Praise for Erzabet Bishop

 

 

Omg what a great story I just Loved Jonathan, Lucas, and Natalie. I can't wait to read more in the Shifting Hearts Dating Agency series

~ Belinda, Amazon Customer

 

This short story had humor, family drama, sexcapades, and a steamy HEA. What’s not to love!

~ TJ, Amazon Customer

 

Loved the characters and the storyline. Hoping to read more of the Shifting Hearts Dating Agency!

~ Anne Dodds, Amazon Customer

 

Praise for Erzabet Bishop

 

 

Bayou Shadows By Erzbet Bishop was so so good! I actually wanted more! The heat factor was HOT! Great storyline and great characters!

~ The Literary Vixen

 

This is an amazing suspenseful, sweet, touching, and scorching hot romance. You will love it!

~ Roxie's Romance Reviews

 

Praise for Erzabet Bishop

 

 

Erzabet Bishop brings us a wonderful, heartfelt drama in Orchard Rain. Kim has had a row with her lady Maggie over finances. They meet at a wedding that Maggie has planned as part of her job. Their reconciliation is sexy and sweet. I was intensely enchanted with this story.

~ Ameliah Faith, Amazon Customer

 

Bayou Shadows by Erzabet Bishop

Voodoo dreams and buried lies bring Delia to New Orleans. A sexy shifter with secrets of his own might just get her to stay...

~ DarkJade, Amazon Customer

 

Praise for Erzabet Bishop

 

 

I started reading and couldn't stop until I turned the last page. I really enjoyed the characters and thought there was the possibility for more storries with these characters. I thought this was a very entertaining story. This is the first book by this author that I have read, and it won't be my last.

~ Loves to Read (A Cozy Booknook)

 

 

Kitten Around

A Shifting Hearts Dating Agency Series

Book Three

 

Published by Naughty Nights Press LLC

http://naughtynightspress.com/

Second Digital Edition July 2018

ISBN: 978-1-77357-034-1

 

First published by Naughty Nights Press LLC as part of the Sin & seduction paranormal and contemporary romance boxed set

 

Copyright © 2017 Erzabet Bishop

All rights reserved.

 

This book is for adult audiences only and may contain graphic language and sexually explicit situations offensive to some readers.

 

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

 

No part of this book may be adapted, stored, copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

 

Legal File Usage – Your Rights

Payment of the download fee for this book grants the purchaser the right to download and read this file, and to maintain private backup copies of the file for the purchaser’s personal use only.

 

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this, or any copyrighted work is illegal.

Authors are paid on a per-purchase basis. Any use of this file beyond the rights stated above constitutes theft of the author’s earnings.

 

If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this ebook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the publisher and purchase your own copy.

 

File sharing is an international crime, prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice Division of Cyber Crimes, in partnership with Interpol.

Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is punishable by seizure of computers, up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 per reported occurrence.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

 

Kitten Around

 

 

A Shifting Hearts Dating Agency Novella

Book Three

 

 

Erzabet Bishop

 

 

To my husband and furry kids. You fill my life with joy. Especially you, Princess Cujo. Yeah. You know I’m talking to you, missy. And Taddy. You are my heart.

 

 

 

Many thanks to Gina Kincade for giving this series life. I’ve never had so much fun with a group of characters.

For Houston and all the people who experienced loss of life and property with Hurricane Harvey. The waters are at last receding.

 

 

 

 

All work and no mate makes Paige a dull girl.

 

Paige is having a marvelous time playing at Ventures. After all, what girl doesn’t love a nice spanking now and again? On her own terms that is. A welcome reprieve from her work as co-owner of the Shifting Hearts Dating Agency, play is exactly what she’s looking for. In between dodging calls from her uber douchelord ex, avoiding conversations with her hormone ridden inner kitty about a super-hottastic dark eyed dominant, fixing up Bat girl, and getting ready for the charity auction at the club, she has her hands full. And, damn it, why won’t it stop raining?

 

His beast called to hers.

 

A storm is brewing in town but that’s nothing compared to the one in Tyler’s own life. Being surrogate father to his strong-willed niece, and running his own woodworking and restoration business, keeps him more than busy. When a charity auction at Ventures provides the opportunity to spend time tied up with the submissive both he and his cat have been lusting after, he can’t resist the call to do good and possess her at the same time. When unforeseen circumstances and a family crisis strike in the midst of a dangerous storm, Tyler has to come to terms with his inner cat and the mate that could be torn from his arms forever. Some things are worth fighting for, and fur is about to fly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.

~Willa Cather

 

 

 

 

Tyler

Ten years earlier

 

“Johnson is down. Request immediate assistance.” Tyler scanned the desolate landscape, grimacing as the coppery scent of blood reached his nostrils.

Hot and sweaty, he ducked down against Afghanistan’s crumbling mountain terrain, the scrubby plants doing little to offer camouflage against the enemy. Marc, his best friend and brother in law, hunkered behind a boulder, his eyes focused on the small military outpost on the hillside below, his rifle perched carefully on the rock formation.

He apparently hadn’t moved while Tyler had been gone. His stack of targets was right where he left it. Not that the other man needed visual reminders. He had photographic memory and more kills than anyone in the unit.

They had been following orders to blow the insurgent bastards to kingdom come and find out whatever information they could about their next move. Marc was a sniper where Tyler’s specialty was covert operations. The others in the highly specialized shifter unit were skilled in bomb diffusion and other tactical duties, often leaving Marc and Tyler paired together.

Trenton and Greg were a few clicks away on the other side of the ridge and Dimitris flew in hawk form, filming what he could for their superiors. Only one more day and they were shipping out and Tyler couldn’t be more relieved.

Between the spiders and the uneven terrain, he was ready for this mission to be over. Or at least he had been until he’d read the last letter from Jenny. They’d been together three years but for the last few months their relationship had been strained. Now he knew why.

I’m sorry, Tyler. I’ve met someone else. I wanted to write you before but it just never seemed like the right time.

Right.

I put your things in storage.

Even better. So now he’d have to find a place when he got back, too. The shit was just getting better and better. He trudged forward, a low growl edging up his throat.

Tyler had met Marc in boot camp and when the other man didn’t have a destination on one of his leaves, he brought him home to meet the family. He promptly fell for Tyler’s sister, Sheree, and the rest was history. The happy couple were expecting their first baby and the whole family couldn’t be more excited.

But for now they were here, stuck in the fifth circle of what had to be Hell and he was jealous as fuck that Marc’s tour was coming up soon. His wasn’t too much longer, but then again, his brother-in-law landed into combat first, with him following a month later when things began to heat up. Cat shifters could get into places a normal soldier couldn’t and they took a beating better, too. All they had to do was never get caught and never give the enemy the gift of their bite.

He didn’t plan on kissing any of them either.

“Hey man. Any action?”

“Not much,” Marc replied, swiveling his head in Tyler’s direction. His eyes appeared tired from the strain of the fourteen hour shift. “One truck. That’s it.”

“Damn.” Tyler shook his head. “I forgot to ask earlier. You hear anything from Sheree?”

His sister sent him letters and so did his mother but no one got letters like Marc did.

“Yup.” The exhaustion in his eyes evaporated in an instant. “The baby’s doing great.” He slid a letter out from his pocket and handed something over to Tyler.

“What? I don’t get to read your letter?” Tyler waggled his eyebrow, further smart ass remarks brewing on his lips when he glanced down at the picture in his hand.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

The tiny form of a premature baby in utero met his eyes and all words evaporated. The only thing he felt was wonder and a whole lot of awe. He could even see the details of the infant’s face.

“It’s the baby. She’s growing so big.”

Marc’s comments brought him out of himself and Tyler blinked. His sister and his best buddy had made this little person. And he was going to be an uncle.

An uncle…

Wow.

“Wait. It’s going to be a girl?”

“Yup.”

“Oh my God, man. You have to be so proud.” Tyler stared at the small form, noting the outline of the tiny hands, arms, and legs. It was a miracle.

“She’s due in a few weeks. Perfect timing for when I get out of this shit box.”

Tyler handed him back the picture, but the image of his niece was burned into his brain. She was perfect. Every part of her.

“Have you guys picked a name yet?”

Marc grimaced. “I think Sheree wants to name her Pepper. Been watching too many Ironman movies again.”

Tyler snorted. “She always did have a thing for that Robert Downey Junior guy.”

“I’ll say.” Marc cocked his head, his attention jolting back to his post, his expression slipping from happy father-to-be into a stone cold killer.

“What is it?”

“Thought I heard something.” Marc aimed the rifle, scanning the base below. “Nothing.”

A scent of something drifted past his nose but before he could react, the scrabble of feet on stone brought Tyler on red alert. He snarled, spinning on his heel, the cat inside of him trying to find a bead on where the intruder was coming in from.

He scented the air but he couldn’t discern anything identifiable. Aggravated, Tyler pressed the comlink in his ear. Someone was out there and it seemed as if they were masking their scent.

“Trenton. Dimitris. Greg. Positions.”

“Status quo.” Two responded simultaneously. Dimitris was still airborne and couldn’t speak.

“We have company here.”

At that moment, a grenade launched over the rock formation, hitting the ground with an audible clink.

“Fuck.” Marc tossed the rifle to the dirt, scooped up the offending object and hurled it back into open air.

Tyler hoped Dimitris had gotten the fuck out of the way. Then again, the hawk was a wily one.

“Come on.” Tyler’s cat growled low in his throat, the hair on the back of his neck rising to attention. His intuition was never wrong, and right now it was going off like a tornado drill. Something wasn’t right and without even realizing it, they had lost their upper hand.

It was time to get the fuck out.

“Now, Marc. You can’t kill them if you’re already dead. Move out.”

Marc snatched his rifle and materials, scattering his tracks with a quick slide of a boot. They scrambled away from the rock ledge in time for the grenade to go off, the explosion echoing through the mountain range.

“Fuck.”

“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

More sounds of boots on gravel and Tyler knew they were not alone. “Marc. Ears and eyes.”

“Got it.”

The moon shimmered in his brother-in-law’s eyes as he lifted his nose to assess position.

“To the right. Above us on the ridge.”

As the wind shifted, he too caught the scent. Humans. Unwashed, and a lot of them. So why hadn’t he been able to scent them before?

Unease churned in his gut. They didn’t have time for any bullshit. If the mission was going to be compromised, they had orders to abort and head back to base.

No captures.

If they met with resistance, they only had one option: Kill or be killed.

That meant there was nowhere to go. They would have to fight their way out. His fingertips tingled with the desire to release his claws, but he kept himself in check.

He radioed the other men. “We’re out. Unknown combatants. Back to the Jeep. Stat.”

“On our way.” Trenton growled into the phone, the wolf evident in his voice.

An explosion rocked the land around them and Tyler watched as Marc vanished into a haze of dust and rock shards.

“Marc!”

Tyler swore and tore after him, the sounds of battle swirling all around them. He couldn’t see through the smoke but the sight that met his eyes when the air cleared made him want to shift and track down every one of the bastards and rip the flesh from their bones.

Marc lay twisted against the hard earth, arms akimbo, shrapnel wounds staining his uniform crimson. Blood pooled dark and ominous beneath his body. He tried to move but instead sucked in a gasp of pain.

“No!” Tyler dropped to the dirt and pulled the other man into his arms. “Marc. God. What am I going to tell Sheree?”

Anguish sliced through Tyler as reality slammed into his gut. Being a shifter didn’t make you immortal. It just made you harder to kill. And even they weren’t immune to grenades.

Marc’s hand gripped his arm hard and Tyler met his brother-in-law’s pained gaze.

“Take care of my girls.”

“You’re getting out of here. Going home.”

The lie tasted bitter on his lips.

“Something in it. Not healing.” Marc blinked and a vacant expression glazed over his eyes.

“No…You can’t.”

“I…” Marc’s voice trailed off, but before Tyler could register that his best friend in the world was dead another explosion rent the air. The last thing Tyler saw was darkness as it reached up to swallow him whole.

***

 

Paige

Three years earlier…

“Only I would get lost in a BDSM convention,” Paige muttered as she meandered through the crowd of leather clad participants and others like herself dressed in jeans and a tee shirt.

Her friend, Monica, had volunteered to go with her when Paige brought it up in a fit of girlish giggles, but at the last minute cancelled, leaving Paige the choice of chickening out entirely or sucking it up and walking through the front door to the convention center.

Bluck. Bluck.

Oh hell no.

If Paige was anything, it was not a scardy cat.

She was tired of everyone else making decisions for her about her life. Just today her mother had been trying to fix her up with a witch from a neighboring coven. Javier something or other.

“His family is high up in the magical community. I’ve set up a get together at the house for next Tuesday evening. He and his family will be there, and I expect you to attend.”

Paige sighed, weaving through the throng of people, totally unsure where to start. Sure, she’d read about kink, but the idea of actually pursuing something that wasn’t a story in a book? Now that was exhilarating.

Unfortunately, she’d spent so much time worrying about keeping her little day trip a secret, she hadn’t formed a plan on what to do when she actually arrived. Glancing at the map, she saw a space for vendor booths, a food court, and a stage for demonstrations later that afternoon. She’d wandered through some of the booths already, taking in some of the most beautiful leather work she’d ever seen. Paddles and whips like she’d only seen online, were being demonstrated and displayed. At another, she found costumes for club use, and at yet another, books for educating herself on what BDSM was all about.

Paige wrote down a few titles to look up later and kept walking, not entirely sure where she was headed. She found herself standing in front of a vendor booth with the most beautiful wooden bench apparatus she’d ever seen.

“Aubrey should have been here an hour ago. What am I supposed to do for a model now?” A leather-clad dominant, his fair skin magnified by his dark hair and inky eyes, stood frowning in front of an artfully crafted wooden bench. His stance emphasized the force of his thighs and the slimness of his hips. Despite herself, Paige's breath quickened.

Her cat yowled her appreciation and a twinge of something sparked deep inside of her. He felt…familiar. But how could that be if they had never met?

A light-haired man walked from behind the counter, his well-muscled body moving with easy grace. There were hints of amusement around his mouth and laughter crinkles around his eyes.

“Tyler, don't worry.” He clasped the other man's arm. “Look, I'm sure something must have happened. Aubrey isn't usually late like this. We can see if someone from the audience will volunteer to help out until she gets here, okay?”

Tyler frowned, shrugging in resignation. “Who did you have in mind?” His dark eyes scanned the area and rested on Paige.

“You. Come here.”

Paige swallowed, panic settling in. “No, I'm not really here. I'm looking for my friend...”

“She is just about the right build.” The light-haired man thoughtfully rubbed his chin. “I might have something that would fit her.”

Tyler’s eyes glittered, mesmerizing Paige. His lips turned up in a smile as intimate as a kiss. “My name is Master Blackburn. Would you like to be our sub for an afternoon?”

“I, um. Wait,” Paige stammered, her gaze sweeping down her more than adequate curves. The very same ones her mother assured her would make it hard to find a husband or mate that would accept her as anything else but a political match. “I’m not sure I’m your type, sir. I’m not exactly model material.”

“On the contrary. You are more than perfect…”

“Well…”

The blond dominant smiled. “You are, actually. I’m Ross. We seem to be missing a sub for today's spanking demonstration, and we would very much appreciate the pleasure of your company for the afternoon.”

Paige had wanted to check some things now that she was here, but this was a little sudden. Still, it intrigued her. Spanking? She’d read about it, sure. But were they actually going to, like, spank her? The idea of it brought the pulse skimming a little faster in her veins.

“What would I have to do?”

“Well, to address your earlier question, you would need a change of attire, but we can handle that. You’re just about Aubrey's size, as a matter of fact, and would look stunning with a bit of a freshening up.”

She was?

Paige blinked.

Did that mean they didn’t think she was fat?

Ross held up his hand and turned back to the booth. “Hold on a minute. I may have something.”

Master Blackburn kept his full attention on Paige.

“You're here with your friend?”

Paige flushed, unsure whether she should tell him the truth. “I was supposed to meet her but she bailed on me at the last minute.”

“That’s a shame. Had you made any plans while you were here?”

“Not really. I got distracted by your lovely spanking bench over here.”

“It is a beautiful piece, isn't it? Ross and I make them all by hand.” Master Blackburn ran his hand over the bench's maroon leather.

“Here we go!” Ross returned carrying a leather corset and matching mini shorts, a crinoline skirt, fishnet stockings, and patent leather knee-length boots, all in black.

Paige stared. They were gorgeous and appeared to be her size. “Oh, wow.”

“I know. Aubrey is our seamstress as well.” Ross grinned. “Have you ever heard of Gothique Corsetry?”

“I've run across the site doing my research.” Her stuff was amazing.

Ross handed her the hangers. “The display starts in forty minutes. Can you slip into one of these and pose on the bench? Master Blackburn can do some light paddling, but nothing you aren't comfortable with.”

Paige bit her lip and looked at the time. It was getting late. Knowing her mother, she would be looking for her soon, but she was dying to try this. Her eyes moved longingly over the costumes in her hand and she nodded, resolute. “If one of them fits, I'm yours. How long do you think you'll need me?”

“I got a text from Aubrey while I was in the back with the costumes. It shouldn't be more than an hour. She got stuck in traffic.” Ross replied.

Only an hour. Perfect. She could get home in time for dinner and nobody had to know anything. “Where do I change?”

They led her back to a small closed-off room with a door. Paige kicked off her shoes and shucked her jeans in a hot minute. Her tee shirt was next.

Which costume to wear? She had always wanted to try on a corset, but she would need help. Now that was a delicious possibility. She pulled on the thigh-high fishnet stockings. Sliding on the micro shorts, she turned to admire her backside. It was edgy with the garter-belt tabs showing beneath the shorts, but she liked it.

Paige pulled out the band holding up her hair, letting the dark curls slide down her back. Much better. She held up the leather corset and sighed. Pressing it against her chest, she craned her head out into the front of the booth.

“Can one of you lend a hand?” She batted her eyelashes. “I can't get this fastened by myself.”

At her interruption, they stopped talking and stared, slack-jawed. Ross grinned and poked Master Blackburn in the side.

“Why don't you go and assist the lady?”

Paige turned bright red, and Master Blackburn joined her in the changing room.

“What would you like me to do?”

“Um, have you ever tied a corset before?”

“I have indeed.”

Master Blackburn's hands wandered down Paige's back, his fingers warm as he fastened the stays and tightened the corset. In the mirror, Paige noted the bulge in his leathers and couldn’t help but think this was the stuff of her naughtiest fantasies.

Things like this never happened to girls like her. All of her sexual escapades had been through the pages of her smutty books, plus one or two dates with guys her mother set her up with who needed a road map to get from point A to point B. Or at least they would have if she let them.

She would bet a salted caramel mocha that Master Blackburn knew what to do with his hands. The corset cinched tighter, and Paige gasped.

“Are you all right?”

Paige laughed. “Yes. I was thinking about something and you surprised me.”

“What about?” He pulled another clasp closed, and Paige leaned forward on the stool. The mirror reflected her cleavage as it swelled over the corset. She met his eyes in the mirror and quickly looked away.

“How do you choose your subs?” Paige blushed, staring down at the pattern the fishnets made on her legs. She was going to have to get some. They were sexy beyond belief.

I can't believe I just asked him that!

Master Blackburn ran a finger down the fastenings and met her startled expression with a warm smile. “That, my dear, is a very leading question.”

Paige blushed again. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked.”

“No. That's not what I meant at all.” He patted her back and turned her around to face him. “I choose my subs carefully. There has to be trust there. And chemistry.”

Paige swallowed. He was standing so close she could feel the heat from his body. “Oh.” His masculine scent filled her nostrils. “Do you have a sub now?”

Master Blackburn smiled. “No.” He tipped her chin upward, looking into her eyes. “Are you applying for the position? And here we’ve only just met.”

Paige swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. He was daring her. The bastard thought she was too afraid.

“What if I was?”

“Now that would be intriguing.” He bent down and captured her lips with his, a feather-light touch of intimate perusal. He drew back and wound a hand in her hair, pulling her closer. “Do you understand what that would mean? To be a submissive?” His eyes bored into hers, his breath teasing her lips, oh so close. She strained to meet his lips and he yanked back on her hair. “No. Answer the question.”

The sting brought a gasp from her and a surge of fluid to her moist folds. Outrage and shock warred with arousal. “I think so.” Paige blinked moisture from her eyes, annoyed that it had stung, but equally surprised at her body's response. The pain had excited her more than she thought it would have.

“Are you sure?” Master Blackburn stood back, releasing his grip on her hair. “I live the lifestyle, and there are many who think they know, but at the first hint of not being in control, they run for the hills back to their vanilla lives.” He pulled her face inches from his own. “I can't help but wonder...”

“What?” Paige cocked her head.

“What flavor are you?” He brushed his lips to hers as he pulled her close long enough to crush her breasts against his chest.

Paige thought about the lonely nights dealing with her family and politics, and decided she wanted more. Her lips sought his again, filled with a burning hunger. She pulled back and gazed into his eyes. He tasted of cinnamon and honey, and she wanted to lick him all over. Glancing down at the bulge trying to push its way out of the leathers, she smiled.

“Salted caramel mocha.” Her lips met his once more, and she pressed her lush curves against the hard lines of his muscled frame.

“What?”

“You asked me what flavor I was.”

Master Blackburn chuckled. “I'll just bet you are.” He gripped her shoulders in his powerful hands, holding her at arm’s length. “How long have you been into the lifestyle?”

Paige lowered her eyes. “I only just started.”

“I see.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You don't have any experience?”

Warmth crept up Paige's neck and spread across her cheeks. “No,” she whispered. “But I’d really like to.”

“Have you ever been spanked?”

“No.” Paige stepped out of his embrace and turned back to the mirror. She was completely unrecognizable as herself, and she liked it that way. She didn't want her only experiences to be from the pages of a book. She wanted to feel his hands on her. The thought of just going home to her empty life left her cold. But the idea of going out in public dressed like this scared her to death.

His eyes watched hers from the glass. “Are you sure you want to go through with this? We can wait for Aubrey.”

“No!” she sputtered. “I do want to. It's just...well, look.” She pointed to the crowd beginning to gather in front of the spanking bench. “All those people out there. How do you do it?”

“Some people like to be watched. It adds to the excitement.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Master Blackburn folded his arms and grinned. “Would you rather be anonymous? That could be arranged.”

Paige lowered her eyes. “I think that might help.”

“Here. Try this.” He reached into a bag next to the changing table and pulled out a simple black mask. “No one will know it's you.”

 

 

 

“Are you sure there isn’t a category in your questionnaire for introverted bat shifters?” The bespectacled, middle-aged woman peered down her nose at Paige and resumed picking at the over large scab on her arm.

Her cat recoiled beneath her skin, pacing in agitation. She didn’t like this client any more than she did.

“Ummm. No. That, surprisingly, is not on our form.”

Oh God.

She really needed to screen these people better.

The woman was just…odd.

Her question shouldn’t have surprised Paige. On the form her favorite hobbies were hanging upside down in her family’s garage during the day and dancing around lamp posts at night.

Wow. A real live bat girl.

A shame she wasn’t more styling.

Her eyebrows needed threading and the hair on her upper lip just screamed for a bleaching. And those clothes. She hadn’t seen anything like those pants since she checked out a vintage style store when she was a teenager—and they weren’t in the cool section either. Not even close. 

Maude’s frumpy attire would have been perfect on a woman twice her age and living on a farm in the middle of nowhere, but the fact that she stubbornly refused to let Paige help her spruce up her image or assist her in getting contact lenses was about to make her crazy. How could she find a mate for her if she didn’t at least make an effort?

“Do you think you could add it? That might be helpful in placing me.”

The entire time the woman had been sitting across from Paige, she’d been worrying over the scab to the point where it had begun to bleed.

Ugh. Gross.

Paige wanted to look away but found she couldn’t. She almost mentioned the value of a tetanus shot, but one warning glance from her partner, Sylvia, and she clamped her mouth shut.

It took her a second to remember Maude had asked Paige a question. Something about adding to her file…

“Probably not. But if I come across anything that fits the criteria we’ll be in touch. Um. Do you want a band aid for that?”

Or maybe some restraints?

Paige shuddered at that image, pressing on with the conversation. Imaging the woman stretched out across a spanking bench was just a little out of the realm of her stomach contents. Like ever.

“Oh. Yes. Thank you. I cut myself and it’s still bothering me.”

“I can see that. Here…” Paige reached into her desk and pulled out a first aid kit. She set it down and pulled out an adhesive strip, plopping it down in front of the other woman. Most of her clients eccentricities she didn’t mind, but this one…oh she was a handful. The woman had more nervous ticks than anyone she’d ever met, and each and every person she’d introduced her to had been flat out rejected in minutes.

In the five months since she’d walked into Shifting Heart’s Dating Agency, Maude had been giving Paige a run for her money. She kept trying to foist her off on little miss love goddess across the room, but Sylvia was being remarkably stubborn, even for her.

First, there was the party at the delicatessen down the street. There, three of their new male shifter clients connected over bagels and lox and now lived together in a happy ménage style relationship. They extended the offer to the bat shifter, but Maude had sniffed in disapproval. She held her nose in the air at their bliss, demanding something a little more conservative.

Fine.

So Paige set her up for a hay ride and night out at a local festival, only for Maude to come roaring back saying the horse frightened her and that there were too many mosquitoes.

Unreal. The woman was a bat for crap’s sake. Didn’t they eat mosquitoes or something? Whatever. Month after month it had been the same thing. Spaghetti night at the church: too religious. Bingo night at the town rec center: too old. And now, here they were with a failed pizza meet and greet at Star Pizza and she was honestly running out of options.

She closed her eyes and thought of one of their best success stories. Natalie, one of their latest clients had hit it off at Ventures, the local BDSM club and one of Paige’s personal haunts. Funny how things worked. And why couldn’t she catch a break with this one?

Paige had only gone to make a connection for the business, but one look at the spanking benches and the hunky Masters and she fell in love. Well…and so had Natalie. Now she was married and expecting her first pup.

A lengthy conversation with the woman who ran the Shibari class and Paige was seduced on the spot. What was it about cats and rope? Or yarn? Her animal purred in anticipation at what might be in store, the urge to find a mate of her own strumming through her veins.

Dimly, she heard her client prattling on and on about the last failed date and let herself think of Ventures.

Hell, she didn’t know, but one look at what the other woman had done with a bunch of nylon rope and one of the sexiest male subs she’d ever laid eyes on and her heart stuttered.

Somehow she missed the Ventures newsletter in all of her email. Scanning it quickly, she signed up without even thinking twice and hit send before Sylvia could poke her nosy nose in her business.

Damned Goddess…

Then there were the spanking benches.

She’d come back to work on several occasions with her ass warmed enough so it hurt to sit down. Delicious was what it was. She loved her curves and it so happened that the Doms she ran into liked them, too. Rumor had it they were about to have a fundraising event for victims of local Hexen attacks. If they were, she was going to pledge a donation. Bully tactics just pissed her off and this latest bout of witch on shifter violence was getting old.

Jonathan and Lucas ran the place like a machine and their assistant was a drill sergeant if she ever met one. A thought passed her mind of what and who it would take for that woman to melt the fortress she’d built around herself—but that wasn’t the challenge at hand. The woman across from her was.

Maybe she was going to have to resort to checking for more bat shifters in the local area and seeing if there was some kind of gathering spot. She was good at outreach and this client was going to need some special help. Either that, or she was going to have to endure her endless scab picking for the foreseeable future.

At the very least, she was going to have to fumigate her chair on the off chance the woman had fleas.

Her inner cat hissed and backed away and Paige groaned. Finding people their other half was a passion but it was times like this that tested her match making skills. She shot Sylvia a death stare and clenched her teeth when her perky, blonde partner smirked and gave her a pinky wave.

Bitch.

This was her revenge for the coffee incident last month. She should have known better, but the office was begging for a new coffee maker that hadn’t been around since oh…nineteen sixty three. Her partner may have been blessed with Aphrodite’s line of match making prowess, but give her anything with technology and she botched it.

Sort of like Paige was doing right now with the woman in front of her. Unhappy clients didn’t help gain more customers. They’d already had an issue with the werewolf doctor at the hospital and twice in one month was not going to help their bottom line. Word of mouth, especially for a new business like theirs, was vital. She would make the woman happy. Even if she had to start trolling farmer’s markets and hanging out under bridges.

Then there was the issue with the witches. More and more shifters were leery of outing themselves so the pool of potential clients was drying up. Someone needed to take out Hexen and quick. Witchy terrorists were just not something she wanted to deal with. Like ever.

She was going to have to think on that one. Her brother had been in the military. Maybe he knew someone to ask about stealth ops. He might have written back to her. She hadn’t checked her email in days.

Maude fidgeted in the chair and Paige snapped out of her revere. Pizza. Outing. Failed connections. Right.

“Did you hear what I said?” The woman stared at Paige, her vulpine features twisting into an unpleasant frown.

Paige sighed. “I’m sorry the last place didn’t work out. You should have told me you were vegetarian.”

“It shouldn’t matter. It’s pizza.”

But it did.

“Yes, well sometimes it’s easier to get like people together with better similarities. Like a gathering at a fruit stand or farm outing.” Paige responded, mentally counting to ten.

The woman brightened. “Oh. Now that would be fun.”

“Great,” Paige smiled. “I’ll set something up for next month and we’ll see how it goes.”

“Very good.” Maude rose, her long skirt swishing around her legs. “I’ll be waiting for your call then.” The door chime jangled as she opened the door, walking out into the bright Texas sunlight.

Paige closed the file on her desk and rubbed her eyes. She didn’t know how she was ever going to find a placement for the woman. Then a wicked thought rattled through her brain. She could always try fixing Maude up with her ex.

Her cat spat at her and she couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. Not even bat girl deserved that.

No. Not cool. Javier was unhinged and just another example of why she was in this business. Relationships were fine for other people, but for her they never seemed to work out. That was another reason she liked BDSM. All rules and no surprises.

Last she heard, he was getting way too cozy with the Hexen types and that was all she needed. The man just wouldn’t take no for an answer. She wasn’t interested in magically bonding with him, or anyone else for that matter.

“You’d be a wonderful familiar, darling. Part cat and part witch. We could do great things together.”

Never had he ever mentioned the word love. With him it was all about one upping all the other magical families in town and jockeying for position, not what she wanted. A home. A family.

Her mother had introduced Paige to Javier and they'd dated long enough for her to figure out it was never going to work. Had she cared when Paige tried to tell her about his involvement with Hexen? Just the opposite.

“Oh, you two would make such a lovely couple. With our two families together, the Winston clan wouldn’t stand a chance. Besides, you aren’t getting any younger, are you, dear?”

At that point it had seemed better to get the hell out of dodge before her mother came up with any other crazy schemes. Family, in her case, were the ties that bound and strangled.

Paige was done. This wasn’t even the first time her mother had tried to push her into something with another witch but the deal with Javier had been the straw that broke the mystical camel’s back.

No more magical manipulations for her. She’d had enough. That was why she lived here and her mother, along with the witch side of the family, lived in Austin. Her father had moved on long ago and had found true love in the arms of a sexy bunny shifter in Denver.

Finding Ventures was the luckiest thing ever. No commitments. No hurt feelings. Just play time, and you got to go home and be yourself with no one trying to magically bind you to the nearest ley line.

Thank Goddess her cat shifter side was the most dominant. Most days she hardly felt the urge to do magic and when she did, she made sure there wasn’t a soul in the area. No one needed to know her witchy little secret.

But she was sorely tempted to zot the crap out of bat girl and give her a personality that didn’t resemble a mountain troll.

Paige sighed and her thoughts drifted once more back to Ventures. She needed to go and scratch her itch. And then, there was the elusive Dom she kept seeing around the club. He never seemed to stick with one sub but she’d yet to get his name. A shame he wasn’t teaching some classes. She’d love to have his hands wielding a paddle or giving her intimate instruction about where to put that new toy she’d picked up last week.

“Got your hands full with that one,” Sylvia commented.

Lost in her thoughts, Paige blinked and realized what her partner was referring to.

She glared at her. “You did that on purpose.”

“What?” All innocence, the shapely blonde stood up from her desk and wandered back to the break area. The sound of the fridge opening and shutting resounded through the office and she returned to her desk, cold water bottle in hand.

“What?” Paige mimicked. “You could have handled that with your mojo but instead you dumped that,” she wiggled her fingers at the door, “in my lap. Not nice.”

“She needs your help. You’ll find her a mate.” Sylvia shrugged and lowered herself into her chair.

“That is a daunting task at this point, believe me.” Paige stared down at the file in front of her and searched the information sheet to see if the woman had indicated she was vegetarian. Nope. The spot was blank.

It figured. She hadn’t gone over every line of the file with Maude, but maybe she should have. Hindsight, the great all seeing eye.

“You will. I promise.”

Right. She swiveled in her chair and started searching for farmer’s markets in the area. Crazy bat lady was not going to foil her match making plans. She was a professional, dammit.

Cat Woman trumps Bat Girl.

A small smile slid up her lips and she reached for her computer glasses, sliding them onto her face. She had this. Oh yeah. Bring it on…

Her phone buzzed with a message from Javier and she frowned. It was the third time he’d texted her today.

I need to talk to you. Call me.

Tough shit. She wasn’t his beck and call girl. Not anymore. Not this cat. Not this century. Shoving the phone back in her purse, she put him out of her mind and tried to focus on the client files in front of her.

“You might want to watch this.” Sylvia called out from the break room.

She’d just confirmed a meet-cute set up with two of her other clients and distracted, angled her head to find Syl in front of the television.

“What’s up.”

“Harvey.”

“Is he a new client?”

Sylvia’s lips flattened into a frown and she angled her head toward the television where the local weather station was reporting.

“Rain bands will be taking over the area tonight with potential for local flooding. Residents are cautioned to beware as the prospect of flooding will grow with each day of torrential rains.”

Well, shit.

“Are they talking about tonight?”

Sylvia nodded. “Apparently the storm has grown and we’re about to get a week’s worth of rain.”

“Oh.”

Just rain?

Paige sighed. Weather stations frustrated her and it seemed like all they wanted to do was scare everyone. A little rain couldn’t hurt, right? Goddess knew it had been a dry summer and now with fall coming on, it couldn’t hurt to have a little of the wet stuff.

The forecaster prattled on and out of habit, she glanced at her watch. With a jolt, Paige realized she had totally lost track of time.

She was going to be late.

Bolting up from her chair, she nabbed her purse and scooted toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Sylvia called after her, the patter of rain hitting the glass windows of the office.

“I’ll tell you later.” If she didn’t get tied up and paddled within an inch of her life for making her instructor wait.

 

 

 

Master Tyler Blackburn eyed the students for the BDSM 101 class, his lips turned down in a frown. They milled around the seating area just below the stage talking amongst themselves and had yet to find their chairs. Had they not read the protocol at all?

He’d sent out a detailed information prideet via email to each member of the group. Fourteen in all, if memory served. And now he counted an uneven thirteen. That meant one of them was late. Even with the threat of bad weather, nothing had happened yet and he expected each of them to be present and ready to tackle the curriculum set out for him. The original instructor would be back next week and he didn’t want to miss anything.

In all of the years since he’d been back in the states and teaching others the lifestyle, he’d never had the occurrence. But this technically wasn’t his class. His students simply wouldn’t dare. Taking over this session at the last moment was also unprecedented. Normally he would have vetted out each of his students personally but when Lucas asked him to step in to cover the first day of classes when the instructor had to attend to out of town family matters, he’d done it without hesitation. It was one hour of his time and he didn’t mind.

Lucas and Jonathan were good people. So was their little hedgie mate and he would do anything for them. He’d enjoyed his time playing at Ventures and when Jonathan had offered him a part time job teaching the odd class here and there, he couldn’t say no. The other club he’d spent time at previously was not as well put together and after a few run ins with the owner, he decided it was best if he took the job. It fit nicely around his woodworking and restoration business and he came and went as he needed. Most days at least.

Today had been a busy one. A few bookshelves for the local library were in need of repair, and he’d been called in to do a quote for one of the houses in the historic district downtown. The place was a dilapidated wreck, but to his mind’s eye he could see what it had been and the jewel of what it could be with some love and patience. Just the kind of challenge he enjoyed. His time on the job ran over as the owner agreed to the bid and he barely made it a half an hour before class began.

Tyler’s phone vibrated against his hip and he absently unclipped it from his belt. Scanning the message from his sister, Sheree, he had to suppress a smile.

What time are you coming over? Need a confab about Pepper.

He hammered out a brief reply, and glanced at the group milling about.

Will be late. Out at 6:30.

His sister hadn’t responded. Which meant she was either dealing with Pepper, his very willful niece, or she was wrestling with whatever she was throwing together for dinner. She’d been making noises about him staying over so she could talk to him about something and judging by the biting tone in her voice, it had something to do with a very precocious ten year old and her talent for getting into trouble at the drop of a hat.

He ground his teeth and checked his watch. Any later and he was going to have to start, class complete or not. If Sheree needed him, he made time for her. Without her husband, he was the closest thing Pepper had to a male role model and he didn’t take the job lightly.

The phone buzzed in his hand.

Lasagna in two hours. I got your favorite Texas toast.

Tyler smiled and shot her a quick response.

You had me with lasagna. How’s the weather?

He’d have to stop and get some of the chocolate gelato at the store. That always made her smile and Tyler had a feeling they were going to need it. Sheree was worried about the impending storm and knowing her, she’d have the news on, obsessing about how many batches of muffins to make to get them through this latest apocalypse. And that didn’t even go into what his adorable, trouble-sniffing niece was up to.

Last week Pepper had ‘rescued’ Walter, the class guinea pig and it took all three of them to find the little bugger. She’d liberated him via her backpride and let the fur ball loose in her room.

Tyler allowed his cat to take over and found the rodent under her bed. Then the fucker had the audacity to bite him when he shifted back to human to pick it up.

Not cool.

And his little minx of a niece just stood there, the most contrite smile on her face he could imagine. When she thanked him for finding Walter with a kiss to the cheek, he couldn’t help but forgive her. Grudgingly.

It was hard to stay mad at the pint-sized squirt and he couldn’t help but remember what Sheree was like at that age. Only, his niece seemed to be taking after a part of Marc that he hadn’t seen very often. The guy always insisted he had a strain of witch in his family tree, but in a shifter unit it wasn’t much talked about. After seeing some of Pepper’s antics, he couldn’t help but wonder if it was true.

Levitating stuffed animals. Math homework doing itself. (A useful trick, that.) Clothes floating to the dirty clothes hamper.

Yeah. His niece was anything but run of the mill, and he loved her fiercely. That did not mean, however, that he wouldn’t kick her butt for upsetting her mother.

A burst of thunder outside brought him back from his revere and reminded him he had a class to run.

“You will be seated,” he snapped, stalking out onto the stage, his leathers moving with him like an old friend. The black tee he wore was a comfortable extension. Working with his hands like he would be doing for the next hour, he would need it. All Lucas had asked him for was a brief overview of some techniques in BDSM and a conversation with the students gathered. It should have been a cake walk. If everyone had arrived on time.

The dozen or so adults quickly bolted for the nearest seat, scrambling to get out of the line of fire.

“For those of you who haven’t met me around the club, my name is Master Blackburn. While I realize it was short notice, which of you actually read the syllabus I sent out?”

He reached the podium and picked up the prideet of papers he’d printed off. Leaping off the edge of the stage, he handed half of the prideets to the end person on one row of chairs and the last half of the stack to the second row.

The students passed the prideets down and returned the one set that hadn’t been accounted for. As he walked around the group, he got a good read on what he had in front of him. A smattering of humans, two or three shifters, a phoenix, a dragon, and was that a vampire? This early in the evening he hadn’t thought to see one, but with the winter season upon them and dark falling fast, he shouldn’t have been surprised.

“Good. For the next five minutes I want you to read this quietly amongst yourselves. We seem to be missing a student, so that will give you a moment to reflect on this class before we start promptly at five thirty.”

He flipped to his listing of names. Maybe it would be good to know just exactly who he had in front of him.

“When I call your name, please raise your hand.” He went down the list, systematically ticking off each person until one name remained.

At that moment, a familiar young dark-haired woman burst into the room, her hair damp from what must be becoming a downpour outside. She paused, taking in the group, her eyes narrowing on him, a question glittering in their depths.

“Is this the BDSM 101 class?”

“It is,” he drawled, a smile sliding over his face. It was her. The young woman he’d seen at the spanking bench with Master Rick a few days ago. The lucky bastard had paddled the lass’s backside a lovely shade of pink, but at the end the two had simply parted ways, the other Dom kissing her on the forehead.

“Thank you, Paige. You have wonderful form.”

“You’re welcome, Sir.”

“Call on me any time.”

She’d nodded, a watery smile on her tear stained face. “Thank you, Sir.”

Now why had he thought she seemed familiar? He remembered a young woman few years ago when he’d first went into business with Ross. They’d met at a convention and she’d modeled for them, but right after she’d gotten away and he’d never gotten to explore the spark he’d felt between them.

He found himself considering how well she would fare under his tutelage and when she began to speak, he was brought up short by his cat.

Cock at attention, his leathers were suddenly too tight. His cat slunk under his skin, alert for the first time in he couldn’t remember when.

She was a shifter. A cat judging by his own animal’s reaction.

Mate.

Ours.

Tyler seized the beast and backed him into a corner. He wasn’t here to find a mate. Quite the contrary. And his cat knew better. They were at the club to play or work. Nothing else.

But now the urge had sunk in, and he couldn’t get the image of burying his cock inside of her and marking her as his own out of his head.

Fucking feline. God. He could practically hear his mother laughing at him from here. She’d been scolding him that it was high time he found a nice girl and settled down to start a family. He’d tried that once and it hadn’t stuck. Or at least, she hadn’t. The moment he’d gone on ops, she’d betrayed him with another guy. He wasn’t in the market to have his heart stomped on again.

Ever.

His cat stared back at him with glowing eyes and his dick hardened again.

Fuck.

“I thought Mistress Claudia was running this class.” The female moved toward him and he caught himself before he took a step back.

Oh God. It was her. Before he hadn’t been sure. But now, with those big eyes staring at him, he was certain. And it appeared that she didn’t remember him.

“She has been called away,” Tyler responded. “I will be filling in. As you would have known if you’d checked the email I sent out.”

The young woman lifted her chin and met his gaze with a defiant glare. “I guess I missed that one.”

“Obviously.” He made a show of scanning his list. “You must be Paige. We were just about to begin. Please, sit down.” He pointed to the last chair and handed her a prideet.

He had to put some distance between him and curvaceous female. Jonathan and Lucas were counting on him to teach this class, not flip her over the nearest spanking bench and mark her in front of every person here.

Tyler’s cat purred at the image and he shot off a filthy reply, disgusted with himself that he could be that close to breaking protocol. Grinding his teeth, he tried to refocus and shut down his raging hard on. The podium stood in the middle of the stage and he stalked toward it, trying for the life of him to regain the control he was known for.

Buying a moment, he glanced at his notes and tried to clear his head.

Her face flamed with an attractive shade of scarlet and she slid into the last remaining seat. He checked his notes once again, his eyes skimming over the questionnaires submitted by each student to ascertain knowledge levels. The others he dismissed without seeing them until he landed on hers. Two words stood out, hardening his cock even more and making his mouth water.

The kitten in front of him had a penchant for paddles and an interest in shibari. Judging by the answers to the rest of her questions, she already had a grasp of the lifestyle and he’d seen her around the club enough to know she knew the rules.

“On second thought, why don't you come up here?”

God, he must be insane.

“But you just had me sit down,” she countered.

“It’s my prerogative to have you up here.”

Paige rose from the chair, fury glinting in her eyes. The other students watched with interest as she rose from her seat and flounced up the steps. She was pissed, and Tyler had to admit he was enjoying it. Originally he was going to just dive into a quick review of the basic rules, but now he decided to go the long way around and make her squirm in front of her classmates.

Late was late.

His cat shifted restlessly beneath his skin as she came closer and he had to will himself not to react to her scent.

Almond and vanilla with an added touch of what… was that? Nutmeg. An interesting combination.

“Well? What do you want to do with me?”

The real question is what don’t I want to do to you?

Tyler cleared his throat and sucked in a breath.

“Never ask a question you don’t want to know the answer to,” he chided, his lips turning up at the edges.

God. Because what he really wanted to do was drape her over the back of the chair and spank her ass for daring to be a brat, and then peel off her jeans and sink his cock into her sweet, hot pussy.

His cat purred in response to the more base images that rolled through his head but the human side reared up and took control of the reins once again.

Not now.

His cat’s urge to find a mate was becoming more and more troublesome. He was happy he’d connected with Jonathan when the bear shifter had needed help making benches and other items for Ventures. They met via Tyler’s carpentry and restoration work and he felt like the club had become somewhat of an extended family, albeit a kinky one.

Seeing the place come alive was incredible and to be able to teach the lifestyle to beginners and more experienced practitioners was a joy. His work gave him back the body he’d almost lost to his injuries in Afghanistan. But he hadn’t lost anything near what his sister and niece had.

Sheree had lost her husband and Pepper had lost her father. A few scars and some physical therapy so he could walk again were nothing in comparison.

But he was losing his train of thought and the woman standing in front of him wasn’t going to let him forget it.

She glared at him. “If I didn’t want to know the answer to the question, I wouldn’t have asked.”

Oh. She did have some sprit. He liked that. Maybe he could push her a little and see where it took them.

“Sit in this chair and face the class, please.” He indicated a folding chair next to the podium with a dip of his chin

She lowered herself on to the metal chair, her face a mask of disapproval. No doubt she disliked of his making an example of her. There would be no brats or prima donnas in his class. Even if it was just an hour.

He turned to the class. “Now…we agree on the time to be in class just like you would agree to a time to meet your dominant or your submissive. Each of you has had some experience in the lifestyle and obviously, because you are here in this class, you are finding out more about it your needs and wants. I am, however, aware that you expected another instructor when you initially signed up.”

He gazed out across the students and was encouraged to see their rapt attention.

Good.

“Your regular instructor. Mistress Claudia, will be back next week. However, I do have sign-ups for my Shibari class on Thursday nights. My first class for the new sessions will be a week from today. If we don’t all get washed away in the storm, that is.”

The titter of laughter reached his ears and he smiled. He was reaching them. Good.

Tyler let his gaze rake over every person in the room. “One thing to note if you take classes here at Ventures. If you say you're going to be somewhere, be there. Not five minutes late. Be on time. Respect your instructor’s time as well as your classmates’. The second rule is to be prepared. If an instructor sends you information, read it. You hold up the class if you are ill prepared.”

Paige fidgeted in the chair and he bit back a smile.

“I want you all to look at the first page of your hand out. It lists rules we all abide by in this lifestyle. If you are already a member here at Ventures, you will no doubt have had some exposure to this.” He spanned the crowd and noted a middle-aged man with a good physique. “Read the first line. You, the man on the edge of the first row. Can you tell us your first name and how long you’ve been interested in the lifestyle.”

“I’m Barry and I’ve been reading about BDSM since by wife made me watch that movie. She seems to really be interested so I thought I’d find out more.”

“That’s wonderful, Barry. Can you read us the first line?”

“Safe. Sane. Consensual.”

“Good.” He pointed to a young blonde woman in the second row. “Can you tell me your name and what you think safe means? Other than the obvious.”

She cleared her throat and tucked some hair behind her ear. “I’m Lux. Always know where you are, what to expect, and who you're playing with.”

“Yes, that's definitely part of it. What about the next one? And, please, tell us your name.” He pointed to a young Asian woman a few seats over.

“Ah. I’m Amy and I’ve been on the fringes of the lifestyle for a few years. When I met Jonathan and Lucas, they made me want to know more. I started coming here on the weekends. Sane means to be sensible in your actions. And don’t take risks with another’s safety or your own.” The woman’s serious dark eyes met his and Tyler nodded.

“How very true.” He glanced out at the group. “How many of you agree with what this young woman just said?”

Most of the group raised their hands, including the very lovely submissive sitting next to him. Or at least, he thought of her as submissive and he very rarely got that wrong.

“Okay and what do you think the last phrase means? Your name and what you hope to gain from this class.” Tyler pointed to an older man in the back row.

“I’m Roger and I’ve been interested in this lifestyle for a number of years. My first wife taught me what it is to love the cane and I’ve been enamored ever since.”

“Wonderful.”

Roger gave him a tight smile. “Consensual means consent. You're here to be with someone who wants to be with you. Nothing like experiencing something you didn’t agree to, to make that point clear real fast.”

“That's exactly right. Those are the three basic rules this lifestyle. Safe because you make agreements and you communicate before anything ever happens between anyone. Sane because you don't do things that are harmful to yourself or to another person. Period. Dominants, in particular this matters most for you. Although the submissive in many ways guides what happens in your play, you as a dominant are responsible. You are obligated to keep your submissive safe, help them reach their goals, and make sure that they don't push themselves too hard and harm themselves.”

A woman raised her hand toward the back of the class. “What about sub space? I've read about that. What is it and is it harmful?”

“That's a good question. It is not harmful. Basically, this is what happens when you reach a certain point where pain and pleasure come together. The sensation can be compared to a trance, and you have to watch the sub to make sure they don't drift too far in for too long and be ready for aftercare with something to eat and drink.”

“Like what?”

“Chocolate and some water are always good to have on hand.”

Another woman raised her hand. “Is there something called Dom space?”

“Yes,” Tyler acknowledged with a smile. “There is and dominants have to be careful of it. It's easy to let yourself go too far in the moment if you aren’t paying close attention. It is essential that you remain in control at all times and keep the submissive’s safety your ultimate concern.”

“One other thing you must be aware of, consent. Before you enter into any play, you have to at least have a conversation about that person's triggers, health issues, or anything that could possibly cause problems during your session.”

Tyler gestured toward Paige. “For example, this young woman has signed up for this class and by doing so has given consent to learn what I, or whatever instructor is here, was going to teach. Bondage basics. It covers quite a few areas and we only have six weeks.”

He cleared his throat and continued. “It would behoove me to start you all out with a short lesson on submission and form. But beyond that, I encourage you to visit the gift shop. There you will find several reference books on basic BDSM. Do yourself a favor and pick one up so you’ll be prepared for future lessons. Mistress Claudia and Rory should be back next week and she’s asked me to give you some questions to consider. I will email them to you at the end of class.”

He stepped in front of the female cat shifter and again was seized by an overwhelming urge to give in to his animal’s urges and claim her. Instead he forced his beast down and hardened his resolve to get through the class without incident.

“You have been going to the club for a while. Do you know how to pose for submission?”

Paige nodded and then dropped her eyes toward the floor. A pretty flush covered her cheeks but he wasn’t fooled. He was playing with fire and part of him wanted to see how far he could take the burn before it snapped back and singed him.

His cat paced beneath his skin, the urge to mark this woman as his nearly overwhelming.

No.

“Please rise and show the class a typical submissive pose.” His voice sounded even. Tyler gave himself props for that, if nothing else.

A tightening of her lips was her only response and then she rose from the chair, lowering herself onto the stage. Resting her body on her knees, she placed her hands behind her back and kept her eyes fixed on the ground in front of her.

“Very good,” he said. “Notice how the submissive has her gaze lowered to the floor, her breasts out for inspection. The knees are supporting the body and can be spread as wide or as little as the dominant wishes for whatever delicious torment he would like to begin their session with.”

Appreciative noises came from the class but his cat hissed in displeasure. His mate should be for his pleasure alone and no one else’s.

The flush on her face indicated she was less than pleased at being made an example of. Too bad. She shouldn’t have been late to his class.

“You may rise and resume your seat.”

She complied and he deliberately looked away from the way the sweater molded across her breasts.

A young black woman raised her hand. “What about contracts? I’ve heard they get used a lot. Would you have to have one in place to start a relationship with someone?”

“That's a good question.” He turned back to the black woman. “It helps but isn’t absolutely necessary. What you need to have is an agreement, so if it makes either party feel more secure then, by all means, do so. You can find a basic contract online. Or, I can have your instructor go over one with you when she returns. What it is, in a nutshell, is a list of hard and soft limits that make it very clear between the dominant and the submissive. It’s a list of what is fair game between two parties and what isn’t.”

Tyler considered the time and as Lexi, one of the subs from the club came by, he waved her over. He’d covered the basic tenants of the lifestyle, and that was what the instructor had intended for this first session. It made sense for the class to have some practical experience.

“Why don’t we all walk over to the spanking benches for the last thirty minutes? I want everyone to have a little hands on today. I also want to remind everyone that the Slave for a Night Auction will be held tomorrow night, along with a book signing with the author and artist of the Dungeon Land graphic novels. Proceeds of this auction will go to local victims of Hexen attacks. Information on times and other vendor participation can be found at the front desk.”

He noted several of the group began talking in animated whispers and he smiled. This auction was a big one for Ventures. It was a shame the storm hanging over their heads had the propensity of ruining it.

“Lexi, would you mind taking the group and showing them some of the paddles and impact implements? Paige and I will be along presently.” He glanced down at the feisty young woman when she didn’t budge from her place, her chin set at a defiant angle.

“Of course, Sir.”

The students rose and followed the attractive young woman toward the benches, until it was just Paige, a chair, and a very naughty idea that came barreling into his brain.

Oh yes. He was going to enjoy taming this cat. One delicious step at a time.

 

 

 

“Are you going to get up and follow the class or do I have to make an example out of you again? You don’t remember me?”

“Should I?”

Paige seethed, heat creeping up her cheeks. She glowered up at Master Blackburn, determined to stay right where she was and ignore his power play when her cat began to purr like a pussy in rut. The urge to shift and wrap herself around his ankles was nearly overpowering and she had to dig her nails into her palms to fight the feeling off.

Mate.

Her inner feline was being decidedly unruly and threatening to upend whatever balance she’d managed to hold on to. Letting loose on her control was not an option. No complications. That was her golden rule. And definitely not males with mating on the brain. But it seemed like it wasn’t just him. Her cat had ideas of her own, too.

Her beast yowled, stoking the heat blazing through her veins. It was all there in his eyes, and it scared the holy mother shit out of her.

What was worse: her human side wanted him, the bastard. Even if it was only to see how hard they could come together.

Master Blackburn stepped in front of her. He leaned in and she sucked in his spicy scent, the earthy male aroma sending a pulse of want between her thighs.

“I’m waiting, kitten.”

Her cat mewled and a whisker popped free, causing her to gasp.

No, no, no, no, no….

Oh for fuck’s sake.

Now?

She had been with dozens of dominants at the club and while they got her juices flowing for a while, no one had quite gotten under her skin like this prick had in the last thirty minutes.

Just listening to the timber of his voice as he spoke to the class spun her insides into molten gold. Not. Good. And now she’d popped a whisker. Mortification surged through her and she staggered to her feet, slapping her hand over her face before he could see. At least she hadn’t done it in front of the class.

How had she lost so much control?

“I’m leaving.”

“Already?” He stepped back to allow her space and his lips quirked up in a delighted smile.

She started to spew out an acid wielding barb but all the came out from behind her hand was a mumbled threat that was barely understandable.

The man was a pompous ass. When did he get off thinking he could treat her like this? Embarrassing her in front of these people and making her sit there like a naughty child, and now she was supposed to follow him like she was at his beck and fucking call for the rest of class? Not a chance. She was out of here. Jonathan was going to get an email with a piece of her mind.

Except, everything in her wanted to stay. Only once before had she ever felt a sliver of what she was experiencing now.

Mate.

A surge of desire rocked her to the core and she groaned as another whisker popped free.

“Shit,” she mumbled, staggering to her feet and pushed past him.

“Where are you going?”

“I have to leave.”

Paige stalked toward the edge of the stage, her fingers tingling, her mother’s latent magic threatening to push her over the edge. One mismanaged burst of power and she wouldn’t just pop a whisker. Hell, Paige could shift before she could summon the force of will to stop it.

Her cat prowled so close beneath her skin and in her head she knew and understood what was happening. It was all chemistry, shifter style, and it pissed her off as much as it made her desire to turn around and climb the man behind her like a freaking jungle gym.

Fucking Alpha male with his washboard abs and thighs like freaking tree trunks.

Paige knew what it was when shifters connected. It was very often an instant reaction via the animals within. Hell, she arranged matings for a living, damn it. So why was this jerk making her think of things she hadn’t thought about since a chance meeting she’d had a few years ago right before her mother introduced her to Javier.

She wanted love. He wanted a familiar with benefits who could help him spell cast his way to the top. She’d taken him into her bed and into her body with the hope that he would see her as a woman and not a pet. Goddess, how wrong she had been.

But this man…when he turned his searing eyes toward her, all she felt was a longing so deep it made her quake in her proverbial boots.

Getting her thrills? Sure. That’s what Ventures was for. Safe. Secure. And a whole lot of rules between you and the people you played with—unless you wanted it different. She should know. Walking in the building, she’d seen at least three of the dominants who had warmed her ass with their paddles but none of them made her feel this out of control.

Paddles. Paige shivered, trying to imagine what Master Blackburn could do if he chose to give her a spanking.

Goddess, even his name reminded her of the guy. Had it been Blackburn?

Whatever. Daydreams were daydreams and right now she wanted it to involve his hand stroking her ass.

And maybe his teeth marking her as his as his cock slid inside of her.

Paige faltered in her steps as the visual clicked in place. What the hell was wrong with her? And why did he seem so damned familiar? Like she’d met him before somewhere but couldn’t immediately place it. He reminded her a little of the dominant from her first experience at the convention a few years ago. Only, he had been patient. This guy had been a total ass.

So why the heat wave?

It was just hormones. It had to be.

No other man had ever made her feel that way. Before or since.

Shut up you stupid cat.

She had to get the hell out of there.

Everyone else had already left the classroom area by the stage and had walked over to the beautiful wooden benches, leaving the two of them alone.

“Stop.”

Alarm skittered down her spine. If she followed him over to the benches, there was a good chance the magic would break free.

Her nose itched and she rubbed at it, the change close to the surface with her emotional upheaval.

“No. I can’t…”

“May I remind you that you signed up for this class. Not only were you late but you have held up the remaining thirty minutes with these antics. I had hoped, after observing you on the main floor, that you were better trained than this.”

Goddess. He thought she was being a brat. Tears pricked at her eyelids as she realized that was better than him understanding what was really going on. She wasn’t going to shift. Not for him or any other man. Her cat was on her own terms and that was final.

Embarrassment gnawed at her but there was no fighting the fine black hairs sprouting on her arms or the claws edging out from beneath her fingernails. It was against club rules to be in anything but human form.

“I’m sorry.” She responded as she yanked her purse off the floor and darted up the aisle toward the door.

“Fine,” he snapped, his voice trailing after her. “I’ll inform your instructor that you chose to drop the class rather than confront whatever it is that’s bothering you. I would, however, request you be at the charity auction tomorrow. If you can manage it.”

Paige paused a few steps from the door and tried to get her breathing under control as the tears she’d been trying to hold back streamed down her cheeks.

And without another word, he gathered his notes and pushed past her toward where the rest of the class gathered near the spanking benches. That was when her memory of him slammed into place and why his name seemed familiar.

Spanking benches.

Holy rocking shit balls.

It was him.

 

 

 

“Come on Uncle Tyler, you gonna fall asleep?” Pepper waved her pint-sized hand in front of him and he tried to focus on where he was instead of pondering the run in he’d just had with the sexy submissive in his class.

Correction.

His one time favor for Lucas and Jonathan. Even if she had been the girl from a few years ago, she obviously hadn’t been as affected by him as he had by her. After their stint at the convention, he’d done everything to try and find out who she was with no success. Then today, she simply appeared.

His niece flopped down in her chair, her bright green eyes watching him intently.

“Sorry, kiddo. How was school?”

“Fine, I guess.”

The scent of baking bread and the spicy aroma of Italian cooking made his stomach rumble. There was nothing like his mother and sister at work in the kitchen. The only thing he regretted was Marc not being here to share it. He missed the light in his sister’s eyes whenever he came into the room. She’d been through a lot in the past ten years but lately he’d noticed something in her had lifted.

Thunder boomed from outside and he thought of the upcoming auction. It was for a good cause and if the storm went on much longer, the town was looking at potential flooding. The rain hadn’t let up. If anything, it had gotten stronger. His phone buzzed on his hip with what was most likely yet another flash flood warning.

Sheree brought the tray of lasagna into the dining room.

“Don’t pester your uncle. Give him a moment to catch his breath. Put out the silverware like I asked you to, please.” Sheree shot her daughter a look as she placed the lasagna on the table.

“I’m surprised they haven’t cancelled school yet. I guess they’re waiting to see how the storm progresses over the next couple of days.” Tyler replied.

“I know. The weather reports aren’t good. Did you get the bid on the old Walters place?”

“I did.” He reached for a soft roll and palmed it before his sister could slap his hands. With two bites, it was gone.

“Tyler.”

“What? I’m hungry. I thought we were supposed to be eating by now.”

ET, their cat, otherwise known as Evil Troll, trotted in from the living room, his beady little orbs assessing the situation. He’d never met such an obnoxious little shit. His only redeeming quality was his devotion to Pepper.

“We are.” Sheree replied, crossing her arms. “If Pepper will do as I asked her, we won’t have to eat with our fingers.”

Pepper scowled, scrunching up her napkin as she pushed back from the table. ET vanished underneath the table and he felt the little monster brush his leg on his way to follow the girl.

She snatched the pile of silverware and thumped the appropriate utensils down next to each plate, all without uttering so much as a word.

Something was going on.

Tyler counted the plates around the table. Mom. Sheree. Pepper. Him. So what was the other plate doing there? God, he hoped they weren’t matchmaking again. The last woman they set him up with had been a ferret with a couple of kids she’d forgotten to mention.

“She’s okay, sis.”

His mother bustled in, a bowl of salad and a carafe of salad dressing in her hand. “Is he here yet?”

Sheree sighed. “Not yet, mother. I’m sure the weather is holding him up.”

Him?

What the actual hell was going on?

Glancing out the front curtains, Sheree beamed. “He’s here. Just pulled up in the driveway.”

She removed her apron, ran her hands down her jeans, and scurried for the door.

“Hey. Sorry I’m late.” A boisterous male voice sounded from the hall. A uniformed police officer ambled into the entryway to the dining room. Military styled brown hair and eyes that crinkled at the edges gave him a friendly, yet firm demeanor. The hug he gave Sheree gave Tyler’s blood pressure a run for its money.

His little sister had a date.

Words failed him, but he scrambled up out of the chair and offered the other man a hand. “Hey, man. I’m Tyler.”

“Jake. Nice to finally meet you.” He clasped his hand in a firm grip. “Your mom and sister have told me so much about you.”

They had?

“Funny.” Tyler replied, searching for the right response. “They haven’t told me a thing about you.”

Why hadn’t they told him they were having company?

Human.

The guy was fucking human.

His gaze whipped toward Sheree but she studiously avoided catching his gaze.

“We’re glad you made it, Jake.” His mother said, ushering the other man toward a chair. “The food just came out of the oven.”

“I’d like to change first if you don’t mind, Mrs. Blackburn. I’m soaked to the bone. Three rescues in the last four hours and I feel like my feet might never dry out.” Jake kissed Sheree on the cheek and vanished down the hallway that led to the master bedroom.

A growl slipped from Tyler’s lips before he realized it. Sheree took an abrupt step towards him, her cat shining in her eyes.

“It’s not what you think.”

“Really?” He replied. “Cause from here it sure looks like it. You have a human living here and you didn’t even have the decency to tell me first?”

“Tyler…” His mother gave him a warning look, casting a meaningful eyebrow lift in Pepper’s direction.

“I’m not hiding anything from my niece.” Tyler shot back. He was furious. “Is this what you asked me over for? To announce you have a live in?”

“Not exactly.” Came his sister’s reply. She rubbed her hands down her jeans and sucked in a deep breath. “Just give me a minute, Tyler. I want Jake here when we do this, okay?”

Moments later, Jake emerged, freshly changed into a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. “Sorry to hold everyone up.”

“It’s fine.” Sheree moved away from Tyler, her jaw tight.

The other man took in the body language and tension in the room and sighed.

“My guess is it’s not.” Jake held Tyler’s gaze. “Look, man, I wanted to meet you before this all went down but things just went faster than anyone planned.”

“Why don’t we all sit down?” His mother ushered them toward the table, giving Tyler a stern expression.

He slid back into his chair and reached for the serving spoon. Hefting out a portion of lasagna, he handed the spoon to Pepper.

“Do you want to tell them now or wait until after we eat?” Jake lowered himself into his chair, his eyes never leaving Sheree.

Huh. At least he was an attentive son of a bitch.

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather get it out in the open. I won’t be able to eat a thing otherwise.”

“Fine. Talk.” Tyler put his fork down and waited, but not without a mournful look at the hot lasagna on his plate. Odds were, whatever was happening, it wouldn’t be hot when things got hashed out. Not by a long shot.

Sheree’s gaze flickered toward Pepper, then back to Jake. The other man reached out and captured her hand in his.

“Okay. I’ll do it.” Jake cleared his throat. “I met your sister at a function at work. We hit it off pretty well and started dating off and on about six months ago. To be honest, I was still getting over losing my wife and wasn’t really ready for a relationship.”

“Neither of us were,” Sheree corrected. “But it happened.”

“What aren’t you telling us?” Tyler narrowed his eyes and his cat responded. Her scent was…different.

Then he remembered why. The glow when he looked at her lately. The sense that something was lighter. Freer. He’d only seen her like this one other time in her life. His sister was moving on and he didn’t know how he felt about that. And in one of the biggest ways possible.

“You’re pregnant.”

It came out before he could stop the words from erupting, immediately sorry when he saw the guilty flush creep across Sheree’s cheeks.

“Tyler Blackburn. Watch your tongue.” His mother snapped back, a look of disbelief on her face.

How could she have hidden it from their mother? That didn’t make sense. The sense of betrayal to Marc’s memory scraped raw but the vulnerable look in his sister’s eyes told him she wasn’t the only one thinking about him.

“It’s true.” Sheree said, her voice small. “I wanted to be sure before I told everyone. We only just found out today.”

Their mother clucked her tongue, dinner forgotten. “Honey…”

By her expression, Tyler couldn’t tell if his Mom was going to blow or start to cry. This was not what any shifter mother wanted for her offspring.

“I’m sorry, Mom. It wasn’t exactly expected.”

Jake rose from the table and moved to stand next to Sheree.

“Family is important. Sheree and I know we have a lot of differences to overcome. But I want this to work. For the baby. For us. Sheree tells me that I am her mate. I’ll try to live up to your expectations.”

Jake was Sheree’s mate?

Fuck. What did that even mean? Mated with a human? He couldn’t even wrap his head around it. Had she been marked? Had his sister marked him? What did that mean for Jake being human? Would he become a shifter? Tyler had heard of it happening before when some humans mated with their kind but it was never an absolute.

None of that escaped his niece and when he turned to measure her reaction, he was met with Pepper’s dinner sailing through the air to explode on the wall behind him.

Magic sparked in the air and the scent of ozone settled in the room.

Here we go.

“You’re having a baby?” Pepper exploded, as what was happening set in. “Why, Mom? Aren’t I enough?”

“Oh, baby. Come here.”

“No. You told me when he moved in that I wouldn’t be replaced. But that’s exactly what you’re doing.” Angry tears welled in Pepper’s eyes. She bolted from the table and Tyler heard the telltale stomping up the stairs. ET stalked along behind her, his tail twitching at his mistress’s distress. The loud slam of her bedroom door closing was the final protest.

“That went well.”

“Shut up, Tyler.” Sheree put her hands to her temples and groaned.

“He does have a point. We should have had this conversation with Pepper later.” Jake sighed and rubbed Sheree’s shoulders.

“I’m sure there’ll be many conversations. Leave your plates when you’re done. I’m going upstairs.” Lips pressed together in what he knew was going to be a wicked discussion with Sheree later, his mother headed down the hallway.

“Oh boy.”

“Yeah.” Tyler took a bite of his now cold dinner and sighed. Outside, the storm raged on but that was nothing compared to the one inside.

 

 

 

Paige sat in her car in the parking lot at Ventures, the rain steadily pelting the windows. The auction was set to start in a little while. Part of her hoped it would get cancelled due to the storm, but the other part wanted to confront that pompous Dom and give him a piece of her mind. Yesterday’s class had left her seething. But she also couldn’t get the dark eyed dominant out of her head.

A night of restless dreams filled with a fuck ton of erotic spankings, and a midnight interlude with her battery operated boyfriend hadn’t helped either.

Mate.

“Shut up, you stupid cat.” She growled and closed her eyes. She had to go in there and find out if what her traitorous cat was feeling might actually have merit. Was it him? There was only one way to find out.

Her phone alarm went off, wailing about yet another flash flood warning. She’d been afraid it was another of Javier’s texts. The man needed to learn over meant over and no amount of texting was going to change her mind.

Call me.

Right. When hell froze over and pigs flew.

She was about to shut it off when her phone buzzed again, this time with her mother’s own personal Godzilla dinosaur roar ring tone.

It figured. Because tonight was already awesome.

“Hello, mother.”

“Paige.” Her mother said. “I’m glad you answered.”

“I’m a little busy, Mom. What’s up?”

“Have you heard from Javier?”

Oh that was rich. Don’t ask about the storm or how she was, but definitely inquire about her ex finance. Brilliant. Hell, they were part of the same coven.

“I haven’t talked to him, if that’s what you mean.”

“Hmmm.” Her mother made a thoughtful noise.

“What, Mom? You probably see him way more than I did.” Paige said, annoyed. The rain picked up and soon it was a dull roar, the car windows fogging up.

“I want you to speak with him.”

“Why? There’s nothing left to say. I’m not going to be leveraged as anyone’s familiar, Mom. I’m sorry that ruined the family’s plans but I can’t. I won’t.”

“This isn’t about that.” She hedged. “Well, at least not exactly.”

Paige sighed. This conversation needed to be over. The butterfly nerves in her stomach were becoming ping pong balls.

“He’s been acting…off. And I think he might have headed in your direction. If the weather is any indicator.” Her mother said, a note of hesitation in her voice.

“What do you mean, off?”

“Hexen.”

“Like, the terrorist group?”

“Yes.”

Oh. Oh, shit.

“How do you know this, Mom?”

Paige heard the sigh through the phone. “I shouldn’t be talking to you about coven business, since you’re no longer a part of it, but there are some of us, a very few of us who don’t believe in what they are doing. Resorting to violence is no way to make any group do what you want. Not in the long run. Shifters and witches have worked side by side for centuries.”

“But not always by choice, Mom.”

“You do what is right for the family. Marrying into a good witching house would have helped us. But now…”

“So this is my fault?”

“I’m not saying that,” her mother denied. “But since you left, he’s been more and more radical.”

This conversation was going nowhere. It was her fault the family didn’t leapfrog into witching greatness by blending their witch/shifter blood with a higher ranking witch family.

“I have to go, Mother.”

“Just…be careful. The storm.”

“What? Is he playing with weather witches now?”

“Yes.”

The abrupt answer left her cold.

“If Javier has been trying to get in touch with you, there may be a reason. And if he feels slighted, he may try and take matters into his own hands.”

The blood drained from her face. Would he try and take her and force a mating by means of magic? Was the storm a distraction so he could approach her unaware?

“He wouldn’t.”

The pause before her mother’s response told her everything she needed to know. The likelihood was high that was exactly what he was up to.

“I hope not, child, but keep your guard up.”

“I will, Mom. Now, I have to go. There’s something I have to do.” Paige shut off the phone, slipping it into her clutch, and made up her mind to go inside. Being around her kink community was a balm to her soul and right now she needed that more than anything else.

Dodging through rain drops, she leveraged her umbrella through the prideed parking lot until she found herself under the awning.

“Ma’am?” One of the male submissives held the door open for Paige as a well-dressed dominant and his lady breezed past her on a cloud of expensive perfume. It was still raining, but that didn’t seem to bother any of the guests. She’d never seen Ventures so prideed. It was almost as if they were there in spite of the storm.

Suddenly, her little black dress seemed more and more out of place.

“Paige!” Natalie approached, her smile wide. “You made it.”

“I wouldn’t have missed tonight for anything.” Especially after that pompous dominant laid down the gauntlet yesterday. Paige shook off her umbrella, handing it over to the door attendant.

Enveloping her in a quick hug, Natalie led her further into the club. In the main floor, Paige could see booths set up for floggers and other impact gear and a graphic novel signing for Dungeon Land. A destination resort she’d never heard of had one of the last and heavily attended booths.

Temptation Resorts.

Now that was something she’d have to check out. In the name of business, of course. Another sign indicated a food play demonstration happening in a room just off the main event space.

“There she is.” A tall piece of eye candy in a tux wrapped an arm around Natalie and pulled her close for a hug.

“Jonathan.” A pretty blush covered Natalie’s cheeks. “We were just coming to find you and Lucas.”

“It’s great to see you.”

“Are you going to bid or are you entering the auction?” Lucas sauntered up and gave Paige a devilish smile, dropping a kiss on Natalie’s brow.

“Well, hello to you, too.” Paige chuckled. She honestly hadn’t even thought about it. Just coming over to support the club had been the only thing on her mind. That, and proving she wasn’t a coward. The thought took on a dual meaning after the conversation with her mother.

Thunder boomed from outside and the lights flickered momentarily, then stabilized.

“I hope we don’t lose power.” Grace stalked toward the front door, eying the storm with obvious distaste. Assistant to Lucas and Jonathan, she kept the club running like a tight ship. Her immaculate little black dress and heels were only matched by the polished updo.

“Is everything ready to go for the auction?”

“It is.”

“Is there a list of who is up for bidding?”

Lucas grinned. “Why, Paige, I would have figured you for the submissive side of the house.”

“You never know about a person, do you?” She slung back, winking at the shocked expression on Natalie’s face, followed by an unladylike snort. “I’ve got a prize package for one winner for a session at Shifting Hearts, if that will help.”

“That’s perfect, Paige. Thank you.” Natalie beamed. “I know a few of these characters that would be much improved by having a mate.”

Paige giggled. “Okay, I give. How does this work, exactly?”

“The auction?” Lucas raised an eyebrow.

Paige nodded, her pulse hammering in her throat.

Jonathan leaned forward, and his lips curved into a smile. “You’ll be bid on by men and women, and the winner will claim you as slave for the day. Now... there is one more thing to consider when you get there.”

“What?”

“You could always be the one bidding instead.”

Paige squirmed. Heat crept up the back of her neck, and she self-consciously rubbed the spot. At worst, she might be selected by one of the dominants at the club and spend a few hours playing. If it meant giving Javier and his bunch the finger, she would volunteer—and gladly.

“What would I have to do?”

“That depends.” Jonathan countered. “Which would you like to do?”

“She doesn’t have to decide now.” Natalie laughed, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “But I can tell you the room is chock full of hunky doms and I bet one of them would love to have you wash their dishes or maybe…I don’t know…warm their paddle.”

“Point taken, love.” He pressed a kiss to Natalie’s forehead and considered Paige. “Why don’t you head over to the green room and meet up with Manuel.” Jonathan slid a card into her hand. “If you decide to enter in as a contestant, fill this out and they’ll get you entered onto the bid list.”

“You talked me into it.”

Putting his finger on the earpiece, Jonathan spoke softly into the mic. “Manuel, please meet our friend, Paige, at the door to the green room. She’ll be there in a few moments.”

“Do I need to change?” Paige asked.

“Yes, but they’ll have wardrobe already set up and waiting for you.” Natalie reached over and hugged her. “Thank you for even thinking about it. The boys won’t let me play this time. Even if it’s them who’s bidding.”

“I don’t want to hear another word about it. No pregnant mate of ours is going to…” Jonathan growled, his bear shining in his eyes.

Lucas nodded, tugging a blushing Natalie against them. “Not this time, pet. You know what the doctor said. More rest. No exerting yourself.”

Paige blinked.

Wait. What?

“You’re pregnant?”

The black sparkly dress she had on worked with her curves but…oh my Goddess, there it was. A baby bump.

“We are.” Lucas pressed a kiss to Natalie’s forehead and she beamed up at both of her men.

“Oh, honey. That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” Paige said.

The intercom buzzed. “Last call for those interested in participating in the auction. Please make your way to the green room presently. Thank you for your time and treasure for those most in need.”

Natalie snuggled against her men and for a moment, Paige wished she had found something real like these people had. This. This was why she’d gotten into the match making business. To see the happiness on people’s faces. It’s what she fought against when she fled the coven. Seeing these three together only solidified her choice.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Now, you’d better get going if you’re going to play.” Jonathan winked and headed for the front door as another bout of guests entered in a flurry of umbrellas.

“Remember, no one can make you do anything you don’t want to do.” Natalie hugged her and scurried off after her mates, leaving Paige to her own devices. Did she really want to do this?

It was for a good cause. And she was one for putting her money where her mouth was. If play acting in a slave auction helped counteract the bullshit Javier was up to, then more the better.

Clutching the card Jonathan had given her, she wove between the throng of glittering dresses and tuxedos, leather and latex. Every kind of dress was the norm here. But next time…next time she was wearing something with some bling.

Paige followed another woman into the hallway, letting the door shut behind her. She walked briskly to keep up, knowing she had to find the green room quickly.

She was on her own, her pulse thrumming in her ears and before she knew it, Paige found herself standing at the base of a small set of stairs with a sign pointing the way. A harried man waited at the door.

“Are you Paige?”

“I am.”

“Good.” He beckoned her up the steps. “We don’t have much time. The auction starts in a half hour.”

Paige hurried to join him. “Are you Manuel?”

“Yes.”

“Natalie said something about changing clothes.” She glanced down, feeling uncertain.

“That all depends on you, sweeting.”

She shot him a frown of confusion, but he turned and led her inside. “I don’t understand.”

The space serving as a green room was more like a glamorous closet. Paige marveled at the spacious interior.

“Follow me, and we’ll sort it all out.” Manuel led her up inside. Costumes hung from metal rolling racks, and dressing tables laden with makeup and costume jewelry lined the walls.

“Now, would you rather be the bidder or the slave?”

Paige nibbled on her lip and considered. “What would I have to do if I’m the bidder?”

“Easy. I fit you with a gown and dress you up. Then you head down to the main floor and bid on your slave for the day. Proceeds go toward the Hexen Relief Foundation. If you win the slave, they do whatever tasks you have in mind for the rest of the day.”

“And if I want to be the slave?” Warmth curled inside her at the idea.

“Then you are in for a real treat. There are some very influential people in the audience today.” Manuel raked his eyes over her figure. “You won’t last a minute. Someone is going to snap you up in a heartbeat. At least, from what I can tell. Get out of that dress and let’s find you something more suitable.”

“Should I find a changing room?”

Manuel snorted. “No time. And, don’t worry, I play for the other team, love. Strip and let’s get you radiant, shall we?”

Three more women were being dressed in front of mirrors nearby and a young submissive male was being fitted with a leather thong and leash.

“I’m not going to wear one of those I hope.” She divested herself of her clothes and one of the young women fetching and carrying for Manuel spirited them away.

“Hmmm, No.” Manuel arched his brow critically and let his gaze wander down her body. He plucked the first item off the rack and clicked and rearranged hangers until he found the second piece, holding them up to consider.

“I love your curves. We haven’t got a lot of time to get you ready to rock it across the stage. Get rid of those undies, sweetcakes.”

Paige swallowed. They weren’t exactly granny panties but they weren’t sexy bondage gear either. Heat rising to her cheeks, she shucked the panties and bra, kicking the offending scraps of fabric out of the line of fire.

“I think the black bustier and lacy micro skirt for you, missy.”

“I’m supposed to fit into that?” she squeaked, scrutinizing the itty bitty skirt and thinking about her ample curves. When she came to play, she wore more than this.

“Do you want me to dress you?” Manuel inquired, his voice dangerously soft. The trainer’s eyes narrowed on her, and she suddenly felt very inexperienced.

Paige gulped and snapped to, pulling on the bustier and fastening it. She looked at the micro skirt and froze once more. “Panties?”

“No.”

“No?”

“That’s what a slave gets for questioning her betters. Now, get moving before I make you go naked out of spite.”

Paige slid the skirt up and fastened the side closure. The slit showed her upper thigh, and the hem ended a hair below her ass. If she had to bend over, every person in the vicinity would get an eyeful.

“Not bad, but you need more lipstick.” He swiped some color across her mouth. “Nice. Let’s go.”

As he led her from the dressing room, a tall woman with red hair approached, her gaze moving over Paige’s body. She carried a clipboard, and behind her stood a muscular young man in a barely there pair of briefs.

“Manuel, what do we have here?”

“Mistress Annabel, this is slave Paige. She is joining us for the auction.”

“How lovely to meet you. Perhaps we’ll see each other again later.” The woman’s eyes flashed, and a devilish smile turned up the corners of her lips.

Paige paused, but Manuel gripped her by the arm. He tugged her toward a line of other scantily clothed men and women, and thrust her toward the stage.

 

 

 

She wasn’t here. Displeasure flagged Tyler’s spirits as he wandered through the glittering throng of partygoers. Tuxedos and colorful gowns filled the main part of the club. He wondered where the lads had stored all the spanking benches.

He wasn’t sure why he cared if she was here or not. She clearly despised him. But the way his cat carried on the rest of the night left him with a cold shower and a raging hard on that wouldn’t fucking quit. He just needed to get her out of his system. That was it. One play session and he’d be fine. His cat would get over his piss poor attitude and everything would get back to normal. Part of him hoped she would be here. Scratch the itch and it would fade.

At least, that was what he was telling himself.

But it looked like his kitten had turned out to be a scardy cat. It was just as well.

The auction was off to a fine start and he had a feeling that after tonight a lot of people in the local community would benefit from everyone’s efforts. The local community had opened up to the club, despite efforts from Natalie’s family to shame members and cause a scandal. Now the ball was in the other court and Natalie held the paddle, and in more ways than one.

He’d already donated a gift voucher with his carpentry services to the cause, and as thunder boomed in the distance and the rain continued to come down, he wondered how many more people were going to need help from flood waters before the night was through. Already reports were coming in from the surrounding areas and not all of them were good.

Wandering through the crowd, he observed many familiar faces, one of which was Mistress Claudia and her submissive. He waved, glad she was back in town.

His phone went off inside of his tuxedo jacket, the buzz and indicator of an alarm. No doubt another flash flood warning. A short jaunt away, he caught sight of Lucas, Jonathan, and Natalie and smiled. The three of them were so happy, it almost hurt to watch them. Moments later, they vanished into the crowd and he decided to go inside and wait for the auction to start. God willing, they would hopefully get through the night with the power on.

The lights dimmed and the spotlight centered on stage. Natalie took the stage and the crowd went wild.

“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us for tonight’s charity auction. All proceeds will go to those in our local community affected by Hexen attacks. Many thanks to participating vendors and all of you for making tonight possible. And all despite the rain.”

Laughter erupted from the crowd and Natalie smoothed her glittering black dress.

“The men and women you will meet have come to offer their time in exchange for your very esteemed treasure in the hopes that we can take a stand on bullying in any form. Witch and shifter should be able to co-exist in peace. But until that happens, these doors are open to any and all in need.

“Now, please welcome Master Reginald as he begins our auction. Remember to have your to do lists ready. And, as always, any event at Ventures is Safe, Sane, and Consensual. Any off site activities relating to the event fall under the same stipulations. Thank you, everyone! Let’s get to bidding!” Natalie clapped as Master Reginald appeared. Clad in a tux, the blond dominant began to speak but Tyler tuned the other man out as soon as he saw the lineup of candidates up on stage.

***

 

Paige backed up as three other women jostled past her, vying for position just offstage. A dozen men and women were lined up, readying themselves for their cue. They were dressed in all manner of clothing, from a simple black dress to a leather dog collar and leash. One woman was even au natural. She observed the crowd gathered and froze, feeling ridiculous in her micro skirt.

“Now you’re last,” Manuel hissed. “Hurry.”

She scurried forward as fast as she could, her heels wobbling, and tried not to fall.

An attendant in a tuxedo approached the hidden part of the stage where the participants gathered. The din of the crowd sounded behind him, and the voice of the announcer echoed through the space. His voice was familiar and with a smile, she realized it was Master Reginald. He was a considerate dominant and she’d had the pleasure to be at the business end of his paddle on a couple of occasions.

“I trust you are all ready to go.” The attendant smiled, glancing over the list of names. “When I call, the next slave will parade himself or herself across the stage. You will stop at center stage and bow to the audience where I’ve marked the x with tape. Continue to the second point toward the edge and pause. Then make your way back and strike a pose. When bidding concludes, you’ll walk to the other side of the stage, where you’ll be given your assignment.”

Paige swallowed, and her hands began to shake. That shouldn’t be too hard. She just had to walk. She tried to wipe them on the micro skirt, but there wasn’t much to wipe on.

She could do this. It was for a good cause. And besides, she’d glanced out at the audience and hadn’t seen the prick of a dominant from last night. Part of her was disappointed that he couldn’t even be bothered to show up himself when he’d basically called her a coward. She would have loved to see him up here.

Her cat snorted at the thought.

Smothering a smile, she cleared her throat and tried to focus on what was happening in front of her.

The first girl was called. She pranced onto the stage, her mass of brown ringlets cascading down her back like a princess from a fairy tale. If she had been wearing leather, that is.

“And here is Riki. She loves to do yoga and is terribly talented with her hands. This submissive is just what the dominant ordered for his or her needs. Can we start the bidding please?”

“One thousand!”

Paige turned her head only slightly and caught a paddle going up in the middle of the audience.

“Going once! One thousand dollars for Slave Riki. Come on, folks, who wants to have their dishes done tonight by a sexy submissive in a leather corset?”

“Three thousand!”

Another paddle went up and the fray began. One by one, the slaves paraded out and were received by an adoring audience.

Paige stood alone, waiting. When her turn finally came, it took a quick prayer to whoever was listening to make her legs respond to her commands. It was one thing to stand still and blend in, but quite another to have everyone’s eyes on her all at once.

“Okay, everyone. We are on the final candidate for the evening and I must say, a delectable and curvaceous morsel, at that. I myself have had the pleasure of watching her very succulent backside turn pink under my paddle. Can we get a warm welcome for Paige, one of the owners of the highly successful Shifting Hearts Dating Agency?”

The auditorium was filled with clapping and Paige bowed, her face flaming as a draft shot up her very tiny skirt. She wanted to kill Manuel for insisting she wear no panties. Forcing her lips into a smile, she sauntered across the stage and gave what she hoped was a jaunty wave.

“Paige and her organization have also donated their services to one deserving bidder on top of her service here this evening. A true boon to the shifter community. Paige is also handy in the kitchen, and I’ve been the recipient of her blueberry muffins more than once. Come on, who wants to make this kitten purr tonight?”

The lights were hot, and she was unprepared for the volume of the crowd. Hoots and hollers greeted her, and she almost forgot to stop midway through her trip back toward the stage and bow. As she did, her eyes found a familiar face staring back at her from the sea of onlookers.

Goddess. It was him.

Master Blackburn stood, paddle in hand, a roguish expression on his ruggedly handsome face. She froze, taking in his powerful form. Clad in a tuxedo, rather than leathers, he appeared even more dangerous than he had before.

And he was bidding on her.

Blood rushed through her veins and she fought for control of the panic reaching up to take hold. Her nose itched and she gasped.

Not again!

The hint of a whisker tickled the underside of her skin and she held on to her human side, white knuckled. Not here. She couldn’t lose control now. Not on stage for everyone to see.

Oh, fuck!

She strode woodenly to the edge of the stage, Master Reginald’s voice going into auction mode.

“Can we start the bidding, please. Let’s end the night with a bang, shall we people?”

“Five thousand dollars.”

Paige’s eyes locked on Master Blackburn’s and her cat went wild. Purring and twisting beneath her skin, she sucked in a breath as the bidding took off. His gaze held her captive as he worked the paddle, each bid higher than the next.

“Ten thousand dollars. Do I hear a second?”

The crowd hung on Master Reginald’s words with bated breath.

“Going once, twice, and three times. We have a winner. Master Blackburn please come up and claim your slave for the night.”

Her stomach fluttered as his gaze left hers and she sagged like the very force of him had kept her standing.

Hands guided her to the other edge of the stage, and a piece of paper was pressed into her palms. A collar was fastened around her neck. She heard the click of metal as something tugged her forward.

Did she want this?

If she hadn’t, she never would have allowed herself to take part in the auction. But why him? It could have been anyone of the glittering throng of guests. Why had he of all people bid on her? He didn’t even like her.

Then he was there in all of his swarthy, tuxedoed hotness. Her core went molten imagining all the wicked things she’d wanted him to do to her since she’d first taken in his Alpha presence on the stage. Lust and anger warred within her as her human side and animal battled for dominance.

She tried to keep up with him in her borrowed heels, but it wasn't easy. He spoke to an attendant and pried the paper from her hand. He led her up the stairs and then up another flight to a third floor. They walked down the hallway, her heels clicking on the polished wooden floor until they finally reached their destination.

Master Blackburn opened the door and urged her inside, closing the door behind them. He tugged the leash, holding up a hand for her to stop, and Paige waited, unsure what to do. She saw nothing of the room, only him. His scent, the waves of his dark hair as they fell across his brow. The tuxedo that draped his muscular frame.

“Paige.” Her name was a whisper on his lips, and she trembled beneath the power of it.

“Sir.” She watched him, still half dazed from the merging of her two worlds. She’d known he might be here, but to see him like this was still unreal. She felt like Cinderella at the ball and it was a little unsettling.

“Little kitten.” He sighed and tugged her toward him, using the leash. With a click of metal, she was released, and his warm and steady fingers found the clasp of the collar and removed it as well. “It’s taken me a long time to find you.”

“But you did. I never thought I’d see you again…” She stammered, her pulse loud in her ears.

“Any collar you wear will be one of my own.” His eyes narrowed as they took in her appearance. “Why are you here?”

“I...”

“No, I know why. I just didn’t believe you actually had it in you to do it.”

“I didn’t recognize you. Not at first.”

“I gathered that.” He replied dryly.

He moved into the room, and she was able to see it was merely a bedroom furnished with an ornate honeyed oak sleigh bed and matching dresser. There was a large cabinet to the rear of the room and a bathroom off to one side.

“Sit on the bed.”

Paige did as he bade her, keeping her eyes lowered. Master Blackburn sat on the bed next to her and patted his leg.

“I want you to lie over my lap.”

Paige swallowed. Her mind swirled with the heady reality that this was really happening. She leaned to the side and maneuvered her body so she was draped over him. The firm strength of his thighs and the bulge growing between his legs made her weak. Moisture began to pool between her legs.

“Your instincts were right to call me ‘sir.’ You will do that through our session tonight, is that understood?”

Paige nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

“Excellent.” His hand touched the small of her back. “I want you to do something for me.”

“Yes, Sir,” she breathed. Her nipples tightened, and a dribble of fluid dampened her inner thighs.

“I want you to forget everything else. Just be in this moment. Not wanting more, but only existing here for my touch. Right now. Can you do that?”

“I can try, Sir.” Paige trembled and wondered how she could ever stop wanting more of him. Every second in his presence meant reining in the desire to pin him against the wall and fuck him until he came, screaming, inside of her. Being submissive when she wanted to pepper him with questions was taking its toll on her, but a part of her wanted this. To be his. Just his for the night. She’d agreed to it and the shock of him donating ten thousand dollars to be with her was still ricocheting through her brain.

Paige firmed her resolve and stared at the bedspread. She shook herself mentally, trying to focus on her master’s hand as it moved from the small of her back to the hem of her skirt.

The rough warmth of him was a pleasant shock, and as he let his palm caress the curved flesh of her backside, she drowned in the sensation.

“No panties? How daring.”

Suddenly his hand left her ass, only to come down hard in a powerful slap against one of her buttock cheeks.

Thwack!

“Ow!” Paige jumped, feet kicking up reflexively.

Master Blackburn secured her with his powerful legs. “Stop.”

His palm came down with another pop, this time to the other buttock. Then another blow to her already flaming ass.

Paige gasped. The pain was sharper than she’d been expecting, but so was the rush of pleasure. This was the real thing. Not like when she’d posed for him on the spanking bench a few years ago.

“You deserve much more than that for being late for class and then leaving, don’t you think?”

“Is that why you bid on me?”

He ran his hands over her stinging flesh and gave her ass a pop. “No talking.”

Frustration ground at Paige but she let herself relax against him.

“Yes, Sir.’’

His hand caressed her fiery flesh and, without warning, his fingers plunged between her thighs, pressing into Paige’s hot center.

Moaning, Paige writhed against him. He felt so good inside of her, and she didn’t want it to stop. Her cat stretched, mewling for more.

“Mmmm. Nice and wet. I like that. Our animals scent each other. I think we both agree that mating is not in our best interest.”

Wait.

What?

Paige sucked in a breath. She moaned as her flesh heated up under his expert ministrations. His fingers plunged in and out of her eager pussy. He reached down to flick her clit and then withdrew his fingers.

The bereft feeling had her crying out and grinding against his lap in frustration.

He tangled his fingers in her hair and jerked her face toward his. “I want you to admit you wanted me just as much as I wanted you from the moment you stepped in that classroom. You’re going to say it. And you’re going to agree that tonight will purge us both of whatever this is.”

His words sunk in and she trembled. Her cat hissed, determined to make him a liar.

“Yes!” Tears stung her eyes as Paige grappled for control. She scrambled off his lap, almost falling to the ground.

A pensive expression on his face, he helped her to stand.

Hands shaking, she wiped at the tears. “You want me to tell you how I feel?”

His eyes narrowed. “Yes. I do. I’ve seen you on the main floor after a good paddling. You’re a good submissive. Still new, but you have promise. Tonight I’m sensing something different. Tell me what it is.”

Her beast felt a connection with his but her human side was afraid to trust him. They barely knew each other.

Paige took a deep breath. “I don’t know why you bid on me. You gave me such a hard time yesterday. And ten thousand dollars... It’s a lot of money.” Paige paused, taking in a calming breath. She kicked off the shoes and let her bare toes scrunch into the soft carpet.

“Go on.”

“You have me for tonight.”

Her cat spat at her in protest, but quieted off as she noted the bulge in Master Blackburn’s slacks. He wanted to get this out of their system? She couldn’t think of a better way to make the best of the evening.

So why did even thinking it feel like a lie.

“What else?” His voice curled around her like smoke, like he already knew the answers to the questions. It was unnerving as hell.

“I...” Paige’s face heated up.

Without a word, he pulled her to him. His lips devoured hers as he led her to the bed. He pressed her against the mattress, his fingers once again slipping inside her. His tongue made a path from her ribs to her stomach and deeper still, his lips brushing against the top of her mound. His hands explored the soft lines of her waist and her hips and then he stood, meeting her gaze with the moon shining in his eyes.

“Tell me what you want.”

Did she dare?

She started to speak but his lips crashed down on hers and instinctively, she molded her body against him. When she came up for air, she said the only thing that made sense.

“You.”

 

 

 

“I want you naked.” Tyler leveled himself away from her, allowing her to rise. His jaw clenched with the will power to hold himself in check just a little longer. He’d had plans when he booked this room. An elaborate shibari project awaited him, but all thoughts of playing with rope vanished as her curvaceous form was revealed. This was a woman he could hold on to. A female he wouldn’t break.

Paige did as he asked, slowly unfastening the top and letting it fall. The little skirt was next with only the flick of her finger. She climbed back into bed, and her gaze met his, her cat shining in her eyes.

“Here?”

“That’s a start.”

Tyler’s own clothing was an afterthought. A few deft motions and he was bare, striding toward her, all thought of games forgotten. His cock throbbed with an aching need to be sheathed inside of her. Little else mattered.

All at once, he understood what his mother had been trying to tell him when he scoffed at the mating pull.

“You’ll know it when you feel it,” she’d told him once. “Sex is sex. But a mating pull trumps everything else.”

No. Fucking. Shit.

Paige lay before him, her dark hair fanned out across the comforter. Something inside of him shifted, broke, and came back together. His teeth sharpened and a rumble slipped from his lips as he moved between her thighs. He dipped his head down to press a kiss to her stomach, savoring the vanilla scent of her skin.

He kissed a pathway between her succulent breasts and whispered into her ear. “No begging.”

“I wasn’t going to,” she responded, shuddering as he scraped his teeth down her neck.

His animal rose, scenting his mate in the female beneath him. Her woman’s musk spiraled around him and he groaned, needing more than anything to be inside her. They were more than just Master and submissive. That part of him had fallen away almost completely. They were male and female and their beasts called to one another.

Mate.

The thick head of his cock pushed at her entrance and in a short thrust he filled her, root to tip. A strangled groan escaped her parted lips and her head fell back, baring her throat to him as he started to move. With every movement, he sunk himself deeper within her. When she began to writhe beneath him and the hardened pebbles of her nipples brushed his chest, he dove deeper still, wanting to possess her, body and soul.

A mumbled exclamation met his ears as he buried his face in her hair. Muscles pumping, his cat at the forefront, he pounded her into the mattress. Like a wild thing, her fingernails clutched his ass, leaving bloody rivulets where she clawed him.

“Tyler,” she gave a breathless moan, holding him close.

Paige’s body spasmed around his length and he sucked in a hard breath. Head thrown back and lips parted, her eyelashes fluttered against her flushed cheeks. Tyler thought he had never seen anything more beautiful in his life.

He ground himself inside of her and felt the white hot end of his own passion nearing. Her legs gripped him hard and he bucked and strained toward completion. A growl slipped from her lips and she licked his neck and nibbled on his ear, sending him dancing closer to the edge than ever before. His body seized and he began to pump his hot seed inside of her when her teeth clamped down on his shoulder.

“Fuck!” He roared as he filled her, a second orgasm rippling through him as the pleasure and pain collided. She released him, her mouth covered in his blood. He bent down to taste her lips, his cock impossibly hardening once again.

“You bit me.” He said to her, incredulous.

Rational thought fled as he began to nip and suck her breasts, scraping her skin with his fangs until he made his way to the soft flesh of her shoulder. He kissed her and gripped her hips, lifting her from the bed. He guided her onto her knees and moved behind her, the rounded globes of her ass still pink from his ministrations.

Still glistening from her juices, he slid the fat tip of him across her swollen pussy lips and smiled when she shivered and arched her back with a primal groan. Tyler sank inside of her, slowly taking it inch by inch until he could hear her gasping beneath him.

“Give it to me,” he rasped.

He slid his fingers between her legs and played with her clit, winding her tighter and tighter until they both flew, her body convulsing around his once more. Tyler grunted, his passion spilling from him. But as he thrust one last time, he sunk his teeth into her shoulder and let the ripples of the mating bond carry them through as his cock lay nestled in her hot, wet heat.

 

 

 

Something was crushing her. Paige groaned and shifted her weight, eliciting an expletive from the male form behind her.

God. How long had she been here? The soft light of the room at Ventures didn’t provide any clues. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth, and with it brought a memory that brought her up short.

Her cat had freaking marked him.

She had initiated the mating bond.

“Oh, holy rolling Goddess.” She whispered. She tried to force her confused emotions into some kind of order but failed.

What the hell was she going to do now?

All she’d come for was to support the cause and have some fun, but instead her beast had turned playtime into a mating.

What in the actual hell had she done? She’d mated with the dominant who only yesterday had called her out for being a coward?

He shifted and she gasped. He was still inside her and damned if she didn’t love the way they melded together so perfectly.

“Paige.” His arms wrapped around her and she felt his cock slide free from her body.

Where she had been full, now she was empty and a peculiar bereft sensation took over her. Him being there…it felt…right.

Oh. My. Goddess.

What was happening?

Her limbs felt tight, as if she had been sleeping too long in a strange position and the pain from her shoulder radiated through her body, bringing her up short.

She scrambled up and turned to face him, not caring they were naked, only that she hadn’t meant what happened. And it was all her fault.

“I’m sorry.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to…”

“Shhhh.” He tugged her into his arms and she tumbled against him, hot tears sliding down her cheeks. “I seem to recall returning the favor.”

“But I didn’t ask you. I would have killed any man who did that to me. It’s…it’s unforgivable. I’m so sorry.”

“Hey.” He clucked her chin and pressed his lips against hers. “We were lost in our beasts and they took over, human emotions and reality be damned.”

“But…”

“There’s nothing to forgive.” He replied, his dark eyes intense as they took her in.

“Stupid cats.” She huffed, pulling back from his arms. She wasn’t ready for any of this. “What now?”

He ran his hand through his hair and reclined on the bed, considering her. “Have you ever been mated?”

“No.” She bit her response out so fast, he quirked an eyebrow in question.

“No? Something tells me there’s a story there.”

Paige twisted her body so her feet dangled off the bed. “There was a man once. My family wanted us to mate for political reasons. It would have been good to have a good witching family in the picture for them. And I was to be his bride and his familiar.”

“Did you care for him?” The question was soft but she could read the hidden depth when she turned to look in Master Blackburn’s eyes.

Or should she call him Tyler?

“I don’t know what to call you now.” She realized, feeling foolish saying it.

A hint of a smile tugged his lips upward. “Call me Tyler. I think we’re beyond the rest now.”

“Okay,” she nodded. “And yes. For a while I did. Until I realized what they had in store for me. And what he was.”

“And what was that?” He moved to join her at the edge of the bed, taking her hand in his.

“They didn’t care anything about what I wanted. Only that I was supposed to do what they thought was best. Make the best match. Only Javier wasn’t what they thought.”

“I don’t follow.”

“When I wouldn’t submit to the mating, he stalked me. I moved. Changed my phone number. But now somehow he’s found me again. I got another call from him tonight. And another one from my mother.”

“Your mother?”

Paige nodded. “I was sitting outside the club when I got the call. Something must have changed for her to see past what the coven was putting out there. She was worried that he might be trying to find me. That his connections with Hexen have only gotten deeper. And he still wants me to be his conduit. No matter who he has to hurt to make it happen.”

Tyler brushed back some hair from her face. “Go on.”

“She thinks he’s been hanging out with weather witches. And this storm is him coming to get me.”

“Over my dead body.”

 

 

“But what if it really is him and it’s more than just a little rain?” Paige nibbled on her lip.

He hated the idea that his mate was in distress.

Mate.

The word should shock him, but instead it sent a whole new jolt of awareness through his body. His cock hardened and all he wanted to do was chase the shadows from her eyes and force any thoughts of another man from her mind forever. For the first time in a long time he felt peace, despite the storm raging all around them.

She was his and he would protect her with his life.

“We’ll have to go find out. There has to be a way to stop this. Lucas and Jonathan no doubt know some of the witches in town that haven’t been tainted with Hexen poison.”

“We should go.”

He knew she was right, but as she rose from the bed, he couldn’t bear the idea of her leaving. His animal roared, scraping down the center of his body. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. One night had never been in the cards for him and part of him knew that from the moment he sealed the deal.

“Not yet.” Tyler grabbed her hand and she stopped. He watched the passion enter her gaze as she took in his erection.

“Again?” Her amused expression turned heated as he leaned forward to nip and tug at her breasts.

“I can’t get enough of you.” He eyed the silken cords on the dresser with longing, but instead pulled her down until she straddled his lap. There would be time enough for that later.

“How are you?” His fingers slid against her opening and she shivered.

“A little sore.”

The head of his cock pressed at her slick opening. She didn’t wait for him, instead she grasped his member, guiding him inside of her.  Sinking down on his length with an audible hiss, Paige trembled against him.

“But?”

“You’re going to be the death of me.” She breathed.

He snorted and thrust upward, a few hard jerks of his hips and she was crying out against him, her release bathing his cock with liquid heat.

“As long as we die happy.” One more stroke and he was done, shouting his release as he emptied himself inside her for the third time that night.

If anyone was going to die, it was him from being so fucking happy. He’d found her. His Cinderella. And now all he wanted to do was take her home and forge a life together.

He stood with trembling legs, their bodies still joined. Laying her on the bed, he withdrew. The adjoining bathroom held all the comforts of home and he drew her inside, letting the hot water of the shower cascade down her curvaceous form as he washed her hair and soaped her body.

Rinsing her led to more temptation and he battled his cat’s urge to mount her once more. A faint buzzing sound from the bedroom caught his attention and when Paige reached for the soap, he caught her hand midair.

“Let me do that or we’re never leaving this room.” He chuckled.

She stuck her tongue out at him and grinned.

A few moments later, they turned the water off and were reaching for towels when he heard something in the next room.

Paige wrapped a towel around herself and handed one to him.

“Hang on a minute. I think I heard my phone buzz.” Tyler reached for it the same time as the power went down, plunging the room into darkness.

“Tyler?”

“I’m here.” He held out his hand and Paige went to him, her cat leading the way. “Come sit on the bed.” The glow of the phone was a beacon of light in the room.

“The storm is getting worse.” Her voice held a note of worry.

Sheree had called. Three times. God. How had he missed it?

“Hang on.” He ran his finger over the screen and hit the speaker so the message would play.

“Tyler, it’s Sheree. I know you had that event tonight but I really need your help. Jake and I tried to talk to Pepper and now we can’t find her.” He heard the tremor in her voice and how close she was to losing her shit.

He didn’t waste time. Shutting down the message, he dialed her cell.

“Sheree.”

“Oh God, Tyler. I can’t find her anywhere.” Her words ended with a sob.

“What happened?”

“Jake had to go in for a twelve hour shift tonight. It’s getting really bad out there. We wanted to talk to her again. To let her know we are thinking about getting married.”

He sensed the hesitation in her voice.

“You aren’t telling me something, Sher.”

“He’s changing.”

“Who?”

“Jake,” she hissed, clearly at the end of her rope. “He showed signs of it tonight as he was walking out the door but he wouldn’t listen to me. Said his captain would have his ass if he even tried to call out.”

“So we have a rogue cat.”

“Don’t be smart with me. My daughter’s missing and my mate’s about to figure out what it means to be a cat with no one to help him!” The last few words came out in the roar of a panicked mother and Tyler flinched, in spite of himself.

He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw.

“Give us a moment and we’ll be there.”

“We?” Sheree asked.

“Yes. It seems you’re not the only one with a new mate. We’ll be over in an hour.” Tyler watched Paige’s eyes widen with his comment. He would have to fill her in on the way over.

“Be careful. The roads are flooding and there’s a power line down on…” The line went dead and Tyler cursed.

He took in his new mate, her eyes shining in the darkness, and forged a plan. They had to get to his sister’s and there was no time to waste.

 

 

Leaving Ventures was a blur of water, panic, and confusion. She’d changed back into her clothes and a harried Tyler guiding her out of the building. What had started out as a gala evening had turned to chaos. Flood waters had begun to seep inside of the first floor and most of the cars in the lot outside had flooded. Including Paige’s.

“What do we do now?” Paige stared dully at her car, rain whipping around them mercilessly. Most of the guests had fled on foot. She’d checked her phone only to find a dozen missed calls from Javier. Her feet were submerged in water and the level was rising to her knees.

This had to stop.

Her mother’s words echoed in her head and she knew all of this was her fault. If she had only gone with him and done as he asked, none of these people would be in danger.

Tears formed, hot and fierce, a total opposite of the icy rain bearing down on them. Magic burned in her blood and her cat seethed in anger.

The beam of a flashlight cut the darkness. “You have to get home. Both of you.” Jonathan emerged from the darkened club and glared up at the water soaked sky, his expression grim. “They say it’s going to get much worse as the night progresses.”

“Jonathan. Where’s Natalie and Lucas?” Tyler asked.

“He’s got her in our quarters on the third floor. With any luck the water won’t rise that high.”

“I hope not,” Paige responded. “Keep her safe.”

“We will.” Jonathan turned to Tyler. “How are you going to get home?”

“My truck is on the elevated parking level with yours.”

“Good.”

“Are you going home? Nat is going to ask.”

Tyler shook his head. “I have to get over to Sheree’s. Pepper’s run off and now there might be some trouble with her new mate.”

Jonathan frowned. “I didn’t know she had one.”

“Long story. He was human and now his mark is coming alive.”

“Shit.” Jonathan shook his head. “You want help?”

“Thanks,” Tyler responded. “I’ll let you know if I do. He’s bound to be confused and he’s also a cop.”

The big bear shifter let out a whistle. “You do that. I need to get inside. Don’t be out in this very long. I don’t like the feel of this storm. Something’s off.”

Paige grimaced. He didn’t know the half of it.

“Be careful, Jonathan. Give Natalie a hug for me.” Paige gave him a hug, glad they had their home on the third floor.

“I will. Be safe. Both of you.” With that, Jonathan turned to wade back inside, the sky raging overhead and the waters climbing up from below.

“My truck is up here,” Tyler pointed to some ground higher up where the water hadn’t risen to yet. “Come on.”

They waded through the main parking lot and moments later, reached his vehicle. She was wet and all she wanted was to climb inside of Tyler’s arms away from everything and everyone. But that would have to be later. Right now they had a child to save and goddess knew what else.

He opened the passenger door and she climbed inside of the truck, soaked to the skin, her dress clinging to every curve. The driver’s door opened moments later and Tyler climbed in. He turned the engine over and they began the dangerous task of navigating around flooded streets, much of which was only lit by the headlights of Tyler’s truck.

“How much charge does your phone have?” Tyler asked, his eyes never leaving the road. He swerved to avoid a stalled car and drove up onto the grass, steering his way through a few good streets until they reached the highway.

“Not much,” Paige frowned. Her phone was down to thirty-two percent. “How much farther is her house?”

“Just a mile or so. If we can get through. Here’s my phone. Can you pull up local traffic?” Tyler pulled his phone from inside his tuxedo jacket and handed it to her.

Paige brought up the search engine and landed on the site in moments. It didn’t look good. “All the major streets are flooded except the highway for about mile south of here.”

Tyler frowned. “I can’t believe this much rain accumulated so quickly.”

“I can. If Javier is behind it.” She handed him back his phone and stared out into the watery night. Street lights were irregular as they passed neighborhoods and shopping centers. In the dark, it was hard to make out just how deep the waters had gotten. Flood alerts dinged through both of their phones, causing them to jump.

“God. This has to stop.”

“You can’t control the weather, Paige. No one can.” Tyler said, his face a mask of concentration. The glimmer of blue and red police lights alerted them that something was wrong up ahead.

Well, apparently Javier and his witch buddies could. All she had to do was figure out how to stop it.

“They’ve blocked the road.”

“Can we get off?” Paige craned her neck and tried to see out of the fogged up glass but it was hard to tell.

“I think so. Hold on.” A bump and the truck was over the embankment and rolling down into the feeder lane.

“It’s this next street. We’re almost there.” With expert handling Tyler maneuvered the truck through passable water where they could see and through yards when it wasn’t clear just what they were dealing with. The entire city was under siege and the rain wouldn’t stop coming.

Paige had never been so happy in her life when Tyler pulled into the driveway of a cozy two story home and the truck stopped.

Tyler was out like a shot as the door opened, revealing a distraught blond woman. He enveloped her in his arms and left her, returning to the truck for Paige. As he approached, her phone vibrated on her lap and she picked it up, quickly checking the text.

Enough water for you, Paige? I know what you did. I felt it. Sever the ties and come to me or everyone you love dies.

***

 

“How did she fall?” Tyler shut his mother’s bedroom door behind him and turned to face a pale Sheree. Paige was downstairs in the kitchen heating up some tea. The power, mercifully, was still on. The sound of the local news blared up the stairs and down the hallway, doing nothing to calm him.

“She went outside looking for Pepper. That damned cat bolted out the door and she slipped on the wet mat and went down.”

“You sure nothing is broken?”

“She was able to stand on it. Wouldn’t let me call an ambulance or anything.”

“We’d be hard pressed to get any kind of first responder here unless they came on boat.” He took the steps two at a time and made his way into the living room.

“Emergency crews are responding to many instances of people stranded on roadways. If you don’t have to leave your home, don’t. In many cases, help may be too late. It’s dark and water is hard to judge. Stay off the roads.”

No kidding.

“What are we going to do?” Sheree followed behind him as he went into the kitchen.

“Tea’s ready.” Paige said. She had changed into a sweater and pair of jeans of Sheree’s and he wore some of Jake’s sweats.

“Have you reached out to the pride master?” Tyler checked the time and winced. It was nearing four in the morning and he was exhausted.

Sheree nodded. “They sent three of the boys out to check the school and some of the places they hang out.”

“Anything?”

“No.”

“What did she say?”

“It was more like what she did.” Sheree responded. “Here.”

She led him into the dining room where every chair was stacked on top of each other until they were wedged into the ceiling.

“She has witch blood.” Paige came around, clutching her cup of tea as if to keep all the warmth inside.

Her face was pale, and her eyes frightened. Judging what she had revealed about her family and the machinations behind her last relationship, she had good reason to be.

Sheree nodded. “Not many people outside of the house know it.”

“Exactly how many?”

“Well, we had a couple of instances at school, so some of the teachers. And the pride.”

Paige closed her eyes. “That means everyone. This is bad.”

“What?”

“If Javier is here and he reached out to the local covens or prides, they keep records of who has witch heritage.”

“I don’t follow.” Tyler responded.

Sheree elbowed him aside. “Who is Javier? And why the hell would he want to know about my daughter?”

“Because now he knows I have a mate and one good conduit is the same as another.” Paige swallowed, her expression one of increasing gravity.

“He has no idea where you are.”

“That’s not entirely true.” Paige held up her phone, her hands shaking with either fear or rage. There was a picture of a house. This house. And another of an eight year old girl running out the front door and into the rain.

“Fuck.”

He was going to kill the son of a bitch. As soon as he found him.

 

 

 

Paige darted out the front door, shoving her phone into the back pocket of her jeans. The early morning sky was leaden gray, rain pouring down in a ceaseless torrent. Waters had begun to build up in the roadway overnight. She’d seen a little when Tyler had driven them out here last night. Watching something on a television screen was far different than witnessing it first-hand.

She’d caught a few patches of sleep while she figured out a haphazard plan. Tyler had been up talking with members of his pride but had finally conked out in one of the chairs, and Sheree had fallen asleep next to their mother upstairs for a couple of hours. She’d heard from Jake and he had been doing fine, despite the changes in his nature, but she’d bet he was going to get his ass handed to him on a platter the second he stepped through the front door.

But being in a strange house was taking its toll on her and just for a moment, Paige wanted to get some air. A lot had happened over the last few hours.

Her phone buzzed again and she moved down the porch so she wasn’t as visible from the doorway. Paige slid her finger across the screen and found a text waiting for her from Javier.

Lose something?

What the hell was he talking about? She typed in a ? sign and sent it. Seconds later a picture of a young girl appeared on her phone. A sick feeling twisted in her guts.

“Pepper.” Paige whispered, the realization of what he’d done slamming into her like a brick. He really had taken her, the bastard.

She started back to the front door on shaking legs, fear uncoiling, oily and slick in her stomach. Tyler. She had to get her mate.

Come alone.

Oh Goddess. How could she listen to his demands? But if she didn’t, there was no way that she’d ever get the child back alive.

She typed a response and held her breath.

Where?

Sandpiper Hills.

The old abandoned hospital was a across town. If she was going to make it, she’d have to shift. This was her fault. If she would have cornered him about the storm and had it out with him then, this wouldn’t be happening. He wanted a familiar and if he couldn’t find one willingly, it looked like he was going to try and bind her to him by force.

She had to stop him. There was not time to delay.

Paige stripped and set her clothes and phone down on the porch. If she couldn’t bring them with her, then at least they could find out where she was going.

The change ripped through her body as she gave the reigns over to her beast. Black fur sprouted from her pores and her bones and muscles contracted, morphing into a sleek black jaguar.

She thundered down the front steps and into the wet morning, a snarl on her lips. It was a trap to get what he wanted, but she was going to make him regret it.

***

 

Tyler woke, feeling something was off. A stiff neck told him he’d been out for a while but it wasn’t until he heard the commotion outside that he realized how long he’d been out. Just a half an hour, by his guestimation. Long enough for the guys to get here.

He leapt from the chair and hauled ass to the front door in time to see three of his pride members pounding up the walk. Starting to step over the threshold, he noticed the pile of clothes and phone and he felt the blood drain out of his face.

“Oh God.” Paige. She’d gone after Pepper. Tyler scooped up the phone and opened it, revealing texts between Javier and his mate.

Fuck.

“What is it, Tyler?” Steve bounded up the stairs, with Lance and Carl behind him.

“Sandpiper. We have to go. He’s got Pepper and my mate.” He didn’t wait for the others, terror for his mate spurring him forward. The bastard wasn’t going to take her from him. Not when he’d been searching for her for three years.

There was no time for questions. Those he could answer later. Now, he had to find both of them and bring them home.

Fuck propriety. He took a cue from Paige and stripped on the porch, already shifting as his feet hit the sidewalk. The others followed, moving swiftly through the flooded landscape until they came to the abandoned hospital.

It was the scene of a horror movie. No doubt that was why the bastard had chosen it. But what he probably hadn’t counted on was Tyler’s youthful propensity for getting into trouble with his pride mates. Growing up, they’d spent more time here than at home, learning every nook, cranny and crawl space.

Broken glass glittered beneath the water and he carefully stepped around it, taking care not to slice open the pads of his feet.

A soft chuff from Carl alerted him that something was off and he darted to the right, ducking into one of the many entrances of the building.

He shifted back, immediately wishing he’d brought clothing with him. The bare floor was cold and wet, a foot of flood water already taking claim on the old landmark.

“He’s here.” Steve, once again human, waded through the water. “I heard something down that way.”

“You know the building echoes like a bitch.”

“Where do you think he’d go?” Tyler considered his options. His cat paced beneath his skin, eager to shred the threat to his mate and niece.

“The morgue is out of the question. Maybe the second floor?” Carl said, joining the conversation.

The pool. The bastard had her in the pool room.

“Let’s hit the stairs.” Tyler said, already moving in the direction of the stairwell. Three steps up and he heard a scream that had him doubling his pace, his pride mates right behind him.

***

 

“Come here, or I’ll cut her.”

“No.” Paige moved around Javier, careful not to get too close. Wild magic surged through her veins and she had to fight to keep it contained. The glint of steel told her the bastard had his ceremonial blade at the ready.

What did he have planned? Some sort of binding ceremony? Her mind went through years of training at her mother’s insistence. Spells and sigils. Wards and weavings. The magic was her father’s side but it was her mother that forged her daughter like a weapon. A accomplished witch and shifter who could do the family proud.

It was a shame, really. Paige had enjoyed some of her magic classes but it had been years since she’d been forced to use her skills, preferring instead to play at Ventures to ease the built up tension in her system.

“Did you like the storm? I had them make it just for you.” A malignant smile twisted her ex fiancé’s lips and she fought the urge not to wipe it off his face with the claws threatening to break loose.

“I’m glad you came to me naked. This way we can break the hold your mate has on you. One quick fuck should do, no?”

“You’re disgusting.” Paige growled. “Let her go. This is between you and me.”

“No. You refused to play nicely. I offered you everything and you left to come here? To this backwater town? Really, Paige. I expected more from your mother’s daughter.”

“And I expected more from any man I was engaged to.”

“Hmmm. I think I’ll take out your eye first. You won’t need that for what I have in mind for you. No. Not at all.”

A whimper from Pepper brought Javier’s attention back to the girl. “Shall we tell Paige what fun we’ve been having?” Dragging the frightened girl close to the pool, he made like he was going to shove her in.

“Stop it!” Paige darted forward in an attempt to wrest her from his grip, but only succeeded in slipping on the wet tile and tumbling head first into the brackish water.

She was choking and she couldn’t see. The water was thick and murky and Paige couldn’t tell up from down. The sound of screams met her ears and she pushed to the surface to find Pepper facing off with Javier.

“You hurt her.” The child ground out. A chunk of concrete soared through the air, narrowly missing Javier’s head. It crashed behind him and Pepper smiled, taking a step forward.

“I’m here.” Paige climbed from the pool, the concrete scraping her knees. She made her way toward the girl and eased Pepper behind her.

“So are we.” Tyler appeared, closely followed by three other men.

“Uncle Tyler!” Paige heard the girl’s exclamation but before she could turn to look, Javier reached out, grabbing Paige by the hair.

She reached through the mate bond toward Tyler, hoping against hope that what she’d always heard was true.

I wish we had more time.

Then she took hold of Javier’s hands and let the fire that was within her start to burn.

 

 

“Where are you going, missy?” Sylvia picked up a folder and chunked it into the filing cabinet, all the while giving her partner a sly smile. She went to the victory board and put up two pictures, one of which looked awfully familiar.

Paige picked up her purse, but put it down on the desk, her mouth slightly agape. “You know Sheree Blackburn.”

“Of course. She was my client. I introduced her to Jake at that great restaurant you like so much. You know, the one with the heart monitors for ketchup bottles or whatever. True mates. True love.”

Paige blinked, not knowing quite what to say.

“Oh my Goddess.” She was still reeling from the events of the past few weeks. Tyler had come for her. And he’d heard her calling down the mate bond. When she’d gone after Javier, it was Tyler that brought her back. With a little help from a precocious half witch named Pepper and a couple of hunky cat shifters.

A few days later, Paige had come to with a new family around her and some arranged study sessions with her new niece. Constructive magic. Shifter witch style. And after talking with the girl, she could hardly wait.

“Careful, cat girl. Just proves to show you never know who you’re talking to.” Sylvia gave her a cheeky grin and sashayed back to the breakroom.

“Don’t you dare touch that TV. We’ve already had to replace it three times.” It was a known fact that Sylvia was the Harry Dresden of all electronic devices, past, present, and future. And she, for one, didn’t want to buy yet another TV.

The front door jingled and Tyler appeared. “Hey beautiful. How’s the hands today?”

“Fine.”

At least they were, mostly. She had to come in to make sure they hadn’t flooded, as so many of the local businesses had. It frustrated her that she couldn’t help with some of the cleanup but the pride insisted she rest after simultaneously wiping out the root cause of the storm and the witch responsible.

It shouldn’t matter that the burnt ends of her hair had to be cut off but it did. Spontaneous combustion spells were notorious like that. But at least she still had her eyebrows.

“I have the tickets.” Sylvia ran to her desk and rummaged in her purse. She pulled out two pieces of paper and handed them to Tyler. “You have dinner reservations and the show starts at nine.”

“You printed something? Using the computer?”

Wow.

Now the question was, where was he taking her? And why the hell did Sylvia know about it?

“Yes, smart ass. Now go. Have fun with your mate. I think this should be right up your alley.”

Paige narrowed her eyes as she caught sight of two more pictures on the victory board. Hers and Tyler’s.

What the hell?

“I’ll be damned.”

“No, you won’t, but you will be tied up and spanked within an inch of your life if you don’t hurry up and get in the truck.” Tyler winked and led her toward the door.

“Where are we going?”

Tyler held up the tickets and Paige caught her breath.

Tonoko Shibari Exhibition

She was a cat, after all. And she couldn’t wait to play with her mate and a really big ball of string. Looping her arm through Tyler’s, she followed him out into the bright Texas sunlight, glad the flood waters were finally receding.

 

Read more from USA Today Bestselling Author Erzabet Bishop...

 

 

Burning Midnight

The Witching Hour Series,

Book One

 

 

The dreams of the heart may be the darkest of all…

 

 

Kissed by the moon…

Diana Robichard runs Moon Called, an antique shop specializing in cursed objects. A new antiquity falls into her possession and promptly disappears, her tidy world is upended. When faced with a threat to those she loves the most, witchcraft alone may not be enough to save them. Blood vows and shadowy magic may hold the key, but the ultimate power might just be in the darkest recesses of her heart.

 

A wolf unleashed…

Alpha wolf, Aristide Benoit, is a wolf on a mission. When multiple pack members, and finally his daughter, go missing, he is ready to do whatever is necessary to find them. A pending war with the vampires looms in the distance but a blacker danger lies closer to home. Will the sexy witch destined to be his mate be his downfall, or his salvation?

 

Blood and fire…

Vampire Regent, Rand Sinclair, has a problem. His vault is missing an amulet never meant to see the light of day. Endangering a treaty with the wolves, he must act quickly before the woman he loves is swept into an ancient curse that will destroy them all. But can he make room in his heart and embrace a love that can set them all free?

Cold November rain pelted mercilessly against the windows. Just for a moment Jonathan sat, trying to forget the pain in his legs as he watched the silvery droplets slide down the glass. Memories of chilly afternoons and old sodden sneakers stirred and he had a sudden urge to run through the puddles that gathered in the parking lot below. In the old days he could jump in with both feet. He took great joy in it, in fact. Jonathan moved his head and the wrinkled face of a life well lived came into view. Old fool.

Jonathan snorted and stared at the too perfect form of his wife and daughter sitting in the chair across from him. Her eyes glittered in the dim light, alive and glowing. It was unnatural how still she sat, not quite breathing. Her skin was luminous, almost paper white and he reflected yet again how uncanny it was how much she'd changed in the last few years. Almost as if time had reversed itself and had given her bonus points.

His daughter too, was an unnatural child, the mountain of spell books in her room mirrored that of her mother and he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been duped this entire time.

He’d worked hard to give her a house, even if it was his family’s old home in the middle of the woods. To him it didn’t matter. But would bet with every breath left in his body that she was counting the days until he died so she could be out in the open with her meetings and secrecy.

It wasn't like she didn't deserve it, he supposed. Gone was the woman he'd left at home so he could go out carousing with the boys from work. The frump he left minding their daughter while he found comfort in the beautiful faces of strangers. But those days were over. The parties. The revelry. They were images in the movie reel of his life. Now he was faced with endless expanse of nothing and it was making him insane.

It was almost as if he’d picked a vampire for a bride instead of the witch stock he knew she hailed from. But why couldn’t she have spent some of her hedge witchery and found him a cure for what ailed him?

No, what he wanted was his bones to stop throbbing, but that was too much to ask for. He should have gone back to bed, but his wife had surprised him, ushering him out the door into the wet with little explanation. The last few months all it took was a good rain to get his joints aching. This ceaseless waiting had his patience frayed at the edges. Restless and edgy, he pressed the side of his forehead against the cool glass and stared out into the gray afternoon, wanting to be anywhere but here. Another waiting room. Another hospital. Another enhancement for his wife. My God, he was married to the Bride of fucking Frankenstein.

And all his daughter Joanna did was draw. The same damned picture of a necklace, sticking it all over the refrigerator like she’d won some sort of prize.

When he’d asked her about it, she’d merely given him one of her mother’s secretive smiles.

“One day, Daddy.”

He had seen his share of doctors.  His body betraying him a little more each day and she had the audacity to sit there in front of him in all of her icy perfection, not once meeting his eyes. It galled him to the core, and in moments like that, he loathed her. Hated her for showing him up when he was used to having the upper hand.

“Ah, how lovely to see you here again Mrs. Lisle.” The nurse erupted into the waiting room and guided them back to the familiar carpeted hallways of the surgeon's offices. “Mr. Lisle, I trust you are well today.”

Jonathan clenched his teeth, anxiety knotting its way through his insides. Why was he even here? He nodded, his response on the barest edge of civility. “Nurse.” His wife looked over her shoulder, not even breaking stride. Her mass of red hair curled in seductive waves down her back, hips swaying with every footstep. The suit she wore clung to her body. No doubt for the doctor's benefit. It certainly wasn't for his.

Or maybe it was. Just to prove a damned point.

“Hurry up Jonathan.” Heather's voice, soft as velvet and swift as steel raked over him, piercing him with her sharp eyed gaze. How dare he lag behind.

The damned amulet she always wore glittered in the over bright lighting and he had the urge to tear it from her neck and stomp it into a million pieces.

His wife was a witch alright. He didn’t know what she was up to, but he could bet it wasn’t something for his best interest.

Admiring her form as she strode down the hall, Jonathan marveled at the miracle of modern science. How many more procedures was she going to have? Breast enlargement, face lifts, tummy tucks, ass reduction, lip enhancement, liposuction...the list went on and on. Jonathan couldn't keep track. He kept his stride steady, wincing as his bum knee kicked up, sending a shock of knife like pain through his body. Fuck. He stumbled and almost fell but the nurse stepped in to steady him. She lifted him, setting him to rights. Startled, he met her gaze and noticed the over brightness of her eyes and the porcelain perfection of her skin. It made his skin crawl. He shuddered, pushing her away. “I can walk. Thank you.”

“Yes, sir.” The nurse's lips twisted into a smirk as she watched him amble in his laborious fashion behind his leggy wife. It was pathetic and he wasn't sure who he hated more. Her for her ivory perfection, or himself for letting age get the best of him.

The door to the doctor's office loomed large at the end of the hall. “What the hell do you need me here for, Heather?” He ground out as another nurse led them inside and closed the door. “I’m not interested in bearing witness to your latest alteration.”

His wife ignored him, seating herself in one of the padded chairs in front of a large desk. It was an old argument. One that had turned stale the second year of their marriage when he realized she couldn't last six months without surgery or sculpting her body. Now she’d become something that didn't remotely resemble the simple girl he had married. Not someone. That would imply she had feelings. Because she didn’t. Stone cold, the only thing animated about her was her eyes and they had the depth of warmth of a snake.

Jonathan picked a chair in the far corner of the room and lowered himself into it. Raincoat draped over his arm, he rifled through it for his e-reader, certain it had to be inside one of the voluminous pockets. Here, there was no rain to keep him company. Only the cold demeanor of a wife that merely tolerated the air he breathed. The salmon pink painted walls reminded him of the inside of someone's stomach. It was a wretched color.

The door to the office opened and a swarthy, dark haired man in a white coat entered. “Ah, Mrs. Lisle. How wonderful. And you brought Jonathan with you this time I see. How excellent.” The doctor's dark eyes gleamed, his olive skin stretched taut over his high cheekbones. This was why she came here. To fawn over him. Disgust twisted his insides and he glowered at the wall. If anything would happen between them, Jonathan didn't want it thrust in his face.

He struggled to get up, but it was easier sitting down than making his body move after it had been still. His knees buckled and he landed hard on the chair cushion, knocking the air out of his lungs with the effort.

“Mr. Lisle. Where are you going? How rude of me.” He stepped around the desk, his face a mask of concern. “I should introduce myself. My name is Dr. Nairobi. I have been overseeing some of your wife's care.”

“Doctor.” Jonathan bit out, anger at his body's betrayal seething through his blood.

Heather twisted around and pursed her lips. “Doctor, if you would be so kind. I’ll wait in the hall while you two talk. Jonathan do what the doctor says.”

She rose from the chair, laying a hand on Doctor Nairobi's arm, setting Jonathan's blood boiling all over again. Nodding in his direction, she disappeared back through the door they had entered minutes before, leaving him alone.

“Mr. Lisle, I assume Heather has explained to you what the purpose of today's visit is?” Dr. Nairobi approached, lowering himself in a chair across from him. “Your wife is an exceptional woman and has taken the treatments well over the years. By now, all of her enhancements look natural and we wanted to approach you about doing the same.”

What?

Jonathan cleared his throat. “Doctor, I assure you, I don't need a tummy tuck or an ass lift. This old body has done me just fine over the years. If she prefers to see younger men such as yourself then more power to her. I'll be dead soon enough.” A cough rattled through his lungs and pain shot through his body as it was gripped in muscle contractions.

The doctor stood and reached across the desk for a glass of water, setting it on the table in front of Jonathan. He took it with shaking hands, sucking down a much needed mouthful of liquid.

“Thank you.” Jonathan set it down on the table.

“That is precisely why we are here, Mr. Lisle. Your wife has explained to us you’ve been unwell of late. We’re interested in performing some of the same modifications that have given your wife such success.” The doctor's dark eyes met his as he struggled for breath. 

“I just told you, I don't need a fucking tummy tuck.” Jonathan ground out, exasperated.

“What is it with you people?”

Dr. Nairobi shook his head, frowning. “Ah. I see she did not explain.” He stood, his white coat draping around him like a priest's robes. He reached for the phone. “Maddy. Please send Dr. Faustus in.”

“Faustus? What are you people doing, selling your souls to the devil?” Jonathan struggled to rise, but his movements slowed, his head growing muzzy. The water. The bastard must have drugged him. 

“On the contrary, Mr. Lisle. On the contrary.” Nairobi smiled, his teeth white against the sharp planes of his olive complexion. “There is no devil here.”

The same door that Dr. Nairobi entered from opened, revealing a pale, elegant man with disturbing green eyes. As he turned toward the light, something in them flashed, sending a jolt of icy trepidation down his spine. The eyes. There was something almost inhuman about them. Like his wife's. Like the nurse.

“Thank you for coming Geoff. Our newest subject is here. His wife contacted us this morning. Mr. Lisle's muscular degeneration is getting to a critical point and she thought he would be an excellent candidate for the next section of our male study.” Nairobi gestured to him, and Jonathan stared at them in horror. “Mr. Lisle, forgive the unfortunate nature of the drug. In order for us to test the cybernetic implants and nerve receptors, there is a need to keep you fully aware, but not ambulatory.”

“Nairobi. How wonderful. I have been waiting for a candidate that fit the requirements. The Cybernetic Society will be thrilled. Hello, Mr. Lisle. How lovely to meet you. Your wife has been one of our star candidates since her scare with breast cancer several years ago.”

And there was that damned amulet again. How many of the fucking things were there?

Breast cancer? Star candidate? What was he talking about? Why hadn't she told him? It made no sense. He tried to move and search out his wife's gaze but nothing was working. His eyes followed the doctors’ movements, but the rest of his body was frozen.

“Yes indeed. She has adapted to the whole idea of a purely cybernetic system in quite a positive way. She looks only half her age, if I do say so myself.” Dr. Nairobi chuckled and pressed a buzzer on the desk. “Yes. Nurse. Please ready operating room seven. We have a new whole body implant procedure ready to go.”

“You really are one of the lucky ones. Your wife was insistent that you be the next test subject.” Faustus opened the door as the nurse entered, pushing a gurney into the room. “Witchcraft can’t heal everything, now can it?”

Jonathan didn’t know what to say to that.

“Cybernetics is becoming quite the norm in modern medical practice, my dear Mr. Lisle.” He hefted Jonathan's weight and settled him onto the gurney. “Cancer treatments, limb regeneration, weight control. There is no medical maleficence we can’t conquer. You inquired about the devil. Well, frail humanity is the disease that must be stamped out.” He pushed the gurney a little further and paused. “There. Now where were we?”

“Modern medicine, sir.” The nurse smiled up at him, her over bright eyes catching the light.

Jonathan struggled against the paralysis, his body little more than a non-responsive wooden husk. The gurney rolled down another hallway, behind the offices and stopped in front of a large door.

“Nurse, if you please.” Nairobi pushed Jonathan into a well-lit operating room. His head lolled as they turned a corner and his eyes rested on one technician standing at the operating table.

“You're selection for this candidate is complete, doctors.” The tech turned to face the group and Jonathan's eyes met his. The phosphorus glow of the young man's gaze blazed into him as his body was lifted. Not human. None of them were.  He stared behind him to a table filled with gleaming metal parts. Classical music filled the operating chamber, hiding the sounds of scissors cutting away the last of his clothing, leaving him naked and shivering in the harsh white light.

“Ah. Thank you Maddy. I believe Mr. Lisle will prefer that to the sounds of the operating room, won't you?” Nairobi approached, his face covered by a mask. Following close behind was Faustus. “Time to get started. We wouldn't want the drug to wear off before we've completed the transition, now would we?”

Faustus pulled a gown over his clothes. “Just hold on Mr. Lisle. You are in superb hands. Why, you'd be surprised at just how many people have turned the war on cancer and human degeneration into a win for the Cybernetic Society. Eternal life is, after all, our mission.”

The doctor placed an amulet around his neck.

Jonathan screamed inside his head as the first cut of the scalpel bit through his aged flesh. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as his wife entered the room. For the first time since he could remember she met his eyes, she stroked the amulet around her neck and smiled.

 

 

 

 

Erzabet Bishop is a USA TODAY BESTSELLING and award winning author of paranormal and erotic romance. She lives in Houston, Texas.

When Erzabet isn’t writing about sexy shifters or voluptuous heroines, she enjoys playing in local bookstores and watching movies with her husband and furry kids.

 

Follow her on Twitter @erzabetbishop.

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