Reclaimed (Shadow Beast Shifters, #2)(54)

“Did you just say you were wrong?” I coughed. “Uh, did you hit your head? Maybe get scratched and infected?”

He growled at me, turning away from the fake view. “We killed the mist-driven energy that set this in motion, but from what I can tell, the current course we’re on is set. I can’t change it; we’re heading for The Grey Lands.”

I grabbed at his arm, holding on because I needed the fucking fortification. “The land with all the creatures? Where the mists used to converge?”

He nodded. “Yes, and I have limited knowledge of that area, which will make it harder for me to protect you when we arrive.”

“The birthplace of creatures?”

He nodded. “Yes, of much of the realm, really. It’s only here that the remaining creatures freely roam. Wild and untamed. Dangerous.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Creatures are kind of my jam. Maybe I’ll be the one to protect you. Are you looking for a knight in shining armor?”

His expression could have melted the polar ice caps, and I didn’t blame him. It probably wasn’t the best time for joking, but once again, it was laugh or cry.

Story of my life.





26





Shadow and I backed away from the edge, the platform rumbling beneath us—the only evidence we were even moving, since the view around us was nothing but swirls of mist, obscuring whatever lay beyond.

“Not being naked would be really great,” I said ruefully. “You know, before I have to go all kung fu on whoever is on the other side of this spell.”

There was no place to procure clothing, that was for sure, but then Shadow just clapped his hands together, and when he opened them a folded pile of clothing sat atop of them.

“What…?” I narrowed my eyes on him before looking back to the clothes.

He laughed at my confusion. “How did you think your clothing appeared in your wardrobe in the lair?”

“Seriously?” I pressed a hand to my naked chest. “That was you? But I loved my wardrobe; it always has the best clothing selection.”

Shadow’s eyes darkened. “It was more enjoyable than I anticipated, dressing you in exactly what I wanted.”

Now that time I’d had no underwear made perfect sense. Motherfucker.

“Fuck, dude. You’re lucky that you have decent taste in outfits.”

His grin was slow and predatory. “That red dress… I threw it in the options on a whim, not expecting you’d choose it.”

“I almost didn’t,” I admitted with a laugh.

Shadow didn’t laugh with me. “Seeing you in it nearly destroyed my long held control. I’ve never felt like killing my friends more than I did that night.”

I was completely knocked on my ass by that—not literally, but emotionally. “You did seem a little extra ornery that night.”

Now he laughed, a rich deep sound that echoed through our current transportation system, and as much as it was a shitty, scary situation we were in, this moment felt like a gift. “Ornery… yeah, I guess that’s one way to look at it.”

He held the bundle of clothing out and I took it. “How come you didn’t create clothing and such for me when we were in Faerie?” I asked.

His eyes flashed, the flames brighter. “Magic is tricky there, and I couldn’t be bothered dealing with the fallout. It was easier to let Inky handle it since it can portal directly without any ripple effect.”

I nodded. “Well, thank you.”

His gaze was scorching me, and I was almost tempted to hand this pile of clothes back and walk my naked ass under the waterfall again. I’d been a virgin only a few hours ago, not to mention we were currently on a one-way trip to the notorious Grey Lands, and all I could think about was climbing all over Shadow and letting him hold me hostage for a few days or weeks.

His nostrils flared, pupils dilating. “Sunshine, you know I can smell your arousal. And now is not the time.”

I briefly considered begging for one more orgasm, for both of us, before I reminded myself that this was for the best. It was always supposed to be a one-night thing. A taste of perfection, a moment in time to give myself over to him.

Submitting again was not good for either of us, and that meant no more Shadow for me.

Not in this lifetime.

“I better get dressed,” I choked out, stumbling away.

Just as I turned from him, melancholy pressing to my chest, a firm grip wrapped around my hair and back of my neck. I gasped as he jerked me back toward him, the pile of clothing flying out of my hands in an arc.

I didn’t give a single fuck, though, because he was kissing me. His hold on my neck possessive as he slid his other hand between my thighs, parting the folds to find the dampness at my center. I groaned and arched, giving him better access. He stroked a thumb over my clit, sending sparks of pleasure through me to the point my legs almost buckled.

One finger entered me, while his thumb continued a relentless assault on the ball of nerves. Almost immediately, a second finger pushed inside to join the first, and I cried out, swirls of pleasure already attacking me with relentless assault.

“Shadow,” I gasped.

His throaty groan sent me over the edge, and as I cried out, clawing and scratching his arms, his mouth found mine again. My moans were lost in the kiss as he relentlessly drew out my pleasure. Those damn expert fingers moved over sensitive nerve endings, and I was thoroughly wrecked by the time he was done.