“Oh my god,” Rani gasped as she and Tom broke for air. “If you keep that up, I’m going to come right now.”
“Good,” Nigh growled, and wrapped his lips around her clit, flicking his tongue back and forth until her toes curled. Rani’s fingers dove into his hair, gripping tight as climax roared through her with all the force of a storm.
She was still trembling with aftershocks, short on breath, as Nigh drew away, kicked off his jeans and underwear and said, “Look at me, woman.”
Rani did, the darkness in his eyes sending another jolt of pleasure through her body, and Nigh held her gaze as he sank all the way inside, filling her pussy so perfectly. Rani wasn’t sure if his rough, frantic thrusts prolonged her first orgasm or sent her hurtling into a second, but she tightened around him after two breathless minutes, and her hands frantically pawed at the bed until Eri caught one and Tom held the other.
“Fuck,” Nigh growled, and bowed over her as his cock jolted inside her, his breathing quick and uneven. “Holy fuck, Rani.”
She laughed weakly, sighing with happiness as he leant over Eri’s head to kiss her, slow and full of heat, his eyes heavy-lidded.
“That pussy,” he groaned, moving back, “is lethal.”
Rani snorted. “Thanks?”
He laughed, smiling that real smile that lit his indigo eyes and made him even more handsome than usual. “Don’t pretend you don’t love my compliments, woman.”
Rani shrugged, all relaxed, very slightly smug. “I’ve heard worse, I suppose.”
Nigh growled playfully, but the effect was ruined somewhat by him collapsing onto his back beside her with a long groan, an arm thrown over his eyes.
Rani chuckled, rolling over to cuddle close as Eri moved to her other side, his fingers running through her hair. “I may be too tired for more,” she murmured. “It’s been a long day.”
“Don’t worry about that, treasured mate,” Eri replied, resting his arm across her waist.
“I’m good with waiting,” Tom added with a smile. “I can be patient when I want to be. But just so you know, I’ll be expecting twice as many orgasms from you. Just to compensate me for the delay, you understand.”
Rani reached behind herself to shove him, rolling her eyes. “You already make me come enough,” she said, her ears prickling as she blushed.
“You make that sound like a bad thing.” Eri laughed, nuzzling the back of her neck, and Rani was struck by how close she’d come to losing him, to losing the four of them cuddling up together like this.
She opened her mouth to tell Eri how much she liked him, that she cared about all of them, but Nigh’s loud snores interrupted her and she snickered, Eri and Tom chuckling too.
It was stupid, really, how the three of them laughing and Nigh snoring made her heart ache with affection, full to bursting as her brands lit up and Tom’s hand settled on her hip, all three of them touching her.
It was stupid how much she loved that simple contact, the connection between her and her mates. But if anyone tried to take it from her again ... they’d better watch out. Rani might not have the typical figure of an action hero, and she might not be able to take someone down with her bare fists, but she had midnight magic, a will of iron, and she was a Rose—stubborn and strong to the end. She was a force to be reckoned with.
But right now she was taking a nap.
The End
Enjoyed this story? Be sure to leave a review!
Find more books by Leigh Kelsey at her website: http://www.leighkelsey.co.uk/
More books in the Nine Lives series are coming! You can join my reader group on Facebook to get news about forthcoming books before anyone else: https://www.facebook.com/groups/178009826319184/
If you’d like alerts when new books release, you can join my newsletter here: https://madmimi.com/signups/03d55060b9ad4e619393482b30bc1138/join
Or follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/leigh-kelsey
About the Author
Leigh Kelsey is the author of sweet and steamy books for anyone with a soft spot for steely women and the tortured men who love them. No matter what stories she’s writing – vampires or shifters or rebels – they all share a common thread of romance, heart, and action. She is the author of the Lili Kazana series, the Vampire Game series, the Moonlight Inn series, and the Second Breath Academy series. Leigh also writes new adult and young adult books under the name Saruuh Kelsey.
Find these other books by Leigh Kelsey!
All solo booksfree on Kindle Unlimited
Once Upon A Faiy Tale Night (Fairy Tale Box Set)
Hearts of Darkness (Bully Romance Box Set)
Bound To Change (Shifter Romance Box Set)
Heart of A Phoenix (Charity Box Set Raising Funds For An Author Who Lost Her Home In The Australian Fires)
Dead Space (RH Sci-Fi Stand-Alone)
Lili Kazana series
(complete series)
Complete Series Box Set (w/ exclusive epilogue!)
Cast From Heaven
Crowned By Hell
Called By Gods
Second Breath Academy series
How To Raise The Dead
How To Kill A Shadow
Vampire Game series
(complete series)
Complete Series Box Set
Vampire Game
Vampire Touch
Vampire Legacy
Moonlight Inn series
Books 1-3 Box Set
Mated
Empowered
Unlimited
Ascended
Unleashed (Coming soon!)
Book 6 (Coming soon!)
PET
Shifting Storm Series Book 1
Sapphire Winters
About Pet
After her mother is diagnosed with cancer, Jade is desperate for money and fast. When her best friend tells her about a club that will pay more than she can imagine, Jade jumps at the chance. She knows there has to be more to it, but she doesn’t have a choice.
In the shadows of the club, anyone can be anything and do anything with anyone. Jade must suppress her shifter ability in order to participate. She hasn’t been summoned by a client - until Callum Mather.
But he doesn’t just want one night with her. He wants her completely.
After buying out her contract and taking her home, he introduces her to a world of pleasure through pain. A world where she can be free to be her - as long as she doesn’t fall in love.
It’s too bad that Jade has never been one for following the rules. The only thing she follows is her heart.
Chapter 1
The contract stared up at me, almost mocking my sudden hesitation. This was what I wanted, wasn’t it?
I shifted in the cushy red seat.
No.
This wasn’t what I wanted. It was what I needed. I couldn’t ask myself what I wanted, not anymore. Not when Mom needed life-saving treatment and my part-time job at FroYo wasn’t going to cut it. I needed lots of money quickly, and this was the only option I had right now.
I picked up the fancy felt pen that Ben Collins left next to the thin contract. I already read it, even after he left to give me time to consider the offer. I was wasting time. If he came back in here and it still wasn’t signed, he wouldn’t waste his time. Other shifters would kill to even have the opportunity to interview for this position, let alone get an offer. I wished I didn’t need this job as much as I did. Yet, here I was, in an empty office, staring at a small stack of papers and one blank line waiting for my signature.
“What are you waiting for, Kinickey?” I muttered to myself. “Janet got you an in. They are offering you everything you need. Why aren’t you signing your name on the line?”
I started to tap my foot against the floor, ignoring the loud ticking of the wall clock hanging just to my right.
I knew why I was hesitating. By signing this line, I would essentially be prostituting myself for other shifters. They would come to me to fulfill t
heir needs – the majority of which more colorful than just typical vanilla. I had had sex before, but only once and that had been in high school with my boyfriend at the time. I barely remembered it. Here, I was expected to do things I had never experienced, let alone heard of. What if I was bad at it? What if I got a bunch of complaints and they fired me?
I shook my head at the thought. It was a good possibility. I could pick Janet’s brain all day about what to do and how to please, but at the end of the day, I would be the pet.
Just thinking of the name made me bristle. Pet. Like I was something to be controlled.
That’s the whole point, a voice reminded me. You’re supposed to be a submissive, Kin. You’re supposed to be docile and subservient. That is literally your job.
I started twisting the pen between my fingers. Could I actually be a submissive and make it work? I had to. Besides this, I had no other options. My mom was going to die unless I could get together enough money to pay for her treatment. I was her only hope.
Granted, my mom would probably die if she knew what I was about to do in order to pay for her treatment, but luckily, she didn’t have to know and I wasn’t going to go out of my way to tell her.
It was difficult being a shifter in a world of humans. Certain diseases weren’t treatable unless one had the money, and unfortunately, we didn’t have the money. After Dad died, our pack all but rejected us and my mother was left to care for me. Even her family turned their back on her because the pack always came first.
When she came down with this particular string of cancer, it was like someone had signed her death warrant. Until we learned about a shifter physician who was doing trials with specific medication in hopes to cure – or at least temper the symptoms – the disease. Unfortunately for us, the cost of the drug was extremely high and Mom was resigned to her fate.
Every day, she got worse. She started talking nonsense about life in general, trying to give me advice on love and happiness. I just wanted to talk to my mom about boys and how much I hated my job, not my purpose in life. I didn’t want to think about death, especially her death. She was all I had left in this world. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing her.
I started twisting the top of the pen, bouncing my knee up and down.
Guilt pooled through my stomach. I should have already signed the contract. This should already be taken care of because Mom was more important than anything else, and two years as a pet – tied to this nightclub - was a blip in what would be her long life if we got her the appropriate medicine – and fast.
And yet, even now, I hesitated. Ben Collins was a human. It felt strange to work for a human when this business hired shifters and catered to them, as though he was exploiting them. Plus, having read the contract, there was something weird about being required to take a weekly serum that prevented me from shifting. I didn’t quite understand it, but I didn’t want to bring it up to him. Either I was in this completely, or I wasn’t.
I let out a sigh and moved the pen to the line.
Janet was here, wasn’t she? She was making bank, and if it was bad – really, really bad – should would have told me, wouldn’t she?
Plus, at the end of the day, this was for Mom. This wasn’t about me. Having sex with shifters for two years of my life, working for a human who might be exploiting shifters, was something I could handle, as long as Mom was alive, right?
I hated that I had to question it. My vision blurred with tears and I blinked them away.
“Get a grip,” I repeated under my breath. I shook my head with disgust. Why was I so weak? Why was I so hesitant? My mom gave up everything so I could have a somewhat normal life, and now, I was here, with an opportunity lots of girls would kill for, and I’m crying about it like a child.
If only my father could see me now.
Through blurred tears, I pressed the pen to the paper. My hand did not want to move, but I forced myself to sign my name. When I finally finished, it took everything in me not to throw the pen across the room. I felt like I was betraying myself and everything I stood for. And yet, at the same time, it felt as though I was finally able to do something about the current situation my mom was in, like I could actually be of some use.
As though he knew what had just happened, Ben came back into the room, a knowing grin on his face.
“How is everything?” he asked. “Are you sure I can’t get you a glass of water?” His eyes dropped to the contract and his grin widened. “Perhaps champagne would be more appropriate. Congratulations, Ms. Kinickey. Or, should I say, congratulations, pet?”
I suppressed another shudder and clenched my teeth together to keep myself from physically gagging. Pet. It was so demoralizing, especially as a shifter. Shifters were proud of their freedom, of their wild nature they were able to control. It set us apart from being mere wolves who acted only on instinct and id. And yet, this was what I had been reduced to. I was a pet, something to control. Something to dominate.
“Let me give you a quick tour of the place,” he said after filing my contract away and standing upright. Now that I looked at him, he wasn’t tall, considering, nor was he bulky. He was an average guy with an average height and an average build. He wasn’t ugly but he wasn’t good looking, and I didn’t think he was particularly smart, either. How this man was the brainchild behind the success of this club, I didn’t know. But now that he was my boss for the next two years, I couldn’t exactly refuse him.
He led me through the club, showing me where I would be, what I would be doing, and when. The process was not as organic as I expected it to be, which was strange. Janet made it seem like all I had to do was dress in revealing clothing with a red collar around my neck – distinguishing myself as a pet – and when someone wanted me, go into one of the many rooms and do whatever my client told me to do. Apparently, there was a formula to this whole thing, something Ben clearly took pride in, judging by how gleeful he sounded as he explained everything.
Ben pointed out the bar – I wasn’t allowed to drink on the job, and when a client asked to buy me one, I was to ask for a Raspberry Bone, which was a non-alcoholic beverage and the most expensive thing we served. This way, I wouldn’t be filled with alcohol, I could stroke the client’s ego by accepting the drink, and the club would make money.
There were lots of rules I was expected to follow, dialogue I was fed to respond to certain inquiries. I almost wished I had a notebook so I could jot down everything I was supposed to do. In fact, by the time we finished the tour, I was overwhelmed.
“Remember,” Ben said over his shoulder. I could barely hear him over the loud music. My eyes slowly went up to the scantily-clad dancers above. I didn’t feel comfortable staring at them, and yet, I couldn’t help it. There was such a strong surge of sexuality between them all. It wasn’t something I was used to and yet, I was drawn in by them. Not because I was attracted to them – even though they were beautiful – but because they had a power I didn’t think someone like me could possess. “...drinks at the bar. No alcohol when you’re on the clock.”
I ripped my eyes away from the dancers and when I readjusted them to in front of me so I wouldn’t trip over something, I found myself staring at the most beautiful man – shifter – I had ever laid eyes on. Tall, broad-shouldered, corded muscle even underneath the name-brand suit he wore. His golden-brown hair was combed from his face, every lock perfectly in place. His hooded brown eyes flickered across the dance floor, seemingly indifferent to the beautiful women in front of him, the beautiful women dancing overhead. It almost seemed as though he didn’t want to be here, and yet, he had to want to or else why was he here in the first place?
“Expect a couple of weeks where you don’t get clients.” Ben’s voice brought me back to reality but I still did not look away from the stranger. “You’re still new and everyone will be sizing you up and seeing how you fit in. I would call it a hazing process but without the hazing.”
At that moment, I crashed into someone, forcing me
to look away from the shifter and brace myself.
Ben’s laughter tickled all of the wrong nerves on my body, and this time, I couldn’t suppress a shudder if I wanted to. Luckily, he didn’t seem to notice it. He helped right me, one hand on the small of my back, one on my wrist. It took everything in me not to pull myself away from him. His hands lingered for a moment longer than was necessary, but he dropped his hands and stepped back, giving me an appropriate amount of space to recover. When he did, I felt like I could breathe again.
“I know,” he said, nodding his head. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring of keys. “It can be distracting. There’s so much going on here.”
I cleared my throat and did a cursory glance over my shoulder. I didn’t mean to look back at the gorgeous stranger, but I couldn’t help myself. I needed one last look. I wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was my way of trying to get through this shitty situation, like he could be my light at the end of the tunnel, someone to fantasize about when I needed.
I wasn’t expecting to find him staring at me, an inscrutable look on his chiseled face. Immediately, my entire face turned red and I looked away, like I was some kind of teenage girl walking past a member of my favorite boy band.
I took a breath and refocused on Ben. It was barely my first night and already I had made myself look like a jackass. Surely things could only get better from here.
Chapter 2
“Come on, Jade, it’s your turn.”
I shuddered at the sound of Ben’s voice but I couldn’t let him know it. I looked over my shoulder and saw him leaning in the doorframe of our dressing room. Each girl had their own mirror, and even though I had only been here a week, I had already made a home for myself in my assigned placement.
“Don’t make this any more difficult than it needs to be,” he continued in his lazy drawl.
Bound to Change: A Limited Edition Spring Shifter Romance Collection Page 77