20 Shades of Shifters: A Paranormal Romance Collection

by Demelza Carlton

  Faye didn’t comment on that because she didn’t want to spoil his delusion.

  Gideon slid down her body until he was kneeling by the bed. Faye wanted to close her legs at having his face so close to her. The previous night he’d done amazing things with his fingers, but this was daylight.

  Faye wanted to stare up at the ceiling and sing a song in her head to pretend that he wasn’t where he was. That was until he pulled her thighs over his shoulders and nuzzled his nose against her short curls.

  Pushing herself up to her elbows, she looked down at him in shock.

  Gideon looked up at her with a smile. “My new favorite place.” He proceeded to keep eye contact with her as he ran his tongue through her folds.

  Faye gasped and fell backwards. She heard him growl then the purring got louder. His tongue played through her slickness, driving her mad. His tongue felt rough and she knew that if she looked again, his eyes would be yellow.

  “That isn’t fair,” she said breathlessly.

  “Mmm, no, it’s not,” he agreed. “Doesn’t mean I’m going to stop. I want you to come in my mouth, Faye. I want to lap up every drop of you.”

  Every word out of his mouth was a shock to her. A sexy and exciting shock. He had been ramping up his talk from the first night they spent in bed together, whispering things in her ears that were almost as good as a touch. He could tell her what he wanted to do to her and she found herself wanting to rub up against anything that would bring relief. That purring noises he was making made her nipples hard. Just seeing him pulling off his shirt when he changed made her panties wet.

  He’d smile at her knowingly, the big jerk. But then she got the free show so she wasn’t going to complain.

  “Should we be doing this on the plane?” she asked, having a moment’s hesitation.

  “Beautiful, we should be doing this on a plane, in a car, in a bed, at the beach, and anywhere else we can think of.”

  Well, that covered a lot of bases. Faye wasn’t even contemplating pushing him again. She was in too deep, despite her mind still trying to trick her heart into believing something different.

  Gideon was driving her crazy, nipping and licking at her. His purrs vibrated against her clit, making her grind against him. She was going to come and she couldn’t stop herself from moaning louder. Gideon’s hands locked around her thighs and held her tight as she started to thrash against him.

  “Yes!” she moaned as her orgasm locked her body in pleasure. Wave after wave of pleasure tore through her nerves, fraying her mind to anything but her body reacting to Gideon.

  Gideon carefully brought her down, making sure to not touch her oversensitive clit.

  Faye was panting and hoping her vision would unblur when Gideon slid up her body. She could feel his cock poised at her opening, just resting against her with enough pressure to make her want to lift her hips towards him.

  “Faye, my lovely mate. I know you don’t want children yet. But our first time has to be this way. It’s how I claim you as my own.”

  Faye brought her hand up to his face, cupping his cheek. “I know. I want to be yours.”

  Gideon turned his head to kiss her palm. “It also means that I will always be yours.”

  “I truly hope so. I’ve gotten used to having you around.”

  He smiled at her and she smiled back. It was as good as she could get for declarations of love. He knew it and he didn’t seem to mind.

  Faye didn’t look away from Gideon’s gaze as he slid his thick length into her. She gasped as her body stretched to accommodate him. It had been a long while and he filled her completely. She was amazed at how many ways his eyes changed in mere seconds. She saw all that he was as he seated himself inside her.

  His hands came up to cup her face. He stared at her and Faye could swear he was looking directly into her soul. She looked back because there was no hiding from the life-changing moment they were sharing between them.

  Faye smiled up at him. She wanted him to know she was there, and she was choosing.

  Gideon didn’t smile back, he looked very focused. Faye decided to move things along and she tilted her hips, drawing him just a little deeper.

  “Minx,” he growled and finally started to move.

  Faye circled his shoulders with her arms and wrapped her legs around his hips. Gideon was holding back, she could tell, even though his thrusts were deep and hard. She took each one, reveling in the pressure against her clit, the friction that would bring her to another climax.

  She couldn’t keep her eyes off him. Her body wanted to close her eyes, focus all her senses on what she was feeling. Instead, she saw every small change as he held back the animal that he was, his eyes switching yellow then returning to their normal color.

  He wasn’t shifting, but she could see past his human face. There were layers of his soul on display. Faye wanted to see all of them.

  “Gideon,” she gasped and he ducked his head to her breast to pull one taut peak into his mouth. She arched to offer up her breast to him. He played with her, using his hand to hold her breast to his mouth.

  He flipped her over so she was straddling him. “Ride me, take us there,” he ordered.

  Faye had never done that before. She didn’t even know where to start. Gideon had both of his hands cupping her breasts, his eyes on their bodies where they joined together.

  “Gideon, I don’t…” she trailed off.

  His eyes came back to hers. “Do what feels good.”

  Faye thought she was pretty happy right where she was. His cock was buried deep inside her and she was itching to rub her clit herself.

  Gideon placed his hands on her hips and started guiding her up and down his cock. “That’s it, ride me. Make me come,” he said, his voice rough.

  Faye realized that she was in control. She could bring them both to their pleasure. He was giving her the choice.

  Moving against him, she let her head fall back as her pleasure built again. She wanted more, harder. So she lifted herself and slammed down on him. Gideon groaned and she reveled that she could make him feel like that.

  Faye picked up her pace, searching desperately for that sweet bliss that she had before. It was so close and she knew that when Gideon came, her life changed.

  She was ready for it. Pushing herself down on him, she ground her clit against him. Gideon moved his hand down in between them and she immediately felt her release ignite. Her brain grew fuzzy as her body took over. She was like an animal, hunting her release and grabbing it with both hands.

  “Faye,” Gideon roared as he bucked under her, his cock pistoning into her. Faye loved her name on his lips. It was more than just her name. It embodied how he felt about her.

  She felt the first hot jet of his cum inside her. It made her body arch seeking more of him. Faye felt him, and then her heartbeat sped up even faster than it had been. A warm sensation passed over her, every molecule of her being changing, growing into something different.

  Collapsing onto him, he could hear his heartbeat as she lay on his chest, then realized it matched her own. They were in sync in a wholly pure way.

  Gideon was still inside her; she could feel his cock twitching like it wasn’t quite done with her.

  “Faye?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Are you okay?”

  Faye laughed against his chest. “I’m really good. How about you?”

  “Do you really need to ask?”

  She didn’t, but she felt it was the polite thing to do.

  “Faye, you know about Kindred mates, don’t you? How things change?”

  “Mmm, less sick, a little longer life, that’s about all.”

  “Sometimes mates can sense each other. Not everyone, but it’s different for some. They are more connected.

  Faye liked the sound of that. “That sounds nice.” Gideon was rubbing his hands over her back and down over her ass. It was soothing and she was very comfortable.

  She found herself almost drifting
off when a thought teased through her mind. Faye pushed herself up against Gideon and stared down just above her heart.

  There in smaller form but an exact replica was the same symbol that Gideon had on his chest, its iridescent shine reflecting in the light of the room.

  “It’s the same,” she said breathlessly.

  “We’re the same,” Gideon agreed.

  Faye looked up to Gideon and saw his hand reach for his own mark. As his fingers trailed over it, she felt it. Right through her own mark and straight to her heart.

  “Forever,” she whispered.

  “Forever, my beauty.”

  Chapter 31

  Gideon didn’t know how to let her go, even for the briefest moment. His mate had been claimed. She was his now. And he’d never felt like he had truly lived before that first moment together.

  Their plane landed and Anson and Tucker were waiting from them on the tarmac, both standing like soldiers. Gideon ushered Faye into a waiting SUV. He couldn’t stop petting her, holding her close, and seeing to her needs. She didn’t seem to resist it, in fact, she seemed quite content.

  He wanted her happy. Gideon wanted to show her everything the island had to offer.

  There was no doubt about how he felt for her. He knew that she liked him, her eyes gave her away. He told her he didn’t need the words. He did crave them, and he wanted her love. But she’d had so many changes, it seemed like a minor desire compared to what she had already processed.

  Faye had handled the press so easily. His greatest worry of her feeling exposed was negated with just the shield of him being there.

  Arriving at the hotel, they drove past the main building to the outer edges of the property. There was a gated entrance that led to a sprawling villa.

  Gideon helped her out of the car and walked her into the house. It was designed to be a tranquil oasis, the colors and patterns all reflecting to the nature outside while maintaining a modern feel.

  Faye twirled around, her face lighting up. “This is all ours?”

  “It’s all yours. Our family owns this hotel.”

  “You do?”

  “Faye, whatever is mine is yours. You can come here whenever you want. We could live here if it would make you happy.”

  Her smile was indulgent. “Then it wouldn’t be as fun to visit.”

  Gideon nodded. Leave it to Faye to see things in a different life. He had spent enough time in Hawaii, his mother’s favorite place, that it had become common.

  For Faye, it was an adventure. He hoped she never lost that wonder.

  “What would you like to do first?”

  “I want to put my toes in the sand. I’ve never felt warm ocean water before.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll do.”

  Gideon walked Faye through the front living room that had a wall of windows that were currently pushed back to leave the whole side of the room open. In one corner was a Christmas tree that almost brushed the tall ceiling. It was decorated in white and gold ornaments with live white orchids dotting the tree. The smell enveloped the room in what could only be described as a tropical Christmas.

  Faye paused at the tree to run her finger over the petal of a flower. “It’s real?”

  Gideon nodded and held out his hand. She took it and he walked her out to the deck that seemed to stretch off into the horizon it was so big. An infinity pool surrounded by lounge chairs awaited someone wanting to bask in the sun.

  Faye skipped out and bent over to trail her hand in the water. “Can we swim later?”

  “We can do whatever you like.”

  She ran past him down to the beach, which narrowed as it butted up against a rock outcropping. Though it wasn’t private, it was difficult to get to and most people rarely ventured that far.

  Faye ran to the surf, kicking off her sandals as she went. Gideon turned back to see Anson and two other security guards fanning out to cover the possible approaches. They were watching his back so he could watch hers.

  Gideon stood on the shore as Faye waded in, her face completely relaxed.

  “Are you coming?”

  “No, I don’t think I will yet. Enjoy yourself.”

  Gideon couldn’t resist reaching up to his mark, he only needed to brush the edge of the design at the collar of his shirt to have Faye whipping around, her smile lighting up her face.

  “Stop that!” she laughed.

  Gideon knew that there was no way he’d stop. He was waiting for her to realize that she could do the same to him. It would be a way for her to express what she couldn’t say.

  He could spend all day watching her. She was relaxed. More importantly, she looked healthy. Whether she knew it or not, their claiming had made her stronger. They bond meant he could help her heal, keep her healthier. The chance of her ever getting the flu again was minimal.

  She would lead a much different life being a Kindred mate and Gideon had to hope that she wouldn’t regret the change, that she wouldn’t find his world too much to take and wish for her old simpler life.

  Faye was happy. She never could have imagined what it would be like in such a tropical paradise. The air smelled of flowers everywhere they went. Gideon had kept her busy, driving her around the island, and taking helicopter rides to show her the beauty that was everywhere around them. They made love every night. Gideon never seeming to tire of her. She hoped that she could keep his attention because she was totally addicted to him now. Her body craved him as much as her heart.

  He would wake her from some of the best sleep she’d ever had with a whispered, “Open for me.”

  She did, she always did. He would bring her to orgasm over and over. Their mornings started with leisurely showers where Faye became bold enough to take him in her mouth. She’d never done it before, but she wanted to bring him to his knees even if it was her kneeling first. She’d been attempting to finish each morning but she never got to. Gideon would take over and trade places with her. It was hard to argue when he made her feel so good.

  It was after one of those mornings that Gideon convinced her to have breakfast in bed as she breathed in the breeze that was blowing in from the open windows of their room. Faye was lazily tracing his mate mark with her hand. She loved that she could touch it and not get the same feeling as when he touched it. It was their sign to everyone that they were mated. It meant more to her than anything.

  “This might just be the most peaceful place in the world.”

  “It’s peaceful because I have about a dozen people keeping that peace.”

  Faye looked up in shock. “Really?”

  “Really. I didn’t want anyone to disturb us.”

  “They know we are here?”

  “They’ve known since before we left. I don’t want you to worry about them. I have it handled.”

  “But they’re out there?”

  “Far away out there. You don’t need to be concerned. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  Faye knew that better than ever. Gideon had taken to telling her he loved her multiple times a day. She woke up to the words and she went to sleep to them. They were the final thoughts that passed through her mind before she dreamed of their life.

  Those dreams had been changing over the last week. She’d never asked Gideon to use protection after that first time. The second time was more her fault since she threw herself on the bed during the tour of the house and knew by the look in his eyes that she could have whatever she wanted.

  After that, it didn’t seem practical. Faye knew plenty of people that took a long time to conceive. People didn’t have make babies on their wedding nights anymore.

  She had decided that she had everything she had never even hoped for. The universe had to be exhausted building the amazing world she was currently residing in. Babies could come later.

  It was a new experience not having to wake up to an alarm clock. Faye felt like she had slept more in the last week than she had in years. She was completely relaxed.

  “I had an idea when
you finally get out of bed,” Gideon teased.

  “Do not suggest shopping again. I don’t need anything. Did you see all the clothes Sabrina packed?” Faye had been trying to cycle through them but there was enough for four people to never have to repeat an outfit.

  “I was thinking surfing lessons.

  Faye shot up in the bed. “Seriously? Real surfing?”

  “There’s only one kind I know of. I have an instructor coming over to teach you the basics.”

  “You can’t teach me?”

  “I could, but I might get distracted if you wear that little pink bikini again. We might not get to any actual surfing.”

  “It’s not my fault they’re so small!” She’d been loath to wear them when she first pulled them out. They were not much more than scraps of fabric. The only reason she even dared was that it had taken two hours to put the first one on. Gideon kept removing it.

  “Maybe we should go shopping for a sensible one-piece,” she suggested.

  “Not on your life.”

  Faye smiled down at him. He was too good to her. “Fine, surfing, then what?”

  “I was thinking we could do a little shopping this afternoon. Christmas is next week; we could get each other something.”

  “Something reasonable? Not a Maserati?”

  “Why, do you want one?”

  “No! I’m saying that if I buy you a paperweight, are you going to buy me an island?”

  “Let’s make a rule that it has to fit under the tree.”

  Faye liked that idea. “Deal.”

  Chapter 32

  Gideon had never had so much fun in his life. His timid little mate was barking at the surf instructor that there was no way a person could stand still on a board that was moving on water. She’d practiced on the sand and had a confidence that came with the fun of springing up on the board with nowhere to fall but into the sand.

  Once they moved to the water, she even laughed through the skill of paddling. When it came to standing up on the board, it was met with fall after fall. Gideon kept himself close by, diving off his own board to retrieve her from the water over and over. He kept encouraging her, knowing that if she didn’t succeed, she’d keep them out until the moon shone over the water.