Shifting Currents

by Lissa Trevor

  “Your Tech skills are useful. You’re incredible in bed. And I’d like to get to know you better. You Bethany, not Lady Tech.”

  “What if you don’t like what you find out about me? Are we still mates?”

  “I’ll still want to fuck you and, yes, hire you for your Tech abilities, but no one mates for life if there’s no compatibility.”

  “I thought Shifters didn’t mate with humans.”

  “Bethany, you’re as human as I am.”

  She wasn’t sure how to take that. She didn’t shape-shift into a beast, but the normals didn’t channel electricity through their bodies. Still, they both had hearts and brains and behaved in a civilized manner. Bethany supposed it really didn’t matter.

  “We’re away from Maya. We don’t have to pretend.”

  “You weren’t pretending yesterday.”

  She smiled at the reminder. “Why me?”

  Lucas blinked. “Why not you?”

  “I’m not anything to look at.” Bethany gave him a sad smile.

  “You’re sexy as hell,” he countered.

  “I only really shine as a Tech.”

  “Bethany, you saved my sister. You shine just by waking up in the morning.”

  She rubbed her foot over his shin. “I could get used to you.” She was warning him.

  “You were in a really bad relationship with a self-centered jerk. I want to be with you. Is that such a hard concept?”

  “It shouldn’t be,” she said, shaking her head. She toyed with the rim of her bottle.

  “Look, you’ve got a long day ahead of you tomorrow when we reach Ohio. There’s going to be a lot of danger ahead of us. I want to stick my cock in you so badly that I’m shaking.” He grabbed her hand and put it on his legs. “Hearing your fingers getting you off nearly undid me. Let me show you it’s you I want, you I need.”

  “Okay.” Bethany’s heart kicked into overdrive at his words.

  “We’ve got a lot of time to talk the shit out of any topic you want, but until this expedition is over, this might be the last time we can enjoy ourselves.”

  “You’re sure this train can’t be attacked?” She glanced out of the window, but all she saw was darkness and shadows.

  “Not at the speeds we’re traveling.”

  “And the tracks are clear?”

  “They were this morning.”

  “What about Mark and Ben?”

  Lucas snarled. “I thought I made my opinion on group participation clear?”

  “I meant about them listening?”

  “Turnabout is fair play.” Lucas grinned.

  Bethany got to her feet and pulled him up alongside her. She kissed him warmly, and when his arms came around her, it felt like home. His lips slid over hers as their tongues danced together. He gripped her head back and looked into her eyes.

  “I meant what I said about the table.”

  “Let’s go,” Bethany sighed, hugging him again.

  They made it through the first few sets of cars without touching each other, but before they entered their compartments, Bethany had unbuttoned Lucas’s shirt and his hand was down her pants, cupping her ass.

  They stood between the two compartments, the night air howling, and the train swaying back and forth. What had terrified Bethany only hours before, she barely recognized when Lucas plastered her back against a compartment. His erection jutted into her stomach, and she peeled his shirt off his shoulders. They kissed, oblivious to the speed of the rushing train. Bethany was eagerly sliding her hands over the muscles of his back. She started to work on his belt buckle while she nibbled down his neck. Nipping and then soothing the bite with her tongue, Bethany slid his pants down his hips and then reached for his cock.

  Lucas groaned and tore open her pajama top. Buttons flew, but Bethany was beyond caring. The cold air teased her nipples until Lucas put his big hands over them. He massaged them, rolling his palms over the hard peaks. Bethany pumped him, loving the hot, smooth feel of his cock. He kissed her hard, rolling her nipples between his thumb and forefingers. Finally, he took one into his mouth, and Bethany shrieked, the sound lost as the train hurtled on. The wind stole it and carried it out to the velvet night.

  Lucas dropped to his knees, taking her pants down with him, catching the pistol before it could hit the ground. He secured it so it wouldn’t rattle off the train. The cold press of the train against her backside brought her back to the reality of the situation. Bethany gripped the door handles as the train shuddered and skipped over the tracks.

  “Easy,” he murmured, licking her belly button. He removed one leg from her pants and tucked it over his shoulder.

  White-knuckled on the door handle, Bethany had second thoughts flit through her mind. There was a nice safe bed just a few feet away.

  But then he plunged his tongue inside her pussy, and she forgot safety, forgot the train hell-bent on screaming through the night. Arching into his mouth, Bethany could only gape up at the dark night sky. There were no stars, but she saw them anyway.

  Lucas lapped at her clit, licking up and down. Bethany balanced on one leg, a slave to Lucas’s ministrations. Writhing and bucking, she chased her orgasm, afraid this feeling would disappear like a dream. Wild, feral, she peeled one hand off safety to hold his head to that special spot. His quick, darting tongue and supple strokes tore a cry out of her that was more animal than human.

  When he started to suck on her sensitive clit, lights exploded behind her eyes, and music slammed through the train as joy channeled through her body and there was no place to go but out. Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Ode an die Freude. Shaking in release, she sagged against the door. Heavy strings faded, only to be chased by a solo saxophone.

  Lucas purred in satisfaction and gave her one last lick. His eyes were hooded as he pressed two fingers into her and begin to fuck her with them.

  Bethany arched into the pressure, so different from his luscious tongue. Not fully recovered from the epic orgasm that left everything throbbing, she widened her stance to give him better access, to give him anything he wanted. His eyes were on her like a physical caress. His fingers were relentless.

  Baring her teeth, she said, “Fuck me.”

  Lucas showed her his teeth too and put her leg back on the platform. Swaying, she moved with the train, but he stood, unconcerned about the train’s pace. Never taking his fingers out, he rubbed them over her little bud.

  “Lucas,” she groaned.

  He kissed her again, and she could taste her cum on his face. Lucas scooped her legs around his waist. She didn’t have time to shriek in panic as gravity took effect. Slamming into her before she could fall, his body pinned her to the door. No longer caring about holding on to the train, Bethany wrapped her arms around his neck. Lucas went deep, up on his toes. Buried deep inside her, he let the movement of the train rock them. They rattled through the night, kissing. Then he pulled back.

  Locking her ankles around his waist, she purred, “Where are you going?”

  “Here,” he grunted, filling her to the hilt again.

  “Faster,” Bethany gasped as sparks shot up into the night. She wasn’t sure if it was the train or her Tech. She had never been so wet. Every thrust was playing along her nerve endings like a symphony.

  “Is this what you wanted when your fingers twiddled that pretty little pearl?” he asked, breathing raggedly into her ear.

  “God, yes,” she said. “Harder.”

  His hips pistoned, and Bethany thought the door to the compartment behind her might crack.

  “More,” she pleaded, his speed pushing her to her limit. “I was so mad at you. I thought you didn’t want me.”

  “You’re an idiot.” He sighed. “It’s all I can do not to fuck you every time I see you.”

  “Why don’t you?” She laughed at him, squeezing the walls of her pussy tight as he slipped in and out of her.

  “I will,” he vowed. He picked her up straight, her back leaving the train. Her breasts were in his face, an
d he raised and lowered her on his cock. His balance was all that kept them on the train, but she didn’t care. Her hair whipped around them both. She tried to bounce faster, but he held her firm.

  “Come for me one more time, mate.” He sucked on her breasts while she dug her fingernails into his shoulders, her toes curling.

  This sexy man was hers. Delight warred with disbelief.

  Crescendo. Waves of music and pleasure swirled around them.

  “Bethany,” he shouted, releasing into her. “Mine,” he muttered, rubbing his cheek over her face.

  Scent marking, she thought as the sweet drift of contentment floated her on a cloud of bliss. After a few moments, the real world intruding when she realized her legs were cramping. After unlocking her ankles, Bethany eased her legs down.

  “Let’s go to bed.” He kissed her sweaty forehead, already starting to chill in the night air.

  “Okay,” she said and bent down to get her clothes and the pistol. She would have agreed to pretty much anything he asked right about now. He held the door open for her, but once she was inside, he picked her up into his arms.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m not done fucking you,” he said, tossing her into his bunk and clambering up after her.

  More?

  “I’m not sure I can survive another orgasm like the last two.” She was only half kidding.

  Lucas covered her body with his. She spread her legs, welcoming him despite her words. He slid inside her. It was sweet, but she didn’t want sweet. Bethany bit down on his shoulder.

  “You want to bite?” he growled, rolling them so they were on their sides. One hand was gripping her breast, and the other hand was on her abdomen, pressing her into him.

  His mouth was hot on her ear, and she arched into him, hissing in pleasure. She had been wrong. She couldn’t get enough of him, wanted his cock right where it was—where it belonged.

  “You got off when they fucked each other. Now they’re going to get off while I fuck you,” he whispered.

  Shock splashed a cold finger down her spine. She didn’t want an audience, did she?

  “How do you know they’re awake?” she panted back.

  “I can smell their arousal too. Now scream for me,” he said in a dark voice.

  When she didn’t comply, he pinched her nipple. The little pain shot desire through her. His other hand moved from her stomach to pull her thigh over his so he could dip his fingers inside her. Bethany gasped.

  “Louder,” he commanded and started to suck on her neck. His mouth teased a sensitive spot.

  Her eyes closing in bliss, Bethany was on fire with sensation. His fingers flicked around her bud, as his cock plundered her wetness. His other hand tweaked her sensitive nipples. She cried out.

  “Louder,” he growled and moved his hands to her hips to grind his cock deeper and faster in her.

  He wanted loud? She’d give him loud. Chains she hadn’t realized had been locked around her released with each probe of his fingers.

  “Yes,” she shouted. “Oh, fuck me, please. Make me come. I want to feel you come deep inside me.” Her voice was breathy and warm, and it felt naughty to know they were being listened to. Were Mark and Ben’s hands sliding over those fantastic thick cocks, jerking themselves off to her pleasure? She liked the thought and arched into Lucas.

  “Oh,” she moaned long and loud, like a whore.

  Was that an answering moan from the bunks across the room?

  “Oh, ohohoh!” she shrieked and surprised herself by playacting herself into coming. This time the orgasm was quick and delicious. She squeezed him so he stayed deep inside her.

  “Yes,” Lucas said, his voice thick with satisfaction. “Yes.” He kissed her shoulder and curled tight against her.

  “Yes,” she agreed with him, leaning back for a sleepy kiss. She fell asleep with him still hard inside her.

  Chapter Eight

  Lucas

  Lucas’s cock twitched inside Bethany’s sweet slit, and he considered waking her up to suck him off. But she felt so right cuddled into him, limp and exhausted from their frenzied lovemaking. He hadn’t told her about the creatures stalking the train. Never catching up but never quite giving up. Why worry her? He heard Mark and Ben slurping each other, and he imagined the two men were sixty-nining. Lucas moved inside Bethany, and she sighed in her sleep. His hands went back to her breasts as he rolled onto his back, her on top. He slipped out of her and nestled himself between the crack of her ass and her back. Needing to feel her mouth on him, he woke her up by playing with her breasts. They fit into his hands, and he toyed relentlessly with her nipples.

  “Lucas,” she moaned. He liked the way she said his name.

  He turned her over and slid her down. He heard the slick wet sounds from the bunk across the compartment and smirked.

  “Is this what you want?” she asked, licking his balls.

  Lucas cupped the back of her head and pressed himself into her face. She took him deep in her mouth, halfway down her throat, and Lucas nearly went off then. But she glided her mouth back up his cock and started concentrating on the tip with flicks of her tongue as her hand wrapped around him. He was lost in the rapt enjoyment on her face, and the feel of her slithering her mouth and tongue over him was intoxicating. He always liked watching her. Even when he was in bird form, and she was walking in the woods. He liked her body, the sway of her ass. He liked her style and the curve of her smile. He liked talking to her and fucking her. They fit. He could very well start to love her. That thought made him pause and dispelled a little of the erotic haze he was sinking into. It was pure decadence for him to lie on a soft bed, in a train going fast enough to be safe from attack. He had let his guard down, and the little moans she was making as she enjoyed his hard dick in her mouth made him open to the emotions he had tried to stay away from.

  The suction on his cock tightened. Lucas arched up, the sensations slamming into him back as he enjoyed the sweet grip of her mouth. It was dangerous for a Shifter to love a non-Shifter. They didn’t understand being hunted. But Lucas thought maybe she would understand betrayal and avoid it. Bethany looked up at him with such love and trust in her eyes that it shook him, and he came with a deep grunt of satisfaction. She swallowed him and licked her way up his stomach to nestle next to his neck. He enfolded her in his arms and enjoyed feeling her slip into sleep, trusting him enough to protect her.

  He heard Mark and Ben settle into sleep as well, and then all he heard was the rumble of the train as they ate up the tracks to Colorado and what was waiting them there. When Lucas was scouting ahead, he had spotted dragons basking in the sun. As luck would have it, they didn’t seem to have any interest in the steam engine or the tracks. They were fat and lazy in their nests, content to stalk and hunt prey that wasn’t encased in a moving metal object that belched smoke and fire.

  However, the train was going to hit the end of the line in Bellevue tomorrow, and then the most treacherous part of the journey would begin. It had taken twenty years after the meteor to dig out the tracks. The next steam engine that would take them from Ohio wasn’t as modified as the New York one. It was rickety. Lewis and Clark put most of their money into the first leg of the trip. The second leg was going to be more difficult. The Bellevue train was heavily armored—it had to be to withstand the nomad attacks. Speed was out of the question because the tracks were heavily damaged from sabotage and bad terrain. But it would get them to California faster than walking and it gave their horses a break. Lucas had his doubts that the tracks would be unbroken all the way to Colorado, but every mile was one mile closer to the ocean.

  Lewis and Clark were very rich men. Their tribe was equipped with rifles and bows and arrows, and they hung off the train, guarding it from whatever would threaten it. He wished he could see Bethany’s reaction at seeing the tortured landscape for the first time. It was supposed to be “amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesties.” It was a wasteland. The crater that one of
meteorite’s pieces had made took up the entire state of Texas. It was filled with brackish water that housed strange creatures. He had flown over it, but didn’t want to risk landing.

  The train shook the landscape and terrified what creatures had dared try to find food. The hunters took down what they could get from the train and sent the Shifters out to retrieve the food.

  Bethany made a cute snoring noise against his chest. Stroking her hair absently, he fell into a fitful doze. Jesse coming into the compartment woke him a few hours later.

  “Bethany?” she said.

  “Mmmm?”

  “It’s time to get up. You’re needed in the caboose.”

  The snarl left his throat before he could stop it. Bethany bolted awake.

  “What?”

  “No,” Jesse said. “Not for that. They need you to power up the facilities and other stuff.”

  “That other stuff is what I’m worried about,” Lucas said. He might not be sure about forever, but as of right now she was his mate, and he wouldn’t share her.

  “Can you give me a few moments?” Bethany said. “I’d like to get dressed and shower.”

  “Shower’s ice-cold.”

  “I can fix that.”

  “Well, all right. I’ll meet you in there. In another stall,” Jesse corrected in a hurry when Lucas poked his head out from behind the curtain.

  “I should be going as well,” he told Bethany and watched her eyes cloud with concern.

  “Are you going out scouting?”

  “The Shifters need to spring any ambushes waiting for us in Ohio. We’ll dispatch them if we can, come back here to warn you all if we can’t. If all goes well, we’ll also need to fortify Lewis and Clark’s holdings in the station if we’re going to survive the attacks.”

  “You sound so sure there will be a force waiting for us.”

  “This is the farthest we’ve ever gotten. The farthest the tracks have been repaired in one solid line. Everything stops in Ohio while we switch trains and take the other line as close to California as the repairs will get us.”

  “Are the attacks always in the same spot?”