Shifters and Demons Page 5

  Dallin watched her drink. His gaze settled on her lips. Hell, he wanted to lap at the drop of water spilling from the corner of her mouth. My cock is so hard . . . another hour in the saddle and I'll be a eunuch. He groaned. Lust burned his balls with each swipe of her pink tongue across her full, delicious lips. Why did he feel this way? Look at her; her face is streaked with dirt, her hair crusted with sand. The untidy image should put a man off—but not him, hell no. He wanted to throw her down on the sand to fuck her long and slow, right now.

  One of his men, Brad, came over to take his horse to the water hole. He glared at the man and stood in front of Lailii. The thought of any male looking at her heated his blood. Dallin turned to draw her close to his side. His cat purred. I like her too, cat.

  "Mine"

  * * * * *

  Late that afternoon, they climbed to the top of another sand dune. In the distance, the twin suns hovered above the horizon. Stryker breathed a sigh of relief.

  Toward the east, an oasis broke the red sand with a welcoming, green splash of color. They had stashed supplies in a cave there for the return journey. He smiled at the thought of a bath, clean clothes, and a hot meal. Gods, he hated the desert. He glanced at Dallin. The man insisted he stay beside him the entire journey, which suited Stryker just fine. The need to stay close to Lailii overpowered him. She drew him like a magnet. Never before had he felt the need to touch a woman so often. He liked the way she giggled; his heart raced at her smile. One accidental brush of her hand and he grew rock hard. I wonder if Dallin is feeling the same. What do you say, cat?

  "Mine."

  Somehow, I thought you'd say that. We have to wait; be patient, and don't push me. Trust me, buddy, I want her too.

  Within the hour, they reached the oasis. Dallin's men rushed around collecting tents and supplies from the cave. Lailii slid off Argos and allowed the horse to forage for food. She walked to the edge of the lagoon and gazed at the surrounding dense foliage and palm trees heavy with fruit. A flock of noisy parrots gathered at the water's edge, drinking their fill, oblivious to the men erecting tents. Lailii took a deep breath of the clean air and sighed. A few hours ago, I thought I would die in that rat-infested dungeon. Thank the Lady that Dallin rescued me.

  Although she heard no sound, she knew Dallin and Stryker were behind her. She turned and smiled at them. They were so handsome, and her heart fluttered every time they came close. "This is a beautiful place."

  "There is a secluded area, a bit farther along, where you can swim." Stryker took Lailii's hand and led her along an overgrown pathway. "We can fresh and clean our clothes for tomorrow, but I thought you may like to wear one of my spare tunics tonight."

  Lailii glanced back at Dallin. The man looked fierce. "That would be nice, thank you. Is 'fresh and clean' a spell?"

  "Yes." Dallin took her other hand. "Our tent will be some distance from my troops. I must ask you not to wander away from our tent." He squeezed Lailii's hand.

  "Will you show me the spell for black fire? I'm sure my men would enjoy a hot meal tonight."

  With grin, Lailii stopped and looked at the two huge men. "I can light a stick and you can pass it on to your men for the fires. I think teaching is best when we are safely away from the Butcher."

  "We learn very fast, little one." Dallin shrugged. "I understand you may be reluctant to share your spells, but I can assure you, in my time, everyone uses magyck." At the bottom of a huge rock formation, the men had finished erecting a large tent. Surrounded on one side by palm trees and in the shade of the rock, it made an ideal camp. Lailii glanced inside the tent. In the center stood a table set with goblets and plates. She noticed a fat wine skin hanging from a hook on the center pole. Then her gaze fell on the bed. Not a hard pallet but a large, soft construction covered with white sheets. One bed for the three of us—oh my stars.

  "Will you make the black fire now?" Dallin handed her a dead branch. "Then we can wash off this damn sand."

  Gathering her magyck, Lailii concentrated on the stick. A black flame burst into life at the tip; the wood crackled under the intense heat. She held out the stick to Dallin. The Pride took the stick, handed it to one of his men, and rattled off a string of orders. Lailii turned to him. "Is it customary for males to sleep together in your time?"

  "If they are lovers." Dallin took her hand and led her toward the lagoon. "And to answer your next question, Stryker and I like girls too."

  "Does the fact that we have sex together upset you?" Stryker took her other hand. It is a most simulating thought. " No."

  "Tell us about yourself; where do you come from?" Dallin stopped in a small clearing. "How did the Butcher capture you and why?" Lailii stood motionless and watched the two men undress. Dallin gave her a confident smile and began undoing her shirt. She slapped his hands away. "I can undress myself."

  She disrobed slowly. Both men were aroused and watching her every move. The sight of their massive cocks would remain in her mind forever. Clearing her throat, Lailii set her gaze on a nearby rock. "I don't remember my family. They sent me to the Tark at the age of two summers." She pulled off her boots. "There, I studied to become a Spellweaver. Prince Derik bought me, and I served him for two years." Lailii slid off her buckskin pants and stood naked before the men. "The prince was taking his bride to Mulway. The Butcher attacked the Prince, and I remained behind, holding a spell until my prince rode to safety."

  "He made no attempt to rescue you?" Stryker strode into the water.

  "Obviously not— the bastard." Dallin followed Stryker into the lagoon and dived under the water.

  The cool water looked so inviting. Lailii chewed on her bottom lip and stepped into the shallows. "The Butcher said he would hold me until Passio arrived and that I would be of value to the lord of the Underworld."

  Stryker moaned. Gods, the female had a body to die for—an amazing ass, and great tits with hard, erect nipples. He could almost taste the succulent buds in his mouth. Her naturally hairless, peach-fuzz pussy would weep under his tongue. Shooting a glance at Dallin, he reached for Lailii's hand and dragged her under the water. She rose spluttering, her platinum hair stuck to her cheeks. He drew her against his body, her hot flesh pressed against him, and his cat went on full alert. "Sorry, sweetheart, I just wanna get you clean."

  "I have to ask, little one." Dallin swam to her side. "Did the Butcher or his men rape you? Could you be pregnant?"

  "No. They were too afraid." She grinned. "I cursed them. If one should rape me then his cock would go black and fall off."

  Allowing his hands to roam over Lailii's soft skin, Stryker nuzzled her neck. "We will never rape you." He kissed her cheek. "I hope you will let us both love you."

  "I know nothing of lovemaking, although your caresses are soothing." She turned in Stryker's arms. "I am a maiden."

  "Well, then, we had better get you back to camp." Dallin splashed from the water.

  "It will be dark soon."

  "Is he angry with me?" Lailii met Stryker's gaze.

  Stryker laughed. He pulled her close and nuzzled her ear. "No. It's just that you being a virgin puts a whole new light on things. Come on, I'm starving. Let's go and see what's for dinner."

  * * * * *

  The twin suns set rapidly in the desert. Less than a second after they hit the horizon, the world became dark. In the black velvet sky, a crescent moon gave little light to show the way back to the tent, but the stars shone like a thousand diamonds. Dressed in Stryker's tunic, she followed him through the dense bushes. As they walked, Lailii turned to look at Stryker and clasped a hand over her mouth. Lady's blood, the man's eyes glowed in the dark. Fear cramped her legs, and she stumbled. Stryker's strong hands caught her with ease.

  "You're trembling; what's the matter?" Stryker drew her close. "Does the darkness remind you of the dungeon?"

  No, but you remind me of a demon. "Your eyes startled me. They glow."

  "I'm a cat." Stryker shrugged. "We are shifters. We are both man and cat.
I can see in the dark and so will you when you transform."

  Lailii swallowed hard. What had she done? "I am going to become a cat?"

  "You will be Pride, both female and cat." Stryker took hold of both of her hands, his thumbs making soothing circles. "It is nothing to fear. Transformation enhances sight, hearing, and stamina. After you produce your first cub, you will be able to morph into a cat and hunt."

  "C-cub?" Lailii tried to pull away, but Stryker held her fast. "I'm not sure if I can feed a cat at my breast."

  "Lailii—sweetness, look at me." Stryker grinned. "Our females do not give birth to cats. Our cubs are flesh and the same as us. We refer to our babes as cubs." Meeting his glowing gaze in the darkness, Lailii drew a deep breath. The scent of Stryker wafted over her, bringing a wave of incredible calm. She nodded. "That's a relief."

  They continued along the pathway and entered the tent. Soft, floating, magyck light globes cast a milky brightness to each corner. The aroma of a spicy meat dish filled the air. Lailii's stomach rumbled. Inside the tent, Dallin waved her to a seat, and then pressed a goblet of aromatic wine into her hand. She smiled up at him and sipped the wine. Her taste buds exploded with a melody of flavors. She swirled the wine around her mouth and moaned with delight.

  "Ah, so you like Miza." Dallin chuckled. "Some call it Devil's Blood. It is a favorite of all Pride and Fae."

  The men sat each side of her and began to offer her small portions of food from their plates. "Thank you, but I can feed myself."

  "This is the way Pride males care for their females." Stryker lifted a honeyed pear to Lailii's lips. "We will take care of all your needs. From now on, you may not take food from any other."

  Before Lailii could lick her lips, Stryker bent forward and lapped at the sticky juice dripping down her chin. The simple move sent erotic shivers straight to her pussy. She met his sultry gaze, and the unfamiliar wetness between her legs returned. As they brushed against her to offer more food, her breasts grew heavy, and her nipples tingled. I am acting like a wanton. Fighting to draw the next breath, she turned to accept a portion of fruit from Dallin. "Why?"

  "It is what we do, little one." He shrugged. "Life mates are treated with respect and love."

  Lailii looked from one to the other. Impossible, a prince deserves more than a mere Spellweaver. I am far too insignificant for these mighty warriors. " You—both of you—want me for a life mate?"

  "We have no choice in the matter; the Lady chooses our mates." Stryker wiped another piece of succulent pear across her lips. "Although, we both agree you would be an excellent choice." He smiled. "When you transform, if you belong to us, you will enter Moonfire. It is a time when females have an insatiable sex drive. A life mate's venom triggers Moonfire.

  "Normally, a male only bites his life mate. In your case, the Lady Herself ordered us to bite you." Stryker rubbed his chin. "Although both our cats insist you belong to us, we will have to wait and see."

  The possibility of both men bedding her ran through her mind. She remembered the short talk on wifely duties from the witch at the Tark. How could she possibly accommodate two men? Her face grew hot. Gods, look at them; they really mean what they say. Gathering her courage, she drew a deep breath. "As I said before, I'm not experienced, but from what I do know, females are made for one mate not two."

  "We have shared many females, little one." Dallin stroked Lailii's cheek. "I promise, females can take two men and enjoy the experience immensely." Oh my. "May I think on this proposition for a while?"

  "Of course you can." Stryker refilled her goblet. "We would never force you to do anything."

  "You must drink the Miza, little one." Dallin winked. "Then, we'll leave you to sleep in peace."

  Lailii drank down the rich wine and allowed Stryker to refill her glass. The wine filled her head with a comforting drowsiness. "Will you be here when I wake up?"

  "I can assure you, we will be by your side." Dallin got to his feet. She watched the men leave the tent, emptied her goblet, and got unsteadily to her feet. Taking a few wobbly steps, she fell onto the soft bed. She stared at the patterns

  dancing across the canvas. Her face grew hot with erotic thoughts of the two, perfect males planning to share her bed.

  Chapter Six

  Dreams surged through Lailii's sleep. The dreamscape became vivid and filled with rich colors. No longer human, she had sleek, white fur with stripes of black. Her vision grew sharp; the bright images were almost painful. She lifted her head and gazed up into the canopy of a lush rainforest. Thousands of trees rose high above, their branches laden with twisted vines. Lailii dropped her gaze. Below, in the rich, brown earth, an endless procession of ants carried a dead butterfly held high above their tiny bodies. She turned and bounded with ease over thick roots in a tangle of gnarled, witch's fingers. Running between the trees, she inhaled the scents of the forest, and then stopped to brush her face in the wild orchids, wet with dew. Leaping through clumps of fragrant wild flowers, she snapped her teeth at the clouds of butterflies. Monkeys chatted nervously above, swinging from tree to tree, alerting the wildlife to her presence. Birds fled their roosts, soaring through the branches in noisy bursts of color. She purred. The monkeys were safe— today, she hunted for a mate.

  In the distance, Lailii heard the sound of trickling water and moved closer. She hesitated before a water hole bathed in leopard spots of sunlight and raised her head to sniff the air. She scented the presence of two males. Her heart raced. Turning her head from side to side, she searched the velvet shade.

  On the perimeter of the clearing, concealed within the zebra shadows, stood two magnificent males. A powerful, white tiger moved into plain sight and purred his welcome. A silver Lynx followed and lowered his massive head. Lailii knew these cats by scent alone—her life mates.

  Lailii's nipples ached and her pussy tingled with an unfamiliar desire. She moaned and opened her eyes. Inside the tent, darkness closed around her like a shroud. She turned her head and recognized Dallin's unique scent on one side and Stryker's masculine musk on the other. Dallin's warm hand ran down her thigh; his casual stroke

  electrified her. She wanted his touch and fought the desire to nuzzle against his naked body. What in the Lady's name is happening to me?

  Erotic desire flamed so hot, Lailii's skin burned. She sat up and tore at the tunic. She whipped it off over her head and flung the damp material to the floor. Dallin's large hand skimmed down her back. The simple gesture soaked her pussy. Gods, her thighs were wet with the evidence of her desire. Overwhelmed with passion, Lailii rubbed her cheek along Stryker's back, and then crawled onto Dallin's hard, muscular body. She bent her head and licked his chest, her tongue lapping at his flat nipples. His unique scent flooded her mouth; her womb clenched. I don't know what to do.

  "Little one." Dallin drew her tight against him. "Do you need me?" Not able to answer, Lailii pressed her mouth against his warm, sensual lips. Dallin moved against her in a slow, sensual rhythm. His hot tongue pressed against her teeth, demanding entrance. So exquisite, the way his tongue caressed every part of her mouth . . . she kissed him back, meeting him stroke for stroke. His long fingers slid into her pussy, and he sighed into her mouth. When he removed his tantalizing fingers, she moaned and arched her back to rub her aching breasts against his damp chest. She needed more.

  "You must tell me that you want me, little one." Dallin pushed the hair from Lailii's face. "I will not take a virgin in an act of lust." He ran both hands down her arms.

  "Do you recognize me as your life mate?"

  Lailii met his gaze. In the darkness, she could see his eyes glowing. "I see you and Stryker in my dreams as cats. I want both of you. I need both of you. Please don't make me choose."

  "Only one may be your first; I will be honored if it's me." Dallin kissed Lailii's neck.

  "That's not really true." Stryker yawned. "I can have her virginity in other ways." He pushed up on one elbow. "Does this mean she has transformed? Holy cow, she sm
ells good enough to eat. This must be her Moonfire."

  "Oh, yes . . . and she has the most delightful fangs." Dallin chuckled. "Gods, she is so hot and wet." He lifted Lailii off his chest and placed her on her back beside Stryker.

  "I didn't believe my cat. He insisted she belonged to us." Stryker grinned into the darkness. "This is absolute proof."

  I'm not beautiful; why would they want me? White, hot, erotic surges pulsed along Lailii's thighs and shot deep inside her pussy. Her doubts vanished with each trembling shudder. She gripped Dallin's massive forearm. "Please, I can't stand this . . . I need . . . please—you must both take me." Lailii met Stryker's gaze. "You said it was possible. If so . . . I choose both of you."

  "The first time will hurt, little one." Dallin stroked her breast. "After, there will pleasure. I promise."

  Both men rolled onto their sides and captured Lailii's nipples in their hot mouths. She cried out, the sensation so wonderful, so intense. Her fingers entwined in their silky hair; she arched her back, offering more to her lovers. Dallin took her face between his large hands and kissed her. His deep, passionate kiss possessed and demanded. The man's long hair brushed her nipples in a soft caress. Hot, sensual fire licked across her body, creating marvelous waves of desire. She squirmed on the bed, wanting so much more.

  Stryker mumbled under his breath and pressed damp kisses down her belly. Lailii gasped. His mouth had reached her apex. His probing tongue slipped inside her soaked folds and swirled around. She opened her legs at his insistence, then lifted her hips to get more of him. Tingling sensations, wonderful, frightening throbs of delicious pleasure filled her pussy. This must be wrong. The witch at the Tark mentioned nothing about this delightful sex play. Dear Lady, will I die from such pleasure?

  Without warning, Stryker rolled away. She cried out in frustration. Stryker's long fingers replaced his tongue and circled the pleasure point. His wet mouth closed over her nipple and suckled.