Hearts Unleashed: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection

by C. D. Gorri

  My brows furrowed. I shot daggers in Claw’s direction, but he’d left. Nobody had mentioned anything to me. The ‘others’ Ash referred to, was most likely Darla or Claw—or both.

  “What are they saying?”

  “None of your business. I’m chieftain and they come to me with their problems.”

  That was code word for Darla had complained, she always had issues.

  “I’ve heard others say they can smell her. The males will fight trying to get to the female. We can’t have that.”

  Ah, there it was… Claw had been sniffing the air; wanting a taste. After his last girlfriend, Darla had forbidden him from looking at other women, never mind touching them.

  I twisted my body to see where he was. Miles stood guard outside Ava’s hut and some tension eased. But I needed to find Claw. If our numbers weren’t small, I’d have had him killed long ago. But things could change tonight.

  “And it’s the full moon.” Ash glanced up through his bushy eyebrows.

  “I heard you the first time. She has her stuff and her medication. In two days I’ll take her back.” Perhaps I needed to get her out of here tonight before the full moon festivities began. This was a silent warning I couldn’t ignore.

  As if sensing my thoughts, Ash added. “There isn’t a way around the trails without the humans seeing you. And it’s the weekend, all the trails are busy, if you leave now they will see you. Even at night. And there’s no way you can go through the leopard’s territory. They will kill you.”

  “Fine, I won’t go now.” He was right. We couldn’t leave now, even though I wanted to.

  He grunted and kissed Darla’s cheek. He shooed me away, and I rolled my eyes when my back was to them.

  *.*.*.*

  Claw was hiding somewhere. I walked past the tree he always sat under and found broken pieces of a branch, caked with dried blood. I walked the outer perimeter of our hidden village and couldn’t pick up his scent.

  Once back inside the village, Miles remained outside Ava’s hut and I nodded at him.

  I called Blaze over to assist me with a few things for the feast.

  As the chieftain’s son, I needed to fulfill a role which included the full moon feasts, assist those young fledglings who were yet to change into their sabers, and ensure everyone’s safety within the village.

  When we’d arrived two years ago, we found a spot on the mountain with flat ground and hidden within the tall trees and thick vegetation. We’d built our huts between the trees and ensured nobody saw our village from the sky, or the hiking trails. We had roughly thirty small huts scattered in the vast area, with two sabers circling the perimeter hourly.

  Ash still hadn’t found out about the deer mauled by someone. And if I was correct, it was Claw doing this.

  Even though I was busy, I thought of Ava. No matter what I thought was right, my heart wanted her. I should’ve kissed her, but when her hand reached for my cheek so tenderly, I recoiled. Perhaps I wasn’t used to someone so breakable and fragile wanting me. The way she reached out for me with that look in her eyes told me she wanted more than just my body, even if she didn’t know it herself. I wanted to make her mine. I should just claim her and ask for forgiveness afterward.

  *.*.*.*

  By eleven o’clock Miles had said he’d heard her move around, then finally settled down. It eased my nerves.

  When the moon’s power struck at its highest, those who were younger couldn’t control their saber and shifted into their beasts. They grunted and groaned, followed by hissing and clawing of trees. They wanted to hunt. They wanted to kill; they wanted the taste of blood and flesh.

  I glanced at her hut and hoped she was asleep by now. The last thing we needed was a human distraction. I was grateful I couldn’t smell her as I stood outside the hut, which meant none of the other males could either.

  The lock was still in place—I the only one holding the key.

  Windtalker came out of nowhere and latched onto my arm.

  “Have you felt it yet?” he said in his quiet, calm voice.

  “What are you talking about?” I feigned ignorance and smiled slyly. I had felt it, like a jolt into my sternum; I couldn’t miss it.

  “You know.” He glanced at me, narrowing his good eye. He patted my forearm. “The girl, you idiot. How does your chest feel whenever you are near her?” He slapped my chest. “Does she make you feel any different? I know you feel it foolish boy.”

  I glanced at the hut. “I have,” I smiled at him. “I have an overwhelming need to protect her.”

  He nodded his understanding. “And you’ve never felt that way over anyone before?” He let go of my arm. “Open your heart to her, Tyler, and you’ll see much more than meets the eye.”

  I pictured the way her body responded to mine and in a way no other had before.

  “Trust me, she’s the one for you. I can feel it,” he said. “And don’t worry about Ash,” he mumbled cryptically and continued walking in the river's direction.

  My beast wanted her, and so did I.

  My beast rippled beneath my skin, and I didn’t hold him back. I arched my back and roared. My joints pulled and twisted. My fur spread over my skin and my beast was out; and he was hungry. He sniffed the air. Claw emerged in his smaller, yet bulkier saber and stared at me. His bright yellow eyes darted to the hut and back to me. He wanted to go there—he wanted to hurt Ava. I saw the warning in his eyes.

  We couldn’t allow it to happen and would fight him if he went anywhere near her.

  We hissed and roared at him, sending him away with his tail between his legs.

  My beast headed toward her hut, I tried to pull him away but he wouldn’t listen. His vision tunneled, and we moved forward. We wanted her.

  He sniffed under the door, and she moved off the bed.

  When in this form his/my vision was darker while the brights were brighter, our sense of smell and hearing superb. I smelled her while my saber made that rasping, coughing sound. We hissed when another saber neared, but my warning was enough to deter him. I lifted my leg and pissed against the door. My scent stained the wood, and I growled my satisfaction.

  She gasped and jumped onto the bed when my urine seeped under the door.

  Now I was hungry.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ava

  When the beast hissed and growled outside my door, I suspected it might be Tyler. Then when he’d marked his territory, I knew it was definitely him. I smiled, although mildly disgusted. I didn’t know what his plans were, but he’d already staked his claim and almost bit into another male who’d neared. The overwhelming stench of urine left me sick to my stomach; I was just glad my dinner hadn’t repeated on me.

  From the calls, roars, and growls from the pack, I surmised they were tigers or lions. Although I’d never heard of a pack hiding on the outskirts of Sterling Meadow and in the forest reserved for humans. They couldn’t have been leopards, as they already had their own territory in one part of the forest, and so I doubted they were rogue leopards. I’d heard the leap in Sterling Meadow was one of the best, and there was already an established pride of lions. If I thought about it, it was possible they were a streak of tigers, or even ligers.

  That could be why they didn’t want anyone to know they were here. I hadn’t heard of many streaks of ligers. But then again, it didn’t sound like they enjoyed the company of humans.

  Whatever the reason, I would not provoke them and would gladly keep to myself.

  Grateful they separated me from the outside while they did their thing. I stayed in the hut and responded to Derek’s text messages. I didn’t mention what had happened; I didn’t want him getting on his high horse rescuing me. It was none of his business.

  I washed in the small shower; it was one of those portable camping types I used on longer camping trips. The water was warm, and I’d cleaned the dirt off my body, changed into clean underwear and clothing. My ankle still ached even after rubbing ointment everywhere and taking two
painkillers.

  I was in desperate need of sleep, but the raucous feast outside kept me from my slumber. It was only after the third painkiller did Mr. Sandman steal me away.

  *.*.*.*

  Scratching against wood brought me out of my dream; whatever it was, I couldn’t remember, anyway. I blinked rapidly as I took in the room's darkness. Dark shadows played in every corner, with no light from the silver moon, nor a light from outside. The feast was no longer happening, and the silence filled the night.

  The bed moved, and I held my breath. A low, raspy cough left me cold and too numb to move. When I found the confidence, I slowly turned in the sound’s direction. A cloud moved bathing the hut in silver moonlight. I saw the front paws of an enormous cat perched at the end of the bed with its hind legs on the ground. He was a mountain of a kitty; his piercing green/yellow eyes staring at me, into me and piercing my soul. I moved my arm and touched his closest paw; soft and fluffy with dangerous claws.

  “Tyler?” I reached for his face. I didn’t know if it was him, but I doubted any other would dare try.

  He growled, and I pulled back my hand.

  The cat climbed off. I reached for the oil lamp beside me. The moment bright light touched the hut, the cat hissed. I stared in wonder at the marvel of a beast. I had been completely wrong. He wasn’t a liger nor a tiger. He was absolutely beautiful with his elongated canine teeth, stunningly deadly.

  I sat up, throwing off the blanket as heat swirled around me.

  My heart raced as I took in his size.

  “Tyler?” I reached again.

  He neared and pressed his enormous head against my hand. I scratched his cheek, then behind his ear, and he purred.

  I cupped his massive head in my hands and pressed my head against his. He smelled like earth, animal, and raw meat. When I pulled away, the giant saber-tooth morphed into the honed man. Tyler stood before me, his chest rising and falling, his yellow eyes glowing. He was beautiful.

  He stood tall and imposing. His body a work of art, every muscle defined, and I ached to touch every curve. I raked my eyes over his body and heat pooled between my legs. A soft whimper escaped my lips, eliciting a sly smile on Tyler’s face, highlighting his sharp jaw and heavenly features.

  For some strange, unknown reason, he attracted me like no other, my entire body wanted him. I thought of him adding me to his list of women he had his way with, and I actually resigned to the notion that it was just a one-night fling. Who cared if he was using me? Perhaps I was using him, too. I’d get rid of my frustration, forget about the crappy men I’d had before and I’d use his body and then I’d get on with my life. I could handle that. That’s all this was, anyway.

  Tyler approached with purpose and all my thoughts evaporated into thin air.

  All I thought of was him.

  He reached for my top, and I allowed him to remove it. He helped me to stand. He stood so close and with nowhere to go I pressed up against his hard body, his erection digging into my stomach and without thinking I grabbed his cock as he pulled down my shorts. He stilled and waited; I had him where I wanted him and lowered my face until my lips surrounded him and I sucked teasingly. I licked up his shaft, forcing him to groan in pleasure. I smiled. I took him in my mouth going as far down as I could handle. When he reached the back of my throat, he grabbed my hair and kept me in position. My eyes watered as my tongue played with him and my hand squeezed gently.

  “Ava?” he moaned my name, filled with unspoken meaning, and I wanted to please him.

  I came up and licked around the tip and tasted him; slightly salty and musky. It was his taste, and I enjoyed it. I continued moving down and up his shaft, licking and sucking.

  “Stop, or I’m fucking your face.” He pulled me off him and motioned me to lie on the bed.

  He kissed the nape of my neck and worked his way down my body. His tongue teased my nipple, he sucked and nibbled before moving on to the next one. He kissed my stomach and nibbled my hip bone. My hands mussed his hair and when he found what he was looking for, I pulled. His tongue parted my moist folds and darted inside my heat. His purr vibrated against my pert bud, sending a wave of sensual energy throughout my body. I bucked beneath him, my hands still in his hair, keeping him between my legs. He chuckled and continued licking and sucking.

  “You taste just like I imagined.” His dark gaze raked up my body and all I could do was smile and my eyes rolled back into my head. I could die right now.

  He teased a finger near my opening and I gasped when he entered; he grunted, pulled his finger out and in a second hovered above me.

  “I don’t want to wait anymore.” He lowered himself on to me. “I should’ve done this earlier,” he said and kissed me. His soft lips gentle against mine, his tongue teasing me to open for him, and I did. We kissed with passion and a deeper need that went beyond our bodies. And I loved it, I wanted more.

  He broke our kiss and worked his way down my neck with soft caresses with his lips, making my arms pebble in delight.

  I wrapped my legs around his waist and rocked into him, wanting more, eagerly needing.

  “Be patient,” he said teasingly.

  With one hand, he positioned himself near my opening and slowly eased the tip inside. When I moaned, he pulled out. I cursed. I opened my mouth to say something else when he thrusted slowly, forcing a gasp from my lips. He groaned low in the back of his throat as he backed out, but before leaving completely he eased inside, filling every part of me. Slowly he inched out, then thrusted back in until he found his rhythm; skin slapping skin filled the silence.

  He licked my neck as he crushed me to the bed, pumping in long deep strokes. He claimed every part of me with every powerful thrust, both lost to the passion as lust consumed us. He brought me to the edge then slowly backed down, leaving me wanting more, needing more, needing him.

  I rocked into him, meeting him half-way with each deep thrust as I sought release. My back arched as the helpless desire crushed into me. I lowered my hand, but he pushed it away, replacing with his hand instead. He thrust slowly and purposely, rubbing my clit with his hand, pushing me over the edge. My head spinning, my vision tunneled as the orgasm smashed into me and I flexed around him.

  Tyler maintained his rhythm as each deep plunge had him grunting, sweat peppering his face. With each thrust of his cock, my nails dug into his back and I writhed beneath him.

  His hips jerked and his thrusts became uncoordinated. His cock throbbed and pulsed as he pumped his hot seed into me, sending me over the edge with him.

  My thighs trembled, sweat glistened off our bodies as I clung to him. I was thoroughly fucked and exhausted.

  Slowly he slid out, his cock still large even when flaccid.

  We shared no words. Our actions spoke for us. Tyler pulled me into the curve of his body, kissed my neck and I relaxed in his embrace. For the first time in a long time, I felt comfortable and secure.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Tyler

  She felt so warm in my arms it hurt letting go. I needed to secure the perimeter of the village like I did every morning. But with her in my arms, I struggled.

  Last night was the first time I’d slept longer than just a couple of hours. I pulled her into the front of my body and fell asleep—the best I’d had since forever.

  Even my lazy saber stretched and yawned like he had all morning to wake up. He liked our female and loved what we did to her body last night. My cock stiffened thinking about her. I’d love to ravage her again, but she seemed so peaceful. We had time.

  I kissed her cheek, and she stirred, pulling my arm closer to her. I nestled into her neck, my front pressed against her back, and she fit perfectly against me; as if made only for me.

  I was a stubborn fool. I kept thinking about what Ash wanted for the clan instead what I wanted—and I wanted Ava. Yes, she was human, yes she was fragile, but she had me to protect her. I could only hope she wanted me as much.

  Chapter Sixteen

&nbs
p; Ava

  I stretched lazily and smiled. I felt rejuvenated, not remembering the last time I’d slept so well. My eyes flitted open when I realized I was the only one in bed. I sat up and scanned the room; he’d left sometime during the morning.

  A cool breeze caressed my naked skin. I pulled the blanket tighter over my body, remembering I’d fallen asleep in his arms with only his body keeping me warm. My smile stretched wider and my cheeks heated as butterflies fluttered in my core. I felt like a schoolgirl with a crush. I was thirty-something, only had one serious boyfriend who had almost killed me, and to think I’d vowed never to love again so soon. But this wasn’t love—it was something else. It was far too soon for love, anyway.

  Then, my usual thought process began; when something went well, it was bound to explode and end badly. I wondered how he’d react to me during the day, if at all. Last night was just a one-night stand, and I expected nothing else. It was safer that way. To protect what’s left of my scarred heart, I wouldn’t dream of anything else. It was just a onetime thing, nothing else.

  *.*.*.*

  Once dressed, I sent Derek a text message letting him know I’d be staying for a few more days. I couldn’t leave yet; my ankle still ached and doubted I could walk a mile on it. And I didn’t want him to worry come tomorrow morning when I didn’t show up at work with the pictures I’d promised.

  A soft knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. Before I answered the door it opened. It wasn’t Tyler.

  “Morning.” Miles entered with a plate of food; bread, meat, and an apple. “How are you feeling?”

  I smiled. “Good, how was the festivities last night.”

  Miles froze and stared with wide green eyes. “What did you hear?”

  “Don’t worry so much. Your secrets are safe with me.” I winked and took the plate from him. I started picking at the meat. “Where’s Tyler?”