by Sienna Aylen
The distinct whack of skin against wood made Emma’s head turn. “Don’t even think about it, Kyle.” A guilty smile and wave were thrown her way before Kyle climbed back down from the railing.
Lucas’s voice bellowed over the balcony, “Dad, Mom’s not letting us have any fun. It’s not fair.”
Damien groaned before yelling back, “Listen to your mother, boys. Don’t make me come up there.”
Emma heard a whisper from above, “Aw, man. I was just gonna jump to the other tree.”
Meeting Damien’s smile, Emma beamed. “They think they’re bear cubs. I think we’ll survive… They’ll eat us out of house and home, but I’m looking forward to every minute.”
They spent the afternoon back at the main house. It seemed as though an eternity had passed since she’d last stood on the balcony outside their room, but in reality, it had been almost a month. When they’d first driven into the territory, Emma’d had no idea how much this job would change her world. Smiling, Emma shook her head, marveling at how her entire existence had been flipped upside down.
The whole month had been such an emotional rollercoaster she was ready to go to bed and sleep for a few days. She had gone from Council member without a future to being a mate, Alpha female, mother and daughter within a very small time frame. It was a lot to adjust to.
But it would be a glorious adjustment. One that she would relish.
The creak of a sliding door brought Emma back to the present. Tessa and Gwen stepped out onto the balcony and flanked her, all three watching the calm valley below. Gwen was the first to break the silence. “Our success rate has never been better. Belle was rescued, Desiree and the twins are safe. You’ve found your Fated and Next Gen and become Alpha female of the bears all in one fell swoop. Not bad for a month’s work.”
“Not bad at all. I think this is one of the best jobs we’ve ever had,” Tessa chimed in.
Emma sighed. “You guys are leaving, aren’t you? That’s why you came out here, to say goodbye.”
Tessa laughed. “What have you been smoking, Em? Normally, this would be where we part ways but in case you’ve forgotten, Rafe wasn’t alone. There was someone who trained him, someone—or a lot of someones—who wanted Desiree and you dead. They want us all dead. We talked to Jade and she ordered us to stick around and sniff the suspects out, so you aren’t getting rid of us just yet,” Tessa announced with a cheeky grin. “And besides, I want to spend some quality time with my new niece and nephews.” She raised one hand to her chest and wiped an imaginary tear from her eye. “I’m going to be their favorite aunt, Aunty Tessa. They will adore me.”
Gwen rolled her eyes and muttered, “Oh, boy, I think you’ve been sniffing too much of that camo paint, Tess.”
“Have not! You’re just jealous because they’ll like me better than you and your boring books.”
Gwen slipped a knife from her pocket and twirled it at Tessa. “You wanna go? I’ll take you on any day of the week. They’re going to like me better because I know all about the superheroes and comics they love so much. I own every single copy. You can take that to the bank.”
“Shows how much you know. Desiree isn’t into comics. You might win the boys over but she’s a teenage girl. Pedicures and shopping will be the order of the day. And boys, definitely boys.”
Wrapping one arm around each of her sisters before they could go at each other’s throats, Emma pulled them in for a hug. “Tessa, no boys. She’s only fifteen. You both are absolutely ridiculous, but I love you, anyway.”
Epilogue
#xa0;
The smell of vanilla and chocolate roused Damien from his peaceful slumber. Moving the arm he had across his face, he cracked open his eyelids and pushed himself up against the pillows. At the end of the bed was a silver tray with a dome on it, but what caught and kept his gaze was standing behind it. A giant white chef’s hat sat atop a riot of flame-red curls and a sultry grin and bare shoulders hinted at what was underneath the prim white apron. Damien could definitely get used to this side of his vixen. She was tempting, so tempting.
When he would have sat up farther and reached for her, Emma waved one bare finger in the air. “Tsk, tsk, you are going to stay still if you want your dessert. I call the shots today.”
As he lowered his weight back to the pillows, Emma came around to the side of the bed where he got a full view of her getup. The only thing covering her was the apron. Her feet and smooth legs peeked out underneath the lower hem while her arms twisted behind her back. Emma fingered the apron strings slowly before pulling them out to her sides and dropping them. That left only the strap around her neck to hold up the thin piece of fabric.
He willed his body to behave long enough for her to have her fun. It was easier said than done. Every night for the past week he’d been enticed by her scent, by the slightest smell of her arousal, and by the vanilla shampoo she used. Maybe if he didn’t say anything, she would stay still for a few more minutes. At least long enough for him to get his body under control. A man could hope, right?
Lifting her arms pushed her ample breasts up until they were clearly outlined, nipples poking the delicate fabric. Fingers pinched the clasps of the neck tie before bringing the straps down, revealing the tip of one breast, then the other. Weeks could be spent worshiping her breasts alone. Her nipples were a dusty pink, the same shade as her delicious lips. She wore a small, enchanting smile that stole the breath from his lungs.
The cotton slipped down over the soft curve of her stomach before pooling at her feet. Using one toe, Emma kicked the apron across the room, where it settled underneath the armchair in the corner. Silken skin the color of ivory, so pale it looked as if it had never been touched by the sun, met his gaze. A faint dusting of freckles was sprinkled across her chest and stomach, matching the few that were evident on her face.
His vixen was going to drive him crazy and he knew he was going to love every minute of it. The smile that crossed her face would’ve dropped him to his knees if he had been standing up, it was that bright. His voice was hoarse as he whispered, “Beautiful, Emma, you have no idea how much.”
With a slight nod toward the tenting sheet, she licked her lips. “I think I have an idea, since that pops up every time you see me. I feel beautiful when I’m with you, Damien.” Doing a little shimmy, she waltzed over to the tray at the end of the bed and moved it to the end table. With a wink, she lifted the lid to reveal double-fudge chocolate cake with vanilla whipped cream oozing over the sides.
Damien crossed his arms behind his head and admired the sloping curve of her back as she plated a piece of cake, licking the extra whipped cream off her finger with a swirl. The mating mark was a stark contrast to the creamy white of her backside, the black paw print making him as hard as a steel pipe. “Any time you want to make another bet, baby, I’m all for it. I’m enjoying my winnings very much.”
Straddling his waist, Emma wasn’t surprised when his warm hands encased her hips. She was hyperaware of the weight of his hands and the strokes of his strong fingers across her hips. They felt like a brand, marking her with their heat. Instead of a fork, Emma used her fingers to scoop up a chunk of the gooey cake and bring it to his mouth. Tingles of desire made their way down from her arm to her toes when he sucked on her fingers, rimming the edges of her nails with his tongue to get every last drop of cream.
He growled, “God, that’s good.” The vibrations echoed through his body and hers, making her incredibly wet.
Long fingers flexed in warning against the muscles of her hips a second before Damien lifted her up just enough to yank the sheet out from between them. They both moaned when their heated flesh met. Emma gasped out with a grin, “Are you sure this isn’t too strenuous for you?”
His deep laughter tickled her ear as he tested her readiness with two fingers, plunging them into her slick depths and spreading her juices along her lower lips and over the tip of his shaft. “I’m not going to do all the work. You are. Ride me baby.” Positi
oning himself at her entrance, Damien guided her down onto him.
Emma stared into the dark-golden eyes below her. She could see his struggle for control, for restraint. She wanted neither. His bear was peeking out and looking at her too with obvious hunger. He was incredibly large, in every way. Her flesh was stretched to the point where pleasure and pain mixed and blurred. It was an extraordinary feeling. Only a few inches into her he stopped and there he stayed. Teasing her opening. She was dying for him to enter her fully, wanted to feel the entire length and breadth of him.
Using her thighs, Emma took matters into her own hands and lifted herself off him until just the tip remained inside her, before plunging back down with da shimmy. His thickness opened her ruthlessly for his invasion. Having him seated in her fully was overwhelming. She was impaled to the hilt and it was a delicious friction.
Emma steadied herself with her palms against his bare chest as she pushed back against him. When her legs turned to jelly, Damien took over. Holding her hips still, he drove into her, seeming to savor every moan and sweet gasp that she gave him.
“Damien, please. I need—”
Yanking her down to him, Damien fused their mouths together in a fury of desire and love. Emma couldn’t catch her breath. He had stolen all the air. Electric sparks flew between them. Pulling back, he growled at her ear, “Come for me, Emma, now.” With one final thrust, he ground his pelvis right against her sweet spot, sending them both hurtling over the edge into the space where reality and fantasy intermingled. A delightful high where nothing mattered, but being with each other, connected on the most primal of levels.
As the crashing waves of pleasure subsided to a warm glow, Emma collapsed against the firm muscles of Damien’s chest. She was boneless, couldn’t move a muscle even if she’d wanted to. Crisp hairs tickled her cheek. His breath came out in ragged pants that matched her own. Emma tangled her fingers in the soft blond carpet of fuzz on his chest, savoring the connection. She tucked her head under his chin and just enjoyed the moment, waiting for her heartbeats to slow back down to a normal pace.
They floated back to earth with a lazy contentment, neither in a rush to move. Time slowed and she was lulled by the steady beat of Damien’s heart and the soft exhalations of his breath. The weight of his arms on her back was comforting. Right here, everything clicked into place. This was where she was always meant to be, what every decision had ultimately led her to.
Fated.
Mates.
Lovers.
“I love you, Damien.” This was what she’d been waiting for, what she had always wanted. Damien. They fit together.
They would fight and argue, laugh and cry, but they would always have each other and their little ready-made family. Opening the side table drawer with his fingers, Damien rummaged around inside.
Emma lifted her head just enough to see a little velvet box. “Damien.”
When he opened the box, the rising sunrays glinted and sparked over the oval-cut ruby surrounded by tiny diamonds. Emma’s eyes widened as she turned to Damien, mouth hanging open.
“You’re mine, baby, and I’m yours. We’re mates, but I want you to be mine in every possible way. We’re a family now. I know this isn’t the best way to do it but I like keeping you on your toes. I plan on doing it often over the next few hundred years or so. I want you and our kids to have my last name. Will you make me the happiest man ever and marry me, Emma?”
She couldn’t contain her smile. Sitting up, she covered her mouth with her hands, tears escaping her eyes to cascade over her cheeks. When she could catch her breath, she whispered, “Emma Ryder. I like the sound of that. Yes, I’m yours, Damien. Forever.”
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
#xa0;
Shifter Chronicles: Birds of Prey
Crissy Smith
Excerpt
Chapter One
#xa0;
The call came at five in the morning.
Cody fumbled on the nightstand beside his bed and knocked something onto the ground as he reached for his cell phone. “Hello?”
“Agent Johnson,” Commander Jacob Green’s brisk voice came through loudly.
“Yes, sir?” Cody replied with a wince. It was Sunday and his day off. He’d gone out the night before with Zak and Jamie and had only climbed into bed three hours ago. Sadly, he’d crawled into bed alone but with too much alcohol in his system. If he was being called in, a hangover was not going to help.
“I need you and your team to report to a scene,” his boss told him.
Cody sat up and rubbed his hand roughly over his face. “Okay.” It wasn’t normal procedure to call in one of the teams that wasn’t on the schedule. His superior had also never phoned him personally before.
“I’ll text you the address,” Commander Green said, lowering his voice. “It’s going to be a long day.”
“Understood, sir,” Cody replied, before his boss disconnected the call. Even if he didn’t understand yet, he wasn’t going to argue with his employer.
He only had to wait a few seconds for the address to be sent to his phone. And that was all he got.
1125 Lake Shore Drive.
No names or information on what he and his team would be walking into. Not normal at all.
He forwarded the text with the addition to report ASAP to his unit.
Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he couldn’t hold back a groan. He should have known better than try to match shots with Jamie, but the bear shifter had kept pushing.
Zak had just laughed at them as they threw back round after round.
It wasn’t the first time he’d made the mistake of trying to take his buddy on and it probably wouldn’t be the last.
Cody needed coffee. Strong and black, and a lot of it.
He walked to his closet and pulled out a clean pair of jeans and a black T-shirt. He tossed them on the bed as he crossed to his dresser. He yanked out a pair of boxers and socks. His boots were still right next to the bed where he’d kicked them off earlier.
Dressing quickly in what he considered his daily uniform—jeans, shirt and boots—he was once again glad that he was part of a field team and rarely had to put on a suit. He preferred to be comfortable when he worked.
Picking up his cell again, he noted that all three members of his crew had replied affirmatively, just as he had expected.
He strolled out of the bedroom and down the hall of his two-bedroom, one-bath apartment. He didn’t bother turning on any lights until he reached the kitchen.
There, he flipped on the switch above the sink to light up the room then pulled his travel cup from the cabinet above his single-serve coffeemaker.
He put in the strongest blend and started up the machine. Sixty seconds later, the aroma of the strong brew almost caused him to weep in relief.
Once his coffee was finished, he placed the lid on tightly and headed out. He grabbed his badge, wallet and keys from the side table by the front entrance just before he unlocked and opened the door.
Outside, it was already reaching the high eighties and he knew it would only get hotter as the day wore on. It wasn’t even light yet, and the dry air was already stifling.
Didn’t matter, he mused. Something had happened and he suspected that it wouldn’t be just a long day, but a long few days.
He climbed into his old Jeep and started it up. The air conditioner blasted on, sending warm air into his face. He cursed and wrenched the knob to low.
Before he backed out of his parking place, he typed the address into his phone’s GPS and waited. Once the GPS announced the route he should take, he shifted into reverse and drove to work.
It took him twenty minutes to reach Lake Shore Drive. The street was located in the classy part of town. Old money. Big money. No wonder Commander Green had called him in personally.
This was going to be high profile.
Damn, that meant media and gawkers.
He hated that.
An
d since it was his unit that had been assigned, a bird shifter would be involved in some way.
He turned onto the quiet street, admiring the large houses. This neighborhood was made up of two and three-story structures that spread onto perfectly manicured plots. Even though he’d grown up in Lake Worth, he had never spent a lot of time in this area of the city.
Two blocks down the street, he finally saw the lights from police cars. His GPS announced that he was coming up on his destination. He reached over and turned the program off.
Roadblocks had already been placed limiting access, so Cody had to pull off to the side. He exited his vehicle and made sure that his badge hung in view from around his neck.
City cops roamed about or stood in small groups as Cody stepped around the barricades. He narrowed his gaze as he took in the scene.
Tall, wide iron gates stood open with a ruined vehicle still smoking just inside.
Plainclothes detectives were speaking with his boss. He headed over there first.
Yellow crime tape roped off the smoldering SUV, preventing anyone from gaining access.
“Here he is now.” Commander Green waved him forward.
Cody joined the three men.
“Detectives Lawrence and Sanchez, this is Agent Johnson,” Commander Green introduced.
Cody shook each of the detectives’ hands. Their grips were firm but not aggressive.
“Agent Johnson, it seems this scene will be turned over to you,” Detective Sanchez said. He was obviously unhappy with that decision, if his scowl was anything to go by.
#xa0;
Order your copy here
About the Author
#xa0;
Romance author, lover of all things paranormal, photography buff, painter, cat owner (or should I say cat-owned ha!), and zero-waster.
Sienna spends her days deep in mystical worlds, arguing and sparring with characters and listening to them tell their stories.