STORY EXCERPT

Wakanda Bevyns, better known as Kira, strode into the crowded emergency room. Dr. Lonato Rexford followed her. She wished he’d gone to see his patients. He was a distraction, and so was Dr. Hakan Connor, who stood at the ER desk.

Dr. Jack Talisman came out of a nearby patient room. “I’m glad you’re here. We have a total of twenty-four people who’ve been poisoned. Everyone involved was at the party after your sister’s wedding. No new patients have arrived in the last thirty minutes. I’m hoping this is the end of it.”

“How are they doing?”

“We’re giving smaller doses of the medicine with the antibodies to see if that and their natural immune system will take care of the poison’s effects. It’s only been about four hours since the wedding reception and they’re doing better. Their numbers on the most recent blood tests have stopped rising and are beginning to gradually lower. I suspect they got a much smaller dose than our other victims.”

“Do you fear that we may have another attack and need more medicine than we have left?” Kira asked.

“Yes. Ellen and her group of scientists haven’t had time to prepare a surplus of the medicine to cover everyone. We’re using what we have in a prudent manner, so as not to drain all our resources.”

Kira glanced at Dr. Rexford. “We need to go up to the lab and give another pint of blood.”

“I can do that, but you’ve given too much already.”

“I’ll be all right, if I eat afterwards and rest. I’m going to suggest Ellen take a pint of my blood and give me a pint of yours. You may need a transfusion.”

“If so, which I doubt, my father will donate. Let’s go.”

She walked toward the elevator with him. “Has anyone told you how bossy you are? You and Dr. Connor are similar in that respect. I’m surprised you two get along.”

“I’ve been told numerous times. Hakan and I are cousins and have been friends since we could walk.”

“I see being called bossy didn’t clue you in to change.”

“I like being in charge.”

“So do I.” They got on the elevator. When the doors closed, Kira’s body reacted to their closeness. Her awareness of his large, muscular body and his intoxicating scent of woods, musk, and spices heightened. He towered over her, and from the slight curve of his mouth, she knew he was aware of how he affected her. She stepped farther away and heard a chuckle.

“I don’t see anything funny about this situation.”

Rex leaned forward. His breath blew across her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

“You know exactly why I chuckled.”

“If you’re playing games with me, beware, I don’t play nice.” Relief swept over Kira when the elevator stopped and the doors opened. She walked hurriedly down the hall to Ellen’s lab.

Ellen greeted them. “I hate to take more blood from you two.”

Kira explained her plan. “Since the crisis appears to be slowing, this will give you time to work on producing more medicine containing the antibodies.”

“Good idea.” She led them into the donor room. “Kira, you lie on the first bed, and Dr. Rexford can get on the second one.”

“Maybe he could lie on the one across from me. I see you’ve set the room up for four donors.”

“Yes. I didn’t know what to expect, so we added a couple of beds. But your suggestion is fine. Is that all right with you, Doctor?”

“No.” Rex sat on the closest bed. “This makes more sense for you. We’re close together, and you can stand between us.”

Ellen glanced from one of them, to the other. “Whatever. We need to get started.” She gave Kira a puzzled look and a smile before hurrying out to get her equipment.

“Good try, but I’m staying close.”

“Do you have to have the final word every time? You are so annoying.”

“You left the elevator before I had time to say that I don’t play nice either.”

Kira gave him an exasperated look. His expression didn’t change. It was a relief to turn to Ellen and watch as she put in the needle to collect Kira’s blood.

Then she connected another IV line between Kira and Rex. “I want your blood replaced immediately. You’ve given way too much lately,” Ellen said to Kira. “I know your blood is compatible with Dr. Rexford’s. You didn’t have a reaction from the transfusion of his blood the first time.”

When Ellen had the procedures started, a nurse came into the room and sat at the corner desk. Ellen hurried to her lab.

“Whether you like it or not, you now have a part of me.” Rex smiled.

She was taken aback. He was handsome without smiling, but when he did fully smile, her heart jumped and heat raced through her veins. Looking at the blood flowing into her arm gave her an odd sensation, as though they’d forged an alliance she might not be able to break.

Silly. It’s a blood transfusion, nothing more. And yet I feel the warmth of his blood in my veins, and his strength flowing into me.

ADULT EXCERPT

Kira twisted in her sleep. Darkness surrounded her, and she smelled the evil. She was running down a narrow path, and no matter how fast she ran, the blackness came closer to her until the thick, black curtains brushed against her arms. The air got colder, and a voice rang in her ears.

Come to me. I need your help. You can be my queen.

“No.” She pushed at the dark encroaching closer to her body. Her hands slipped into the slimy mist, and she jerked them back. The darkness began to surround her, smother her. “Help,” she screamed and sat up in bed.

Her door slammed open, and Lonato and Hakan rushed to the bed. Hakan grabbed her up into his arms. Lonato ran his hand along her face, her throat, checking her body.

“It’s all right, darling. We’re here.” Hakan unfastened his jeans and got into bed beside her.

She cuddled into his arms. Lonato turned off the light and lay down on her other side. His hands massaged across her shoulders.

Lonato whispered in her ear. “Can you tell us what happened?”

“It was so dark and cold, and I could smell the evil. I was running down a narrow path. The blackness got closer and closer until it touched my hands and arms.” She shivered, and Lonato moved against her backside.

“What does evil smell like?” Lonato asked.

“Like something sour or rotten,” she answered.

Her arms clung around Hakan’s neck. He covered her face with light kisses and licked away the few tears that had run down her cheeks. She felt safe and comforted. The tears stopped as she hugged his neck tighter.

“We’ll protect you,” Hakan reassured her. His warm hand cupped her breast and rubbed across her plump nipple. “Do you feel up to us loving you?”

She realized she was sandwiched in between the two of them. “I’ve never been with two men at once.”

“We’ll see you like it,” Lonato said. He blew his breath across her neck. Kira felt a quick flutter in her belly. He bit the edge of her shoulder, and heat quickly kindled into a decadent craving. Her pussy clenched, and moisture seeped out of her.

Lonato pulled her panties down, and then reached around to her front and put two fingers into her pussy. He rubbed against her G-spot, and scintillating euphoria shot from her deepest core outward.

Hakan had removed her bra. He slid downward to face her breasts and held them in his warm hands. His fingers rubbed across the peaks. When he lowered his mouth and sucked on one, her heart pounded in her chest and she gasped for breath.

Meanwhile, Lonato moved his fingers in and out of her pussy. His hard cock pulsed against her backside, and the essence of their arousal scented the air. His mouth kissed her shoulders and along her spine.

“Hakan, I’m going to pull her hips up.” Lonato put his arm around her waist and lifted her butt in the air, putting her body weight on her knees and arms. He stepped away from the bed for a second. Hakan moved in front of her where his dick was level with her mouth.

Kira licked across the crown of his cock and then closed her mouth around him. Moving her head up and down the length of his large cock, she took him in deeper with each upward stroke. Hakan held her head in his hands.

“I’m back. Spread your legs a little wider.” Lonato spoke from behind her. She did as he said, and he rubbed his cock along her tender folds. Positioning his cock at her pussy opening, he slowly entered her from the back. His fingers tightened on her nipples. Passion swirled through her veins. Her hunger for them became a voracious need sending her hips moving to meet Lonato’s every thrust.

Kira tightened her lips around Hakan’s cock and moved her head up and down his length faster and faster. Her only awareness was of the two men surrounding her and the pleasure building into a crescendo inside her. When she sucked again on Hakan, he groaned, held her head tight, and she tasted his salty release. Hakan kissed her and moved backward on the bed.

Lonato had slowed his strokes, but now he plunged in deeper. He had a hand around her breast and rubbed her clit with his fingers. Her hips met his every thrust, and her breast filled his hand. Each stroke sent her temperature higher, and a wave of pure pleasure rolled from her feet, up and over her.