“Did you happen to bring your lab coat with you?” he asks suddenly.
I grin.
“No, I didn’t think I’d need it.”
“I’m definitely bringing one back for you when I go.”
I pull White towards me and wrap my arms around him.
“One of your fantasies?” I tease. He leans down and runs his lips across my neck. Goosebumps break out across my skin, and I hook one leg around his waist.
“I have many,” he whispers against my neck.
“Oh?” I close my eyes at the sensation, holding him tightly.
“There’s one where you experiment with chocolate as you lick it from my–”
“Okay, okay,” I laugh. “Any others?”
He straightens and pulls me towards the bathroom, stopping in front of the large shower.
“Didn’t you say you were dirty?” His fingers reach for the hem of my shirt. I hold my arms up and let him tug it free, before his long fingers go for the button of my jeans.
“I did,” I reply.
My voice is husky, and I bite my lip as he pushes the pants down my legs. His eyes take in my nerdy underwear–Pokémon today–and a small smile tugs at his lips. My own fingers begin working on the buttons of his waistcoat, revealing his defined chest little by little until I’m able to push it from his shoulders. I stroke my fingers against his hardness over his leather pants, and he sucks in a breath.
“Do you plan on cleaning me, or making me dirtier?” I purr. I’m really not that sexy, and I’m certain it sounds nothing like I imagine, but White growls anyways.
“How about both?”
He reaches inside the shower and turns on the water, hot steam immediately rolling from inside. Hastily, we both remove the rest of our clothing and step inside, the hot water soaking into my skin and plastering my hair to my head like a drowned corpse. It only makes White look sexier, water droplets dripping from the strands of his white hair.
His hands snake around me and tug me into his body, holding me close even as his hand slips down, down, down between us. My breath stutters as he finds my nub and strokes.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, his lips trailing along my neck when my head tips back. “I want to take you away and hole up with you.”
“Holing up sounds good,” I rasp, earning a husky chuckle from him.
His mouth trails down further before latching onto my nipple, sucking hard. I groan when his fingers move against me, stroking through my gathering wetness. My own fingers wrap around his length and pump. He hisses through his teeth, before turning me around and plastering against my back. My hands immediately brace against the glass of the shower as his palms cup my breasts.
“Naughty,” he chides, kneading my flesh. “Trying to gain the upper hand.”
“Is this where I should call you Bunny?”
That earns me a sharp bite on my shoulder that he immediately takes the sting away from with his tongue. I grind my ass against him in response.
“Was that supposed to discourage me?” I chuckle. “Bunny Rabbit.”
He lifts my right leg suddenly and braces it against a foothold on the glass. I stare down at it in confusion for a moment before his fingers spread my cheeks.
“Keep saying it,” he growls in my ear before his teeth latch onto my lobe and suck.
“Bunny Rabbit,” I say without hesitation.
I feel his length press against me from behind, barely touching, teasing.
“Bunny Rabbit,” I say again, as his hand grips my hip hard.
I feel his chest rumble against me at my words, and his hand moves from my hip to my neck gently, as he turns my head.
“Say it again,” he demands as our eyes meet. His are so bright that they glow like stars. His hand squeezes the barest amount, reminding me to speak.
“My Bunny Rabbit,” I whisper.
He slams inside me, and I cry out in pleasure at the suddenness, my fingers seeking purchase against the glass. He doesn’t give me time to adjust, instead drawing out before pressing back in again, hard enough that I can hear the slap of our skin over the sound of the shower.
“You’re the only one allowed to call me that,” he growls in my ear as he pumps inside me. He makes his point with a sharp thrust, and I cry out against the glass, pleasure taking over my body. “Say it again.”
“Bunny!” I scream, and he rewards me with another sharp thrust, and his fingers at the juncture between my thighs.
“Again!” he growls, pumping harder. His fingers squeeze at my throat, his other hand spreading me wider and pulling my hip back towards him. He doesn’t pause his relentless pace.
“Bunny!” I cry, my body winding higher and higher under the onslaught.
“Fuck!” he snarls, pulling from me and yanking me around before lifting me by my ass and slamming inside me again, the glass at my back. I immediately wrap my arms around his neck as he takes my lips in his, his tongue sweeping inside to conquer me. I thread my fingers into his hair before wrapping around the base of his ear and gently squeezing. His thrusts grow stronger at the touch, and I gasp into his mouth, my body arching of its own accord.
“Shine for me, Little Inferno. Explode and burn with me.” His voice is so deep it’s practically one long growl as I cry out with each thrust. I’m full and complete, and I can’t help it as I wind tighter and tighter around him. “Say it again.”
I grab hard onto his ear and meet his eyes, my own hooded with desire.
“My Bunny,” I snarl.
His growl matches my own as his mouth drops to my shoulder, and he bites down. I explode, screaming my release for it to echo around the glass room. He thrusts hard against me, his rhythm erratic as he reaches his own release. We’re both breathing hard, the hot water pounding against us as we take a moment to calm our heart rates.
White chuckles against my skin, before kissing the place he marked.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, chuckling with him.
He meets my eyes, laughter shining so bright in his.
“I never thought I would see that day when I actually wanted someone to call me a bunny.”
I kiss him, happy to give him something to laugh about.
“Any time, Bunny Boy,” I say against his lips.
He kisses me back deeply, before grabbing the soap and helping to clean my body. When he’s done running his hands in naughty places, I do the same for him. We watch as the bubbles flow down the drain.
“So, what now?” We step from the shower, but before I can reach for a towel, White wraps me in his arms. There’s wicked delight in his eyes as he glances down before tugging me towards the bedroom. He grins before he speaks, and I answer with my own smile.
“Follow the White Rabbit, Little Inferno,” he teases, “and you’ll find out.”
Epilogue
White
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Cheshire asks, staring at the doors.
“I think it best if you come with me, yes.” I watch Cheshire’s ears swivel in agitation, warring with himself. I can tell he wants to come, and at the same time, he doesn’t. I don’t know if it’s fear or something else. Cheshire has his own secrets, as we all do, but even I know the pain he’s been through. It’s going to take a miracle to crack the walls around his heart.
“Aren’t you supposed to bring her yourself?”
“I’m the Gatekeeper, yes, but I’m also the Time Keeper, and we’re short on time. If you’re with me, it’ll make things go faster.”
“Or make it go horribly wrong.”
“Yes, well,” I sniff. “I can’t make you charming.”
Cheshire doesn’t even laugh. That’s what worries me the most. Behind us, Jupiter and Clara watch the exchange. I try to tell Clara with my eyes to step forward, and to her credit, she understands.
“Cheshire,” she calls. When he looks at her, she steps forward and smooths down the collar of his leather jacket. “Don’t start off thinking it won’t work. Giv
e it a chance.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” he growls.
“I don’t know.” Clara doesn’t even react to his annoyance. “Are you?”
He immediately relaxes, a frown on his face. He nods his head before turning to me.
“Fine. Let’s go. We don’t have much time.”
I glance at my watch to see he’s right. My eyes meet Jupiter’s over his shoulder as he steps forward.
“See you soon, Little Inferno.”
She winks at me, a tiny smile curling her lips.
“Don’t be late,” she replies, lacing her fingers with Clara’s. Hatter steps up and nods to me, his assurance that he will keep my mate safe. I smile in thanks before throwing my card at the wall.
“You ready for this?” I ask Cheshire.
“No.” At least he’s honest. The portal swirls open, and I gesture for him to go through. He hesitates for a moment before stepping inside.
I glance back one last time, to the beautiful blue eyes of my own ball of light, before I jump inside. The final battle begins now, and it won’t be an easy one. I close my eyes and send up a prayer to anyone listening, then I steel my spine and prepare my soul.
Let’s go to war.
About the Author
Kendra Moreno was born and raised in Texas where, if the locusts don’t drive you mad, the fire ants and sticker burrs will. Iced tea, or aptly called straight sugar, fuels her for battling the forces of evil and washing the never-ending dishes her son dirties. She has one husband who listens to her spin tall tales constantly without fail. Although he doesn’t always know what she’s talking about, he supports her like a brand-new jock strap. Kendra has one son who will one day read her stories. For now she’s teaching him that books are meant to be cherished and not destroyed. Her three Hellhounds keep her company while she writes. If she isn’t writing, you can usually find Kendra elbows deep in anything from paint to cookie dough.
If you’d like to have a place to discuss the book with other fans, head over to Kendra’s facebook group where you can get updates on her work before anyone else.
Also by Kendra Moreno
Sons of Wonderland:
Mad as a Hatter
Late as a Rabbit
Sinister as a Cat (Coming Soon)
Anthologies:
Cupid’s Playthings:
Supernova
At World’s End: An Apocalypse Anthology:
Wings of Rage
Falling For Them Anthology Vol. 4:
Four Parts Super
Steampunk Reverse Harem:
Clockwork Butterfly
Continue on for a preview of Clockwork Butterfly…
Clockwork Butterfly
Available now on Kindle Unlimited
Chapter One
“That’s it, little machine. There you are.”
Vic stared at the tiny mechanical creature on the workbench in front of her, concentrating hard as she tinkered with the small gears. She had been working on the project for days, a distraction from her father’s anxiousness and her own excitement. Word still had not come of the news they have been waiting years to hear. Vic did not have the patience for such things.
Her cat, Gear, lay on the workbench beside her, watching with fascination as the butterfly wings flapped with the movement of the cogs. The soft grind of his own gears, those that made up his hind quarters, filled the small workroom. Vic had found him as a kitten, brutally beaten by some miscreants who had run the moment she had stormed into the alley. Steam had risen behind her, lending to the demon image they no doubt pegged her with. It added to the terrifying sight she had surely made, a woman dressed in trousers and a tunic, a pair of spectacle goggles on her head, grease smeared across her face. The puffs of steam that regularly came from her leg certainly helped. Vic was an odd woman for her time, raised around machines and preferring them to the boring social nuances of other human beings. Gear had become her companion after she had nursed him back to health. His hind legs had been mangled beyond repair, so she had built him new ones. The fact that they both had prosthetic limbs drew them closer, similarities and all that.
Gear purred when Vic reached over and scratched him under the chin, happy to steal some of her affection from the machine sitting under the magnifying glass. The newest tinker was a machine smaller than Vic had yet accomplished, a mechanical butterfly. As she wound the gears tight and leaned back, she held her breath expectantly. The tiny, stained glass wings began to flap, gently at first before speeding up as the apparatus began to run.
“We did it, Gear!” Vic exclaimed, lifting her goggles onto her forehead.
She pushed the magnifying glass out of the way and watched in excitement as the butterfly’s wings flapped faster before rising into the air, the wings mimicking those of the real insects. The wings had taken some ingenuity. At first, she tried a fine layer of silk but found they were too porous. Eventually, she had found her answer in a micro-thin layer of stained glass. The result was a dazzling display of multicolored beauty, closer to a butterfly than she could have ever hoped.
Gear sat up and watched, enraptured with the moving parts. The butterfly took off into the air, and Vic clapped happily. The tiny machine fluttered around the room, sending glittering colors around the walls when they caught the light. It moved closer to Gear, clicking, teasing. Gear’s tail whipped from side to side as he glared at the offending thing, agitated instantly at its incessant fluttering. Before Vic had enough time to truly celebrate the tinkering feat she had pulled off, Gear reached out his paw and batted the machine from the air. It immediately stopped fluttering and fell straight to the floor with a tiny clank.
“Oh no! Gear, what have you done?” Vic chided, squatting down and scooping up the butterfly. One wing tried to move again, but some of the pieces in the mechanisms were bent at wrong angles. She sighed, placing it back on the workbench. “Naughty Kitty.” Gear just meowed in pride before laying back down, keeping a close eye on the machine in case it took off again. “This is going to take ages to repair.”
Vic was just beginning to straighten out one of the cogs, the smell of grease and lubricant strong in her nose, when the door to her workshop burst open, startling her and making her drop the tool she had been holding. Her father rushed into the shop, tension across his shoulders. At first, she thought he might be upset or angry with something she had done or forgotten to do, so she immediately attempted to smooth things over.
“Father, I haven’t been in here that long, I swear.”
He waved her words away, a bright smile crossing his face.
“Both you and I know that you have been in this workshop since the moment you rose this morning, but that is not why I am here.”
“It’s not?” Vic asked dubiously. Her father was constantly trying to convince her to mingle with other people. He thought it was good for her social skills, and though he was not adamant that she act like a lady, he wanted her to have every opportunity if she so chose. In reality, social events made her feel like a bumbling fool when the other ladies looked down their noses at her, commenting on the state of her hair or her lack of petticoat. Dresses were not a favorite of hers, and so each moment wearing one made her feel terribly uncomfortable. The men were worse, coming up and asking her to dance every five minutes. She wanted to have a conversation, not waltz and listen to the men drone on and on about their accomplishments or assets. She particularly did not like having her feet stepped on. A lot of men were terrible dancers. One day, Vic hoped she could tell a man about her accomplishments, and he would actually listen with interest. Alas, she seemed doomed to end up a spinster. She did not mind so much. She would always have her machines. But her father would think it his fault if she did not join society as their station dictated, being the child of Lady Jenica. He had felt guilty a lot since her mother died, as if he was failing to give her the opportunities their station afforded them.
“No, my dear! I have received a letter!”
“A letter
from who?” she asked, her own excitement growing with the obvious emotion leaking from her father.
“The High Council of Sciences and Exploration!”
Vic jumped from her seat,
“Well? What does it say?” She held her breath.
Her father stood there for a moment, letting the anticipation grow before he finally spoke.
“We have been fully funded!”
“No!” Vic laughed. “You are jesting.”
“I swear it! Read for yourself.” Her father passed the letter into her hands, and she scanned the document.
“That is the Queen’s seal,” she whispered.
“That it is.”
“What does this all mean then? You are leaving?”
Vic was sad she would not get to see her father, but this had been his dream since she could remember. He had been fighting his entire life to get funding for an expedition to the Amazon rainforests where there were legends of a temple, the Temple of the Rising Sun. Those legends spoke of a great fire opal protected inside, potent enough to act as a power source capable of fueling dozens of cities at once. This was her father’s moment, his dream come true. She would not hold him back.
“This means we are both leaving.”
“Have you gone mad?” Vic asked, staring at him in confusion. “Would I not be in the way?”
“On the contrary, I have been tasked with picking the crew for the journey. I am in need of a Master Tinker, if you are interested.”
“If I am interested?” Vic wrinkled her brow. “Of course, I am interested! When do we leave? What do I need? How long is the trip?”
“Patience, my dear. All in due time. For now, let us celebrate!” Vic could not stop the excitement that coursed through her body. She jumped up and down as her father offered his elbow. Her leg hissed and clinked at the pressure, the shocks absorbing the impact. She scratched Gear under his chin one more time, dropped some food in his half empty bowl, and looped her arm through her father’s.
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