by Sam Cheever
Aunt Myra handed me a glass of champagne. “Happy Birthday, Astra.”
I looked into her happy blue gaze and then to the man standing with his arm around her shoulders. Aubrey reached for me, pulling me into a one-armed hug. “Happy twenty-fifth Astra. You made it.”
I blinked. He was right. I had made it. I’d been so busy I hadn’t even had time to think about my Settling. “I did, didn’t I?”
“And you did it with style, boss.” Emo wrapped me in a tight embrace and kissed my cheek. When he pulled away, tears filled my eyes. “Thanks, partner.”
Gerch was standing behind Emo. We shared a look and he lifted his glass, his wide, red face soft with emotion.
“Astra Q Phelps.” I glanced around and laughed. Gus stood with his arms out, silently demanding a hug. He was dressed in a white suit with a white tie and white shoes. His shirt and hair were purple.
I walked over and hugged him tight. “Thank you for giving me my life back.”
He shrugged, looking embarrassed. “I didn’t do anything really. You just needed time to heal.”
I knew that wasn’t true but I couldn’t argue with him as, one after another, I found myself being greeted by friends and family.
Merriam and Flick were there. They couldn’t stay long. Merriam explained they were on their way to a war in the sixth dimension. I chatted with them for a few minutes and, before they left, Merriam tucked a card in my hand. “In case you ever want a tat like mine. I think a cheeky devil would be fun.” She grinned. “I’ve seen you admiring my angel.”
I couldn’t help laughing. She was right. I had been admiring her angel. “Thanks. I might just do that. Take care in the wars.”
She squeezed my hand. “I have Flick to protect me.”
That caught me by surprise. In the time Flick and I had worked together I’d never given him any credit for protecting me. In fact I’d often felt as if I’d had to protect him. But then I realized I really hadn’t given him much of a chance to do his job.
My bad.
“Astra!” I turned to see Ralph and Bob smiling at me. They were standing with two spectacularly beautiful women.
“Hey.” I embraced them and shook hands with their dates. “I can’t believe you guys didn’t warn me about this.”
Bob laughed. “Not a chance. Your sister would have killed us.”
“Speaking of my sister...” I looked around.
Ralph leaned close, whispering. “I think I saw her and Slayer disappearing a few minutes ago...before you arrived.”
Bleurgh. My sister was officially tagging my friend and partner. But I realized the thought no longer alarmed me. I was happy for them.
Now if only I could get Emo attached. I glanced around, searching for my old friend, and found him standing on the other side of the room. He was talking to someone but I couldn’t see who it was.
“Mx. Phelps?”
I turned and gave a squeal. “Dr. Lee!” The tall, attractive Venusian accepted my hug with a smile. “It’s so nice to see you again. And you brought Mr. Lee too.”
The seven-foot-tall, white-haired man with pale, triangular eyes frowned. “That’s Captain Lee to you Phelps.”
I laughed. “Do you always come to a party fully armed?” Captain Lee was dressed in his ugly brown uniform, the front crisscrossed with sheathed knives.
“I’ve spent time around you Phelps. I know how this usually goes.”
He had me there. “I think those days are behind me. At least I hope they are.”
Captain Lee just snorted, highly amused.
“There she is.” Slayer grabbed me into a hug, lifting me off the floor and swinging me around. “I never thought you’d make it. But I have to say, you found one hell of a way to survive your Settling.”
Only Slayer could make fun of the most painful time in my life and survive it. I stuck my tongue out at him. “You’re an ass.”
He waggled his brows. “Don’t stick that thing out there unless you plan to use it.”
I had to laugh at him. He was just so stupid.
Darma gave me a hug while glaring at her new boyfriend. “Congratulations, Astra. I have to admit I wasn’t sure any of us were going to survive your Settling. But somehow we did.”
“Yeah.” A sudden wave of sadness washed over me as I thought about our mother. Darma had taken that bit of news better than I’d thought she would. Apparently she was tougher than I’d ever guessed. “It’s been a mess, but I think everything turned out, okay.”
It was a couple of hours later and I was well into my sixth or seventh glass of bubbly when Dialle dropped a heavy, warm arm over my shoulders and pulled me close for a kiss. “Are you having fun, my love?”
“I am. But it isn’t quite the fun I had in mind.”
“We’ll get to that fun shortly. Have you seen Brina? I need to talk to her about the renovations to the throne room.”
I shook my head. “No business. She deserves a night off just like we do.”
He frowned past me. “It’s just as well. It appears she and your incredibly annoying ex-partner have their own business to discuss.”
I turned my head to follow his line of sight. Emo and Brina had their heads together in a seemingly intimate moment of conversation.
A brief jolt of jealously sliced through me but then I realized it was good. I loved Emo, but not in the way I loved Dialle. I wanted him to be happy. As I watched him smile and drop his head closer to Brina’s, one hand wrapping possessively around her arm, I realized he was finding his own happiness.
And that was a good thing.
“Are you ready to go, my love?”
I sighed. “Yeah. I am.” I looked up into his face. “But don’t think I won’t get you back for keeping this from me.”
“I did not work alone. Gerch and your sister were charged with keeping you busy today while we prepared your party.”
I shook my head. “I’ll get them too.”
I said my goodbyes and then Dialle touched my arm and we shifted away.
~SC~
The world returned in a spray of silver lights sparkling in the night sky. A soft, sweet breeze drifted over my skin and I smiled. I turned in his arms to take in my favorite sight. In the distance, the Angel City skyline glowed a soft gold, blocking out the stars. Dialle had shifted me to the roof of the huge warehouse building that served as the Royal Devil Court. It was my favorite place to get away from it all.
Over the last weeks, Dialle and I had gotten in the habit of spending a few hours there every night to de-stress after the challenges of pulling our kingdom back together.
Sparkling snow suddenly fell from the sky and I turned my face upward, laughing as Glynus and Spence did a fly-by, dropping the icy sparkles from buckets strapped to their bellies. Happy Birthday, mother halfling.
Thanks, Tadpole. I’m glad you came by, I’ve been thinking about you.
Snoopy and I wouldn’t have missed this day for anything. Did you eat some cake for me?
I did. And some for Snoopy too. I wasn’t really kidding. I’d eaten enough cake to last me a lifetime.
They didn’t stay long. As future king and queen of the white dragons, they had a lot of duties to attend to. I was just pleased they’d stopped by to see me. I waved goodbye and blew Glynus a kiss. Watching the two love-dragons gliding gracefully away, I sighed. The tension of the day evaporated as strong arms wrapped around me from behind and I leaned back, against a delightfully warm, deliciously firm chest.
“I missed you today, my love.”
I covered his arms with my own, enjoying the feeling of soft, black hairs covering golden skin underscored by firm muscle. “I’ve missed you too.” I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck, smiling up at him.
He arched a dark eyebrow. “Truly?”
I rubbed a thumb over the soft fullness of his bottom lip. “Yep. I’ve been thinking about seducing you for hours.”
He pressed his hips closer and I realized he was no longer clo
thed. “I love you, my queen.”
Though his words sent joy skittering through me, I feigned displeasure, frowning. “You know, all talk and no action makes for a very unhappy queen.”
His frown was no more real than mine. “Then we must remedy that.” He grabbed me and leapt into the air. I squealed, clinging tightly to his neck as we flew backward and down, landing in a cloud of softness.
I laughed, realizing he’d brought our bed to the roof. Dialle kissed my laughing lips and humor converted quickly to heat. Searing heat that pulled the breath from my lungs in a gasp and sent tiny spikes of awareness spearing through me. My arms and legs encircled him as his kiss deepened, his tongue tangling with mine.
My body was drawn to his like a bidgie bug to an air vehicle viewport and I suddenly couldn’t get close enough. I ran my hands over the firm, silky muscles of his back, then moved lower, to enclose the pert roundness of a truly delectable ass. I caressed his softly furred calves with my legs, grinding myself against him as the fire between us grew.
Dialle’s breath fanned my face. His soft lips pressed a delicious trail across my cheeks, over my jaw, and along my throat. He pressed the long, hard length of his shaft against my belly as his hands slipped over my hips and caressed my thighs.
My channel clenched and moistened with lust. I’d been thinking about making love to my own personal devil all day, but the reality was so much more powerful than my anticipation. His scent wrapped around me like a blanket, turning lust to agonizing need. The feel of his skin against mine created an answering rush of blood that made each touch a revelation.
Dialle kissed his way over my collarbone and lower, to encompass each painfully rigid nipple in heat, tugging them gently with his teeth. I came off the mattress as bliss stabbed my belly, twisting more tightly with every pull on the sensitive nubs.
He moved lower, bathing the skin over my ribs in heated kisses and lower still, to nip at my quivering belly. My hands found the silken strands of his midnight hair and twined there, urging him to drop even lower as my sex pulsed with expectation.
Dialle didn’t disappoint.
When he covered the throbbing nub of my clit with his hot mouth I cried out, my back bowing under a jolt of sheer pleasure. Dialle nursed gently on the sensitive nub, drawing my pleasure to the surface with exquisite care. The coil of need in my lower belly tightened impossibly, creating an almost painful tension that his ministrations only enhanced.
My fingers stiffened against his scalp and my muscles grew taut as release danced just out of reach. When his lips increased their pressure on my sexual core, I felt the edge of my resistance crumbling out from under me. A wash of heat bloomed, ushering a wave of pleasure as my body finally succumbed to release.
I cried out, my hands convulsing in his hair, and let the delicious feelings spread like an explosion through my thrashing limbs. My channel was still convulsing in the aftermath as he climbed my body and buried himself deep.
Fire blossomed. Searing me with pleasure. My channel accepted his rigid girth and embraced it in a softly convulsive grip. He sucked in a surprised breath as the final contractions of my orgasm milked his flesh. His mouth covered mine in a ravenous kiss.
His lips moved hungrily over mine. Tasting, exploring, and savoring the touch of our skin, the sweet taste of lust, and the muted promise the touch engendered. He moaned softly as he thrust within me. Flame surrounded us, crackling and flaring in multi-colored hues that grew higher as the fever built.
As my pleasure heightened, I became aware of another sensation, a separate, biting need that compelled me to words when I would have preferred just to embrace sensation. My throat burned where Dialle had once marked me. As if drawn to the sting there, Dialle’s lips left mine and travelled lower, finding the exact spot and tasting it.
Sparks spit at his touch, delicious pain seared, and in that moment I knew.
“Mark me, Dialle.”
His head came up and a black gaze, swirling with the colors of passion, met mine. “Are you certain, my love?”
I swallowed hard, terrified. Not at the idea of being forever and completely joined with my delicious devil, but that I would let him down again. Losing my magic had turned me into someone I hadn’t recognized. It had changed me...irrevocably. Though I had my magic back I knew I was no longer the person I’d once been.
I was older, yes. Wiser, definitely. But I was also more. So much more. That was when doubt fled me. In that moment I realized. Whatever I was...whatever I’d become...I was Dialle’s and he was mine.
And we would make the most of every moment we were destined to share.
“Yes. I’ve never been more sure.”
The reds and purples of passion whirled more swiftly in his black-velvet gaze and his lips curved upward in a heart-rending smile. “I do love you, Astra Q Phelps.”
“I love you too, Dialle the Second. But more than that. I need you. I need you more than anything. And that doesn’t even scare me anymore.”
He touched my lips in a tender kiss and arched his hips to thrust deep. I threw back my head in a delighted gasp and his mouth covered the tender spot that called to him.
Pain. Fierce and crisp. An exquisite ache shot through me as his fangs pierced my skin. I screamed long and hard—not with agony, but from the unparalleled bliss of his marking. My body trembled under an inconceivable groundswell of pure delight, wave after wave of it crashing through me.
Bright, colorful lights flashed before my eyes. Flame engulfed us, sizzling but not burning, simply mirroring our sensual journey. My channel convulsed in the most violent orgasm I’d ever experienced.
Suddenly I wanted Dialle to enjoy the same pleasure he was giving me. My lips found a tender spot at the base of his throat and I sucked it, hard, biting down as he threw back his head and screamed with pleasure.
His shaft spasmed hard in my channel as he came, his fingers sliding into my hair to hold me against his throat. For just a split second our pleasure became one, morphing into something so strong it swept me over into another violent release.
I moaned his name, my voice husky with emotion, as I convulsed around him again. Moments later we sagged down onto the bed, spent and weak from the power of our joining.
Dialle pulled me close and kissed my forehead, his touch exquisitely tender. I nestled close with a sigh. “Every time just gets better and better.”
“Yes.” He kissed my lips softly, with lingering tenderness. “Thank you, my love.”
I sighed. “For what?”
“For letting me claim you again. This mark will not break. It is forged under mutual love and need.”
I nodded, pulling one of his fingers into my mouth to nibble and suck. He closed his eyes, smiling. I grinned, my devil coming out in a big way as I saw him relaxing. I reached to touch the spot on his throat where I’d bitten him. It was marked with a tear-shaped daemon hickey, which I suspected matched the one he’d just given me. “This one too?”
His eyes flew open as I touched it.
“Astra...”
“I giggled.”
“Astra, please tell me you did not do it again.”
I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
“Frunk me to Hades, woman! You did not mark me again?”
I reached for the mark and caressed it. Dialle went limp with pleasure. “Come on, is it really that bad?”
He groaned, reaching for me. “I will once again be the laughing stock of the court.” But when his eyes opened they swirled with passionate colors, a bright icon of his sexual intent. “You will pay for that, my queen.” He covered me, framing my face with his hands as he tucked his hips and thrust deep.
I sucked in a delighted breath as he filled me. “I know. And I plan to enjoy every minute of it.”
Visit Sam’s website for buy links and excerpts for all the Bedeviled & Beyond books! http://www.samcheever.com/series.html
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~AM~
What do a time traveling witch and a Sorceri bounty hunter have in common? Not a damn thing! Well...except for some sizzling hot love mojo!
The Epoch Mages and the Sorceri Bounty Hunters are ALWAYS on opposite sides of any issue. They H-A-T-E each other. But when a rogue witch decides to take over the world using flesh-eating zombies, Ardith and Draigh have to work together to stop her. And though they’ve twisted themselves inside out trying to deny their blistering desire for each other, they soon learn they’ll need to work together to accomplish what many before them have failed to do. Yep, it’s all gonna be downhill from there!
CHAPTER ONE
“Whore!”
“Temptress!”
“Darling!”
Ardith blinked, looked around at the sea of shocked, angry faces, and then glanced down at the black leather bustier and micro-mini she’d returned in.
Oops. She’d come to a seventeenth-century party in a twenty-first century dress.
She glared into the leering face of the last speaker, his red-veined nose telling her everything she needed to know about his doubtful judgment. “Les’ kiss.” He puckered wet, rubbery lips and swayed in her direction.
A low rumbling sound caused the old drunk to wobble and blink. He slowly looked down at the set of massive white teeth vibrating mere inches from his crotch.
“I’d advise you to step back, sir. My dog hasn’t eaten for a while and he’s very hungry.”
The man’s mouth worked in silent terror, his bloodshot eyes bulging as he stared at the huge, golden wolfhound with snapping silver eyes.
Sirius snarled, spittle spraying around his snapping jaws in shiny strings.
“Arghh.” The old drunk stumbled backward.
“Always the grand entrance, eh, Ardith?”
She looked toward the new voice. Upon Blackthorne’s arrival, the outraged villagers had all slithered quietly away. He had that effect on people.
The enormous, ebony-skinned mage strode in her direction, his massive form covered, per usual, entirely in black. He reached down to scratch the perfect, white star on the top of Sirius’ wide, golden head. “Hey, boy.”