Protect and Serve Shifting Forces (4 page)

She looks over the gryphon and I. My hard-on is deflating faster than a flat tire at her denial. “Don’t get me wrong -- I don’t have anything against sex. But there’s no way I’m going to give control over my life to someone else again. Ever.”

Kender’s Blog (5)

“Shhh!” I hate to interrupt Aurora, especially since her comment leaves the door wide open for hot, casual sex with no commitment. But the sound of someone outside -- way out here -- means either an intruder on the property, or my family is about to barge in on us.

A loud knock precedes the door flinging open to reveal my brother and sister. “Kender! We saw the lights on, and decided to st… Oh shit -- you have company.” Brianna looks confused. She sniffs the air, then looks at me accusingly. “A human, and a… phoenix?”

“What’s going on, Kender?” Sean is my easygoing little brother, but even he pulls back at the sight of my companions. His eyes narrow as he stares at Aurora, sexual interest lighting his face.

“Meet Varick Gerard and our mate, Aurora Monroe. Varick, Aurora, this is my brother Sean and my sister, Brianna.”

“
Mate
? Did I hear you right?” Brianna’s voice shrills through the air. She was always the vocal one. “But she’s…
human
!”

“You’re joking, right, Kender? You can’t mate a human.” Still, he steps forward -- toward my mate. Shit.

“Excuse me, will you?” I herd them outside into the clearing, shutting the door firmly behind me. “What are you two doing here?”

“What are
you
doing here, Kender? You know Mom and Dad would blow a gasket if they knew what you were up to, and that you’ve come back without a word. Where the hell have you been? Nobody even knew if you were dead or alive.” Brianna’s blond hair blows in the wind, her face red with temper.

“It’s a long story, Bri. I didn’t mean to lose touch. Our troop just moved around so much that… okay, it’s no excuse. It was just easier.”

“So why now, Kender?” Sean’s calm control is such a contrast against our sister’s anger. “What’s changed? And what’s with the… others?” He looks toward the cabin again. “And with the unclaimed woman?”

“I quit the military. Or rather, deserted. They didn’t know I was a shifter, and when I had to shift to save Aurora -- there just wasn’t any choice. She’s my mate.”

“They didn’t know? Kender, I thought -- we all thought -- you were in one of those special paranormal units. How could you deny your birthright? Us?” Brianna’s eyes blaze with indignation, her voice rising.

“It’s not how you think it is in the military, Bri. Not like it used to be. There are no more paranormal units. And now that they know about me, well, let’s just say keep an eye out for strangers. Most people don’t know I have a cabin here, but some of my troop know where I came from.”

“You’re
wanted
?” Sean’s voice isn’t calm any longer. “You son-of-a-bitch! You lied to both the military and your family -- for years -- and then when you’re finally found out, you lead them straight to us? You threaten our lives, our safety, for a
human
woman?” Sean shifts, flying into the night.

“Kender, I love you. But you seriously need to figure out your priorities in life. We’ll tell Mom and Dad you’re back, but you need to straighten out your own mess.” Brianna changes in a wink to follow Sean back home.

Great. Now not only do I have to deal with a new mate, a phoenix and the military, I have to deal with my family’s disappointment, as well. I should have known better. It just seemed easier not to say anything at first. Then when the lies became so big that I was too ashamed to tell my family, I just stayed away.

And the military -- it wasn’t so much that I lied about being human -- it was the fact that being a paranormal meant not just a dishonorable discharge, but death. They don’t take betrayal lightly, and playing for the other team is a big no-no.

“You okay, man?”

Varick’s hand on my shoulder should have shocked me, but it doesn’t. I feel more at ease with him than with the guys I’ve fought with for years, strangely enough. Maybe it has to do with the whole mate thing. “No, not really.” I shake myself back into the present. “Where’s Aurora?”

“She’s trying to find something else in your kitchen for dinner. You kind of left whatever you were cooking on the stove. We have the windows open to air the smoke out.”

Sure enough, the charred smell of chili wafted through the clearing.
Damn, I’m really losing it
. “Sorry about that. She’s kind of distracting. Then with my family…”

“Yeah, I know. We’ll both have to deal with the human prejudice issue sooner or later. But Aurora’s waiting inside.” His nostrils flare, lips pulling tight in a feral grin. “You know we’re going to have to claim her soon, right?”

With a short nod, I face the cabin, watching as he goes in and closes the door.

She’s marked, but we have to complete the mating by claiming her sexually. For her safety, it should be sooner rather than later. Her pheromones are broadcasting all over the place because of the marking. Unfortunately, they affect any paranormal male within sniffing distance -- but without the caring concern of a mate, she’s in danger. Until she’s claimed, she’s fair game.

Not to mention the longer we go without claiming her, the more the need drives us, compelling us to complete the ritual. Violence usually doesn’t matter too much in a shifter shifter mating unless it goes too far -- shifters are unusually resilient and heal pretty quickly. But with a human, it could be fatal.

“I guess we’d better convince her, then.”
Wonderful. Talking to myself again
.

* * *

“I won’t do it.” She stands in front of the sink, shaking her head. “There’s nothing you can do to convince me otherwise.”

“Kender, you try and reason with her! She’s too damned stubborn!” Varick stomps out, slamming the door on his way.

“So he talked to you?”

Her sharp nod is followed by a piercing stare.

“You’re not willing? Even knowing the risks?”

“I am not cleaning up your mess. You burned it, you clean it! At least I soaked the pan.” She throws the wet scouring pad back into the sink, and it splashes as it hits the pot. “It’s not my fault he can’t stand the smell. You’d think being made of fire, he’d be used to scorched odors, but nooo, he’s
sensitive
!”

“That’s what this is all about?” Laughter bursts from my chest, relief cascading through me.

“He thinks
I
should clean up the mess because
I’m
the
woman
! Seriously? What the hell does he think I am, a maid?”

“Aurora, I’ll clean up the mess. You’re right, I was careless and it’s my job to fix it. Don’t be too hard on Varick. Phoenixes are pretty traditional when it comes to male/female roles -- and they can be pretty hot-tempered. But he cares for you. We both do.” I nudge her over, grabbing the pot and scrubber.

“How can either of you care for me? It’s not like we know each other.”

“Can you honestly say you don’t feel anything for us, honey? Other than sexually, which you can’t fool me about.” I inhale deeply, the spicy sweetness of her arousal still lingering about her.

She flushes under my gaze before glaring proudly. “It’s not fair, you know. You -- shifters -- you can tell when I want you, but I don’t have the same luxury.”

“Don’t you? Can you really stand there and not know how much I want you? How much I need you?” I turn away from the sink, my erection pulsing against my pants. Her eyes widen as she stares, swallowing as her breathing quickens. “Aurora?”

She shakes her head, desire shining in her beautiful eyes.

I pull her closer, feel the trembling in her hand as I link my fingers with hers. Sweet breath fans over my chest as she visibly fights with the need pulsing through her. I feel the same, but I promised her I would give her time. God help me, let me be able to keep my promise.

Her hand rests on my chest, tentatively exploring the muscles. I stand still, letting her feel her way. The other hand joins her first, her eyes meeting mine as she tweaks my nipple, perked to a hard tip under her fingers. She watches my reaction closely as the sweet rush of sensation pulses between us. My groan flashes heat in her gaze.
She likes when I make noise
. Good thing, I get really damned loud during sex.

I press her hand against my chest, stopping her exploration. “You’d better watch what you do, sweetheart. You don’t want to rouse the gryphon.”

“And why not? What would a roused gryphon do, Kender?”

Okay, there’s only so much I can take, promise or not. With a low growl, I pick her up and set her on the counter, sweeping away the cans in back of her. “This.” Her mouth calls to me as I bend her back. She opens in anticipation of my kiss, but I hold her still, exploring her with my lips. Her cheeks, her forehead, her neck, all become heated as I taste her before honing in on her mouth.

Flicking the seam between her lips, I feel her breath as she exhales a shaky gasp of need. I dip my tongue inside, she heats me, grabbing my hair and tangling her tongue with mine. I force myself to slow down, to take my time with her, but the feel of her legs wrapping around my hips sends me into orbit.

“Is everything all right in here? I heard…
Oh hell yes
!” The phoenix comes right in, sliding his hand up Aurora’s bare leg. At her moan, he dips his head to her knee, licking and kissing his way up. I move over to give him room. We’re in this together -- in this for her.

Unbuttoning her pants, I dip my hand to run along her hip, caressing the marks from her waistband. Her breath stops as I plunge my hands down the back, grabbing her bare ass and lifting her from the counter.

“Come on, phoenix. There’s a better place to do this.” I can feel her… smell her… taste her passion as she trembles against me, moaning as we enter the bedroom. I lay her on the bed, pulling both her pants and panties off slowly as she lifts for me, each leg revealed fully in turn, with only tantalizing peeks at the pleasure waiting for us between them.

She smiles at us as she removes her blouse, dropping it over the side of the bed. “Are you guys going to join me, or do I have to do this all by myself?”

Aurora’s Blog (6)

I don’t care what the law is, or what people think. Staring at the two men before me fills me with a need I’ve never felt before. Not that I’ve been with a lot of guys, but these two… oh yeah, they’ve got something special going on.

Varick’s gaze burns with molten heat as he stands next to the bed, unbuttoning his shirt. Tense with desire, he looks over every part of me. His tanned skin is revealed as he drops first the shirt, and then starts to work on his pants. The hard cock outlined in his jeans juts from the waistband of his shorts as he unzips, slipping both the denim and the underwear down his long, muscled thighs. Stepping out of them, he stands before me, confidence oozing from every pore.

And man, does he have plenty to be confident of. I take in everything he proudly displays, overwhelmed with lust. Yeah, a rock-hard runner’s body, just like I thought. And his cock -- so much more. Lengthy, slightly curved upward and pulsing with every beat of his heart, it stands out from his body as if waiting for me to take it.

I reach for him and he sits next to me, his hand spread over my hip to grasp me as he lowers his head to kiss my stomach. Holy mother of god, who ever thought a belly button could be an erogenous zone? I wrap my fingers through the soft strands of his dark hair as he kisses and licks my tummy, biting gently at my hips. Tingles at the slight pain run straight to my core, flushing my folds with moisture.

“Damn, you’re beautiful when you’re turned on, Aurora.” Kender’s clothes are gone, whisked away as Varick distracted me. As different from the phoenix as night is from day, he takes my breath away. Strength radiates from his body, muscled and toned to perfection. Big, broad and dangerous -- everywhere -- he steps up beside me, kneeling for a kiss.

His familiar taste, along with the rumble of pleasure as I touch him, brings a naughty smile to my face. The man sure knows how to play tonsil hockey. Their touch throws me into a maelstrom of need, but take it I will, as long as they’re willing to give. Sliding my hand over Kender’s chest and down his waist, I grasp his full, thick cock. I can barely wrap my hand around him His guttural groan as I pull him closer to my mouth eggs me on.

“Suck my cock, sweetheart.” He nudges my lips with the head, gently grasping either side of my face. With a touch of my tongue, I swipe the fluid from the tip, tasting his desire for me before I slide him in my mouth, tickling the sensitive underside as I hold him, pulling him into me. “Oh damn. You feel so good, Aurora.”

Varick shifts my thighs as he kneels between them. The feel of his fingers touching me and the warmth of his breath against my pussy before he tastes me rips a moan from deep within. Pulling back from Kender with a hard suck, I gasp aloud.

“Mmm, don’t stop!” Kender’s growl erupts, holding my head to push against my lips again. The silky steel of his cock, the deep throb as he reacts to my mouth leaves me breathless with feminine power before he finally pulls back.

Pleasure bursts through me as Varick drags his tongue from the bottom to the top of my slit, swirling around my clit in slow, torturous circles before starting all over again. His hands grip my ass, tipping me up to his mouth.

Kender’s callused hand covers my breast, cupping me gently before tweaking my nipple. The roughness of his skin abrades my tip, firing every nerve in my body. Lying down next to me, he licks and fondles the erect nub before sucking it deeply. The drawing pull connects directly to my clit, combining with Varick’s sucking on my clit. I can feel my orgasm building, pulsing just beyond my reach.

“Oh God. More, give me more!” Varick slides a finger into my pussy, quickly joined by another as he crooks them upward, flicking back and forth. Heat rushes over me as he sucks hard, and Kender’s almost-painful pull on my nipples sends me over the edge. I tense as the feelings spark through my body, ripples of sensation pulsing all the way to my toes. My channel floods with juices as I come, Varick lapping up the cream like a cat, purring all the while.