by A. C. James
Maelíosa’s head snapped up as the old-fashioned telephone jangled on the front desk. “Kieran, could you get that? I’m shattered!” She pillowed her head in her arms, letting her dark hair cover her eyes. The shrill ringing of the phone continued, and she was about to shove it off the edge of the desk before Kieran came to her rescue. Human technology... The shite they come up with.
“The Stables, can I help you?” Kieran’s thick, confident brogue cut through the pounding in her skull. She listened with vague interest as he carried on, evidently speaking to a potential client. By the time he’d hung up the phone, she’d straightened up on her stool and was looking at him expectantly.
“Anyone interesting?”
Kieran pulled a face. “A real git, by the sound of it. Said his mating paperwork wasn’t filed by the date he’d been promised.” Kieran rolled his eyes. “Told me I could go shove it up my arse.”
Maelíosa smirked.
He pretended to glare at her. “I saved you, now you owe me one. For real.” He raised his eyebrows at her, and she ignored the lustful look in his eyes. Maelíosa wasn’t exactly psychic, but she could tell the male púca was quite attracted to her...and every other relatively cracking woman in a twenty-kilometre radius. It was probably why she’d never given him the time of day. Women were conquests to Kieran.
Maelíosa laughed. “Thanks, then...you really saved the day.”
Kieran rolled his eyes again. “Did you ever think we’d have this much success?”
Maelíosa shook her head. Her hair whipped back and over her shoulders, and with some irritation, she tied it into a low ponytail. “No,” she said bluntly. “I didn’t want to tell Da, but I thought this whole idea was complete bollocks.”
Kieran stared. “Really? And you went along with it anyway?”
“It was either come work here or mate with someone in the clan.” Maelíosa shrugged. “And you know how I feel about mating.”
Kieran held her gaze, but a slight flush appeared on his cheeks. “Aye,” he said, and let out a sigh. “You don’t have to remind me.”
Maelíosa frowned. She glanced down at her hands, folded on top of the front desk. For some reason she was unwilling to tell Kieran the rest of the deal she’d made with her father, Fallon. Working at The Stables, the clan’s new mating resort, had been put on the table as an option...but only if Maelíosa eventually promised to mate with a suitable human. Just the thought of it made her nose wrinkle. She couldn’t stand the idea of mating—especially not now, not when everything was finally back to normal.
The past year had been a real mess, though it’d shaped up better than she’d expected after Nathan revealed their existence to the world. It had weakened the veil, however, which they now had to guard against stupid human tourists who’d likely stumble through while trying to snap a photo. Maelíosa rested her chin in her hands. Even when she was resting, she still felt as though she were legging around, frantically putting the finishing touches on The Stables.
After Archer’s death, Fallon and the other púca discovered his true intentions for the property in the Aran Islands: a tourist attraction, one that promised to let humans spy on the púca in their natural habitat. Thankfully, Archer was dead now. So Fallon had purchased the abandoned resort property, and turned it into the classiest of...what was it, exactly? Maelíosa giggled to herself as she tried to come up with a suitable term. It wasn’t exactly a house of ill repute. More like a matchmaking service. A very high-end matchmaking service, with supernatural clientele.
“What’re you laughing about?”
Maelíosa snapped back to reality. Kieran was staring at her, and as usual she met his gaze with her own fiery stare. “Nothing,” she lied.
Kieran raised his eyebrows and she laughed.
“Fine. I never thought that git’s book would get so much attention.”
Kieran shook his head. “More than a git, I’d say. Nathan’s a real arsehole. As if a blog post didn’t cause enough damage.”
“Aye.”
He sighed. “But something good came out of it, right?”
“I’d say more than something.” Maelíosa gazed around the opulent front hallway of The Stables. She and the clan had all worked together for almost a year finishing what Archer had started.
Kieran chuckled. “I can’t believe you work here, even though I’ve seen it with my own two eyes.”
She wrinkled her nose and changed the subject. “Still, there’s that nasty group of eejits. What’re they calling themselves, Only Human?”
Kieran nodded. “They’re a dangerous bunch of gits,” he said darkly. “Racist arseholes. You know what Finn told me?”
Maelíosa shook her head. Finn was a big, goofy púca who worked at The Stables with Kieran occasionally. The two púca would always make a go of it at Tí Joe Watty’s, the local pub, after their shifts.
“Some tourist was making bloody jokes about us,” Kieran said. “Kept saying his ex-bird would need a horse around for the size of her fanny. Finn got into it—the tourists eventually backed off, but not until Finn had scared them right proper.” He raked a hand through his dark hair. “That bloody book turned us arseways!”
Maelíosa narrowed her eyes. “And think, Felicity used to like that piece of shite. He’s responsible for all of this!”
Kieran exhaled sharply. “She didn’t know what a real git he is, and neither did Cyn. It’s not their fault. You can’t go blaming someone for someone else’s arsehole behaviour.”
The two fell silent. Ever since Nathan Wood had published an entry on his popular blog, Everyday Supernatural, the lives of the púca had been drastically altered. And when he’d published a tell-all book, revealing even more information about Fallon, Maelíosa, and the púca clan, things went from bad to worse. Nathan was a friend of Felicity’s and Cyn’s from their old lives back in London, but when they’d travelled to the Aran Islands to report on supposed púca sightings, everything had changed. Felicity and Niall, Maelíosa’s brother, had fallen in love and mated. And after a little difficulty, Cyn and Fallon, Maelíosa’s father, had done the same.
Maelíosa and Cyn hadn’t always had a warm relationship, but things had improved in the past year. Working together on The Stables brought the two of them into almost daily contact, and Maelíosa eventually overcame her grudge against her stepmother. Even though Nathan had complicated matters for the clan, she couldn’t deny how happy Cyn made her father. They’d made an alliance, albeit a shaky one.
“Aye, you really can’t,” Maelíosa said agreeably.
Kieran nodded. “Aye.”
“Our alliance with the humans, that’s a bonny thing, right? Everyone knows we’re bloody skilled healers. It’s done heaps for our reputation.”
Kieran arched an eyebrow. “That’s all grand. But what if that arse from the pub is a member of that Only Human group?”
Maelíosa sighed. “Don’t think about it. We can’t go around worrying about who could be associated with the OH and let paranoia get the better of us. Besides, you and Finn are paranoid enough for all of us.”
Kieran scooted closer to her and batted his eyelashes like a girl. Like all of the púca, he was stunning in human form as well as in stallion form. Maelíosa had noticed that, but Kieran was too much of a flirt for her to consider anything else.
“I’ll think about something juicy instead,” Kieran said with a wink. He leaned in close. “Fancy a pint after work?”
“Oh, hump off,” Maelíosa said mildly.
She jerked her head toward the door. There was a tall man standing in the foyer. He had close-cropped dark hair, tan skin, and grey eyes. Interestingly enough, he also had a young girl with him. She stood beside him with those same serious grey eyes, a tall and resolute wisp. Maelíosa was immediately reminded of her younger sister Darcy, except that while Darcy could never sit still, this girl’s sedate appearance made her seem years older.
“Blimey O’Reilly,” Kieran muttered. “He’s brought a little bird with him, too!”
Maelíosa chewed on her lower lip. “Aye.”
She couldn’t deny the grey-eyed man was quite attractive, but who’d bring a child to fill out a mating application? And why?
Continue reading this story or turn the page for a special note from the author...
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading, Ride: Season Two with Cyn and Fallon’s story. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it! It would mean a lot to me if you could leave a review, even if it’s just a line or two. Reviews help readers find the books that they’ll like. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.
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Happy Reading,
A.C. James
P.S. I’ve included a preview of my Ever After Series in case you like vampires who are into a little kink and enjoy new adult paranormal. Just turn the page ;)
P.S.S. I was invited to write in Milly Taiden’s Paranormal Dating Agency world. So if you like HAWT shifter romance with alpha males and curvy women then you should check out my book Finding Her Bearing. Turn the page for a little taste...
Finding Her Bearing Preview: Milly Taiden’s PDA World
First love + mistaken identity + one BBW Latino and a sexy bear shifter = one smoking HAWT romance.
If you liked GEEK BEARING GIFTS from the Paranormal Dating Agency you’ll love FINDING HER BEARING.
Trigger Warning: This book was written to shine a light on domestic violence and may be difficult for survivors.
CHAPTER ONE
CARI SMOOTHED HER HAIR, sucking in one last breath before knocking on the door. This was stupid-crazy, and the last thing she needed right now. How she let Jess talk her into it, she’d never know.
The door swung open to reveal a small woman, a shock of white hair framing her smooth features in a stylish bob. She was short, but her wide smile made her seem larger than life.
“Hello, dear. I’m Gerri, and you must be Cari. Why, you’re even lovelier than Jess described. Come on in. I was just about to have some tea.”
Cari smiled at the spitfire of a woman and stepped into the apartment. Gerri closed the door and led her into a small kitchen.
“Have a seat. Would you like some tea?” Gerri’s shrewd, knowing eyes measured her movements as Cari pulled back a chair and took a seat at the kitchen table.
“Sure.”
The woman poured two cups from the kettle on the stove, placed one in front of Cari, and sat across from her.
“Thanks,” Cari said, taking a tentative sip from the oversized cup.
“So, how’s your sex life?”
Cari choked, trying to keep a mouthful of tea from spewing across the table. Jess hadn’t been kidding when she warned that Mrs. Wilder was a bit blunt. That seemed like an understatement.
Cari straightened her shoulders and met her inquisitive, no-nonsense look with bold caramel eyes. “Nonexistent.”
She hated to admit it, but it was true. She hadn’t been with anyone since her ex. That disaster had ended eight months ago, and she’d moved back here. It wasn’t where she’d grown up—Cari moved here with her grandmother in the ninth grade—but she always considered it home. When she inherited her grandmother’s old, ramshackle house two years ago, she hadn’t known what to do with it. Now it was the perfect escape, a place her ex had no idea even existed. Cari had been on her own fixing it up for the past eight months.
“Do you want it to be?” Gerri asked.
Cari thought for a moment. This whole thing was Jess’s crazy idea. They’d been friends since high school; everyone else had been standoffish to the new girl living in the rundown house on the edge of town, but Jess hadn’t cared.
She was enjoying the hell out of her newfound independence, but a woman had needs. She was comfortable with her curves, her plus-size hourglass shape, and her sensuality. Cari licked her lips. Didn’t she deserve to live a little? Besides, she needed a date for her ten-year reunion.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for a major commitment, but no-strings-attached sex is something I could handle. And I need a date for my high-school reunion.”
Gerri pursed her lips. “Is that so? I may have a shifter in mind, but are you certain all you want is sex?”
Cari frowned. She really wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore. It’d been a long time since anyone even asked her. She was just getting to know the smart, sexy, self-assured woman she’d forgotten. Her ex had really torn her down. Then she thought about the only guy who ever made her feel like a goddess: her high-school crush. It was a like a lightbulb went off. She’d been too scared to say anything back then. Maybe all this reunion business was bringing back old memories, but he was definitely the definition of what she wanted in a mate.
“I just got out of a really bad relationship,” Cari explained. “I’m not sure I can make any promises.”
Gerri studied her for a moment. “You don’t trust yourself.”
Wow. Gerri really knew how to read people, in a spooky, second-sight sort of way.
Cari swallowed. “That’s exactly it.”
Gerri’s eyes lingered on her, and Cari made an effort to keep herself from fidgeting.
“Honestly, I’m not sure I’d know what to do if someone was nice to me. I have an uncanny way of attracting assholes,” she admitted.
Gerri let out a full-belly laugh, and her whole face lit up. “I can see why you and Jess are such good friends! Shifters can get their alpha egos in a twist sometimes, but I can assure you I’ll find you one who isn’t an asshole.”
Cari laughed too. She really liked Mrs. Wilder’s candor, a refreshing change from polite, superficial exchanges. “Hopefully you can find one before the reunion next week.”
“I think we can manage to find you a date. What kind of man are you looking for?” Gerri asked.
Her hunky high-school crush popped into her head again. He’d been sweet, lanky, and easy on the eyes. She squirmed in her seat and cleared her throat.
“I want someone who’s smart, fun to be with, trustworthy, a good friend, and someone who makes healthy choices. I need someone who shows up, and calls when he says he will,” Cari said, her gaze reflecting in the large cup in front of her. “I deserve someone who makes me feel good and accepts me.”
She swallowed against the lump in her throat. She couldn’t believe she was telling Geri all the hopes she’d pinned on relationships that always ended badly. That’s what she wanted, but she attracted men who were all wrong for her. She’d been cheated on, put down, and put up with shit when she should have walked away a helluva lot sooner.
Gerri grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “You leave it to me.”
Cari couldn’t imagine anyone could measure up to her crush. They’d met painting scenery for the high school drama club. He always made her feel safe and comfortable. Cari could really be herself around him. He was her best friend besides Jess. They’d talk for hours about everything and nothing. She’d always regret not telling him how she felt about him, but it wasn’t until college that she’d embraced her curvaceous Latino b
ody. If only Liam could’ve met the version of herself that was bold, fearless. She wasn’t sure that girl existed anymore.
She wasn’t sure that that Gerri could find someone who met her qualifications, either. Cari smirked. “Well, it’s a pretty tall order.”
“Honey, what you want in a man is what every woman deserves, and I assure you it does exist,” Gerri said, her eyes twinkling.
Continue reading this story or turn the page for vampires and BDSM...
Eternal Ever After Preview
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink.”
–Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version
Preface
I NEVER GUESSED THAT I would die with a sea of faces surrounding me, all cheering for my death. A woman wearing a jacket dress made of brocade only laughed louder when blood splattered her low, square neckline. Where is Arie? I scanned the crowded club, but all I could see were pale faces, some half-covered by masks.
My time had come, and I prayed she would finish me off quickly. The warm trickle of blood ran down my neck and chest, saturating the corset bustier of my gown. It seemed like a shame to ruin such a pretty dress. Strangely, I felt relieved the bodice was black and not a light color that would show a stain.
The fear of dying, or more accurately the fear of not existing, scared me stiff. Perhaps if I had satisfied this existential anxiety with faith I wouldn’t jump from panic to ambivalence. I should be angry at everyone who simply watched. They must think the gruesome display was part of the entertainment for tonight. After the bloody burlesque show, I could hardly blame them.
-Holly, I gave you the chance to leave.- The telepathic transference hardly seemed relevant at this point. I knew if I’d never gone to the Hellfire Club, I wouldn’t be facing death now. Still, if my death meant the killings would stop, it seemed justifiable.
“No!” I could barely hear Arie scream above the cheering voices clamoring for attention. The constant drone defied my effort to form coherent thoughts. I looked up and could see him on the balcony. When I blinked, he’d disappeared into the throng. I could feel the blood continue to trickle down my neck as she drained me. Dizziness threatened to pull me under. The audience applauded her brutality as I crumpled at her feet, looking up at her paper-thin smile.
