Atlantis Allure

by eXtasy's Collective Mind

  “I think you promised I could wash your back,” he murmured in her ear. He spun her around and placed her hands, palms down, on the wall above her head so she was stretched out and her breasts thrust forward. “Whatever happens, don’t move,” he commanded, before he ran his tongue over the side of her neck. Taking her bottle of liquid soap, he drizzled it down her spine.

  She arched her back and hissed in pleasure as the coldness hit her, but obeyed and kept her hands in place.

  He ran his hands in slow sensuous circles from the nape of her neck to the small of her back, working up a generous lather. Sliding his hands to her front, he cupped her breasts, before tweaking the nipples slightly.

  “That’s not my back,” she moaned.

  “If you don’t like it, I could wash something else.” He rolled her nipples in his fingers before pinching them again.

  “No…what I mean is, yes I like it…oh, what else would you wash?”

  A rumble of laughter came from him as he nipped her lightly on the ear. “You do lose focus sometimes, don’t you?”

  “Are you going to fuck me or not?” The question came out more as a plea. She tried to pull away from the wall, but he took her hands and put them firmly back into place before giving her ass a firm slap. She whimpered as pleasure mixed with pain coursed through her body.

  “You forget I’m a shifter, little witch, and cats like to play with their prey before they eat it.” He gave her another slap. “And I do plan on eating every inch of you before I’m done with you today.” He trailed one hand in between her thighs.

  She spread her legs to give him better access, all the while withering under his touch. When his fingers feathered over her clit, she screamed in ecstasy. Her hands slid from the wall and he gave her another warning slap. The contact of his hand on her ass danced a humming pleasure through her entire body.

  “I was right,” he teased in a light tone. “You are a very bad witch.”

  “Only with you,” she panted and tilted her backside to give him better access.

  He took the hint and slipped a finger inside her core. “And that’s the way it’s going to be for now on.” He withdrew his finger and slammed it into her again. “You’re mine and nobody else will ever touch you.”

  “Yours, only yours,” she chanted as her hips undulated against his hand. She was so close to the edge she feared she might shatter into a million pieces. When he took his hand away from her, she groaned her protest. Her disappointment was short lived because she soon felt the head of his cock against her. She spread her legs even further and whispered small pleas. At first, she feared she had been right earlier and he was too big. However, he took his time, slowly inching inside her, all the while playing with her clit. Before she knew it, he was buried to the hilt inside her.

  He pulled back and thrust into her again and again. She pushed her ass back to meet him, and when that wasn’t enough, she stood on tiptoe so her body could take even more of him inside her.

  He continued to work her clit with his free hand, while the other kept a firm hold on her hip. Just as she was about to come, he leaned down and licked her neck once, twice, then sank his fangs into her.

  Even though it should have hurt like hell, it gave her the most intense orgasm of her life. She screamed out his name in a climax and felt his semen shoot inside her.

  He wrapped an arm around her chest and held her tightly while waves of pleasure rocked through her body, his mouth still at her neck.

  “You bit me,” she accused, once she regained her breath.

  “Sorry, I’ve never lost control like that.” He lapped at her wound with his tongue and she shivered in response. “I’ve heard of the overwhelming urge shifters get to claim their mates.”

  She pulled away and turned around to look at him. “Do you honestly believe in all this lifemate stuff?”

  A piece of wet hair lay across her cheek and he brushed it away tenderly. “I never did believe in it until a certain blonde witch stumbled up on me and healed more than just my wounds.”

  She looked into his eyes to see if he was kidding only to be floored by the seriousness in the most intense blue eyes she ever encountered. “Are you crazy? There is no way that our fathers would ever allow us to be together. They’d kill us first.”

  He grabbed her hand and held it close to his chest. “Then run away with me. We can go live with Garrett, Onyx and the other freedom fighters. I’m willing to give up everything to be with you. Are you willing to do the same for me?”

  She gave a slight shake of her head, overwhelmed with everything he’d just dumped on her. “I…I don’t know. I love my family, friends and the life I have here. I can’t leave it behind to be with someone that I met just hours ago.”

  He gave her a small smile, but she saw the hurt in his eyes and the way his jaw ticked a bit. “You’re right. I was wrong to even ask you.” He got out of the shower, leaving her behind.

  Brianna held her hand to her mouth to hold back the sobs threatening to escape. She’d just stomped on his heart and it killed her to know that. A tear slipped down her cheek. She realized she really did care for Markus and that put both of them in danger. But then, he didn’t seem to care about that, he’d been willing to forsake everything for her.

  She waited in the bathroom until she heard him leave the bedroom. She quickly dressed in a pair of worn jeans and faded black tee, then went into the kitchen to join him. He was wearing some of Garrett’s clothes, a pair of black jeans and tight fitting blue t-shirt. He was bent over staring into the salt-water fish tank. There was a look of longing on his face as he watched the fish swim. They both pointedly refused to meet each other’s gazes.

  “It’s funny we miss something we never saw,” she said as she went to the fridge to get out fruit. “Atlantis, I mean.”

  “I dream of it.” He reached out and lovingly caressed the tank. “Even though it’s long crumbled into the ocean thanks to this damn war, I see it in my mind as if it were still alive and thriving.”

  She started to slice the fruit. “Is that why you decided to become a freedom fighter?”

  “No, I did it for the same reason as you. I lost a close friend to senseless violence.” He straightened up and grinned wryly. “You shouldn’t look so surprised that I know that about you. Garrett talks about you all the time.”

  She shook her head as she bent down to pick up a strawberry that had rolled off the counter. A bullet crashed through the window and hit the mirror right behind where her head had been a second ago. At the same time, another bullet shattered the fish tank.

  Markus cursed and dove for cover.

  Brianna hunkered down behind the counter as more shots ricocheted around her house. The air soon reeked of gunpowder. Smoke and debris filled the room. She shifted her feet and noticed the floor was covered in glass and water. Those bastards just killed my fish!

  She looked around frantically for Markus and saw he’d taken cover behind her couch. She sighed with relief when she saw he didn’t have any fresh wounds. The bite wound at her neck tingled. An overwhelming urge to throw her body over his and protect him from harm stirred. She could tell by the desperate look on his face he experienced the same thing. Well, not the bite mark tingling since she hadn’t bitten him, but she sure as hell was going to return the favor the next time they made love.

  The next time they made love?

  Yes, the next time and all the other times after because she decided in that instant, he was worth sacrificing everything for. In truth, she had never started living until she found him in that alley. She smiled at him, despite the dangerous situation they were in and he gave her an incredulous look in return. “I get the right side of the bed,” she yelled. With the ruckus their attackers were causing, it was hard to have a normal conversation.

  He cocked a dark brow in a quizzical manner. “Ooookay, I don’t quite get what you’re getting at.”

  “If you expect me to run off with you and be your better half, then
I have to insist on the right side of the bed. I can’t sleep any other way.”

  His gaze became guarded. “Are you sure? If I left now, you might be able to convince your father I was keeping you hostage. Nobody has to know what happened between us.”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything.” He gave her a look filled with so much love and promise, her heart melted on the spot.

  He scrambled across the floor, despite the fact bullets still flew, and came to her side. He cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes.

  “Are you crazy?” She giggled. “You almost got shot.”

  “Like I said last night, some things are worth bleeding for.” He swooped down and gave her a tender kiss.

  Once they had pulled away, she tilted her head in confusion. “They stopped shooting. Why?”

  As if to answer her question, the door exploded inward with a loud crash. A half dozen of the ugliest, smelliest looking creatures she’d ever seen came bursting in. They were humanoid in shape, having two arms and walking upright on two legs, but that was where all similarities ended. Their faces were green, wet-looking and covered in scales. The same type of slime that had been all over Markus, oozed from every orifice of their body. The harsh smell of rotten fish the grossies gave off was so strong her eyes watered.

  “I take it these are the Tritons? Funny, they don’t look like what I’d imagined.”

  He moved his body protectively in front of hers. “I don’t suppose you can shoot off some magic at them?”

  She searched inside her body and saw that her magical stores were still too low. “No, I used up too much of it last night. How about you? Can you shift?”

  He gave a slight shake of his head. “I could, but I wouldn’t be at full strength. My body is still recovering from healing itself. Do you have any weapons nearby?”

  She gave a pointed look at her bedroom. “In there, but I seriously doubt they’ll be polite and wait here patiently while we go get them.”

  The Tritons each pulled out a curved sword and started to advance on them. Just as they were inches from the pair, several magic bolts whizzed through the room and flung the creatures off their feet.

  “What just happened?” she breathed out.

  Markus half laughed. “The cavalry just arrived, that’s what happened.” He pulled her to her feet and they ran from the house. Outside were several more Tritons who were quickly being taken down, both by bullets and magic. Hell, there were even some felines snacking on the creatures.

  Brianna gaped as she saw something that she’d never seen before. Shifters and witches were standing side-by-side fighting. They were all wearing the same black leather uniform and they each had a patch on the shoulder of a paw print next to a triquetra. It looked like the freedom fighters weren’t hiding in the shadows anymore.

  A van screeched to a halt and the side door opened. Brianna was both shocked and pleased to see Garrett beckon impatiently with his hand.

  “Get your asses in here. There’s going to be more Tritons coming any minute,” he ordered

  Markus jumped in, then turned and held his hand out to her.

  This time Brianna didn’t hesitate in taking it. As soon as her mate pulled her into the van, she wrapped her arms around him and held him tight.

  Garrett shut the door of the van and they sped away. To their new life together.

  One that hopefully would lead to peace.

  AMPHIBIAN ADVENTURE

  Madelaine Grant

  May 2015

  Captain Fred Wainwright’s merry blue eyes raked me from head to toe. “Well, Eden McCrory, you haven’t lost your looks in the last five years. You’re more beautiful than ever, my dear.”

  “Thank you,” I murmured. The old codger hadn’t changed either. Still had an eye for the feminine form.

  He rose from behind his mahogany desk. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. I know how busy you must be. When’s the wedding? Have to get you back in time for the grand event.”

  “Over the Fourth of July weekend.” Automatically my mind shifted to all the details involved. Jeff Hazlitt, my fiancé, would have to bear the brunt of my defection. But how could I turn down the chance of a lifetime—a dive mission to explore the ruins of Atlantis, the lost continent, submerged for thousands of years under the sea? It had recently been discovered by a Japanese salvage operation. Now I would have a shot at finding some of the lost treasures from that long-buried continent.

  I couldn’t give up this adventure. It was my last fling before the marriage yoke descended to trap me into a conventional relationship. Not that it wasn’t my choice. At thirty-two, I was ready to settle down…at least that’s what I assured myself.

  The captain walked me out of his office and onto the deck of the one hundred fifty foot yacht anchored off the coast of Portugal. “Since you’re the first of the team to arrive, you have first pick of staterooms. Inside you’ll find a folder with all the pertinent information on the Atlantis mission. The others will arrive soon and by tomorrow, we should be operational.”

  Captain Fred led me to my cabin to unpack and stow away my gear. “Feel free to explore our lab facilities below deck. Our equipment is first-rate—only the best for our archeological team.”

  “Thanks. I will take advantage of your offer.” After he left, I hurriedly changed from traveling clothes to shorts and a tee shirt. As I headed out the door, I couldn’t help recalling my last conversation with my fiancé.

  “Remember, Eden, after we’re married I don’t expect you to traipse halfway around the world hunting for fossils…or whatever you search for. As a banker’s wife, there’ll be certain social obligations to maintain. You should become involved in a number of charitable organizations. My mother will be happy to take you under her wing.”

  I couldn’t help feeling some trepidation at this upcoming huge change in my life. Still, I could understand Jeff’s feelings. Brushing aside those unwanted thoughts, I entered the spacious cabin set aside to study artifacts retrieved from the underwater site. A mounting excitement coursed through me as I touched the delicate instruments we would use to clean our findings. Sitting down on one of the stools, I picked up fragments of a clay pot and began to fit them together. Before long, I was completely immersed in my task. I hardly noticed the passing of time until the room, usually lit by florescent light, suddenly became dark.

  “Hello?” I called out. Had someone turned off the lights not knowing I was here? I heard the quiet tread of approaching footsteps. “Who’s there?” My voice echoed in the darkened space. I felt my heart beating madly and my throat constricted in fear. Nonsense, I scolded myself. Nothing could happen…Captain Fred told me I could explore the lab.

  “Eden.” The male voice was low and deep and achingly familiar. Two large hands encircled me from behind and pulled me from my seat.

  Noah Hyland! A presence from my past. What was he doing here? From what I remembered, he’d emigrated to Australia right after college. So many years ago…and so many memories. They came flooding back as Noah turned me around in his arms. We’d been a couple throughout four years of college.

  What happened to tear us apart? Was it my fierce independence that demanded I continue with my studies instead of settling down? Noah urged me to join him in Australia. I chose to enter graduate school in California and eventually obtain a doctorate in archeology.

  I felt the warmth of his skin and smelled the clean, musk scent of him as he drew me close. “Eden, it’s been awhile. I couldn’t resist joining the team when I heard you’d be here. Doug Kruger backed out at the last minute so I’m the replacement diver.”

  I should have stepped away from him, but I didn’t. Neither of us made a move to switch on the light. The darkness hid the heated flush on my face.

  Noah ran his hands up and down my back. “You still have that long mane of blonde hair,” he observed, as his fingers tangled in my ponytail.

  His thumb rubbed the bare skin at the nape of my neck send
ing tingles of awareness throughout my nerve endings. I opened my mouth to tell him of my upcoming wedding. Before I could get a word out, his lips met mine in a kiss that could only be described as magical. His hands crept forward to cup my breasts, then fondled the taut tips. Oh, why was this happening now? I wanted my life to be predictable and comfortable. His sudden appearance was like a monkey wrench thrown into a smooth, well-oiled piece of machinery. Everything ground to a halt.

  “You’ve kept that great figure…curvy in all the right places,” he said in a husky tone as his hands moved down my sides and then cupped my bottom. He pulled me closer to his firm thighs.

  I had a sudden image of Noah as he was ten years ago—tall, lithe, with thick dark hair, a seductive smile and mesmerizing gray eyes. One gorgeous hunk. Had he changed? Hard to tell without light. But I could feel that same hypnotic spell settling over me.

  His caressing touch sent sparks of heat shooting along my nerve ends like firecrackers on the Fourth of July—my wedding day. Taking a deep breath, I decided I must put an end to this…this assault on my willpower. “Noah, please, this shouldn’t be happening. I’m getting married in six weeks.”

  “That so?” His tone was matter-of-fact. He didn’t stop his marauding hands, which drove me to distraction.

  “Yes, I am,” I averred, although my words lacked conviction.

  “Mmmmmm,” was his reply as his hands slowly inched their way down my stomach to rest on the inner part of my thighs, perilously close to the throbbing heat of my cunt.

  I was so taken with the way his mouth was molding itself to my lips again that I didn’t notice his fingers sliding under the edge of my shorts until it was too late. One long finger inserted itself into my hot, moist cunt and expertly stroked while his thumb rubbed my clit.

  Omigod! I was experiencing meltdown—big time.