A Time for Change (20 page)

“Have they found us?” Xander asked briskly.

“No, we have our own cloaking. We still have to be careful though,” Des said.

“For now, when everyone gets back, we stay inside the city until we can figure out what is going on. We will come up with a plan,” Xander said and smiled at his mate closely.

“I will call the command center; we will have to lock the doorway after the last Warrior returns.” Des picked up the small communication device they used. It worked in their underwater city. When they left the safety of their city, it was equipped with a locator, and the ability to communicate with whomever was on the surface. The device resembled the human’s cell phones, but more advanced.

“I am pretty sure that can wait,” Xander said, standing and taking the communication device from his mate and grinned, “I think we should get cleaned first and then we can see about work.”

Des laughed and pulled the man in for a kiss, “I agree.”

When they reached the shower, both were naked and hard, Xander felt his erection practically pulsing. He had been in this state since he saw the man who was his mate walk through the doors; it was like this all the time. Gorgeous, sexy, smart, Des was everything he wanted in a mate. If only they had found their third, she would have been on the ship with them. Most the men who survived the last attack were mated but none had met their third yet. Warriors had a hard time finding their mates.

It was because of their makeup. They were hard, and rough, and their women needed to be strong with potential as a leader. That was the way of their people. The King was once the most powerful Warrior, Xander was next in line for the throne. His mates would be the King’s Consorts and considered leaders, too.

Standing under the needles of hot spray, he reached down and grasped his mate’s cock.
Shit, his lips were thick and sexy
, and Xander could only imagine them being wrapped around his cock. Xander drew his hand over his cock, closing his eyes and dreaming it was his mate’s mouth.

Des wrapped his hand in his mate’s long hair and brought him in for a passionate kiss. He was demanding and knew it. After training all day, his aggression was peaking. Xander knew that, and although he was also dominant and took control of their sex life, many years ago they came to terms with each other’s differences. Des explored his mate’s mouth with his tongue, making sure he tasted his mate’s flavor. He loved when they were close like this, it was intimate, and made their bond strengthen. Slowly Des pulled his mouth from his mate’s mouth and then kissed down Xander’s chest slowly.

Xander leaned back a little, let the water flow over his head, and down his body as Des explored him. When Des got to his stomach, Xander leaned back and smiled before wrapping his hand around Des’s hair to make sure he had a good grasp before Des took his cock into his mouth. Xander smiled when Des teased him and then proceeded to guide his mate to where he wanted him. Des teased him by licking the tip of Xander’s cock first, running his tongue over the smooth tip, then he licked the other side and swirled his tongue around the tip where a bead of pre-cum had formed.

Xander sucked in a deep breath as Des trailed a finger over his tip, and then moaned when he fisted him completely, stroking his cock. The hot water streaming over him, making it feel like a smooth, warm mouth was engulfing his cock as his mate pumped him.

Xander leaned against the cool shower wall, while his mate stroked him. The shower was large enough for both of them. They had made sure of it when it was built. There was nothing more intimate to their kind than showering with a mate. The light caresses, the feeling of sharing and taking care of someone was a powerful emotion. Because the water was filtered and more like their home planet, they used showering as a time for bonding. They were able to hold off their shift when they showered because of the filtering system, it took out the elements in the water that triggered their shift.

Des reached down and cupped Xander’s balls. Moving in a slow, easy motion, Xander pumped thinking about pounding into his mate’s ass. His mate was the full package, and one he loved to top. Both men were dominant; however, Xander usually liked topping his mate.

Shit, his mouth felt so good
, Xander thought, and leaned back against the wall of the shower while Des renewed his attention. Using one hand to grasp the end of Xander’s shaft, Des took him into his mouth fully and then swallowed before sucking and pulling him out of his mouth.

“Des, damn it, you are killing me,” Xander said and sighed.

“I know, you can think about pounding into my ass while I suck you off. I am thinking about taking this thick cock and making me feel like I am alive. Only with you in me, connected, sharing our bond,” Des whispered and then sucked him into his mouth again.

The thought of his mate surrendering to him made him groan as he pumped faster with Des allowing him to set the pace.

Xander could be in control when he needed to and then other times Des would take over. Xander felt his cock harden even more to the thought of letting someone take care of him. Only with his mate would he be able to show that side of himself. To the Meridian, he was the King, the man who would lead them. Not wanting to think about work, he went back to thinking about his strong and charismatic mate.

Xander pulled his mate up quickly, wanting them to come together. He grabbed his mate and kissed him passionately before wrapping his hand around Des’s cock. Des smiled at him and did the same.

They pumped their hands faster as the thoughts turned more carnal. Xander thought about what his mate looked like naked, his muscular body sweaty with exertion from their lovemaking. His hair messed from Xander’s hands wrapping in the strands. His lips full from kissing them passionately. Finally, his head on the pillow next to his, sleeping after they made love. A shiver ran through him as he pictured them kissing and touching each other. He opened his eyes and stared at Des using his other hand to trace down his mates back and pull him in closer.

With their cocks next to one another, they grasped them both together, and together they began to feel their passion rise as their skin moved against one another. Xander called out to his mate as his balls drew up and he could feel the passion ready to burst.

They came together in a flurry of passion, love, and the knowledge they were mates and together.

Excerpt from The Trinity

The Ashland Pack Book One

By Bryce Evans

Prologue

She ran as fast as she could until her lungs felt as if they were going to explode. She could feel him gaining on her, the others surrounding her, cutting her off from being able to escape. She knew what happened next and she refused to give in if she didn’t have to. The ground was uneven as she tripped. She reached out a hand, pushed herself upright, and kept moving. She felt a tingle of fear running through her as she thought about her options. They had planned this,
she thought
, planned this torture.

Why couldn’t she get away? She tried so hard to make it to safety but they were so much faster than she was. It was as if she were running in place. Her legs felt heavy and sluggish. She should have at least felt the adrenaline rushing through her veins, pushing her to get to safety, but she felt trapped in her useless body.

Eli yelled, “I'm coming for you, Adrianna.”

She felt him close behind her. If she could just get one more step—then she felt Eli reach out and grab her. She could feel the ground coming up to meet her as they tumbled into a heap on the hard, cold ground. She had no voice to scream, could only suck in precious air, and pray it would be over soon.

Eli laughed as the others held her down and ripped her clothes off. He yelled at the others that he would be first. She started yelling for help as the first punch landed on her face. She continued to struggle and the punches continued to land on her face and body.

She was going to lose her youth. Eli kept saying over and over he was going to remember being her first as he came down on top of her, as if to rape her. Help was coming, she could hear them in the distance, but she didn't know if they would get there in time. Eli would never let her live to tell. She began to fight again and he hit her over and over, even punching her in the stomach and side. The pain was too much to bear. She slipped into darkness.

Adrianna woke up screaming, crying, and yelling for help. Selena was standing over her, calming her, telling her to wake up that she was safe. She could feel the calming spell as she stopped moving and only felt the peace of Selena’s soft touches on her face. She could only see Eli and his brothers.

“It’s just a bad dream, Luv.”

When she opened her eyes, the past drifted away.

“It was only a dream,” Selena whispered.

Adrianna realized she was safe and in her bedroom with Selena. She wiped her tears away. Then the hardness settled in as the nightmare went away. Selena watched Adrianna as she pushed the covers away and sat on the edge of the bed.

Selena moved to the window and said absently, “Your wolf came out this time and you were levitating above the bed when I came in. You will need new sheets again.”

“I am sorry, Selena,” Adrianna whispered.

Adrianna wondered what she was going to do if she couldn’t get this under control. Having these nightmares was beginning to run her life and she refused to allow them to take that from her too.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Luv. It was a bad dream,” Selena consoled her.

“More like a nightmare,” Adrianna whispered.

“The conference begins tomorrow. Your brother, all the Alphas, and the Vampire Council will be there. You need to prepare and speak with all the Protectors. Security will be a top priority.”

Adrianna knew Selena cared deeply for her like a mother cared for a child. Selena McPherson was her best friend.

Selena was a very powerful witch and vampire. She saved Adrianna’s life ten years ago when she gave Adrianna some of her blood, changing Adrianna forever. Selena was a member of the Twister’s Council and Afton Mackenzie’s mate. She had been teaching Adrianna how to use her magic for ten years. Selena was considered, in the paranormal world, as an authority of sorts when it came to different paranormal groups. No one knew her family or the extent of her powers.

Adrianna sighed. “I will be prepared, Selena, and the Protectors will be ready,” Adrianna said firmly, with more confidence than she felt right then.

Gathering up the strength from inside herself, she pulled herself out of bed and began to get ready for the meeting she was dreading.

Excerpt from Forever Levi

Forever In Your Arms, Book Two

By Shelby Lynn

Prologue

“Levi has been kidnapped!” Ramos shouted to Prince Braxton over the phone. “Our cars were attacked by a dozen Rebels. Everyone started fighting and I told Levi to stay close to me. Of course, he refused. When we were all fighting, I was still keeping an eye on him. I saw a man come up behind him, but I couldn’t warn him. He pulled out a needle and thrust it into his neck. Then he went down like a ton of bricks. I’ve never seen anything like it. Then all five of the Pack attacked me. Shit, there was nothing I could do but howl for my Pack. Son of a bitch, I’m going to tear Trace apart when I get him in my hands!” Ramos swore.

“Shit, have you fully mated yet, and formed a link?” Braxton asked.

“No, he didn’t want to until he officially joined the Pack. I’ll call an emergency meeting, and we’ll come up with a way to find him. Can I count on you?” Ramos asked.

“Of course you can! Now where are we meeting?” Braxton asked.

“Touch of Italy in fifteen.”

“We will be there.”

***

Levi thought back to the ambush they had just gone through. Someone had gotten the better of him. He had let someone sneak right up behind him.
What kind of fighter am I?
he thought back to everything as if it was happening all over again.

Well, shit—it looks like all HELL had broken loose around them
, Levi thought. They were on the way back to Levi’s home, when out of nowhere several vehicles forced their vehicles off the road. It was well planned at an unavoidable place on the narrow road. They were the only two in Ramos’s truck. The other SUV had the four usual Guards.

Unfortunately though, the six of them were no match for the thirty or so Rebel Dogs who attacked in human and animal form. Ramos insisted Levi stay by his side, and he really wanted to do what his mate asked of him. He wanted nothing more than to help keep his mate safe while he was by his side. It was an impossible thing to ask though, as they were both quickly overwhelmed. In a matter of moments, the Rebel Dogs had put a considerable distance between the two of them.

Ramos was one
hell
of a fighter, but even as strong as he was, the sheer numbers of the enemy were stacked against him. Levi was holding his own against the two Rebel Dogs, fighting hand to hand wasn’t new to him. All that time he was keeping an eye on his mate as well. Maybe the look on his mate’s face should have warned him of the danger approaching, but it didn’t.

Levi didn’t see the man sneak up behind him or the huge needle until it pierced his neck. The effect was instantaneous, and he knew nothing more.

Until only moments ago when he awoke in this room, and his mate was nowhere in sight.
What the hell had happened?

Right now, though, he was playing possum, and his captor didn’t seem to be aware of his small advantage.
Shit
—someone had given some lethal stuff to him with a needle, no less. He had gone down like a ton of bricks
.

Levi knew his mate was probably really pissed because he didn’t listen to him. He couldn’t just stand there and let his mate defend them. Levi jumped into the fighting, and quickly the Rebel Dogs managed to put distance between him and his mate. Then he felt pain in his neck, and the feeling of falling—then nothing.