Shifters Forever Worlds Mega Box: Volume 1

by Thorne, Elle

  Her sweet puckered folds were covered in juices.

  While his thumb ministered to her clit, his middle finger slid closer toward her hot sheath, playing near the entrance. He swirled it, loving the delicious sounds of her moisture merging with her light moans.

  He lowered his head, taking a first lick, a tiny one, but damn if he could stop there—he took a long slow deliberate swipe at her folds, lapping her flavor in.

  She gasped then released a long moan.

  His cock strained, pushing against the bed, seeking the warmth of her though Bryson denied it. In his mind, his leopard bellowed frustration at the denial of an immediate mating.

  Bryson ate her pussy with a reckless and abandoned hunger, satiating the aching within. He spread her lips farther to get at the silky wetness, sucking on her lips, pushing his tongue in and out, fucking her slowly at first, loving the way her succulent sheath tugged at his tongue, gripping it with muscles that were ready for his dick.

  He pressed his tongue deeper, burying his face in, relishing the taste, the scent, the texture.

  Fuck. She was amazing.

  He groaned with desire denied while she bucked against his mouth. Lips buried into her folds, he sucked her clit, flicking it with his tongue. Raining a barrage of tongue flicks that left her a quivering, creamy mess, her hands gripping his head, her claws digging in, drawing blood.

  “Bry…” She gasped. “Bry…son.” She raised up, almost to a sit as she squirted into his face, leaving him licking the results of her passion.

  His leopard and his cock had taken all they could.

  He pushed her back. It was his leopard’s turn.

  Thoughts jumbled in his mind, all he could do was let his leopard take over as he thrust into her, reveling at her gasp when he’d filled her and stretched her to accommodate him. He went in deep and pulled back then deep again while she squirmed and clawed at his back, scoring his flesh with a searing pain that merged with the pleasure.

  “Perfect,” he groaned against her mouth. “Fucking perfect.” He slammed into her with a fervor that spoke of a need he’d never experienced before.

  She met every thrust with a passion that matched his and then some. The calm, cool, and collected Anya he’d first met was gone, a redheaded fiery dervish wriggled beneath him. One quick twist and she was on top, straddling his legs, facing him, while he sat on the edge of the bed. She rose and dropped her body, rocked back and forth on him, taking him deeper and deeper.

  He placed one hand behind her neck and pulled her in close for a kiss while his other hand found her clit, pressing and rubbing circles on the swollen nub.

  Within moments, her head snapped back, her eyes opened wide, and her lips parted, preparing to scream. He locked onto her mouth and took her scream in deep, swallowing her passion as her muscles clenched around him over and over again in orgasm.

  The sound of her passion, muffled by his mouth was his undoing.

  Her pussy was pushing him forward, milking, driving him closer and closer to the edge. He grunted, and, with a groan and an uncontrolled rush, released himself into her depths. He clutched her close, pumping into her depths.

  She collapsed against him—all softness, female, and curves.

  All his.

  Chapter Ten

  Anya smiled at her charge’s antics as Pepper bounced up and down.

  Up and down.

  Over and over again.

  “I can’t help it. I’m so excited.” Her blonde pigtails flew in all directions, loosening the braids and releasing fine hairs that caught the morning sun.

  “Is this the first picnic you’ve ever had?” Anya took her by the hand and led her toward the gazebo next to the duck pond.

  “It’s the first one I’ve ever had guests at. Usually it’s me and Daddy and Signora Portofino.”

  Anya felt his focus on her and turned around to catch Bryson watching from the glass double doors, the phone held to the side of his head. He gave a nod.

  Pepper followed her gaze. “He works too much.” It was Marleis’s voice.

  “I’m glad you’re here, Marleis. I have a question for you. Do you know what happened to Bianca’s elemental? And her shifter?”

  The dark-blue color flashed in Pepper’s green eyes. Turning darker then lighter. Fear coursed through Anya at the thought of Marleis hurting Pepper.

  “Please don’t go, Marleis. I need to talk to you, and only you.”

  “Bianca’s elemental killed her shifter. Not all of us are bad, though. You don’t need to worry. I love Pepper, and I would never let harm come to her. I would protect her with my life.”

  “So would her shifter. Did Bianca’s shifter have a problem with her elemental? Why would that have happened?”

  “Her elemental, Bevane, would never talk to me. I don’t know how she killed Bianca’s shifter or what happened.”

  A jolt of electricity coursed through Anya—Bryson was getting closer. “We can discuss this later.” Anya turned toward Bryson’s approaching footsteps, now audible to her shifter hearing, and took a moment to admire his long strides, the way the muscles on his soccer-player thighs rippled with each step, even under his jeans.

  This was the first time she’d seen him in jeans. She had to admit he filled them out remarkably. The thought made a heat rise to her cheeks. She averted her gaze, but not before she’d caught the wicked gleam in his eyes.

  “Everything okay?” Anya asked him, pointing to his phone.

  “All good. Just business. More or less.”

  The way he’d said more or less put her on edge. What was that supposed to mean? Why was he wearing an expression she couldn’t decipher?

  She opened her mouth to inquire but was interrupted by the sound of voices. At the main door leading to the back courtyard, Signora Portofino was escorting Isabel, Rafe, Jax, Sophie, Niko, Astra, and Kane toward them.

  From the shadows of the tree, Anya studied the shifters and their mates as they approached. Kane, a giant of a man, held Astra’s hand. The impression he gave was that he was completely assured of himself and his surroundings. Sophie, who was obviously expecting, walked confidently next to her mate Niko.

  Anya studied Niko for a moment. He was quiet and always watching; she’d already figured out there was something about him that wasn’t immediately evident. He was a soldier, or perhaps he’d been one in the past. Rafe and Jax walked next to them. Jax had an easy smile and a ready laugh, and she held Rafe’s hand casually while his thumb traced subtle patterns on her wrist.

  The end result of watching the three couples approaching was that Anya wanted what they had. Not necessarily the same thing, but something like it…with Bryson.

  She caught him watching her, his gaze dark and intense. She stared back, unmoving, looking for answers in his expression. Why couldn’t she let go and roll with her emotions?

  Pepper took Anya’s hand, breaking the spell, then turned to her father. “Signora Portofino has made baskets full of food. The baskets are by the lake.”

  “As soon as our guests catch up to us, we’ll make our way down there. Guess what I’ve had taken out and made ready?”

  Pepper started to skip in place. “The paddleboats?”

  “You bet.”

  The child let go of Anya’s hand as if it were on fire and catapulted herself toward the newcomers. “Signora Isabel! We have paddleboats!”

  * * *

  Anya stretched out on the blanket next to Astra. Sophie and Niko were in one paddleboat, racing against Jax and Rafe in another and Isabel and Pepper in a third.

  “Does this place remind you of anything?” she asked Astra.

  “When we used to run away from Doc and hide?” Astra smiled.

  “Yeah. How is he?”

  “He’s happy now that he has someone.”

  Anya cocked her head to the side. “And you’re okay with his…” How should she put this? She didn’t want to say his replacing your mom. “You’re okay with that?”

 
“Considering she’s the closest thing to a mother figure I’ve had since I lost my mother…”

  Anya felt a stab of guilt.

  “Hey.” Astra touched Anya’s hand, her fingertips much hotter than a human’s would be. “Don’t. Stop blaming yourself.”

  How could Astra have felt her emotions?

  “I can’t help it. I’ll always blame myself.”

  “You were young. You did what you could.”

  “I’m glad he’s happy.”

  “I’m glad Mae’s happy, too.”

  “Mae? And Doc?”

  A grin crept onto Astra’s face. “Imagine that, huh?”

  Bryson cleared his throat. “Do you mind if I ask you about your elemental?”

  The smile vanished, and the color drained from Astra’s face. Anya felt her pulse change and her scent signaled distress. She looked at Bryson to see if he’d perceived the same and wondered if he’d continue with this line of questioning.

  Astra rubbed her palms on her jeans then stared across the water. Her luminescent-green eyes turned lime then flashed a brilliant yellow.

  “I won’t ask why you’re inquiring. I saw Pepper’s.” She rubbed her hands again. The sound of skin on denim was the only noise other than the wind rustling the trees. “I don’t know much about it. I’m supposed to go visit some people with Mae soon. I put that off so I could see Anya. I had to get some sort of closure about my past and how Anya was doing.”

  A single tear wended its way down from the corner of her eye, over her cheek, and landed on her top, immediately soaking into the cotton fabric.

  Anya took her hand and held it between her own. Kane placed an arm around Astra’s shoulders.

  “She’s wanted nothing more than to see you again,” he told Astra. “It’s been eating at her since I met her. She’s got to get back now that she’s met you, though—”

  “Kane.” Astra’s tone had a warning note in it.

  “It’s got to be said. Astra’s having bad headaches. I’m pretty sure, and Doc agrees, that it’s her elementals battling.”

  A gasp slipped out of both Anya and Astra at the same time.

  “You discussed this with Doc?” Astra’s voice wasn’t raised, but her pitch was higher.

  “When you pass out from headaches, wouldn’t you think a doctor should be involved?” Kane frowned, his tone dangerously low.

  “But…Doc? He’s… Not Doc, he’s my dad.”

  Kane shook his head as if in disbelief. “I can’t think of anyone better than him to deal with this. He’s the only shifter doctor I know.”

  “What did Doc say?” Anya asked him. She was still trying to process the idea Astra had two elementals in her. What could happen? Could two elementals coexist better than an elemental and a shifter’s animal?

  “Doc said she needs to go to Denver with Mae as soon as possible to see the Order of Elementals. To seek some answers there.”

  “What?” Bryson was reaching into the picnic basket when he pulled back, a frown drawn into a V between his brows. “Order of Elementals? That’s the group that wants Pepper.”

  “What are you talking about?” Astra sat up straighter, her spine stiff.

  “Maybe I should ask you what you’re talking about. And why you’d go see the Order of Elementals.” Bryson’s frown grew.

  “I don’t know a lot about them. Just that they have the answers. Mae said they’re a semi-secret group of elementals. She has relatives there. Why? What’s the big deal?”

  Anya had been chewing on her bottom lip. She released it. “I’m here to protect Pepper from the Order. It seems odd that you’d seek them out.”

  “Are you sure they’re with the Order? Mae said sometimes individuals fall away from the group—”

  “What do you mean, you’re here to protect Pepper?” Kane asked.

  Anya turned toward Bryson, hoping he’d tackle the questions concerning his daughter.

  He shrugged. “I’m not sure of anything, other than Bianca’s mother—that’s Pepper’s mom—told some people about Pepper.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Before Bianca left, she mentioned the Order.”

  “What have they done?” Kane asked Bryson.

  “Wait. What do you mean, you’re here to protect Pepper?” Astra rubbed her temples.

  “Slow down,” Anya said. “I can’t—we can’t—answer everything at the same time. I work for a group. I’m here to protect Pepper.”

  “You’re a bodyguard?” Astra’s hands stilled.

  “Niko’s a bodyguard,” Kane volunteered. “You two should talk.” He glanced at Niko in the paddleboat on the water. “Do you know him? Do you work for the same outfit?”

  “I haven’t heard of him, nor has he been with any of the teams I’ve been a part of.” Anya fully intended to ask Cas about him.

  “So, why are you protecting Pepper from the Order? What have they done?” Kane repeated his question.

  “They tried to kidnap Pepper.”

  “Because she’s a hybrid?” Astra asked. “Mae said hybrids were rare.”

  “What did she say about your having two elementals?”

  Astra’s gaze focused on the lake. “Not much.”

  A gust of wind blew in, and a lightning flash appeared on the horizon.

  All eyes turned to Astra.

  “I can’t always control it.” Her face was a mask of pain.

  “The headache is back.” Kane pulled her against his side, his large hand cupping her head, massaging it tenderly. “We’ve got to get her back home.”

  “It’s not that dire. Don’t overreact,” Astra protested, but it was clear to Anya from the downward pull of her muscles in the grimace of pain that she was understating the matter.

  Concern for her friend’s wellbeing flooded Anya’s heart. “Why don’t you go back home, and I’ll come visit you as soon as I can. After this…”

  God, am I supposed to call this a job? When I’m head over heels for the client…and I slept with him?

  She took a deep breath and continued, “When the threat to Pepper has been eliminated, I’ll come visit.”

  The paddleboats were pulling up to the shoreline. Pepper’s excited shrieks filled the air as she ran toward them.

  “Daddy!”

  Pepper froze and frowned at Anya. “You should take care of that.” It was Marleis’s voice.

  A chill coursed through Anya. Pepper’s elemental made her nervous.

  Then, a loud roaring sound pulled her attention away. At the far end of the lake, a large wave was building, headed for their end of the shore.

  “What the hell?” Bryson looked from Pepper to Astra then to Anya.

  “Marleis.” Astra’s mouth was moving, but it wasn’t her voice. Anya realized her elemental was talking. “Marleis. Stop. We know you’re there. We don’t intend you harm.”

  “Either of you?” Marleis’s voice again. A flash of blue appeared in the depths of Pepper’s eyes.

  There was a long pause, while, behind them, the wave grew larger and larger, rising like an enormous cobra ready to strike.

  Anya realized it was Marleis’s creation, and Marleis alone was keeping the gigantic column of water from crashing down toward them.

  “Either of us,” the elemental in Astra said.

  The large pillar of water subsided, settling downward softly, without creating any waves.

  Astra turned toward Bryson. “Your daughter is very powerful. If her mother’s elemental was half as powerful…”

  Anya knew where she was going with that. Astra didn’t have to finish the sentence.

  Bryson nodded. It seemed he knew, too.

  Suddenly, a dire fear for Pepper stung Anya. Marleis could hurt Pepper. She could do to Pepper’s shifter what Bianca’s elemental had done to hers. What was stopping her from doing it right now? Or did they prefer to do that sort of thing after a shifter child had attained adulthood so they had a grown body to work with?

  Her head was spinning from everything that had
been revealed, and a strong urge to find the answers overcame her. She’d go to Mae. When this was over, when Pepper was safe from the Order, Anya would find Mae and get some answers.

  Chapter Eleven

  Pepper rubbed her tummy. “I’m full.”

  Her eyes were heavy, as if she was exhausted from the exertion of paddleboat racing. Managing that tower of water had probably been pretty draining, too, Anya surmised, letting the little girl lean against her.

  “So, you know Cas?” Niko asked.

  Anya paused. She didn’t like talking about her work. “What about you?”

  “I’ve freelanced for him.”

  Anya nodded. “I’ve done some work.”

  Niko matched the nod. His expression told her he understood her need for privacy.

  “What do you do now?” Anya asked.

  Sophie put her hand on his. “He works for the Tiero organization. His freelancing days are over.”

  Niko laughed, placing his hand on Sophie’s swollen belly. “For now, I’m staying put. At least until a special little white tigress makes her appearance.” He shrugged, his eyes twinkling with merriment. “Who knows after that?”

  “She’ll have you wrapped around her pinkie,” Isabel admonished him playfully, with a warning finger wag.

  “Oh, and what about you?” Rafe raised his brows at his mother.

  “What about me?” Isabel smiled.

  “You’re not going to be around your grandchildren? Because of him?”

  The smile vanished from Isabel’s face.

  Anya looked from mother to son. What was brewing here? Hadn’t they had enough drama for the day? Thank goodness neither of them had an elemental. She couldn’t handle more tsunami-like waves or the threat of lightning strikes.

  “He doesn’t want me there. He doesn’t want me in the same country. My grandchildren can visit me here.”

  Anya glanced at Jax and Sophie. The sadness on their faces meant they knew, but Bryson’s face seemed to say he was as confused as Anya felt.

  I’m not asking. I’m not butting in.