by C. A. Salo
"Did I claim you as my mate?"
"Yes."
"Did you mark me with your sweet scent?"
"Yes."
"And I marked you back?"
"Yes,” she grumbled, shooting Val a narrowed gaze at his chuckle.
"Then we're mated. You're mine; don't forget it, kitty, or I'll trim those claws while I've got you tied to my bed."
Val snickered.
"Same goes for you, wolf man,” Alexis bit out, her arms folding over her breasts as she stared him down.
"Now, children. Let's not quibble.” Val smirked.
"Good. Now, what appointment had you running naked from my bedroom? Because I'm ready to put you over my knee and spank your little ass before I take you again."
Alexis's entire body trembled, her canines lengthened, and her panties grew wet. She stepped toward him, ready to take him upstairs, when a woman's voice screeched. “I'm here!"
"That one,” both Val and Alexis groaned with a wince.
"Well, where the hell is everyone? I'm not ... lukos,” she hissed, transforming in front of them.
"No!” Alexis yelled as she stepped in front of Morgan. Transforming fully on her own, she grabbed her mother's hands when Cleo attacked.
Val vamped up. “Back off, Cleo."
Alexis held her mother off until Val grabbed Cleo by the back of her shirt and tossed her.
"Morgan is a guest in my house."
Alexis released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding as Cleo rose. Ready to pounce, her nostrils flared, Alexis emitted a warning growl from low in her throat as her mother gazed at her disdainfully.
"You've mated with him, with a lukanthropos?” Cleo screeched scornfully. “I told you to stay away from him."
"He's my mate,” Alexis snarled, hissing at her mother.
"Never!"
Her muscles tensed for the attack as Cleo jumped toward her. Hands up, Alexis released her claws and roared a challenge just as Val grabbed Cleo again.
"You will cease!” he ordered.
"Look at it just standing there, behind a woman.” Cleo screamed, squirming for freedom.
"You don't want him to transform, Cleo.” Val stood over her. “His beast form would kill you in a heartbeat."
"I'm Chimera!"
"You're an old bitch who's had her powers diminished by the Gods. You know Alpha strength when angered, especially if they sense danger near their mates. They'll go from lukos to werelukos as well you know."
Alexis's heart pounded as Val leaned down, meeting her mother's gaze. “Do not make him or your daughter kill you. If you haven't noticed, Alexis changed without a thought to protect her mate. Now, whether you accept what's to be or not, you will change back and behave yourself in my home."
Alexis waited until her mother transformed to do so herself. Turning, she saw Morgan's jaw tense, eyes glowing as he stared at her mother. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him, lifting on her toes. His arm lowered around her waist.
"It's all right,” Alexis whispered. “Over, calm down."
Moving her hands up, she caressed him from his head to mid-back, listening to his throaty growl. “Morgan.” She slid one hand to his jaw and turned it until he finally looked at her. His eyes slowly returned to normal. “Better now?"
Morgan grunted as he leaned down to kiss her. “Mine."
"Yes, I'm yours."
"Don't open your mouth.” Val pointed at Cleo.
"He's a damn lukos,” Cleo snapped.
"And I've been just a damn vamp for the past ten centuries,” he replied sarcastically.
Alexis caught the sardonic smile Val tossed her mother as he pressed her toward the kitchen.
"So I said also,” Jack said as he came to the doorway. “And, no, I do not agree with anything you have to say Cleo, so get that out of your head. Master Val, the tea is ready."
"Here's your shirt.” Alexis breathed a bit easier as everyone else went to the kitchen. “Not that I mind,” she added, running her nail down the center of his bare chest.
"Why does everyone use the old words for my kind instead of Lykan?” Morgan asked as straightened his shirt out.
"I'm an ancient being remember?” She lifted up on her tip toes to grab his bottom lip between her teeth.
"Come on, kitten. Let's get this over with,” Val called out. “You can fuck him afterward."
Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as Morgan drew his shirt on over his taut abs. Wild sensations streaked through her body when she caught his smile. “Oh brother, let's hurry this up.” Alexis turned, walking into the kitchen.
"You are not going to be my next guardian, Cleo. I release you,” Val stated.
"Thank the Gods,” Cleo said as she rose from her seat and turned to Alexis. “Finally seeing your place?"
"Alexis will not be my guardian either ... my mate will be."
Alexis turned to congratulate Val and lost her smile when she saw who stood beside him. “You. You attacked me!” Stepping forward, she stopped when Morgan snaked an arm out, grabbed her around the waist, and hauled her back to his chest.
"Let me go,” she snarled.
"I'm sorry,” the huntress whispered.
Alexis stopped her fight to get free. “What?"
"I'm sorry you were hurt when I went after you. I wouldn't have killed you. I just wanted to frighten you into finding Val. At the time, however, I didn't know you don't frighten so easily. And then LeVey showed up."
Alexis tilted her head to the side as Val moved behind the huntress and slid his arms around her waist. She burst out laughing. “Holy shit, what a hell of a day."
"It sure has been.” Val smiled. “You can leave now, Cleo, and good riddance."
Morgan lifted a brow as the other woman took off without another word. “That's my mother-in-law?"
"Yeah, good fucking luck, man,” Val snickered. “I pity your pack when that one comes to visit."
"Oh, don't worry, she won't.” Alexis chuckled. “All holidays at my house.” Lurching forward with a sudden mewl, showing her in-heat condition, she turned to Morgan. “How fast can you get us home?"
Morgan smiled, lifted his hand in a wave, and then they were gone.
* * * *
Alexis sat on Morgan's lap, tilting her head back as his fingers threaded through her long hair. “Remember how I told you I had to wait to get a sign from the Goddess to answer all your questions?"
"Yes."
"I have it,” she whispered. “Do you love me, Morgan? Do you think it's too early for such?"
"No, it's not too early, and yes, I love you.” He lifted her chin so he could kiss her softly. “I thought you knew that when I claimed you as my mate in public."
"A woman likes to hear the words, you know."
"Do they now?"
"Hmm, and not as they're being run up the stairs to the bedroom."
"I have yet to hear you say those words, woman."
"I love you, Morgan LeVey,” Alexis whispered.
He kissed her again, then asked, “What sign do you speak of, sweet?"
"Remember our bout of horniness from last night?"
"I sure as hell hope so.” He grinned, wiggling his brows.
"Tell me again why the male stays in the female for half an hour."
"To make sure his female becomes impregnated with his sperm.” He nuzzled her neck, stopping when he caught a barely-there new scent. Lifting his head, he looked at her. “You're pregnant?"
"Yes,” Alexis smiled as she laid her hands with tenderness on her stomach.
Morgan let out a whoop then kissed her hard. The door burst open, and Rafe stood there armed, with Robert behind him. Morgan grabbed the sheets to cover her.
"What's going on?” Rafe approached the bed. “She's not ill again, is she? I refuse to go back into that den of vamps."
Morgan grinned. “She, my friend, is pregnant."
"What?"
"Pregnant ... tell the pack their heir is on the way.” He lifted his
head to howl.
"Hot damn.” Smiling, Rafe looked down at Alexis and then sneezed. “Damn it."
Alexis giggled as he backed out, mumbling about needing his little fae. After he shut the door, she turned to Morgan. “You're happy then?"
"Happy? By the Gods, woman, I'm thrilled.” He lowered his head to kiss her again. “Now, my sweet kit, tell me your age."
"I'm as old as you are.” She reached up for a kiss as his pulsing shaft drove forward, stretching and filling her to the core. His cock jumped inside her, and he moaned. “Technically speaking,” she said, gasping as he moved slowly. “I'm ... mmm, Gods it's hard to think when you do that."
Grunting, Morgan suckled her nipple hard. “Age?"
"Three ... three thousand, two hundred and twenty-eight."
Morgan looked up. “Are you kidding?"
"No. We age slowly until a mate's taken, and then ours coordinates with their lifespan. Now, fuck me."
"Well, when you put it like that.” He grinned as he rolled them both so she was on her back with him between her legs. He thrust deeply, his grunts mixing with her moans and mewls. Laying his head next to her jugular, he plunged hard and deep, bringing them to orgasm, first Alexis and then himself. He roared with the loss of his seed into her warm womb where his child now lay.
Lying on top of her, he smiled against her hot flesh and listened to his pack send up howls of joy as they heard the good news. “They are happy for our child."
Alexis breathed deeply as he kissed her neck. “I am happy for our child, and the Goddess for sending you to my aid."
"I was following you that night. Hera's peacock showed up and said I needed to watch over you, for you were my destiny."
Turning her head, she kissed the tip of his nose. “As you are mine."
"Alexis?"
"Hmm?"
"What exactly will our child look like?” he asked as she looked up at him. “I'm a Lykan and you're a kitty."
Alexis ran her fingers over his biceps. “Chimera's are rare because when we birth, we usually birth male cubs. Male cubs will take the species of their sires."
"Is that why Hera blessed you, because you were born female?"
"Yes, I was the first female cub born in four thousand years."
"So female cubs are Chimeras no matter what?"
"Yes, and upon an even rarer occasion, a male cub will be Chimera."
"Even rarer, say the cub of one blessed by Hera?” His fingers skimmed over her bare abdomen, the sensitive tips identifying the soft thumping sound of his child's heart.
"If it so pleases the Gods.” Bringing his fingers up to her mouth, she kissed them before he lowered his head for a soft sensual kiss of his own.
"I love you, Alexis."
"As I love you.” she whispered, holding the secret Hera blessed her with—that of her child's gender—close to her heart as she lay content and safe within his arms.
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About the author...
C.A. Salo is a mom, writer, and sister, living off Florida's Gulf Coast with her son and several pets. She likes to write anything from sweet to hot, hot, hot with a happy ending. When not writing, she tutors children with dyslexia, as well as home schools. Exploring interesting ideas and places has become a norm for C.A. Traveling, reading, photography, coffee, and wines are also a favorite for this diversified Gemini.
Visit C.A. Salo at www.casalo.webs.com.
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Also available
Delicious Darkness
by
KyAnn Waters
A fugitive from a dark dimension, Dorian Hunt seeks a total bonding. Like a vampire needs blood or a werewolf needs the moon, Dorian needs to anchor himself to a woman of white light in order to survive. Without the mating, within one lunar cycle his might and magic would cease to protect him.
Audra Quinn has always been afraid of the dark. As an empath, she knows when Dorian enters her small metaphysical bookstore, that he is the man who can help her realize her true potential as a woman of white light.
Bounty hunters from his dimension are lurking in the shadows waiting for their opportunity to capture him, dead or alive. Dorian knows he will be easier to manage dead. Will Dorian have the strength to defend, or does it take the magic of a woman of white light to annihilate the evil darkness?
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Chapter One
The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Stomach clenched. Heartbeat escalated. Her nerves tripped, sending an intuitive message to her brain, the instinctive need to do whatever was necessary to survive danger.
The whispers echoing in her mind forced her to turn on every light. Put a match to white candles. Her hand trembled as she smudged the room, burning sage, cedar and sweetgrass to dispel negative influences. In a practice as innate as breathing, she protected herself because once again she was the hunted.
Outside the windows of her metaphysical book and gift shop, dusk had settled. With the night came her anxiety. This was their time. Physically and mentally powerful men not of her world, men her instincts told her were deadly under the canopy of an inky black sky.
Standing in her shop, Audra Quinn closed her eyes and visualized white light emerging from the crown chakra—the energy point located at the top of her head—engulfing her to the root chakra—the heart of her femininity.
He was coming, and she didn't have the fortitude to resist. He wasn't the first, yet he was different. As long as she could remember, she'd been their fixation. Only never before had she wanted to succumb.
Audra's gift of empathic abilities protected her from men like the one whose imminent arrival loomed closer. She had the sensation of his heavy breath on her skin. Heard his beating heart. Sensed the darkness dwelling within him. Audra had always been afraid of the dark.
Her breathing became shallow. This man was more powerful than the few who had come before. She couldn't remember her awareness ever being so palpable. Nerves quickening into frenzy, her heightened senses told her to flee. No! She didn't run anymore. She was strong enough to withstand his influence.
Yet, tonight the darkness seemed more relentless. And never before had it made her blood pump through her veins like the raging rapids of a wild river.
He was different.
She didn't need to turn around to know that he was there. He had come for her.
Standing just inside the door, he could not disguise the darkness that lurked within, not from her. Audra's powers remained focused. They had to be. Showing him weakness would increase his strength.
Hypnotic, ice-blue eyes locked onto hers, and the impact hit her in the solar plexus, the spiritual center. He took a step closer, and the energy moved into her root. The heat dampened her panties and engorged her clit. She tightened her thighs to quell the ache. Hardening into tight buds beneath her shirt, her nipples strained for the touch of his hands. She closed her eyes only to visualize with perfect clarity how it would be for his long blunt fingers to touch her heated flesh and part the swollen lips of her pussy.
A moan broke from her lips. She leaned against the counter. Blood pounded in her ears. Sweat beaded on her brow. Her legs spread of their own volition. He was there, and yet he wasn't. She could feel him pressing into her. His thrusting cock stretched her, pushed past the barrier of her innocence and claimed her as his own.
Audra's eyes flew open. This was his intent.
At her body's responses, she questioned her ability to shield herself. More disturbing was her uncertainty that she wanted to. Attempting composure, she cleared her throat.
"Can I help you?” It was the wrong thing to say because it was clear in her mind that he intended to help himself. To her.
The light in her small shop couldn't penetrate his aura. He moved in shadow amid the incense, crystals and new age books. He passed Egyptian statuaries, Indian incense burners and tarot cards on his way toward her. He neared the back wall with shelves stocked wi
th Kama Sutra creams, oils and powders. The candles she'd lit burned brightly, flickered, and then extinguished, smoldering in his wake.
Her chest constricted as he stepped around the counter. Nothing between them but sexually charged kinetic energy.
His desire spiked her arousal, and her arousal increased his desire. Always before, she had been able to remain steadfast in her determination not to succumb to the temptation of the men who came from the night. Tonight she wouldn't. Every cell in her body cried out to this man ... to the darkness in him.
Large and statuesque, he stood well over six feet tall. Her eyes raked up his long legs, past his thick muscled thighs encased in black denim, and rested on the swelling evidence of his hunger behind the faded fly.
Shoulder length hair, dark as the shadows from where he came, brushed the collar of his open leather jacket. He wore a tight T-shirt that made her hands twitch with the need to run over the contours of his broad, powerful shoulders. His deliciously disturbing scent, masculine and spicy, hit her senses with the impact of a tidal wave.
Butterflies filled her stomach as his hand reached out to touch her. She weakened, and her knees buckled. His blatant desire hammered into her thoughts in relentless telepathic images. Erotic images wreaking havoc on her will. She'd never encountered such a virile man. Only he wasn't just any man.
To purchase Delicious Darkness and other erotic titles, visit www.thewilderroses.com.
* * *
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