Sugar, Spice, and Shifters: A Touch of Holiday Magic

by Élianne Adams

  But godlike?

  The jury was still out on that one.

  He wrapped those hands of his around her waist and lifted. “I lied, by the way. No more giving you until tomorrow to make up your mind. I was lying here in my bed and I realized something…”

  She wasn’t crazy enough to ask. “That’s nice.”

  “I realized that I have waited too damned long. And I am going to have who I want. Now.”

  Oh, shit.

  He meant it.

  Decision time had come early.

  — — —

  Acylias knew he pushed her, and he’d stop if that was truly what she wanted. But there was no denying that she was his. He felt the truth of her far too deeply for that. “Teagan? Let me show you what being my mate means. I’m asking you to trust me.”

  That was at the heart of what he was asking, and Acylias recognized that. Teagan had lived most of her life alone, her past a mystery to even her. He hated the idea of his mate so isolated. Frightened and in need.

  No more. She would never be alone and afraid ever again.

  There was nothing he would not do to ensure that.

  Acylias ran his hand under the bottom of her tunic. She shivered, but she didn’t pull away. “Teagan…”

  She lifted her hands between them and for a moment he feared she’d push him away. But she didn’t. Instead she toyed with the medallion that had been given to him at his birth. “What does it mean?”

  “It means my affinity is with the sun.” He slipped it off. “I have worn it since my birth.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “As are you.”

  “You don’t have to say those things.” She’d never pulled away from him, never shied from who or what he was. She’d fought him bravely since the moment he had found her.

  So strong. So brave. “I’ll say what I mean. I have lived too long to waste time with false words. You are beautiful to me.”

  He didn’t wait for her to protest, but slipped her gown off of her. It fastened in the back and it was so damned easy…

  Teagan’s eyes widened and she tried to grab the material. He solved the problem by simply making it dissolve between them. “I like you better this way.”

  “Did I hit my head? Is that why this is making more sense than it should? Are you a figment of my imagination? I have always liked birds…”

  “Good thing, that. Our children will be shifters, you know.” He ran a finger lightly over her left breast. It immediately tightened beneath his touch. Acylias laughed.

  His mate. Before him at last. He leaned down, and kissed her, right over where he could feel her heart beating frantically. And then he dropped his lips to the tip. Acylias tasted her, lightly.

  She squealed, and he laughed again. Wrapped his fingers around her flesh and cupped her fully. He would make her squeal like that again and again. “I have said it before. You are beautiful. Perfection.”

  “And you’re nuts.” But she arched into his touch. “Are you doing something to me?”

  Acylias frowned. He didn’t want her thinking that; not at all. He stepped away. “No.”

  Her eyes opened and she stared at him. “You’re real, aren’t you? This. All of this, it’s real, isn’t it? This happened.”

  Acylias stared at her for a moment. “Yes. It happened.”

  “I’m really in your bed.” She looked around at where she was. When had he lifted her into the bed? He didn’t remember.

  “I think that’s rather hard to miss, don’t you?”

  “Are you always snarky?”

  “Pretty much. I’ve been told it’s charming.” Was she going to push him away now? Acylias ached so badly he wasn’t sure he could leave her untouched. He settled for weaving his fingers through her hair. He leaned down and kissed her mouth softly. Then a bit more insistent, just waiting for her to pull away. To tell him to stop.

  TWENTY-ONE

  She should gather her children and run for the hills, shouldn’t she? A man this perfect shouldn’t be real. Although he certainly felt it.

  His medallion was in her hand. Teagan ran her fingers over it lightly.

  A large bird of prey was etched into the deep purple. She couldn’t tell if the purple was metal or stone. There were markings on the back of it, as well.

  Markings she had seen before? Scrolls, ancient writing, wings. Just like she had seen before.

  His fingers wrapped around hers. He took it from her. “Tomorrow; you can look at this tomorrow.”

  Their clothes were gone. He’d done something, and then they were gone. She almost didn’t care.

  No, she had never been this naked with any man in her life. And it shocked her that she wasn’t pulling away, attempting to cover herself.

  It felt…right…to be with him, didn’t it?

  And that was just completely insane.

  Acylias took her hand in his and lifted it until it rested against his chest. “Feel this? I don’t need my heart to beat; did you know that? But you…from the moment you knocked me out of the air I have felt again. My heart beats again. I know you don’t know me, and you for damned sure don’t trust me. But I’ll give you everything I am.”

  His hands went around her waist faster than she could blink and he lifted her, completely naked, more fully onto his bed. He followed her onto the surface.

  Teagan held out her hands. But instead of pushing him off of her and running away, grabbing the kids, and fleeing she shocked herself when her hands slid over his shoulders and into his hair.

  Her body was pressed to his.

  And it almost felt like they fit.

  — — —

  It took every bit of restraint he’d learned over his lifetime to keep from just diving into her. Acylias already knew he was pressing the outer edges of the limits.

  He wanted her willing. And ready. “Let me show you what it’s like between a male and his mate. There is nothing like it in the Gaian world to compare. I have waited for you for lifetimes. I did not know you would find me by knocking me from the sky that I love so much.”

  He trailed small, hungry kisses down her shoulder. Nipped, a little deeper. She gasped and arched away. “I did not find you.

  “No. You didn’t. I found you. I found you and I can promise you that you will never be alone again.”

  And then he kissed her. She arched against him and he felt the dig of her nails into his back. He tried to pull away for a moment, to ensure he hadn’t frightened her—but she wouldn’t let him.

  He rolled, until she straddled him. Her hands landed on his ribs. Her ass was pressed against his cock, teasing him with what he wanted to do to her. She gasped and scooted up. Acylias put one arm behind his head and just watched her.

  Her breasts were high and full and tipped with dark pink. And he now knew exactly how she tasted there.

  How was one supposed to deal with a nearly untouched female? If she had been a more experienced female, he would have simply taken what they both wanted.

  “Teagan? If you are going to run, now is the time to do it. This is the last warning you will ever get from me. When I take you to mate, it will be forever. Nothing will separate us ever again.”

  — — —

  He wasn’t forcing her, wasn’t taking from her what she didn’t want to give. Yes they were naked and that was all his doing. But if she stood up and walked away he would let her. She didn’t know where she would go. Back to where her kids were, most likely.

  But that wasn’t what she wanted either. Not right then. Her stomach clenched and she felt the rest of her body tightening, tingling. Wanting him to touch her in other places than those he already had.

  But what would it mean in the morning?

  Would she be able to take her children and leave if she wanted to? “I won’t be kept prisoner here.”

  “You can leave if you wish. But I will probably follow you. I won’t be able to help myself.”

  “I don’t know where I’d even go.” And tha
t was at the heart of it, wasn’t it? She hadn’t had time to process any of the changes the last twelve hours had brought. “But I won’t be a prisoner here.”

  “You won’t be. I can promise you that. I can show you the world I’ve created, and you can go wherever you wish. I don’t want to own my mate, Teagan. I want her—you—to be happy. This is where you belong. Where the Fates have decreed you be. Otherwise I never would have found you.” He stretched, until he could reach a small table next to the bed. He pressed something and the front of the table fell forward.

  He pulled something free. He handed it to her.

  Teagan reached out and took it. He placed the knife into her hand. “You dropped this at my feet when I carried you out of your world and into mine. It sought its true home.”

  She ran her fingers over it, momentarily forgetting she was naked. “I don’t know where it came from. It was given to me as a child.”

  “It’s been yours since birth.” He took the medallion and the knife. The purple stone was a perfect match to the stone on the knife. The edge of the broken piece of knife lined up perfectly with the crescent of the necklace. “Since before.”

  They snapped together the moment he touched them side by side. “This was my gift to my mate. I sent it seeking out in the worlds twenty-eight years ago when I hungered for my mate. It was enchanted to never return to me unless the one who carried it was the mate I so sought. And it is yours.” He pulled the two pieces apart. “My gift to you. Even if you leave me tomorrow, this is yours. And it will lead me to you, as yours will lead you to me, whenever that is wished. You are not a prisoner here, Teagan. Nor do you have to share your body with me unless you are ready. But I would like it very much if you shared my bed.”

  She was too overwhelmed to answer. The knife and medallion fit, didn’t they? Meant to be as one.

  What did it mean for her? She wasn’t certain.

  He shifted again, and the movement forced her legs farther apart. They arched into each other. Teagan gasped at the sensation.

  Her body called out for his. What was she supposed to do about it? Acylias trailed his hands up her sides, then cupped her breasts, rolling the nipples in his palms. Fire shot through her and she shifted into his hands.

  His perfect hands that were making her forget her doubts for just a moment or two at a time. He dropped one of those hands to her thigh.

  He trailed it over her leg until he was able to touch her where her body betrayed just how much the idea of what he was doing to her excited her.

  She couldn’t lie to herself. She wanted him to be her lover. Every instinct that had ever driven her told her that was the right decision.

  Teagan just had to make it. She pressed against him.

  She kissed him. It was the right choice and she knew it the instant his hands tightened on her.

  He rolled again until she was on her back and he was above her. His hands continued to heat her skin everywhere he touched. But Teagan didn’t mind.

  This was far different from her previous experience and she reveled in it.

  Today wasn’t the day for monumental decisions; small choices would be enough. The next day would sort itself out—it would have to.

  But tonight was for this. For feeling for the first time in a long time. And that was exactly what she needed.

  “Have your made your choice, then, little Witchling?” She sensed there was more to his question than just her willingness for what was about to happen. There was enormity behind his tone.

  And she understood.

  Finally, she understood. She didn’t have all the answers in the moment. But she knew they would find them. Together.

  Like the medallion and the dagger, they were meant to fit together. There were probably going to be some jagged edges—or sharp sides—to deal with.

  He grinned and that arrogant I am a god manner was back. Just like it had been when she’d first shot him out of the sky.

  She would have to her own way of dealing with that. Tomorrow But this felt right for tonight. Was right. And that was all that mattered. “Yes. I have. One day at a time. Together.”

  Together.

  EPILOGUE

  Teagan woke before he did and curled against him for a moment, just listening to him breathing while he slept. She had been with him for exactly a month now and there was much for her to think about.

  Some of her fear had left her. It was impossible to be frightened of anything with Acylias around. Any threat that presented itself to her or the children and he wiped it out. Sometimes before she even knew it was happening. He’d told her himself he’d created Levia for her and it was going to be as perfect a place as he could make it for her—and for the children.

  He had truly bonded with her children and she knew the kids were starting to feel the same in return. It was hardest on Mason and on the twins, as they had lived without her the longest, and were slow to trust anyone new in their lives.

  But Jacob, Harper, Wyatt and Fayden were thrilled to have a father. But Acylias was making such an effort with all of the children that it made her love him so much more.

  With his help they had begun tracing the origins of her children. Not that it would change how she felt about them, or that they would leave her, but they all had questions. And they were slowly getting the answers they needed.

  She had met some of her own family over the last two weeks. Acylias had sealed the doors of his castle for the first two weeks they were there to give them time to get to know one another without his family taking any of his time.

  And they did. His brother’s family and his cousin’s family were often visitors. And she understood why.

  War was coming, and it threatened Levia again. Acylias worried, as did the rest of his family.

  As did those members of her biological father’s family that she had met.

  She had a half-sister that just happened to be a Lupoiux werewolf, as well. Jordan was four years younger, blonde, and very quiet.

  She lived with Acylias’s cousin’s family and she visited frequently.

  Teagan liked her, but something about Jordan filled her with so many questions.

  There were other Tanisses around, including a nephew, and a few half-brothers that seriously unnerved her.

  Acylias didn’t let them in that often because he knew they upset her.

  So protective. So determined to protect her and the children from the wars that were coming. And they were. It was all the Solestru spoke of. All his brother and cousin talked about. Teagan just feared it would come sooner than later.

  And Acylias would be a part of it.

  It was only a matter of time…

  ABOUT

  Dardanos, Co.

  War is coming to the all of the worlds. Want to see how Acylias and the other gods keep the worlds safe for everyone? Check out the rest of the titles in the Dardanos, Co. series.

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  Calle J. Brookes

  Calle J. Brookes is the author of the PAVAD: FBI Romantic Suspense series and the Dardanos, Co. & Dardanos, Co: The Adrastos paranormal romance series'. A television crime drama addict she spends her free time watching reruns, reading, sewing, drawing or painting. Her favorite shows are Criminal Minds, the Law & Orders, the NCIS series' and the CSI series'. She abhors Lifetime movies or anything too mushy or melodramatic. C.J. has been an avid romance reader--especially romantic suspense--since the age of eleven when her grandmother gave her that first romance novel to read. C.J. has been with her husband C.B. for eleven years, and they have one daughter. They live and work (and homeschool) together in beautiful southern Indiana, with their two Border collies and their daughter's three pet garden snails, Edmund, Junior, and Junior Jr.

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  Celebrate Me

  Sawtooth Shifters

  Kristen Strassel

  Shea Lowe has a bad reputation.

  After years of throwing punches first and as
king questions later, he’s hit a dead end. Notorious in Sawtooth Forest’s underground fighting ring, Shea wants out. Volunteering at Forever Home’s new farm is his only chance of getting another job on a ranch. But first, he’s got to prove that he can be trusted.

  Delaney wants a voice.

  Selective mutism made it sound like a choice, but no one wants to spend seven years locked in a cage. Forever Home is the last place she should’ve been sent for rehabilitation. When a reckless, misunderstood werewolf treats her in a way she’s only dreamed possible, she realizes there’s no place else she’d rather be.

  Delaney shows Shea that actions speak louder than words, and he vows to give her the one thing she’s never had—the best Christmas ever. But Delaney must decide if she can accept Shea’s past if they have any chance at a future.

  ONE

  Shea

  “Don’t even think about it.” Trina, my new boss, glared at me. She’d been on my case all week. Trina hated my guts. When we met, I was in the process of killing someone. Didn’t make the best first impression.

  Nothing a little hard work couldn’t fix. I might be an asshole, but I was an asshole Trina needed desperately. As soon as she announced plans to expand her animal shelter, Forever Home, to include livestock, she had a line of animals needing good homes. She couldn’t say no to the animals, and in turn, couldn’t say no when I asked for a job.

  This had to work, for both of us. And it would, as long as I kept my mouth shut. And she didn’t tell me what to do.

  “Think about what?” I knew exactly what she was talking about, and I didn’t like it.

  “Delaney.” Trina motioned to the girl on the couch. I’d never seen her before today. She hugged her knees to her chest. Curly blonde hair shielded her face, and I didn’t need to see her expression to know she was terrified. “She just got here, and hasn’t settled in yet.”