by Erin R Flynn
UIC will also have a new required seminar for all sports teams on what is acceptable behavior as representatives of the school and what is not. And what will get you smacked, as a bunch of people any basketball players have harassed or assaulted have taken to walking up and slapping them. Ashley showed me how #bballslapback was trending and all over social media.
I shouldn’t laugh, as that’s assault.
Of course I fucking laughed and hard.
I told Simone we should throw a party for the teams who stood up and helped in thanks. She agrees, and their coaches were thrilled and promised no one underage would try for booze.
We could have an eighteen and over night for a private party. It was worth it to make such awesome progress.
Another win was Russia finally caved with the Shifter Council, and those assholes from New York had their sentence carried out. I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Haton for letting me know. Fuck, I sent several gift baskets to the council members to thank them for navigating that bullshit, as one did not piss off the Bratva and then let them go to get even. Not if they wanted to live.
But there is a storm brewing in Russia on several fronts, and I’m a bit scared I’m going to have to get on a plane again. This time without a potion, but there are more prey and supes there that need help. It’s not my job, it’s not my responsibility, but I can maybe help, so isn’t that what we’re trying to do in Chicago? Isn’t that the point of progress?
Maybe, but if I get shot again, no one is letting me leave, not just the state or country but my apartment.
The End
Please Review!!
I know it’s annoying, I hate doing it too. But it really, really helps the author with Amazon’s search algorithms. I appreciate the kind and constructive reviews, I truly do.
To say THANK YOU for taking the few minutes to review (and all the previous reviews), I’ve written an extra. I will absolutely write more extra side chapters to keep thanking you guys for the reviews. So please go review any and all of Sera’s books, and I hope you like the addition!
Note from the author:
If you never read another word I write, I hope everyone at least reads this first…
Ashley, Julia, and their friends are fictional, but the club they became members of is NOT. Sexual assault is just what the name says. It’s assault that is sexual in nature, and studies show time and time again that 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 4 women have experienced it by the time they’re in their mid-twenties. That’s terrifying. What’s even scarier is how often that last person didn’t count themselves because they were given a different definition. Then the number is closer to 100%.
Here’s what all women need to know after joining this club.
It’s not your fault. It is never your fault. Even if it’s happened to you more than once. If you did not ASK someone to touch you, then they absolutely have no fucking right to. I don’t care what you were wearing, if you were drinking, or anything else you did. If you did not ask or give consent… It’s. Not. Your. Fault. Period. End of statement. No but. Exclamation point. Even if you walk down the street naked (ignoring the ticket you’d get), no one has the right to touch you. It took me years to realize that, as I grew up in an outdated—and sexist—environment where the first time it happened to me I was sixteen and told my parents my manager kept “bumping” into my chest and touching my ass to slide past me when there was room and he didn’t need to go there. In turn, I was asked what I was wearing to work. A comment that it happens and to ignore it.
The shame is never yours. The ones who should feel shame are the ones who have injured you just as punching you would injure you. It is assault. I felt shame for years. Any time it happened I felt shame. I found I was defending myself always. “I don’t drink at parties.” “I wasn’t wearing anything provocative.” “I didn’t leave my drink alone.” “I didn’t flirt with him.” There is not a fucking reason to defend yourself. You. Did. Nothing. Wrong. It took me until I was living on my own in college where some guy was all hands when I was ordering a drink, trying to kiss me, and shit hit the fan. I kept apologizing, and my friend grabbed me at the time and said, “If you apologize one more time, I’m going to smack you. Why the fuck are you apologizing? I’m sorry we didn’t get to bash his head in before the bouncers broke it up.” And it was like an alternate world. No one had ever said to me it wasn’t my fault and I didn’t deserve that even if I’d been dancing drunk on the tables.
You are not alone. There are a lot of us in the club. I honestly haven’t met a woman who hasn’t had her ass slapped, grabbed, groped, or way past that. I’ve had friends raped. Unfortunately, Illinois and a lot of states are behind on the times and haven’t updated their laws. I had an experience when I was twenty-five, it wasn’t just a smack on the ass or grope on the dance floor but being cornered in the bathroom and bruises. I went to report it, and when asked if he was trying to rape me, and I had to admit he didn’t say that. I got brushed off like it was nothing because I’d fought him off before it went too far. Went too far? Fucker, it went too far the moment he shoved me back in the bathroom. They should have at least gone after him for assault given the bruise on my face. So you are not alone.
You can move past it. I know that sounds pushy, but for me, it helped to know that I could. Knowing the first three helped me realize I could move forward. I stopped apologizing, and the next time someone smacked my ass, I smacked his face. You are allowed to defend yourself. Yeah, my ass still got grabbed, but that asshole will think twice before doing it again. I started talking about it and realized I wasn’t alone, and while never my fault, my friends gave me some tips to dance around the danger sometimes, like girls don’t need to pee together, but it helps avoid getting cornered. Smart.
If you need to talk to someone, there are a lot of outlets available. I know the US has multiple sexual assault and rape hotlines and places for help. For me, it was talking to my friends, saying what I’d been taught to think of as “dirty secrets” like I was to blame. The moment I did, it no longer was dirty nor a secret I carried with me, but an asshole who was pathetic, and the only action he could get was an ass smack, and my ass was just that fabulous. Doesn’t make it right, but it makes it easier to roll off your back so you don’t carry it. You deserve better than that.
So for those of you who are part of the club, I’m sorry you are. If I could wave my magic wand, I would make it so none of us were and all people who sexually assault others were stabbed with a million needles in their private parts. (I say that and not “junk” because women do it too, and that’s not okay either. It’s never okay.)
But I don’t have that power. What I do have is a desire to tell stories and a platform to voice them because I have lovely and wonderful fans. So I will. I will keep telling the stories that have hard parts because that is life. We all fall, but fighting to get up again is what we need help with at times, and that is the fight I try to help people with. I can’t wave that magic wand, but I can show it’s possible, tell how someone has done it, and maybe give someone hope that they can too.
So to those of you who get peeved I talk politics or I go dark now and again because you wanted the outlet to turn off your brain and not think about the bad… Sorry, but if that can make one person not feel alone or help them when they need it, that’s worth none of us getting the night off from life. Thank you to everyone who’s taken this ride with Sera and I. It’s been a fucking ride for sure, but it’s not over. There are at least three more books I have plans for. So her journey is far from over. Honestly, I plan on being sixty and still typing up (or maybe have a hot intern by then to do it because my hands feel old somedays) piles of Sera books.
Love to you all,
Erin
Seraphine After Dark
Noah and I had a bit more planned than just the party and a good PR chance. We knew others would come to get a feel of how easy it would be to take over—just like when I’d become Alpha—and some weren’t even being
subtle about it. And some were complete assholes, ignoring I was Noah’s mistress and clearly planning to take over and make me their pet wolf.
Not happening.
So the party being at Timequake wasn’t merely because the ballrooms were great for what we needed. No, there was a very nice pool that was reserved for the after party that was invite only, and while they probably had their agendas, so did we.
And we were smarter and not so dismissive of people.
“I love seeing you in a tux,” I purred as I slid my arms around Noah’s neck.
“I love seeing you in a gown,” he murmured, giving me a soft kiss. “It’s even better when you let me take it off of you.” The door to the pool opened, and Carter was already in the room as my guard and the other ancients outside, but it wasn’t any of them.
“I invited some people,” I confessed when he reached for the zipper as if he didn’t already know exactly what I’d done. “I’m a growing siren after all.”
“I love seeing you with other men as long as they’re respectful and not stupid,” Noah said for them mostly. He glanced past me before giving me a curious look. “Interesting group.”
“They wanted to get to know me better,” I chuckled as I turned in his arms to see the vampires but frowned. “They’re not all here.”
“You made it clear we should slip away, and that’s not always easy, Mistress,” one from France defended. I’d made sure to pick at least one in each party, and Noah had invited ten city masters and mistresses, but I’d added a few that seemed on opposite sides of their group. Possibly.
Or they just wanted us to think that because they wanted to be spies.
I shrugged. “Their loss. Help yourselves to drinks, and food’s coming for the after party.”
“I plan on eating you,” Noah hissed, sinking his fangs in my neck but not drinking. I moaned and rubbed against him, smelling the crazy lust in the room and aligning with my siren. I wasn’t wearing my ring of course—though Carter had it just in case—since we wanted information.
I learned a lot from the straining tux pants I saw of the seven that had arrived. Two more came in and looked annoyed they’d missed the start of the fun. Noah gave me a deep kiss and then unzipped my dress, letting it fall to the floor and revealing the sexy black corset I’d had on under the dress that clipped to stockings and a tiny black thong.
“I thought you might like it,” I chuckled as I licked his fang. “We’ve been so busy I’ve neglected you.”
“You were recovering,” he grumbled, hugging me to him.
“I meant since I’ve been better. We’ve been busy. Forgive me?”
“Always.” His fingers slid over the thong and teased me a bit. “You’re wet.”
“I’m excited to have some fun.” I pulled away and headed to the bar setup. I shook my head when one of the guests went to take off his jacket. “Don’t presume you’re getting naked.” I eyed him over to take the sting out of my rejection. “Besides, I love a man in a tux, and you wear that very well.”
“Thank you, Mistress,” he muttered as he fixed it. “May I get you a drink?”
I hummed as he came closer. “Maybe a light one. I wouldn’t want my blood to be full of alcohol if I let anyone bite me.”
His eyes glazed over as his pants got tighter. “Of course. What do you prefer?”
“To be bitten on my nipples or clit while climaxing,” I answered but then chuckled when several of them groaned. “Oh, drink. I’ll take a Leg Spreader.” I felt his confusion and smirked. “Let me teach you how to make one. I’m assuming you know what to do once the legs are spread, right?”
“Feast,” he hissed as his fangs came out. “A man always feasts first before any pleasure he might receive.”
I shivered, his gaze intense and the hormones coming off of him ridiculous. I taught him the lighter version, and by then all fourteen had arrived. We made other drinks for everyone and toasted to a fun night.
I started making the rounds, knowing they wanted to touch me, but my goal was to start flagging problems or issues. Carter was there as more than my guard, and our guys were watching the security for my signals. I gave him a wink if they just wanted to play or maybe find a new coven but not take over. The bad one was if I offered someone a sip, as my blood was like a drug and would impair them.
Because they were planning something now and bad.
I made sure he knew which ones to watch, as they were up to no good for sure, but more spying and giving reports. Later I could tell which were being ordered to do it and which wanted to, but I was gathering intel right then.
“You spoil me,” I groaned when food was brought in. I was starving again, and he’d ordered a bunch of my favorites. “Dain’s going to lecture about empty calories and not eating smarter.”
“He can stuff it. I like watching you moan too much,” Noah replied.
I started with the cheesy, loaded fries, gobbling them up with a lot of moaning. I made sure to drip some cheese on my chest and smirk at him, groaning as he licked me clean and said he was still hungry.
He wasn’t the only one, but he did start a trend of offering me food and liking how I enjoyed it. There was a guy that was hard to read and was being careful to not touch me.
“Could you undo the corset? I think naked is better for more licking options.”
“Yes, Mistress,” he panted, his fingers dancing across my skin, and I realized why he hadn’t wanted to touch me.
He was a council plant in that coven to investigate that master for doing bad things. I leaned in and gave him a soft kiss to thank him, letting him see in my eyes I knew what was going on and wouldn’t bust them. No, but I would have Goran give that councilman a call and make sure he didn’t know anything troubling for us.
I finished undressing and walked over to Noah. “Are you going first?”
He smirked at me. “No, let them, and then I’ll show everyone why I deserve to be at your side.” He leaned and kissed my breast. “Play a bit of baseball and give her some fun. Give them the chance at first base and see if they’re worth advancing to second.”
“Oh, that does sound fun,” I admitted, turning and leaning against him, eyeing them over. “Think any will make it to home?”
“Only if they’re worth you, and so few are.” He kissed my neck this time. “I will be. Carter and I have some fun planned that I need to earn for sure.”
I shot Carter a look, and he just shrugged. Yeah, he liked it when I dressed up too. Nice.
I went to the first guy and moved my hands to his chest. “I’m hungry. Feed me and see if you can make it to second.” He kissed me, and I fed deeply, slapping his hands away when he tried to touch me. Instead, I flooded him with my influence, completely enthralling him. “He doesn’t even taste nummy.” I sighed and shoved him away so he stumbled and fell on his ass, his shocked look saying much.
“She mutes her power around strangers,” Noah chuckled, giving me an amused look. “People still underestimate you at every turn.”
“It’s the tits,” I drawled, looking back at the guy on the ground. “But apparently he thought I was the bonus whore he’d let his friends play with after he took over.” I smirked at Carter. “You weren’t even a threat or worry to him.”
Carter snorted. “He’s about three thousand years too young to be more than an ant to me.”
“Yes, his power is lacking,” I announced for the others. “You’re not worth even sucking Carter’s dick, but why don’t you go beg for that like the dog you are? Go do whatever my consort candidate says.”
I only said it because I knew Carter wouldn’t do it. He wasn’t into that. Other guys in the bed? No problem, even accidental touching, but he just wasn’t into it. He wasn’t disgusted with guys who liked guys, but he said it didn’t flip his switch at all. He sighed when the guy crawled over and begged to suck him off.
It amused me and would give Carter the chance to grill him before he got punched out.
I went
to the next guy and kissed him, moaning as I fed heavily. He wanted out from his coven and was pushed to try to seduce me for his master, but hoped he could get out like I’d rescued others. “Oh, you can pass to the next base for sure.”
I moved around to a few more, one more I enthralled and sent to Carter, but the rest I would let pass. Then I pulled Noah’s head down and fed him the energy I’d been taking, showing them what they wanted to know, as several had met Noah before and were confused as to how he was so much more powerful than just over a year ago.
“Eat up because I plan on giving you more,” I warned him.
“I just want to eat you,” he said again.
Five got knocked out and sent to Carter, but at least no one was planning something immediate and crazy. We could handle assholes plotting to take over or spies just fine, it was the insane ones that were dangerous.
This time I went to the most powerful one, his coming almost closer to Carter but far below Goran still. I led him over to the table and sat on it, spreading my legs and licking my lips, one foot on the table. “What are the rules for second base, lover?”
“Kissing, touching, biting nipples, but no drinking, and get enough to know if he advances or is done,” Noah answered.
“Wanna play with me?” I taunted the guy. He groaned and was on me. His lips were firm and desperate as his fingers teased me. He was fast. He could move crazy fast, and it was better than a vibrator and the perfect pressure and intensity. “Oh fuck, fuck, yes, you pass. Fuck, shit, tell me you can fuck that fast.”
“I can, Mistress,” he whispered against my lips. I swallowed a flinch, picking up a lot, and I realized he was doing it on purpose, thinking about what he wanted me to see. He’d heard that trick from Bijan.
And there was a lot he wanted me to know.
“What’s your name?”
“Niall, Mistress. Niall Etta.”