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STORY EXCERPT

Angus McPherson watched his temporary squad partner, Dyson James, drive away in Kristen’s car and had to admire the man’s smooth moves. It wasn’t often that Thomas didn’t get the girl, so Dyson probably had reason to be a little smug. Although, come to think of it, Thomas had been rather quiet lately, especially when it came to the ladies. In fact, he hadn’t really seemed his usual cocky self since the issue with Skye and her sister, Jennifer, several months ago.

“Who’s with me, then?” Angus asked, already knowing what the answer would be. Slip travel was uncomfortable for most creatures, except for the demons born to it, but he’d been told on numerous occasions that his particular form of travel was not only nauseating but freeze-ya-tits-off cold as well. Personally, he found the temperature quite refreshing, but judging by Thomas’s and Adam’s quick negative replies, it was too cold for pretty-boy werewolves.

“I’ll transport Adam and Thomas directly to the safe house. You follow Dyson and Kristen, and they’ll meet you there.”

“Not a problem,” he said with a wide grin. He didn’t need to ask what Brody would be doing. The man would be going back to protect Ava. It was as clear and as simple as that. The woman might be off the assassin’s radar thanks to the fake death they’d arranged, but she was never without at least one of her husbands.

Angus watched Kristen’s small car climb a slight rise in the distance and decided it would be best to get himself moving. He’d slip travel ahead of the vehicle, wait for Dyson and Kristen to drive past and almost out of sight and then slip travel ahead once more. It would be quite nice to be able to stop every mile or so. With slip travel taking him directly from one point to the other, it wasn’t often that he got to slow down and appreciate the scenery. This assignment might actually start out rather pleasant.

* * * *

Three days of quiet, surrounded by deliciously handsome men who not only acknowledged her existence but also cared about her comfort didn’t really prepare Kristen for the realities of being a serial killer’s target. She’d never been the center of attention before and was a little bit embarrassed by how much she liked it. Of course, that didn’t stop her imagination from taking things one step further. She was well into her latest fantasy about Angus and Dyson taking turns at making love to her when an awful screeching sound filled the air.

Dyson was beside her almost instantly, his warm arms wrapped around her, holding her close as the other three men moved to investigate.

“Damn,” Angus said in a soft whisper, “we have at least two out the front.”

“Two more out back,” Adam said as he came into the living area, Thomas right behind him. “Time to follow the ‘live to fight another day’ rule and retreat.” All four men nodded in agreement.

Kristen held her breath, panic stealing through her. If they were surrounded, how were they supposed to retreat?

“Get her to Brody. We’ll follow with Dyson,” Thomas said decisively a moment before Kristen’s understanding of the world changed forever.

* * * *

Angus held Kristen close. He knew that slip travel was very uncomfortable for humans, but he’d been hoping that Kristen wouldn’t have to learn about their unusual skills the hard way. It had seemed easier just to take things one day at a time. Learning that she was an Oracle’s receptacle and currently surrounded by paranormals was something they’d decided to ease her into. Of course, that had been when they believed the safe house to be safe.

Kristen clung to him as her knees wobbled. He held her closer with one hand as he dialed his cell phone with the other.

“Brody, emergency evac,” he said as soon as the dragon-shifter answered the phone.

“On it.” A dragon vortex appeared beside them a moment later. Brody stepped through, quickly closed that jump vortex, and opened another. Angus lifted Kristen into his arms and followed the dragon-shifter. He ground his teeth together as nausea gripped him. He might have no effects from his own type of travel, but he wasn’t immune to the side effects that a dragon vortex had on nondragons. Kristen moaned and lost consciousness as he stepped into the bright sunshine in front of the alternate safe house they had set up.

Brody left and was back a few moments later with a fire demon who was unsteady on his feet and two men who morphed into wolves as soon as they hit the ground. Adam and Thomas wriggled out of what was left of their clothes and then paced the area checking for unexpected scents.

They changed back immediately as all five men’s cell phones began ringing at the same time.

Benjamin’s news was horrifying. His orders succinct.

Go off the grid.

They had a traitor in their midst, and they had no idea who they could trust.

ADULT EXCERPT

“Are you a virgin, Kristen?” Dyson asked, clearly following the same thought process as Angus.

She blushed prettily but shook her head. Her mumbled “not really” was confusing.

“Define ‘not really,’” Angus ordered, wishing that he could somehow ease her embarrassment but also knowing this conversation was necessary.

She took a deep breath and finally said, “‘Not really’ as in only one relationship, a dozen or so fumbled times in the dark.” She lifted her gaze and smiled at them both shyly. “And not once did I ever feel like that.”

“Well, then,” Dyson said with a wide grin, “we have a lot to teach you.”

Even if he lived another six hundred years, Angus would never forget the expression of relief that crossed her face. Had she really thought they’d reject her because of her inexperience?

He leaned over, pressed a kiss to her lips, and then moved her so that she was kneeling over the top of Dyson, straddling his hips.

“Ride him, baby,” Angus said as Dyson fit his hard cock against her slick pussy and then let her control the pace. She slid slowly onto his cock, the expression of wonder on her face truly beautiful to see. She took him all, rocking slightly when Dyson held her still.

But then she made a panicked sound and tried to lift away, the word “condom” on her lips.

“Shhh, it’s okay Kristen. He’s wearing one.” He leaned over to touch her face so that he could be certain she was listening. “Demons and humans aren’t supposed to be compatible in a genetic sense, but there’s no way we’d put you in danger. We’ll protect you from assassins and unplanned pregnancies. I promise.”

“Okay,” she said with a shy nod. It didn’t seem the appropriate time to tell her what had happened to Ava, but Brody had explained that the Oracle’s receptacles seemed to be different. It was amazing, really. Angus had never even considered getting married and making babies, but with Kristen, ideas like that kept popping into his head. He could almost visualize her swollen with his and Dyson’s babies. But it was a random thought that caught him by surprise. If they hadn’t known the Oracle’s receptacles were capable of interbreeding they might not have used condoms and could right now be creating a new life. It was strange how a thought that would have terrified him merely weeks ago seemed so appealing now.

Angus leaned over, caressed Kristen’s spine as she and Dyson slowly started to move, and tried not to think about the future just now.

* * * *

Dyson was really glad that he’d thought to grab a condom. He hated the damn things but the pleasure on Kristen’s face had made it all worthwhile. He wasn’t entirely convinced that the Oracle’s receptacles could breed with demons, but he was willing to protect Kristen regardless.

She moved slowly, lifting off his cock and then sliding back down, the wonder on her face confirming that she’d never experienced this position before. Had her previous lover been so self-centered that he hadn’t noticed the sensual woman underneath the shy demeanor? Dyson trapped her hips in his hands, holding her suspended above him. He thrust his cock up into her pussy, slamming into her over and over, watching the pleasure on her face multiply as her orgasm drew near once more.

She was panting, writhing in his hold, begging with her body for more when Angus pulled her away from him. She squeaked in surprise as Angus arranged her on her hands and knees, her breasts swinging over Dyson’s face as Angus thrust into her from behind.

Dyson latched on to her breast, sucking the hard tip into his mouth and tormenting the tumescent flesh with his tongue. He slid a hand across her belly, slipping lower until he found the soft curls covering her mons and the hard nub of her clit. She groaned as he slid his fingers over the swollen little bud, sucking harder against her breast as Angus fucked her faster.

* * * *

Kristen screamed as her climax burst, her arms and legs shaking violently, barely able to hold her up. Her pussy clenched and throbbed around Angus’s thick cock, and he held still, grinding his pelvis against her ass as he pushed his cock as deeply as it would go into her body. She could feel him pulsing inside her, a feeling of feminine power winding through her as he groaned out his own release. He slid his hands around her, lifting her upper body against his, the arm around her waist a more possessive embrace than anything she’d ever known.

He held her close as her orgasm subsided and her skin became oversensitive. She jolted several times, his soft touch sending waves of heat flowing through her entire body. Dyson rolled to his knees, his touch against the side of her face amazingly affectionate.

“You look very beautiful like this.” Dyson ran a finger over her mouth, pressing against her bottom lip until her mouth fell open. “One day soon I want to slide my cock into your mouth while Angus fucks you just like this.” He leaned up to run his tongue over the surprised smile on her lips. She’d read about oral sex, but until this very moment she’d never understood the appeal. “But first I need to fuck you.”

Before she could react, Angus had slipped from her body and Dyson had arranged her on her back. A small sliver of disappointment wound through her when she recognized the missionary position, but she wasn’t about to reject the man or complain when everything they’d done so far had felt so wonderful.

But when Dyson hooked his fingers around her ankles and encouraged her to draw her knees to her chest, she realized that this was definitely not going to be anything she’d experienced before.