by Juniper Hart
She stepped closer, wanting him inside her own skin.
Ali felt as if she was being guided by an unseen force, like she was hovering above them both in the pines while also remaining exactly where she was. The feeling drove her dizzy, and she moaned into their kiss as his mouth grew more urgent against hers. She passionately returned his embrace, snaking her hands up his wide back, her fingers caressing every muscle along the way.
A fire burned inside her, and she wanted Alex to extinguish it—but not before it became a full-fledged conflagration.
His hands entwined in her dark hair, pulling her neck back. She shivered again, sighing as his hot breath nuzzled the skin of her neck.
Without warning, his hand grabbed the v-neck of her shirt and ripped it clean off her body with one move. The wind was knocked from Ali at the gesture, and heat coursed through her body and down between her legs as she stared open-mouthed at him.
Alex tugged her back then, pushing her roughly against the rough park of a coniferous, his hands fumbling on the buttons of her shorts. Ali released her grip on him, his forehead against her breastbone as she helped him to slip off her underwear, twisted inside her white cargos, which were carelessly tossed aside into the blackness.
It didn’t occur to her that she would be without clothes on the way back down the mountain, but even if it had, she wouldn’t have cared—all she wanted was for Alex to take her with the same animalistic passion he had been building her toward.
Ali cried out as one of his unbelievably long fingers plunged into her and slid along her cleft to toy with her throbbing clitoris.
“Take me,” she begged, her knees buckling as her back pressed into the tree, trying to brace herself. “Take me, please, take me…”
“Patience,” Alex growled, rubbing at her with more intensity.
Abruptly, the was a snapping noise in the air laced only with their heavy breathing.
A low, guttural growl emitted from Alex’s throat, and Ali watched as he suddenly fell onto all fours, his face transforming before her eyes.
His nose elongated into a snout, and high, silky white ears extended from his own. Sniffing around, Alex raised his snout into the air, and Ali shrank back in terror.
She wanted to scream, but she dared not make a sound or move an inch, sensing that there was something else out there; something more sinister than the beast before her.
Alex released a howl, falling back on his haunches.
He protectively held out a hand, as if warning her to stay put, and Ali’s insides twisted with a mixture of fear and confusion.
He doesn’t want to hurt me, she realized. He wants to protect me.
“Well, well, well,” a voice drawled, stepping from the path toward them.
Like Alex, the eyes of the newcomer glittered as if they had the ability to see through the blackness, but his were a crystalline blue, almost opaque. Jet black hair tickled the sides of his face. He took in the scene, running his tongue over his blinding white teeth, and there was no mistaking the extended canines, pointed and ready for God only knew what.
“Hello, Alex,” the stranger called cheerfully, approaching. He seemed to glide across the dirt, but Ali couldn’t be certain. After what she had seen tonight, everything seemed possible.
It was only until he stepped closer to them that Ali noticed the cloak he was wearing—she noticed just how pale his skin was, how red his lips were in contrast to Alex’s own skin and mouth.
At first, she thought he was a shifter, like Alex, but then she remembered what she had seen in MJ’s room at the Kappa Mu Pi house. She remembered Sylvie, and what she had turned out to be.
Like her, the newcomer was an immortal.
He was a vampire.
“What are you doing here, Jareth?” Alex snarled.
“You are on my mountain, brother,” the vampire replied, drawing toward Ali. “And who is this exquisite creature?”
A long, thin finger reached up to touch her face, but instead of wincing, Ali felt compelled toward him, her face reaching toward his as if willing him to kiss her.
A strange haze had fallen over her, and she no longer had control over any of her actions.
“Leave her be, Jareth,” Alex growled, but Jareth only laughed.
“She doesn’t mind,” he said without turning to Alex. “Do you, my dove?”
Ali shook her head, her hands reaching out to touch his face, and he slid to her side, inhaling her shiny tresses deeply.
“I actually think she wants us to share, Alex,” Jareth announced, a cold hand reaching up to caress one of Ali’s naked breast, massaging it firmly in his hand. His thumb and forefinger toyed with her nipple, and Ali could feel nothing more than the intense throbbing between her thighs from his administrations.
She closed her eyes, hearing Alex mutter something as Jareth led her away from the tree and pushed her to her knees.
Obligingly, Ali reached up as he opened his cloak, revealing a startlingly fit muscled form, naked and ready to be serviced. She took him in her mouth as Alex crouched at her back, pressing his own firm frame against hers. Deeper she coaxed Jareth’s member into her wet mouth, her hands following through with solids strokes.
Ali pushed her bare hips back, desiring Alex’s member between her wet slit, one of his hands encircling her throat. Jareth’s palms lay flat upon her head, his fingers petting her hair as Alex spread her legs apart, entering her in one swift move.
Her position wasn’t the most comfortable for her to be taken, but Ali only wanted more, moaning around Jareth’s member, the movements of her mouth growing more erratic while Alex plunged into her fast and wild. The werewolf was angry—furious, even, at not having her to himself—releasing his mounting rage on her core.
Ali could not get enough of them. She was gasping, screaming against Jareth’s tumescent shaft as she allowed him deeper into her wanting mouth.
Jareth’s sack was growing taut, as was Alex’s against her rear, and Ali knew she was about to release in sweeping waves.
As if in tune to a song only they could hear, the explosion occurred in unison. The three of them mewled, groaned, and shuddered in a supernatural succulence.
Ali cautiously slipped Jareth from her mouth and stared up at him while Alex clung to her back, expelling the last of his orgasm inside her.
Jareth smiled, winking mischievously at her before spinning and disappearing into the night as if he had never been there.
Ali was not sorry to see him go, but she still felt a melancholic sense of loss when he vanished.
She fell forward onto all fours, the strength seeping from her body as Alex pulled himself out of her core. Rolling onto her back, she peered at him imploringly, as if seeking an explanation, but he simply shook his head.
“Rest now,” he murmured, running his hand over her face. “It will make more sense after you rest.”
Naked and exhausted, Ali obeyed, closing her blue eyes as he watched over her protectively.
She slept.
A strange growling woke her, and Ali’s eyes flew open, certain that she and Alex were not alone again.
“Alex?” she gasped, sitting up.
Confusion filled her body as she gazed around the tent. On her right lay Christine, half curled in a fetal position, snoring, and Tara was nowhere to be seen.
Ali ripped her sleeping bag aside, noticing that her clothing was the same as it had been the previous night before her encounter with Alex and Jareth: a purple V-neck shirt and a pair of white shorts.
Albeit slightly dirty, neither item was ripped, and when she checked, her underwear was also intact.
No way, she thought, shaking her head. No way I dreamt that.
Slowly, Ali crawled across her sleeping bag toward the flaps of the tent, unzipping the partition so she could spill into the grey light of dawn.
Half a dozen people were sprawled about in various states of wakefulness, and Ali couldn’t tell if they were just waking up or going to bed. She stu
mbled out, running her hand through her unruly mass of hair, looking around for a familiar face.
As she neared the spot where the bonfire was a smouldering pile of embers, she saw Tara, legs dangling over the side of a folding chair, smoking a cigarette.
“Well, look who’s alive!” Tara cried, her voice echoing across the moderate silence of the clearing. “Glad to see you made it, Ali.”
Ali gazed at Tara in disbelief.
“What happened last night?” she demanded, dropping to her knees. “What happened to me?”
Tara snorted. “Last night? Nothing. You passed out at like four in the afternoon and didn’t move—until now.” She narrowed her eyes at her.
“Did you come back and try to wake me?” Ali insisted. “Are you sure I was in the tent all night?”
Tara cast her a strange look. “No one came to check on you,” she said, “but you were there when Christine went to bed. I made sure she texted me to let me know you were still breathing.”
No, Ali thought. There’s no way. I went out last night. I saw the bonfire. I…
“Ali, are you okay?” Tara asked, swinging her legs over and swivelling to stare at her friend. “You look funny.”
Ali shook her head, unsure of what to believe.
It was all a dream. Of course it was. Nothing else makes sense. There are no shifters, no immortals. I just drank too much and had a weird, sexy dream.
“I’m fine,” she muttered. “I’m going to make some coffee.”
“I could definitely go for coffee,” Tara agreed, rising to join her. “And I haven’t even slept yet. You, on the other hand, look like crap for someone who has slept an entire day away.”
Ali didn’t answer, but she was suddenly overcome by a deep sense of longing.
“How did you get leaves in your hair?” Tara commented as they made their way back to their site.
Ali’s heart began to race. She reached to comb her fingers through her hair, and she barely held back a gasp as she noticed the leaves falling to the ground from her head.
“Maybe I did stumble out to pee,” she muttered, trying to sound nonchalant when all she wanted was to blurt out the entire bizarre story to her friend.
And give her and Christine something else to mock me for? she thought grimly. No, thanks. Anyway, what would I even say? Oh, yeah, I think I had a threesome with a vampire and a werewolf last night. Are you sure I was in the tent all night?
That was not bound to go over well.
Sighing, Ali flopped down onto a lawn chair as Tara dug around in the food pack for coffee.
Get that image out of your mind now before you drive yourself crazy. It never happened. Just accept it.
She turned her head to stare back toward the remnants of the bonfire. A moment later, she saw a tiny figure bounding toward them, and Ali swallowed her amusement.
“What time did Penelope go down last night?” she asked Tara as the birthday girl made her way over to them.
“I don’t think she has yet,” Tara replied, following Ali’s gaze.
“Good morning, darlings!” Penelope sang once she had approached. She then turned to Ali and crossed her arms over her chest. “Shame on you, Ali.”
Ali hung her head with contrition. “Sorry, Penelope,” she replied apologetically. “I’ll be better tonight, I promise.”
The smaller girl grinned, already forgiving her friend’s sour mood the previous day.
“You better!” she exclaimed. “Because we have an entire busload of rivals coming tonight, so you better be on your A game.”
Ali arched an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
“I special ordered a CSU sandwich for my birthday. A few of those boys are coming for a visit.”
Ali’s head jerked up. “What did you just say?” she breathed. “You ordered a what?”
Penelope scowled. “Oh, don’t be like that, Ali! Threesomes have been around since the beginning of time. And it’s my birthday! Don’t judge me.”
“No!” Ali shook her head, her thoughts racing. “Of course I’m not judging you. I… I just didn’t hear what you said.”
The birthday girl eyed her, as if debating whether to believe her explanation. In the end, she seemed to be convinced.
“Anyway,” Penelope continued, “there’s someone I want you to meet.”
Ali shuddered. After whatever fantasy she had concocted the previous night, no man was possibly going to measure up to her expectations, but she was in no mood to spark a debate with Penelope, especially after she had been so grumpy the day before.
“Sounds good,” she said weakly, turning her blue eyes downward.
“He’s so handsome,” her friend went on, like Ali had shown more enthusiasm for the idea. “Ripped abs, gorgeous eyes…”
“Uh-huh.”
“His name is Alex. I think you two will hit it off beautifully.”
The blood drained out of Ali’s face, and she gaped at Penelope.
“Is this a joke?” she demanded angrily, looking at Tara. “Are you guys toying with me?”
Both women stared blankly at her.
Tara stepped closer to her. “Are you okay, Ali? Like, seriously, you’re acting really weird.”
You are, Ali agreed silently. You’re acting like a lunatic.
“I think I’m still drunk,” she answered, determined to get herself together. “Sorry. What were you saying?”
Penelope paused and eyed Tara before continuing. “Anyway, Alex is solid, but there might be one problem.”
“Is he gay?” Ali asked.
“No,” said her friend with a thin smile. “But his step-brother Jareth is a real asshole. Come to think of it, that entire family has something odd going on.”
Ali did not hear anything else. The words Penelope had told her when she had arrived spun through her mind.
Oh, ye of little faith. You’re going to have an incredible time. Mark my words.
There’s a rumor about this mountain, but you already know it, don’t you?
They’re supposed to roam around on nights of the full moon.
Guess what tonight is?
So, keep your eyes open, ladies! You never know who you’re gonna meet!”
Ali stared at Penelope in disbelief.
She had known all along! She had probably set it up! She had been the reason Ali had even met Alex last night! It hadn’t been a dream!
“Penelope—” she started, but Penelope winked slowly at her and then turned around to dance away.
“I have to make my rounds!” she cried. “I’ll see you later, Ali!
The way she had winked at her and the way she had told specifically Ali that she would see her later carried a different message for only Ali’s ears.
See you tonight for round two.
THE END
Click Here to Read the Entire Shifter Pursuit Series
Bonus Content: Vampire Romances
Part I
Killian’s Seduction: A Vampire’s Offer
By Alexis Davie
Prologue
Charlotte’s fingertips fidgeted with the camera that hung about her neck as she followed the trail into the forest. A cool morning breeze wafted through the skyscraping pine trees, making the light mist come down diagonally. She didn’t mind the feel of the soft raindrops on her face; it was actually helping her keep awake as she started her journey. Charlotte hadn’t been up and moving around that early in years, but she needed to beat the sunrise to set up some shots in the perfect natural light. Her only hope was that she could get some lucky shots for her portfolio so that she could finally make her splash in the world of professional photography.
It was early October, and despite the breathtaking change of the season, most of the art Charlotte noticed downtown was focused on ‘the life of the city.’ Gritty and edgy stills of graffiti, rundown buildings, and close-ups of people on the streets filled every gallery and coffee shop in town. Even though it was cliché and perhaps a little overdone in the bro
ader scheme of things, Charlotte hoped that capturing some natural photographs of wildlife would make her stand out and gain her a spot in a gallery opening. With her savings running out, she had to claim a spot or start applying for bartending jobs to supplement her income. After four years in college, Charlotte was ready to take on the world and start a new career on her own terms.
She breathed in the scent of the forest, the smell of the soil and pines filling her nostrils. After living in the city for so long, Charlotte had almost forgotten how at peace she felt in nature. As she made her way up to an overlook, she could hear a chorus of birds beginning to chirp in the distance. Speeding her pace, Charlotte finally reached the cliff. Stepping onto the rocky surface from the tree line, her breath was taken away by the scenery. From the ledge, the thick Washington forest laid in clear view for her, framed by tall mountains and low-lying clouds. The sun was just starting to peak out from behind the mountains, shedding light on the valley and lake before her. Her eyes scanned all about, taking in the view before turning to go back to the tree line. Stopping at one of the first trees, Charlotte grabbed ahold of one of the branches in her reach and hoisted herself up. She carefully scaled the tree until she was content with her vantage point. Leveling her camera, she peered through the lens and zoomed in to get the perfect shot of the sunrise. She waited patiently for the sun to peak out just over the horizon before she snapped the picture. The morning rays reflected beautifully over the shimmering water below.
While in the tree, Charlotte noticed a family of squirrels starting to stir from their burrows and scurry up the tree. Turning the camera on them, she rapidly took pictures, hoping that one of them would be a clear close-up. The petite woman then moved about the tree as cautiously as she possibly could. She snapped photographs along the way of the little creatures that resided within—some still sleeping, some going to sleep. Charlotte was captivated by the task at hand, losing herself in awe of the natural beauty surrounding her. When she finished taking photographs from the tree, she climbed down and continued on the trail, being sure to take shots of anything that caught her eye.
