Festive & Seduced

by Shelley Munro

  Ry moved over her and splayed her legs with the help of his knee. He guided his cock to her entrance and pushed inside without hesitation.

  “Ooh, that’s cold.” Camryn didn’t know whether to squirm away from the chill or savor the fullness of his cock inside her.

  He laughed. “That’s what I said. Maybe I should move and our body heat will warm up the condom.”

  Camryn fisted her hands in his hair and pulled him close for a kiss. “Don’t care. It just feels so good having you close like this, knowing that there was a good reason for your behavior.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I get it,” she said. “Just don’t keep any more secrets. I don’t like them. Women are designed to expect the worst.”

  “Got it,” he said and kissed her again before he began stroking into her heat. Each thrust filled her in a delightful manner.

  God, she’d missed this so much. Missed him.

  Each hard thrust placed another layer of pleasure on her body, in her body, and the chill from the condom seemed to pick up that enjoyment and multiply the sensations. Cold and heat warred within her in a conflagration that left her gasping for breath. All she could do was hold on and trust Ry would keep her safe.

  Higher and higher, the pleasure built until it pushed on the edge of pain. A composite of opposites, she thought hazily secs before the dam burst and fiery pleasure shot to all extremities.

  “Ry. Ry,” she cried out, and her words seemed like a signal to him since he increased the speed of his plunges into her body.

  A second, smaller explosion detonated and dragged her under into a world of passion and sensation and Ry. She was vaguely aware of him coming, his groan of pleasure as a third series of spasms rippled through her pussy. She clung to Ry, her lover, her mate and sent a silent prayer of thanks to Niran and his people.

  Best Christmas present ever.

  * * * * *

  Christmas morn.

  Camryn yawned as she carried her son down the stairs and headed toward the reception room. “It’s so early. What the devil is Lynx thinking issuing a royal decree so early in the morn?”

  “I don’t know, but it sounded important,” Ry said from behind her. He carried Azura and she cooed at him and patted his chin. “It sounds as if everyone is here.”

  They entered the reception room to find all their friends plus most of the castle staff. The lights of the Christmas tree flashed red and green.

  “Good, you’re all here now,” Lynx said.

  “Whoa, he’s wearing his crown,” Kaya said in a loud voice. “Must be serious.”

  A chuckle went through the room and Lynx grinned. “This is an auspicious occasion. We’re starting a new tradition—a blending of cultures. On Earth this cycle began as a religious celebration, but Camryn explained that it has also become a time of family and friends.” He turned to address the castle staff directly. “Our employees work hard to maintain the castle and keep us comfortable, so this whitelight, I would like to reward you to show our gratitude. The next cycle you may spend however you wish. You do not need to come to work but you will still receive your normal currency.”

  Several gasps came from the servants, and Camryn saw the excitement on their faces. She was glad she’d mentioned the concept of holidays to Lynx because they deserved the treat.

  “And now for our other surprise.” Lynx clapped his hands and the large double doors at the other side of the reception area opened.

  Niran, Sheera, Leeam and the other visiting Incorporeal people entered the room. The entire group glowed with health, their skin tone no longer white but more resembling a pale human.

  “Whoa,” Kaya said. “It looks as if everyone else had a fun night too.”

  “I did,” Ry murmured again Camryn’s ear.

  Lynx raised his hand for silence. “Niran and his people have a surprise for us in the market square. Please follow them in an orderly fashion. Camryn and Ry, you go first please.”

  Camryn stared at Ry. “You know something.”

  “I do,” he whispered and squeezed her free hand. “Come on. Time to reveal the thing I couldn’t tell you about, why I was trying to distract you with false blackmail cases.”

  Outside, in the square, it was uncannily quiet, yet Virosian people filled every available space.

  “Kelvin,” Jannike said with delight.

  Kelvin, the tremin shifter, stood on the edge of the square, rooted in his tree form in what appeared like a specially designed area. His branches sparkled with Christmas lights and his face, almost hidden in the rough bark of his body, blazed contentment. He looked happier than Camryn had seen him before, and a sense of peace radiated from his body.

  “Good morn,” he said and bowed his limbs.

  “Ooh.” The crowd made a collective sigh and started to clap.

  But Kelvin wasn’t the only surprise. In the center of the square, sat a huge dome. The opaque-white dome filled half the square and two soldiers in full ceremonial uniform guarded the entrance.

  “What is it?” Camryn asked.

  “I’ll let Niran tell you,” Ry said and nudged her forward. “It’s their gift to all of us. Indy crew to me,” Ry ordered.

  Kaya, Gweneth and Jannike appeared as puzzled as she did, but one look at Lynx, Shiloh and Ellard told her they were in on the scheme. Nanu and Mogens too. Camryn stepped toward Niran and paused in front of the Incorporeal leader, her son in her arms.

  “This is for you, child,” he said. “You have brought these people together and made them into a family.”

  “No, I—”

  “It started with you,” he said in a firm voice. “I have seen.”

  She nodded, even though she didn’t understand.

  “Go inside. Enter the right inner door first.”

  She glanced at Ry and he nodded in encouragement. She took a deep breath and entered the dome with Ry, carrying Azura, behind her.

  The door to the right bore a sign that said Warm. Still puzzled, she opened it and stepped right into a New Zealand summer.

  She froze mid-step and Ry edged his hip next to hers. “That is Marcus and Amme’s house.”

  “Yes.”

  Cautiously, she walked up the path and entered the house, her senses alive with the scents of Christmas. Flowers and the spices of Christmas cooking. The Christmas tree looked identical to the one they’d had last year during their visit to Earth. A door opened and Marcus and Amme strolled inside, beaming smiles on their faces. Max and Ellen followed, each carrying a baby. Luke and Autumn, the two children, trotted behind them.

  “Merry Christmas!” they shouted in unison.

  “H-how?” she stuttered.

  “I don’t know,” Ry said, beaming at her reaction. “Just enjoy the quick visit. Niran said it would be short because of the distance. Let’s introduce our children.”

  Gweneth and Kaya and Jannike entered the room behind them, exclamations of wonder and excitement filling the air.

  Camryn met her new nieces, and she introduced her son and daughter. Ten mins of laughter and chatter filled the holo room before Niran entered and said they’d have to say goodbye.

  “Thank you,” Camryn said to him, emotion choking her throat and welling in her eyes. “Thank you so much for your generosity.”

  She stood beside her mate and her friends and waved goodbye. The room faded and as tears trickled down her face, Camryn found herself on a beach. The sun shone from overhead in a cloudless blue sky. White sand shifted beneath her feet while the musical rush of waves filled the air.

  All along the coast, pohutukawa trees clung to cliffs and lined the beach, their vibrant crimson flowers placing her squarely in summer and a New Zealand Christmas. Somewhere close, steaks were cooking on a barbecue.

  “Ho, ho, ho!” The happy voice claimed her attention.

  “It’s the fat guy,” Kaya said, clapping her hands together. “I wonder if he has chocolate.”

  A group of people appeared near Santa Claus and
everyone started singing.

  “We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas.”

  Camryn laughed and started singing along.

  “Let’s take off our boots and walk along the beach,” Ry said. “We can introduce the twins to paddling.”

  Barefooted, she and Ry wandered down the beach and found a spot for the twins to splash and play on the edge of the water.

  “This is amazing. Absolutely amazing. I don’t have enough words.”

  “It’s even better than I imagined,” Ry said. “The other door—the one that says Cold—leads to a northern hemisphere Christmas. We can have a snow fight and ride on sleighs.”

  “Whose idea was this?”

  “Actually, it was Sheera and Leeam. After they heard us all talking about Christmas, they asked Niran if they could recreate it as a way of thanking us for letting them live here on Viros.”

  Jannike waddled along the beach to join them, Lynx and Shiloh following closely in case she required aid.

  Jannike beamed. “I love this sunshine. Somehow, it feels different than the starlight and heat on Viros. Hotter. Brighter. I didn’t realize how much I missed Earth.”

  Kaya strode up to them, clutching a chocolate bar in each hand. “Niran says if I eat it while we’re in the dome, it will taste exactly right.” She took an abrupt step backward when Jannike reached for some. “Uh-uh. This is mine. You get your own from that special chilled booth.”

  “I order you,” Jannike said. “I’m the queen and I’m pregnant. I need chocolate.”

  Gweneth and Ellard joined them too. “Amme looked happy. She said they’re going to adopt a child, a brother or sister for Autumn.”

  “It was so good seeing my brother,” Camryn whispered.

  Leeam and Sheera wandered toward them, their hands clasped as they ambled through the shallow waves.

  “Uncle wants to know if you’d like to try the winter door. The mistletoe is on that side and hot chocolate.”

  Camryn stood and brushed the sand off her trews. She plucked up her daughter and held her. “I would love to. I’ve never experienced a white Christmas before.”

  “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,” Kaya warbled. She stuck her arm through Nanu’s and they wandered toward the exit, singing at the top of their voices.

  “I bet she grabs more chocolate,” Jannike said. “Yes. Yes! Did you see that?”

  Lynx took Jannike’s arm. “We’ll stop and get you some on the way.”

  Camryn and Ry were the last to head for the winter Christmas door.

  Camryn took one last look at the beach and gave a happy sigh. “We are blessed.”

  “We are,” Ry murmured. “I’m lucky I kidnapped you.”

  “You’re lucky you and your crew screwed up and kidnapped the wrong person,” she corrected.

  He grinned. “That’s what I said.”

  Together, they entered winter Christmas and found a horse and sleigh waiting for them. They piled on, pulling fur blankets over their laps and holding the twins so they could see. As soon as they were aboard their horse trotted off in pursuit of the other sleighs.

  Tree boughs scooped low, heavy with snow. The sun shone, yet the snow remained crisp and solid. Over to their right, a bird sang. Everything looked cold, but she didn’t feel the crispness of the air. Maybe it was the blanket over their laps.

  “Do people on Earth really do this?” Ry asked.

  “According to the stories I’ve heard.”

  The jingle of bells—different bells to the ones on their sleigh—had Camryn lifting her head. She gasped and grabbed Ry’s arm. “Look.”

  “Santa Claus and his reindeer. I guess he’s delivering toys to all the girls and boys,” Ry said.

  But Santa Claus wasn’t real. Camryn felt her smile dig into her cheeks and decided fact or fiction didn’t matter.

  Their horse slowed outside a large house, set on the edge of the woods.

  “Come on,” Kaya shouted from the doorway. “We have Christmas punch and a roaring fire.”

  “I can’t wait to see what comes next,” Camryn said. She pressed a kiss to her son’s cheek and climbed from the sleigh. Despite the snow on the ground, traversing the driveway wasn’t difficult and they entered the house into warmth, candle light and excitement.

  The fire crackled in the grate and the exotic scents of cinnamon and all spice filled the air.

  “A drink?” Sheera asked, offering a tray.

  Camryn took one, not bothering to ask how the Incorporeal couple had arrived before them.

  “Why don’t Leeam and I take the twins back to the nursery for a sleep?” Sheera asked. “It won’t take a min.”

  “Thank you,” Ry said.

  “Can you ask the maid to listen for them?” Camryn asked.

  “I will,” Sheera said, accepting their daughter. She kissed the sleeping baby’s brow and smiled at Leeam. “Let’s go. If we hurry, we’ll be back in time for the singing.”

  Camryn sipped her Christmas punch and nibbled on bite-size egg-and-bacon savories. “I’d like to offer a toast,” she said.

  Their friends quieted, and she lifted her goblet. “To friends, to family and to Niran and his people, but especially for Leeam and Sheera for having this extraordinary and magical idea.”

  Sheera and Leeam shimmered into sight as she mentioned them.

  Sheera beamed. “No thanks are necessary. The challenge of pulling this off has been amazing, and it was such a buzz receiving all that energy last eve.”

  “So that is why we suffered through a no-sex moratorium,” Kaya said.

  “We needed the influx of power,” Leeam said.

  “No apology necessary,” Kaya said. “This is worth the deprivation.”

  “Can I finish my speech now?” Camryn asked.

  Kaya made a grand gesture with her right hand, but her unrepentant smile told the true story. She’d interrupt again in a heartbeat.

  “As I was saying. To family.” She lifted her goblet to salute Ry. “And to friends, both old and new. I wish you joy and love.”

  “And lots of happy sex,” Sheera said. “So we can power the globe for two more cycles. Everyone in the city should get a chance to experience an Earth Christmas.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” Kaya said.

  “To friends and family,” Camryn said firmly and lifted her goblet to drink.

  “To friends and family,” everyone shouted.

  Footsteps sounded overheard, and Camryn looked up. Footsteps on the roof? More footsteps confirmed her theory and the following ho, ho, ho delivered in a hearty voice had her brows winging upward.

  Gweneth clapped her hands together and started singing. “Here comes Santa Claus. Here comes Santa Claus.”

  The jolly fat man emerged from the chimney, resplendent in red, trimmed with white fur and a trace of soot on the tip of his nose but nowhere else. “Ho, ho, ho. I have your secret Santa presents.”

  Ry turned to her, his green eyes alight with amusement. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”

  Camryn smiled, her heart overflowing with happiness and contentment. She slipped her arms around his neck and offered her mouth for a kiss. “I love you, Ry. Merry Christmas.”

  Then, arms around each other, they watched their friends, their family, open their gifts and enjoy the occasion—their first ever Christmas on Viros.

  The End.

  If you enjoyed Festive & Seduced, I hope you’ll leave a review or join my readers’ group. The perks? Well, you’ll receive two free books—one contemporary and the other a paranormal romance. You’ll get previews of new stories and see my covers first. I’m a big reader, and I like to recommend the books I’ve enjoyed plus there are contests, and going forward, there will be access to short stories and ARCs. So, what are you waiting for? Join my readers’ group today.

  Happy reading,

  Shelley

  Excerpt – Blue Moon Dragon

  Book 1, Dragon Investigators

  “I
have a case for you,” George said.

  Something in his boss’s tone, the watchful air in his sharp brown gaze made Jack cautious. “Yeah?”

  “Sports-enhancing drugs. Rumor says there’s a ring operating out of the Mahoney Resort on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. I want you check it out.”

  “And?” Jack’s gut told him there was more to the story. The twitch of George’s lips confirmed his suspicions.

  “I’ve assigned you a partner.”

  Jack straightened from his casual sprawl against the wall, his eyes narrowing on his middle-age boss. “I work alone. I don’t work with a partner.” His last one had died. Horribly. And he lived with that guilt. He wasn’t damn well repeating the hellish experience.

  “You can’t do this job alone.”

  “Why not?” Jack demanded. “I’ve managed every other assignment on my own.”

  George leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers and looking over the top in a thoughtful manner. While he appeared relaxed, Jack knew George would give him a tough battle should they ever decide to go the physical route during a disagreement. “This one might be a little difficult. Reuben J. Mahoney is a slippery character.” The chair squeaked a protest each time the big man shifted his weight.

  “I can handle anything he throws at me.”

  George glanced at the calendar pinned on the wall then cast his attention back to Jack. “There’s a blue moon coming up. It might fall prior to the end of the case.”

  Jack filled in the blanks. The blue moon would erode his powers and make it difficult to retain his human form. Without constant sexual stimulation, he’d shift into a taniwha, the legendary dragon from Maori mythology. Jack snorted at the thought of being trapped in taniwha form in the middle of a mission. It had happened to other shifters on George Taniwha’s staff but not to him. He imagined the pandemonium if he transformed in the middle of the bustling resort. A disdainful snort emerged.

  Little did New Zealanders know, but the species taniwha survived and lived among them. Jack didn’t intend to be the first taniwha to make headlines in the New Zealand Herald. No way. No how. If he had to find a woman to keep the monster at bay, then that was what he’d do.