Predator's Kiss (Gemini Island Shifters, Book 1)

by Rosanna Leo

  She swallowed, blinked, and slowly turned back around. Why was he always so mad?

  And why couldn’t she stop thinking of him? He was so much on her mind she was even forgetting her fear of being in the woods.

  They turned a corner on the pathway and suddenly the view ahead was illuminated by a thousand fairy lights. Lia smiled in spite of the emotional churning in her gut.

  So this was a fish fry.

  The beach near the lake was packed with happy families eating and laughing, sitting on picnic benches and on towels right on the sand. There was a covered booth set up near the sparkling water’s edge, and under it a couple of men were frying up some very fresh-looking fish in a large fry pan. In another booth, a lady was doling out heaping mounds of the creamiest coleslaw she’d ever seen. In the middle of the beach there was a fire pit with a steaming cauldron. People were boiling corn on the cob in it and then dunking their cobs in pots of melted butter. There was a grill, and the delectable smell of cooking sausages made Lia’s mouth pool with saliva. To say nothing of the table of sinful desserts: pies, crumbles, and cheesecakes. A band was playing a fusion of country and Celtic music down the beach, and the sound of rousing fiddles made her want to dance.

  For a moment, Lia wondered if she’d stumbled into heaven. After enduring the rat race in the big city, it certainly felt like her version of the celestial place, creepy-crawlies aside. In that moment, she was happier than she’d been in weeks.

  Soren and Ryland came to stand on either side of her. Even from behind his sunglasses, she could feel Soren’s frank gaze. “So, what’ll it be?” he asked. “Fish or sausage?”

  She breathed in and all the wonderful fragrances hit her at once. “Would it be too greedy to say both?”

  Soren laughed out loud. “I love a woman with an appetite. Come with me. I’ll make sure you’re fed.” He maneuvered her away from Ryland and toward the food.

  Not wanting to resemble a desperate dolt, Lia tried not to look back at Ryland more than once. Still, she felt his eyes burning into her as he took the opportunity to talk to one of the guests.

  Soren brought her over to the table where the fish was being served. “Don’t mind my brother,” he said. “I know he’s a bit of an ogre.”

  “I never said so.”

  Soren turned to her and removed his sunglasses. He grinned, but his gaze was calculating. “I can see Ryland makes you nervous. It’s okay. I understand. Hell, he makes me nervous too.”

  She struggled to find the right words. “He’s just very … intense.”

  Soren put his arm around her and stared, as if deciding whether or not to trust her with vital information. “You’ll have to excuse Ryland for his rough exterior. He put up a lot of walls after … well, after what happened to his last girlfriend.”

  Lia felt her heart sink at Soren’s ominous words. Had Ryland been hurt in some way? The thought bothered her more than she would have expected. “What happened?”

  Soren paused, took a deep breath, and spoke in a hushed voice. “She, uh … died.”

  Lia’s stomach bottomed out in empathy. “Oh, that’s horrible! She must have been so young. How did it happen?”

  Soren gazed at a spot somewhere next to her head, his eyes glazed. As if he wasn’t quite sure how to say it, or wasn’t sure what exactly to say. For a moment, Lia almost thought he was trying to come up with a good story. “Uh. She fell off a … trapeze. Yeah. She was an acrobat in one of those Cirque du Soleil shows, and had an off night.” He shuddered. “It was horrible.”

  Lia watched as Soren chewed on his own words. Why did she get the sensation he was having a bit of fun at her expense? “She fell off a trapeze?”

  “Yup.” He nodded, clearly satisfied with his tale. “And Ryland’s emotions are still really raw. He might lash out in anger sometimes, but inside, well, inside he’s weeping. I’m sure he’d really appreciate it if you showed him some affection. He needs that right now.”

  Lia didn’t know what to say, so she remained silent as they were served some fish. However, she couldn’t stop mulling over Soren’s information. Surely he was jesting. She got the impression Soren Snow liked a good laugh. Something told her it would be like him to plant a kernel of juicy gossip only to watch it pop in her face.

  Still, the idea Ryland could have suffered such a loss was heartbreaking. She’d have to tread carefully in case any of it were true.

  After a few minutes, Soren brought her back to where his brother stood and dropped her off while he went over to the sausage stand on his own. As he sauntered off, at least ten female heads turned to watch him leave.

  Lia couldn’t help but laugh when those females began to whisper excitedly. She turned to Ryland. “Boy, does Soren always get that reaction from women?”

  Ryland was deadpan as he stared ahead. “Always.”

  Lia observed Ryland quietly. There was something in the hardness of his eyes that told of more than simple sibling rivalry. And suddenly she found herself desperate to know exactly what was bothering Ryland. She made it her mission to find out. After all, he’d been kind enough to let her stay at the lodge.

  Ryland was on edge, not that she expected him not to be. After all, given her bizarre tale of stalker strife, he’d be worried about undesirables showing up. Or was it possible he was still grieving his flexible circus girlfriend? No, surely Soren’s story was fabricated to tease her.

  A nervous tremor tickled her gut, one that had nothing to do with hunger pains, and she felt bad for giving her host such a burden. “Look, Ryland. I appreciate what you’re doing, but I want to reassure you I won’t stay here long. I’ll figure out my plan tonight, and head out tomorrow morning.”

  He turned to her, his eyes wide. “Why? I mean, what’s the rush? If you’re still figuring out your plan, let’s at least make sure it’s a good one.” He stared at her. “What about family? Is there someone you can stay with?”

  Lia let out a huff. “Right. My parents made it clear I’m not welcome at their house any time in the next millennium. They’re too busy dealing with a bad case of disappointment in their children.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, my brother started things off a year ago by announcing he was gay and was marrying his interpretive dancer boyfriend.” Lia frowned, remembering the nasty scene. “That didn’t go over well. And when my book, explicit as it is, hit the shelves … well, let’s just say my parents’ country club membership has been revoked. Which is ironic, because I’m sure all their hypocrite friends have copies stashed in their bedside tables. So, no, I can’t really go home again.”

  Ryland touched her elbow and a shock of awareness shot up her arm and right into her sex. Lia bit her tongue so she wouldn’t blurt out something stupid, like asking the big bear man to throw her up against the nearest tree so he could search out her pot of honey.

  Could a man like him even have his way with someone like her? Was it physically possible? Perhaps it was different with shape-shifters. Would it be different with someone like Ryland Snow? It would be interesting to find out. She wasn’t sure romance novels and late-night cable shows could be relied upon as resources. She’d have to do some research. For a future plotline, of course.

  He offered her a sad smile. “I’m sorry to hear that. I know what it’s like to be separated from family.” He squeezed her elbow with a gentleness she wouldn’t have expected from one so large. When he let go of her arm, Lia fought the urge to grab it back.

  “What about the rest of your family? Are they still around?”

  He rolled his eyes and let out a soft laugh. “Oh, they’re alive and well, just doing their own thing. My folks are ‘discovering themselves’ in a hippie commune in Victoria. They sell homemade jam at organic fairs, but between you and me, I think it’s a cover for their thriving weed business. I expect a call from the police any day now.”

  Lia brought a hand to her mouth and stifled a belly laugh.

  Ryland smiled. “It’s okay. Let it out. I
t’s funny as all hell.”

  They shared a laugh and she was so happy to see his dark eyes dance for that moment. In fact, it far exceeded the joy she felt upon seeing the fish fry for the first time.

  Ryland continued, his eyebrow arched at a naughty angle. “Soren thinks I dress funny. You should see our dad. He doesn’t dress at all. I feel so sorry for his neighbors.”

  They laughed so hard people began to look at them, but Lia didn’t mind. Their laughter eventually quelled and they both sighed, looking at each other. And that look swiftly grew more intense, more laced with eroticism as Ryland’s gaze dipped toward her mouth and down to her neck. She saw him swallow, and the soft glow from the fairy lights highlighted his features, casting a glow over his chiseled cheekbones and strong jaw.

  In that second, Lia forgot to breathe. She eventually found her voice and knew she needed to say something to ease the obvious sexual tension. “I don’t think you dress funny.” Indeed, she wanted nothing more than to run her fingers over his soft plaid shirt, and get at the hard plane of his chest underneath.

  Ryland took a step toward her, his gaze focused. Predatory, but in a very good way.

  He took the plate of fried fish out of her hands and set it on a picnic table. He then grabbed her hand and pulled her to the makeshift dance floor set up by the water’s edge. “Dance with me.”

  The hitch in her breathing was obvious to her, and she prayed it wasn’t apparent. “Okay.”

  He led her to the dance floor, right in front of where the band was set up. The musicians finished playing a quick country song and launched into a melodic ballad. Ryland gazed at her, his face inscrutable, without a hint of a smile on his face. And as much as she wanted to tickle him, just to see him smile again, the expression he bore made her want to peel. The way his eyes narrowed on her made her imagine her very clothing wanted to roll right off her skin. He pulled her in against his hard body and leaned over to make up for their almost comical height difference. He was over a full head taller than she was and bigger than her in every other way. And while dancing with him should have felt awkward, Lia couldn’t help feeling their bodies fit together like puzzle pieces. He slid one arm around her waist, holding her other hand in his. He began to sway and she followed.

  He leaned farther in and she didn’t pull away. His breath danced over the exposed skin of her neck, and she found herself wishing she could feel it all over her body. That she could lie back and relish the sensation of his hot breath on her nipples, her stomach, between her legs.

  Oh, God. Don’t go there, Lia.

  She realized she ought to say something, anything, just to stop herself from attacking him in lust. “So, I hear you like the circus,” she blurted out.

  Oh, no, you didn’t. Why did she bring that up?

  Ryland frowned. “Where did you hear that?”

  It wasn’t the reaction of a grief-stricken man who was weeping inside. Suddenly, everything seemed a little clearer. She breathed in and out. “Soren.”

  Ryland’s eyebrows twisted in about three different directions, such was his surprise. “What the hell?”

  “He told me about your girlfriend,” she said softly. “He also told me she died in a trapeze accident.”

  Ryland blinked a few times, his mouth open. “That little shit. He’s just stirring up trouble.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  He spoke in a low, unamused voice. “Because my brother lives to cause trouble.” He then chortled. “A trapeze artist. That’s a new one. On his last visit here, he told a female visitor I was a leper. Every time I asked about her accommodations, she ran from me, her hand over her nose and mouth.”

  In spite of herself, Lia burst into laughter. And within a few seconds, Ryland did too.

  She liked laughing with Ryland. Liked it a lot. And she liked dancing with him in a way she’d never liked anything before.

  The musicians hit the cadence of the song with a flourish from the fiddles and Ryland stopped moving. He stared intently, as if he didn’t quite know what to do with her. And Lia did everything in her power not to fall to the ground with her jellyfish legs.

  Luckily, or unluckily, he was holding her tightly.

  “You’re a good dancer,” she whispered.

  “Lia,” he murmured. He lowered his head.

  Her heart commenced a pounding so forceful she was sure he must feel it through their layers of clothing.

  Soren chose that moment to reappear, his leather-jacketed arms laden with paper dishes full of sausages on buns and homemade french fries. “Check it out, Lia. I come bearing gifts, sweetheart!”

  Ryland stepped back, breaking contact, and looked away. Again, he looked peeved. And Lia realized she was feeling a little peeved herself. What was she thinking? There was no use entertaining thoughts of sleeping with Ryland. She was on the run. And if her experience with men had demonstrated anything to her, it was they were usually just interested in her as some sort of fantasy plaything for freaks.

  Soren put all his culinary packages down on the nearest picnic table and walked over to her as Ryland watched. “Baby doll, I think I deserve a hug after carrying all that deep-fried goodness to you.”

  And before she knew what was happening, Soren engulfed her in a big bear hug. Dazed, she realized it really was a big bear hug. He ran his hands up and down her back, and then relaxed his hold a bit. He looked at her, grinned, and brought his lips to hers.

  Somewhere behind them, a camera flash went off, illuminating the dark sky.

  Shocked, she and Soren turned toward the source of the flash. Just as shocked, Ryland gawked at Soren. “You kissed her!”

  “He certainly did!”

  Lia stared at the man who’d made the last exclamation. She knew him. She’d know that smug smile and fox-like stare anywhere. Harry Little from The Examiner. One of the paparazzi who’d been hounding her. “No.”

  “Ciao, Lia, babe. You’re a slippery little thing.”

  “Why won’t you just leave me alone?”

  Little shrugged, still snapping photos from a distance even though her hands were raised in front of her face. “Because right now you’re hot. Don’t worry, princess. As soon as the next Hollywood starlet gets a DUI, you’ll be yesterday’s news.” He took a few steps back.

  Ryland gaped at her and at Little as he quickly connected the pieces. “This is one of the little shits who’s been stalking you?”

  But before she could answer, Little disappeared into the woods. All they heard was his taunting voice calling back to them. “Lia Goodblood and Soren Snow together! I’ll tell the world about your tawdry affair and about your little love nest!”

  Soren blanched and grabbed Ryland’s arm. “Ry! We can’t let him.”

  “Scott will find out where I am,” Lia murmured.

  “I’m already on it,” Ryland grunted.

  Lia listened in a muddle as she watched Ryland pull a walkie-talkie out of his pocket, one she hadn’t even realized was there. He quickly muttered some directions, presumably to his security staff. Then he turned to Soren. “Stay with Lia.”

  Without another word, Ryland began tearing his shirt off and ran into the woods. Lia stared after him but couldn’t see him in the darkness. Within seconds though she heard an ominous grumble of warning.

  He’d become a bear again. Oh, God.

  Suddenly light-headed, she leaned against Soren, and he put an arm around her shoulders. “Ry will get him. Don’t worry. He knows these woods better than anyone.”

  “But he’s a massive bear. Wouldn’t he be faster running as a man?”

  Soren made a hum of amusement and narrowed his eyes at her. “Don’t be fooled by the cuddly exterior. Bears are deadly. We have an excellent sense of smell and we can move faster than you’d imagine.” He paused, considering. “Especially when our territory’s threatened.”

  Territory? Surely he meant the fishing lodge.

  Lia didn’t question Soren further. She couldn’t. Not while
Ryland was out there in the pitch blackness, chasing down a sleazeball because of her. What if he got hurt in the process? What if Little was packing a weapon? It would be just like the scum to do so. She’d read that he’d pulled a knife on Sean Penn the last time the actor tried to seize his camera.

  While Soren eventually sat down at the picnic table and dug into a sizable hunk of fried halibut, Lia just stood at the edge of the woods, appetite gone. Waiting for Ryland to reappear.

  Chapter 6

  Before another evening had passed, all hell was breaking loose at the lodge. And it was no wonder, Ryland thought bitterly. The picture of Soren kissing Lia had gone viral overnight and now the celebrity world was abuzz with the news the playboy percussionist was having an affair with the reclusive erotica author.

  Ryland sat in his office, nursing a headache of monumental proportions as he stared at the footage for the hundredth time that day. His brother, wrapping Lia in his arms, the way Ryland had wanted to do. It was enough to make him sick. Without thinking, he once again clutched the bottle of Pepto he’d kept close all day.

  And the worst part was he didn’t understand why it pissed him off so much. So she was pretty; so what? The world was full of sexy women.

  But at that precise moment, she was the only one he wanted to kiss. And Soren had beaten him to it. It had been like that all their lives.

  In high school, Soren lured numerous girlfriends away from Ryland, even the ones he didn’t particularly want to steal. He’d done it for the thrill, mostly, and to put a bee in his brother’s bonnet. And to get laid as much as possible. Since Soren had taken over the music world, Ryland had to deal with women asking about him on a constant basis. And Soren treated them like worn mattresses when he was done with them. He had no respect, not for family or shifter heritage, and certainly not for women.

  And now his name would forever be linked with Lia’s.

  He swore quietly.

  To make matters worse, Ryland never caught that Harry Little and it stymied him. He’d completely lost the man’s scent, which was unlike him. The only thing to which he could attribute it was being so rattled by the sight of Soren kissing Lia. He’d had to break the news the previous evening to her. She’d been shattered, worried her stalker would locate her, and he felt so responsible for her pain.