Power In Her Kiss Read online

  The pack Theo had called The Nightstalkers looked like a group of thugs. Every one of them made my skin crawl and my magic itch to attack.

  “This is what’s going to happen.” A man with pale blue eyes and blond hair says slowly. He reaches out and grabs me, pulling me from Theo’s side.

  Theo snarls and reaches for me.

  A man behind him kicks the back of his knees. Theo hits the ground, but before he can rise, two men place their hands on his shoulders, forcing him down.

  The man who grips me continues speaking as if nothing had happened. “My men and I are going to mate the female. And when Malvome returns, he will complete the bond.”

  “And what about our deal?” Theo growls.

  The man smirks. “The second you left with the female, the deal was broken.”

  I yank my arm free of the Shifter and take a step away from him.

  He looks at me, surprised. “And what do we have here? A female with some fire?”

  “Actually, I’m a female with some ice.” I hit him full force with my magic, and in an instant, he’s encased in ice.

  Another enemy Shifter takes a step toward me, but when I point my palms toward him, he stops.

  “Now, this female is going to tell you what’s going to happen. If any of you touches me, I’m going to freeze your damn cock and then break them off, got it?”

  Every Shifter looks at me, stunned. But they shouldn’t be. Elementalists aren’t exactly known for their gentle spirit.

  “Then, it appears we’re at another stalemate.” One of the enemy Shifters says, his square jaw tightening with anger.

  But in a flash, an idea strikes me. “No, because I have the next challenge for you.”

  The Shifter’s dark eyes look at my hands and back at my face. “And what is it?”

  My gaze goes to one of the wounded Shifters in Blake’s pack. His golden eyes lock onto mine, and I swallow. Am I really going to do this?

  “We’ll race to Widow Ruins. First group to reach it wins.”

  The blond scoffs. “They’re injured and you’ll slow them down. You won’t beat us.”

  I raise a brow and toss my long blonde hair. “You say that pretty confidently, and yet, you would have accepted if you weren’t afraid of losing.”

  “And what keeps all of you from just running away?” Another one of the enemy Shifters challenges, his hand visibly squeezing Theo’s shoulder harder.

  I laugh. “Because we wouldn’t just abandon Blake with you.”

  The blond’s cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Challenge accepted.” And then he leans closer to me. “But know that you’ll only be putting off the inevitable… us claiming you as ours.”

  Good luck with that, ass.

  I give him a smile that’s all teeth. “You certainly have a lot of confidence for a guy so poorly endowed.”

  He growls and takes a step toward me, his fist raised.

  Another enemy Shifter catches his shoulder. “Later, Dreven.”

  He gives me a look that promises hours of suffering, then turns. I have no idea where this Widow’s Ruins is located, but its location doesn’t really matter. Not with my plan.

  Dreven shouts, “go!”

  And his men race off as one into the woods, not bothering to help the men on their knees up. What great sports.

  “Uh, Riya, we appreciate your help,” Theo begins, “but you know we’re going to lose.”

  I try my best to stand up tall and proud. “No, you’re not. You said if you all mate me, they can’t claim me. So we don’t need to beat them to the ruins, you all just need to beat them to me. Which you will.”

  My words spread a wave of silence among the Shifters.

  What? Was this a bad plan?

  5

  Since they’re all staring at me as if I have five heads, I place my hands on my hips. “What? Do any of you have a better idea?”

  Theo clears his throat after a long second. “You have my scent on you… so you’d need to be intimate with Arthur, Grant, Emory, and Silas. In a short time. And then, somehow, also be intimate with Blake.”

  I feel my irritation rising. I could have just run for it. But somehow, I feel connected to this pack of hot, naked men. And as much as I want to believe it’s because, well, their hot, naked men, I don’t think it is. So, I’m here. Trying to make this work.

  “We can deal with Blake when we reach the ruins, but I don’t see any reason the four of us can’t make it work.”

  The golden-eyed Shifter climbs from his knees. Across his chest is a massive collection of slashes that cover his flesh in bright red blood. But despite his injuries, he stands tall and strong.

  “Four of us at once is too many.”

  I swallow. Probably. “I’m not made of glass. Let’s do this and get going.”

  He closes the space between us.

  I tense, prepared for whatever is about to happen.

  But instead, he pushes my hair gently back from my face. “My name is Emory. I am a knight in service of my king. I have traveled these lands more than any of my fellow Shifters. And I must tell you, I’ve never seen eyes as green as yours before, nor have I seen any woman whose beauty compares to yours.”

  It takes me a second to find my voice. “Thank you?”

  He smiles at me, and his smile melts my heart. “A woman with your spirit shouldn’t be mated in the woods in a hurry. So despite how tempting your offer is, I believe we should all hurry. Because even though we’ll lose this task, we can hope Blake won his. And if we win the final one, you’ll be ours.”

  “I’m going to scout ahead in case there’s treachery on the way,” Theo says.

  But I barely hear him, my focus is on this man. This Emory. Because as frightening as the idea of taking four massive Shifters at the same time is, I want this man inside of me now.

  He takes my arm, and the other Shifters, Arthur, Grant, and Silas hurry ahead of us, disappearing into the woods.

  They know we won’t reach the ruins before their enemies, but they’re trying to out of respect for me? That’s… strangely hot.

  I grab Emory’s arm, ignoring the blood on his chest.

  He looks down at me, confusion in his gaze.

  I pull us backward until my back hits the trunk of a tree. “Fuck me.”

  His eyes widen. “But I said—”

  I lift one leg and wrap it around his back. And despite the fact that he’s denying me, his cock springs to life, pressing between my legs.

  A growl escapes his lips, and I watch as something snaps within him. He picks me up, kisses me until I can’t see straight, and then trails his mouth down. Before I can process what’s happening, he yanks the top of my dress down and begins to suck one of my breasts, while the other big hand fondles my other breast.

  My legs wrap more tightly around his back. And I’m acutely aware that my thin skirt is the only thing between my hot core and his hardness. But with each brush of his thumb against my nipple, and each stroke of his tongue on my breast, my patience is wearing thin.

  Theo’s mouth satisfied me for a moment. But now? Now I needed more.

  Emory seems to sense my thoughts because a moment later he releases my breast and pushes my skirt to the side. His tip hovers at my entrance and his gaze holds mine as if to ask if I’m sure. I move my hips taking his tip inside me.

  He throws his head back and eases deeper.

  My nails dig into his shoulders. I’ve never had a man this large inside of me. Even though I’m slick with desire, my body still holds him so tightly it’s almost painful. But when at last he reaches his hilt, my inner-muscles are pulsating around him, squeezing him in a way that’s so pleasurable it’s almost unreal.

  I lean up and bite gently on his shoulder, needing more, and not knowing how to ask for it.

  Emory’s entire body quivers. He looks down at me. “You bit me.”

  I nod, overwhelmed by the emotions in his eyes.

  He roars and begins to thrust wildly insid
e of me.

  My body clenches around him. This feels incredible. Instinctual.

  Our bodies meld together in a dance as old as time. And all I can do is hold on and let him fuck me. We’re panting. Our breath mingling. Our climaxes coming closer with every thrust.

  I hold him closer as my body trembles and my muscles tense around him, and then, I explode. He continues to thrust harder as I shout, screaming my pleasure into the afternoon air. And when his hot seed shoots into me, I feel oddly alive.

  His seed inside of me feels like a declaration. A claim.

  I belong to him.

  “You’re mine,” he whispers into my ear.

  And again, I get the sense that I’m connected to these men. They seem to know what I want and how I feel without me ever having to say the words.

  He locks gazes with me again as he pulls out of me. His expression promises more moments like this one in the future. And despite all logic, I can’t wait for it.

  Suddenly, his head shoots up, and he inhales deeply.

  “What is it?” I whisper, my arousal instantly blanketed by fear.

  “Some of them have circled behind us. Follow the others and don’t look back.”

  I shake my head. “I’m not going to just leave you here.”

  He levels me with a look that makes me stiffen. “All of this is for nothing if they simply take you and drag you back to their lair.”

  I swallow hard. He’s right. But if there are just a few of them maybe I can take them. Maybe I can—

  “Go!” he commands me again.

  My hands curl into fists. I’ll go, but this isn’t over yet.

  6

  I’m crashing through the woods with all the grace of a wild boar when Arthur, Grant, and Silas slip out of the trees. I know I should be focused on the danger ahead of us and behind us, but I’ve just come to a shocking realization. Even though Arthur has long sandy-brown hair, Grant has hair trimmed nearly to his scalp, and Silas has an odd messy, spiked hairdo, the similarities between the three can’t be ignored.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! Triplets?”

  Arthur rubs his face as if I’m frustrating the hell out of him. “What in the world are you doing out here on your own?”

  I shake my head to clear away my amazement. “The other pack was trying to catch us from behind. Emory is back there, alone.”

  “Shit!” Grant says. “Do we press forward or go back?”

  After a long moment, Silas speaks. “They won’t kill him. He’ll try to keep them busy, but their goal is her.”

  “So what’s the plan?” Grant asks, his expression panicked.

  Silas looks at me, and there’s something shrewd about his gaze. “We do what we should have done from the beginning, we cover her with our scent.”

  “But there’s too many of us,” Grant argues, shaking his head.

  Silas raises a brow. “She already smells like Emory.”

  For some reason, I blush.

  “You think you can handle all three of us?” he asks.

  I refuse to back down. “I can handle it. I’m just not sure you can.”

  He laughs. “Really?”

  For some reason, his challenge is only turning me on. What’s wrong with me? “I bet you’ll come before I do.”

  He reaches down and wraps his big hand around his length. “Challenge accepted.”

  My gaze is glued to his hand, or rather, his erection. He strokes himself slowly, so slowly that I can’t seem to look away. My body heats, and I’m amazed by how badly I want him inside of me.

  Arthur curses. “Of course the scholar would turn this into a competition.”

  I look at the other man. “You don’t compete.”

  He raises a wicked brow. “What’s there to compete with? When I’m inside of you, we’re both going to win.”

  Well, that’s sexy. “Are all Shifter this damn smug?”

  He comes toward me, reaches for the rip in my skirt, and says, “why don’t you let me show you why I’m so damned smug?”

  Before I can answer, he pulls my dress up and over my head.

  I gasp as he tosses my dress to the side. I’m standing in the woods wearing nothing but my boots.

  “Fuck!” Silas says.

  Arthur reaches forward and cups one of my breasts. His eyes darken, and he leans down and sucks my nipple.

  I haven’t even caught my breath when Grant is suddenly at my side slowly stroking my womanhood. As my body winds up again, I have a moment of panic. Can I really handle this? Three massive Shifters inside of me?

  When Silas moves behind me and begins to kiss my neck, he leans me back slightly. Which causes me to spread my legs just a bit more. Grant sinks to his knees, bringing his mouth onto my hot core.

  I whimper.

  Silas begins to stroke my ass. And because I know where this is going, each brush of his fingers arouses me in a ridiculous way. When his hands part my cheeks from behind, and his finger slides into me, I begin to rock.

  Grant’s mouth is skilled, dancing around my clit, but not quite touching it. Arthur’s lips and hands on my breasts send fire running through my blood. And when Silas adds another finger into me from behind, I barely feel it.

  The men move around me, but I barely register what’s happening. My head’s in the clouds, my thoughts muddled by pleasure. It takes me far too long to realize that they’ve positioned me so that I’m lying on top of Grant on the forest floor, his tip hovering at my entrance. I stroke his chest and sink down on top of his length, drawing a gasp from both of us.

  Several fingers are pumping into me from behind, causing rarely touched nerves to fire off inside of me. I’m shaking and barely in control when he removes his fingers and replaces them with his cock.

  The two men are sliding in and out of me when Arthur kneels down directly in front of me. Without needing to be told what to do, I take his length inside of my mouth and suck.

  We’re like three wild animals as we fuck in the woods. Moans and cries exploding from us as we move faster. As they thrust harder. As I take them deeper.

  I don’t even care who wins our bet anymore. I need to come. I need to release. My orgasm is building higher than it ever has before, and the sensation is almost frightening.

  When Grant reaches between us and begins rapidly rubbing my clit with his fingers, I cry out, and my orgasm strikes me like lightning. My mind goes blank. My toes curl, and my vision goes from black to white.

  Grant and Silas explode inside of me, hot and filling. My lips suck harder on the cock in my mouth, and seconds later, he explodes inside of me too, salty and warm. My orgasm continues to rock me for several long minutes before I finally relax. Spent.

  Being surrounded by these men is incredible. Comforting in an unexpected and wonderful way. I don’t want to do anything except lie here with them forever.

  But Grant’s words bring reality crashing down. “If Blake didn’t win the race, we’ve already lost her.”

  Silas tightens his grip on my waist. “Then, I guess we need to get her there and give Blake time to mate her. Our alpha will cement the bond, and she’ll be ours, no matter what.”

  “I need to do this again?” I ask, teasingly.

  “Not to worry,” Arthur tells me, stroking my arm. “Our scent works on you much the same as yours works on us. You’ll be ready for him.”

  I stiffen. “Is that why I’m acting like an animal in heat?”

  Silas laughs. “No, that’s because you’re naked in the woods with three hot men.”

  I clench my ass muscles, tearing a groan from him behind me. “So arrogant.”

  He gives my ass a slap. “You’ll pay for that later.”

  7

  Grant is the nervous type. Apparently, he spends most of his time studying relics and not fighting enemy packs. He and Arthur are taking me to the Widow’s Ruins in a roundabout way. We have a plan, but Grant doubts it will work.

  “She mostly smells like us now,” Arthu
r whispers.

  “You’re telling me she doesn’t smell incredible still?” Grant asks, rubbing the back of his short, dark hair.

  Arthur takes a long second to answer. “This is the only plan we have, so we better hope it works.”

  I don’t like the way they’re talking. But that’s because they seem to be disregarding the fact that I’m a powerful Elementalist. I clench my fists. They won’t forget for long.

  It’s strange. Normally after using this much magic I feel tired and drained. But right now, I feel even stronger than usual.

  If those wolves try to hurt any of us, they’ll be sorry.

  Suddenly, Grant reaches out and stops me with his arm.

  I drop the hand that was holding my skirt high enough so it wouldn’t brush on the ground, giving away our approach.

  Up ahead, I catch the slightest movement.

  Grant puts his finger to his mouth to tell us to be quiet. As if we need to be told.

  We creep forward to get a better view. Blake is standing in the center of a half dozen wolves. On his knees. And even from a distance, I can sense the tension singing between the Shifters.

  A minute later, six wolves drag Theo, Silas, and Emory and throw them down beside Blake.

  Crap.

  Malvome circles them, and his angry voice carries to us. “If your other men ran with the woman, we’ll kill all of you.”

  Blake glares up at him. “I won our race. We’re tied. One more challenge should decide who she goes to. Forget that she and my other men are missing, give me your challenge.”

  The other Shifter smiles, a cruel smile. “That’s the thing, Blake. We’re even deeper into my territory now. There’s no chance at escape for any of you. So, there will be no third challenge. She’ll simply be mine.”

  An unfamiliar voice came from behind us. “No need to hide, female, we won’t hurt you.”

  I spin around to face three massive Shifters.

  One punches Grant right in the face, and he hits the ground without moving.

  Arthur steps in front of me.

  “Back off!” I shout, bracing myself.