by Erin R Flynn
“Make it a pint of blood to use,” Brian guessed. “The one annoyance about donating blood is it takes so long or you go for a drive and you’re waiting. Most hospitals aren’t even set up to take blood unless it’s an appointment and they never run on time. You could have someone right there to take the blood and like you do at the club with the shifters, and it’s not the normal crazy because it’s not medical grade.”
“No, it’s for the coven’s consumption later and it won’t be fucked with again.” I glanced between the councilmen. “But you need to make it real fucking clear with the covens that they cannot mess this up. No back room biting or whatever. Everything has to be above board and clean. Vlad doesn’t ever allow any private biting of customers. It’s always public so there are lots of witnesses.
“But yeah, you guys need help with your image, and Melicent thought it would be a good place to start in opened minded places like Chicago and New York. Or now we have New Jersey too, but you get it. You could hire a shifter to take the blood so no one ever accuses them of biting. The only thing we are to most is trouble. We have to change that image or things could get worse. Iran was a good move for the region, but others are rallying against it.”
Dubois gave me a skeptical look. “And you think a gym will really turn the tide? That is quite the fight.”
“Right now you’re not doing anything. The way people react to vampires in Chicago is very different than even here in New York. Vlad and the coven work hard for that. For all of my crap with him, he works very hard to change the perception of vampires.” I waved off what he went to say next. “I know a medical examiner who was saved from a mugging by a vampire. That’s one person. You’re right, not much for the fight.
“But one person tells her story and now it’s four or so that have heard about it. Then someone posts to social media and there is a lot out there against you guys. You need more good. You need the voice of that one guy who you warned he’s got high blood pressure or cholesterol when he went to your free gym. That’s something the news eats up. You help give a mommy who just gave birth and is struggling under the stress a way to help, and people will love you.”
“You have more to this that you’re plotting,” Brian accused. He moved in front of me and cupped my face when I didn’t answer. Smirking at me, he rubbed his thumb against my skin. “I know that look, Sera.”
“It’s Melicent’s idea,” I reminded him.
Mirth danced in his eyes as he backed me up against the SUV, surrounding me with his larger frame as he moved his hands into his jacket and along the dress, which meant he also touched a lot of skin.
“Tell me what you’re plotting and after we finish here and give everyone their jobs, you have one more bet to win, and then we can have some full moon fun in that huge tub. Or let’s soak naked in the hot tub on your balcony and then I’ll wash your hair before tucking you in now that I can sleep next to you. I want to sleep with you wrapped all around me, Sera. Let’s finish here so we can go.”
I yanked his head down and fed him some energy so he was just as wound up as he made me. “Dick. I was going to tell you privately. We don’t share everything with the whole class.”
“Sorry,” he murmured, kissing along my neck. “Sometimes it’s paranormal only and I wanted to make sure I was involved this time.”
I smirked at him. “You get a lot that other paranormals don’t.”
“I do,” he chuckled, brushing his lips over mine. “Don’t distract me. You’re cold and we should get going. What’s the plan?”
I sighed, knowing everyone else would hear me. “Part of it was Vlad’s business plan for the clubs and his shot competition. Humans are very competitive. Not to say we’re not, but they push it a bit more.” I raised an eyebrow at Brian when he opened his mouth to defend that. “How many times have you looked at my energy output in the building’s gym we post and tried to outdo it? I’ve seen you grumble to watch Carter do way over what you can.”
He gave me a bright smile. “You are such a brat. You’re planning on every muscle head and fitness crazy coming try to beat you guys and with that kind of energy you’d make money at the gyms. They’ll pump in energy back into the grid. You’ll also make it a community. Not vamps with their stuff and shifters with theirs but like the club where it blends everyone and no one cares.”
I nodded, my heart racing at how well he knew me.
“There’s more,” Eugene busted… Which had been the rest of my heart racing.
I sighed. “Yeah, there’s more. Women will now be top wolf in two of the three largest US cities. That’s dangerous, but it’s not like we get a chance to just show off how strong we are. Except now we could. No one could outdo us, and girls would win. Plus, it would make some of the lazier and depressed shifters get out there and see they’re doing something, not fighting a losing battle.
“But also, one of the draws I hear all the time from guys in the office to go to the gym was there were hot girls not wearing much. Right, because shifters would care? So they go help with the energy crisis, make money and jobs for vampires who need the good PR, build a community, and everyone try and beat us. And I don’t know, maybe we extend our clothing line to sexy workout clothes? It’s a chance to do better all around, Bri.”
“I love you,” he whispered before kissing me like no one else was around. It was hot and gentle and damn, it made me wet. He knew how to push every button of mine. When we were done, he smirked at me. “That’s one hell of an idea, Melicent. It would definitely put you on a different level to pull that off with the right marketing helping to bring vamps ‘out of the coffin’ or whatever along with more PR for paranormals all around.”
“Yes, apparently I am ridiculously brilliant and impressive in a way I never even knew,” she purred, giving me a wide grin when I glanced at her. “Apparently my youngest sister has showed there is a lot more we can do as women than the world has allowed us before, and now is the time to shine.”
I shrugged. “I just like how hot and bothered it makes Brian when I outdo his workouts. He normally takes his frustration out on me that I’ve caused.”
Several people burst out laughing. Hey, that was much better than what all of this had started at.
17
“Ready to play?” I teased Apollo a while later as I pushed the dress off my shoulders. Melicent and her people had gone back to their suite while the vampires took possession of the cartel, knowing the interrogations started in the morning as we were still dealing with the full moon.
And the fun that came with it.
“What are we playing?” he asked as he sat on the arm of one of the plush chairs of the upper lounge of my suite.
“Who can make who finish first. That was the last game left, right?”
He nodded, taking a slow sip as he stared at me. “We didn’t play what we did last time. Do you not want to see if I can’t wait five minutes again?”
I raised an eyebrow at that. “We both know you probably won’t. Why would you want to play that?”
He chuckled and took another sip. “Because it is extremely pleasing torture to watch you tempt me. Watching you try to entice me into breaking the time was some of the most exquisite fun I’ve ever had. Plus, I get to accept your offer where others don’t.”
I was about to remind him I wasn’t the entertainment, but my siren practically thumped me mentally. She’d had way too much work and crazy and not enough full moon fun.
Fair enough.
“Jonik, want to play?” I asked him, biting back a smile as his arms wrapped around me moments later. “Do you get the game?”
“No, but you want to play it, and I will take any excuse to touch you,” he murmured in my ear.
“He’s trying to beat out the five minute timer,” I told him. “We’re trying to make him admit defeat and he can’t wait anymore to play.”
“Five minutes isn’t long,” he worried.
“I know what buttons to push. You just get me ready
because the moment he loses, we’re jumping into the next game of who can last longer during sex.” I gave a look to Dubois. “And we misbehave like a lot, so I want your word that your people can keep control of themselves because I do not want anything but fun or Brian hurt because he will defend me if someone loses their head.”
He gave a slow nod. “We will behave of course. I doubt there is much you could do to push us to that limit.”
I felt better when several men snorted… Including a few of his.
I had Jonik undress and lie on the floor, smirking at him as I moved over him, kissing him deeply. “Sorry I’m going to be mean, but I promise to be nice later.”
“You could never be mean, Sera, and I would take any chance to be with you.”
I kissed him again before sitting up and moving to straddle his face. “Sander, why don’t you start the five minute clock while Carter and Emilio join me.”
“I’ve seen this fun,” Apollo reminded me.
“Jonik wasn’t playing then, and you want him, like really want him,” I taunted, smirking when he just shrugged. Then I gasped as Jonik got impatient. “Hang on.”
“But you taste so good,” he groaned, giving me another lick.
I moved to sit on his chest more when Carter and Emilio joined us, meeting Jonik’s gaze as he lifted his head and licked me. I kissed Carter as Emilio’s lips moved along my neck. I nodded to Sander to start, and Emilio took the offer as well, sinking his fangs into my neck while his hands played with my breasts. I whimpered when Jonick added his fingers to the fun, and then it became a tornado of fingers, lips, tongues, fangs, and more all focused on me.
“I yield,” Apollo snarled after my third orgasm while I was giving Emilio an Alpha bite on his shoulder. “I yield!”
“Shit, so do I,” someone muttered behind me as several others said something similar.
I nodded I heard him as I pulled away from Emilio and about slid off of Jonik, my body twitching. I met the fairy’s hungry gaze. “You are extremely talented at that. You might be the only one who could beat Noah in the Olympics of oral sex. How the fuck do you move your tongue like that?”
“I can flatten my tongue and extend it further than most along with flip it back and forth,” he admitted, pride filling his eyes. “It would be my honor to show you at any time, Princess, no matter who else joined us.”
“Uh-huh,” I muttered, my body completely on board with that. I blinked up at Apollo when he pulled me to stand. “Right, sorry, got distracted.”
“Understandably so,” he chuckled, already naked. “What is your next gauntlet for me?” He stared at my breasts. “Last time I bit you to start.”
“Not this time,” I chuckled, giving Axel a wink. He undressed and joined us, lifting me up so my back was pressed against his chest and my legs spread, basically offering me to Apollo.
“I expected more,” Apollo said suspiciously.
I smirked at him and tilted my neck so I could kiss Axel, feeding from him. Then I yanked Apollo closer, telling him to get on with it. I moaned as he pushed inside of me, kissing him and giving him that power. “Fuck me but bite him.”
“Oh gods,” he groaned, slamming into me harder, really hard to start, but Jonik had more than gotten me ready.
“Or me,” Eugene murmured as he joined us. I glanced behind Apollo to see Eugene there, and naked from what I could tell.
“Your dire wolf is incredibly well endowed,” Apollo moaned as we were sandwiched together. “I’m jealous.”
“Sort of the point,” Eugene chuckled as his hands moved to my hips so he was moving me onto Apollo as he hugged us both more than Axel holding me for the vampire. Whatever they were doing, it felt amazing and I almost finished. I kissed Eugene and fed, knowing Apollo like the way that felt, but then I also gave him that power.
Yeah, we won. He leaned forward and bit Axel’s shoulder right after and finished as we pushed every button he had. Apollo had multiple orgasms as he wrapped his arms around Axel and me as he drank, making almost feral sounds.
When it was over, he leaned against Eugene with a laugh. “Fuck, Seraphine. You are such a minx!” He met my gaze and licked his lips, not a drop of blood on them from biting Axel. “Let her out. Let your siren come out and play again, Seraphine.”
Shock rocked me, and I couldn’t even hide it. “It wasn’t my winning that made you give Noah that huge prize but I let her out for real for the first time.”
It was his turn to be shocked. “That was the first? I experienced your first?”
I nodded. “Like that? Yeah, I’ve never just let the power out like that and given her whatever she wants, revving up the desire like that. I mean, all the parts of her.”
“That sounds a bit mean to her.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, because you just want me to do it again. It’s a bit… I could see it being addictive. Even she was a bit worried.” I shot a quick glance at Brian, letting Apollo know why else I didn’t want to do it.
“Sera, let her out,” Brian said gently. “If both of you are worried, then I’m not. Give her fun when it’s a bit wild like this and enjoy it when she can. It’s not something to do often, and it sounds like she knows that.” He shook his head when I glanced at him. “You were also mellow and destressed after it happened from what everyone said.” He moved closer and gave me a gentle smile. “I won’t love you any less. She’s part of you. Do you want to do it?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re still you just the dirty girl who was always inside of you waiting to come out and play,” he told me easily. “That’s not her talking but you. Let her out, babe. She’s good to you too and protects you. Give her this.”
“Everyone has to be willing to feel the power or they have to leave,” I warned people. “And just because you feel the power doesn’t mean you get to join in.”
“We’ll make sure of it,” Carter promised. “I’ll order food and drinks.”
“We’ll need them after all we just ate?” Brian asked.
“Yes,” several of us answered, but I continued. “Because we probably won’t be going to bed.” I smirked at him and then checked that no one wanted to leave, all of them very much wanting to stay, which worried me.
Mostly because Dubois was still there watching me like his next conquest that just didn’t realize she was on his radar. Yeah, I knew.
I let my siren out fully after we had a quick chat about being careful and not getting addicted or going dark side. The last time had been a few months ago, and I would be totally fine with it being something we did every few months or whatever, but it was a very slippery slope.
I felt better when she agreed.
I enthralled them all and then let Apollo screw me silly while Axel and Eugene did everything to make us both enjoy it more. Then both shifters sandwiched me between them and still they kept it to what we’d only done before. I made them beg me to bite them again, loving how desperate the men in my life were for that… And how much it made my wolf happy.
Then I took a “break,” and Jonik showed me more of his talents while I sat in one of the chairs and enjoyed every second of it. We had sex, and then I had sex with my ancients.
There was just… So. Much. Sex.
When I was completely, totally, and utterly spent, Brian carried me to the master bathroom to shower.
“How?” I mumbled, my eyes feeling heavy.
“How what?”
“How did you stay out of it?”
He chuckled deeply as he turned on the water, giving it a minute to warm up as he kissed my temple. “I’m already completely enthralled with you, babe. I love you. You’re not just sex and hormones and passion to me. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted you and I felt it. I did. I just feel more than that for you.”
“Still? You still love me after seeing what I’ve become?”
“Always, Sera. Apollo’s right that you’re a goddess. You’re a goddess, not a monster anyone would ever turn away from.”
/> I was pretty sure I thanked him and told him I loved him too before sleep took me.
18
We got to sleep in a bit the next morning since it was Saturday and there wasn’t regular court for the warrants, so someone was tracking down a judge to get us what we needed. Someone as in not me, and that was what mattered. Galvin said he’d been all over it with Haton, and once we learned more and I knew Brian had called him while I’d handled the councilmen, we were moving in soon.
I was in no rush. For the moment at least. All of me was sated, full, and happy, and I included my siren and wolf. My body had fuel, my siren had power, and my wolf had gotten some good hunts during the full moon, plus the other hungry all three of us liked was sated.
For once.
Axel, Eugene, and Melicent along with their people had headed out to the coven early to start the interrogations of the cartel. That left everyone FBI to sleep in and we headed out to a late breakfast that was on one of those “must visit” articles for NYC. I smiled as we ate, regular FBI talking with non-human division FBI as if there was no difference. Humans and paranormals laughing about goofy kid stories or whatever, just normal stuff.
And no one cared that the other wasn’t like them. I saw Carter talking about training with a few of Sands’s guys, and all of it reminded me of the old days during a big case where we called a time out to get a breath. It made me feel good and hopeful that more progress could be made.
I picked up the check since I had started it all, which made them happy since there were a lot of us. It was the least I could do as more than one team had to drop everything last minute and fly out to help with the crazy.
Plus, I had the money whereas I remembered all too well how hard it was to manage everything on a government salary.
The air seemed to change when we were heading out, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. It wasn’t like when a cold or storm front moved in… But sort of. It was that feeling of something coming and the very air around you felt different. If I had to put it into words, it was like a storm front of malice was coming. I reached for my weapon and realized I wasn’t the only one.
