Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set

by Multiple Authors

  “Okay, ready for more ass kicking, Callum?”

  “Better believe it.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  It was almost midnight when Callum came back to the apartment. He was sweaty, tired, angry, and resigned. And what was that look he gave her? As soon as he walked in, he shut the door, leaned against it and stared at her as if trying to memorize everything he saw. Marisol waited for him to say something. He didn’t. When he looked away, he went straight to the bathroom. He’d been there for a while now. Marisol wondered what Zambro told him.

  Wearing her shirt and underwear, she sat cross-legged on the bed and waited. Marisol gathered her still wet hair and then tied it in a bun with her pink ribbon. Maybe she should have it cut. When she was practicing with Viola, her hair bothered her. At one point during the practice, her locks hindered her vision. Later, she’d go out and look for a better hair tie, or maybe a salon. Yup, she’d do that. As much as she’d like to stay in Callum’s apartment, she’d been itching to look around. The den looked wonderful and she thought she spotted an armory near Doctor Yousney’s clinic earlier. It would be interesting to see the weapons.

  Marisol looked at her cut. The doctor told her to replace the bandage twice a day to prevent infections. Slowly, she lifted the gauze off her wound. The medical tape pulled her skin.

  “Yeoww!” Dang, that hurts. She hadn’t looked when Doctor Yousney stitched her up. She couldn’t. Local anesthesia numbed her arm, but she felt each time the doctor pulled the thread. It felt freaky.

  “Leave it alone, Marisol.”

  “I just want to see...” Her words trailed off as she looked up to see Callum, freshly showered, with nothing but a blue towel wrapped around his hips.

  Callum raised a brow and grinned. “Your parents must have had their hands full when you were younger.”

  “Ha. Ha.” My hands were definitely full when I cupped you. Marisol remembered the first time they made love. He’d filled her to the brim.

  “Does it hurt?”

  “No, it was wonder—what hurts?”

  “Your owwie, Marisol.” Callum sat on the bed beside her then leaned in to brush her lips with his. “What were you thinking just now?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Oh? You were about to say wonderful.”

  “No.”

  “Liar. Would you like me to kiss your owwie away?”

  “Hmm. Just my owwie, big boy?”

  Callum chuckled. His breath fanned her open mouth. “Baby, I’ll do more than kiss your owwie.” His hand found its way inside her shirt.

  Marisol felt her skin pucker when his big hand cupped one breast. “Hmm...that’s nice.”

  “No bra?”

  “I don’t like wearing a bra in bed.”

  “I’d rather you don’t wear anything at all.”

  Marisol laughed as Callum began to nibble her neck. He didn’t stop until she was lying on the bed. “I’ll remember that.”

  “Don’t know what I did to deserve heaven.” Wrapping her legs around his hips, Marisol cupped the face she’d learned to love in a short time.

  “Honestly, I have no idea what kind of heaven you’re talking about. If you’re referring to this…” She kissed his mouth. “Maybe. But I think when you ignored the wall bordering humans and shape-shifters, you opened the gate to heaven.”

  “I’m talking about you. Of all the men and shape-shifters in the world, I’m the lucky one to get the privilege of holding you, kissing you, making love with you.”

  “There are better, more beautiful women than me out there. I’m nothing special, Callum.”

  “In my eyes, no one can be better than you.” He first kissed her eyes, the tip of her nose, and finally, with satisfaction, he kissed her mouth.

  Marisol opened for him, welcoming his warmth, savoring his taste, loving every second their mouths melded together. Callum’s declaration wasn’t exactly what she wanted to hear, but it was close enough. Leaving her mouth burning with fire, Callum helped take off her shirt. And then his mouth was back on her skin again. Marisol arched her back, offering him her already aching breasts. While fondling one mound, his mouth sucked her other nipple with possessiveness.

  “Oh, Callum.”

  “I love your breasts, your body. I love...love being with you.” His tongue caressed her hard nipple, over and over.

  Marisol whimpered. She locked her legs tighter around his hips, feeling his erection through his towel. When his hand slid down her belly, Marisol wanted to scream and beg him to touch her where she throbbed.

  Callum’s fingers slid inside her silk underwear and cupped her pubic mound. The tips of his fingers touched her wet. “Love, I’ve never met anyone as eager as you. You’re wet.”

  “You’re driving me mad, Callum. Please touch me. And take your damn towel off.”

  “Patience. It’s the key to winning any game.”

  Was this a game then, she wanted to ask. The question might push him into the corner and give her the answer she wanted to hear, instead of the truth. Her silent musing stopped when Callum began sucking her nipple at the same time his fingers snaked inside her panty, and then dipped inside her throbbing center.

  Callum began a lust-arousing exploration of her flesh. He moved his fingers in and out of her, stoking her fire. He shifted his position so he was only partially covering her body. “You feel so soft.”

  Marisol followed his gaze. He was looking at his hand, moving inside her panties. What he was doing was so erotic.

  Callum sat back on his heel and removed his towel. As soon as he shucked it, his cock was sprung.

  Marisol swallowed at the sight of him—large, nodding, and beautiful. Clear liquid had emerged from the tip of his cock. “You’re so big.”

  “We fit perfectly, love.”

  “I know.” Marisol couldn’t stop licking her lips as Callum helped her remove her panties then positioned himself between her legs. Gently, he spread her legs apart. “You’re beautiful. And I can’t get enough of your taste.”

  “Callum...”

  “Shhh....”

  Callum licked his fingers. Staring at her with his eyes heavy-lidded, he spread his saliva around her then began making love to her with his fingers. “Ah, Marisol. You’re weeping.”

  Marisol moaned her pleasure when Callum slowly penetrated her with his fingers, stretching her a bit.

  “Oh God, Callum. You’re driving me crazy.”

  “You’re crazy for me, babe?”

  “Yes…Yes.”

  “Good.” Callum pulled out his fingers. Before Marisol could complain, he scooted down, and then his mouth was on her.

  Marisol couldn’t resist thrusting her hips. “Callum, please...”

  “Yeah?”

  “Stop torturing me. Come to me now.”

  “After you come and I lick you clean.”

  Marisol screamed the moment Callum’s lips wrapped around her and began to suck. Pleasure racked her body. “Don’t stop!”

  Callum didn’t. He concentrated on her clit until her orgasm exploded.

  “Callum!”

  Ripples of her climax bounced off her body when Callum lifted her one leg, anchored it on his shoulder and turned her on her side. Wide open, he positioned his cock on her entry and swiftly penetrated her.

  His thrusts were hard and almost punishing. The pleasure was unbelievable. All Marisol could do was hung on to the sheets. His long strokes triggered another orgasm. “Callum, oh God. This is good.”

  “Remember this, love. We fit. We’re perfectly molded.” He quickened his strokes. “I’m coming, baby.”

  Three more powerful strokes and Callum’s warm sperm pooled inside her. Marisol smiled. Callum hadn’t used a condom.

  Their bodies were still warm and moist from their lovemaking when Callum lifted her left hand and kissed the tips of her fingers. He took his time rubbing each one to his lips. The tenderness in his expression never ceased to amaze her. For a shape-shifter who would kill his e
nemy in a heartbeat, he proved to be a gentle soul.

  “Mari?”

  “Yeah?”

  Callum removed a ring off his little finger, kissed it, and then took her hand.

  “Father said that Mother had this made for the five of us before she passed on. A reminder of her love. She had one made for Father, too. He took it to his grave. This is mine. I want you to have it.” He slid the ring onto her index finger.

  Marisol was momentarily speechless. She was so happy and touched by his tenderness that her eyes began to blur. She blinked her tears away and stared at the ring—a simple band with beautiful engravings.

  “M'anam álainn. My Beautiful Soul. Why are you giving this to me?”

  Callum turned so he faced her. “Because you are what this ring represents. You are my soul, love. I didn’t realize I’ve been living a meaningless life. I’d been empty until I met you. You gave me a reason to live other than to fulfill my duty as a Midnight Howl.”

  He gave his explanation as if he was proposing. It was obvious that he loved her, but he’d never said the words. What was holding him back? “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Thank you would be enough. And if you can add a kiss here and there, that would be great.”

  “Thank you.” Gently she pushed Callum down and sat astride him. “I think I have more kisses stored for you. Only for you, Callum.”

  Her heart thudded noisily within her, the way it did while facing Viola. With just one difference. She felt excitement, not fear. Love, not anger.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  Marisol’s face heated under his gaze of admiration. He made her feel beautiful. Boldly, she raised her ass high enough to make room for the tip of his already hard cock to touch her swollen lips.

  “Mari...” he whispered.

  Callum’s eyes fluttered shut when she began to lower her body, impaling herself with his cock. Seeing pleasure registered on his face, a knot rose in her throat. She wanted this to last, to stay with him forever. God, she was so in love it hurt to think that everything was just temporary.

  Closing her eyes, warm tears rolled down her cheeks. She was aware of where his warm flesh touched her, but she kept her eyes closed.

  “Mari, baby…”

  “I love you, Callum.”

  “Open your eyes and tell me again.”

  Marisol’s misty eyes met Callum’s hooded and passion-glazed blue eyes. “I love you,” she repeated.

  Callum pulled her arms gently gathering her into his arms. “Baby, why?”

  Taking her with him he turned, keeping their bodies still joined as he lay atop hers.

  “Why? How could I not? Aside from you being so handsome, you make me feel special by breaking the clan’s rules as if I’m important. And when I’m in your arms like this, I feel safe. Loved.”

  Callum buried his face against her throat. “You are special, baby. I’ll make love with you all night through to show you. Right now, it’s just you and me.”

  The touch of his hand was so tender, she felt like crying again. When his mouth covered hers, she gave in to passion freely. The gentle massage of his hands upon her breasts sent strong currents of desire though her. She loved the feel of his cock inside her.

  Marisol moved her hands gently down his back, loving the hard contour of his body. In every move he made, the way he looked at her, she could tell he had feelings for her. But Callum didn’t say he loved her back. Why hadn’t he said it? Was he afraid of commitment, of getting his heart broken again?

  “Marisol,” Callum whispered. “Look at me.”

  “Yes?”

  “I want to see your eyes. They’re more than beautiful.”

  “Callum…” Whatever she’d wanted to say flew out of her mind when Callum began to pump his hips.

  Callum loved her like there was no tomorrow. He was gentle and rough, tender and sweet. This time Marisol couldn’t shake the feeling that he was saying his goodbyes.

  ***

  It had been a week since Atos agreed to his challenge. Now, it was time to dance with the motherfucker. Behind the Turtle Bluff restaurant, Callum’s brothers stood. Like him, all were dressed in black leather pants. Except for Zambro, who’d added a black trench coat to his ensemble. A metal plate shone from the tips of Ty’s boots. His tight, black long-sleeved shirt showed his young, muscular torso. While Rudolf sported his studded biker jacket, Victor wore a black shirt with a wolf’s face painted on the front. Except for Victor, his brothers were heavily armed.

  Callum dug his hand in his pocket to feel the pink ribbon he’d taken from Marisol between his fingers. She was still asleep when he left, which was good. She’d only insist that she come. He glanced at the mark on his ring finger and felt as though his heart would break in a million pieces.

  For a week, while he spent his days practicing, he devoted his nights to making love with Marisol. And each time, he showed her how much she meant to him.

  “The others are already running. Are you ready, Callum?” Zambro asked.

  “I am. We’ll paint the night red, brothers.”

  “We will.” Zambro turned to address his brothers. “Remember, except for Callum, we each have three more lives left. If Callum dies tonight, he will turn. Do not hesitate. We will have to kill him.”

  Curses started flying out of his brothers’ mouths. None of them wanted to do the task, but one of them must.

  “Brothers, we always do what we can to protect the humans. Only this time, we’re not just going to stand guard—we’re facing Atos head-on. Our fight tonight will define the Midnight Howl’s vow to guard and protect. Not only does Atos want Marisol’s heart, he has threatened to harm the innocents. That, my brothers, is not acceptable.”

  “As long as the Midnight Howl exists, there’s no way he can repeat what the Crom did to humans.” Rodolf ground the words out.

  “Right, brother. And we’ll show him tonight that he can’t make threats to humans, or someone we care about, and not get punished for it.”

  “Severely punished,” Callum added. “Victor, remember what I told you. Do not let Marisol out of your sight. And no matter what happens, keep her in the den.”

  “Got it, bro.”

  “This is idiotic, Callum. Why couldn’t you just stay here? Stay with Marisol and…and produce little...I don’t know, little nieces and nephews. You don’t have to fight with us. We’ll kill the bastard for you.” Ty kicked an empty recycling bin. It flew and hit a pile of rotten wood leaning up against the wall.

  Squeaking sounds Callum suspected came from a family of rats made him think about Marisol. The first time he took her here, she’d made funny faces when she saw the pests. God, how he missed her already.

  “Brother, I think you need a woman to worry about.” Callum cupped the back of Ty’s head and ruffled his hair. He leaned closer to him then whispered, “I love you, too, ugly face.” To everyone, he said, “We are the Midnight Howl. Think about the people we’ve sworn to protect. We’ll fight Atos. If he kills me, so be it, but if I kill him, we’ll be saving more lives.”

  “Temporarily.”

  “Nothing is permanent, Ty.”

  “Except love?”

  “Except love. So, are we ready to roll?” His brothers gave him their wicked grins. “Let’s go kick some Blood Robbers’ dirty asses.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Atos Deilo lay sated on the tangled sheets that held the musky scent of sex and sweat while he watched the sheer curtain dance with the breeze coming through the partly opened window. The king-sized bed he shared with his longtime lover, Zenaida, was perfect for the kind of wild sexual play they both liked to partake in. He was glad for Zenaida’s company, for taking his mind off the recent death of his brother, Pic. Only she could take him into the world where worries, hatred, doubts, and pain didn’t exist. In between her legs, he was free to let go of himself and enjoy life’s bliss.

  Zenaida understood him, his belief in ridding the earth of drunks, whores, ra
pists, drug addicts, pushers, and all kinds of dirty scabs not worthy of calling themselves humans. Unlike the goody-two-shoes Midnight Howls. The fucking morons thought feeding on criminals was wrong. If they’d only open their stupid eyes, they’d see the Blood Robbers were doing this world a favor by purifying the line of humans. Why use the law—corrupt lawyers, judges, and juries—to decide whether to let an offender loose or not? Most of them were repeat offenders and deserved to die a painful slow death. So why not feed on them?

  They were not vampires by any means. Vampires fed on humans to live. The Blood Robbers fed on filthy humans. Of course, occasionally Blood Robbers would kill an innocent, especially when threatened or cornered. So fucking what? Humans bred like rabbits, overpopulating their world.

  The Crom’s leader, his ancestor, was right about ending the friendship between shape-shifters and humans. Humans’ greed and thirst for war proved that they were beneath the Crom. The fuckers were the reason why shape-shifters’ lives were limited to five instead of forever. If stupid Youven hadn’t rutted in between his human wife’s legs, they’d still be here. They’d all still lead immortal lives.

  Five fucking lives and whoever was stupid enough to lose his or her fifth life would turn into a Cancer. Although his brother did not enjoy his third, fourth, and fifth lives because of the bitch Callum had taken into his den.

  His runner’s anguished voice reverberated in his mind. Echoed in his brain so loudly he felt he’d go crazy from it.

  Callum and the doctor’s daughter killed Pic without mercy. They laughed at him as he lay bleeding on the floor. Pic begged for his life, but they didn’t listen.

  Doctor Mark Saint James bred the bitch that killed his brother with the help of Callum. For that, both must pay.

  Ha! Tonight, war between the Blood Robbers and Midnight Howl would take place at the old cemetery because stupid Dyrdek refused to give up Marisol. The bastard had fallen in love with Mark’s daughter and he’d called for a challenge with an absurd condition instead. If Callum won he’d leave Marisol alone, but if he won, he could choose between killing Callum or let him turn into Cancer.