Only After Dark The Boxed Set Books 1 - 4: Shifters Forever Worlds (25 page)

R
ory sat
on the couch next to Valencia. She wasn’t giving any outside appearance of being nervous, but her pulse was racing. Rory’s wolf could feel it. He reached for her hand.

“It will be fine.”

Valencia glanced at him. Her pulse still raced, though her look was appreciative.

Rory realized how hollow that sounded. How could he guarantee that? He couldn’t. There was nothing he could do but be there for her and protect her.

Theo watched them, his large frame in a chair at the table. He tapped on the surface, his own apprehension evident.

“What’s Leandra’s story?” Valencia asked him.

“She’s private.”

“So you don’t know?” Valencia pressured him.

Theo looked away. “I didn’t say that.”

“My brother was here,” Rory added, hoping this would prompt Theo to discuss the matter.

Theo pushed the chair back, walked toward the door. “She’s returning.”

Leandra opened the door just enough to slip in then closed it behind her. She’d departed with the vial of blood, but returned emptyhanded. She looked from Rory to Valencia, then turned her silver gaze to Theo.

“It is done.”

Valencia stood. “I don’t feel any different. Can I go outside to test it?”

“No. There’s no immediate change. You need to stay here tonight. Your blood was thick. You’ve shifted too many times already this evening. Risking another shift could be adverse for your health. Here in my cabin, you’ll be safer than out in the woods.”

Rory thought of Adelise. It didn’t seem that any of them were very safe.

Leandra glanced at him. “I can protect you better here.” She turned back to Valencia. “By tonight you’ll have enough impulse control to keep the bloodlust at bay, as long as you are not pushed emotionally.

“You need some time to relearn harnessing your tigress so you’re not pushed into a hybrid-shift. After today, the moon won’t be your worst enemy. You’ll be your own worst enemy if you don’t keep control.”

“I’ll be there to help her,” Rory affirmed.

“I need to talk to you,” Leandra told Theo. “You two can stay here for the night. We’ll be back at dawn. It will be safe for you to leave then. By the next nightfall, things should be improving for you.”

“Is it safe for Valencia, for us, to be here alone?”

“I’d be more concerned for anyone who crosses her. A hybrid of her type is extremely dangerous. But we’ll be a few yards away in another cabin, keeping an eye on this one. You needn’t worry though. I’ve put protection on the cabin.”

Leandra and Theo left.

“I wonder what kind of protection.” Valencia looked at the closed door, she shook her head. “Theo and Leandra. A shifter and a witch. That’s uncommon. God, if my brother finds out.”

“He will eventually, you know,” Rory told her.

“Why do you say that?”

“It’s his territory. And whatever they have between them doesn’t seem temporary.”

“Shit. There will be hell to pay when Lézare finds out.”

“Worse than hell when he learns you’re a hybrid?”

Valencia gasped and did a double take. “I’m not telling him.”

“You can’t keep it from your family.”

“I have so far.”

Rory didn’t respond.

“What?” She paced the tiny cabin, a tigress in human form, impatient, agitated. “What are you thinking? What am I supposed to tell them?”

“What about us? You have to tell them about us.”

She whirled around. “What us?”

Rory strode to her. Took her in his arms.

The world around her melted away. An amber glow flickered in his eyes. His lips drew close to hers, his breath warm.

God, yes.

His lips danced across hers, then trailed over her jaw, her neck, then back up to her mouth. His tongue claimed hers, fiercely, decadent, heated, he pulled her into a tunnel that whirled out of control.

She pulled away, her head spinning.

“You’re not running away again. You’re mine, forever.” He nipped at her jawline.

“No argument here.” Valencia tucked her head under his chin, listening to his heartbeat. Her own pulse slowed to match his, beating in tandem.

“Prove it.” His words were a challenge, they flowed over Valencia, her tigress, and her bloodlust.

His gaze dipped, first to her lips, then to her breasts, then down her whole body.

He raised his eyes to hers. “Well?”

She could do nothing but meet the challenge head on. He was everything she wanted and he was the one thing she thought she’d lost forever when she made that difficult decision.

Swiftly, she kissed him, taking his tongue captive, then giving him her mouth as his prisoner. He moved his hand into her hair, wrapped it around his fingers, twining, drawing her head back, giving his aggression to match her aggression, his need to match her need.

He pinned her to the wall, his muscled body not giving her an option to move.

She could feel his cock, pressing against her. Hard, wonderfully so, and big. God. So much bigger than her toy. So much bigger than it had even appeared on the cam.

She slipped her hands under his shirt, running her fingers over hard muscles, a wide chest, slightly sprinkled with hair. She scored his flesh with her nails while he teased her mouth with his lips and tongue.

Before she could completely comprehend what he was doing, and with a speed that matched the urgency that beat a rhythm in her pulse, he had her pants and panties off, and his too. He planted his hands on her ass and lifted her.

She wrapped her legs around his waist. His cock a firm reminder against her throbbing core.

Rory spun a 180 and sat her on the table, leaning in and tracing her lips with his tongue.

“Mine.” His word was a growl.

He ran his hands up and down the side of her body, grazing her breasts though the fabric of her top and bra between his flesh and hers. He toured her body, exploring without apology, then he lowered one hand, teasing her pussy lightly, running feathery touches along her folds.

Swiftly, without warning he plunged two fingers deep inside her.

She gasped lightly, close to his ear.

“God, I love that. I’ve always loved that sound.”

Then Rory held his hand still, completely unmoving, while his cock rested against her thigh, reminding her of his own needs.

His thumb put pressure on her clit, then moved in slow circles while his fingers were unmoving, still deep inside her.

Her muscles clenched. She writhed, trying to get more.

His eyes grew darker, his pupils dilating, then gold flickering in the depths.

A tormented moan was ripped from her throat.

Valencia wrapped her fingers around his length, pressed his head against her folds, next to his still buried hand.

“Fucccck.” He removed his fingers and drove his cock deep inside her

Valencia grunted from the fierceness of his entry and the width of his cock. It didn’t take long for her body to adjust to accommodate his size. He stroked in and out of her, each motion releasing a wonderfully sloppy sexy sound.

He slipped his hands under her ass, pulling her closer, each drive going deeper, striking her—everywhere.

“Oh my God, Rory,” she breathed.

Then the realization of what she’d done hit her. She could say his name. Tears of happiness welled in her eyes. She arched her back into him, taking more of him, all of him.

“Valencia,” he drove into her, quickly, swiftly, over and over. “I can’t last much longer.”

“Don’t. Let it go.”

“I’m sealing the deal.” He lowered his head, lips touching that sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder and sunk his teeth into her flesh.

“Ah.” The agony of it burst through her lips in a low groan. Then just as quickly, the agony was replaced with the pleasure of his tongue licking at the wound, sealing their couplebond.

He sunk his cock in deeply. She felt the heat of his climax striking her core and leaned forward, her lips resting against his neck.

Her tigress took over. With one swift bite, she’d marked him the same way he’d marked her. She licked at his wound.

Then it struck her. The bloodlust was at bay.

Whatever Leandra did was working.

She didn’t have a moment to think on it further as she was snatched from mid-thought by an orgasm. She was propelled into another plane, where she was spinning ‘round and ‘round, holding onto to Rory while the world whirled.

R
ory nuzzled Valencia’s shoulder
. “Hey.”

She stretched on the small cot, laying on his body, marveling that the contraption hadn’t collapsed under their joined weight. “I could lay here forever.”

“I’d personally like a real bed,” he said in mock protest. “My muscles are cramped.”

“Complaints already? We haven’t even been bonded for a full day yet.”

She slipped her hand under his T-shirt, dug her fingernails into his chest, scoring the flesh.

“Damn, woman. You’re going to get things started all over again.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

“Not at all, but look.” He glanced at the shutters.

Tiny slivers of sunlight slipped through.

“Dawn.” She shoved of his chest, landing on the floor, surefooted as her tigress. “Let’s get out of here.” Valencia tossed clothing on.

Leandra and Theo stepped on the ramp when Rory and Valencia walked through the cabin’s door.

Leandra let go of Theo’s hand as soon as she saw them. “How do you feel?” she asked Valencia. Then her eyes narrowed, and studied them, her gaze traveling between Rory and Valencia. “I see the deed is done.”

A pink tint colored Valencia’s cheeks, then was quickly eclipsed by her smile.

Rory took her hand and squeezed it. “Forever, right?”

“Forever,” Valencia said under her breath, nodding.

V
alencia wondered
if she did wrong by having bonded with Rory. Nothing felt more right than what they did last night, but what would happen to him if she lost it during the bloodlust.

That was damned selfish of me. I put my desire to be with him forever over his wellbeing.

Leandra stepped forward, took Valencia’s hand and pulled her away from Rory. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“I want a moment with you,” Leandra tugged.

They walked down the ramp, toward the brush and reeds. She took her toward a path that led to the water. Mosquitos buzzed, birds sang, toads croaked.

Leandra stopped, sat on a log. “We can’t stay long, but I needed to tell you something.” She patted the spot next to her.

Leandra plucked at a weed, pulled it from the ground, tucked it between her lips, then blew on it. The tiny plant made a whistling sound.

Valencia sat, silent, waiting for Leandra’s thoughts. There was something about this witch, something Valencia liked. She felt a kinship for her, and it went beyond the help she’d offered her with the bloodlust.

“Rory is the one for you. Do not question it. What you’ve done is right. For both of you. You have a destiny to fulfill, and he’ll be there with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s not that clear for me. I’m not psychic. I see things, but not clearly. More in a vague way.”

“So you can’t tell me more?”

“You need to stop second-guessing your bond with the wolf.”

“What about you and Theo? Why haven’t you bonded? It’s clear you have feelings.”

“That’s a complicated situation.”

“Because of Lézare?”

Leandra nodded. “And he’s a shifter. I’m a witch. You know the taboos on that sort of thing. And some sects and covens are more restrictive.” She tore the little plant into shreds. “And now we have to go.”

Leandra stood, and without waiting for Valencia began the walk back to the cabin.

I’m not sure what I was supposed to get out of that talk. I guess that Rory and I should be together.

Rory and Theo sat on the porch, watching them approach.

Rory raised his brows, gave a little shrug, like ‘What’s up?’

Valencia shrugged back, shook her head slightly, as if to say, ‘Nothing.’

“I have to head out for New Orleans,” Theo said. “I’ll drop you two off at Arceneaux Point, at a cabin, so you can get cleaned up and get your stories straight. As far as I’m concerned, I simply brought Valencia home. Your cars are already there, in the garage, being detailed.”

Theo was nothing if not thorough.

“Thank you,” Valencia said.

“For everything,” Rory added.

“I’ll call Alexa. I’m going to New Orleans to help them find Evie. To keep Lézare from killing her for being so impetuous and irresponsible.”

“I doubt Lézare or Alexa are in a position to judge anyone,” Leandra said.

Theo nodded. “It’s been an interesting Escape Weekend, this year.”

What did I miss,
Valencia wondered.

“Let’s hope that finding Evie doesn’t prove anywhere near as interesting,” Leandra said with a mysterious smile. “But knowing the Arceneaux clan, I’m not holding out any hope.”

“Bite your tongue, witch.” Theo tugged on one of her braids gently.

“I’ll need a moment to pack.” Leandra slapped his hand away.

Theo frowned. “Where are you going?”

“With you.” She slipped inside.

“Oh, hell to the no,” Theo exclaimed.

R
ory fought
to keep the smile from creeping to his face.

The lion shifter has his hands full with that witch, that’s for damned sure.

“Typical. She makes a decision, then she’s gone. As if that’s that.” Theo released a growl. A golden glow flickered in his dark eyes. He opened the door. Followed Leandra inside.

Rory and Valencia fought to keep straight faces while the two inside exchanged terse words.

“I said, I’m going with you.”

“Lézare won’t like it.”

“I’ll handle Lézare,” Leandra said. She popped her head outside, caught Rory and Valencia mid laugh. She glowered at them. “Shifters. Pffft.” She blew out an exasperated breath. “So hardheaded.”

“And witches aren’t?” Theo appeared behind her, asking softly, close to her ear.

Rory glanced at Valencia, admiring the strong jaw, the firm set to her lips. She wasn’t going to be an easy woman either. Just like the witch, this hybrid shifter he’d fallen in love with and taken for a mate was bound to keep his life full of excitement.