by K.N. Lee
“What is she doing?” Angelica asked.
“I…magic? I don’t know.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, it started…whatever it was. “We need to get down. Now.”
I sidestepped inside the bar area with her and continued to watch. The woman let her head fall back as she laughed, the air around her shifting. “SO LET IT BE!”
“Shit!” I grabbed Angelica and hit the floor, putting my body on top of hers. My arms surrounded her and I held her close to me, tucking her head between my neck and shoulder. Her arms wrapped around my back and she squeezed me close.
Fear thumbed through her, I could smell it as it seeped off of her.
“Please,” she swallowed and continued, “please tell me you’re okay.”
I held my breath for a moment, then slowly released it with a nod. “I’m holding.”
She nodded and my grip around her head let up just enough to allow her head to lower. We stared into each other’s eyes without breathing, or so it seemed.
How many times did I fantasize about being on top of her? Definitely not like this.
Screams sounded and Angelica flinched.
“I’ve got you,” I whispered. “Nothing will happen to you. Not while I’m here.”
She nodded slowly and her eyes dampened.
Clothes ripped. Voices screamed. Bones broke during the shift. Anyone not a shifter made their feet beat on the ground as they took off running. It was no secret this club was shifter ruled, but shifting did not take place here. Ever. The screams began to lesson and in its place, growls and snarls.
Reaching a hand around, I placed a finger over my lips and Angelica nodded. Slowly I moved off her body and crawled toward the bar edge, making no quick movements as I stood.
I don’t think I prepared myself for the sight before me. I had bore witness to the shift once or twice before in the woods. Call it moral support. But this… “Oh, holy fuck…holy fucking fuck.” I waved to Angelica to stand. “It’s okay, but be prepared and for fuck’s sake, don’t scream.”
“I may be a girl but dammit, I don’t—” she trailed off as she stood. I could feel her energy before anything even happened. Quickly, I wrapped my hand around her mouth and pulled her against my body. The pressure of her force was huge…like forcing a thin wooden door closed during a hurricane using nothing but a broomstick. It took everything I had to hold her at bay.
Angelica was a banshee. When she screamed, you heard…and in most instances, someone died or she took a soul.
As she ceased, I released her and glared at her sideways. “Really?”
She shook her head. “Well, this is a shock. I’m sorry doesn’t cover it, but,” she looked up to me, fear in her eyes, “you taking all that in could have set you off.”
I nodded. “Yeah, but I’m good.” I lied to her, and hated myself for it. I could feel myself teetering on the edge of humanity and losing myself to the insanity of the Oni. All because I absorbed her banshee scream. Well, it was that or risk the panthers tearing us apart alive. No thanks, I choose life.
“What the fuck do we do now?” she asked as she slowly made her way around the bar. She approached one of the panthers and squatted down. She held her hand out and steadied herself.
The beast approached and his eyes glowed a rich hazel color.
“Felix?” she whispered.
The black panther bumped his head to her palm. He met her stare as she looked into his eyes.
“It is you,” she smiled. “Oh, Felix,” she shook her head. “Can you even understand me? Are you okay?”
The panther growled, then snarled and back-stepped. He roared in anger, as did the others. She quickly stood and backed toward me.
Tucking her in behind me, I met Felix’s gaze. “We need to get them out, now.” I pointed toward the back entrance. “Let’s move!”
Pulling her in front of me, I pushed her along to keep her out of swiping distance of the panthers, in case someone felt the need to claim her as food or otherwise. As we reached the back door, I felt hot breath on my legs and glanced back.
Felix was sniffing and growling. I knew he smelled my Oni. He was so close to escaping. One small slip…
“Kai!” Angelica yelled. “Stop it! Control yourself!”
“What—” I trailed off when I realized what she was yelling about. Without realizing it, my Oni was slowly releasing. Closing my eyes, I swallowed hard, swallowing the demon back inside myself. “I’m…I’m good. I’m good.”
“Right. Okay, the door’s open,” she said as she placed herself behind it. “Get them out.”
One by one, the panther’s emptied out into the backwoods. They had claimed this area as theirs, loading it with deer, rabbits, and anything else they could hunt when they shifted under the full moon.
But the moon was not full.
As I closed and locked the door, I leaned against the wall and collapsed to the floor, legs sprawled in front of me.
Angelica stepped into the bar area to make sure the place was empty. When she returned, she stood next to me, then sank to the floor. She bent her knees and rested her elbows on them.
“What do we do now?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Find the fucking witch who did this and make her reverse the spell.”
“Or kill her,” she offered.
I shrugged. “That’s definitely an option.”
“Come on, you can come to my place tonight.” Looking over to her, Angelica smiled. “No, you can’t sleep with me, but I don’t want to be alone. I have no idea why this happened and I don’t want any of those sons of bitches coming to my place. You’ll keep me safe.”
I smiled and lifted an arm to wrap around her. She leaned into me and I inhaled her scent. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back on the wall. “So, no sex, huh?”
She looked up to me “Seriously?”
I chuckled. “No, I’m kidding. Let’s get outta here. Nothing more we can do tonight anyway.” Giving her a squeeze, I pulled away. I stood and reached for Angelica. Helping her to her feet, we held hands for moment. Then I hugged her. “They’ll be okay. They shift with the full moon.”
“I know,” she whispered against my chest. “But this is outside of what they know. What if she cursed them?”
“We’ll figure it out, I promise.”
Chapter 2
ANGELICA
Slipping my key into the lock, I gave it a turn, then pushed the door open. Kai stood just behind me. Glancing over my shoulder to him, he met my gaze and offered a smile.
I liked him, really liked him. He had this amazing personality and outlook on life. He was an Oni, yet never let it dictate who he was.
At least on the outside.
We stepped in and I closed the door, then locked it. My hands remained pressed against the door as I recalled the events of tonight. My eyes closed and the screams returned.
Kai must have felt it. He placed his hands on my shoulders. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “I will be.” Pushing off the door, I turned to face him and nodded. “Yeah, I’m good. So,” I sighed and leaned against the wall. “I can give you the couch, or you can sleep on my floor by my bed.”
His brows rose with amusement. “Those are my only options?” I nodded. “Why not the tub?”
I blinked. “You want to sleep in the tub?”
“No, but hey, if I wanted to?”
“Have at it.” I smiled and touched his cheek. “Thank you again, for being here, and…and for earlier. I didn’t mean to…”
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “It’s okay.”
We remained in my entrance for a moment longer before I finally pulled away. “Right. You need a shower or something?”
“Yeah, and clothes if I do that, or I’m going naked.” He actually waggled his brows at me. And dammit, I giggled. Like a fucking chick.
“Is that a blush I see?” he asked.
“Fuck off. I don’t blush.” I was totally blushing as I pushed pas
t him. “Come on. I’m sure I have some shorts or something you can put on.”
Moments later, Kai was in my shower, and I was on my bed biting my nails. So much had happened tonight.
A witch cast some spell over the pack and forced them to change.
Kai asked me on a date.
Now, he’s in my shower…naked.
He’s sleeping over.
He’s so not sleeping on your floor.
Oh, yes he is!
Whoa, when did I start talking to myself?
I grabbed my exacto knife and pushed the blade out, then pulled it in. I did this a few more times, at least until I heard him.
Kai cleared his throat. Looking up to him, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but a half naked…no, scratch that, a fully naked, sexy as fuck Asian male in my home, body still damp from the shower, with muscles and only a towel hiding his parts…oh holy mother of all things in the world.
Then he slipped it on. My robe. He pulled on my pink floral robe. I snorted and bit my lips together. I could not help it. I lost it and laughed out loud.
“Really?” he asked and raised a brow. “You find this sexy, don’t you?”
“Yes!” I screamed out with laughter. I wiped at my eyes as they began to tear up. “Oh my gawd, where’s my fucking camera?” I jumped up quickly but Kai was faster. He grabbed me in his arms and held me against him.
“Oh, no you don’t!”
I laughed once more, then cleared my throat. He was, for a lack of better terms, naked in my bedroom. Fuck the girly robe.
“No, I wouldn’t, but I’ll never forget this, I promise you that!”
“Right,” he sighed and released me. I felt exposed, empty, without his arms around me. “Kai?”
“Yeah?”
“I know I said the floor.”
“Or the couch,” he finished.
I nodded. “Well, I don’t want you on either of those.” Slowly, I glanced up to him. Holding his gaze for a moment, his pupils dilated enough for me to know he wanted this just as much as I did. “Will you sleep next to me tonight? In my bed?”
He smirked, fucking devil he was. “I had planned to sneak up there while you slept anyway so you’re saving me the trouble.”
I gasped and smacked his arm playfully. “Ass.”
“Yes, but I have fine one.” He turned and lifted the robe, baring said fine ass.
I gasped then covered my face. “Kai!” I laughed and gave him a push. “You! You’re too much.”
“So I’ve heard.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m serious here. I want you in my bed.”
He stepped closer and ran a finger down my cheek. “I want in your bed, trust me. I have wanted in your bed since the moment we met. But I don’t want to sleep with you. Well, I do, just not yet.”
I raised my brows. “Oh, well good. I hadn’t planned on putting out.”
He blinked. I don’t think it’s often I caught him off guard. I grinned. “That will happen only if you’re very good to me. And turn me on.”
“Don’t I turn you on?” he asked with a sly grin. Kai stepped closer and placed his hands on my hips. “I could kiss you here,” he leaned in and whispered a kiss across my jawline. He lifted a hand up and gently captured my chin, leaning my head to the side. “Or like this.” He nipped on my neckline then kissed on my vein. “Or I could do this.” He slipped a hand into my hair and gripped a handful, giving my head a yank back.
I gasped, open-mouthed. “Oh gods,” I whispered and closed my eyes.
“Ahh, I see,” he whispered and nipped on my neckline to my ear. “You prefer it rough?”
“A little,” I admitted. “I love it when a man knows what he wants and goes for it.”
“Is that an invitation?” he asked.
I opened my eyes and gazed into his own. An understanding passed between us, a longing for something more, something we have both wanted for a long time. I wanted to taste him and for him to devour me. I wanted him, all of him.
Then I hesitated.
“What about Felix?”
Kai grinned and I would cry foul if I said his smile did not completely melt me. “I’m glad you asked.” He stepped even closer to me, if that were even possible, and tilted my head up. His thumb lightly traced the line of my bottom lip. “Felix and I, we are looking for something…well, someone we can share.” His eyes lit up on his last word and my eyes widened slightly. “Don’t be scared, Angelica. Neither of us would ever hurt the one we would call ours.”
“Ours?” I felt myself whisper.
He nodded. “I can’t make the decision without him, of course, but if I were to be honest with you?”
My hands had minds of their own. Resting on his hips, my fingers slipped into the silk of my robe he donned. He may have had on feminine colors, but there was nothing feminine about the man before me. “Yes, tell me more.”
His tongue flicked across his lips and I stared at his mouth. I wanted him on me, his mouth on mine. I met his gaze and Kai smirked. “We are looking for someone to share in a relationship. Consider what I am looking for as a symphony.
“The one we share would be just that—shared. Some nights may be with me. Some nights with Felix. Others, well, both of us.”
I felt my core seep with need. I wanted him, so much. “Kai…” I whispered.
“Yes?” He leaned in and kissed my cheek next to my ear. “Are you curious about us, Angelica?”
My head nodded and eyes closed. My breath fluttered out as his lips kissed their way from my jawline to my neck. Where he nipped on my skin before, now…oh, now he was going to devour me. And every part of me wanted him to.
“Do you want to be mine, Angelica?”
“Oh gods, yes,” I whispered.
“Good girl,” he growled. Suddenly, my back was against the wall in a rush, the cold of it a sharp contrast to the heat rushing through my body. My leg wrapped around his torso as his lips crushed against my own.
I had never slept with an Oni, although I did not see him in this light. I knew he was dangerous, and maybe that was part of the allure. Regardless of that, I needed this fire extinguished and Kai had the power to do it. “I need you,” I whispered, “now.”
He chuckled against my lips. “I will never deny you that request, woman.” He lifted my other leg and pressed my body against the wall. This man…this amazing, beautiful man pressed himself into me and gods, if I did not want him. My fingers gripped around his shoulders and my nails dug in through the robe.
“Lose the frilly shit,” I grinned against him.
“Consider it lost,” he growled. The man turned and walked toward my bed and…I screamed. He tossed me. I landed on my back and my body bounced on the bed. I laughed as he stood over me. He pulled the robe from his body and it stuck to him. It actually would not come off. I snorted with laughter then covered my mouth.
“You find this funny?” he asked with a smirk. He struggled harder and I could see he put in a good effort to not tear the material.
But in the end, it WAS just a robe.
“Turn around,” I grinned. As he turned, I sat up and reached for his shoulders. Gripping the silky material, I pulled hard. I heard a tear, but far for me to give any fucks. As the shreds of pink and flowers hit the floor, he turned to me.
Kai was naked. In my room. I looked from his immaculate chest, to his chiseled abs, to his hard cock. Fuck, the man was amazing. His thighs were sleek and damn, I wanted to see his ass.
“Turn around,” I motioned with my finger. He smirked and did as I asked. I bit my lip and raised my brow. His cheeks were perfectly rounded from his lower back to his thighs. I sat forward and smacked his ass, then bit it.
“Oww,” he growled and glanced back with a grin. “I take it you approve?”
“Fuck yes! Have you seen your ass?”
He chuckled. “Not exactly but I’ll take your word for it. Now, lie back. I’m going to fuck you.”
“Oh gods,” I whispered and as I began t
o scoot back on my bed, he crawled after me. That was the hottest thing I’ve ever…no, I won’t go there. Not yet. I want to see him and Felix both coming at me. This thought made my pussy clench with need.
His hands lightly touched my knees and slowly, his hands slid down my thighs and pushed them apart. He glanced down and licked his lips. “One night, I will taste you.” He then met my gaze. “But tonight, tonight we fuck.” His hands moved to either side of my head and my heart pounded while heat throbbed my clit.
“Yes, please,” I whispered and pressed my palms against his chest. “Take me. I’m yours.”
“Tonight, you’re mine,” he growled and suddenly, he was inside me. I gasped as he thrust. He pulled back and thrust again.
“Oh, Kai,” I groaned, my head tilted back on the bed.
“Mmm,” he growled with a grin. “You, are…mine…tonight,” he grunted with each thrust.
Chapter 3
KAI
A slight snore woke me. My lids batted a few times and for the briefest of moments, I forgot where I was. Then I saw her. Angelica laid facing me, her lips slightly swollen from last night. They were parted and her eyes moved left and right behind her lids. Last night’s sex came back to me and I grinned.
Oh Felix, I thought, I have found her. Well, I found her a long time ago, but I had no idea she was…well, that she would be into all this. I grinned and turned onto my back, lifting my free arm behind my head. Glancing to Angelica, I was wary to not disturb the arm she used as a pillow. It was numb from being used as said pillow, but I did not care in the least.
Then the rest of last night came back to me.
The witch.
The shifters.
The full moon was coming.
What did this mean for Felix? His pack? Where the fuck was that witch?
“Kai?”
I glanced to Angelica. I felt my jaw tighten from gritting my teeth. “Did I wake you?” I whispered.
She nodded. “Sort of, you suddenly became hot.”
My brows lifted.
“Well, you were already hot,” she teased. “I meant your body temperature, you suddenly became hot.”