Gathering Darkness: A Paranormal Romance Collection

by Anna Zaires

  “Are there humans who work in the safari?” Adriana asked as they strolled through the park.

  “No. It’s too risky.”

  They held hands as they walked, and he thought there was something very peaceful about the simple act. Holding her hand while humans milled around them told them in a non-threatening way that she belonged to him, and vice-versa.

  “Can we finish packing up my place?”

  “Jupiter sent some of his guys to finish up. Celeste asked him to handle it because we were tied up with that debacle yesterday.”

  “Is he a big-wig or something?”

  “Big-wig?”

  She smiled. “You know, an important guy in their group?”

  “He’s the son of the boss, if that’s what you’re asking, so yes.”

  “You’re the son of the boss, too.”

  “I am. And that means you’re the daughter of the boss.”

  She laughed. “It sounds like we’re talking about the Mob.”

  He liked her sense of humor.

  There was an excited squeal and a blonde woman rushed out of the security office while a snarling Jupiter glared from the open door. Adriana gasped and met the woman, who Zane figured was Celeste, and they jumped up and down while hugging.

  “It feels like a week since I saw you. Are you okay?” Celeste demanded.

  “I’m great now. How are you?”

  “Having the adventure of a lifetime!”

  Adriana turned from her friend’s embrace and held out her hand to Zane. “Zane, come and meet my best friend.”

  Celeste motioned for Jupiter, who stalked out of the office with flashing eyes. Catching her around the waist, Jupiter spun her away and whispered into her ear. Celeste rolled her eyes and slapped his shoulder playfully. “Sorry. I was just excited to see Adriana.”

  Jupiter extended his hand to Adriana. “It’s nice to meet you. If you’re ready, we have reservations.”

  Celeste snuggled into Jupiter’s embrace as she said, “He’s an overprotective nutcase. Ignore him.”

  Jupiter growled softly, but there was humor behind it. “My wife thinks I worry too much.”

  “Wife?” Adriana said.

  “It’s better than the ‘m’ word out in public,” Celeste explained.

  “Can we do that?” Adriana asked, and Zane kissed her cheek.

  “Absolutely. We can do it for real, too. I’d love for you to have my last name.”

  “Adriana Keeton sounds very nice.”

  He agreed completely.

  The small group left the park in an SUV. Jupiter and Zane sat in the front and the girls sat in the back, talking so fast that their words seemed to melt together and Zane wasn’t really sure who was talking.

  Zane had known Jupiter since the pride came to the safari when Zane was young. They’d never been good friends, because the shifters tended to stay within their own groups, but he had a feeling that things were going to change with the introduction of their mates. Adriana wouldn’t want to just hang out with the band, especially being the only female.

  Jupiter cleared his throat as the SUV pulled to a stop at a red light. “Celeste would like to have lunch twice a week with Adriana.”

  “In the market? That’s totally doable. Is Celeste going to work security with you?”

  Jupiter shook his head. “I’d be too distracted.”

  “I am hot,” Celeste said.

  The big lion actually blushed, which made Zane want to laugh loudly, but he managed to keep it to himself. “I meant, little love, that I’d be too worried about your safety to do my job correctly. But you are hot.”

  Celeste clicked her tongue, and the girls fell to pieces laughing.

  When the laughter had subsided, Adriana said, “Celeste thinks I should set up a nail place in the market. When there are more mates, I could be there a few hours a week and do manis and pedis, and she could handle the scheduling and supplies. What do you think?”

  She reached forward and put her hand on Zane’s shoulder. He kissed her fingertips and turned, smiling at her. “I think it’s a great idea. I know you wouldn’t want to hang out in the house all the time, or with me in the garage.”

  She shrugged. “I’d like to do that sometimes, but I really love doing nails.”

  “This is just like your dream of having your own place,” Celeste said.

  “I know. It’s all because of my sexy mate.” She wiggled her brows.

  Jupiter parked in front of a Mexican restaurant.

  “We’re the first ones to find mates, but I’d say the program is a success,” Zane said as he undid his seatbelt and got out.

  “I agree. My brothers are eager for next weekend and the chance to see more VIPs. There’s talk of increasing the number of tours so more females are coming through.”

  Zane opened Adriana’s door and took her hand. Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her gently and said, “I’m so happy you came on the tour, sweetheart.”

  “I’m glad I did, too. It was the best decision I ever made.”

  “Um, excuse me,” Celeste said from where she stood next to her mate on the restaurant’s sidewalk. “It was my brilliant idea to come here, so you should thank me. A lot. With chocolates and that body wash I like.”

  “Thank you for your most amazing idea,” Adriana said, smiling broadly at her friend. Then she turned her killer smile on Zane. “I wouldn’t have found my other half without you.”

  “I love you, sweetheart.”

  “I love you, too.”

  As they turned to go into the restaurant, he made a mental note to order a ring so he could ask her to marry him properly. Then she’d be his in every way, and that made him very happy. He’d never expected to find his soulmate through the safari tours, but now he believed that all of his bandmates would find theirs eventually, too. They’d all been alone long enough.

  “Can we stop at the drugstore on the way back to the park?” Adriana asked.

  “Of course. What do you need?” Zane asked.

  “Banana conditioner.”

  It was going to be a great night.

  THE END

  About the Author

  A Midwesterner by birth, R.E. spent much of her childhood rewriting her favorite books to include herself as the main character. Later, she graduated on to writing her own books after "retiring" from her day job as a secretary to become a stay-at-home mom. When not playing with her kids, wrestling her dogs out the door, or cooking dinner for her family, you'll find her typing furiously and growling obscenities to the characters on the screen.

  Learn more at www.rebutlerauthor.com

  Send her an email at rebutlerauthor@gmail.com

  Find her on Facebook or Twitter

  Captive’s Kiss

  by Sharon Kay

  A Watcher's Kiss Novella

  A hardened warrior. A woman coerced. Both must trust each other to escape a brutal fighting ring.

  It was only supposed to be one hookup. One hot night to ease the mating urge of his race’s fertile period.

  But after scorching, up-against-the-wall sex in a darkened club. Tanner can’t get Saige out of his mind. And when he spots her the next day, in league with an enemy, he’s determined to uncover more about her than her delectable curves.

  Saige knows Tanner is one of the good guys. And that’s why she can never see him again.

  Her life has crumbled into a horrific turmoil, forced to aid criminals in the act of kidnapping men for bloody arena fights. Held against her will, she has no hope of escape from her captors.

  Determination rages through Tanner until he tracks Saige down. But to save her from her jailers’ sadistic whims, his only option is to go willingly into her underground hell. Posing as her victim and locked in a cell, he must find a way to save them both before he is pushed into a fight to the death.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Tanner rolled his shoulders as he and his team headed into the vibrant energy of downtown Halice. Festive colored ligh
ts hung in the trees and along rooftops. From one block to the next, different music blared from windows. Laughter and cat calls carried on the warm night air.

  All centered around sex. The very oxygen in the city pulsed with it.

  Half of Torth’s creatures were fertile at the solstices, half at the equinoxes. Now, as the longest day of the year reached its end, the summer solstice tilted the masses to a fever pitch.

  His team, the males Tanner fought with every day, lethal in battle and interrogation, had only one thing on their minds tonight. Need rode them hard, and the scent of sex that curled through the air only intensified it.

  Aleksai, the team leader and a lieutenant, led the way down a packed street. Tanner and Ian walked side by side behind him, with Gabriel and Raul in front. Nymphs cooed and flirted as the five Watchers strode by. One actually took off her top right there in the street and latched onto Raul’s arm.

  “Hey sexy,” she purred, craning her head to look up at him. She was all of five feet tall, and Raul, like most Watchers, was well over six feet.

  But no one cared about things like height differences tonight. With a grunt, he picked her up and stalked toward an alley. She crawled higher up his chest, kissing his neck.

  Ian shrugged and smirked. “One Watcher down.”

  Gabriel turned and angled his head at the crowds of females. “Take your pick. Or wait for the club. We’ll be there in five. You know the drill.”

  The drill. Fuck who they want and make their way back home when they wanted. They just had to show up for the noon briefing, when Aleksai would inform them of their next assignment.

  Tanner met the eyes of a curvy red headed witch, but shook his head. Witches were entirely too perceptive about the emotions of others. A dark elf got into her personal space, obviously thinking she was anxious for male company of any variety. The witch scowled and her lips moved quickly. Suddenly the elf was knocked to his knees, cursing, and he scuttled away.

  They rounded a corner and the huge, obnoxious façade of Club Hades came into view. Jagged red letters formed the name, twined with giant fake snakes. The letter “A” had horns. It was ridiculous, but it filled a gap in entertainment venues after Hell’s Gate had been destroyed in a dark elf fight last winter.

  Aleksai approached the bouncer, skipping the long line, and subtly handed the male some gold. The club was nearly packed to capacity, and the owners knew they had a needy clientele. Letting in a handful of Lash demons would only help them if things happened to get out of hand.

  The seasonal lust was intense. Need for sex, need to procreate, need to be more territorial and assert dominance—all of it was magnified for a period of two to three weeks that ended shortly after the solstice. No one was above it or could resist it, unless they chose to be drugged by a witch or healer to avoid the whole thing.

  Tanner followed Aleksai under an arch of flames and into an enormous room. The walls were painted black, but the ceiling high above was bright white and bathed in light. Figures painted on it showed ancient Earth Greek gods and goddesses in various poses of sex and destruction. The same theme was echoed in flashing light patterns projected on the walls, and statues that towered on gold pedestals scattered throughout the room.

  Techno music pounded. The Watchers pushed through the crowd, heading toward the massive bar. They didn’t even make it there without losing Gabriel and Ian to grabby female hands. Aleksai and Tanner ordered shots of dragon’s blood, which the female bartender delivered with a smile but not an invitation. The bars and clubs tried to schedule their workers on opposite seasons.

  But plenty of other creatures were happy to accommodate. Didn’t matter who was being controlled by summer hormones and who wasn’t—the air was palpable with sex.

  “To the solstice,” Tanner said as he raised his glass.

  Aleksai nodded and raised his, and they downed the deep crimson liquid.

  At one side of the bar, a tall female Lash crawled up onto the wooden surface. Pinning her eyes on Aleksai, she slid along on all fours, deftly avoiding drinks, her low cut top barely containing her breasts. She stopped in front of Aleksai and leaned to whisper something in his ear.

  Tanner could have listened, his enhanced hearing would have allowed it, but he didn’t. Her intent was clear. And so was his lieutenant’s response.

  In one fluid motion, Aleksai grabbed her and lifted her over his shoulder, caveman style. Ass in the air, she wrapped her arms around his waist from her behind-and-upside-down position as he carried her away from the bar.

  Down a dark hall they went, to rooms—more like tiny alcoves or closets—where creatures could go to take care of business. Though some didn’t make it that far, as the occasional sounds from the dance floor indicated. Whether moans or grunts, high-pitched or low, every nuance in the sex-fueled cacophony reached Tanner’s ears.

  Tanner turned toward the dancing throng. No surprise, some females were topless and some couples were locked intimately together. He’d seen this often in his three hundred years and, yeah, it was hot. It wasn’t possible to remain unaffected by it. Not at this time of year, and not with the sudden brush of soft female hands on his arms.

  A petite Trant demoness batted purple eyes at him. Her black dress was sheer, showing him every inch of her body. Her species thrived on sex and passed as beautiful humans, so many of them had moved to Earth to work their magic. No harm was done, just sex that the human would always longingly remember. Trants were notorious for tiring of partners and needing new ones to keep them entertained.

  Tanner’s eyes slid over wavy black hair that reached the tops of her full breasts. She was willing, she was sexy. He pulled her closer and she pressed into his body, rubbing herself against him. His cock had been semi hard ever since they’d arrived in Halice, and now it responded to the intimate position with an obliging female.

  He inhaled, taking in her arousal as well as the musky nutmeg Trant scent. But his budding interest in the Trant was derailed in his next breath.

  A different female fragrance filled his nose. Night-blooming jasmine. Sweet, powerful, promising...a Lash female.

  Tanner breathed again, needed more of it, like a drug. Who did it belong to and where was she? He pulled back from the little demoness, trying to pinpoint the scent. “Sorry, sweetheart.” He disengaged from the Trant. “I need to talk to someone.”

  He started a methodical walk around the sprawling bar, not sure why he cared so much about this particular scent, but operating on pure instinct. The rectangular bar sat at the side of the club, separating the main area from the sex rooms in the back. It was thirty feet long and twenty feet wide, and somewhere nearby was a female he needed to find.

  ***

  Saige smacked her lips and moved to the pulsing beat as she shouldered her way to the bar at Hades. The air dripped with lust and sex. Shrieks and moans carried clearly to her ears. Her own body throbbed for release. It had been ages, and now that her race’s fertile season was at its peak, she was about to jump out of her skin.

  She had to ease the ache. Sex was necessary at this time of year. Taking care of her needs might seem selfish tonight, but it was the only way she’d be able to focus. She had a job to do. And the only way she could get out of the mess she was in was to find males who could hold their own in a bloody fight.

  A male who could fight, and a male to sate her urges. Not necessarily the same guy. Two vastly unrelated objectives tonight, both of which she had no choice but to complete.

  Even then, she would have only bought more time. Did a way out of her private hell even exist?

  Not that she could see.

  A lump formed in her throat and she angrily pushed it down. One day at a time. A plan would come to her. It had to.

  She banged a fist on the bar, ignored by the female bartenders who scurried to bring drinks to the males. Finally a muscular male Deserati demon flashed her an apologetic smile and leaned in. “What’ll you have, gorgeous?”

  “A shot of Jack.”
She returned the smile and tilted her head. Deserati demons could be formidable fighters, especially when they used their tails. She eyed his horns deliberately, one at a time, knowing he tracked her gaze. Small and poking through the hair above his ears, those horns were a highly erogenous zone.

  He filled a glass with amber liquid and slid it to her. “Anything else?”

  “When do you get off?” she asked.

  He licked his lips and his eyes slid to her leather corset. “Three.”

  She pretended to pout. “That’s past my bedtime.”

  “It’d be worth it to stay up late. Just one night.” He winked, promise shining in his eyes.

  A bevy of fairies giggled from the other side of the bar, practically climbing on it and nearly falling over the side in an effort to get the male’s attention. He gave Saige another smile and shrug before heading over to the group, catching one fairy just before she tumbled.

  Saige threw back the shot, savoring the burn as it flowed down her throat. If she didn’t grab him, there were dozens of others to choose from. Her captors preferred the most dangerous predatory species. They liked Deserati demons, but they also loved Lash demons, and she was certain she’d seen a group of Watchers walk in.

  She glanced around, not spotting them at the moment. Probably already in rooms with females. Dudes as big as that had ladies hanging off them like vines at this time of year. She looked to the dance floor, which was just a packed mass of bodies. It was hard to tell where one creature ended and the next one began.

  Her skin tingled, responding to the groping and kissing all around her. She needed to get relief, then she could do what she needed to.

  She set down the glass and squared her shoulders, ready to sidle into the mass…and found her way blocked by a solid wall of muscle and a scent that almost brought her to her knees.

  Smoke and a hint of dark spice clung to him. Well over six feet tall, he had short dark hair and green eyes that already gleamed with lust as he perused her from heels to hair. His eyes locked with hers, and she froze under the weight of his stare. Need, power, danger. And interest.