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

by Mina Carter

  Sam smiled. “I’ve got your back, Pepper. Don’t worry.”

  * * *

  “Pepper?” Connall called through the door. “Will you let me see you now?”

  “Just a sec.” Pepper adjusted her new black leather jacket and checked the mirror. Black jeans, tight in all the right places, but still comfortable. She wore a black bustier under a brand new black camisole which covered enough not to be trashy, but showed just enough to be sexy. Her new outfit had the wow quality she was looking for and was exactly what she’d envisioned wearing to the concert. “Okay. Come in.”

  Connall pushed open the door and let out a louder than expected whistle.

  Pepper giggled. “It’s okay?”

  He slid his hands over her hips. “Better than okay. You look gorgeous.”

  She bit her lip. “I’ve never spent this much on clothes before, so if it’s too much, let me know. I’ll return something.”

  Connall laughed. “Baby, you are keeping everything. It would be a crime to return it.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded. “Yes, you’re sexy as hell.”

  He leaned down and kissed her.

  “We’re going to be late if you keep doing that,” she said.

  Connall grinned. “So?”

  “I have something for you.”

  He slid his hand under her camisole. “Which I’m trying to get at.”

  “Not that,” she retorted. “Your ring.”

  “So soon?”

  “They were very accommodating at the jeweler.” She reached into the bag on her bed and pulled out a navy-blue leather box. “I hope you like it.”

  He rubbed his hands together and then took the box, opening it to reveal a simple white-gold band with double-rope inlay around the edges. “Pepper, it’s perfect.”

  “Are you sure you like it? It just felt like you, but Mr. Ferguson said you could return it if it’s not right.”

  He slid the ring on his finger and tossed the box onto the bed. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her, lifting her and laying her on the bed.

  “I love it,” he said, and proceeded to do some amazing things with his mouth.

  Pepper yanked his shirt over his head, but before they could go any further, the doorbell sounded, ripping them from their romantic moment.

  He dragged his lips from hers and settled his forehead against hers. “Damn doorbell.”

  She gasped in deep breaths in an effort to calm herself.

  The doorbell pealed again.

  Pepper licked her lips. “You better get that.”

  He pushed himself off the bed and left the room, pulling on his shirt as he went. Pepper righted her clothes and tried to bring her hair back under control.

  Connall returned and sighed. “We’re going with Kade and Sam. Brodie and Angus are already at the theatre, and Ali’s waiting in the garage.”

  She grinned. “I’m ready… although I wish we had an extra fifteen minutes.”

  “How I’m feeling right now, love, we’d need an hour.”

  “Ooh,” she groaned. “Don’t put that visual in my head. I’ll make you find a closet somewhere.”

  He kissed her cheek. “View it as a promise for later.”

  “Not making it better, Connall.”

  He laughed and grabbed his leather jacket. “Let’s go. I have a surprise for you.”

  “Another one?” she said as she dropped her phone into her purse and followed him from the apartment. “I need to stop letting you distract me.”

  “Promise me you’ll stay out of my mind for twenty minutes?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “If you insist.”

  “Thank you.”

  They met Kade and Sam in the parking lot and Alasdair drove the couples to the theatre. King’s Theatre was a beautiful old building built in the early nineteen hundreds and one of the most popular places to see a show. Pepper couldn’t wait to get inside, but frowned at the long line of fans already standing in the cold, waiting to be let in.

  “They haven’t opened the doors yet, huh?” she said.

  “They have to us,” Connall assured her.

  Alasdair pulled down a side street and into the private back lot of the theatre. The doors opened and they were ushered in and into a private room set up with tables and chairs and set for dinner. Pepper grabbed Connall’s hand as she caught sight of the entire band, along with Angus, Fiona, Brodie, and Payton.

  “Surprise,” Connall whispered. “It’s a mini wedding reception for us.”

  Pepper grinned. “I can’t believe you did this.”

  “I can’t take all the credit,” Connall said. “Max helped.”

  Max made his way to the couple and wrapped his arms around Pepper’s waist, lifting her off her feet. “Welcome to the family, Mrs. Gunnach.”

  Pepper laughed and hugged him back. “Thank you!”

  Connall slid his arm between the two of them and pulled her off Max. “Okay, that’s enough of that.”

  Pepper tried to stay calm and not squeal like a teenage girl as she was introduced to each band member. She gripped Connall’s hand like a talisman, which calmed her considerably. As servers brought wine out, Max picked up an acoustic guitar and started playing “Heavy is the Heart.”

  “Your favorite song, Pep. Imagine that,” Sam exclaimed. “Will you sing for us?”

  Pepper blushed and shook her head.

  “Do you know it?” Max asked.

  “Kind of,” Pepper said.

  “Kind of, my butt,” Sam retorted.

  Max started the song again and Pepper joined in. She couldn’t believe she was being treated to a private concert, let alone singing with her idol. She thought she’d explode with excitement.

  Dinner was festive, albeit short, with the call for the band to get ready to go on.

  Connall led Pepper down a hallway and tried to shield her from the photographers as much as possible, but the amount of flashes coming at them meant it was more important he make sure she didn’t trip as they made their way to the side of the stage.

  The only photographers allowed in this area were the two personally picked by Max.

  Connall slipped his arm over her shoulders. “We’re going to hang out here for a couple of songs, then we’ll go up to the box.”

  “Really?” she asked.

  “Really.”

  “Oh, okay. Twist my arm.”

  He grinned and pulled her closer as the curtain rose and the roar of the crowd more than likely broke a few sound barriers. Pepper was in heaven… and unprepared for Max’s announcement.

  “Hey, everyone. I want to invite a couple of special people to come on stage to help us out with a song. Do you want to meet them?” The crowd went wild. “I thought so.” He beckoned to Connall and Pepper. “Come on, you two.”

  “What did you do?” Pepper asked Connall.

  “I’m going to play and you’re going to sing,” he said innocently.

  “Shut up! I am not.” Pepper gripped his arm. “I’m not warmed up!”

  “What do you think all that was in the back?”

  “You are insane.”

  He took her hand and dragged her onto the stage. A guitar tech handed Connall his guitar, the pretty blue one she’d seen hanging in his studio, and another man handed her a microphone and pair of in-ear monitors.

  Max held his hand out to her and she glanced at Connall before taking Max’s hand and letting him lead her to the front of the stage. “I’d like you to meet Pepper. She and my best friend, the ugly one back there with the blue guitar, just got married.” The crowd went wild again. “What some of you probably don’t know is that Connall played on six of the tracks off our last album, but tonight he’s going to help us out with an oldie and he’s roped Pepper in to sing with me.”

  Pepper tried not to pass out. She was used to performing, had done it since she was little, but usually in theater or karaoke, and certainly nowhere near the scale that this was.

  “Read
y?” Max asked.

  “No,” she said.

  Max grinned. “How about now?”

  “I think I hate you.”

  “Oh, I know.” Max laughed. “Take a deep breath. Ready now?”

  At her nod, he released her hand and directed the band to start.

  Pepper barely remembered anything about their performance. She got through it and she felt like it went well… the crowd certainly responded positively, but it wasn’t until she got off stage and Connall ushered her up to their private box that she realized the actual response.

  The family gathered around her, congratulating her on a great job and raving about the performance. Pepper felt a little overwhelmed by the attention, but did her best to be gracious, despite her embarrassment.

  Once the chaos died down a bit, they took their seats and focused back on the band. Pepper sat next to Connall and linked her fingers with his. “You’re lucky you’re cute, you know.”

  He grinned, kissing her hand. “You were amazing, sweetheart. I have a feeling you’re going to get a recording offer.”

  She shook her head. “You’re delirious.”

  “Just watch. I’ll be beating them off with a stick.”

  Sam shoved her iPhone at her. “Someone posted this just a few seconds ago and it’s already gotten almost ten-thousand views.”

  “Seriously?” Pepper stared down at the screen. Someone had uploaded her performance, and it didn’t sound half bad. She handed the phone back to Sam. “Was I really okay?”

  “You were amazing! Are you kidding me?” Sam squeezed her arm. “You know I’d never lie to you.”

  “I can’t believe they did that to me.”

  “I’m so glad they did,” Sam said.

  Sooner than Pepper was ready, the band said it would be their last song and Max grabbed his acoustic guitar.

  “I want to thank Connall and Pepper again. Didn’t they do a great job?” Max said.

  The crowd screamed and Pepper was grateful they didn’t know where she was sitting. She felt the heat in her cheeks as she buried her head in Connall’s shoulder.

  The band finished and left the stage. Connall took Pepper’s hand and led her downstairs to the room they’d been in for dinner. The band was scheduled to do a meet-and-greet for a few fans, but Connall wanted to touch base with Max before they left.

  Max grinned as Connall and Pepper approached him. “How badly do you want to kill me?”

  “A lot a bit.” Pepper shook her head. “But it was probably a good idea to spring it on me. I wouldn’t have agreed otherwise.”

  Max laughed. “That’s what Sam said.”

  “We’ve been friends too long apparently,” Pepper joked.

  “I’d really like to sing with you again,” Max said. “Wanna come on tour?”

  Pepper giggled. “No, but thank you. I have a horse and a husband to take care of.”

  “Okay, then in the studio.”

  “We can talk about it when you get back.”

  Max nodded. “Deal.”

  “Max, it’s time,” Niall said.

  A guard pulled open the door and Max’s face changed. A beautiful woman stood in the hallway, her long brunette hair falling almost to her waist. She appeared annoyed as she talked with the young man standing next to her.

  Max glanced at Niall and frowned.

  “Is that your—?” Niall asked.

  “Aye,” Max said and headed to the door.

  “Who was that?” Pepper asked. “And why does it feel electric in here?”

  Connall leaned down and whispered, “It appears Max just found his mate.”

  “No way. Really?”

  He nodded and guided her back to Sam and Kade. The small group headed out to the car and made their way back to their apartments.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  THE NEXT EVENING, after a relatively quiet day, Connall couldn’t help but catch onto Pepper’s excitement to join Kade and Sam for a private dinner at one of their favorite restaurants. He helped her clasp her watch to her wrist and then kissed her palm. “You smell amazing.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.”

  “I love this outfit.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

  Pepper wore dark jeans and her blood-red cardigan with the black lace camisole underneath. Her black boots stopped at her knees and emphasized her perfectly formed legs. She’d pulled her hair back with a headband, but kept her bangs down and swept to the side. She was stunning.

  “Really?” She laughed. “My Old Navy standard?”

  “Is that a good store?” he asked.

  “It’s one of my favorites… probably not what you’re used to. Great value and great style all in one.”

  “Great style is certainly true.”

  She shrugged. “I just figured if we’re going to be bombarded with photogs like last night, I don’t want to embarrass you. Which is why I took a little extra time with my makeup.”

  “You could go out in a burlap bag and without makeup and still be the prettiest girl in the world, love.”

  “Which is why I love you.”

  He grinned. “Good to know.”

  “Any updates on Max and the mysterious lady?”

  “As a matter of fact, he called while you were in the shower.”

  “And?” Pepper asked.

  “Her name is Grace Wilson, she’s twenty-four—”

  “Uh-oh,” Pepper said. “Not ready yet.”

  “Nope and not interested in Max. She apparently has a boyfriend.”

  “Shut up! How does that happen… not in the Cauld Ane world but Max’s world.”

  “He’s a little surprised.” Connall chuckled as he slipped his watch on. “And he’s postponed part of the tour to follow her to Portland, Oregon.”

  “What?”

  “She lives there and he has a show in Portland in two months, I think, so he’s going to take time off to find her.”

  “Wow. You guys are serious about your women, huh?”

  Connall kissed her nose. “Once I found you, I would have moved the world to love you.”

  Pepper grinned. “And you did. Well, a very large animal who happened to be my world before I met you.”

  He kissed her, but they were interrupted by the doorbell.

  “I’ll get it,” he said and left the room.

  Pulling open the door, he gave Sam an assessing glance and laughed.

  “What?” Sam asked.

  He waved his hand. “Come in and see.”

  She stepped inside, followed by Kade.

  “Seriously?” Pepper exclaimed.

  The women groaned. Other than the shoes, they were wearing virtually the same outfit.

  “I’ll change,” Sam offered.

  “No,” Pepper said. “It’s fine. I’ll change. My blue cardigan’s clean. I’ll be right back.”

  “Sorry,” Sam called as Pepper headed back down the hall.

  Kade chuckled. “I imagine that’s going to happen a lot.”

  Sam grinned. “We could chalk it up to our new Cauld Ane connection, but honestly, we used to do it when we were human too. For all our differences, it’s scary how similar we are.”

  Without warning, a vibration resonated within them. Something they could all feel.

  “Shite,” Connall snapped and made a run for the bedroom, shoving the door open.

  Pepper stood in the middle of the room, her face white as a sheet and her old phone at her ear. She swallowed and nodded as tears streamed down her face. Connall managed to grab her before the phone slipped from her hand and her knees buckled. He slid to the floor with her, settling her on his lap.

  Kade reached down for the phone and handed it to Connall.

  “What happened?” Sam asked.

  Connall put his finger to his lips and the phone to his ear. The line was dead. He set the phone on the nightstand and swore.

  “What’s going on?” Kade asked.

  Pepper whimpered. Connall gave her a gentle squ
eeze. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart.”

  She buried her head in his neck.

  “What the heck is going on?” Sam demanded.

  “Anders isn’t the stalker,” Connall provided.

  Pepper gasped and leaped off his lap. “You knew?”

  He nodded and rose to his feet. “Dalton called me yesterday. While you were cooking.”

  She crossed her arms. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t want to worry you needlessly. Was that him?” Connall asked gently.

  She nodded, her body shaking. Connall pulled her into his arms and stroked her back. She smacked his chest. “You said he was the one. You said you’d found him.”

  “I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I thought we had. Anders is the one who left the notes on Jonesy’s stall, but he’s not the one who sent the other letters and he also wasn’t the one at Dalton’s store. That was someone else. Anders was not the one Dalton shot.”

  Sam bit her lip, leaning against Kade when he wrapped an arm around her. “What did Dalt say?”

  “Just that,” Connall said. “They don’t have any leads right now, but he’ll keep me posted.”

  Sam glanced up at Kade. “Cole can help.”

  He nodded. “So can Ali.”

  “You’re safe, baby,” Connall assured Pepper. “He can’t touch you here.”

  “He called me here!” she snapped.

  “On your old phone, which I’m going to destroy.”

  “But what about my mom? Or Rio?” She turned to Sam. “Or your parents?”

  Sam smiled. “Dalton will protect them. You know he will.”

  “And Rio and his family are being watched,” Connall added.

  “What about my mom?” Pepper pressed.

  Connall stroked her cheek. “Your mother is under twenty-four-hour surveillance until she’s well enough to travel, which should be in about three days.”

  “What? Where’s she going?”

  “Here, sweetheart. Alasdair’s making the arrangements to have her transferred to a clinic in Inverness.”

  She took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut. “He knows I’m in Scotland.”

  “What do you mean?” Connall said very slowly. “What exactly did he say?”