1001 Dark Nights Short Story Anthology 2020

by Fiona Archer

  On his knees, Walker bent over her, feathering a trail of soft kisses over her neck, her shoulders. When he reached the soft swells of her breasts, he captured the pink-tipped skin of her nipple gently between his teeth before he sucked—hard.

  Anna threw back her head with a moan.

  Lord, she was breathtaking.

  “What would please you?” he purred. Though he thought he already knew the answer. He knew this woman’s body better than the back of his own hand.

  She cast him a coy smile, not daring to answer, but he caught her red-handed. Her eyes darted to the candle beside them and lingered there—however briefly.

  He growled, low and feral. This woman was fire, pure burning fire.

  And he was here for every bit of it.

  Reaching for the candle, he held it over her. Her breath came in sharp ragged pants as she watched him, eager and anticipating. He knew the kind of sweet game she liked. Excitement. Surprise. When would he tip his hand just a little too far to the side? There? Maybe lower?

  She watched him with rapt attention, eyes never leaving him.

  Without warning, he tipped the candle to the side, allowing a small amount of the warm wax to drip between her breasts. A sharp hiss tore from her lips as her back arched.

  They repeated this game. Him taking his time, taunting and teasing her until they were both nearly feral with need. His wolf stirred inside him. He couldn’t wait any longer.

  Spreading her legs wide, he growled at the sight of her pretty pink pussy open before him. She was wet for him, more than ready. Fuck. Dropping his head between her legs, he trailed soft kisses over the insides of her thighs, the curve of her mons, before he captured the sweet bead of her clit in his mouth. She bucked against him, arching into the warmth of his mouth as his tongue explored her.

  “Walker,” she moaned.

  “Fuck, you taste sweet,” he growled. His cock stiffened, throbbing with need.

  His tongue circled her, probing and tasting until she was trembling beneath him.

  “Come for me, sweetheart,” he purred. “I want to taste your sweet release in my mouth.”

  He plunged a finger inside, placing pressure on that spot he knew drove her wild deep within. She came apart in an instant, bucking against him as her orgasm rolled through her.

  But he wasn’t nearly done with her yet.

  Not by a long shot.

  Chapter Seven

  White hot need pulsed as the last of Anna’s release shook through her. She wanted him inside.

  Now.

  She started to tell him as much, but he was already there, knowing...no, anticipating her needs. Anna stared up at him, watching as the carved v of his hips settled between her thighs. He palmed the length of his cock, drawing a bead of moisture at the thick, hard tip as he gazed down at her. Slowly, he positioned himself outside her entrance, searching her face for her continued consent. She kissed him long and deep, trailing her hands over the width of his strong shoulders as she drew him closer.

  “Take me,” she whispered. “Hard.”

  A feral growl tore from his lips as his wolf eyes flashed.

  She didn’t need to ask him twice.

  He thrust into her, filling her so thoroughly that she couldn’t stop herself from crying out with the pleasure of it. She wrapped her legs around him, allowing him to drive even deeper.

  She loved him like this, wild, hot, and feral.

  Unrestrained.

  This wolf was hers and hers alone. She knew that.

  Staking her claim on him, she nipped at the skin of his shoulder, only causing his pace to increase. He dropped a hand between them, fingering the still sensitive bead of her clit in a way that sent her reeling.

  His cock tightened. He was close now. She could feel it.

  She trailed her lips over the tender skin of his ear. “I love you, Walker Maxwell. Always have, always will.”

  Turning his head, he captured her lips again. The deep, guttural moan of his orgasm muffled as he claimed her mouth. As the last shudders of his finish rolled through him, he clutched her against him, both of them panting with ecstasy.

  “That was—” She moved to wiggle away from him, to snuggle and cuddle against him, but that wry grin pulled at his lips as he shook his head. With a playful growl, in seconds he had her on her stomach, his large, masculine hands gripping the curve of her ass as he chuckled.

  The deep timbre of his voice rumbled through her. “I’m not even close to through with you yet.”

  Chapter Eight

  Walker lay sprawled across the saddle blanket, Anna tucked into his arm as he stroked his fingers through her hair. If she’d allow it—and her brother didn’t kill him when he found out—they’d spend many more nights like this. Hell, once he came home they’d never be apart if he had his say.

  Nuzzling closer, Anna rubbed a hand over his chest. “Did you ever find it?” she whispered.

  She didn’t need to specify for him to know exactly what it meant.

  What he’d been searching for when he’d left.

  “Yes,” he said without hesitation.

  She drew closer to him. “Good.”

  He didn’t need to look her in the eyes to hear the pain in that word. He’d hurt her.

  “Anna,” he whispered, tilting her chin toward him. She needed to hear this. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

  “I know.” She cupped his cheek. “You had to leave. You would have withered here.”

  He nodded. “But I always had every intention to come back to you.”

  “I wasn’t about to wait around.” She pulled away from him, sitting up to wrap her arms around her knees...instead of him.

  “And I never expected you to.” He swallowed hard. “But if I’d stayed here I would have become what everyone expected of me, what my birthright dictated.”

  “An elite warrior.” She looked toward him. “Is that so bad?”

  “No, but would you have wanted me that way? A broken man forced into a role, or who I am now? A man who paved his own way.”

  A small smile curved her lips even as her eyes clouded with unshed tears. “I would have loved you either way.”

  He sat up, wrapping her in his arms. “I had to become my own man before I was worthy of you.” He tipped her chin toward him. “Hell, I’m still not worthy of you.”

  He claimed her lips then. Tender and deep. With his eyes closed and her in his arms like this, he felt as if, deep inside, their souls touched.

  When she pulled away to draw a breath, he whispered in her ear, “Run with me.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “Run with me like when we were young.” He grinned.

  Releasing her, he moved onto all fours. Fur sprang forth and bones cracked as he shifted into his wolf. He snapped his canines near her feet, waging his tail as he beckoned her to join him. She laughed, but she did. She shifted into her wolf alongside him, following him out of the stables and into the mountain forest. The sound of their howling and the heated whispers they had shared were lost in the vast silence of the Montana night.

  Chapter Nine

  Anna sat in her porch rocking chair, watching the sunrise. Even once she and Walker returned to the compound, she hadn’t slept. She couldn’t keep doing this. She couldn’t keep having her heart broken like this. She sipped her warm tea as her cabin door creaked open.

  “Hey,” Walker’s graveled voice sounded behind her.

  “Hey.” She’d known he’d rise early to head back to base. Her heart gave a sharp pang at the sight of him already dressed, his duffle bag thrown over his shoulder.

  “Anna, I—”

  “Save it,” she said, lifting a hand. “I can’t do this anymore.”

  “Because of him?” His voice was rough, pained.

  Him? Realization dawned on her. Her fake fiancé...

  She shook her head, ashamed she’d perpetuated the misunderstanding for this long. “There was never any fiancé. You know Levi. He was goad
ing you into coming here, and when you told me, I...I went along with it.”

  “Levi knows?”

  She nearly laughed. That’s what he was concerned with? “Anyone with eyes knows. We’ve loved each other for years, Walker.”

  “‘Suppose that saves me the trouble.”

  “The trouble of what?”

  “Asking his permission.” Walker dropped down on one knee beside her, taking hold of her hand. “It was short notice. I don’t have a ring yet, but I hope you’ll still have me.”

  She set down her mug on the side table, but didn’t answer.

  Walker cleared his throat. “Please say something, Anna.”

  “I can’t marry you, Walker.”

  The air grew heavy between them.

  “I came back too late. You’ve moved on.” Slowly he nodded, a pained resignation crossing his face as he rubbed tender circles across her hand. “Last night? Was that for old time’s sake?”

  Anna gripped his hand. “I love you, always will, but I can’t give you my heart because every time you leave this ranch, I never know if I’m going to get it back, to get you back.”

  Walker nodded, as if this was the answer he’d always feared, but suspected. The defeat and agony in his face cut through her. “Three months feels like a lifetime, but—”

  “—Three months?” Anna blinked. “You said you had twenty-four hours.”

  “For this leave, but in three months, I’m coming home for good, Anna. I wouldn’t have come back, wouldn’t have asked you to marry me, to wait for me, if I wasn’t.”

  Anna’s heart pounded in her chest. She thought she’d been about to lose him again.

  She thought...

  Tears caught in her throat. It didn’t matter. He was here with her. Now.

  Home.

  And soon it’d be for good.

  Without warning, she threw herself into his arms, kissing him for all he was worth. The kiss started as tender, heartfelt, but within moments, it was charged with heat.

  “Anna,” he breathed, breaking the kiss, a pleased look of surprise on his face.

  She placed a finger on his lips. “Don’t say a word.”

  He quirked a brow.

  “You once said you loved how I cared for people. Well, I intend to show you how much I care for you, Walker Maxwell...” She leaned closer, her lips brushing against his. “...Future husband.”

  That sexy grin pulled across his lips, filled with a wry playfulness as his eyes flashed to his wolf. “What are you going to do?”

  “Shh.” She placed a tender kiss on his neck before nipping at the skin there as her own eyes transitioned to her wolf. “A good cowboy once told me anticipation is everything.”

  Copyright 2020 Kait Ballenger

  About Kait Ballenger

  Kait Ballenger is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Seven Range Shifter paranormal romance series, where she weaves captivating tales of dark, sexy heroes who are cowboys by day, wolf shifters by night. Her 1001 Dark Nights short story, One Night with the Cowboy Wolf, takes place in the Seven Range Shifter series universe.

  When Kait's not preoccupied writing “intense and riveting” paranormal plots or "high-voltage" love scenes that make even seasoned romance readers blush, she can usually be found spending time with her family or with her nose buried in a good book. She lives in Florida with her husband and two young sons.

  Craving more of the Seven Range Shifters?

  Cowboy Wolf Trouble, Book 1 is free for a limited time! books2read.com/u/bWdZdM

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  Seven Range Shifter Series List:

  Cowboy Wolf Trouble, Book 1

  Cowboy in Wolf’s Clothing, Book 2

  Wicked Cowboy Wolf, Book 3

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  Her Naughty Dog

  by

  Katana Collins

  Chapter One

  Dominic

  I heard the crack of plastic against bone before I felt the pain reverberate from my shin up my leg. My knees gave out, and I braced my weight against the flagpole beside me. The pirate flag high in the air rolled in the soft breeze of the beautiful Los Angeles summer day.

  But that didn’t stop the swarm of children dressed as Zorro from surrounding me and slamming me with their plastic swords. Dressed as their arch nemesis, I was their only target. I grunted, catching myself before hitting the floor. Ten kids. Ten swords. And seven of my ex-girlfriends watching as their kids pummeled me with toy weapons. I covered my junk with my hand just in time as one of the edges cracked against my knuckles.

  “Ouch!” I shook out my hand as though that could make the pain go away. “Son of a—”

  “Easy, Dom,” my twin brother Cal said, his voice coming through on the earpiece that was tucked inconspicuously inside my ear. “Watch your language around the kiddos.” I scowled at the camera, hidden in the corner of the set. Normally, I would have flipped the bird to the lens, but Cal was right. I should at least attempt to hide my bad language around a bunch of rugrats.

  This. This was why I had a cat and only a cat. My cat, Gregory, would never take a bat to my man bits. Though…he might bite my toes in the middle of the night.

  Cackling roared in my ear—my other brothers laughing their balls off as I tried desperately to shield mine from this beating. Cupping the earpiece, I whispered into my microphone, “You guys…these little shits are going for my balls.”

  “We know!” Josh, my oldest brother and the most famous of all of us, laughed. “We were counting on it!”

  “What? What the hell are you talking about? Why would you—”

  Smack!

  Oof. There it was. One of the little fuckers landed a direct hit right to the family jewels. My voice went high pitched and an unrecognizable sound pushed through my pursed lips—a cross between a whimper and a squeak. My knees angled in, and I held my breath, waiting for that distinct, sharp pain to fade as all three of my brothers burst out laughing in my ear.

  “This isn’t Funniest Home Videos,” I said, the pitch of my voice unnaturally high. “We don’t do segments on getting hit in the nads.” I wheezed, breathing through the pain.

  “Maybe we need to rebrand,” Josh said, still snickering. “Because that shit is funny.”

  I rolled my eyes, but I also knew damn well that if I was back there in the booth watching one of them in this scenario, I’d be laughing as well. “So…are we done with this now?”

  Our television show had been an almost immediate runaway hit as a sort of cross between Impractical Jokers and Punk’d. We’d been pranking each other for almost as long as we’d been alive, but it became notorious when we started filming ourselves pulling pranks on our famous brother, an actor in Hollywood, and posting them on YouTube. After that, Silhouette Studios offered us a contract to do it for money.

  “Not done yet, Dom. Remember in high school when Brittany Rossilini found out you had asked both her and Nicole Peters to the prom?” Smurf asked. Smurf was our youngest brother—real name, Sam Murphy—but that unfortunate consonant placement, combined with the fact that we once stained his face with blue food coloring in middle school, cemented the nickname for life.

  I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut. Nicole Peters. Or, as I always knew her…Cole. My best friend for years. At least until high school when I fucked everything up. “Yes,” I murmured. I had no idea what they had in store for me on today’s show. But it was never good…and if they were bringing up Cole, odds were even less in my favor. Losing an episode and being forced to endure some sort of
humiliating scenario designed by the remaining brothers typically meant all kinds of weird twists and turns that made for great reality TV. But today, it also apparently wreaked havoc on my balls.

  “Give us a little reminder, buddy,” Cal prodded. “What did Brittany do when she found out?”

  I closed my eyes and shook my head. “It was so stupid. Brittany acted like she had no clue about Cole and invited me to her house the morning of prom. She offered me homemade brownies and milk. Only the brownies were laced with Ex-Lax and the milk was actually her older sister’s breast milk.”

  “That’s right!” Josh laughed. “And guess who is all grown up and producing breast milk of her own now?”

  “Oh, come on…”

  Brittany walked out from where she had been hidden, holding up a large cup. Secretly, I was relieved it wasn’t Nicole coming out. Brittany was all toothy smile and bright red hair. I shook my head. “Please God, no. I gagged for twenty minutes straight when I drank her sister’s breast milk…”

  “Hey, Dominic,” Brittany said, grinning from ear to ear. She wore a wedding band on her left hand, and her tits were enormous—baby-feeding tits, for sure.

  “I apologized to you when I was seventeen…are you still holding a grudge?”

  She shook her head no, humor flashing in her eyes. “Of course not,” she said, laughing. “But come on…how could I turn down an opportunity like this?”

  I breathed a slight sigh of relief. At least she wasn’t still mad.

  “How about this, Dom?” Cal said in my ear. “Explain to her why you asked both her and Cole to prom and see if that makes it any better.”

  I sighed, dropping my chin. Dammit. This was what I signed up for by being on this show. It had been a dream come true when Richard Blair of Silhouette Studios called to offer us a television contract. Getting to do stupid pranks on the air for a shit ton of money? The same stupid pranks we did for years for free because it was fucking funny? Hell, yes. But right now, it sucked. Because with the contract we signed, what they say goes. They tell me to admit to Brittany Rossilini why I did the asshole thing of asking two girls to prom? I’m contractually obligated to answer.