by C. D. Gorri
Isabella arranged herself in the seat next to, but slightly behind Luis, but she was not excluded from the magic that wove itself around the room. In fact, she felt it gliding over hers in soft, feathery touches.
“Well, you’re a retainer of Aquarius? The second one at your Station?”
“Yes, how did you know that?”
“I see things sometimes about my clients. And she is a retainer of Virgo. Interesting!”
“How so?”
“Cut the deck. Perfect! Okay, let’s see. The Queen of Swords? Good card.”
“Does it describe me?”
“You? No way. That there is your fated mate. I see you struggling with this, but now that the Wardens are called back so are the legends. Your mates are out there and yours, well, she’s a leader, Aquarian. Tough as nails, she’s worked to prove herself. But a warning, you need to do something big to claim her. My advice is go for broke, you’re either all in or you are O-U-T.”
Luis nodded, his gaze flicking over to Isabella who’d been listening with intense focus though she tried to play it off. She’d heard the rumors surfacing. That a mated Aquarian was at the Virginia Station where she’d hoped to be transferred to, but she hadn’t really thought about what it entailed.
“You both know the legends, yeah?”
“Legends?”
“Of the Wardens and their fated mates?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, next card. See this here, the Six of Cups and the Seven of Swords reversed, you know this woman. Have a history together. One that involves a third party. Not kinky or anything, but this person is stopping you from fulfilling your destiny. You deny your feelings to please this person, but it hurts you both.”
Isabella sat up, this was eerily close to the reading she’d had when she was a teenager in Ecuador. Could it be? She had spent a long time pushing away thoughts of being mated, but here was Luis and he seemed almost open to the idea? Her heart raced in her chest and her Fox sat up in her mind’s eye.
“The Six of Swords here, that is the key. The thing that solves your problems. You need to turn your back on your fear and take action. Your Queen needs this, the Knight of Wands, fierce and brave.”
“Fierce and brave,” he shook his head, but the seer continued.
“Aquarian, take heed. The tarot advises with these two cards, the Fool and the Sun. Be young again, like the children you once were. Woo her not with your words, but with that imaginative, passionate side that you hide from the world. The Two of Cups promises a good union. Together you will be the Warden you were destined to be, and she will find hers as well.”
“That’s it then?”
‘well, yeah, but really dude, you need to just go for it.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Remember. Sometimes being brave isn’t all claws and battles, sometimes its admitting what’s in your heart. If that don’t work hope you know how to use your tongue! For something other than talking that is!” She winked and when Isabella looked again, she and the tarot deck were gone.
“Well!” He exclaimed, looking under the table for a trap door or something.
Isabella’s head was whirling in a thousand different directions. She backed away from Luis and his exclamations over the seer’s sudden disappearance.
Holy shit. What just happened? Did Luis really agree to have his fortune told? And had the seer spoken of Isabella? No way. But yes. It had to be her.
Fuck. She needed to get out of there. Without a word she shot past him. She fled out of the tent and moved towards the edge of the private woods that belonged to the hotel.
“Isabella!”
She ignored his call and whipped off her dress and shoes, and the scrap of lace she wore underneath. A second later, she felt her skin stretch and her fur sprout. She needed to run.
CHAPTER 5
Luis chased Isabella through the dense patch of trees and shrubs. He found her shoes and dress strewn across a bush about ten feet in. He didn’t hesitate before shedding his own clothes and joining her.
Like when we were kids. His Jaguar salivated at the thought of a chase. His chest rumbled as he caught her sweet scent immediately. Like mangoes and the fresh air of the jungle back where they’d grown up.
He hadn’t missed the sweaty, earthy scents of his former South American home. But he missed her. He could admit that now.
Somehow that little silver woman had dared him to face his own truths, and as Luis hunted her through the small patch of earth, he admitted it, if only to himself.
Isabella was everything. She always was, always would be. Mine. He cursed himself ten times the fool as he lost her scent only to pick it up again farther along the stream that cut across the woods.
There he found her, in nothing but her human skin. She was sitting on the bank of the stream. Her hair a wild tangle down her back. Like a swath of fire against her paleness.
Fuck. She looked like a goddess. Maybe more like the devil himself, sitting there, drinking up the starlight. All temptation and sin. Promising heaven.
Luis’ Jaguar remained still behind her, his tongue sneaking out to taste her on the air. Sweetness and heat filled his senses. Mine. But even his stubborn cat realized he needed his human skin to do this right.
“Isabella?” his deep voice cut through the silence like a hot knife through butter.
“You followed me?”
“You knew I would.”
“No. That’s not true,” she laughed deprecatingly, and he frowned.
He didn’t like that sound on her lips. She should be full of happiness, like when she was a child. Not melancholy.
I did this. I made her sad. He wanted to punch himself for having caused her one iota of pain. For all the years they were apart.
“I mean, I hoped you would, hell, I fantasized about it for so long, but after a while, a girl just accepts it and moves on,” she shrugged her shoulder, her blue eyes intent on the running water.
Comfortable in their nudity the way only Shifters could be, Luis sat down next to her. Close enough to touch her, but he resisted. Words. She deserved to hear the words first.
“Have you then?”
“Have I what?”
“Moved on?” He was scared of her answer, but he needed to know before he went through with this.
“If you are asking if there have been men, Luis, I guess you should know I am not a virgin. There have been men. Not many, but a couple-”
He growled and she narrowed her eyes at him. Dammit. He was fucking this up.
“Sorry, please, go on,” he said.
“You don’t have a right to get all growly with me. I am a woman, have been for a while. I doubt you’re a virgin either, so please, don’t even try that.”
“I said I am sorry. Look, I don’t know if I can handle thinking about you with men, but what I am asking is if you have a man in your life now.”
“No. Not right now,” she said it casually, but his sensitive hearing picked up the increased rate of her heart. Good. She wasn’t as cool and collected about all this as she appeared.
Not that he wanted her anxious. No. he just wanted her. Fuck. That was the first time he’d ever admitted that to himself. And it felt damn good.
Like a burst of heat after a long, cold winter. A drink of water after a drought. I want her. His Jaguar roared within him and he looked her over from head to toe quite blatantly. Not averting his eyes the way Shifters did out of mutual respect.
“You are so beautiful,” his voice was deep, more growl than man. He could hardly help himself and raised a hand, but he stopped shy of touching her, instead running it just over the perfection of her skin.
She shimmered in the forest. Her petite frame was made of strong, supple limbs, pale skin and a smattering of freckles as if she’d been kissed by the stars. She sat there still as could be, all pale and glowy. Her blue eyes and red hair poetry against the darkness.
“Isabella, I have something to say to you.”
“Luis?”
“You were right, sweet Bella. All those years ago, you, my brave love, knew. At just fifteen you knew, and I’ve spent all the years since denying it.”
“What are you saying?’ her eyes narrowed, sparkling with emotion.
“I am saying, I feel you, in here,” he pointed to his naked chest, a movement she followed and waited with baited-breath.
“I need you, Bella, you are like air to me. I need you to live, to breathe. I thought I was protecting Marco. I thought I was honoring our friendship somehow by running away. I am sorry. So sorry. Lo siento, mi amor. Can you forgive me?”
“Oh, yes, Luis. I forgive you, but I still don’t understand-”
“I am saying, I am asking you to acknowledge my claim,” he sat up straighter, the power of Aquarius pulsed through him, recognizing this moment.
“My Jaguar recognizes you, my sweet Fox, you are part of my soul. We are fated and destined for each other. Will you walk this path with me? Together?”
“Do you mean this, Luis?”
“Yes. I know I messed up, but I’ve always meant it. If you accept my claim, we can begin here, the two of us, as equals. Destined by the Parcae, those sisters who wove our fate eons ago, I believe we truly are fated mates. And I want that future. With you, Isabella, only you.”
“Are you sure, Luis?”
“I’ve never been more certain about anything, sweet Bella, my mate,” he closed the distance between them and pressed his lips against hers.
“Yes, mate,” she sighed and opened for him.
Luis lost himself in the soft sweet slide of their lips and tongues in a dance as old as time. And yet he remained fully aware, in the moment.
Their kiss went on, his lips melded to hers. He swallowed her flavors down, reveling in the sweet complexity that was his Isabella.
“Luis,” she moaned as her naked flesh met his. She pressed against him underneath the light of the stars above them, determined as he was to seal their claim on each other.
“I accept your claim. Mine. Mate. And I claim you as well, under these stars and this moon. Here, now,” she spoke with increased urgency.
Her hands guiding down his taught flesh and wrapping around his shaft in an all-encompassing grip that had him going cross-eyed.
“Bella,” he growled pushing her down onto the grassy bank of the stream and levelling himself up over her.
She was so beautiful. All silvery in the magical light from the stars, her heart in her luminous blue eyes as she gazed at him. She lifted up, her legs wrapped round his waist, encompassing him.
“I love you,” he said and sucked in a breath as he sunk into her wet heat.
It was like coming home, the feel of her pulsing around him. Fuck. He’d never felt anything like it.
“Yes!” she moaned. Isabella writhed underneath him, meeting him thrust for thrust.
Their bodies wrapped around each other, melting into one another, moving in perfect synchronicity. As if he could read her mind, he touched and sucked and loved her on that shore like he never had before. Losing his soul to her with each thrust and press of their lips.
“Now!” She cried out and struck him just above his collar bone. Her bite sent him spiraling into an orgasm unlike anything he’d ever felt. A fucking volcanic eruption of emotion. Love. Possession. Tenderness. Protectiveness. Hope. Passion. A million things he couldn’t name.
His answering bite had her channel squeezing his shaft, milking every last drop of cum from his throbbing cock. Yes! He roared into the night air. Reveling in her orgasm. Thrilled at the combination of their scents that seemed to permeate the air.
Isabella was his. Finally. And he was hers. There was no mistaking that.
Mine.
Epilogue
“Are you sure about this?” Luis asked as he unloaded the rental car and led her into the neat, two-story home that was his as long as he was part of the Virginia Station.
“Yes! I never did tell you that I was invited to join your Station here, did I?”
“No, you didn’t, mate,” he growled playfully and kissed her quickly before tugging her inside.
“It’s why I was at the convention; your Junior Station Master is an acquaintance. She extended the invitation,” Isabella said as she took off her spring jacket and turned to face her gorgeous mate.
“Ah, you mean Ms. Bright of the blonde curls?”
“What is this about blondes?”
“No worries, love, I prefer redheads, come let me show you,” he growled and did just that.
The end…
About the Author
Hello,
I’m C.D. Gorri, Paranormal Fiction Author and Creator of the Grazi Kelly Universe. I’m proud to have made the Smashwords US Today HEA Hotlist twice! ??
I’ve always been an avid reader, and I have a profound love for books and literature. When I’m not writing or taking care of my family I can usually be found with a book or tablet in my hand. I live in my home state of New Jersey with my husband, our children, and our dogs, Dash and Chewie.
I’m a busy mom of three and finding time for leisurely reading was never easy, so I write stories that are fast-paced, yet detailed with satisfying conclusions. If I thought making time to read was difficult, I was in for a huge surprise when I started writing, but now that I started, I can’t picture myself doing anything else! I love writing powerful women and strong heroes who face relatable problems in supernatural settings! I plan on increasing the GK Universe with each and every story I publish. You can follow me on social media to keep up to date on all my new releases and events!
Want to know how it all began? Enter the Grazi Kelly Universe with Wolf Moon: A Grazi Kelly Novel #1 or how about a little PNR with the Macconwood Pack? Pick up Charley's Christmas Wolf today! I have series for young adult and young at heart audiences who enjoy paranormal fiction, and I also have paranormal romance books available now! If you like sassy heroines and sexy heroes, then you might want to try my PNR books!
Thanks for reading!
Del mare alla stella,
C.D. Gorri
P.S.
DON’T LEAVE YET!
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Thank you for reading this Zodiac Shifters romance.
A shifter’s mate is in the stars… Welcome to Zodiac Shifters, a collection of
books with an astrological spin on love. From Aries to Virgo… discover all-
new tales of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Zodiac Shifters
features New York Times, USA Today, and other bestselling authors. Each
month expect new releases based upon the twelve astrology signs. Happily
Ever After… it’s our promise to you.
Learn more at http://zodiacshifters.com/
Other Titles by C.D. Gorri
Young Adult Books:
Wolf Moon: A Grazi Kelly Novel Book 1
Hunter Moon: A Grazi Kelly Novel Book 2
Rebel Moon: A Grazi Kelly Novel Book 3
Winter Moon: A Grazi Kelly Novel Book 4
Chasing The Moon: A Grazi Kelly Short 5
Blood Moon: A Grazi Kelly Novel #6
*NOW AVAILABLE IN A BOXED SET
The Complete Grazi Kelly Novel Series
Casting Magic: The Angela Tanner Files #1
Keeping Magic: The Angela Tanner Files #2
Paranormal Romance Books:
Macconwood Pack Novel Series:
Charley’s Christmas Wolf: A Macconwood Pack Novel #1
Cat’s Howl: A Macconwood Pack Novel #2
Code Wolf: A Macconwood Pack Novel #3
The Witch and The Werewolf: A Macconwood Pack Novel #4
To Claim a Wolf: A Macconwood Pack Novel #5
Macconwood Pack Tales Series:
Wolf Bride: The Story of Ailis and Eoghan A Macconwood Pack Tale #1
Summer Bite
: A Macconwood Pack Tale #2
His Winter Mate: A Macconwood Pack Tale #3
Snow Angel: A Macconwood Pack Tale #4
Charley’s Baby Surprise: A Macconwood Pack Tale #5
Home for the Howlidays: A Macconwood Pack Tale #6
A Silver Wedding: A Macconwood Pack Tale #7
Macconwood Pack Tales BOXED SETS:
The Macconwood Pack Tales Volume 1
Shifters Furever: A Purely Paranormal Pleasures Series Anthology: The Macconwood Pack Tales Volume 2
The Falk Clan Tales
The Dragon’s Valentine: A Falk Clan Novel #1
The Dragon’s Christmas Gift: A Falk Clan Novel #2
The Dragon’s Heart: A Falk Clan Novel #3
The Dragon’s Secret: A Falk Clan Novel #4
Dragon Mates: The Falk Clan Complete Series Boxed Set
The Bear Claw Tales:
Bearly Breathing: A Bear Claw Tale #1
Bearly There: A Bear Claw Tale #2
Bearly Tamed: A Bear Claw Tale #3
Purely Paranormal Pleasures:
Marked by the Devil: Purely Paranormal Pleasures
Zodiac Shifters:
Bound by Air: The Wardens of Terra Book 1: A Zodiac Shifters Book
Star Kissed: A Wardens of Terra Short (short story as part of the Crimson Kisses Anthology and FREE Single Wide)
Waterlocked: The Wardens of Terra Book 2: A Zodiac Shifters Book
Available Boxed Sets:
Dragon Mates: The Complete Falk Clan Tales
The Macconwood Pack Tales Volume 1
Shifters Furever: The Macconwood Pack Tales Volume 2
The Complete Grazi Kelly Novel Series
Coming Soon:
Bearly Mated: A Bear Claw Tale #4
Conall’s Mate: A Macconwood Pack Novel #6
Taming Magic: The Angela Tanner Files #3
Claimed by the Demon: Purely Paranormal Pleasures
Mated to the Dragon King: Purely Paranormal Pleasures
*This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, places, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either part of the author’s imagination and/or used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to person, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. All rights are reserved. No part of this book is to be reproduced, scanned, downloaded, printed, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of any materials in violation of the author’s rights.