Coming Together

by Brandy L Rivers

  “Trust me, Jackie.” He dropped to his knees, ripping her panties off before licking through her soaking wet cunt. He growled. “God, you’re ready. Tell me you want to come again.”

  “Yes,” she whispered, and he continued his oral assault until she came all over his face.

  While she recovered, he blindfolded and gagged her. Things elevated from there. Jackie started trying to pull free as he continued playing with her, but he was so lost, he didn’t catch on to her fear, or the fact she was no longer into anything.

  One of the men from the café walked in and put Jared out with a touch.

  Sidra hated any man who stopped caring about what their lover wanted and pushed too far. Her own experiences with a sadistic Shadowstalker had pushed her to demanding control. Men too often thought only their opinions mattered. She’d taken it upon herself to prove them wrong.

  Persuading Jackie to her way of thinking might not be so hard after this fool abused her trust. She could use another woman who wanted control, as long as Clive kept his hands off once Sidra changed her.

  “You’re a selfish asshole,” she snarled in Jared’s ear.

  “No. I brought her pleasure. Over and over, she came and came until Brent made me stop.”

  “She was terrified. Jackie never wanted to be tied up. You got her pleasure-drunk then ignored every signal she gave you.”

  “No. I played her body like an instrument. I gave her more orgasms than she could ever dream.”

  “She wanted it to stop because she’s not a submissive.” Sidra ripped his shirt open, then ran her nails down his chest, drawing thin trails of blood she quickly lapped up.

  Jared sucked in a breath as his head fell back with a gasp. Fool could deny it all he wanted, his body craved the torture.

  Leaning up, she whispered in his ear, “Jackie wanted free, and you kept her against her will. No wonder she wants nothing to do with you now.”

  “What the fuck are you?” he hissed.

  “Mistress.”

  “Never!” He jerked at the bonds, crying out in frustration.

  “Time for a taste of your own medicine.”

  “Let me the fuck go!”

  “You didn’t give her any choice. How dare you force your will on a woman!”

  Sidra took a dagger from her belt and he froze, his eyes wide. She cut his clothes away in a few expert movements.

  “You can’t. I don’t want this.”

  She laughed coldly. “Trust me, Jared, you’ll enjoy every second.” She scored her nails down his already hard length.

  He groaned, trying to shift his hips away even as his cock twitched under her ministrations.

  She released him and walked around the rack. Smiling, she dropped to her knees before him. With a dark smile, she ran her teeth over his crown.

  He sucked in a breath.

  “Who am I?” Sidra hissed.

  “Let me go.”

  She nipped his tip, her eyes blazing. “Who am I?”

  “Mistress,” he panted, staring down at her with wide eyes. She rewarded him by closing her lips around his shaft, rocking up and down his length.

  His head fell back. “Don’t want this,” he grunted, even as his hips pistoned into her. She pressed one finger into his asshole and a scream echoed in the room as she milked his prostate.

  He came hard and fast while she swallowed him down.

  Once he was done, she stood up, grinning at his still hard cock. “Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that.”

  “You’ve made your point,” he panted. “I was wrong.”

  “Indeed, but I don’t want your apologies. I want to use you.”

  “What the fuck do you want?”

  “To keep Stefano away from Jackie. You can help, once I’m done with you.”

  “I won’t hurt Jackie. I will never do another thing to her without her expressed permission,” he swore.

  She snatched a riding crop off his wall. Taking her time, she marked his body in an intricate crisscross pattern.

  Jared grit his teeth, trying to stop from crying out. His body responded from pleasure. Precum beading at his tip. Sidra didn’t stop until welts rose over his entire body.

  Setting the crop aside, she smiled at him.

  “What are you?” he growled.

  “We covered that,” Sidra answered impatiently.

  “Fuck you.”

  Admittedly, she liked his defiance, but was done playing games. Her fangs descended as she clamped down on his throat and drank.

  “Vampire?” he cried.

  He already had his answer. She drank until he passed out, then cut her wrist and force-fed him blood until he started to wake. Melding into shadows, she disappeared, leaving Jared in his bonds. Tomorrow, she would collect her newest tool.

  Chapter 18

  Eddie woke with Jackie wrapped in his arms. Her sweet, warm essence made him smile. Back in human form, he was freezing his ass off outside the sleeping bag without the benefit of fur.

  The night before, he’d finally shifted, hunted, then came back to curl up next to Jackie when she went to bed.

  Praying Brent wouldn’t be up for a while, he opened the sleeping bag and scooted in next to Jackie, before zipping them back up.

  Brent would no doubt wake with the first rays of dawn and put his ass to work. Jackie would likely have a hangover. Not that he could blame her. He caught enough of the conversation to understand her mindset.

  Eddie slipped one arm around her waist and snuck the other under her head as he pulled her closer. Jackie’s face nuzzled against his neck and he smiled at the contact. Her leg wrapped around his hip and he groaned when his dick woke up.

  He held still, trying to will the boner gone. Brent was ten feet away in a tent. Jackie wasn’t helping, half-asleep her hand caressed up his side, under his t-shirt.

  A zipper pulled his attention and he closed his eyes. “Oh no you don’t, Eddie.” He looked up to find Brent fully dressed and headed for the fire. “Get warmed up, and then I’ll work on training Jackie.”

  “Training Jackie?” He yawned and pulled her closer. When she snuggled tighter, he couldn’t resist placing a soft kiss on her cheek.

  “She’s going to be hung over after draining that bottle of Jack. I’m making breakfast. You work some of your shaman mojo on her head when she wakes up.”

  “You do remember we have the funeral today at three?” A shard of guilt went through Eddie. At least the reminder kept him from doing more than trailing his fingers up Jackie’s ribs.

  “Mmm, how do you feel, Eddie?” she mumbled groggily, shifting her hips against his morning wood. She pulled away slightly with wide eyes.

  He smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. Morning and all.”

  She nodded, squeezing her eyes shut. “No. Don’t be. You were talking about Kim’s funeral, and I’m lying here grinding against you.” She clamped her hands over her face and rolled onto her stomach.

  Moving closer, he massaged her shoulders. “Hey, you did nothing wrong.” Eddie pushed healing energy into her as he kneaded her tense muscles.

  She moaned, relaxing beneath his touch. “When did you get so good at that?”

  “Been practicing.” He took a slow breath and kissed her shoulder. “Headache better?”

  “Hangover’s gone.”

  “Come on, Eddie, give me a hand,” Brent said, reminding him they weren’t alone.

  “Right,” he grumbled, and climbed out of the sleeping bag to pull on his sweatshirt.

  Jackie rolled to her back with a soft smile as she watched him stretch.

  Eddie met her gaze. “How are you this morning, Jackie?”

  “Not complaining. Just wish everything wasn’t happening today.”

  A smile stole across his lips. “I get to see you shift for the first time. I’m looking forward to it, Angelfish.”

  She giggled and climbed out of the bag. “Ready to see me scaly?” Frowning, she focused on rolling up the bedding.

  “
Of course, I’m ready to see what my siren looks like.” He’d seen her wet and naked many times before, and this would be no different. Other than she’d be better equipped underwater. And now he could touch her, if it weren’t for Brent keeping a watchful eye on them.

  She groaned and set aside the sleeping bag before packing up Brent’s tent, getting things ready to go.

  Eddie went to work gathering the rest of their stuff while Brent cooked.

  Once everything was packed, Jackie sat down before the fire and stared off into space. Her mind far away.

  “She’s nervous,” Brent said softly.

  “So was I last night. She’s never shifted before. Of course she’s freaked out, especially when she only found out a couple days ago. I’ve known all my life and you saw what kind of mess I was.”

  “I’ll never understand why either of you avoided what you are for so long.”

  “Didn’t want to be different from Jackie.”

  “Shit, even if she were just a mage, you two are vastly different. Besides, she loves everything about you. Even furry.”

  Eddie smiled. “Yeah. I’m the lucky one.”

  * * * *

  Jackie wished the situation were simpler but realized they would never be where they were without the present events. The circumstances sucked.

  She really had liked Kim, and never wished any ill toward her. They’d been friends, and Jackie hid her jealousy well. Eddie seemed content, and above all else, she wanted Eddie happy.

  And Stefano, without him drinking from her, she may never have learned his true desires. Twisted, dark. He wanted to control her—to own her. Asshole was like every other jerk she’d dated over the years.

  A plate appeared as Eddie sat beside her. She looked over with a smile. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He nudged her shoulder. “What’s going through your head?”

  Shrugging, she gave him the most harmless thing on her mind. “Worried you may laugh at me.”

  “For what?”

  “My other form.” Her brow wrinkled.

  “I can’t imagine I’d laugh at that. I’m more likely to embarrass myself when you’re naked and wet in front of me.” He gave her a wink.

  “You’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about.” Grinning, she leaned her head against his shoulder and ate.

  Brent sighed. “You two best behave while I’m on the shore.”

  Jackie shot him a glare. “Why do you act like we can’t keep our hands to ourselves?”

  “You two have wanted each other since forever. How you’ve managed not to do it by now…” He shook his head with a chuckle.

  “I can think of a few reasons.” Jackie looked over at Eddie. “Timing isn’t right yet.”

  Eddie gave her a soft smile. “Soon.”

  She stared into his eyes. “But not today.”

  “Too much going on to go there.” Leaning forward, he brushed his lips over hers. Her heart raced with the contact. He whispered, “When the timing’s right, I’ll make you mine.”

  “Already yours. I wish the world would stop so we could enjoy each other.”

  “Me too.”

  Brent cleared his throat. “That’s enough from you two lovebirds. Finish eating so we can pack up the last of our camp.”

  Jackie finished her breakfast, stood up, and started toward the lake. She called over her shoulder, “Do I have to do anything besides walk into the water?”

  “Submerge yourself. The change will happen.”

  Satisfied she’d have a minute to get in the water while they finished their meal, she hurried down the trail, pulling her clothes off as she went. If she wasted time, she’d talk herself out of it. Pushing herself through the motions, she shut off her brain and tossed the clothes on a boulder. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the cool lake. When the water rose above her hips, she dove under.

  The shift was instant. A tingle rolled through her body and an instinct to breath differently took over. She held her hands up to see iridescent scales and webbed fingers.

  Before she could panic, she swam deeper, testing her new limits.

  * * * *

  Eddie shoved the last few bites in his mouth and hopped up to follow Jackie. He heard the splash when she dove in. There was a flash of light under the surface and Eddie tore his clothes off.

  Brent caught his arm before he could take a step toward the lake’s edge. “Give her a minute.”

  His eyes narrowed to slits. “Why?”

  “She hurried off without us. I think she wanted privacy.”

  Eddie shook him off. “You don’t know her like I do. It took courage to push herself to walk into the water. She’ll be more confident if I go with her.”

  Brent’s brow arched. “Hope you’re right.”

  “I am.” He strode into the lake. As soon as he was deep enough, he dove under.

  She swam up to him, her blond hair streamed around her, writhing with blues, reds, and purples. Her normally aquamarine eyes were now blue on the outside, deepening to green in the center. Light shimmered off her iridescent scales making her sparkle.

  He reached out to caress her cheek and she leaned into his touch, closing her eyes as she moved closer. Her normally silky skin was now slick, but tempting. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and sink into her body.

  His lungs started to burn and he kicked to the surface. She followed, holding on to his hand as she stayed beneath the water.

  Brent called, “She okay?”

  Eddie turned toward him. “Amazing, Brent. Absolutely beautiful. She’s really breathing under there, isn’t she?”

  Jackie flowed through the water around him, smiling up from beneath the surface. She splashed him before swimming away.

  He sucked in a breath and dove under to follow, but she sped away so fast, he had no hope of keeping up.

  “Come on, Eddie. Come here,” she taunted. Her voice had taken on a musical quality he couldn’t resist.

  He swam toward her, but she swam to him faster. She closed her mouth over his, giving him air as she pulled him deeper, kissing him as she went.

  After the short descent, she tugged him above water with a sheepish smile. “Thank you.”

  “For?” he asked breathlessly.

  “I heard what you said. Needed to hear it.”

  He kissed her again. “You’re beautiful.”

  “Ugh, get dressed, both of you. Sometime soon you two can play in the water. But not today, and not while I’m standing here.”

  Jackie sighed but climbed out of the lake, heading for her clothes. Eddie couldn’t help watching as the scales and colorful streaks faded back to her normal appearance.

  She turned to Brent with a smirk. “So, what are you teaching me today?”

  He snorted. “More control over water.”

  Eddie walked onto the shore and pulled his clothes on as well.

  Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean ‘more control’? I thought you said I had great control over my element?”

  He looked up at the sky a moment. “You do, but trust me, you’ll have more now.”

  “I’m ready if you are.”

  Chapter 19

  Like most funerals, a heavy sorrow permeated the atmosphere. The sheer number of Others in attendance was surprising. A handful of mundane humans were present, all of whom knew about Others. And so many dragons. Not to mention six Silver Council Enforcers, all but one there on assignment—Mike had come as a friend.

  Tension flowed through the funeral home. Kim’s death was officially being investigated. The Silver Council generally made all but mages nervous. Other than Jackie, Kim didn’t hang out with mages. It was doubtful her father made many friends with them either.

  Every pair of eyes swept to Eddie repeatedly. He felt trapped in a lie. Only it wasn’t a lie. His love for Kim was real, though not nearly enough. Without her tragic death, he would never have accepted the fact Jackie was his, and he was hers.

  Jackie sat in the fron
t pew, holding his hand under her flowing skirt. Brent had his arm around her, an effort to fool people watching into believing she was with him.

  Eddie wanted to pull Jackie into his arms and weep. Reality sucked. Kim was everything he should have wanted, and she had been. But his heart belonged to Jackie.

  Mr. Xhangxi stood at the podium, his speech beautiful and heart wrenching.

  I’m a cheat. A fucking liar. A damned scam.

  Temptation called, to take Jackie’s hand and run far away to forget the whole service. But he’d never do that to Kim. He wanted to honor her memory.

  For two years, he’d poured every ounce of emotion he could spare into Kim. Despite his good intentions, he never could break the barrier and give her his whole heart.

  His turn to speak came. Eddie walked to the podium and spoke the words he’d memorized, hoping they were enough. Kim had deserved so much more than he’d been able to give. With her gone, reality hit with the force of a sledgehammer. He could hardly hear himself over the guilt and loss flowing through his soul.

  When he stepped off the podium, Mr. Xhangxi pulled him into an embrace and spoke quietly in his ear. “Don’t stop living. Take life by the reins and move on—with your roommate, perhaps. She clearly loves you more than she seems able to admit.”

  Eddie leaned back, blinking at Kim’s father. No words came to mind. Honesty and acceptance stared back at him. Maybe hundreds of years provided insight Eddie couldn’t fathom.

  Zhi quietly added, “Don’t explain. There’s something between you two. What you and Kim shared was real and special, but she’s gone. She wouldn’t want you to stand still while the world moves on around you. Love is special, and it’s rare to find someone who can fill the hole left in our heart when we lose someone dear to us. You can’t worry about what everyone else thinks. Do what’s right in your heart.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “No sir. Zhi.” He offered a smile. “Don’t let human conventions keep you from finding happiness. If there’s anything I’ve learned in my many years, sometimes it takes loss to uncover what we’re truly meant for.”