Shifters and Spice: A Shifter Romance Box Set

by Desiree Holt

  “Remove his shirt,” he directed.

  Zada went to attend, but Alex beat her to the table. He unbuttoned the soiled shirt and carefully opened the material, letting it dangle off the side. A gash marred his right shoulder. She winced. Seeing his injury caused her pain.

  “Buddy, if you die it’s not going to go well for me. So let’s make a bargain. You decide to live, and I’ll let you see if things work out with Zada. You saved her. You deserve a shot at happiness.”

  His words brought tears to her eyes afresh. So sweet, and yet, she wanted to have a say in the final decision.

  “It’s my choice to make.” She held him in her gaze, until he was the first to look away.

  A shuffling came from the back of the room, and the Pack’s leader entered through a curtain. “You have the sacred totem.” His eyes flicked toward the object.

  Great. Another person enthralled by the carving. “As we explained earlier, returning it was our mission,” she said.

  “I am sorry for the injury to your friend,” he said. “It shouldn’t have happened.”

  As he came toward her, Alex blocked his path. “You’re right. It shouldn’t have. What can we help you with now?”

  The medicine man ignored their exchange, and applied the poultice to Charlie’s shoulder. He used the totem to rub in the concoction, and chanted. After a moment, Charlie’s eyes opened, and he looked around until he found Zada. He reached out with his good arm to her.

  “Now that the totem has been returned, the curse should be broken,” the leader said. “The object has magical properties and your young man should be fine soon.”

  She didn’t care much about the stupid item at this point. All that mattered was getting out of there, alive. She took Alex’s hand and walked toward Charlie. The moment she touched him with her free fingers, she knew everything would be all right.

  “I think you are my daughter,” the leader said from where he stood.

  Zada’s chest tightened at the admission. For so long, she wondered where she’d come from, and who her parents were.

  “I figured,” she said, refusing to look at him. “But right now, none of that matters much. Maybe it will in the future.”

  Chapter 7

  Once Charlie healed enough to travel, they made their way to New Orleans—home. Lawrence said his goodbyes. Zada’s small apartment lay on the outskirts of the French Quarter. The living quarters were tight for three people, but they’d make do for now.

  Fortunately, she believed in sleeping in a big-ass, king-sized bed.

  The warmth from Zada’s body heated him. She was a living furnace. Charlie curved around her sleeping form, holding her close. He enjoyed feeling content and secure in knowing she held his heart, and cared for it. For the longest time, Charlie finished last.

  Not this time. Maybe it’d be an even tie.

  From the over the curve of Zada’s shoulder, he caught the gaze of Alex. The corner of the red-haired hunter’s mouth curled upward. “She’s out,” he whispered.

  “Probably an overdose.”

  “Of loving?”

  “Of something.” Charlie brushed stray hairs off her forehead, and she barely stirred. “She’s been going full tilt for so long now, and from what I gather, she’s been alone.”

  “Haven’t we all been?” Alex said. “I’m part of the Wolfe Pack, but even with some willing beauties, my bed might as well be empty. Are you with me that this, here, now, changes everything?”

  “I don’t want to fight you for her.” Although he spoke the words, he couldn’t deny his heart said something else entirely. Mine. But the situation wasn’t that easy. Part of him longed for the touch of the man who looked past his exterior and into his soul. How to possibly reconcile the two halves?

  “How we act doesn’t have to be like that,” Alex said. “She may choose one or the other, but something tells me with the choices others have made in the Pack, she’ll do something else.”

  “You mean like her sister mated with those other two?” The jealousy that flared whenever Charlie thought of losing Jana didn’t come. He’d moved on.

  “Maybe a little different.” The hint of what Alex meant ignited a different sort of flare – deep in his loins, and his cock hardened, jutting against the delicious curves of Zada’s ass.

  “Will you two shut up already,” Zada murmured, before pushing at his cock. “And put that thing away. Worrying about you wore me out. Now, let me sleep.”

  Eyebrow arched, Alex laughed. “Maybe I can help you out with whatever’s under those covers and bothering her.”

  “Yes. Please do.” Zada opened her eyes, studying them with languid pools of sapphire that complimented her purple hair and the blue sheets. “I may not be in the mood for any extracurricular fun right now, but I’m happy to watch.”

  They’d reached an impasse. Everything else had led to this point, and nothing could be the same going forward. The choice was one he, they, had to make in order to receive all the potential benefits.

  From the open window, moonlight streamed in, bathing them in Mother Nature’s beauty. This month, the heart of the fall, featured the Hunter’s Moon – the full moon of October. Only fitting he gave his heart to the hunter lying in his bed.

  With a woman between us.

  “You two will be the death of me,” Zada said. She turned over onto her knees and crawled out from the middle. “I’m tending to some private needs, and you two work it out.”

  “Well, she left at a convenient time.” Alex stretched out on the pillow. His body automatically taking over the extra space, and bridging the divide between the two.

  “Or inconvenient.” Charlie couldn’t help but compare the other man’s body to his own. Everything was broader, more muscular and obviously taller. The forest sun had darkened his skin from time spent outdoors. He easily fit his role within the Pack. Where did that leave Charlie, a next-in-line leader who spent so much time indoors? Sure, he was attractive, and confident.

  “Hey. Get out of your head,” Alex commanded. “Go with the moment. Feel it.”

  The sound of the covers moving alerted Charlie of the other man’s intent, and then Alex’s warm hand encompassed his cock with a firm grip.

  “Whoa there.” His cock twitched, growing even harder. While Charlie had fantasized about being with a man before, the act had never happened.

  “Don’t put on the brakes. Someone likes the attention.”

  With each stroke, pleasure overtook his hesitations. He didn’t care what others may think. Who cares what happened in their bedroom? As long as the three of them were good with the relationship, that’s all that mattered.

  Face-to-face, they lay toward each other, and Charlie focused on Alex’s lips. What would kissing him be like? Another man? To touch him? He reached between them, grabbing hold of Alex’s thickness. Good Lord, how the fuck did this fit inside Zada? How would it fit inside me? The thought thrilled. Being dominated. Shit. He spent so much time thinking about the future of the Pack, and his responsibilities, he rarely got to experience the sense of letting go.

  Having the worries taken away, out of his control? Hell, there was something alluring about that.

  “Fuck yeah, that feels good.” Alex leaned in closer, his mouth mere inches from Charlie’s lips.

  So close Charlie caught the scent of the fresh peaches he’d eaten earlier. And then they were kissing. Hard, fast swipes of the tongue. Each stroke ratcheting up the desire. The stubble on Alex’s chin brushed against Charlie’s cheek over and over with each rough kiss.

  Beard burn. And he didn’t care. All that mattered was the now. This feeling. Alex weaved his fingers through Charlie’s short hair and pulled. Sensations zinged. The tug felt like all of his hair follicles were somehow connected to his dick.

  Tongues tangled, and Charlie moaned into the kiss. Alex captured Charlie’s tongue in his mouth, and he sucked. His tongue enveloped the other, and a wave of sensations washed over him.

  Finally
, they broke for air.

  “God damn. You feel good,” Alex said. He ran his fingertips down Charlie’s chest, and flicked a nipple. “You know I hadn’t planned on hooking up. Before you sacrificed yourself, I thought I might have to kill you and dump the body somewhere to avoid any questions.”

  “Glad this way seems to be working out better,” he replied.

  Of course, the solution would be to get rid of the problem altogether. Nothing subtle about that. The admission should scare the hell out of Charlie, but it didn’t. As much of a hunter as Alex was, he also was a protector, and once Charlie fell on the close circle side, he had nothing to fear.

  “Watching you two in bed is sexy.” Zada’s voice cut through the sensual fog.

  They stilled, and Alex braced himself on his elbow to gaze at her. She stood backlit by the moonlight flowing through the open window. Her hair shined in lavender waves. It appeared longer, and more feminine than when he first saw her. She was nude, except for the barest pair of panties.

  “So fucking hot. Don’t let me stop you.”

  “Why don’t you come join us?” Alex held out his hand toward her. “We’re all three meant to be together.”

  “Ah, but first I want to see you take him. Thinking about it makes me hot. Seeing it … combustible.” She dipped a hand into her undies, fingering her sex.

  Her words pushed him, forcing all his desires. He didn’t care about their positions within the Pack. Actually he thought it made the thought of being with Alex even hotter. Charlie wanted to be taken by this beast of a man, and to have Zada watch while it happened? Having an audience would only add to the bliss. He wasn’t sure where the desire came from, but as soon as the thought entered his mind, he knew it to be true.

  * * *

  Crazy to compare the two men about to make love before her. She watched them in silence first, merely enjoying the view. Until she couldn’t stay quiet anymore. While she wanted to act as a witness, something about having them know she was there turned her on even more.

  Is this what it’s like for Jana and her men?

  From what Zada knew of her sister’s bedroom practices, while the men were friendly with each other, both were in the relationship for only her. Which meant, they weren’t into each other. Perhaps, that would change or shift over time. Shifters often were in polyamorous relationships. As a rule, there were less of them in the world than Others. In fact, Pack-mate Silver had been with a vampire, Nick, for a long period of time. Zada didn’t know how that worked, but wherever they found love … that’s all that mattered.

  As she thought about her sister, reality shifted. Everything grew blurry. The room in front of her wavered, and she blinked her eyes to clear her vision. Maybe she’d been staring for too long. But no. Her consciousness catapulted to another place, another time? She sat in a room with Jana, and before her lay her sister’s two mates, Andre and Dominick. While Andre worked as an artist in the French Quarter, Dominick was a warrior with the Wolfe Pack. Two drastically different men, like hers. Twins, and they navigated toward the same sort of choices, despite how different they seemed on the surface.

  Zada waved a hand in front of her sister’s face, and she didn’t flinch.

  And yet, Jana glanced right where she stood.

  “Hey, Jana.”

  Nothing. No response. Jana turned back to the scenario taking place in front of her. In the bed, Dom kneeled behind Andre. The artist tilted back his head and kissed the other man. Both men were beautiful and muscled. Dom took his thick cock in hand, stroking it.

  Zada glanced at Jana, who gazed intently, licking her lips.

  She said something, directing them with her finger.

  Bizarre that she saw the events unfolding before her, but couldn’t hear anything.

  From the bedside table, Dominick removed a bottle of lube, and held it above Andre’s muscular ass.

  As it poured, Jana flinched as if she felt the cool gel sliding across her body.

  Right when the action appeared to be getting good, Zada popped back to her reality. Alex and Charlie watched her from the bed.

  “Are you back?” Charlie asked.

  She started at his question. “How long did I seem out of it?” The time hadn’t seemed long, but obviously it was long enough for them to notice something happened.

  “We were talking,” Alex frowned, “but you were like totally zoned out, but in a weird way.”

  “Yeah. Like you were here physically and yet not,” Charlie added.

  What had happened? She wasn’t quite sure. She’d not had an out-of-body experience in the past. Yet, she experienced a physical connection with her sister. Maybe the vision had something to do with the moon cycles or them coming together from the ceremony. Whatever the reason, who’d believe her?

  “You’ll think I sound crazy.” She ran her fingers through her hair before meeting their concerned gazes.

  “Not any crazier than what we’ve encountered so far.” Charlie tapped his chest. “I mean, first I come back from the dead, and I’m not undead, and now I’m in bed with a dude.”

  “Hey. I resemble that remark,” Alex said.

  “No offense.” Charlie brushed his fingertips along Alex’s side, reinforcing whatever had been interrupted between them.

  “Anyway. I transported to the forest with Jana and her mates. The guys were in bed together …” She hesitated, unsure if she should share the very personal glimpse she’d had.

  “Whoa. What do you mean guys were together?” Alex perked up and glanced to the guy beside him. “As in Dom and Andre? Kind of like Charlie and I here?”

  Oh yeah, Zada remembered, Alex and Dominick grew up together in the pack. They were brothers of a different sort.

  “Yes. The scene was turning into something like that, but I didn’t see the full monty.”

  “How much did you see?” Alex asked, his eyes wide.

  “Enough. Did you know, or ever think?” She pushed for an answer. Maybe knowing what was happening with Jana reflected upon her situation. Maybe the two men wanted to be together, without her part of the equation.

  “Come here,” Charlie said, holding out his hand.

  She ignored the gesture, until he dropped it. This right here was exactly why she avoided any types of relationships. Get emotions and feelings involved, and things got fucked up. If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t get hurt. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

  A tear slid down her cheek, and with the frustration building, she wiped it with the back of her hand. Now she was starting to cry?

  “Hey, what’s the matter?” Alex came toward her with long strides.

  From her sitting position, she couldn’t help but focus on his erect penis. Right there—in her face. “How am I supposed to talk with you seriously, with that eyeing me?”

  The humor fell flat. Alex crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Not the time I guess.”

  “Come on. Something is obviously bothering you.” Alex took her hand, and brought her to the bed.

  “Sorry.” She glanced at Charlie. “I wasn’t rejecting you. I was just keeping my distance.”

  “Looks like we’re not letting that happen.” Charlie enveloped her in his arms.

  She sat with her back against his chest.

  Alex kneeled on the floor before her.

  She flashed to the scene of Dom on the bed. She shook it off, needing to stay in the now. She had no reason to escape her reality. Her Hunter lover placed one hand on each one of her knees, looking up.

  “I know the subject is sensitive for you, but what are you afraid of?” he asked.

  To admit the truth took so much strength. She feared rejection. Until now, she could be with someone on the physical level and not worry about letting down her barriers. But unless she put her heart out there, she’d never have the chance for a real home, and a real family. She’d spent so much of her life alone and learning how to get along, she didn’t know how to let someone else in. “Truth
? You two deciding you don’t want me. I’m afraid to admit I want this – to be with you two, and I don’t just mean fucking.”

  Charlie kissed the back of her neck.

  “Why do you think we’re here?” he asked. “Why do you think I went on this journey in order to make you my mate? Do you really think it’s only because of some sort of prophecy?”

  What was he saying? That’s what started this entire adventure. When Jana turned him down, he had to go for the other Luna twin. Shivers traveled throughout her body. Second best. Never first. “Are you saying that’s not the reason?”

  “The prophecy might have been what drew me out here to start,” Charlie said. “But it’s not what kept me around, or what made me risk my life. Sorry to say it, but as the future leader of the City Pack, I could have my pick of mates. I don’t need to fight for the love of one tough, stubborn chick that I don’t even know really cares.”

  “Then why did you stick around?” Her eyes burned.

  “Because somewhere along the way, I got to know you.” Gently, he massaged the back of her neck. “The woman behind some stories that had been passed down from our ancestors. And that’s all they are…stories.”

  “Stories that lead the way to the future.” He pointed toward her. “You. Me. Even a third, Alex, was mentioned.”

  “The Luna Twins and the Hunter?” Charlie’s voice took on a sarcastic tone. “Yes, I know. I’ve heard it my entire life. But as you said, sometimes we get to choose our own destiny.”

  “Lucky enough, what you choose is what you’re supposed to,” Alex said.

  She frowned at the red-haired man who caressed a thumb over her skin. “You’re not helping at all.” Zada wanted to scream at them. If they weren’t bickering, they would be fucking? Is this what life would be like with the two of them? And was the outcome all that bad? “Will you two stop going at it like an old married couple? Maybe if you have sex already, you’ll let go of some of this tension.”

  “That was sort of the idea,” Alex said. “But we weren’t shutting you out. I liked the idea of you watching, and then joining.”