“That’s how we got Masters. We adopted him that next year,” Ben said, coming out of the woods with a big bunch of flowers. He handed them to Marsha and kissed her cheek. “We do forget too, my little witch,” Ben growled.
“Forgetting is one thing, Ben, but to be treated as a dumbass, like you are nothing more than toy…” Suzanne grumbled and looked up at Hope. “I have to say I’m kind of glad you got us out of there when you did. I’m afraid Grant and Seth might have been dragon tartare if you hadn’t. But I still think they need their asses kicked. Don’t have time, my fat ass.”
Hope glanced at Valda and they busted out laughing. “Dragon tartare…”
“Well I thank you, Hope, for intervening and I will apologize for my brother.” Seth looked behind him as he stepped out of the woods. “Well, get out here, stupid, and say you’re sorry so we can speak with our woman.”
Grant stepped out of the woods holding a large box of candy. He looked down at Tara, smiling. “I’m sorry I growled and got snippy at you. This has been one crazy day, but a good day. Would you please forgive me?”
“Ohhhh, he’s good. Chocolate too,” Jaycees said, glancing at Tara. “Wait till you taste that. Now, some of them might be nasty, but most of them are to die for,” she said, staring at the box.
“Leave her box of candy alone,” Remi grumbled, coming up behind Jaycee and placing a different kind of box in her hands.
“You remembered,” Jaycee said with tears in her eyes.
“How can we forget your favorite candy?” Remi said as Dane came out with a bouquet of roses, while Mark brought one of the largest buckets of ice cream Hope had ever seen.
Tara smiled as Jaycee blubbered, hugging each of her men. “Go take your walk and get to know your men,” Hope said and had turned to start walking when a big white polar bear blocked her way.
“I’m not in the mood for your games, Gourd. After all, this woman is all emotional, if I remember your words,” Hope growled as Suzanne stepped up next to her, Temmra close to the surface. Suzanne’s skin changing to that of the dragon.
“Temmra, no tartare, please, I was just starting to love the big ox even though he’s an ass,” Hope said, staring right into Gourd’s gaze.
“A little brown? I mean he is a little too white, don’t you think? He’d blend in more,” she grumbled.
“I swear, Temmra, I’m going to tan your damn hide.” Dominic came down in front of them, his flames dancing in his eyes, but the tin singed box he handed Suzanne had her crying like a baby. “It took us a while, but we finally found it.” Dominic glanced at Hope. “It’s her mother’s personal box,” he explained, lifting Suzanne as she hugged it to her, and they disappeared into the woods.
“Damn, they’re dropping like flies around here,” Cecilia said as Shelly, Lissa and Valda came up to her side.
Shelly laughed and nodded off to their right, where Clayton stood with Tug and Rory. All three of them had something in their hands. “I couldn’t bring what you missed the most, but I had it installed in our home. Come walk with us.” Clayton held out his hand.
“You got me my stove?” she whispered, moving toward him with tears in his eyes.
“We’d do anything for you, Cecilia. We love you,” Clayton said, closing his hand around hers.
On Hope’s other side, Shelly leaned over and sang, “‘Another one bites the dust.’ Do you remember that song? It was one of my favorites. Okay, so who’s going to pop out…? Ohhh, look it’s my turn,” Shelly said, nudging her as Bo stood there with Argo, White Eagle and Buck.
“I do say, they make a very intimidating picture standing there. “Oh my God, is that a collar? Look at the bling on that,” Hope said, nudging Shelly, whose hand was at her throat. “And it says…”
“My Little Wolf,” Shelly whispered before turning to her. “Sorry you are losing me now too, but I have a feeling we will be seeing each other soon.”
“Well,” Lissa said, but stopped as Nikola, Adonis, Pierre and Castor appeared off to their left side.
“Come here, Lissa. I have visitors waiting to see you, but they can only stay for a few minutes,” Nikola said, stepping aside to reveal an older couple.
“Momma, Poppa?” Lissa reached out to grab on to Hope as Lissa’s legs gave out, but Nikola was there sweeping her up into his arms.
“I’ve got you. I’ll always have you, my queen,” he said, carrying her toward her parents.
“Well, that leaves only us, Valda,” Hope said, glancing at her friend who now wore a long formal dress. “Valda?”
Out of the woods Owen, Griffin, Sar, Ral, Drand and Burr came all dressed in tuxes.
“I do believe we owe you a dance, our lady,” Owen said, bowing to Valda.
Valda glanced at her. “Go, my friend, have that dance,” Hope said as three large bears moved in beside her with all eight of their children following.
“Come, let’s take our family out for to explore our new home for the first time.” Gourd said.
Hope stood there and realized that this new place had already become her home. She had her sisters Valda, Jaycee, Suzanne, Lissa, Cecilia, Shelly and even a mama figure in Marsha. But best of all, when she looked into her men’s gaze, Hope saw the love she’d been searching for. Hell, that all of the women had been searching for.
Aurora and her men had done what they had set out to do: secure a home for them all. Now they could only hope Earth would do the same and find the peace for their people, including Tara.
Read an Excerpt from The Laws of Love
A Spin off of the Running In Fear Series
Book One
Restraining Tara’s Love
Chapter One
Tara Yoo stared at the place Jaycee had called a BDSM club. The men had made it for their ladies and for men.
“Okay, this is so not what it normally looks like. Daddy Night, really?” she said. Pink and blue everywhere, paddles, whips, canes, even the funny furniture were different colors.
“Do I sense a theme here?” she asked, lifting the end of the garment Hope had called a teddy.
“Yes, they are celebrating our pregnancies. Sort of like the human baby shower,” Valda grumbled. “I’m still trying to wrap my mind around five babies. You better watch yourself. With the two you have, you’ll be pregnant before you know it.”
Tara looked off to the side, not wanting her new friends to see the hurt in her eyes. Both of her men were going back to Earth and were going to leave her there until they built her a proper home.
Jaycee nudged her. “I heard that they are leaving you here. Remi was furious with Grant and Seth for mating you last night and then planning to leave. They each know how hard it is to be away from your mate when you are first bonded.”
“We really haven’t bonded, or at least I don’t think so. They just took me in their wolf forms. I have to say, shifting to a wolf was an experience,” Tara said.
“Why those stupid assholes,” Hope growled. “I think it’s time—”
“Time for what, Little Bear? And why are all of you so tense, as if you’re ready to do battle? This night is supposed to be about love.” Gourd rubbed his cheek on Hope’s head as he slid his hands under her see-through teddy and cupped her breasts.
“Damn it, Gourd, this is important. They screwed Tara in wolf from, claiming her, and now they plan to leave Tara here with us. That is wrong. They should have left her alone. At least then we could have found her men here.”
“Tara does not need any other men, well except our third, who should… He’s here, I believe.” Grant said, turning Tara around to see one of the biggest men she had ever seen next to Gourd. He was shirtless and wore a black vest and black pants that hugged his muscular long legs. He had shoulder-length black hair, and his heated gaze had her squirming where she stood.
“Kiba,” Tara whispered, earning a laugh from Fand and Jester.
“I don’t think the gods are to going to take you when they just gave you three mates, little sister,
” Fand said, reaching over and tugging on her hair. “You okay?” He, Jester and Gourd were still protective of her Even their mate, Hope, would do battle for her.
“This is so priceless.” Jaycee squirmed between Tara and Grnat. “Is he your mate?”
Tara laughed, looking down at Jaycee. “Yes, he’s my other mate, why?”
Jaycee jumped, yelling, “Yes! He’s my brother-in-law, Remi’s younger brother. Now, you’re going to be my sister Ouch,” Jaycee said and flinched. “One Remi is furious with, it would seem.”
“Oh my, should I worry?” Tara asked, seeing her man on the floor rubbing his jaw with a smile on his face. “Well. I guess not. Strange way to great your brother, though.”
“Not when you see the clan of them together. I swear they can’t go ten minutes without one of the brothers punching the other. I don’t know how their mother survived with six boys,” Jaycee said.
“Well if I were you, I’d make sure all three of them didn’t touch you until they promised to take you with them,” Hope growled, looking at Grant and Seth. “A woman can protect herself just as well as a man can.”
“If you will excuse us, I do believe Little Bear needs some attention.” Gourd lifted Hope into his arms and moved into the playroom, as Dane did the same to Jaycee.
“Right behind you. Jaycee has a ball gag in her future and a pretty pink paddle. Three girls.” Dane shook his head. “God help us they are all like their mother,” he grumbled and Jaycee laughed.
“One girl and the rest boys, can you believe it? I can just see all of my children zipping here and there,” Lissa grumbled. “It’s going to be me and my little princess against the almighty horde of men.”
“Horde? I think some blue nipple clamps need to be added to your outfit. Come, my queen, you need to be dressed right.” Nikola flipped Lissa over his shoulder and delivered a nice smack to her ass. “Then I believe you and Jaycee will be facing each other while we paddle your butts. Let’s see how much you can talk then.”
“Why you…” Lissa squeaked as Nikola’s hand disappeared between her legs. “Nikola!”
Suzanne shook her head. “It’s going to be a lively night.” The little dragon turned her attention on Grant behind her. “But before I go, a little snack?” she questioned Tara, who laughed.
“Not yet, I still need to see what I’m getting into here. Plus”—Tara nodded behind her, but Dominic was fast, putting the ball gag in Suzanne’s mouth, before she could say a word.
“Now let’s see if you sprout your crap around this. We have a nice, warm, blue butt plug waiting for you, not to mention two pink nipple clamps. I can just see it now, all of our little girls running around burning their brothers and sisters.” Dominic grunted, ripping her teddy off her. “You don’t need this either since we will be touching every inch of your tonight, all of us.”
“Tara, I’d like you to meet Ralph LeBlathe. He is our third and I take it yours also?” Seth asked, looking down at her.
She nodded. “He’s my third.” Up close the man smelled like the forest. His bulky, large body would be a dream to explore, but Suzanne had been right. They shouldn’t be at this club, especially since they really didn’t know each other.
Dressing herself in what she usually wore on this planet, Tara transported them to the beautiful place she had seen earlier that night. She walked over to the edge of rocky cliff and sat. “I really didn’t believe I should be there, since I don’t know the three of you. I’m in the clothes of my people. They are more comfortable for me. Last night we really didn’t have much time to talk, but I believe you should be aware that I was…” Tara frowned. “I don’t know what you call it here, but on our world, I was a volunteer for Fand, Jester and Gourd. I helped them get through their training. When their training was done, we went our separate ways.”
Grant growled behind her. “You allowed them—” He stopped when Tara glared up at him.
“On our world, warriors are honored. The hell they have to go through to be a warrior would crush many of your people here or on Earth. So before you pass judgment, you the one who would mark me and leave me while you did your thing, learn about my customs. I have started to learn yours.” Tara’s gaze landed on Ralph. “You three should just go. It’s obvious your minds are made up. But Suzanne was right. You won’t touch me until we can be together. Have a good night,” Tara said, going back to her assigned room, leaving the three of them to find their own way back,. She was so damn furious, tired of being treated with such disrespect.
She stood in the middle of her room, missing her home. Never had Tara believe she’d be so far away from her family. They had stood behind her decision to volunteer, knowing it was an honor to help their men. It wasn’t like an emotional bond had formed between her, Gourd, Fand and Jester. Sure, she was fond of the three, but they were like brothers to her now.
“Tara?” Jester said behind her. “Are you okay? Hope wanted me to check on you. She saw you four leave.”
“I guess I’m missing home a little,” Tara said, going and sitting on comfortable thing they called a couch. “Humans have so many emotions. I don’t know if I’m going to get used to all this. I hate to say this, but it hurts inside,” she said, looking at Jester as he knelt before her.
“I turned them down. Suzanne was right. I can’t be with my mates and have them leave me, Jester. I don’t want that hurt on me. I’ve been through enough,” Tara said.
Jester sighed. “If we would have known you would have been hurt, we wouldn’t have allowed you to volunteer. Do you wish for us to speak with your mates?” he asked and she shook her head.
“No, I don’t know how they’ll react to that either. They need to go back to this Earth and settle whatever they have to, before they come to me. I won’t commit again to anything unless they commit back. Go back to Hope, Jester, and enjoy your night. I’m going to call my parents and go to bed, since I have a lesson to teach in the morning.” She patted his hand, sending him back to the club and sighing, knowing her parents were not going to be happy.
About the Author
Trinity Blacio is the #1 Amazon bestselling romance writer of paranormal erotic romance for the series Running in Fear and Masters of the Cats, as well as a number of dark fantasy, erotic romance, erotic horror and ménage titles. She is a PAN member of the Ohio chapter of Romance Writers of America, and is the bestselling author of a paranormal stepbrother romance series that made her an All Romance eBooks and Siren bestselling author.
Coming from a split family, Trinity Blacio has lived in Minnesota, California, Michigan and Florida, but eventually settled in the state where she was born—Ohio. She has an associate’s degree in psychology and social work from Lorain County Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cleveland State University.
You will find her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. She loves to talk with all her fans.
Other Riverdale Avenue Titles by Trinity Blacio
The Running in Fear Series
Searching for the Perfect Mate: Remi’s Story
Prequel to The Running in Fear Series
Escaped: Book One of the Running in Fear Series
Abandoned: Book Two of the Running in Fear Series
Coming Home: Book Three of the Running in Fear Series
Cupid’s Venom: Book Four of the Running in Fear Series
Dragon’s Den: Book Five in the Running in Fear Series
Ghost Warriors: Book Six in The Running in Fear Series
New Beginnings Jubilee: Book Seven in the Running in Fear Series
After Hours on Bourbon Street: Book Eight in the Running in Fear Series
A Halloween to Remember: Book Nine in the Running in Fear Series
* * *
The Stepbrothers Series
Her Stepbrothers’ Demands
Her Stepbrothers are Aliens
Her Stepbrothers are Demons
Her Stepbrothers are Blood Suckers
Her Stepbrothers are
Dragons
Her Stepbrothers are Saber Tooth Tigers
Book Five of The Masters of the Cats Series
Her Stepbrothers are Werewolves
* * *
The Virgin Witch and the Vampire King
The Virgin Witch and the Vampire King
Book One: Wedding Bells Times Four
The Virgin Witch and the Vampire King
Book Two: Training a Wife
* * *
Masters of the Cats: Collaring the Saber-Tooth, Book One
Masters of the Cats: Dee’s Hard Limits, Book Two
Masters of the Cats: Caging the Bengal Tiger, Book Three
A Christmas Tail: Book Four of the Masters of the Cats Series
* * *
Surrender Your Independence
Red Satin Lips: Book One of The Surrender Series
* * *
The Naughty Angel and Her Three Very Wise men
Book One in The Naughty Series
Naughty Mommy and Santa’s Helpers
Book Two of the Naughty Series
The Naughty Stepbrothers
Book Three of The Naughty Series
* * *
Jeanne-Claude and Eugene’s Magic Lamp
Books One: I Dream of Jinns
Hot for Winter: A Christmas Ménage
Hot for Xmas
Ghosts of Christmas Passion
Embracing the Winds
Stoned Love
Her Three Men
Finding Hope: Book Ten of the Running in Fear Series Page 16