Wicked After Dark: 20 Steamy Paranormal Tales of Dragons, Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More

by Mina Carter

  “WHAT? NO!” She stuttered and stammered. “I just wondered. After all, I have trusted you with my welfare and for the time being, have bought into all your tall tales. I thought at least I should know your last name.”

  She could see him stifle a laugh and thought about kicking him. He spoke before she could decide. “You’re absolutely right, mo ghra’. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. But you must admit our meeting has been a bit unconventional. As soon as we are safe with the clan, we’ll have all the time we need to learn about one another. I want to know everything about you and want to share everything I am with you.

  “I’ll also need to meet your parents. It’s customary that I present myself and allow your father to question me and make sure my intentions are pure.”

  Her heart hurt just a little as she answered, “That won’t be possible, Rayne. My parents are dead. They were killed in a car accident when I was almost seven years old.”

  He pulled her close to his body. “Oh, mo chroi’, I am so sorry for your loss.”

  “It was a long time ago, and Granny took good care of me until she passed a few years ago. I’m the only Masterson left, so you’ll just have to present yourself to me.” She lifted her head from his chest and saw he’d gotten her attempt at humor… not many did.

  Might have to keep the big lug around. He gets me.

  She slipped out from under his arm and took a step forward. Dwelling in the past was not her thing. Looking forward was the only way she’d made it through the tough times, and she wasn’t about to change now. Rayne was immediately at her side. She grinned when he threaded his fingers through hers. The skin-to-skin contact sent warm, tingly feelings straight to her core. She shivered despite herself.

  “Are you cold, mo ghra’?”

  “No, I’m fine.” Quickly changing the subject, she asked, “Hey, what are those names you keep calling me?” Kyndel tried to keep the breathy sound from her voice, but with him this close and his hand wrapped around hers, it was an uphill battle.

  “It’s my family’s native language.”

  “Oh. Okay. But what specifically are you calling me?” Her tone was sharper than she’d intended. Looking up, she smiled, hoping it softened her words.

  “Mo ghra’ means my love. Evgren means ray of sunshine. Mo chroi’ is my heart. I hadn’t realized I was using the old language, but it makes sense that I did. Those terms of endearment are truly how I see you.”

  Trying to keep from blushing at the honesty she heard in his words, she hurried on. “Last night you said something like tamagotchi astronaut. I thought maybe you were thinking about video games.”

  Rayne laughed aloud. He stopped walking, spun her towards him, and placed his hands on her shoulders. He looked deep into her eyes. Kyndel held her breath, sure that whatever he was going to say was going to blow her mind. It was just the way things had been going.

  “I said, ‘Ta’mo chroi’ istigh ionat’. It means ‘my heart is within you’. Because that, my beautiful mate, is how I feel now that I‘ve found you.” He paused and she felt the weight of his words in her heart. Not a heavy weight, but a warmth, a promise, something pretty awesome.

  “You, Kyndel Masterson, are the keeper of my heart. From the moment I laid eyes on you, you owned me… body, heart, and soul. All my life, I listened to stories of what it would feel like to find my mate. Let me tell you, they paled in comparison to the real thing. There is no way I could’ve prepared for everything I feel from just being in your presence.

  “Last night was just a taste of the passion we’ll have. I will cherish and protect you with all that I am and all I’ll ever be. You are my sole reason for being. My sun rises and sets with you, a thaisce.” He had that heated look in his eyes again, but there was also a twinkle, and she soon knew why.

  “That means, my treasure.” He winked and grinned before pressing his lips to hers.

  The world shifted under her feet. She grabbed his forearms to keep from melting into a puddle of goo at his feet. All the tension that had crept up into her as they walked simply disappeared. It had been a long time since she’d felt important, someone to be treasured and loved, someone truly special to another person. It was time to relax and see where all of this was leading. God knew she was already addicted to his kisses. Rayne pulled away. She was thrilled to see he was as affected by their kiss as she.

  “Kyndel, my love, if we don’t stop, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and head to the nearest bed until neither of us can walk. We’ll finish what we have started, of that you can be sure, but now we must meet my brethren and get you to safety.”

  He wrapped his much larger hand around hers and together they made their way to his friends.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  One thing was certain, dragon shifters were a hearty stock of men. Kyndel had never seen so much man candy in the same place in all her life. Of course, Rayne was the most handsome of all of them, but she knew more than a few ladies that would give up chocolate for life to be with these guys.

  The minute they walked into the clearing, a brawny blond with blue eyes she likened to lasers came right over. He bear hugged Rayne, slapping him on the back so hard it sounded like thunder and grinning like the cat that ate the canary. Rayne introduced him as Lance, the one he’d spoken to… in his head.

  Lance had a cocky grin, a twinkle in his eye, and one little dimple that seemed to wink at her. He was the troublemaker of the crew, no doubt about it. He didn’t hide the fact that he was giving her the once over, so she returned the favor, looking at him from head to toe. He stood with his thumbs hung in his front pockets, feet spread about shoulder width apart, and an air that said not to discount his jovial attitude… he was tough as nails when he had to be.

  “Well, Kyndel, if you ever get tired of this old man, I’ll make sure you know where to find me.” He winked, then faster than she could follow swooped in and gave her a hug.

  Rayne growled, pulling her from Lance’s grasp. “You will keep your suggestions and your hands to yourself, young man.”

  Lance threw his head back and laughed so hard his whole body shook. The other members of Rayne’s Force came over, introducing themselves to her, making sure to only shake hands while keeping a watchful eye on their Commander, who was scowling and grumbling.

  “There is absolutely no reason for any of you to touch her.”

  “Lighten up, Rayne. I’m just meeting your friends.” She chuckled, loving his possessiveness more than she thought she would.

  All of the men were extremely polite. Most laughed and carried on while Lance filled Rayne in on the hunters’ activity.

  It was still daylight. Rayne said they couldn’t risk being seen in dragon form, so that meant hiking at least part of the way. Kyndel hated to think about walking through the tall grass of the clearing, but was grateful for a little more time before witnessing the man she’d made love to turn into a dragon.

  On their walk to meet the other Guardsmen, Rayne had shared more details about his dragon. She had admitted to herself her trepidation at coming face to face with a thousand pound dragon while he talked, but now there were six of them!

  One thing had bothered her and she asked for clarification. “A thousand pounds?”

  “Yes, mo ghra’, that is the average weight of our dragons.”

  “I thought they would be heavier. I mean, from the movies they look huge.” Kyndel was immediately embarrassed that she‘d just blurted out her thoughts.

  Rayne’s laughter soothed her when he answered. “Most people think the same thing, but a dragon’s bones are hollow. If they were dense like yours or mine when I’m in human form, the beast would be too heavy to get off the ground. We don’t have turbine engines like planes to help us fly, just two strong wings and the force of the wind.”

  “Wow. Learn something new every day,” she mused. “Thanks.”

  “Always my pleasure.”

  Glancing around their campsite, she thought about what Rayne
had explained and tried to imagine them all flying across the sky as dragons. It was then she realized the one with light brown hair and clear amber eyes sitting by himself, surveying their surroundings. He was the one that introduced himself as Aidan. She knew he was keeping watch, but there was something in the way he held himself that told her he was in pain. Not physical pain, but emotional. If his body language hadn’t been enough, it was written in his amber eyes as plain as day. She knew these men were warriors, but couldn’t stand idly by when someone was in pain. It just didn’t set right with her.

  “Mind if I have a seat?” She motioned to the rock next to Aidan’s.

  “Nope, not at all.” She felt how forced the calm and friendliness in his voice was.

  After a few minutes of silence, Kyndel couldn’t stand it any longer. “Enjoying the scenery?” She thought maybe throwing a little humor at the stoic guard might loosen him up.

  “Yea, something like that,” Aidan snorted.

  “Bet it gets boring.”

  “Not really. I like the solitude. Gives me time to think and I like the outside.”

  “Yeah, I bet all of you like the outdoors, seeing as how you guys change into big half ton dragons that can fly and shoot fire from your nostrils.” She flinched. “Oh, shit! Sorry about that. I shouldn’t have blurted that out. I have a bad habit of engaging my mouth before my brain.”

  She chuckled to ease some of the tension. “I didn’t mean anything by that. I was just trying to start a conversation. Standing around and waiting is making me crazy and…”

  “It’s ok, don’t worry about it,” Aidan chuckled, and she felt his tension lessen a little bit.

  “No, really! I’m sorry. I’m gonna have to get used to this kind of thing if Rayne and I are really going to try to be a couple.”

  “I’m certain you are going to be more than just a couple, from the way the Commander looks at you.”

  Kyndel couldn’t help but feel like she had said something wrong when she watched the smile that had completely transformed his face fall and the grimace from before return. She placed her hand on his forearm and felt him tense. She rubbed one little circle, then removed her hand. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, vibria, you did not. There are just some things that are better left alone.”

  “Well, Aidan, know that as long as I’m around, you always have someone to talk to if you feel the need.”

  “I thank you, Kyndel. You make a wonderful addition to our clan and the perfect mate for our Commander. And speaking of our Commander, I think he’s done listening to us from behind the tree.” He pointed in the direction Rayne was now stalking away from. “It looks like your mate is looking for you, Miss Kyndel.”

  “You are so busted, buddy!” Kyndel didn’t even try to keep from laughing at the way Rayne marched forward like he owned the world. ‘The Commander’ as most of the men called him, was more than a little embarrassed at being caught spying.

  Faster than she could track, Rayne scooped her into his arms and swung her around like her daddy used to when she was a little girl. Their spinning slowed. She slid down his body, stopping when her lips were level with his. His pupils dilated. She felt her cheeks warm with a flush that only came when he was near. Their lips were just about to touch when they were reminded they weren’t alone.

  “Ahem,” Aidan cleared his throat. “I will leave you to it,” he chuckled just a bit and turned on his heel.

  “I meant what I said, Aidan,” Kyndel called to Aidan’s back as he walked away.

  “Thank you for your kindness, Kyndel. Enjoy your mate,” he answered without turning and disappeared before her eyes.

  Rayne’s breath on her neck as he nibbled her ear made her forget everything but the man who held her tight. The man that made her body burn with the simplest of touches. Her blood boiled. She was immediately wet and needy. The kiss that started as slow and gentle quickly became all about passion and possession.

  Rayne ended their kiss as abruptly as it began. Kyndel found herself in his arms, being carried away from the prying eyes of his men. Her feet touched the ground when he stopped on the other side of an outcropping of trees at the farthest point of the park.

  Kyndel felt the cold concrete of the wall that separated the maintenance shed they stood beside from the rest of the park at her back. It was a delicious contrast to the hot, hard man pressing against her front. In an instant, she was again lifted and forced to wrap her legs around his waist. She ground her crotch against his denim covered erection. There were just too damn many clothes between them.

  She slid her hand under the waistband of his jeans and fisted his hot, throbbing cock, running her thumb through the drop of moisture that had already gathered on the tip. He tore his mouth from hers, threw his head back, and groaned. “Kyndel… mo ghra’.”

  She continued to massage him and grind her hips against the combination of her hand and his hard cock. He thrust against her. Their pace was immediately frantic, her butt bumping against the wall at her back. Rayne tore at the opening of her jeans and thrust two fingers into her weeping flesh.

  “Oh my God, Rayne, more… please… more.”

  He pushed his thumb against her very aroused nub, rubbing circles at the same time he curled his fingers to torment the bundle of nerves at the top of her channel. Kyndel lost all semblances of time and space. She ripped his pants open and his cock sprang free. She fisted him from root to tip, grabbing the moisture from the tip for lubrication, working him faster and faster.

  She moaned at the loss as Rayne pulled his fingers from her needy pussy. Faster than she could believe, Kyndel was bent over a fallen log that had been sanded and shellacked for park goers to use as a bench. Her pants were down to her knees and Rayne was massaging the globes of her ass.

  “You are the most spectacular woman I have ever seen.”

  Kyndel looked over her shoulder to find him looking at her like she was a priceless piece of art. No one had ever looked at her like that, but there would be time for that later.

  “Less window shopping, more action there, Commander,” she teased. Her voice was sexy and throaty, even to her own ears.

  He thrust into her with such force that she felt his balls smack against her ass. He felt bigger than before. The fit tighter. She felt the walls of her vagina stretch to accommodate him. The throbbing of his cock magnified by the snug fit. She realized then it was from her jeans holding her knees so close together and thanked God for tight denim.

  He held completely still. Seconds ticked by. Her pulse rose. Her vision blurred. It was then she realized from the pulsing of his erection against her contracting pussy that their racing hearts beat as one.

  Complete… I feel complete.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “Please… Rayne! Please move! Fuck me, dammit!” She dropped her head forward in the most beautifully submissive pose he’d ever seen. Her delicate hands were clenched into fists while her forearms supported her weight. She squeezed tight around him, shattering his hard fought control. Leaning forward, he grabbed both her shoulders and began to thrust hard and fast, not missing a beat of his rhythm.

  “Oh God, yes! Yes! YES!” Her voice louder and louder as he continued to pound into her waiting flesh. She pushed back, meeting him thrust for thrust. Their movements uncoordinated and frantic. He felt her orgasm building, threatening to take them both over the edge. She was close… so very close, just needed a little extra push.

  He took one of his hands from her shoulders, palmed her breast, and squeezing her already hardened nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She went off like a rocket. He followed, roaring his release into the trees.

  Rayne couldn’t find it in his heart to care that they were being stalked by a crazed band of hunters or that his men were only a few hundred yards away. All that mattered was the woman before him. Leaning down, he rested his chest against her back, inhaling their combined scent and loving every note of it. Moving the collar of her shirt, he
lavished her neck, needing to touch as much of her as he could. Her womb grabbed his softening cock, immediately it began to harden again. Heavens, he wished he had time to spend days and weeks inside this woman… and that time would come.

  As their heartbeats slowed and their breathing returned to normal, he heard her chuckle. “So what was all that about, Commander?”

  Rayne thought about telling his mate that the sight of her so close to another man, even though it was one of his brethren, had triggered a primal need. The innate desire to be buried inside her… again, right that minute, the circumstances they faced be damned, overcame him. More than he needed to breathe, he had needed his scent on her and in her, so that absolutely everyone knew she was his.

  When she’d placed her hand on Aidan’s arm, Rayne had to hold on to the tree he hid behind to keep from marching over to where she sat, throwing her over his shoulder, and paddling her behind for touching another man. The rational part of his brain knew his very caring mate had seen the sadness inside Aidan and instinctively reached out to ease his pain. The incredibly irrational alpha male and dominant warrior dragon that resided inside of him never wanted those beautiful hands touching anyone but him.

  Without thought, he’d marched toward Kyndel and Aidan, not saying a word to any of his men. He gave absolutely no regard to Aaron, another of his lieutenants and Aidan’s twin, who had been mid-sentence. Getting to Kyndel had been all that mattered.

  Using his enhanced hearing, he listened to their conversation. Just as he had thought, before the mating call had clouded his brain, his mate was trying to comfort his broken friend. Her compassion was one of the hundreds of things he already admired about her.

  “Well, cat got your tongue?” Kyndel asked while he stood still buried inside her, not sure how to answer her question.

  Going with honesty, just as he promised he always would, Rayne simply said, “I was jealous.”

  She smiled knowingly as he pulled his semi-hard cock from her pussy and helped her to stand. Turning her to face him, he knelt before her, returned the waistband of her jeans to her hips, and kissed the tip of her nose as he snapped and zipped them into place.