Taming: A Reverse Harem Series (To Tame A Shifter Book 1)

by A. K. Koonce

  I know Aggie lives alone, and the poor woman is blind for Goddess’ sake, but a little bit of coverage would be appreciated right now.

  “What you said outside, about kissing being cut off emotionally, I don’t agree.” Kain’s words don’t hold his normal, harsh tone. It’s just a statement. He’s always the one with a plan. Always plotting.

  It makes me watch him a little more carefully.

  The thudding of his boots against the old floorboards holds my attention. He doesn’t hesitate as he steps right into my shower. The water beats down against his clothes. It soaks through his white shirt, sticking deliciously to every line of his hard body. Heat drifts between us from the hot water, but the slickness makes my thighs shift.

  My arms fold defensively across my chest, below the underside of my breasts, amplifying the curves, but I don’t hide them. I pretend I’m not at all affected by his presence. His gaze follows the beading water that’s slipping down my skin and across my nipples.

  I try to ignore the way his attention makes energy pool right to the center of my sex.

  “Do you mind? My water’s getting cold, and I don’t remember giving you an invitation.” My tone is clipped, but I’m not able to contain the breathy sound following my words.

  “I’ll be sure not to waste your time then.” His rumbling words are low and smooth.

  He takes a single, dominant step closer to me. I lean slightly back from him. My feet won’t move, but my body still pretends not to want him.

  He closes the minimal space between us. The drenched t-shirt is rough against my nipples, and I’m suddenly arching into him for a whole new reason. My arms remain folded, my nails sinking tightly into my palms. A smirk tilts his lips as his fingers slip through the base of my hair. He tips my head roughly back for him, and I watch his every move with firmly held lips. My jaw is angled high, his grip tightening in my hair. My gaze slips for only an instant to his beautiful mouth.

  “You wouldn’t dare.” I threaten his intent, and I realize it’s the wrong thing to do to a man who never listens to a thing I say.

  “Mmm, yes I fucking would,” he says on a whisper. “You want me to kiss you? To make you feel like you matter to me?”

  The warmth of his breath fan against my lips, and I can’t seem to find a response in my mind. There’s something in Kain that’s different. It’s the way he watches me. The way he watches everyone really. The skeptical cautiousness in him matches everything about me.

  We’re the same.

  That thought alone makes up my mind. Slowly I nod to him, keeping my gaze locked with his.

  He searches my eyes. Every second that passes strikes through my body with buzzing energy that I feel in the most sensitive places.

  His head dips just slightly. His lips press firmly against mine, but he isn’t forceful. It’s a chaste kiss.

  It’s … surprisingly perfect.

  It’s everything I didn’t know I craved. His closeness, his body against mine, his gentleness; it’s all more perfect than I ever could have imagined.

  No one’s touched me like this in so long. It feels more intimate than anything else. It makes me ache for more. I feel his kiss building within my chest, twirling through my stomach and pulsing between my thighs.

  Steam wafts up. It fills my lungs. Water rains down on us, attempting to cool the heat between our bodies. The slick feel of his big palm sliding low against my back wakes me up inside as our hips align, his jeans against my flesh. My fingers fist in the hem of his shirt, and I relax beneath his touch. I part my lips, wanting more, wanting to feel every inch of him. Just lightly, his tongue flicks along mine, almost making me moan from the small movement.

  And then he pulls away.

  A smile clings to his mouth as his tongue rolls slowly across his bottom lip. Water clings to the tips of his fiery hair, threatening to fall right into his deep green eyes.

  He looks pleased with himself.

  The arrogant dragon taint.

  With another long and appreciative look down my body, his hands slip away from me. He moves slowly back, putting cold air between us, smiling that shit-eating smile the whole time. My arms cross once more, and he carefully steps from the shower. Water clings to his steps, leaving puddles in his wake.

  “You’re making everything wet.”

  I curse myself the moment I say it.

  “No need to scream about your wetness, Arlow.” He walks backward, and he holds my gaze as the serious look settles back into his eyes. “I just wanted you to know that it didn’t feel like nothing to me.” He pauses just long enough for his rumbling tone to sink into me. “I wanted you to feel that.”

  His words twist warmth all through me, and the feeling smothers out the annoyance in me until all I feel is that building emotion of happiness. My head meets the shower wall, letting the steamy water beat against the back of my neck.

  Fuck, I let him kiss me.

  And I liked it.

  Goddess, why did I like it?

  Chapter Twenty

  Her Demons

  Agatha set out blankets patched from miscellaneous fabric patterns. The frayed edges of the quilts show their age, but they’re soft and comforting. Chaos made a pallet on the floor and has settled in there. Rime and Kain talk quietly near the window. Rime’s pale eyes never stop sweeping over the darkness even as he speaks.

  I meet those shining, mossy colored eyes and a small smile pulls at the corner of Kain’s mouth, just the slightest tilting of his lips before he looks away, pushing that serious appearance right back into place. He’s constantly so damn somber.

  But he showed me a different sort of seriousness tonight.

  The swirling feeling in my chest is pushed away, and I’m so distracted I don’t even realize I’m settling in next to Chaos before the damage is already done. I sit there an inch from him as he lies on his back. He’s always so quick to settle in against me, but it feels odd for me to do it to him.

  “Stop thinking so much.” He lifts his arm to me, offering me the inviting space at his side.

  With stiff movements, I lower myself. My head rests awkwardly high on his chest, not anywhere near his arm, and I lie there gracelessly like a dog searching for affection from her master.

  This is ridiculous.

  I shift, pushing to turn away from him to just lie on the hard floor. At the last second, his arm wraps around my stomach, pulling me against his chest in a warm and comforting way. My body reacts to him, melding perfectly with his as my head rests against his bicep.

  “Was that so hard?” he whispers against my hair, his head leaning against mine.

  “Yes.”

  He breathes out a smile that I feel within myself even. The simplicity of the moment starts to slip away as I remember how his voice skimmed through my thoughts.

  “How was I able to hear your thoughts, Chaos?”

  The way his body stiffens against mine, his arm tensing beneath my touch, makes my nerves prickle all through me. He’s keeping something from me.

  “Chaos?” I whisper his name, but I never turn to look at him.

  “I—” His tone hums against my body. “Sometimes when shifters fuck …” Well this is an interesting start to a story. “Sometimes the dragon side of them tries to create a bond. Dragons are loyal by nature.”

  A bond. That sounds entirely too intimate.

  “A bond? Like … friendship?”

  A beat passes and his palm feels heavier against my stomach.

  “No, like … a mating bond.”

  My eyes widen as those words settle right into my mind. I turn abruptly until my gaze is glaring up into his beautiful eyes.

  “You created a fucking mating bond between us, and you didn’t think to tell me?” The sound of my harsh whisper scrapes through the room.

  His palm still holds me against him as he slowly seems to think about the best way to say whatever it is that’s in his head.

  “Not exactly, no. It’s not a full-on bond. It�
�s just a primitive reaction. We fucked. My dragon form wants that connection. It physically wants a mate. That doesn’t mean my emotions allow it, Low.” There’s sincerity in his eyes, and I can tell he’s really trying not to worry me.

  “Would your dragon have done it with anyone you slept with?” I don’t know why I ask him that. Why do I want his response so badly?

  “What? No. It’s hard to explain. Compatibility, attraction, and something completely out of my control makes a mating bond click into place.” His gaze searches mine, looking for something there before he speaks in a rumbling whisper. “My dragon wants a mate and it … it likes the way I like you if that makes sense.”

  His dragon likes the way he likes me. A flutter of emotions storms through me at his awkwardly romantic words.

  His dragon form primitively wants a mate; I understand that. It’s natural, I suppose, to want that connection. It’s natural for humans, and it’s natural for a lot of creatures.

  “For you was it just fucking?” I don’t know why my voice just quivered as I said that.

  I clear my throat before meeting his gaze once again.

  “I wouldn’t say it was just fucking. I—I like you. We’re friends. Aren’t we?”

  I consider his words as if his dragon form might sneakily lure me into some sort of mating contract without me realizing it. Slowly, I nod to him.

  My shoulders relax as I stiffly lie back down, trying hard to find the comfort his body gave me just moments ago.

  “We’re friends.” His lips skim against my neck, his beard scraping sensually against my skin. “We’re friends who fuck. Friends who fuck really, really good.” His tongue meets my flesh before his teeth rake gently along my throat, sending a tingling feeling right through my core. I have to bite back the heavy breath against my lips.

  “Good night, K,” I say very pointedly.

  I don’t know why he thinks now is the time to confuse his dragon side even further. No, we won’t be confusing the creature any more with sex. A bond is the very last thing I need in my life.

  He hums a quiet laugh against my neck before settling down behind me, holding me to his chest in an embrace of calming sensations. The gentle way he holds me is like nothing I’ve ever felt. I was in love once, and yet I’ve never experienced contentment and simple happiness like this.

  Everything feels right in the world.

  Kain glances back at me. It’s a quick look from beneath his lashes as if he’s checking on me every few moments.

  Rime still won’t acknowledge me. He’s choosing to surveil the darkness instead. I can’t help but stare at him, watching his every careful move. Then he looks at me, his pale eyes locking with mine, sinking me with a single look. There’s no anger in him, just an empty stare like his mind isn’t turning at all as he watches me. It’s like there’s nothing else he’s thinking of. Just me. Kain’s words catch against his lips as he turns to find his friend focused entirely on me.

  The tingling feeling of their attention makes my eyes close, forcing the weight of their gazes away from me. A quiet breath leaves my lungs.

  In a weird way, for the first time in years, I feel like I’m right where I should be. I’m not running—not yet—and I’m not worried.

  Everything feels perfect. What are the odds Chaos would piss off the same demon I pissed off? That one terrible choice in his life brought the four of us together.

  I’m fairly sure this is what fate must feel like.

  ***

  In my dreams he visits me again, comforting me and tormenting me with his memory.

  His strong body melds against mine and all I can think about is the concern that’s hidden in his fiery eyes this time. There isn’t that look of love or desire. Not this time. This time there’s only a deep appearance of worry lining his sharp features.

  Confusion drifts through my mind. Small details of the dream changes from time to time but one thing always stays the same.

  That damn life destroying, soul consuming, terribly beautiful kiss.

  Despite the peculiar look in his eyes, my heart hammers hard, begging to be near him. I lean into him. My gaze holds his as out lips nearly touch.

  But then he speaks.

  “Arrie, wake up.” The whispered words feel warm against my skin.

  My mouth parts, my brows pulling low as I process what he just said.

  “Wake up now, love.”

  “What?” My fingers tighten into his soft shirt. Heat radiates from him and into me.

  “Wake up right now.”

  I feel him. I feel him all around me, more than I have in five straight years.

  “Sinister …” Confusion tinges my tone and a trickle of fear sinks through me. It’s something I can’t explain. It’s the sensation of prickling anxiety and just knowing that something bad is about to happen. It’s a feeling of knowing, despite not knowing.

  That feeling only intensifies when he speaks again.

  “Arrie, he’s coming.”

  My eyes flash open. A heaving breath shutters in my lungs. The slamming sound of my heartbeat drills through my ears.

  And fiery red eyes look down on me.

  Grim’s big paws are against my shoulders, his weight held above me as he lets out a low, whimpering whine that crawls through the room. The heat of his body suffocates me despite the front door that’s swinging open in the wind. The breeze chills the room but his nearness stifles the feel of the cold night air.

  His soft fur is fisted in my fingers just as Sinister’s shirt was. Chaos’ hand is low against my stomach. Kain’s chest is solid against my arm as he holds me against him.

  Flat on my back I look up at the hellhound and those words claw through my mind on repeat.

  He’s coming. He’s coming. He’s coming.

  The smoke wafting off of the beast’s fur starts to intensify, burning brighter in the pale moonlight until it fogs the room entirely.

  “Grim, are you okay, boy?” I push my fingers through his thick black fur but he only cries more. The sound carries on and the fear within me shifts to worry as the dog’s eyes close with pain but I don’t understand why.

  Boots sound heavily against the floor but all I can focus on is the flinching agony in his features.

  “He started yelping a few minutes ago. I opened the door and he ran right to you,” Rime whispers.

  My attention shifts to him for only a moment before stroking my palm back and forth along Grim’s ears.

  “It’s okay. It’s okay.” A tightness constricts in my chest because I have no idea if it’s really okay.

  It certainly doesn’t look okay.

  More smoke clouds the room and I stifle a cough but my shoulders shake enough to jostle the two men at my sides. I sense it the moment they wake. I don’t know when I became so aware of them. The simple change of their breathing is enough for me to know. It’s the subtlest change of their bodies but I’m immensely aware of it. Chaos’ fingers tense against my skin and Kain shifts until he’s nearly sitting up.

  “Are you okay?” Chaos looks from me to the hellhound above me.

  I don’t speak as I stare up at him, his fur heats to an unbearable feeling and that cry of his intensifies like a siren calling out a warning in the night. Inch by inch his fuming fur slips away into the smoke that surrounds us. It disappears into thin air. The beautiful beast that I love shifts right before my eyes.

  It’s replaced with a man I also once loved so. Damn. Much.

  His body tenses beneath my touch as if pain is wrecking through him. My hands are still held on either side of his jaw, lightly touching his inky hair as he holds himself above me. The twisting tattoos along his bare arms tremble as his jaw clenches to repress the groan rumbling through his chest. His eyelids flinch harder together. He suppresses every single sound of his pain.

  I’ve never seen him so weak in his entire life.

  He looks like a man an inch from death.

  And I have no idea if he is or not. Because I’m to
o astounded to even think clearly.

  “He’s coming.” Shaking words rasp from his lips but I barely have time to hear him.

  Big hands and violent strength tear him away from me. All at once the room erupts from anxious quietness into pandemonium. Rime grips his shoulders and slams the demon hard against the floor. The boards shake beneath us from the impact. Stacks of books come tumbling down around them in the white haze. Chaos and Kain leap onto him. The three of them hold him down. Their fists flex with intent.

  But there’s no struggle in the man pinned beneath them.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Chaos growls.

  Aggression charges the room. It’s electric and growing. All I can do is watch them. I can’t seem to move. I can’t seem to think.

  I can barely speak in the most breathlessly quiet voice.

  “He’s Sinister.” The words sound hollow against my lips. Empty. Uncertain.

  Iron hinges screech into the night. My attention rises to the darkness beyond the open door. An unnatural feeling makes the fine hair along my arms stand on end.

  Magic burns against my fingertips. The stored magic within me is ready even if I’m not.

  The three dragon shifters halt their aggression the moment I speak. Maybe it’s my tone, maybe it’s the shock that’s shadowing my features.

  Or maybe—just maybe—it’s that sensation of knowing that something bad is about to happen.

  Because what he once took from me he’s now given back.

  And that can only mean one thing …

  Kreedence is here.

  The End.

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for reading Taming! Arlow and her darling little dragon taints have been consuming my thoughts for over six months now. I’m happy to say book two is nearly finished because I can’t stop writing about Arlow’s endless antics and mysterious world. Book two, Claiming, is now available on preorder. Turn the page for an exclusive(unedited) sneak peek at Claiming!

  Preorder Claiming here!