Shifters Forever Worlds Mega Box- Volume 3

by Elle Thorne

  Her inner thighs taut, Dakotah tipped her head farther back as his tongue explored and conquered. A shudder ran through her.

  His hand ran up her side, from her hip to just below her breast. Holding her breath with anticipation, her lungs swelled to bursting from the built up pressure. His hand traveled higher, over her soaking bra, found her nipple, hard and peaking for him. She shook as his forefinger and thumb rolled the dusky tip, making her ache for his mouth to be where his fingers were.

  His bulging length pressed against her mound, his hand on her breast, his mouth on hers, it was too much. Dakotah moaned—a sound she couldn’t have controlled if she’d wanted to.

  She sought the bottom of his shirt and slipped her fingers beneath, running hands over a set of abs that rippled as her fingers walked over his flesh and headed north. His chest was solid muscle.

  Braden was sheer excellence. All man. All shifter.

  All hers, at least for this moment.

  “Do you know what your touch does to me?” he said. Lust-filled eyes closed their lids half way.

  Bedroom eyes. God.

  She knew what she did to him. She knew because he made her feel the same way.

  He pulled her toward the waterfall at the other end.

  She laughed, but it was a giddy sound, one of anticipation and desire.

  When they reached the solid rock next to the cascading water, he pushed her against the hard surface and placed his finger under the strap of her bra, tugging gently.

  “I want you.” He pulled the strap out as if wanting her to be sure.

  God, was she ever sure.

  She put her hand on his hip, then lowered it. God, was she going to be bold?

  Her fingers slipped around his hardness, skimming over the mushroom head while she wrapped them around his girth. His breath caught with a low whoosh. Braden put his hand over hers, pressing her hand, driving his length against her palm, grinding against her.

  She squeezed him, moving her hand up and down, her movements constricted by his grip on her hand.

  “I need you.” His voice was a melding of torture and ecstasy.

  Every bit of her desired his touch.

  “Please…”

  “Dakotah?” His sex-husky tone made shivers run up her spine despite the warmth of his body.

  “I want you, too.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She bit her lip and gave him a nod. “Braden.” His name slid off her lips as if she’d never stopped saying it; it was as much hers as it was his.

  He lowered his head and touched his lips to hers, groaning into their melded mouths.

  His sharp teeth nipped at her chin, then traveled to her jawline, then lower trailing heat down her neck.

  Her breathing became ragged as his fingers played over her goose bumped flesh. Each light touch teased and tormented her with a need to have him touch her.

  Her body craved him. She needed him, and more than anything, Dakotah yearned for him.

  His lips alit on hers, coming in for a hard landing, kissing her with an edge, driving home this reality. She kissed him back, her tongue pressing the line of his lips.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Braden’s bear rumbled with desire. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her up in the water, against the hard rock. He marveled at the way her body fit against his. His need for her was painful, pushing him close to the threshold.

  It was as if they were meant to be together.

  He pushed her legs apart, lined up his cock, sucked a deep breath in, and in one deep thrust he was precisely where he needed to be.

  The bear in him roared as he grunted and pulled back, then pushed in again, driving with a force coordinated with the intensity of his emotions.

  His lovemaking was relentless. Too long since he’d had a woman, and never having felt these emotions, he forged into her over and over again, until he was breathless.

  Stopping to kiss her, he shuddered as she ran her hands over his chest.

  “You’re so beautiful. You’re mine.”

  “All yours,” she whispered, her nails scoring his scalp as she ran fingers through his hair.

  He thrust deeply again, her body gripping him, holding him tightly, the sensation so enveloping, so overwhelming, he felt a surge. Grabbing her hips, he pushed in deeper and then he held himself still.

  He didn’t move for fear of allowing it to overwhelm him, to take him down the road of no return.

  “What is it?” Dakotah kissed his lips, her breath warm on his flesh.

  “I was thinking I want this forever.”

  “This?” She gave that head tilt. The one he’d become so familiar with, the one he loved.

  “You. This. All of it.”

  She sighed.

  She shouldn’t have done that.

  Between the sigh and the expression in her eyes…

  And then she whispered the word that took him past the point of no return.

  Way, way past it.

  With a growl, followed by a roar, he shoved into her deeply, stretching her. He kissed her on the neck, just where it met her shoulder.

  One tiny kiss.

  She shuddered as she climaxed, and he took her mouth prisoner, drinking in her orgasm.

  She was his. She would always be his.

  His bear roared.

  Braden’s incisors drove into her flesh, followed by the spurting of his release in her body, hot fluid pulsing deeply within her while his mouth covered the wound he was sure stung.

  Dakotah moaned her pleasure and her pain, as if his very soul touched hers. Waves of passion flowed through her as her climax joined his.

  Braden was damned sure.

  This woman would complete his life. And he would do anything for her.

  * * *

  “You bit me,” Dakotah said as they lay on the towels he’d found in the containers exactly where Griz said they’d be.

  “I bonded you. I should have told you about it.”

  She frowned. “What’s that mean?” She worried her lip with her teeth—another thing he found completely adorable, and at the right time, overwhelmingly sexy.

  His body agreed, a jerk in his southern regions affirming the sexiness of the woman next to him.

  She lay on the towel, naked, beautiful, curves in abundance, curves begging to be held.

  He cupped her breast with one hand, his thumb making lazy circles around her nipple, his tongue salivating, urging him to lean over and take the dusky tip into his mouth.

  “Bonding,” he began. “That’s when a shifter makes—” He scratched his stubble, then leaned in, touching his lips to hers. “It means that you’re mine forever. It puts a bond between us other shifters will be able to tell. You may not know this, but shifters live a long, long time. Really long.” He held his hands out, to show her how long, then laughed at himself, as if that would show her a number. “Being couplebonded to a shifter, Dakotah, it will change your life. You’ll live a long, long time.”

  She sighed and he paused, waiting for it to sink in.

  “So Larsen, as a shifter, he’d live a long time. And now, I will too? So he won’t lose his mother really early?”

  “True.” He hadn’t thought of that. Man, I’m dense as hell sometimes.

  Then again, he realized he was being hard on himself. How could he have thought that one out? He wasn’t even a father.

  Maybe now I’ll be a father to Larsen, and any others…

  “Thank you.” Her whisper broke into his thoughts. Tears glistened in her eyes.

  “Don’t thank me. I couldn’t live without you.”

  And that did it. The dam broke and the tears flowed.

  Braden held her, pulling her close, letting her release what seemed to be ages of pent up emotions.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Braden held the door to Griz’s cabin open for Dakotah. She preceded him into the room where Griz was sitting in a recliner, holding a sleeping Larsen.

  “
How’d you like that?”

  “Oh, Griz,” Dakotah sighed. “That was incredible.”

  “We’ve fought hard to keep this mountain free of danger, not had too many incidents, considering the dangerous world of shifters.”

  Griz eyed them and Dakotah remembered what Braden had said about shifters seeing the bond between mates. She wondered if that was why he was eyeballing them.

  “I love it. And the waterfall, too!” Dakotah could barely contain her enthusiasm for the place that was so magical and so intensely personal to her. “And I know Larsen will love it too, when he’s old enough to enjoy it.”

  “I hope so. I’m hoping this will be his permanent home.”

  “Oh, we love Bear Canyon Valley.” Dakotah finally felt at home. “But Griz, let’s be real, we can’t live with you forever. I need to make plans for Larsen.”

  We. She wanted to say, after her day with Braden. But she didn’t. She’d let Braden tell Griz.

  Epilogue

  Braden knew he wasn’t fooling Griz, that the other man knew he slept in Dakotah’s room every evening, slipping in after Larsen had fallen asleep.

  They hadn’t been able to spend a night apart. He didn’t think he’d be able to be apart from his mate ever again. Not for a single night.

  “Want another cup before we head out?” Griz held the coffee pot up.

  It was still dark outside, and they were heading to the cabin to put the finishing touches on before turning the keys over to Tanner and Teague.

  Braden couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed a job like he did this one. The pure physical nature of it left him drained and sated. And hungry as hell.

  Funny how wielding a hammer or a drill could leave a man starving at the end of the day, even though Braden took two sandwiches to work with him.

  “I need to pack lunch, then I’m ready,” he told Griz.

  “No need. Lunch is being delivered.”

  He didn’t raise a brow at that, because on occasion either Tanner or Teague would bring something by when they’d come to check on the progress.

  “Guess I’m ready. Do you have another project lined up, after we finish this one, I mean?” Braden was saving his money now, wanting to use it to buy a spot for himself, Dakotah, and Larsen.

  “I’ve got a little something lined up.” Griz shut the kitchen door behind him as they headed toward the truck.

  * * *

  A little later that day, close to noon, Dakotah adjusted Larsen’s onesie. “Behave you. No more rain showers on your mama.” She was wondering when Mae was going to suggest they take Larsen to that Order of Elementals she’d mentioned. The place where they could help Larsen control his elemental’s impulses and maybe help her figure out how to keep Larsen’s elemental from killing his shifter animal.

  They were ready and waiting for Marti and Kelsey to pick them up and take them to lunch. Every so often, several of the shifters’ mates would collect her and Larsen for a visit. It was the highlight of her day, truth be told. She’d become very fond of the Bear Canyon Valley clan.

  The old biases she’d felt toward shifters were a thing of the past. She may not be a shifter herself, but she was as close to one as she could get without being one.

  And I’m the mother of one.

  She looked at Larsen, her heart overflowing with love for the little man. He gurgled and smiled, and then giggled when a drop hit her on the top of her hand.

  “Oh, no. You stop that right now, young man,” she said teasingly, waggling a finger at him.

  He let out a little laugh that sounded more like a playful growl.

  A knock at the door interrupted their play.

  “It’s open.”

  Marti and Kelsey walked in.

  “Where’s Dominic?” Dakotah asked, wondering where the little polar bear shifter was.

  “He’s with Sara and Joe, playdate with Ivan.”

  “Ready?”

  * * *

  Moments later when Kelsey took a left turn instead of a right, Dakotah glanced at her, then at the road, then back at Kelsey.

  “That’s…” She pointed. “Town’s that way.”

  Marti looked back from the passenger seat. “We’re doing a picnic lunch.”

  And less than a few moments later, she’d pulled onto a hidden road that led to a driveway, and nosed into a parking place in front of a magnificent log cabin. Large with impeccable landscaping. Several trucks were in the drive.

  “This is the new cabin Braden and Griz were working on for Tanner and Teague, right?”

  Marti looked at Kelsey, then gave Dakotah a smile. “It is.”

  Braden, Griz, Tanner, and Teague were all waiting outside at a picnic table under a large leafy tree.

  A lunch was spread out.

  From the expression on Braden’s face, he was as surprised to see her as she was to be there.

  Dakotah surveyed the area, the view from the back porch had to be spectacular, looking over the valley.

  She unstrapped Larsen from his carrier and stepped toward the men, walking next to Marti and Kelsey.

  Griz rose and took Larsen from her while Braden reached for her hand.

  Unsure about how everyone would react, not sure if they’d be okay with their relationship, Dakotah held back.

  “It’s no secret,” Tanner said, his face beaming with a grin. “Take the man’s hand. You’re mates now.”

  Dakotah laughed nervously and let Braden take her hand with one of his while he put his other arm around her shoulders.

  “I told you this sort of thing wasn’t easy to hide, woman.” He planted a kiss on her forehead.

  Later, full of sandwiches, potato salad, and iced tea, Dakotah leaned back against Braden’s chest and let out a sigh.

  “There’s something special about today.”

  “As special as the lagoon?” Braden whispered in her ear.

  She blushed and turned her head so no one else could see her reaction.

  “You have a good sense of things, there’s something very special about this day,” Griz said, adjusting Larsen, shifting him to a different position and rubbing his back.

  “You look pretty good with a baby in your arms.” Tanner laughed.

  Everyone laughed and made sounds of agreement.

  “Hey, now. Don’t get carried away.” Griz frowned at them. “Anyway, I was trying to say something.”

  They all fell silent.

  “This mountain range has been in and out of our family for a long time. For many years, I kept vigil over the mountain range, alone, watching Mae and Grant struggling to get through the days with no shifter community. And now, things are much different.” He pointed to Tanner and Teague. “We have shifters. We have children.” He glanced down at Larsen. “Several children.”

  Dakotah wiped a tear that made its way out. She hadn’t even known she was crying until the drop tickled her cheek.

  Griz gave her a smile. She smiled back through the tears.

  He continued, “That brings me to this.” He cleared his throat. “I have waited a long time for just the right situation, the right time, the right couple…” glancing down at Larsen, he added, “the right family. You two,” another glance at Larsen, “you three are it. This cabin is for you. The tunnels beneath it will be yours to care for, yours to watch over. And the mission I’ve had to protect, serve, and help shifters in need, that will be turned over to you. I can’t think of a couple who is better suited to do this.”

  Dakotah took a second to process, then turned back to look at Braden, to gauge his reaction.

  Braden’s jaw was clenched, his bear flashed silver in his eyes.

  She’d been around long enough to know he was fighting his emotions, trying to keep them from showing. Finally, glancing down at her, noting her nod of acceptance, he looked at Griz and said, “I’d be honored.”

  “No,” Griz said. “We’re honored. And happy as hell to have you here, brother.”

  That did it.


  Dakotah felt his chest swell against her body.

  She reached for his hand and held it. “We’d love to help.”

  And she would. She’d been through enough herself with her life before Deep Hollow, then her life at Deep Hollow. She was made for this. Helping others the way she’d been helped.

  Larsen woke and was pulling on Griz’s finger.

  Griz tickled him.

  A boom of thunder erupted, a cloud appeared above head, as if from nowhere.

  Griz picked Larsen up and held him to his face. “You’re definitely heading to Colorado very soon, young man.” His scarred face broke into a smile.

  Larsen giggled.

  “I hope they can help him there. He can’t forever be starting storms.”

  “Mae’s got a cousin up there, Circe’s her name. She’s pretty powerful. I’ve got high hopes.”

  Braden squeezed Dakotah gently. “Road trip in our near future?”

  “It’s looking like.”

  She turned and pressed her lips to his.

  Larsen burst into giggles and lightning flashed across the sky, even on this bright sunny day.

  “You good?” Braden’s voice was like warm silk to her senses and ears.

  “Couldn’t be better,” she murmured. “Couldn’t possibly be better.”

  She loved that so little had to be said for so much to be transmitted with this man.

  Her man.

  Her shifter.

  Forever after.

  Infatuation

  Moscow resident Hawke, Terrence Hawke, is a polar bear shifter on a mission. He’s the witch hunter. His mission is to kill all witches in retaliation for the death of his sister at the hands of rogue witches. He and Vengeance are given a new assignment to capture a witch for trial with the Shifter Council. Sounds like it’s right up his alley—being paid to capture and turn over an enemy, right?

  Witch Alannah Autumn’s sister left for Moscow to serve in an apprenticeship and now she’s gone missing. Alannah packs her bags and with the help of Mikhail Romanoff, she’s off to Moscow to find her little sister, Mireille.