Shifters Forever Worlds Mega Box: Volume 1

by Thorne, Elle

  Happy? Sophie asked.

  She could have sworn her tigress was purring, though she didn’t purr. It was a low, growling sound, a chuffing deep in her tigress’s throat.

  A loud horn signaled their departure from the docks.

  Sophie downed the rest of her drink and excused herself from the bar with, “See you at eight.”

  Chapter Five

  Niko stretched out on the bed in cabin A-7. It wasn’t an accident his cabin was next to hers; Rafe had arranged it. He could hear her through the thin walls, unpacking, putting things away, and, on occasion, she’d murmur to her tigress.

  When he’d invited her to dinner, his panther had noticed the jump in her pulse. Her tigress was immediately onboard for dinner, and though he knew Sophie had an attraction for him, she had still hesitated over declining the invitation.

  Niko put his hands behind his head and crossed his feet at the ankles. The bed was almost too short for him, his heels an inch away from being off the mattress.

  He tried to focus on what she was saying, but even with his shifter hearing, she wasn’t talking quite loud enough.

  He glanced at his watch.

  Five to eight. Almost dinnertime.

  A minute later, Niko knocked on her door. He’d put on a black suit Rafe had graciously provided, and damn if he didn’t feel trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey.

  She opened the door immediately after his knock, so quickly he wondered if she’d been standing by it.

  His breath hitched when the open door revealed the woman behind it. Hell, his breath wasn’t the only thing that reacted to her; his entire body went into a state of hyperactivity. His pulse raced out of control, and his heart beat a primal rhythm that sounded loudly in his head.

  Hot damn.

  A vision to behold, she stood before him in a black dress that was demure and, at the same time, pulled off sexy with a triple X.

  Strapless, held up by a set of magnificent, creamy, full breasts, the dress tapered down to a waist couched between a set of hips that flared wide—just the way he liked them—and those amazing breasts begging to be released.

  He couldn’t control the whistle that slipped between his teeth, though when he realized it, he clamped his lips together and slammed the brakes on his racing heartbeat.

  He wanted to lavish her with compliments, but somehow, that didn’t seem right. He was being paid to do a job here.

  Might want to remind my cock of that.

  Definitely might need to remind his cock, because damn if it wasn’t throbbing.

  “Thank you.” She acknowledged the low whistle. “You clean up well.” She smiled, lip gloss emphasizing her full lips, making him think of where he’d like that lip gloss to leave a temporary tattoo.

  “Thanks.” Though he’d rather not be in this suit, feeling more comfortable in his shorts or jeans. He’d rather be on a beach or rafting or mountain climbing or hiking. Anything but this social game that made him something he wasn’t.

  He put his arm out, the way he remembered his father doing for his mother. That had been a long time ago, considering he’d spent the greater part of his adolescence in a shifter orphanage on a remote island right here in the Aegean until his extended family had found him and brought him to America.

  There, he’d become close to Gavin, who was related to him on their mother’s side. Both of them were motherless at that point.

  At least Gavin had had a father, although his father was now spurning him because of what had happened with his brother. One of these days, maybe Niko could run into Gavin’s father and tell him what a fool he was.

  He escorted Sophie to the al fresco dining area then realized he’d made a decision without bothering to ask her opinion. “Want to eat al fresco? Or would you prefer indoor dining?”

  “Oh, al fresco for sure. I can’t imagine being locked up inside when we could be out here enjoying the ocean.”

  A woman after his own heart.

  His panther snarled.

  A woman after both our hearts, he corrected himself.

  The panther grumbled agreement.

  After he’d seated her and they’d ordered water and an appetizer of octopus in tomato sauce, a rustic loaf of Greek bread was served with a Greek salad.

  He raised his glass in a toast. “To an uneventful, relaxing trip.”

  “Funny you mention that. I overheard the porters talking about meltemi winds.”

  He knew about the meltemi winds all too well. You didn’t grow up in the middle of the Aegean without knowing the meltemi winds created by the low pressure from Turkey and the high pressure coming from the Balkans could create some powerful winds.

  Niko nodded, not about to tell her his history. No one really knew much about his life other than Gavin, and he’d just as soon keep it that way. “I’m not surprised. And don’t be surprised if they have to take us ashore somewhere for safety. I’m sure we have a talented captain.”

  “Oh, yes, Kyriakos is one of my fa—”

  Her lips shut immediately, turning into a forbidding line.

  She’d almost given herself away. He knew she was going to say “my father.”

  He looked toward the setting sun to keep her from seeing his acknowledgment of her mistake and his amusement with her discomfort.

  “I’ve heard good things about the captain,” she backpedaled.

  * * *

  Niko spent the whole damned night wanting her. The way she’d lifted the fork, put her lips around it, and sealed them over the morsel of food drove him crazy. He couldn’t stop imagining those same lips wrapped around his cock, taking him in deep, sealing him in the moist, velvety texture of her mouth. When she bit into a slice of octopus, the way her teeth tore at it made him wonder if she was a biter.

  He was thankful the table wasn’t made of glass. He’d have been screwed if it had been because she’d have seen the raging hard-on in his pants. He could scent her desire, her interest, her passion. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. But she was holding back.

  He knew why he was preventing himself from carrying her to her cabin and taking her every which way he could, but he didn’t know why she was pushing herself back. She clearly wanted him. Did she have someone at home she was being true to? Rafe hadn’t mentioned anyone.

  He sucked a deep breath in, capturing the molecules carrying her scent, trapping them in his body, relishing the sensation as they melded with his panther.

  When she licked the creamy sauce from the lobster off her fingertip, he almost came undone. He felt the warmth of a drop slip out of the slit on his cock’s head.

  His poor panther was in as much of a frenzy as he was. It took all of Niko’s concentration to keep the jungle cat and his own pulse and discipline in line.

  He hated to say it, but he was damned ready for the dinner to end so he could get out of here before she made his balls explode—in all the wrong ways.

  He had to get up or he’d lose it. He had to get away from the pheromones she was putting out. They were making him and his panther wild and fierce with craving.

  Chapter Six

  Sophie wanted to giggle at the frustration she was building in her sexy dinner date, but she couldn’t because she was in the same state of passion. She ached for him. She needed his body against hers.

  She pushed the thought away. She hadn’t come here for this. She wasn’t ready for this, and she sure as hell wasn’t ready to reveal her secret to him. Or anyone. She blamed her tigress, but the problem was that her tigress wasn’t the only one who was yielding to these intense sensations.

  Her nose crinkled as she inhaled his scent. It was pure male, mixed with musk and a hint of pine. She let her eyes close for a moment, savoring his aroma with her tigress’s senses, enjoying the way his scent translated into a flavor. She licked her lips, almost unaware of the semi-orgasmic look of passion that crossed over her face.

  She swallowed hard, struggling to push images, sensations, and emotions away. Her tigress fo
ught her, bringing it all back in Technicolor.

  When she finally opened her eyes, his gaze pierced through her. It was as if he could see her tigress and was communicating with her directly.

  Impossible.

  The sea air, the ambience of their surroundings, her stress level—all of it was contributing to her crazy thoughts.

  He moved in his seat from left to right, making a few adjustments. A grim smile made an appearance on his face.

  “Excuse me.” He shoved his chair away from the table. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

  He strode away, his walk confident, sexy wide shoulders squared. He slipped into the shadows farther down the deck.

  * * *

  Niko sank into the gloom behind a skiff and breathed the salty ocean air in as he looked out at the horizon. The sliver of a moon barely cast any light, though that didn’t matter. He’d always wondered what it was like for humans, when they were in the dark, handicapped by the dimness and their human vision.

  He took the opportunity to cool down his lust while his panther did the same. He didn’t plan to be gone long, certainly didn’t want her thinking he’d abandoned her, but if he didn’t get out of there, he was afraid his panther would give them away. No matter how much hunter’s block he’d used, there was no way he could hide it if his panther’s pulse became too powerful and beat differently from his own.

  If that happened, Sophie’s tigress would pick up the panther’s pulse and she’d identify him as a shifter.

  He’d worked hard over the years to perfect his internal camouflage. The Sigma Eps were notorious for being able to hide among shifters, presenting themselves as humans.

  Then again, he’d never been around a stimulus like Sophie. She was the kind of catalyst that would propel him and his panther right onto her radar.

  He could see her from where he stood, and at the same time he could keep an eye on the entire dining room. Out of the hundred guests on board, only thirty or so had decided to dine in the al fresco dining area. The rest of the guests had either chosen to dine inside or in their cabins. Why they would prefer either of those to dining out here, he had no idea.

  There were two couples left in the dining area. Two couples, plus Sophie.

  He frowned when he saw four men walk across the other side of the dining area. There was something odd about their approach. Dressed all in black, they weren’t crew members.

  Alarms went off for both him and his panther. Something wasn’t right here.

  The men pulled black ski masks down over their faces and slipped into the dining area, pulling out automatic weapons.

  What the hell?

  He hoped Sophie would keep her cool.

  The men ordered the two couples and Sophie to a far corner, then out onto the deck. Now, they weren’t far from Niko, but he was still behind two stacked skiffs, out of sight.

  He steadied his breathing.

  Be cool, Sophie.

  He readied himself to jump out and help her. Four men; he should be able to handle that many.

  One of the guests muttered something to the black-clad intruders.

  One of them raised his weapon and hit the guest in the head. The man collapsed, either dead or unconscious—Niko hoped for the latter.

  The muffled cries of the other two women drowned out what the intruder was saying. Sophie was stoic, her back stiff, shoulders straight. Niko didn’t like her stance; it made him nervous that she’d try something.

  He concentrated on the intruders. They weren’t shifters. Not paranormal creatures of any kind, as far as he could tell.

  The diners began to remove their jewelry and empty their pockets.

  Fucking thieves! This is about some jewelry and pocket cash?

  Fury burned inside Niko as the assailants picked up their loot.

  One of them was bitching at the other one. “You said there were a hundred people here. What’s this? Four people?” He pointed his weapon toward the unconscious man. “Empty his pockets. Get that Rolex, too.”

  The third man shook his masked head. “This wasn’t a total waste. The rest of the guys are going room to room, tying people down, collecting as much as they can. No thanks to your planning, though.” He shook his weapon at the fourth man. “Tie them up. Hurry. They’ll be here to get us in less than five minutes.”

  Sophie’s breathing changed. Niko and his panther felt it.

  Damn. This can’t be good. She’d better not shift.

  One intruder escorted the three still-standing guests out through the arched exit.

  Sophie stood her ground. “Get away from me,” she hissed at the assailant who approached her with duct tape in hand.

  No. For fuck’s sake, Sophie. No.

  Sophie wasn’t having it. With two of the assailants out of the dining area escorting the secured guests, only two remained.

  Sophie shifted far more quickly than Niko would have thought possible. Before he knew it, a magnificent orange tigress with vivid colors and a luxurious coat stood before the two thieves. She bared her fangs and sank them into the neck of one of the intruders before he could utter a sound.

  The other intruder opened his mouth to scream. Sophie pounced on him and took him out with one swipe of her paw and a snapping crunch as she bit into his neck.

  Shit. I can’t go in there now. Not while she’s in her tigress form. Not if he didn’t want her to know he knew she was a shifter.

  Did he want her to know?

  Not yet.

  The other two intruders returned with their weapons pointed at Sophie’s tigress. “Told you!” one of them blurted. “I told you there might be shifters on board. I heard rumors.”

  Sophie snarled.

  The man raised a pistol.

  Niko groaned. That would only serve to piss her off. He needed to intervene, or they’d all be dead. Then there’d be authorities to deal with, then there’d be hassles. Then his cover would be blown. And she’d hate him for having lied to her…

  A million scenarios that all began with “then she” or “then I” or “then it” ran through his mind. Not a damned one boded well for Niko.

  He had to intervene.

  He stepped out from behind the skiffs.

  “I’m prepared for shifters.” The man was still talking as he pointed his pistol at Sophie. A dart flew out, pierced her hide, buried itself in her lush fur.

  Mid-leap, Sophie crashed to the ground.

  She didn’t move.

  Damn.

  They had tranqs.

  Niko abandoned the idea of shifting. He’d have to take them on in his human form, which was no problem as long as they didn’t shoot him. Then he’d have to shift to heal.

  Crouching low, moving fast, he snuck up behind one man and took him down with a quick yank and snap of his neck. The other one moved away, raising his pistol.

  Not the damned tranq. Tranqs hurt like hell.

  He braced himself but, at the same time, threw his body to the right to avoid the dart.

  The man fired.

  Chapter Seven

  Sophie opened her eyes, but that was the last thing she wanted to do. Her tigress had told her she had to.

  I just want to sleep.

  Her tigress wouldn’t let her.

  Sophie shook her head to clear it.

  “Our tigress is awake,” a gruff voice said with an Eastern European accent.

  She remembered everything. The men. Shifting. Killing two. Then a pistol. She knew right away what it was. A tranquilizer had been used on her.

  Damn them.

  She was tied to a chair with her hands behind her. She raised her head, looked around. She was still on the Bella. The sun was up outside. She’d been knocked out all night.

  Three men stood over her. They held tranq pistols.

  “Who might you be, my pretty?” another one asked her. He had an Australian accent. What was this? An international gang of thieves?

  “I’m…” She struggled to remember the name she’d
given them. “I’m Soleil Templeton.”

  “Have them run the name,” the Aussie said to the Eastern European one.

  He nodded and left the room.

  They all had masks on. For that, maybe she should be thankful. That meant they didn’t plan on killing her.

  She hoped.

  It completely and totally sucked they knew she was a shifter.

  Sophie wanted to rub her head which felt like it was full of cotton.

  Wait… What had happened to Niko? Had they killed him?

  “Where is everyone else?” Her words came out slurred.

  “Crew and guests are chilling in cold storage,” another bad guy said. This one had an American accent. He laughed at his own joke.

  “Except for the cowboy,” the Aussie said.

  “Cowboy?”

  “Your date. He thought he was going to play cowboy. He’s sleeping it off.” He pointed to one of the leather seats where a huge, muscular body lay on the cushions.

  Niko. Thank goodness, he’s alive.

  What was wrong with him? Then she figured it out. “Why did you shoot him with a tranq?”

  “It was the closest weapon at hand to use on him. He was going all Rambo on me.” He laughed. “He didn’t Rambo for long.” His face turned red, and his brows drew together in a vee. Scowling, he added, “He killed my best friend. He’ll have to pay, sooner or later. We need to know his name, see if he’s worth ransoming. If not, he dies immediately. If he’s worth anything to anyone, he dies after we collect.”

  Ransoming? They were pirates of some sort.

  “When Giovanni Tiero finds out you’ve taken his ship, you’ll be the one paying.”

  “I think we’ll be okay,” the Aussie said.

  The Eastern European returned. “No Soleil Templeton.”

  The Aussie raised a cell phone and took her picture. “We’ll find out who you are, Ms. Templeton.” He handed the phone to the Eastern European guy. “Have them run this against all the shifters in the database.”

  Database?