storytellers tomorrow and get a sense of the legends. There are so many stories about her. Too many I think. She’s as famous as Loch Ness or Bigfoot and just as elusive.”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard them since I was a kid.”

  “I figured if I talked to some of the locals, they could point me in the right direction.”

  “But aren’t you supposed to be an expert?”

  “That’s museum PR. For tomorrow, I’m an expert, but after that, I’m a student. I’m going to learn as much as I can about this she-panther. I think there’s something to her.”

  “You believe there’s a panther guarding the city?”

  “I do.”

  “And you wouldn’t rather focus on the magix?”

  “Nah.” I shook my head. My glass was empty and so was hers. “Want another one?”

  “Sure.”

  I walked to the bar and ordered two more drinks. Isaac gave me a grin. I knew exactly what he was thinking.

  I dropped the pints on the table. “Here you go.”

  “Does your work give you the chance to travel much?” She looked relaxed, as if she wanted to talk to me all night about anything I wanted.

  “Yeah. You could say that. Most of it I’ve done on my own. I took a couple of years off after college and traveled around the world. South America, Europe, you name it.”

  “That sounds amazing. What was your favorite country?”

  “I don’t know. I think my favorite spots are the ones off the beaten path. I just like to blend in with the locals. The year I backpacked I learned a lot about people.”

  She took another sip. I wondered what the beer would taste like coming off her lips. I inhaled.

  “Not many people get to do something like that. How did it work out that you didn’t have to start a job?”

  My throat tightened. God, if I talked to her about it…I couldn’t. Not on a first date. I never talked about it. I walked around with this secret, tucked deeply in my heart. It was the reason I could never go home. The secret was only safe if I stayed far away from people who knew me—knew the real me. Not tonight. I wasn’t going to talk about it tonight.

  “Just a bucket list thing I had after graduation.” I forced a swallow down.

  “I’ve always wanted to travel. I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t left Sullen’s Grove much.”

  “What about spring break?” I asked. “Surely, you went to Panama City or Padre.” I pictured her in a tiny string bikini dancing with her girlfriends. Stop it, man.

  She shook her head. “No, too much responsibility here. But tell me where you’ve been. I want to hear about it. Do you have pictures?” Her eyes glowed.

  Something about her made me feel surges of light. It rushed through my chest, hitting me like tiny jolts.

  “I do have some pictures.” I pulled out my phone. I scrolled until I hit one
of the Argentinean beaches. I loved how her eyes sparked as if there was a flare inside and the things I said lit the fuse.

  We looked through everything I had stored on my phone. I told her about the people I met in villages. How I had to wash dishes one night to pay for my cot. How I hitchhiked in a sketchy part of Germany and how I missed my flight in Paris so I ended up sleeping on a park bench in front of the Eiffel Tower.

  She laughed at my stories. She asked questions. Somewhere between Costa Rica and Moscow, her hand had landed on my thigh. There was heat in her touch.

  “Should I order another round for us?” I was feeling good. Another one would probably be too much, but I wanted to talk to her all night if I could.

  “It’s getting late. I think I need to get home.” She glanced at the time on my phone.

  “Right. Early day for me tomorrow anyway.”

  We walked to the car in silence.

  I pulled up in front of her house. It looked like the roommate had left the porch light on for her. The windows were dark.

  “Thanks for the dinner and the beer.” She reached for the door handle.

  “Thanks for going.” I hopped out of the car and made it to the other side before she stepped out of the car.

  She reached in her purse for keys. The date was over, but I wasn’t ready for the night to be. It had been a long time since I had shared an evening with someone who was easy to be around.

  “Is your roommate home?” I asked.

  “No, she went out for the night.”

  “Maybe I should do a quick security check for you. Make sure it’s safe,” I offered.

  She laughed. “You want to do a security check? I don’t think I’ve heard that one before.”

  “What? It’s the gentlemanly thing to do.”

  She stepped back from the door to let me pass. “Go for it.”

  It was dark inside. The only light shone in through the windows from outside. She closed the door behind her.

  Before she had a chance to reach for the light, I cupped her face between my hands, taking her lips against mine. She tasted like cinnamon, hot, spicy cinnamon.

  Her hands entwined in my hair. I moved forward, pressing her back against the door. I lashed at her tongue, teasing her, tasting her.

  “You’re gorgeous. You know that?” I breathed against her neck, kissing her throat, making a trail to her shoulder.

  “Zac…” I swear it sounded like a purr. God, she was sexy. Her head rocked back. I found her lips again in the dark, my mouth drawn to hers. The way she tasted, the way she sounded.

  Her hands groped at my back, pressing through my shirt. I pulled her closer as if there was too much air between us, and our bodies needed to be closer. I felt the curves of her hips, the small of her back, the silkiness of her hair, my hands moved desperately to touch every inch of her.

  She dropped her arms to her sides. “I—we—”

  I kissed her between breaths, each time my lips starving for more.

  Her hands circled my neck again, and I moaned, feeling her nails dig into my skin. I was ready to scoop her up and take her to the couch, her room, anywhere she’d let me carry her.

  “Zac.” Her words were slow and heavy. “Really, I need you to go.”

  “What if I don’t want to go?” I didn’t want to stop kissing her. My mind was already ten steps ahead. I tugged gently on her bottom lip with my teeth.

  She laughed as she kissed me on the cheek, and then tried to make more room between us. “You have to. It’s a first date rule.”

  I ran my fingers through her hair and tried to take a deep breath. I didn’t want to screw this up. I liked her. Maybe slowing it down would work.

  “First date rule?” I traced the outline of her lips with my finger. All I wanted was to taste them again.

  “But maybe we can meet up after the festival. You can tell me what you find out about the she-panther.”

  “Are you asking me out on a second date?”

  “I guess so.” She bit her bottom lip and I had to will myself not to kiss her again.

  I cleared my throat. “Sure. We could do that.” I reached for the door handle next to her hip. “Good night, Dare.”

  “Good night.” She moved enough to let me out of the door, and then closed it behind me.

  I stood under the porch light for a second. I wasn’t a paranoid guy. Never had been. But the walk across her yard to my car, I felt as if someone were watching. I car zipped by, and I discounted the growl I thought I heard.

  I drove away from Dare’s house, unsure if I was leaving her in danger or if I had just escaped it.

  For more Bites by Ally Summers, visit her at https://bookandmainbites.com/AllySummers

  If you loved this Bite, read Dare: The Nox on Amazon

  About Ally Summers

  Ally loves to write about hot alpha male shifters. The sexier, the better. No one's heart is safe with these guys on the prowl. Get ready for heat, fire and just enough romance to make you want to find a shifter of your own.

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  Her Alpha

  Carrie Ann Ryan

  She was standing in the Alpha’s home.

  Her mate’s home.

  Alone.

  Her pulse quickened, but she didn’t lower her head. She didn’t feel the need like she did with so many other dominants, and that had to be due to who Gideon was to her…or at least who he could be.

  Goddess she hoped she wasn’t making the wrong choice.

  “I take it you heard that the elders have forced my hand.”

  “They didn’t give you a choice really,” she answered, not liking the way he wouldn’t look at her.

  He snorted then lifted her chin with his knuckle. She sucked in a breath, the heat of his touch intoxicating. His gaze me hers, and her wolf howled.

  Mate.

  “It’s either mate a woman who means nothing more to me than being a member of a Pack or a woman I don’t know. Not much of a choice, anyway.”

  She didn’t flinch, but damned if she wanted to. “You need a mate, and it seems fate has provided you one. I’m here so you don’t have to go against your wolf.”

  There. That sounded better than please, take me and never let me go.

  He brought up his other hand and brushed his thumb against her cheek. “Mating isn’t for the faint of heart, little wolf.”

  She didn’t pull back, nor did she move into his hold. “And you would know, how?”

  His mouth twitched. “Touché. You’re willing to give up everything you know to mate an Alpha, a man you’ve hardly spoken to. A man who is at least a hundred years older.”

  She swallowed hard but didn’t move her gaze from his. “I’m willing to follow my fate and trust in the moon goddess.” Again, she prayed that she wasn’t making a mistake.

  “You don’t know me. You don’t love me. I don’t love you.”

  She didn’t flinch, but it was close. “No, there’s no love, and frankly, I don’t even know if I like you. How can I when I’ve only seen you from afar? But in order for you to fully protect your Pack, you need a mate. Why hurt yourself and your Pack worse by mating someone you can’t form a true bond with? Witch magic isn’t the same as wolf magic. A bond formed from something outside the goddess won’t help you the way a true bond will.”

  He nodded, his thumb still brushing her skin. Did he know how much his touch soothed her and made her ache all at the same time? Her body heated, yet she was scared to do anything more right then.

  His voice lowered, and she pressed her lips together as he spoke. “You’re a submissive, Brie. How are you going to be able to protect the Pack if you can’t fight for it?”

  Her hands once again fisted at her sides, but she didn’t growl. “Y
ou, above all people, know the value of a submissive in a Pack. I don’t need to make another bleed to show my worth. I can fight if I need to, but I can also show the compassion and soothing that are required to make a Pack healthy.”

  He nodded, this time his thumb brushing against her lip. It took everything in her not to lick the tip and suck it into her mouth.

  “The Pack might not accept you. Are you ready to deal with that? I will never treat you like you aren’t wanted because that’s not the kind of man I am, but I cannot force the Pack to love you. If I do that, you lose all credibility.”

  “I get it. I’ll have to fight—in any way I can—for my position.”

  He let out a breath then ran a hand down her arm. “Your family is going to kill me.”

  She shook her head, her heart warming again. She was already becoming addicted to his touch and it had only been a few short moments. It had to be the mating urge and hopefully this…ache would tone down eventually. “No, they won’t. They’ve all been through their own issues with mating. Ours will just be a little different.”

  He closed his eyes and pulled away. Her heart ached, and she felt cold at the loss. “I can’t let the elders think they have control over me. It’s too dangerous out there for our Pack to be fighting within itself.”

  “Then mate with me and let me help you with that burden.”

  “I’m not good with sharing.”

  She took a step toward him and placed her hand on his chest. His heart beat against her palm, and she licked her lips. The fact that he didn’t pull away spoke volumes. Or at least that’s what she told herself.

  “I’ll be your mate, Gideon Brentwood. I’ll do my best to be the mate you need, the mate the Pack needs.”