M&L03 - SS Read online

  “I know a lot because I was trained by one of the best, but you should probably know that Sergio was originally trained by my father as well.” My eyes widened and Solomon continued, “He was my father’s apprentice a few decades before I was born. According to my father, Sergio was a brilliant sorcerer and he learned very quickly, but he wouldn’t obey my father’s rules when it came to blood magic. My father felt all blood magic was evil and should be completely avoided. When Sergio cursed us using blood magic during The Great War, I had no choice but to learn everything I could about it. From my research, I know that not all blood magic is evil, but the sorcerers who use it regularly aren’t typically concerned with good and evil. Sergio of course falls into that category which puts me at a disadvantage.”

  Sergio had already cast one evil spell that hurt Solomon and every other nightshifter for far too long. The idea that I might one day lose Solomon to one of Sergio’s evil spells was unthinkable. “Solomon, I’m going to say something to you and I want you to really listen.” His caramel eyes bore into mine. “I know you’re a good man, an honorable man. You have one of the kindest hearts and the purest souls of anyone I’ve ever met, but if Sergio ever comes after you or anyone you love, I want you to forget about good and evil and do whatever it takes to stop him. He’s too dangerous to mess around with and he certainly won’t worry about fighting fair. When it comes to that sorcerer I want you to unleash every nasty spell you’ve ever heard of and put him in the ground.”

  One side of his mouth lifted in a grin and he reached out to tuck my hair behind my ear. “Don’t worry Renee; if it’s at all within my power, that sorcerer will never have the chance to take me away from you. Now there’s something I’d like to ask you,” he said, smoothing his hand down my arm then back up again. “Will you tell me how you found out we were mates?”

  This wasn’t something I really wanted to talk about but I figured he deserved to know.

  “A few days after I gained the fox I had a dream about you. You were in The Catacombs with Mia straddling your lap and Charlene pressed up against your back with her hands rubbing your chest and her mouth exploring your neck. I could see your face in the mirror behind the bar. Your eyes were closed, your lips parted and your fingers were digging into Mia’s hips as she rocked back and forth. Then Charlene sank her fangs into your neck and the look of pure ecstasy that came over your face was unmistakable.

  The fox inside me went absolutely crazy and tore herself out of my body, lunging violently towards you and the other women. She wanted to rip their throats out and I was barely able to stop her before she reached them. Actually, I only saved them because I was able to wake myself up; had it been reality they probably wouldn’t be alive today.

  The dream was so vivid that when I woke up I knew it had been more than just a dream. I’d heard enough stories about mating bonds to understand what was going on but I didn’t know what to do about it. I thought clearly my fox wanted you as much as I did, but your fox seemed to be content letting you live your life as you always have. You looked so happy there with those beautiful women. How could I take that away from you?”

  A few tears slid down my cheeks when I thought about that first dream and the pain I’d felt upon waking after it was over. He pulled me over against his warm body, wrapping his arms around me, holding me close to his heart.

  “I guess it’s a good thing I’m not as selfless as you are.”

  “Huh?”

  He spoke quietly, gently rubbing my back with his strong hands. “I almost walked away without coming inside the other night. I was nearly positive I’d find you inside, but I wasn’t sure you wanted to be found. It would have been nice to think someone put a spell on you without your knowledge, but with the way you’d been acting the past few months, deep down I knew that wasn’t the case. I told myself I should let you go if that was what you wanted, but in the end I was too selfish to go through with it.”

  “Oh Solomon, I’m glad you didn’t walk away,” I admitted, snuggling closer to him.

  “Why didn’t you come to me about this Renee? We’ve talked about mating bonds before and I’ve told you there’s nothing I want more than a mate and a family.”

  “You have beautiful women falling at your feet everywhere you go Solomon. Why would you want to give them all up for me?”

  “Because I want to be with someone whose beauty radiates from within, not someone who’s beauty is poured from a bottle or smeared on with a sponge. I’m not saying they’re bad people, some of them are very kind and caring, and most of them are energetic and fun-loving, but they are all pale substitutes for you.

  I love every part of you Renee, from your slender body to the tiny little freckles on your nose, to your kind heart and your sharp intellect. You are the perfect woman for me and if I’d had any sense at all, I would have known the fates had already chosen my mate even though I couldn’t sense the bond without my fox. I’m so sorry that I’ve made you feel like you’re somehow unworthy of being my mate because the truth is; I am unworthy of being yours.”

  He kissed the top of my head and his arms tightened around me for a moment. It felt so good to be held in his arms after the months of being here alone.

  “I’m sorry Solomon. You’ve told me from the very beginning that I’m beautiful but I just don’t see myself that way. It’s so much easier to believe you only say those things to be nice, especially when I’ve seen the women you’re drawn to physically.”

  “That’s just it Renee. With them, the attraction was purely physical, but with you, the physical attraction is only the beginning. A few moments of hot, sweaty sex was all I wanted from them. With you...” he shook his head then pulled back so I could see his face. “I want to make love to you for hours, days even, because when I touch you I feel truly alive, as if just being near you makes my heart beat stronger, my lungs breathe deeper. You bring joy to my life, and a sense of peace that I can’t even begin to explain. And all that was true without the help of the mating bond. All that was why I never pushed you to take that final step with me. I couldn’t risk it knowing it could all be ripped apart by a twist of fate neither of us would have any control over.”

  It was everything I’d ever dreamed of hearing him say, but could I believe him? If I gave him my heart and he broke it, the pain would be devastating, something I might not be able to survive.

  “You don’t have to make any decisions today Renee,” he whispered, and I realized all my doubts must have been painted across my face like a billboard for him to read.

  I opened my mouth to speak but before anything came out he claimed my lips, his tongue sliding past them to tangle with mine as he devoured me with his kiss. His arms tightened, crushing me against his hard muscular body, the rigid length between his legs. Desire burned through me like wildfire and I clutched at him, trying to bring him even closer. Only when I was dizzy from the lack of oxygen did he finally end the kiss with a satisfied grin curling his slightly swollen lips.

  “We’re only at first base, remember.” He winked at me. He actually winked at me and all I could do was lay there gasping while my body went up in flames. “And since neither of us are allowed to steal home plate, I’m going to leave you here alone to get ready for the tournament.”

  He rolled off the bed and started reciting the incantations to open a portal. When the shimmering rainbow of colors appeared, he stepped towards the translucent barrier but stopped when I called his name. He turned towards me and I crawled off the bed making sure the sheet I’d been wearing stayed behind, so that when I stood before him I was completely nude.

  No way was I letting him leave with that smug expression on his face. I might not have the sexiest body in the world, but I knew how to move like I did.

  I closed the distance between us slowly, making sure my hips swayed with every step I took. He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down while other parts of his anatomy swiftly came to attention.

  “I’d like to go to t
he tournament together. Would you wait for me in your suite? Maybe even leave this portal open until I get there?”

  He nodded and his eyes skimmed down my body then back up again. I’d never seen his eyes burn so hot, the three colors of his soul forming rings of fire that seared my flesh everywhere they touched.

  I reached out and lightly scraped my nails down his bare arm. He shivered where he stood and closed his eyes with a groan. When he opened them again I added, “And Solomon, I think it’s time everyone knows who you belong to. You know, just so the droves of women have fair warning before they get their throats ripped out.”

  Now I winked at him and he let a slow grin curl his lips.

  “You’re playing with fire Renee, but I’ll play along. After all, a promise is a promise. When you’re ready we’ll move on to second base but no matter how hot you make me burn I won’t let anything else happen between us.”

  My nipples tightened with a wave of desire that sent a rush of damp heat to the needy place between my thighs. Solomon inhaled deeply and smiled like the Cheshire cat. “This is going to be so much fun.”

  He turned and stepped through the portal leaving me very wet and very horny. Why had I thought toying with him was such a good idea? The man has been leading women around by their libidos for centuries. Clearly, I was out of my league, but as usual that only meant I needed to step up my game. Surrender was never an option once I set my mind to something. Then again, there wouldn’t be a game to play if I hadn’t insisted on taking things slow.

  For a brief moment, I wished I had just let the mating frenzy have its way with me. Then I remembered the look in Solomon’s eyes as I walked across the room naked and I had to agree with him. This really was going to be so much fun.

  Smiling to myself, I headed to the bathroom for what would surely be only the first of many cold showers to be taken before Solomon found his way to home plate.

  Chapter Eleven

  ~ Solomon ~

  After a very long, very cold shower, I pulled on a pair of black leather pants, a tank top of the same color and a pair of boots. It was what we typically wore to the annual tournament or any other supernatural venue where fights might break out in the blink of an eye. Since the leather and boots offered some protection from claws and knives, a lot of people also wore leather vests. I didn’t bother because nightshifters could heal most damage within moments and anything we couldn’t shake off that fast, leather wouldn’t protect us from anyway. I only wore the pants and boots for the same reason I wore the jacket and slacks to the banquet - it was what the occasion called for.

  When Renee came through the portal her short auburn curls were pulled back from her face with barrettes and her attire was similar to mine, but nothing about her clothing made me think it was designed for protection. She wore low rise pants that looked like leather but had to be some kind of stretchy synthetic material because they were simply too tight to be anything else. Her black top was conservative by supernatural standards but still managed to leave her midriff and arms bare while lifting her breasts up as if they were on display. The final touch was a pair of knee high boots with spiked silver heels that gave the entire outfit a dangerously sexy appeal and had my blood pumping harder to lower regions of my body as I devoured her with my eyes.

  “I ah...” She cleared her throat and tried again, shifting from one foot to the other. “I thought it best to keep the tattoo on my back covered.”

  I forced myself to look up from her breasts and meet her worried green eyes. “That’s probably for the best. I don’t plan to remove my shirt in public right now either. We wouldn’t want anyone thinking my mate is already dead.”

  Her face fell. “I’m so sorry Solomon.”

  I crossed the room and wrapped my arms around her. “Don’t be sorry Renee. Now that we’re together it’s only a matter of time before that eye is open and another one appears on your back.”

  She laid her cheek against my chest and squeezed her arms around me. “When you say that, I almost believe it.”

  “That’s because you know I’m a man of my word. If I say I will make something happen, I will.” It felt so good to hold her that I was reluctant to let go, but it was almost time for the opening ceremonies. “Are you sure you don’t want to cover the mating marks?”

  “Yes. I know there’s going to be a lot of talk but the sooner we get this over with the better. Waiting would only give me more time to worry about how everyone is going to react.”

  I kissed the top of her head and hugged her tight one more time before letting her go. “I’m not so sure everyone will be as shocked as you expect them to be. According to Katerina our eventual mating has always been a forgone conclusion in everyone’s minds but ours.”

  Renee snorted. “Yeah, that’s why all those women have been lining up to sleep with you night after night. I thought shapeshifters steered clear of mated shifters.”

  I gestured towards the door. “Usually they do, but we weren’t really mated yet. Now that we’re marked they should back off, which will honestly be a huge relief.”

  “But not nearly as entertaining,” she laughed as I opened the door for her to pass through. “It was actually kind of funny watching you turn down that parade of women at the bar last night.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “You saw that?” I asked, closing the door behind us. We were heading towards the elevator now.

  “Yeah, and it was a good thing you didn’t touch any of them because I’m sure my fox would’ve reacted just like she did in that dream all those months ago. I have a little more control over her now, but nowhere near what an adult shapeshifter should have.”

  “You might be an adult, but your fox is only six months old. Most of us who were born shifters didn’t have good control of our beasts until we were at least twenty years old. It shouldn’t take you that long to learn control because you’re not a child, but no one would hold it against you if your fox slipped its leash now and then - especially not if someone was trying to steal your mate.”

  I pressed the button to call the elevator.

  “I would hold it against me,” Renee pouted.

  I growled and pulled her close, unable to resist the temptation of that lower lip being pushed out. I nipped at it then covered her lips with mine for a long, hungry kiss with roaming hands and gasping breaths.

  When the elevator dinged, Renee pulled back from the kiss and smiled up at me. She was so damn sexy with her lips damp and swollen from my kisses.

  The elevator doors slid open and inside was a disaster waiting to happen. I had less than a second to react but thankfully I read Rachel’s mind just in time to stop the scathing remark she was about to deliver. Deciding it was best if she left the area, I gave her a mental push sending her on her way after erasing her memories of seeing us in the hall. That should have been the end of it but unfortunately Jasper had other ideas.

  “You don’t have any right to screw with her mind,” he growled, striding towards me and Renee with murder in his eyes.

  I barely had time to set Renee aside before his fist swung out and connected with the side of my head. The lights dimmed for a second but I shook it off. The next time he came for me I caught his arm and twisted it behind his back at the same time that I shoved him face first into the wall. He was briefly stunned but quickly recovered and tried to get free from my hold. I twisted his arm harder and jerked it upwards until he howled in pain, then I eased off and tried to reason with him.

  “I’ll let you slide this one time Jasper because I know how much you care about Rachel and I know you’re only looking out for her.”

  “You don’t know shit about my feelings for Rachel...”

  I jerked his arm up again and he closed his mouth.

  “Maybe I do, maybe I don’t, but what I do know is this; you just attacked a clan leader. Lucky for you, I’m not going to kill you, but try that again and I won’t have any choice. Now I want you to think long and hard about what would happen to Rachel
if she mouthed off to the wrong person here. If you care as much as you say you do, then you should stop that before it happens. I don’t like tampering with her mind any more than you like me doing it, but we can’t have her running around inviting challenges that she won’t be able to meet. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

  His eyes flicked to Renee and the unfinished mating marks, then he closed them and nodded his head. Renee was usually pretty level headed but mating could make even the sanest of us a little crazy at times. Anyone who saw the unfinished mating marks on our bodies would know they should tread carefully or risk having us blow up in their faces. Well, anyone but Rachel. She still hadn’t grasped just how dangerous our world could be.

  “Good. I’m going to let you go now and I think you should catch up to Rachel before she finds any more trouble to get into.”

  Slowly, I released my hold on Jasper. When he was free, he glared at me but kept his comments to himself and left to find Rachel.

  “So that was Rachel huh?” Renee asked once Jasper was gone. I nodded. “And Jasper is what? Her love slave?”

  I smiled and pushed the button for the elevator again. The doors opened immediately and we stepped inside. “I’m not sure that’s what I’d call him but he’s definitely been whipped.”

  Renee laughed and we both leaned against the back wall in comfortable silence. When the elevator stopped at the first floor, she pushed off from the wall and squared her shoulders.

  I reached out and took her hand, bringing it to my lips for a kiss, then I held it there until she met my eyes. “You are a strong, vibrant woman and any man would be proud to have you at his side.”

  She smiled at me and for the first time I got the sense that she truly believed what I was telling her. It made me want to kiss her, to lift her up in my arms and never let go, but I didn’t do either of those things because the elevator doors opened and Scarlett, a tall bear shifter with fiery red hair, stepped inside. Scarlett was an entertainment manager who worked under me at Myths and Legends so her and Renee knew each other well but weren’t exactly the best of friends - not that they were enemies; it was just hard for anyone to be close friends with Scarlett. At least that had been true before she recently found her mate.