Shifters in the Shadows: Seventeen Paranormal Romances of Sexy Shifters, Dangerous Vamps, & Things That Go Bump in the Night

by J. K Harper

  The demon’s eyes widened. It took a step back. The beginnings of a new fireball churned in its palm. The demon grew, doubling, then quadrupling its size, but it was too late.

  Pure white light streamed from Nate’s palms, engulfing the beast. It threw its head back, its mouth open wide. Long, sharp teeth snapped together as it tried to get away. Nate stalked closer, his lips still moving, the light burning brighter and brighter until it poured from the demon’s eyes, nose, and mouth. Smoke rose from the creature’s skin as it peeled from its body.

  The demon shuddered just before it exploded, sending chunks of flesh flying in all directions.

  * * *

  Nate took Megan into his arms, rocking her still body. Hot tears spilled down his cheeks. Why had she been so stubborn? Had she left as she’d promised, he could have kept the demon from going after her, but she’d refused. Nothing he’d experienced in all his years had prepared him for the all-consuming pain tearing through him. He tipped her face up to his and pressed his lips against hers.

  “I call upon thee, begging for mercy. Take me in her stead. I surrender my heart, my very soul, for her. Please, I beg, take me, and spare her,” he implored the Gods and Goddesses so far above. He turned his head up to the dark skies, repeating his chant, putting his power into every word, sending them through time and space, seeking her salvation. “She deserves to live, where I do not. Take her soul away from here and bring it back into the light where it belongs.”

  When nothing happened, he screamed. “Damn you, Jordan. Why did you bring her here? She didn’t deserve any of this!”

  Warmth seeped into his back. He whipped around. Jordan stood there, his skin glowing, his wings stretched out behind him.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” Nate said. “Go before they come for you. Take her with you.”

  Jordan shook his head. “You’re my oldest friend, yet you’re determined to think poorly of me. She doesn’t wish to be taken.”

  Nate’s heart stuttered as his friend’s words slammed into him. “I don’t care. Take her. She’ll forgive you. Just don’t let her die here in the Shadow World.”

  “She’s more powerful than you can imagine. I could no more force her to leave this place than I can dim the brightness of her spirit. The decision is yours. A soul as pure as hers cannot exist in shadows. You know this, Nathaniel. The only hope we have of saving her lies with you.”

  The last words he’d told her before the demon snuffed her beautiful light screamed over and over in his mind. It didn’t matter that he’d been trying to protect her. The pain in her eyes had shone from the depths of her soul. He’d done that to her. Nate stroked her cool cheek. “I don’t deserve to be saved.”

  Jordan shimmered before him. “She’s not convinced of that. The choice is yours, Nathaniel.” In the blink of an eye, Jordan was gone again.

  Leaves rustled in the trees as tremors shook the ground. Jordan’s presence would have alerted beasts and demons for miles around. They would be hungry for his soul and furious to have missed their chance.

  He stood with Megan in his arms. If her spirit was still close, many of those same creatures could ensnare her. They would delight in making her suffer for all eternity. He shook his head. There was no way he could let it happen. “Do it. If you’re here and waiting for me, Megan, I agree. I will go with you. Leave this place before it’s too late,” he told her lifeless form. If he woke in the Heavenly Realm, or even on the physical plane, he would beg her forgiveness then.

  A small tingle started in his chest, growing with every breath he took. Heat seeped into every muscle, every cell. A tall tree to his right came crashing down as a blue demon with black wings came toward them.

  Something hissed behind him, but he didn’t look back. “Come on, sweetheart. You can do this. Take me away from here so we can be together.”

  As soon as the words left his mouth, the vibrations within him grew stronger. The Shadow World brightened a little. “That’s it, Megan. I’ll come with you, but we have to go now,” he said out loud.

  The blue demon growled and stalked closer. Its black energy slid over him, making his stomach lurch and his skin burn. But the evil touch didn’t linger on him for more than a second. He was too dark, too tainted. It was looking for purity and goodness. It was looking for Megan.

  Pushing his power out, he let his spirit soar, leaving his body defenseless. It didn’t matter. If he couldn’t save Megan, he had nothing to live for. The demons could have him.

  He heard her scream the moment he entered the astral plane. Spinning in a circle, he found her a distance away. Black energy slithered around her, wrapping itself around her wrists and ankles, shackling her to the Underworld.

  He rushed to her side, gathering power as he went. “Listen to me, Megan. You can stop this. Don’t be afraid.”

  Her blue eyes dimmed as the demon pulled at her soul. Fuck.

  “I won’t let them have you.” Nate pushed his way past the bodiless creature and pulled her into his arms. He hissed at the burn of evil against his skin but didn’t pull away. “I love you too much ever to let that happen,” he told her just before he kissed her.

  The brightness of her soul seeped from her pores, lighting every part of him. It filled the void in his spirit with so much love and acceptance that his legs nearly buckled. Black energy fell away from them as they rose above the shadows. A furious howl, discordant with the pure white light now surrounding them, faded into nothingness as peace one could only find in the Heavenly Realms enveloped them.

  When he opened his eyes, he was in a soft, comfortable bed. Warmth filled the white, non-descript room, removing the chill he hadn’t been aware had permeated his being. When he turned his head, he found himself staring into bright blue eyes, shimmering with moisture.

  “Megan,” he whispered.

  Her bottom lip wobbled. “Did you mean it?”

  Shame filled him. He’d never forgive himself for the hurt he’d caused Megan. Of course, he hadn’t meant it. She was all that was good and right in the world. The fact that he’d made her doubt it would weigh on his soul forever. He shook his head. “I didn’t. I swear to you, I didn’t,” he whispered as he wiped a tear from her cheek.

  Chapter 10

  Megan swallowed the pain that threatened to overcome her. Her question hadn’t been clear. She sat up in the bed twisting to face him. They’d wasted too much time already, and she wasn’t willing to waste another moment due to miscommunication. “You don’t love me?” she asked, watching for his reaction.

  Nate’s eyes widened, and his mouth gaped open. He sat up and took her hand. “No. I mean, yes. I love you more than life, not the other stuff,” he added in a rush. His cheeks turned bright pink, and he cast his gaze to the side, but not before she caught the shame burning in it.

  When the hurt he’d caused with his callous words came rushing in again, she shoved it to the side. She had an idea of his reasoning, but if they were to build a life together—which is what she wanted—they had to clear the air. “Why did you say those things, then?”

  He took a deep breath before looking at her again. “I thought that if I hurt you badly enough, you would leave me behind and wouldn’t be in danger anymore.”

  “It almost worked. When the demon cast my spirit from my body, I almost gave in. But every step taking me further from you hurt so much worse. I couldn’t do it. I would have rather lost my soul to the Shadow World than leave you there. That’s how much I love you. It’s how much I want you to love me, too.”

  Nate pulled her onto his lap and looked into her eyes. “You’ll never know how sorry I am for hurting you, Megan. I promise you, from this moment on, I will do whatever it takes to erase that pain from your heart. I’ll prove to you that I do love you that much.”

  The sincerity of his words filled her with hope. “I forgive you, Nate. But I do have one request. Well, two, actually,” she told him.

  “Anything.”

  “Please don’t call
me sweetheart ever again,” she asked.

  Nate hung his head. “Done. What’s the other thing?”

  “Take me out of here? I couldn’t find a door earlier. And unless you have an objection, I’d like to spend some time with you that isn’t in Hell or Jordan’s home.” She pressed her lips to his, then moaned when he opened up for her, deepening the kiss.

  When she pulled away, his smile lit his eyes like it used to when he looked at her.

  “Where would you like to go?” he asked.

  She thought about her house, then dismissed it. After having seen Nate so close to death in her backyard, she didn’t think she could ever be happy there. “I don’t want to go to my house. Do you have a home we could go to?” she felt silly for asking, but in all the years he’d been with her, they’d never discussed where he lived.

  He grinned at her. “Kiss me like you mean it, and I’ll take you there.”

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she did as he asked, pouring her love into it, giving it all to him and taking what he offered in return.

  When she broke the kiss to take a breath, they were gone from the white room. Nate’s bedroom, decorated in warm browns and beiges, was subtle, masculine—him. “Do we have to kiss every time we want to get from one place to another?” she asked him, her voice soft and breathless.

  Nate shook his head and grinned. “We don’t have to, but it’s more fun than holding hands.”

  “You’re right. It is,” she agreed as she wiggled on his lap, making him moan.

  * * *

  Joy surged through Nate at the disappointed look on Megan’s face when he pulled her off him. He knew he’d pleased her physically when they’d been in the Shadow World, but emotionally, the experience had lacked—everything. Not this time. He stood at the side of the bed and placed a tender kiss to her lips. “Stay right where you are. I’ll be right back.”

  “But—”

  “Do you trust me, Megan?”

  “Yes, of course, I do,” she told him without a hint of hesitation.

  “Good. Then do as I ask, love.”

  He wasted no time as he gathered what he needed. Lighting candles all around his bathroom, he filled the tub. Being in the Shadow World always left him feeling filthy, even if the grime came off him when he left the cursed place. He’d bet that she would appreciate a nice hot soak. Especially considering that her house only had a tiny, stand-up shower.

  And food. He had to get Megan something to eat. She may have only been in the Shadow World for what amounted to less than a day, but time stood still down there. Who knew how many Earth days they’d been gone. Once her body caught up to the change, she’d be starving. But he’d worry about that once she was in the tub.

  He found her sitting on his bed with her legs tucked beneath her and a smile on her face. If only she knew what a lovely picture she made, sitting there waiting for him.

  “Is that bath you’re running for me?” she asked.

  “It is,” he told her as he held out his hand, helping her from the bed. “I want to pamper you a little after all I’ve put you through.”

  “You don’t have to do that. I understand why you did it. I forgive you.”

  He kissed her cheek. If he pressed his lips to her mouth, he wouldn’t be able to stop after only one. “I’m very thankful that you do, love. But I need to do this.”

  He led her to the bathroom and removed her clothes. His fingers itched to touch her soft, creamy skin. His lips begged to taste every inch of her, but he held himself back. Later, he could love every part of her. He would show her how much she meant to him with every caress. But for now, she had a hot bath to get into. “In you go, beautiful.” He held her hand as she stepped into the deep tub.

  “Love. Beautiful. I could get used to those,” she said as she sank into the water. “This feels heavenly. There’s plenty of room in here. Why don’t you join me?”

  “I can’t. I have to communicate with Jordan. He’s probably losing his mind trying to figure out if we made it out before the demons showed up. Then I’m going to prepare a meal for us to share.”

  As if on cue, her stomach rumbled at the mention of food. “That does sound good.”

  “Take your time. I’ll have everything ready by the time you get done.”

  Unable to resist, he leaned over and kissed her.

  “You’re sure you can’t come in?” she asked as she moved her hands on the surface, making the bubbles move away from her breasts, giving him an enticing view.

  He stepped back before he could go back on his word. “Enjoy your bath, love.”

  Chapter 11

  Bubbles tickled Megan’s skin, teasing her. The heat of the water coaxed the tension from her tight muscles. If it weren’t for the promise of a meal when she got out, she might have drifted off to sleep. As much as she’d wanted Nate to join her, she was glad he hadn’t. After the day she’d had, the alone time and relaxation were exactly what she needed.

  By the time she had bathed, and the stress had leeched from her body, she was starving. Her stomach growled, long and loud. Using the soft towel Nate had left for her, she dried herself off. Her skin smelled of something sweet. Floral. She sniffed her arm and smiled. It was nice. She glanced at her clothes, which Nate had folded neatly and left on a chair. There was no way she was putting those smelly things back on. If fact, she’d be happy to burn them.

  Wrapping herself in the fluffy towel, she padded out and into the bedroom. Candles covered every stable surface, lighting the room with a soothing glow. On one side of the bed sat a large tray piled with food, on the other, Nate. His hair was wet, and all he had on was a well-worn pair of jeans that left little to the imagination, considering his state of arousal. Megan licked her lips. She didn’t know which she was hungrier for, the food or Nate.

  “Come have a seat,” he urged, tapping the mattress next to him.

  Once she was sitting, he handed her a tall glass of orange juice—her favorite. She took a sip and moaned. “What kind is this? It’s delicious.”

  He shrugged and smiled. “We don’t have brands here, beautiful. It’s just orange juice.” He then reached for the tray, bringing it closer.

  “That’s a lot of food. You must be starving.”

  “I am,” he told her, his voice husky. He picked a piece of fruit she didn’t recognize from the tray and held it up to her lips.

  She opened her mouth and bit into the sweetest, most succulent thing she’d ever tasted. It reminded her of a mix between a fresh-off-the-field strawberry and melon. “So good,” she said as she sucked the remaining piece from Nate’s fingers into her mouth.

  Megan closed her eyes and moaned.

  “This isn’t going to work for me,” Nate said, his voice strangled.

  Her eyes popped open again. What wasn’t going to work? Before she could question him, he lifted her and brought her to sit on his lap. The instant he did, the ridge of his hard cock pressed against her ass.

  “Much better.”

  He took some bread and cheese, breaking a piece off for her and another for himself. She took a bite and settled into his arms. Nate placed a hand on her knee as they ate, stroking up and down, each time going a little higher. She held her breath as he came close to the juncture between her thighs, but he stopped short, tantalizing her with his soft caresses. Each new morsel of food he gave her was like an explosion of taste on her tongue.

  The sweet torture of his hands made her clit throb. She needed more. She leaned in and licked the juice of the fruit from his lips. “I think I’ve had enough to eat for now,” she told him.

  Nate set her in the center of the bed, then cleared the tray, placing it on a table a few feet away. “Lay down, love. On your stomach.”

  She got onto her knees and pulled the corner of the towel from where she’d tucked it, and then let it drop. Nate’s eyes darkened as he looked down from her face to her breasts, then lower to her pussy and back up again.

  “You’re so fucking bea
utiful,” he said. He reached for one of the two small bottles she’d spotted on the bedside table. “Go ahead and get comfortable.”

  Settling onto her belly, Megan giggled. “I’ve never had a massage before.”

  “Then you’re in for a treat.”

  Megan watched as he popped open a small blue bottle and squirted some oil into his palm, warming it.

  “You’re supposed to be relaxing. Put your head down. Close your eyes,” he teased.

  She did as he asked, breathing in the light scent that wafted around her. “What is that? It smells terrific.”

  “This one is Frankincense,” he said as he placed his hands on her shoulders and worked her muscles. Once he was satisfied with the results, he continued down her back, stopping just shy of touching her ass. And when he was done there, he moved lower, going to her feet, then working his way up her sore calves and thighs, once again, ignoring the one place she wanted him to move to most.

  He kept rubbing, squeezing, massaging until her body all but melted into the mattress.

  “Turn over now, love.” He spoke so softly she almost didn’t hear him. Starting with her arms, Nate did the same to her front. When he straightened, not having touched her breasts or her pussy, she almost protested, but his eyes twinkled as he reached for the red bottle.

  He held it a couple of inches from her chest and let three little drops of cool liquid fall onto her right breast. A tiny hint of cinnamon drifted to her nose. “Now for the good part,” he said, his voice a husky whisper that had the slow throb in her clit pulsing harder.

  He spread the oil, massaging it into her flesh, avoiding her nipples with every caress. But it didn’t matter. She moaned as a tingling heat spread across her skin. Nate licked his lips, then leaned down, flicking his tongue over one beaded tip, then the other. Then, without waiting, he spread the oil over her nipples.