The Witch, The Wolf and The Vampire Series Boxed Set

by A. K. Michaels

  “It’s okay, baby, nothing’s going to happen to either of us. And just so you know, I love you, Peri. I think I did from the moment I set eyes on you. I know Josef’s not a smoochy talk kinda guy, but I know he feels the same. The thought of someone hurting you...fuck, we both want to rip them to shreds! Peri, you are our mate, and we adore you, baby. Never think otherwise. Now let’s get you out of this water and into a robe.” Gabe’s throat had tightened, and he picked her skinny body out of the bath and wrapped a large towel around her.

  Gabe took her to the bedroom, dried her, and sat her on the bed. He looked around for her robe and retrieved it from the chair in the corner. As he turned round to return to Peri, the sight of her sitting naked affected him in his jeans.

  For fuck’s sake Gabe – get a grip – she’s hurting and in shock and you’re getting a hard on! Gabe chastised himself and walked back to Peri, holding the robe in front of him.

  As he neared her, she looked up at him and the words that came from her throat had him almost panting.

  “Gabe, could you make love to me? Could you make me feel better, even if it’s just a short while? Please?” Peri was pleading, and Gabe wasn’t sure that was a good idea, no, not at all.

  “Peri, honey, you’re hurting, I know. But now might not be the right time to, you know...have sex.” Gabe wanted nothing more than to sink deep inside her, but jeez it seemed so inappropriate.

  “I know, Gabe, but I need something else in my head, all I can see is Daiki. I know you can take that away – please!”

  Peri stared hard at her Wolf, hoping he would do as she asked. She knew it probably wasn’t right, but she had a deep need for him to take her, and her sex was throbbing with need. She knew it was probably a reaction to what had happened. She knew all that, but still wanted Gabe to make her feel better.

  Gabe looked at her white face and saw the need there. However, he would feel real bad at taking her just now. He didn’t know what to do.

  He placed a hand on her face and she kissed his palm, he decided on what he was going to do.

  “I’ll take care of you, Peri, lie down.” Gabe knew it was going to be hard, but he would do it – for her.

  Peri moved a bit and lay down, her eyes watching Gabe intently. When he joined her on the bed fully clothed, she wondered what he was doing.

  “Just relax, baby, let me look after you...relax. Close your eyes, Peri.” Gabe waited until she closed her eyes and moved down between her thighs.

  His gaze took in her mound, her red hair that covered it, wondered if she would wax it for him. Then his fingers moved to feel her throbbing clit, jeez, it was needy all right, he could feel it and see it.

  His mouth moved towards it and his tongue started to flick and lick it, his fingers now caressing her wet folds. Peri bucked up towards him, and he applied more pressure with his fingers and placed his other hand on her hips to hold her in place.

  He used his tongue and mouth expertly and soon Peri was rising fast to her release. He could feel it inside her and knew she would go over soon. His own hardness was uncomfortable, but he was not going to have a release of his own. This was about him helping Peri and only about that.

  Gabe started to suckle her nub and sucked it inside his mouth, held it there with his lips, and flicked it mercilessly with his tongue. Peri was moaning and her head moved from side to side, her wild mane of hair flying all around her.

  “Gabe – now – please, please!” Peri was so caught up in the sensations that Gabe was giving her, she didn’t even know what day of the week it was.

  Gabe flicked her clit quicker and quicker, and soon she arched her back and screamed his name, as her orgasm engulfed her entire system.

  Gabe kept suckling until he felt it completely fade, then moved to her side, and held her close.

  A few minutes later, Peri opened her eyes. “What about you?” She whispered.

  “No, baby, just you, just you. Hush now and try and rest.” Gabe held her tightly, and soon he heard her breathing change and realized she had fallen asleep. He placed the comforter over her naked body and moved through to the living area, he needed a stiff drink.

  A little while later, Josef returned and felt the tension in the Wolf as soon as he entered. “What’s wrong? Is Peri okay?” Josef asked, and Gabe nodded.

  “Yeah, she’s napping. I gave her a bath to warm her up and hell, Josef, she wanted to, you know, and so I made her come with my tongue. But I didn’t...I just thought she needed the release. Then she fell asleep.” Gabe took another sip of his drink and realized that finally his hard on had gone.

  “Traumatic events can affect some like that, don’t worry about it. She might wake up okay, or she might wake up wanting us both, so be prepared for anything, Gabe.” Josef patted his friend’s shoulder, as he passed and sat down.

  “Oh, she said she loved me and you, said she loved us both, and if anything ever happened to either one of us, it would kill her.” Gabe smiled at this part, the words she had said still having an effect on him.

  Josef’s eyes widened. “She did? Both of us?” Josef didn’t think he had ever had anyone say that, well, not in a truthful way. And he was shocked to feel as pleased as he did.

  “Yeah, both of us. She also wants to organize the funeral, says he was the only person she had and same for him with her. I said it wouldn’t be a problem, but it may take a few days.” Gabe wondered if Josef knew how long before they could get the body.

  “I thought she might, and we’ll have the body tomorrow. As it was magic that killed him, there’s no point in the usual autopsy and hunt for fibers or skin under fingernails. I’ve already got it organized and the funeral’s the day after. Then we go home and make Peri our mate, okay?”

  Josef wanted to do it right now, wanted to go in and feed from Peri and bond with her. He knew it wasn’t going to happen and contented himself that it would soon.

  Chapter 15

  Peri didn’t wake until the following morning. When she did, her men were on either side of her, an arm from each around her body. One on the waist and one just under her breasts.

  She felt happy and secure, for all of two seconds, then the previous evening came crashing in. Her breathing became ragged, as tears filled her eyes, then something else entered her system...anger.

  Hate followed shortly thereafter and her body tensed. She wanted to find her father and whoever else had helped. She wanted to hurt them, badly.

  “Take a deep breath, little Witch,” Josef said quietly, her thoughts running through his head.

  Peri turned and looked into those ice-blue eyes, ones that could look lovingly on her and change in a heartbeat to cold and hard. At the moment, they were full of love and she smiled.

  “I’m mad as hell, Josef!” Peri whispered, Gabe was still asleep.

  “I know, princess, but let’s get the funeral out of the way. Then we’re going home, and we’re going to have our mating...then we’ll hunt them down. I think once you have learned more from Liam, you will be able to dole out your own brand of justice.” Josef knew deep inside she had to do this.

  He had lain awake worrying. He wanted to do this part alone, not wanting Peri in any kind of danger. However, the more he thought on it, the more he realized that his Witch had to do it. For her own sanity, she had to do it. Josef would be right at her side as she did so, though. Making sure she wasn’t hurt.

  Peri nodded. “Okay. Josef, I told Gabe last night, I’m not sure if he said anything, but I need to tell you something. I love you, Josef, and Gabe – and you need to take care. I can’t have you getting hurt.”

  Josef only just managed to stop his smile. Not at her declaration of love, no, at her worry for him. His little Witch still had no idea of the power he wielded. She didn’t know that he could take out her father’s entire sect, if they were before him.

  “I love you, too, Peri. You probably won’t hear that from me as
often as you do from Gabe, but it doesn’t make it any the less so. I adore and cherish you, little Witch. Always.” Josef moved and kissed her gently and Peri sighed, her men were with her and they loved her, as she did them.

  Now they just had to get the funeral out of the way and go home, to make it official and have their mating. She was a little scared, but more than a little excited at the prospect.

  “Okay, let’s get started, there’s a lot involved in a funeral. We’ll need to go and pick a casket, where you want him laid to rest, we’ll do that today. The funeral will be 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, then home.” Josef moved to get up and Peri stretched before following him.

  They moved into the bathroom and had a long shower together, Josef cleaning her and holding her. Not in a sexual manner, just letting her know he loved her.

  As they came out, Gabe was getting up, his body like a Greek god’s, and Peri couldn’t wait to be home. Gabe had been right last night, it would’ve been wrong of them to make love, but she couldn’t wait till they were back in Vegas.

  “Morning, beautiful. What’s happening today?” Gabe addressed Josef, who told them what they had to do.

  “Okay, I won’t be long.” Gabe moved to the bathroom for his own shower and kissed Peri’s cheek on the way past.

  Peri got dressed in a pair of black trousers and a black silk shirt, flat pumps, her hair up, and no makeup. She thought she would probably cry on more than one occasion today, so didn’t see the point of having mascara run down her face.

  Breakfast was delivered and her and Gabe ate. She only nibbled at the food in front of her, as Josef drank his coffee.

  “Peri, what was it that Daiki wanted us to make sure of? Oh yes, get some meat on your bones. You’re only picking at that, princess, if you don’t want it, I can get something else?” Josef had watched closely, as she had played with the food on her plate and not more than one or two forkfuls had passed her lips.

  “No, I’m not hungry, maybe later. Once all the stuff’s been done. I’m a bit uptight about it all.” Peri couldn’t believe she was going out soon to pick a casket for her old friend. Her stomach was roiling around and she was sure if she ate, she would be sick.

  “Okay, but you need to eat something later, you are underweight, and it’s not healthy.” Josef was worried at how little Peri weighed. He was going to make it a priority she put on some weight.

  “Right, let’s get this done.” Josef stood up and Peri followed, her hand held tightly in his, he led them out.

  The next few hours were a nightmare. Peri had no idea of what went into a funeral. Josef had said he would do it all, but Peri felt she owed it to Daiki to do it herself.

  She picked a plain casket Daiki would not have liked some of the embellished monstrosities that the funeral director had tried to steer her to. She picked a spot in the cemetery that was on a slight hill and had trees and flowers all around it.

  “Will the trees and flowers stay here?” Peri had queried.

  The man looked a little uneasy. “Well, this is where the new plots are, if someone buys a plot, then the flowers will probably go.”

  Peri frowned, she liked it just as it was. She didn’t want the flowers to disappear as new graves surrounded her friend.

  “We’ll buy up the plots adjacent in each direction, that’ll make sure the flowers stay, correct?” Josef’s tone was like ice, as his eyes bored into the funeral director.

  “What? Oh yes, indeed, they would then be yours to use as and when required. We are talking about an additional six plots, sir.” The man was obviously delighted at the sales and it annoyed Josef immensely.

  “It doesn’t matter. My only stipulation – and it must be in the paperwork – is that the flowers remain and are tended, agreed?” Josef’s tone wasn’t one the man was about to argue with, so he nodded vigorously instead.

  Peri smiled at her Vampire. “You didn’t need to do that.”

  “Yes, I did,” was Josef’s only reply.

  The rest of the arrangements went quickly. Josef insisted on a notice being put up at the dojo telling people of the funeral time, and that people were invited back to a restaurant for drinks and a buffet. Peri was unsure how many, or indeed if any, would appear. Josef assured her it didn’t matter, if it was one or a thousand, he would pay for it.

  Peri’s eyes filled with tears at his thoughtfulness and knew she had been right on not putting makeup on that morning.

  Josef sent Donovan to Daiki’s to collect something suitable for the undertaker to dress the man in. Even if nobody would see him, it was obviously a closed casket affair.

  Finally, they got back to the hotel. Peri refused anything to eat or drink and went to lie down.

  Gabe was pacing back and forth. “She needs to eat, Jo!”

  Josef heard his shortened name and knew that Gabe was very worked up. He rarely used Jo when speaking to him.

  “I know, Gabe, but I think we need to give her a bit of space just now. I can feel her and she is in utter turmoil. Once we get home, we’ll fatten her up...don’t worry, young Wolf. We’ll take care of her.” Josef tried to get Gabe to sit down, but his Wolf was so restless that he paced around for hours.

  Peri got up several hours later, had a hot chocolate with marshmallows that Josef had demanded from room service, then went back to bed.

  Josef moved to the bedroom and sat in the chair in the corner. He sat for hours watching his little Witch. Scared for her and worried at what he knew would come later, after the mating.

  Gabe came in after drinking a full bottle of the finest malt whisky he could order, undressed and moved in beside Peri. His arm encircling her waist and holding her close.

  After another few hours, Josef sighed and stood up, undressed and moved to Peri’s other side. His body mirrored Gabe’s and he dozed fitfully, too many things going through his brain.

  The next morning Peri wakened with such sadness in her that it physically hurt. She blamed herself for Daiki’s death, and it was eating away at her soul.

  If she hadn’t asked to come here, then he would probably still be alive, and she didn’t know how to come to terms with that.

  Josef rubbed her tummy, a gentle movement of his hand, and she knew he was aware of her thoughts. His touch eased her torture a little, and she was grateful to have him by her side.

  Gabe was still snoring lightly and she turned into her Vampire. “Today’s going to be hard, Josef. I’m glad I’ve got you and Gabe with me. I couldn’t face it otherwise.”

  Josef placed a kiss on her nose. “I know, princess, but we’ll get you through it, and then we’ll go home.”

  Peri snuggled up closer and kissed his chest softly, just a caress, and wished they were already back in Vegas.

  “Soon, little Witch, we’re leaving straight after the wake.” Josef didn’t want to spend another night in this place. He doubted he would ever come back.

  “We need to get ready. Do you want Gabe to join us in the shower?” Josef asked quietly, and Peri shook her head.

  “No, let him sleep. I can smell the whisky on his breath. Did he drink a lot?”

  Josef chuckled. “A whole bottle. He was worried about you, and that was the only thing he could do to settle himself.”

  “I thought as much. Leave him for a bit, he gets ready quick anyway.” Peri moved as soon as Josef did and followed him into the shower.

  They were out and dressed before Gabe stirred. “Uhm, you two ready already? Shit, I’m not late am I?”

  “No, Gabe, you’ve time for a shower and breakfast, if you hurry.” Josef had already placed the order for food and doubted Peri would eat, but he knew Gabe would.

  Gabe jumped up and ran to the bathroom. He was showered and dressed, as the food was delivered. Peri admired him, as he entered the room.

  Gabe preferred casual clothes and almost lived in jeans, he had many pairs, but today he was dressed in a dark gr
ey suit with a white shirt, open at the collar. He looked very handsome.

  Josef, as usual, was in another of his very expensive designer suits. This one was black, and he also wore a white shirt, but he had a black tie on. His face was impassive, as he watched the Wolf eat and Peri not eat. She only managed a few sips of orange juice.

  Josef realized if she didn’t start eating soon, she would become ill. That, he could not permit. If needs be, he would enchant her and have her eat, although he was loathe to do that. He would if he had to, if it meant she was healthy then he would do it.

  Donovan knocked on the door. “Car’s ready, sir.” Donovan’s eyes moved to Peri, seeing the distress in her face.

  Peri took one hand of each of her men in hers and they left their room.

  They had decided on just a small ceremony at the graveside. Peri had no idea if Daiki was religious or, if he was, what religion. Josef told her Liam’s search revealed he was married in Japan, but since his wife’s death, he had not followed any kind of religion. So she had gone with what she knew. A priest waited on them, and as they got out of the car, Peri’s eyes widened.

  Hordes of people were at the grave. Parents and children, some dressed in their martial arts outfits. Her throat almost closed completely, as she neared them. Three seats set out for her and her mates.

  Peri smiled shyly at some of the people there and sat down. As she sat, Josef’s Vampire sight caught the positions of the undercover officers, from both forces. He was taking no chances that those that had killed Daiki would use his funeral to get to his little Witch.

  The service was short. After all, the priest didn’t know Daiki, didn’t have any input from family or such. Peri thought it was wrong and stood up, making her way to where the priest stood.

  Peri took a deep breath and started to talk. She told of Daiki’s kindness to her as a young runaway. How he taught her to defend herself on the streets. How she came back time and again to visit and learn more from the master. She smiled, as she told some funny stories of their training sessions and cried, as she spoke of his loss.