She couldn’t stop the goofy smile tugging at her lips. “How’d I get so lucky?”
It had only taken Coy hitting her with his car, running from a drug cartel, and getting shot four times. And she’d have every one of those things happen to her again if it meant she got Coy in exchange.
Lizzy rose up on her toes for another little peck. Just a tiny kiss to bolster her courage in the face of well-deserved ridicule. His hands moved to her waist as she laced her arms around his neck. She moaned when his thumbs brushed the lower part of her breasts on either side. Her nipples perked to attention. Her lower bits clenched as the kiss became less gentle. Lizzy parted her lips for Coy, opening for his invading tongue. Their lips melded in a dance of fierce desire, and Lizzy finally understood real passion. In his arms, she couldn’t get enough. She would always want more when it came to Coy.
“Wooowie!” a woman said, startling Lizzy from her lust-filled reverie.
She stared at the now open door, crowded with a dozen of her friends all craning for a better view, and at the forefront, the woman who was now grinning like a crazy person, was Ana.
“Hey, Ana.” She gulped hard, straightening her blouse that had been tugged out of her black jeans. She nodded to the rest of them. “Hope we’re not late.” She looked up at Coy and then flushed. His mouth, chin, and parts of his nostrils—how the heck had that happened—were smeared with bright red lipstick. Sorry.
For what?
She used her finger to make a circular gesture around her mouth, which she was certain mirrored his. Coy laughed.
Ana laughed as well. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas,” Lizzy mumbled.
“You must be Coy.” Ana ushered them inside. “I can’t tell you how nice it is to meet you. Lizzy can show you where the bathroom is.”
Donovan arrived in time to usher everyone into the house and away from the door. “Ease up on them,” he said.
Lizzy gave him a quick, brief hug. They’d had a long talk in the morning, and Lizzy realized how lucky she’d been all these years. Donovan had been a great parent, and she hadn’t missed out on a thing. It’s why she and Coy decided to take Wright’s last name. Coy couldn’t keep Vega, and Lizzy decided Langston hadn’t been that lucky for her parents. He teared up when she’d asked him. It seemed they’d both cared more about each other than she’d ever let herself believe.
Ana waved Donovan away then put her hand on her very pregnant belly. She leaned in close to Lizzy. “Cold cream is under the sink.”
Yep, Lizzy thought, she would not be living this one down anytime soon. Coy smiled, his face full of adoration.
Did the ribbing from her friends really matter?
His whiskey-colored eyes sparkled as their gazes locked.
Nope, it didn’t matter at all. Not one iota. Yes, for more than eighty years, she’d hated Christmas. Did everything in her power to avoid the festivities surrounding December twenty-fifth. But in the course of a day and night, her feelings had changed. Well, Merry-freaking-Ho-ho-ho. Christmas miracles did happen.
***
Coy watched the lycanosapiens, who were just people when they weren’t all wolfed out, mingle and laugh and love each other. They were a family, the kind he’d dreamed about having when his parents became too much to take. He couldn’t explain the jubilation he felt surrounded by Lizzy’s tribe. Her guardian, Donovan Wright, agreed to get the evidence file on the Ortiz Cartel sent to the DEA...anonymously. That part of Coy’s life was over, and he had no plans to look back. Coy Vega died along with the bad guys, and Coy Wright took his place. The only thing that mattered now was Lizzy and their child.
His felt a rush, making him light-headed for a moment. Lizzy squeezed his hand.
“You okay, babe?”
“Yes,” he said. He’d won the fucking lottery, and he couldn’t fathom how much his life had changed in the span of two days.
Several people congratulated them on their mating, on the child it produced, and it seemed so weird, but also great, to have all these people care about them. About him. He hadn’t really mattered before Lizzy. She made his life count for something. He only wished he had more to offer.
You have given me everything, she said, her voice invading his head. She took his hand and placed it flat on her stomach. Everything.
“I’m so in love you, Lizzy. Te amo. I don’t need time to sort out how I feel. You are my heart and soul.” He couldn’t keep the emotion from choking his words.
She kissed him, and he didn’t care if she covered him in lipstick again. As a matter of fact, he couldn’t stop thinking about how nice it would be to see that color smeared all over other places on him. Lizzy smacked him playfully and bit on her lower lip, tugging it into her mouth.
I have a brand new tube in my purse, she told him.
And I have a brand new erection.
She glanced down at his groin, eyes wide, as she stared at his bulging hard-on. He pulled her into his arms and brushed her hair from her face before he kissed her. She rubbed her hips against his groin, and he fought the urge to take her to the nearest closet and ravish her thoroughly and completely.
Her blue eyes shined with unshed tears. “I’m in love with you too, by the way.”
“I knew that,” he said. God, she made him so very, very happy. “Merry Christmas, Lizzy.”
Lizzy smiled and kissed him again. “Merry Christmas, Coy.”
The End
About Renee George
Renee George is a USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, erotic romance, contemporary romance, and romantic comedies that highlight varying themes including traditional, ménage, gay and bisexual relationships. A published author since 2005, she has written and published over 30 books in the past decade. Accolades include: EcataRomance Award for Best Paranormal Erotic Romance and Best Gay Erotic Romance and a Literary Nymph Blush Award for Best Paranormal Romance.
More Shifter Romances by Renee George
The Cull Series (Short Stories, MF, Werewolves, Sensual Romance)
www.ozarkshifters.com
The Lion Kings (MFM, Shapeshifter Ménage)
www.lionkingshifters.com
Midnight Shift Series (Paranormal, Shifters, Ménage)
www.midnightshifters.com
Bound by Joy
by
Tracey Jane Jackson
Copyright © 2015
Cover by Jackson Jackson
CHAPTER ONE
Two Years Ago...
Edinburgh, Scotland
KENNA MCFADDEN WALKED into her sister’s home... her home, for the time being anyway... and fell into Gillian’s hug. She was on hiatus from her job as tour manager for the multi-platinum album selling band, Fallen Crown, and she desperately needed the break. “Och, sis, I’m knackered.”
Gillian gave her a squeeze. “You’re always knackered when you’re done with a tour.”
Kenna sighed with relief, looking forward to reconnecting with her family... finally. “Aye, ‘tis true. I can’t wait for the next year off.”
“Max is givin’ you a year, is he?”
“That’s what he said.” She smiled. “I still have my job with Rogue, but it’ll only be a couple of days a week for now.” Rogue was a non-profit company the leaders of Fallen Crown, Niall and Max, started to aid and protect human women and children in abusive situations. Kenna helped women settle into their new lives, using her gift of suggestion to calm often volatile situations. “You know what Rogue is like, it’s feast or famine, so the hours are unpredictable. Plus, besides her normal duties, Grace is taking over a lot of the tour management, so it’s all good.”
Max’s mate, Grace, was now working for Kenna as her assistant and Kenna loved her. She also loved knowing that if she ever wanted to leave her job permanently, she’d be leaving the band in Grace’s capable hands.
“Are you all right with your job essentially being eliminated?”
“Aye, love. Very much so.
It’s a good time to transition out, anyway. I can concentrate on Rogue and perhaps spend more time with you.”
“Well, I for one am so glad you’re home,” Gillian said.
“Me too, love. With all the drama with Max, I’m especially drained.”
Gillian sighed. “I can’t believe he thought you had something to do with Moira’s death.”
Max and Niall’s sister, Moira, had been Kenna’s closest friend until Moira was brutally murdered. Max had somehow gotten in his mind that Kenna had lured her to her death and had spent more than a hundred years hating her for it. They’d just recently sorted through their issues and things were now forgiven.
“Max has always been a bit of a prick.”
Kenna giggled. “Thank God for Grace.”
“Aye... a thousand times, yes. Thank God for Grace.”
Kenna bit back a yawn. “I finally have enough time to find a home of my own.”
“You’re not goin’ anywhere until yer bound... or I’m bound,” Gillian countered. “Last standing spinster gets the house.”
Kenna giggled. “How old are we now?”
“I stopped counting at two hundred.”
“Exactly.” Kenna waved her hand in the air. “I doubt we’re going to find our mates any time soon.”
“One can dream, dear heart.”
“Aye. One can certainly dream.”
Gillian grabbed a suitcase and started toward the stairs. “Let’s get you settled. I made stew if you’re hungry.”
“You made me stew?”
“Aye, why?”
“You’re just the best sister ever.”
Gillian laughed. “Oh, if only you’d said that when we were wee.”
“I’m sure I did. A thousand times.”
“Never. Not once,” Gillian corrected.
“Well, I’m saying it now.”
Gillian grinned as she pushed open the guest room door. Kenna stepped inside, throwing the bag she carried onto the bed while Gillian set the other one near the door.
“Do you want to eat or sleep?”
Kenna nodded.
Gillian chuckled. “Come and eat then, and when you’ve had enough I’ll leave you to sleep.”
“Thank you.”
Kenna followed her sister downstairs and helped herself to dinner. “Any news from Payton?”
Their sister was mated to Brodie Gunnach, one of the princes of the Cauld Ane, and she was expecting their first child. She was due any day now and Gillian and Kenna had promised to be there for the birth.
“No. She’s just feeling huge and wanting the baby out.”
Kenna sighed. “She is big, eh?”
“Aye, but look at Brodie, you can’t exactly call him small.”
“Will she be okay?”
“Aye, love, she’ll be fine. Our babies are usually big.”
Kenna sat at the table and frowned. “How’s Brodie going to take all of this?”
Gillian laughed. “He’s going to completely lose his mind, but that’s part of the reason we’re going to be there.”
“Aye, I suppose ‘tis.”
Gillian poured herself a glass of wine and handed Kenna a Belhaven. “Eat yer supper and don’t worry about Pay. We’ll take good care of her.”
Kenna grinned with a nod, sipping the beer. “Thank you.”
* * *
Kenna awoke as the buzz of her cell phone busted into her dream. Ewan MacGregor was leaning in to kiss her after admitting his undying love for her. Of course, he wasn’t married with kids in her dream, because it was long before his wife had even been born.
“Hello,” she grumbled.
“Oh, Kenna,” a worried Alaina Meyer rasped. “Can you come in, please? We need your help.”
Kenna glanced at the clock. Three a.m. “What’s going on, love?”
“A human woman came in with her two kids and we’re having difficulty handling the husband.”
Kenna sat up and threw the covers off. “The husband’s there?”
“Aye.”
“And everyone’s in Inverness,” Kenna finished.
Max and Grace’s main home was in the Scotland countryside, and Niall and Charlotte were visiting for a few weeks.
Alaina’s voice hitched. “Aye.”
“What about Dalton or Cole?”
“I’ve left messages for both of them.”
“Okay, love, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” Kenna hung up and rushed to dress. She left a note for her sister, grabbed her keys, and headed out to the car. She wasn’t far from Rogue House, and at this hour, there was no traffic. Thank God for small favors.
Arriving at the back entrance of the Rogue offices, Kenna locked her car and rushed inside. She could hear the slurred bellow of a deep voice coming from the conference room near the lobby, so she made her way there. She walked inside to find a disheveled and filthy man, hands cuffed behind his back, sitting on the floor with his cuffs secured to a bolt in the concrete.
Dalton Moore leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his gun visible but still holstered. Dalton was the king’s brother-in-law, but he was also human and worked closely with the human side of the Cauld Ane security company. He was ex-FBI, American, and although he was model gorgeous, he was equally as scary when he had to be. He caught sight of Kenna and gave her a chin lift. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Kenna said. “Are the police on their way?”
“Yes.”
“Who the hell are you?” the man yelled.
“Shut your mouth,” Dalton demanded.
“Are you the bitch who kidnapped my family?”
Kenna frowned.
Dalton stepped in front of him, blocking his view of Kenna. “You speak to me not her.”
“I will find them,” the man seethed, and leaned to the right in order to see Kenna. “Then I’ll find you.”
Even though the man was human and would never be able to match Kenna’s strength, she couldn’t stop a shiver.
Dalton shifted again then faced her. “Safe room.”
Kenna nodded. “Thanks.”
She left as fast as she could and headed through the complicated maze of hallways and false walls and doors that led to one of three safe rooms. Each entrance could only be accessed through thumbprint and swipe card security panels, so even if someone found their way to one of the doors, they wouldn’t be able to get inside.
Kenna and three other people who’d worked for Rogue for more than twenty years were the only ones with access, plus Niall, Max, and their mates, which provided an extra level of security.
Sixth door in, she turned left and walked into the safe room open on the schedule. Alaina sat on one of the sofas holding a very thin toddler while a young woman, beaten and bloody, huddled in the opposite corner, a dirty young boy in her lap.
“Hi,” Alaina whispered.
“Hi. Has everyone been fed?”
“Cook’s making something for them now.”
“Thank you.” Kenna smiled gently and sat on the coffee table across from the woman. “How are you, lass?”
“Who are you?” the little boy demanded, obviously trying to protect his mother.
“My name’s Kenna, sweetheart. Can you tell me your name?” She reached her hand out to shake his hand. If he’d touch her, she could get him to do whatever she needed him to with her gift of suggestion.
“It’s Donall. I’m named after me father,” he said proudly, and took her hand.
“Well, that’s a very fine name.”
“I want me da.”
“Well, love, I’m afraid he’s not up to visitors right now.” She laid her free hand over his and studied him. “Can I have a look at yer mummy, please? I’d like to help her feel better.”
Donnall climbed from his mother’s lap and sat beside Alaina who was holding his sister.
“Thank you,” Kenna said, and focused on the mother. “You look pretty sore, love. Do you mind if we have you examined?”
“No,” she mumb
led, and then whimpered.
“She may have a broken jaw,” Alaina provided.
Kenna nodded and dialed Gillian’s phone.
“Kenna, you all right?” her sister asked.
“Aye. We have a woman and her two children here and I’m wondering if you can swing by and have a look at them.”
“Aye, love, but not for about thirty minutes. I’ve just finished up with a mum and have to turn her over to Dr. Madsen, then I’ll be able to leave.”
“That’s fine. She may have a broken jaw, is there anything I can do for her?”
“Just keep her still, love.”
“I can do that.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Gillian promised.
“Thanks.”
Kenna hung up and smiled at Donnall’s mother. “I’m going to grab some paper and a pen so you don’t have to speak, okay?” The woman nodded and Kenna stepped into the supply closet at the back of the room. Grabbing pen and paper, she also took some crayons and coloring books from their stash and headed back to the little family. While Alaina got the kids settled with the crayons, Kenna sat in front of the woman, handing her the paper. “Can you write down your name, please?”
She nodded and scribbled, Claire Mann.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Claire. My sister is a doctor and she’s going to be here shortly to have a look at all of you and then we’ll go about finding you a safe place to stay for a while. We have a flat here, and although it’s safe, I don’t like that your husband knows where you are.”
Claire nodded, blinking back tears.
“Right, love. I’m going to check on breakfast and then find some clothes for your bairns. We’ll let them have baths and get them fed and into something clean if that sounds good to you.”
Claire nodded again, and wrote, thank you.
Kenna smiled and took the back door out of the safe room and toward the kitchen. The rest of the morning was filled with police reports, paperwork, acquiring money for Claire and her family, along with procuring a safe place where Donnall Senior couldn’t find them.
Alphas Unwrapped: 21 New Steamy Paranormal Tales of Shifters, Vampires, Werewolves, Dragons, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More Page 138
