Claimed: Blood Ties

by Cathryn Fox

  “Literature was wrong.”

  His heart raced with hope, and with confusion. How could this be? Did Dari and he really have a biological family? Something they’ve both always wanted and craved? Was it possible? Mikel had no reason to believe Ayden would lie to him. But how? And why was he telling him this now? “How can there be others? I don’t sense them.”

  “They live on another planet.” Ayden squeezed his shoulder to calm him.

  Baffled, Mikel gave a quick shake of his head. “I don’t understand.”

  Ayden nodded, as though fully expecting his reactions, his disbelief. “Not all Nallie were evil or controlled by Grayson. We were put here on Earth to infiltrate and kill mortals. After a few of us learned to mask our signature and shield our thoughts, we banded together and secretly left the planet, colonizing on planet Kelan.”

  Shocked, Mikel stood there, his brow furrowed, waiting for Ayden to continue.

  “After the military launched an attack, we thought all others like us were killed. It was only a few years ago that we detected a faint signal and learned of your existence.”

  Mikel paused, lowered his head and whispered under his breath. “That’s when I first began to make love to Dari in her dreams.”

  “Yes, that increased your signature and the connection reached us. We knew if it reached us, Grayson would soon pick up on it too.”

  “I came here to determine if you were good or evil,” Ayden continued.

  “When you discovered we were good, why didn’t you rescue us and take us back to your planet?”

  “It isn’t so simple. Grayson would have been able to track you.”

  “I see.” Mikel knew deep in his heart he’d never, ever under any circumstances consciously put his family in danger.

  “You and Dari could not be brought to our planet until you developed the skill as well. Fortunately, the fallout from the blood exchange has now gifted you both now with the ability to shield.”

  “Yes, I can feel it.” He paused then asked, “Why didn’t you just teach us the skill?”

  “Such things can’t be taught, Mikel. It is instinct and must happen naturally. On Kelan, an infant’s signal is weak, barely recognizable. A mother can block it until a child develops the skill. Your signature was too strong for us to block for long, and I only hoped that through mating and bonding, you would develop it quicker. If you failed to develop the skill, and Grayson captured you, he could find our colony through you. Which is why I could never tell you what I was. But just know, if either you or Dari were captured I’d never give up on you. I’d spend an eternity searching for you and wouldn’t quit until I had you both safe on planet Kelan.”

  With his heart full of love for his friend, Mikel took a long moment to sort things through. “When I asked you how you knew so much about my breed, you said you wished you could tell me. I thought it was because you didn’t know yourself.”

  “I knew, Mikel, and the truth was, I really did wish I could tell you.”

  “This must have been hard on you.”

  Ayden threw his arms around Mikel and the two held each other for a long moment. “It was hard on all of us.” Ayden eased back and glanced into Mikel’s eyes.

  Mikel narrowed his gaze. “If our breed is stronger than Grayson’s, why do you fear him?”

  “We are a small colony compared to his. And we are peaceful beings. It is not our wish to start a war. We only wish to live our lives in peace and contentment.”

  Mikel nodded his understanding. Just then Dari and Janaa descended the stairs. Mikel opened his arms for her and entered her thoughts to share the information.

  “I know, Mikel. I heard it all.” Her body molded against his.

  Ayden gathered Janaa’s hand in his. “Come, Mikel and Dari.” Ayden and Janaa both reached for Mikel’s and Dari’s hands at the same time, closing the circle. “Come home and meet your family.”

  Mikel smiled at his friend and turned his attention to Dari. “We have both found what we’ve spent our lives seeking. A family and a home.” He squeezed her hand and noted the moisture glistening in her beautiful eyes. “Now we can be together forever.”

  She returned his smile. “Forever is a very long time, Mikel. Perhaps I will grow tired of you before that.”

  A low growl rumbled in his throat, his teeth descended. It pleased him to see her playful spirit return. He felt an unexpected stirring of his desires as she leaned into him. “Have you forgotten what your teasing does to me?” he asked.

  She arched one brow. “Not even for a minute.” Her bold words sent a jolt of need zinging through him.

  A half smile curled Mikel’s lips. Suddenly he became hyper-aware of the thin dress she’d changed into. His gaze caressed her creamy shoulders and her shapely curves.

  He turned to Ayden. “We have to go,” he rushed out. His gaze flitted back to Dari as his cock grew another inch. “Now!”

  About the Author

  A former government financial officer, Cathryn Fox graduated from university with a bachelor of business degree. Shortly into her career, Cathryn quickly figured out that corporate life wasn’t for her. Needing an outlet for her creative energy, she turned in her briefcase and calculator and began writing erotic romance full-time. Cathryn enjoys writing dark paranormals and humorous contemporaries. She lives in eastern Canada with her husband, two kids and chocolate Labrador retriever.

  To learn more about Cathryn Fox, please visit www.cathrynfox.com Send an email to Cathryn@Cathrynfox.com or join her chat group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wicked_writers/

  Look for these titles by Cathryn Fox

  Coming Soon

  One on One

  All Tied Up

  Tending the Spirit has never been so sexy.

  Future Found

  © 2008 Mima

  A Claimed story.

  As a tree singer, it is Shay-non’s duty—and pleasure—to tend the chi of the few remaining trees left after the Cataclysm. Even if it means enduring the life-sucking presence of the greedy cybernetic elites who own them.

  But the moment she steps into Elite Sandor’s compound, he throws her world into disarray. Instantly, she finds herself tricked into twenty-four hours as his sexual “guest”, an infuriating prospect. Then he lets her see, but not touch, the magnificent oak in his possession. An oak that shouldn’t exist. For one moment with the tree, she’ll do anything—even submit to Sandor’s attentions.

  Sand has waited years for Shay’s unmet sexual needs to weaken her defenses enough to make his move. The time is ripe to begin a spiritual revolution, plus convince the lovely singer he has always loved her from afar—all in one day’s time. A daunting task, especially since her earthy sexuality has him making all sorts of deviations from his plan.

  Now that he has her captive, he can only pray. That she’ll agree to help him defy the Council and raise an illegal forest temple.

  And that she’ll see past his sensual blackmail into his heart.

  Warning: This book includes brief references to m/m and ménage relationships. Some readers may be disturbed by references to a death during sex. There’s also sex involving a tree that will forever make you smile when you hear the term “tree-hugger”.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Future Found:

  He stopped while the droid laid out the eating cloth and set the food precisely in the middle. Then it left. And he was still staring. She was on the altar, unveiled. The opalescence of her skin was more glorious than the silver veil. Kneeling with her legs splayed, he could clearly make out her sex below her spread ass. Her cheeks rested on her heels, her back arched, her hands reaching gracefully up into the cone of light. The crown of her ruby hair faced him since her head was thrown back in apparent ecstasy. It was worth the cost of the sunshine bulb he’d installed.

  He walked around her, within touching distance. Her belly was adorable. Her nipples were hard, bitty berries. The position she held flattened her breasts to merest swells. At mouth level.


  Slowly, her hands drifted down and rested on those splayed thighs. She rolled her head forward to look down at him. He’d meant to initiate the contract after a meal and some conversation to reassure her. But the plan could tolerate this new deviation.

  “Shay-non, you are unveiled before me.” His voice sounded husky but he didn’t care. Let her see that his attraction was more than the plan needed.

  “Sand, I initiate this contract.”

  He did not think about the plan, his goals, his faith or his tree. He thought about the impact of those eyes without a veil between them. That skin, blushing in the strong light. That musk scent rising from her spread thighs. Those blood-red, lickable nipples. Wait. Wait for her. It must be her. His eyes flitted from one part of her to another, dazzled by her reality. Curves, everywhere. His cock fattened.

  An eternity later, her hand rose toward him. His gaze flew to hers, but she was staring at his hair. She reached out like a slowed, half-time vid. Her touch landed on his hair near his left ear. He watched her eyes dilate, the brown fading from chocolate to black. He saw the tremor of her long lashes, her lips break open revealing a row of tiny white teeth. He was lifting in his pants, the cotton catching him.

  Her fingers threaded into his hair and touched his scalp. He could feel each of the three fingertips. She pulled her hand down through his layers, behind his ear, heat scalding the rim. A hectic red appeared on her cheekbones that had been too pale. She hesitated at the bottom, then her thumb gently trapped his earlobe and rubbed it with her forefinger. He was so aware of how it was fleshy, and hot, in her firm grip. His head spun as his cock abruptly hardened.

  Her gaze moved along the line of his jaw, and he felt her focus on his mouth like a physical touch. His own lips parted, fascinated, as the blush on her face spread down her neck. His earlobe was abandoned when she delved in a sweep along the curve of his ear. His breath began to come heavier. The head of him was rubbing against the soft waistband.

  Her fingers moved where her gaze had, all of them trailing along, petting his lips, the outer edge, the inner skin. Rotating her hand, she sent her palm gliding on the sensitive skin under his chin while her thumb tested the edge of his teeth, boldly daring his lips. He froze absolutely still when she held her breath. She pushed her thumb into his mouth and he closed his lips over the joint while his tongue curled and sucked. The blush cascaded onto her chest, and his gaze followed it.

  Her other hand lifted to touch herself, hesitated, middle finger a breath from her nipple. He sucked gently, scraped his tongue over her nail. Her nails scored restlessly against the line of his throat. She took her thumb from his mouth and laid her hand on his shoulder, her damp touch painting the hollow above his collarbone.

  Then she closed her eyes as she delicately played over her nipple. He watched her face, now flushed. Her eyes tossed behind her lids. He studied her fingers, how she dragged the edge of a nail over the tip, how she barely touched herself, sometimes tracing the lower swell where her breast met her torso. His dick bounced.

  Her grip tightened on his shoulder, nails biting suddenly, as she trailed those fingers down her sternum, over her belly, and hovered over her split lips. Open your eyes. See me. He didn’t say it. But she answered his plea. She gave the faintest gasp at catching his gaze. She wasn’t focusing as well as he. Her lashes fluttered like the rarest butterflies. Her lips were so plump and ripe. His mouth burst with saliva.

  Her hand lightened its grip on his shoulder, soothed the shirt over the muscle there with a swirl of sensation. Then she dragged her palm flat down onto his pec and ground her heel into his nipple. His balls churned and boiled. Her eyes looked dazed as she watched her hand massage him, gripping the fabric and his muscle, fingertips pattering over the whole sweep of his chest. Finally, she stilled with her thumb pressing hard against his nipple. He was still watching her face, the want on it making him fiercely glad, when she looked up and met his eyes again. His breath hitched. Hers looked blank now, wild.

  He steeled himself as her weight increased, pressing against him. She rose up higher onto her knees. She paused, gathering her balance, taking a deep breath, then looked down at her lower hand hovering over herself. He had no choice but to follow the slender line of her arm down past her breasts.

  He’s rich, single, sexy and…oh, yeah. Undead.

  Obey Me

  © 2008 Paige Cuccaro

  A Gifted story.

  Sophie Merlo dreams of becoming an international journalism star. Until her uncanny nose for news leads her into the path of a brutal serial killer. Now she’d be happy just to survive the week.

  Alex wants only one answer from Sophie—how she wormed her way into his exclusive vampires-only club, something no human should be able to do. He thinks he’s being set up in a string of murders, and he’s got a good idea who it is—Octavius, his long-time, bitter rival. Only Octavius could figure out how to leave Alex’s distinctive mark behind on the victims’ throats.

  One drop of Alex’s saliva on Sophie’s skin has her babbling a river, swimming in desire for him—and agreeing to use her persuasive powers to help find the real murderer.

  Caught in the middle of a century-old feud between two rival vampires, there are only three things Sophie knows for sure: One of them is a killer. The other wants to take her to bed. And they’re both lying.

  If she can’t figure out who’s lying about what soon, her career hopes could vanish. Right along with her last drop of blood.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Obey Me:

  “Do you know? Do you understand what it is I want to do to you?” His breath warmed across my mouth, the hint of wine and some other tempting spice I couldn’t name filled my nose, rippled down my throat to breeze through my lungs.

  “Yes. You…you want to take my…blood.”

  He lifted his chin and pressed a kiss to my forehead. The skin beneath his lips warmed instantly with a heat that went beyond simple body temperature. It seemed to ripple all along my skin working its way through my body like a drug. “That’s right. But do you understand what the feel of it will do to us?”

  I swallowed again, my eyes closed, my nose brushing under his chin breathing in the sweet powdery scent of his cologne, his lips feathering against my forehead. “Blood lust.” The words were barely audible.

  “Lust. Raw and powerful. To lose all abandon. You won’t be able to stop. You must be sure, Sophie…now.” He leaned back just enough to watch my face.

  I nodded, uncertain my voice would be heard. “I’m sure.” I held my breath.

  His gaze focused on my mouth again and my lips parted an instant before he pressed his kiss. The taste of him filled my mouth, cinnamon and sweet wine, the flavor swirled over my tongue, warmed down my throat like a fine liqueur. Delicious heat spread like a blaze gone wild, burning me up from the inside, igniting every nerve ending, awakening my body so my muscles pulled tight, need coiled low and my thighs trembled.

  His muscles flexed under my hands pulling me closer, tighter. His kiss deepened and my mind swam with the feel of his tongue exploring my mouth, his fingers denting my back, gripping my head, holding me…like prey. I felt consumed and wanted more, but he pulled himself back, trailing his lips along my cheek, nibbling my ear, teasing his teeth over my neck.

  I shuddered, each scrape of his teeth sending a fast pulse through my sex. Hot and wet with lust, I squirmed in his arms, fumbling with the buttons down his shirt. Alex pulled back enough to help, shrugging the white cotton off his shoulders, allowing only a moment for me to work his belt and zipper before his hands slipped up to my shoulders.

  I unfastened the button of his slacks so they loosened around his narrow hips just as he hooked his fingers on the edge of my dress and slid the red elastic tube off my shoulders and down my arms, letting it fall down my legs to pool on the floor around my feet. I was left wearing only a pair of lace boy-cut panties and my high-heeled shoes. Both matched the dress. The neckline had been too low to allow fo
r a bra.

  Alex’s blue eyes took me in, lingering over me from head to toe as though a picture were being drawn in his mind. My heart thundered in my chest, muscles so tight my breaths came in soft, shallow pants. I wanted his lips on mine again, his arms around me, the heat of his hard body pressed to mine.

  “Alex…” I fought not to squirm under the intensity of his gaze. His eyes met mine and the heat of his stare nearly took my breath. He swept in and pressed another searing kiss to my lips then bent lower to capture my breast in his mouth.

  I gasped as the warmth of his venom penetrated through the pores on the sensitive flesh. The gentle massage of his hand turned my knees to rubber. I wrapped my arm around his head, held him to me as he suckled my breast, tugging the hard nipple into his mouth.

  Would he bite me there? A wave a desire swamped through me and I moaned out loud at the thought, arching my back, pressing my flesh deeper into his mouth. I wanted to feel his teeth sink into me, to feel the rush of blood as it spilled from my body into his.

  Somewhere in the distant parts of my brain, I felt his hands at my hips, the soft chafe of my lace panties sliding down my thighs, tickling the tops of my feet, hooking on my high heels. I shifted to toe off my shoes, but Alex’s arm clutched around my waist, stilled me instantly.

  “Leave them on,” he said, his voice rough and sexy. He gazed up at me, the scruff of his day-old beard scraping my nipple as he spoke. My breath caught at the maddening mix of pain and pleasure, and all I could do was nod.

  He lowered his face to my body again, kissing and nipping, the teasing promise of his bite spinning my mind, churning a firestorm of desire through my veins. He tasted my body, kissing the bottom round of my breast, slipping lower to the tip of my breastbone, then lower still to my belly. He sank to his knees and finally, in a heart-stopping instant, he pressed a kiss to the coarse hairs at my sex. With a firm wet lick, he traced his tongue between the sensitive lips. The sensation buckled my knees and in a move far too quick and fluid for me to track, he stood, scooping me into his arms, driving me backwards toward my bedroom. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my high heels catching his back, snagging the belt loop of his slacks.