Beyond Secret Worlds: Ten Stories of Paranormal Fantasy and Romance

by Aimee Easterling

  Aiden cocked his head as his gaze traveled from Alyssa to Fallon and back. “You’re new then?” he asked with surprise.

  Alyssa nodded.

  He looked intrigued. His eyebrow quirked and he quickly scanned their faces. “Maybe you aren’t all that bad. Traveling with a human, being so young, has to be... tempting.”

  “We’re over that part,” Alyssa said with a casual wave of her hand. “No worries there.”

  “I guess so.” Something about his tone was off. Fallon guessed he didn’t really believe Alyssa, not that it mattered. The proof of it was sitting right there—she was happy, healthy, and hanging out with her best friend...a vampire.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Fallon said sarcastically and beamed a smile at him. Stupid questions aside, he was hot! What the hell was this, animal magnetism? She had never been so blown away by a guy she’d just met. And Fallon wasn’t the love at first sight type either.

  Aiden returned her smile with his own. “You want a drink?”

  Fallon blushed and nodded.

  “Come with me.” He smiled and extended a hand. “What are you drinking?”

  “Long Island. You buying?” Fallon said.

  “I made the offer, didn’t I?”

  She looked back and mouthed the words “Oh my god,” to Alyssa.

  Alyssa gave the thumbs up.

  Fallon took Aiden’s hand and headed for the bar.

  ***

  Aiden

  For a human girl, she could sure hold her liquor. Even he was feeling a little light-headed after that last round. Nothing a little fresh air wouldn’t cure.

  He took her for a walk through a nearby park, which led them to the train, and then somehow they had ended up at his apartment.

  Unintended, but not unusual for him. He’d meant to let her in (she was staying with them as a guest after all) but just as they hit the stoop, she leaned in for a kiss.

  Shocked and more than a little confused, Aiden froze in his spot, but the heat of her mouth melted him. Fallon’s lips parted against his, begging for him to do the same. Her tongue traced the edges of his mouth. This woman knew how to kiss.

  Her fiery spirit and take-charge attitude made her that much more attractive too. Even his inner wolf was sitting at attention. Something began to stir within him, a sensation that went beyond simple attraction. This woman had awakened more. A spark he’d been missing had ignited, and if he didn’t stop himself, he’d do something he would probably regret.

  It took all if his self-control to pull back for a moment. He looked deep into her enchanting eyes. “Do you know what you’re doing? We’ve only just met.” He’d never tell Brady he said that. His brother would never let him live that down, but he just couldn’t love-her-and-leave-her with this girl. Fallon was different.

  “I need this right now.” Raw emotion clouded her voice.

  Aiden understood. This might be a one-time only thing, but he understood that urge. A warm body and a night of passion on a cold winter night. But this was not right.

  “I just―” he responded, but before he could finish that sentence, she captured his lips. Wrapping her arms around his large frame, and pulled them together. Her body melted against his. Her heart pounded so hard it vibrated into him, and those rapidly increasing pulsations had his blood rushing south.

  Being the gentleman was overrated. Give the lady what she wants.

  He ran a hand up her back, through her hair, bunching it in his grip, savoring the way she moaned in approval.

  The scent of her arousal caught his attention―a deep heady perfume that begged to be sampled. Still holding her hair he gently pulled back, exposing her delicate neck. Her heart raced as he pecked a small kiss on her exposed neck, and smiled when she gasped in response.

  Though the house was empty, he still felt the urgency to get her to the bedroom as fast as possible. Putting on a burst of supernatural speed, he had her up three flights of stairs in moments and closed and locked the door behind them.

  For a fraction of a second, she looked nervously around, then her eyes settled on the king-sized bed. She smirked, then gazed up into Aiden’s eyes and coquettishly bit her bottom lip.

  That look could drive a man wild, and Aiden was more than a regular man. An appreciative growl rumbled up his chest. He was all animal predator at that moment and Fallon, his willing and sexy prey, was locked in his sights. He moved so fast he almost ripped her shirt and bra in his haste. Her breasts were a thing of beauty, and he couldn’t help but admire their size and proportion, the way the nipple hardened under his lusty gaze; they were perfection, just begging to be touched, tasted, and savored.

  “What?” Fallon said with a hint of nervousness.

  “Just admiring the view before I devour you.”

  He could see by her posture and the flush of her cheeks that his words had done more than just compliment her.

  She leaned back on her arms and with a flick of her eyes directed him to the last remaining barrier between them.

  Fallon was a devilish little tease. He’d never have expected that of her. Not with the awkward way their evening had started. Maybe it was the drink, tearing away her inhibitions, or maybe she’d gotten over whatever anxiousness she’d had initially. Either way, the woman in front of him at that moment was clearly comfortable in her sexuality, and it made her all that much more appealing. It was all he could do not to rip those pants and her black silk thong right off her.

  His body buzzed with anticipation. The swell in his pants felt tight and constricted. The stiffness of his cock had grown to a raging hard-on that would have to be taken care of, but not before he lavished attention on Fallon.

  Finally stripped free of all barriers, Fallon sat before him on the bed. Aiden dragged in a ragged breath. Her body was a masterpiece, fit and petite yet soft and curvy in just the right places. She took good care of herself, that was for sure; and tonight, he’d enjoy all the fruits of her labor.

  He knelt at the edge of the bed and traced a line down Fallon’s leg, finding the heat in between. He captured her lips again as his fingers explored. She was so wet, so hot, and Aiden loved the way her body responded to his touch.

  Fallon moaned into his mouth as he rolled her nub between his fingers.

  The heady scent of her arousal taunted him. He needed a taste. Aiden pulled away from her delicious lips and met her lusty eyes. “Lie back.” It was an order, not a request, and one Fallon was more than willing to follow.

  She relaxed back onto the mattress.

  He slipped his hands under her thighs and lifted her legs up to pull her closer. He dragged in a long, slow breath, taking in every note of her sweet perfume before giving her a gentle lash of his tongue.

  Her body jerked as his velvety tongue swirled across her engorged clit. He nibbled at it and sucked it hard into his mouth.

  Fallon couldn’t hold back her whimpering sobs, begging with each panting breath for more.

  Aiden continued his exploration. He delved between her folds, lapping up her juice like a cat with cream, savoring her sweet essence.

  He could spend all day drinking from her fountain and enjoying the sounds of her pleasure. He traced every inch of her lips with his tongue as if mapping out every delectable inch of her pussy.

  She reached down and knotted her fingers into his hair. His cock swelled in response, throbbing and bouncing with the beat of his excited heart. She tugged and pulled, writhing on the bed, begging for him go deeper, harder.

  He growled, burying himself further into her mound, curling his tongue deep within her slit. Her breath stuttered and her body twitched.

  Her thighs tightened around his head in a vice-like grip. He swirled his tongue faster and pressed harder as she edged closer and closer to release. On a keening cry she came. Aiden held her thighs firm and rode the cresting wave with her, lapping up every drop of her ecstasy.

  When her body went slack, he pulled back to catch the satisfied look on her face.
That one peaceful moment of bliss. At that moment he knew she was one hundred percent happy and satisfied. And it was because of him.

  She caught him staring again and smiled.

  “That was amazing.” Fallon stretched out like a contented housecat.

  Aiden waggled his eyebrow taking in the full view of her gorgeous body. “That was only the beginning.”

  He heard the sudden acceleration of her heart. “Not before I return the favor.” She reached out her arms, beckoning him to crawl up into bed with her.

  Not one to refuse such an offer, he stood and stretched, giving her a full view of what was to come. The lust in her eyes was unmistakable, as was the seductive lick of her lips. He couldn’t wait to feel that tongue bathing his cock. Just the thought of it had him standing hard at attention. The glint in her eyes told Aiden she’d not missed that fact either.

  Fallon jumped up and pushed Aiden down, forcing him against the headboard of the bed. She took him into her hands with a firm grip that sent a shiver through his body. Again her tongue darted out of her mouth to moisten her lips. She lowered her head and kissed the swollen purple tip.

  The electricity of her lips sent a current of pleasure running through his body. He clenched his jaw and hissed through his teeth.

  She swirled her tongue over his mushroom head and sucked him into her mouth, taking him all the way into her throat.

  Aiden’s eyes rolled back. She hummed as she slowly pulled back and then sucked him in again.

  Damn, that woman had skills.

  She held full command over his body. The things her mouth could do. And that tongue, that teasing, tempting tongue. Oh gods! She swabbed every inch of him, leaving no crevice untouched. His cock was so hard it almost hurt. If she kept this up he’d explode for sure.

  “Stop,” he panted.

  She pulled back with a quizzical look. Those luscious lips of hers were swollen and glistening with moisture. Though slightly confused, there was no mistaking the lust in her eyes.

  “I need you, now.” Aiden barely recognized his own voice, it had become so thick with need.

  He grabbed her by the shoulders and tossed her down next to him. Reaching a hand down, he dipped one finger, then two, into her sopping wet pussy. A smile blossomed across her face and her eyes slowly drew shut. The faintest moan left her lips. She arched her back and nudged her hips, giving him easier access as he pumped his fingers into her wet heat.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered as he pulled back his hand. He licked his fingers clean as she watched. “You taste so good, Fallon.”

  “You can have more if you like.” She winked.

  She tempted him on so many levels. He could not hold back any longer. On a growl, Aiden sheathed himself in her wet heat.

  She moaned, her pussy tightening around his thick blunt cock.

  Aiden bent down and kissed the pulse in her neck, then thrust himself harder, sending his cock as deep as it could go. Her body was like fire and velvet. It was all he could do to hold back. He wanted to drive himself hard and fast, but he needed to take it slow, at least for this first time.

  Fallon wrapped her arms around his back and dug her nails into his skin. The exquisite combination of pleasure and pain added so much to the experience. All of his senses were buzzing, as if someone had flicked a switch.

  Aiden started a slow, easy rhythm, reining in all of his wild passion, pumping his hips gently. Fallon moaned and lifted her hips to meet his every thrust. The moved together in perfect unison.

  He rooted like a babe, down her chest, finding the perfection of her breasts. Her nipples had tightened and pulled into hard little pebbles that begged for a nibble. And when he did, she tightened her grip on his back and let out a gasping cry.

  Her body was too much temptation, try as he might, he couldn’t slow himself down, and Fallon clung to him as if her life depended on it. Her nails, firmly entrenched into Aiden’s back, kept him grounded in the moment as he teetered on the edge of losing himself in the heat of her body. It took all of his self-control not to fall over the edge into the abyss.

  Panting and moaning, clinging to him with every ounce of her being, Fallon came with such fierceness she sent Aiden spiraling into his own mind-blowing orgasm. He’d not come like that in what felt like ages. And when he looked down at Fallon, he knew she hadn’t either. That thought filled him with more than a measure of pride.

  Sated and spent, Aiden collapsed on the bed.

  She curled up next to him, making soft cooing sounds of satisfaction.

  For a while they lay like that, Aiden listening to Fallon’s heart slowly return to its normal beat, and Fallon peacefully staring off into space, neither of them feeling the need to say anything to ruin the perfect moment.

  ***

  Fallon

  He was so hot. Beyond the kind of heat that sent her knees melting and caused her to stutter in normal conversation. Aiden’s body was like having a space heater, and on a cold night like this, she’d give anything to stay curled up next to him all night.

  But, being in the same house as his friends meant the walk of shame was going to be a public event.

  She sighed, knowing they’d have to separate soon before the whole house knew what had just happened.

  “So... Who’s doing the walk of shame?”

  Aiden laughed and the vibration rumbled through his chest into her own. “What do you mean?”

  “Zuri and crew will be back soon. They’re going to know something happened when they see me leaving your room.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  It shouldn’t. But, she was not really the one-night-stand kind of girl. “It’s a bit out of character for me.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.” Aiden said, and she could hear the relief in his voice.

  “I’m really not sure what got into me. Not that I’m upset about what we did...trust me.”

  “Once you go wolf, you never go back.”

  She snorted, and had to catch her breath before responding. “Yeah. Your animal mojo had me under a spell.”

  “A good one I hope.”

  “Oh yeah.”

  His chest puffed with pride. She snuggled in closer.

  A girl could get used to this. She sighed.

  “I’ve got an idea.” Aiden rolled her over as he sat up on his elbow and stared down deeply into her eyes.

  There it was, the connection. She could see her future deep within the pools of his eyes. It was all there. Love at first sight was supposed to be something for romance novels and movies. But the moment their eyes locked, she knew. He was the one for her.

  “Go on, tell me your idea.”

  Aiden gave her a sweet peck on the lips and said, “We’re going on a real date.”

  She glanced over at his clock on the wall. 4AM. “Um... when?”

  “Now. You and me. I’m going to take you on a tour of the city. We’ll eat food, go see a Sox game, drink beer, and get to know each other in the process.” He looked like a kid who’d just gotten a puppy for Christmas, the way his eyes lit up.

  How could she resist?

  “And the best part. Neither your friends nor mine will know what we’ve done. We’ll leave before anyone gets home.”

  Fallon thought it over for a moment. “Why not. It’s not like I need sleep any way.”

  “Sleep is like dessert, you don’t need it every night.” He laughed.

  “If sleep is dessert. What do you call what we just did?”

  “The main course. And that is something I think I do need every night,” he sounded so sincere. She hoped he was speaking the truth.

  “Let’s see how our date goes then...”

  Want to read more about the Immortalis World?

  The Immortalis Series:

  http://www.katiesalidas.com

  Becoming a vampire is easy. Living with the condition... that's the hard part. Join Alyssa as she stumbles through the world of the "Unnatural."

  Book 1: Imm
ortalis Carpe Noctem - Newbie vampire Alyssa never asked for this life, but now it's all she has. Rescued from death by Lysander, the aloof and sexy leader of the Peregrinus vampire clan, she's barely cut her teeth before she becomes a target. Kallisto, an ancient and vindictive vampire queen – and Lysander's old mate - wants nothing less than final death for her former lover and his new toy. She's not above letting the Acta Sanctorum, and its greatest vampire hunter, Santino, know exactly where the clan can be found.With no time to mourn her old life, Alyssa's survival depends on her new family. She will have to stand alongside Lysander and fight against two enemies who will stop at nothing to destroy them.

  Book 2: Hunters & Prey - Rule number one: humans and vampires don't co-exist. One is the hunter and one is the prey. Simple, right? Not for newly-turned vampire Alyssa. A surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum's most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the human friend she's missed more than anything. Now she has some explaining to do. However, that will have to wait. With the Acta Sanctorum hot on their heels, staying alive is more important than educating a human on the finer points of bloodlust.

  Book 3: Pandora's Box - After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she'd learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package - a Pandora's Box. Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it? When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.

  Book 4: Soulstone - It’s a desperate time for rookie vampire Alyssa, and her sanity is hanging by a slender thread. Her clan is still reeling from the monumental battle with Aniketos; a battle that claimed the body of Lysander, her sire and lover, and trapped his spirit in a mysterious crystal. A Soulstone. Unfortunately, no amount of magic has been able to release Lysander’s spirit, and the stone is starting to fade. Weeks of effort have proved futile. Her clan, the Peregrinus, have all but given up hope. Only Alyssa still believes her lover can be released. In despair, Alyssa begs the help of the local witch coven, and unwittingly exposes the supernaturals of Boston to unwanted attention from the Acta Sanctorum. The Saints converge on the city and begin their cleansing crusade to rid the world of all things “Unnatural.” In the middle of an all-out war, but no closer to a solution to the dying stone, Alyssa is left with an unenviable choice: save her mate, or save her clan.