by Tessa Anders
I accidentally snorted. I had heard that they were here from a shifter realm, but people turning into animals seemed so far stretched. But a dragon? No way. His glowing eyes were a little freaky but he didn’t seem that different. And how could a monster dragon lurk inside his body?
“Yeah, okay…” I tried to placate the clearly deranged man. “So, you’re an alien with what? A dragon?” This was right up Jessie’s alley. She was always into those fantasy books about magic. Me? Not so much.
“No. Not an alien at all. I’m from another realm.”.”
“I heard that from one of my friends, but to be honest, I don’t know what you mean by another realm.”
“There are several realms—or worlds—within the plane of existence. We call our realm Shifter, and our species is called Kirzuns.”
“So, you’re a Kirzun?”
“Yes.”
“From a realm called Shifter?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re not an alien?”
Shaking his head, Black smiled, “no more than you are.”
“Okay,” I chewed on my lower lip, thinking. Why did some people call them aliens? “So, no spaceships?”
Amusement covered his face as he slowly shook his head. “No.”
“So why Shifter?”
“Everyone there shifts into some kind of animal.”
I clasped my hands together and tried to hide my nervousness. My mind refused to let me think about men shifting into animals so I focused on the other information. Several worlds, but in different planes of existence—I couldn’t comprehend—how did someone gain that much knowledge?
Sure, we had had advanced technology. I read about robots that cleaned houses, babysat, every chore a person could do. But realms? That knowledge only added to my insecurities.
I always wanted to go to college, do something more than work at the dress shop. But with little money, I had shelved that dream for now.
But realms? How could someone figure out how to cross over? Or through? My head hurt from information overload and yet, I wanted to find out as much as possible. If for no other reason, it would make for a good bedtime story for Maddie.
“Okay, so tell me. Why me? I’m plain Jane or worse. And why come here looking for…”
“Bondmates. Look,” he scooted closer to me on the couch. “This is not easy for me. I came here looking for a business deal, nothing more. The others,” he waved his hand, “wanted a chance to see if humans could indeed be true bondmates.”
“But not you?”
“No. And then you waltzed into the building and it made me angry.”
“So, you don’t want a mate?” He slowly shook his head and for some reason, my heart sank. “That’s why you looked pissed yesterday?” He nodded. At least he’s honest. Maybe. That was yet to be determined.
“Look,” he closed the distance, “I am a powerful male who wants for nothing. Come with me and you will have everything you could ever desire.”
“What do you mean?” An uneasy feeling curled inside my gut making me a little sick to my stomach.
“Neither of us can fight it. It we tried; we would be miserable the rest of our lives. However, I’m not looking for a bondmate to tie me down. I answer to no one.”
“So, you are offering me what? A deal?” I tried to keep the horror from my face.
“Yes. Come with me and I will provide you with a place to live, everything you need. And in return, you will be available for me in any way I desire.”
“Any way you desire, but not live with you?”
He shook his head no.
I jumped up and started pacing. He wanted me to be a prostitute, maybe a mistress. This felt like an episode of Pretty Woman gone bad.
Abruptly stopping, I spun around and locked eyes with him. “Thanks, buddy, but I’m not the take care of my man type of woman. I have enough to worry about at the moment. But there has to be others who would be happy to be a kept woman. Surely you have places you can go that takes care of your…needs.”
He stood, stalking me like a predator. His laser focused eyes nailing me in place, daring me to move away. “There are plenty of females from different realms who request work, which we grant for however long they wish to serve.”
That sounded cryptic, and yet I didn’t think he was trying to be deceptive. “What do these women do?”
“They work in the sex clubs.”
My heart kicked up a notch. “What do you mean sex clubs?”
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Does your realm not have a sex industry? A place where you can pay for sex?”
“Well, yeah, but…”
“It is a common practice, and everything is consensual.”
I chewed my bottom lip. There were plenty of prostitutes here, but most of ours were men selling sex since they were in high demand. Not the other way around.
My heart beat like crazy thinking about having sex with Black. He oozed seduction with his confidence and hard body. Peeking at him through half closed eyes, Black would probably chew me up and spit me out before I even knew what happened. I needed to get out of here.
I was so lost in thought, I hadn’t noticed he’d stepped closer until his hand snaked around my waist, snapping me against his body. His mouth was mere inches from mine. Swallowing hard, I clenched my thighs wishing I could touch myself and relieve this constant need.
“You are my mate Alex.”
His eyes searched mine for rejection. Finding none, he covered my lips with his, moving slowly at first before deepening the kiss. Soft, demanding lips sucked on my bottom lip before his tongue surged inside my mouth, seeking my own. He controlled the kiss with the same authority he controlled the room. His lips dared me to deny this connection between us.
I felt his cock press against my stomach as his hand caressed my hip. Fingers touched the bare skin of my stomach…
Staring into his glowing blue eyes, his voice sounded guttural. “I need to fuck you Alex…”
I’d almost given in when his words registered. Fuck me? After just telling me that he wanted to put me up like a mistress? Hell no!
I shoved him away and tried to clear the lust from my head. It felt like I was waking up after being thrown into a romance novel, one where the girl falls head over heels for the guy at first sight. But that was fantasy and this…this was not. He was a flesh and blood sexy controlling stranger and I’d almost fell under his spell.
Yesterday, he seemed angry when he glared at me and today, I was going to have sex with him? Shaking my head, apparently, I was losing my mind. Jumping into bed with someone—a stranger because of my out of control hormones was so out of character for me. And to run off with him? Even if he did offer me better than what I had now. A life for me and Maddie. Maddie—he didn’t know about her.
“What did you do to me?” I yelled, putting as much distance as possible between us.
“It is the bond,” he said, stalking after me.
I threw my palm up. “Stay right there, mister!”
“Alex!” Jessie’s voice, low and muffled, cut through the door.
Stepping back again, I my eyes bounced between him and the door. “Shit, I need to go!”
He grabbed my wrist. “No! You cannot.”
Things turned from stalkerish to kidnapping in the blink of an eye. I’m glad I came to my senses before taking him for a test drive. I needed to leave. Now.
“I have to go back to work. Without work, I can’t pay the bills or buy groceries. Surely you can understand that.”
“Alex!” Jessie’s faint voice sounded a little frantic.
Tapping my foot nervously, I glanced at Black and then toward the door. I had to leave now before I jumped his bones, or he decided I couldn’t leave. This crazy feeling made me wonder if he was somehow trying to control me. I had to fight, not only for my sake, but Maddie’s. “I…ah…I need to let Jessie know that I’m alright.”
A knock on the door, Black cracked it open, fo
llowed by urgent whispering, and then Jessie’s loud, “let go of me you son of a bitch!” Yeah, time to leave before she burned the building down. Not that she would actually do it.
Sucking in a deep breath, I gently touched Black’s shoulder, hoping to keep my voice calm and get out of here in one piece. His eyes locked with mine as I said, “Let me talk to Jessie.”
“Alex!” I heard her loud and clear this time.
My heart pounded, I had to mentally restrain myself as he nodded once and then stepped away from the door to let me pass. I casually took the steps upstairs. If this guy thought I was his mate, I didn’t need to run away screaming like a banshee in the middle of the night.
Calm. That’ what I was shooting for especially with that knowing glimmer in his eyes.
Black followed behind me. The guy standing guard stepped aside and a hole opened in the pit of my stomach. A Kirtuz had his arms around Jessie as she physically clawed at his hands. “Let me go you big dope! Alexxx!”
Wide eyes locked with mine. “Alex.” Her red angry face morphed into relief. “I thought someone snatched you.”
“Yeah, he did. But I’m fine. No need to worry.” Walking over to the big guy restraining her, I stood face to chest and ordered, “let her go.”
He didn’t.
A controlled masculine voice that sent shivers down my spine said, “Arkin, unhand the female.” Even his voice made me crave things I had no business wanting. It shouldn’t be possible.
Jessie jerked free at the same time Arkin let her go. Swiping at her face, she marched over and stopped in front of me, running her hand over my arm. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Jessie stabbed the three men in the room with her eyes. Her display of protective sister was reassuring before she whispered, “we need to get out of here.”
Yes, we did. I needed to get back to work but I also worried that Black wouldn’t let me leave so easily. I eyed the exit, which seemed like a million miles away.
Jessie grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the door. Black stepped in front of us, blocking the entrance. Leaning down, his warm breath washed over my ear as he whispered, “next Saturday evening we are having a gathering here at the consideration building at seven.” Consideration building. Did he mean the applications building? “Be here or I will hunt you down and drag you back to my realm. You have until then to consider your options.”
I shivered; a thread of fear ran through me along with a shot of excitement. He was sexy in that dominant book boyfriend kind of way, but my inexperience made it a scary situation.
Then he stepped aside, letting us leave.
I smiled even though sadness made it hard. Maddie and me, we were a package deal and I knew from rumors and gossip columns that most people didn’t want to marry a woman with baggage. Not that I considered Maddie baggage, but he probably would.
Once outside, Jessie yanked open the driver’s door while I slid into the passenger’s seat. She cranked up the car and as she reversed out of the parking spot, she asked, “What the hell happened to you?” By the sound of her voice, she was still rattled by the entire situation. That made two of us.
“Black pulled me out of the car and carried me to his apartment. I just knew I was the new star of the latest sci-fi horror flick.”
“Wait! He kidnapped you?”
“Yup.”
“Why?”
My eyes slid her way, knowing she wasn’t insulting me. At least she wasn’t trying to. “Because he couldn’t resist my…” I waved a hand in front of my face, “beauty. He spotted me sitting in the car and fell under my magical spell.”
“It’s not funny, Alex. I was scared out of my mind.”
Yeah, me too. I just didn’t know how to deal with it, so I blew it off. I could fall apart later. “What did they call you in for?”
She glanced my way and sighed. I could tell by her fidgeting that she was still rattled. That made two of us. “To find out your name. Imagine my surprise when I headed back to the car and you weren’t there. As soon as I stepped back inside, I spotted him carrying you through the guarded door. I took off running, trying to get to you when someone threw his arms around me.” She glanced over again. “When I started yelling, they made everyone else leave. Those women were not happy. They shot me dirty looks on the way out.
“I’m sure you didn’t care.”
“Nope, not one bit. So, tell me, what did the big guy want?”
“The big guy’s name is Black.”
“What kind of name is that?”
“Dunno. Anyways, he said that I was his mate and he…” I licked my lips, remembering the feel of his demanding lips. And they were demanding that I submit.
“Oh no. Don’t clam up on me now. He…what?”
Jessie cocked her head to the side, waiting.
“He kissed me. I swear, he put me under some type of spell. I would’ve totally done the nasty with him right then and there. My saving grace was his harsh words and your loud mouth yelling for me.”
A grin spread across her face. “What did he say?” When I didn’t answer, she prodded, “come on. I would tell you.”
After taking a deep breath, I chew on my bottom lip. Staring out the window to hide my face, I mumbled, “he said he needed to fuck me.”
“Okay, I don’t know what to think. On one hand, I’m glad I didn’t let you become a shifter slut, but on the other hand, you really need to get laid.”
I laughed nervously. “My vibrator does a fine job, thank you very much.”
“Ha! Like you can possibly use a vibrator. In that shoebox of an apartment, it would probably wake Maddie. Unless you have a waterproof man dick for the shower.”
“Where do you come up with that stuff? Waterproof man dick?”
She shrugged. “That’s what it is. An imitation man dick.”
“He says that he can turn into a dragon.” She hit the brakes then whipped into a parking lot. The car bounced on potholes before we came to a screeching halt.
Turning, she asked, “What did you say?”
“A dragon from another realm? Whatever that means. But when he was staring at me, his eyes glowed.”
His eyes looked other as they glowed blue with silver flakes, swirling together in a sea of crystals. The way my body hummed after his touch…
“Another realm?” She arched an eyebrow. “And what do you mean when his eyes glowed?”
“I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter.”
I turned, staring out the window. There was no way I could give in to these very foreign feelings even if it felt good to be desired for the first time ever. He didn’t really want me. He said so himself. It was chemistry, and not the kind you could control.
“It does. Now tell me.”
I absently picked at the hem of my shirt. “It doesn’t matter. I have Maddie to raise and I can’t risk her life for a whim. An impulsive and selfish whim that could possibly jeopardize her life.”
“Jeopardize her life? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Think about it Jessie. We now have laws that demand that if you get pregnant with a girl, you have to have an abortion so they can try to even out the female/male ratio. What laws do they have in this realm of his?” When she shook her head, I shrugged, “I don’t know either and I’m not taking Maddie into a world of the unknown.”
“I’m not asking you to jeopardize Maddie, but you can’t live in a world of suspicion and fear. I’m asking you to let down your guard and give him a chance. Find out how he feels about kids. Do the nasty and get laid.” She laughed, making me grin.
I didn’t bother telling her that he wanted to put me up as a mistress. No thank you. I wouldn’t be degraded or controlled in such a way. Poor was better than miserable. Still, I went along with her notion of happily ever after and all that bullshit.
“You’re just hoping that we will be neighbors in some strange realm. Is that like an alternate universe?”
<
br /> Jessie grinned. “A girl can dream and how the hell should I know?”
Running a hand through my hair, I knew I couldn’t. I had to fight this tooth and nail. Because these feeling were extreme.
“Tell you what, take a night off to think about it. Go out, take a good look around and just watch.”
“Watch what?”
“Men. Women. Watch everyone. And don’t worry about Maddie, I can watch her anytime. You have no excuses not to go.”
“I don’t know.”
“Of course, you do. I’ll even bring you a few outfits, so you don’t look like…” her eyes raked up and down my body… “that.”
Gee thanks.
“As long as it’s sensible and not revealing.”
“Deal!”
“Okay, fine.”
“Great! Saturday—let’s say around four?”?”
“Saturday at four.” Unless I back out.
_____________
When Saturday rolled around, I headed into work while thinking about tonight. I was excited about having a night to myself. How long had it been? For-ev-er! That’s how long. I felt like a teenager again, which was really pathetic. It had been a long time since I felt anything other than mundane, scraping by and following a strict uniform way of living. There were no splurges, no outings other than free—or cheap—for me and Maddie. Did I want something new? Something different? Hell yes. But I felt the struggle to hold tight to what I knew. There was safety in routine, but it was also boring.
Dara stuck her head in the storage room. Her eyes crinkled at the edges and whatever she was about to ask died on her lips. “Wow, you look happy.”
I glanced up. Dara had her arms crossed, with a hip resting against the door frame. Smiling, I said, “Yeah, I guess I am. Jessie is watching Maddie this evening and I get the night to myself. I keep trying to decide on something to do, but there are too many options.”
Dara stepped fully into the room and sat down on a sealed cardboard box. I hadn’t got to unpack that one yet.
“Hmm, what do you enjoy doing?”
“To be honest, I have no idea.”
“That long, huh?”
I laughed, “Yeah, that long. At least four years.”