A Magical Shift: A Hot Paranormal Fantasy Saga with Witches, Werewolves, and Werebears (Weres and Witches of Silver Lake Book 1) (20 page)

“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine not running free. It’s part of who I am.”

What she wouldn’t give to run free like that. “My life wasn’t all bad. I did have my magic.”

“True, but not being able to share it with others must have been hard.”

She looked deep into his eyes. He understood, and that meant the world to her. “It was, but that’s the fate of most Wendayans.”

“Most?”

“Society seems to accept those like my sister who have the power to heal, and those who are psychics, as they’ve been around for years, but my talents are a lot less mainstream.”

Rye leaned back on his elbows, a gleam in his eye. “Want to have some fun now?”

She laughed. “What kind of fun? I can’t shift, remember?”

“Not yet. You’ll have to wait until the white moon.”

Is that what he wanted? From the excitement in his tone, it sounded like he did. “And if it messes with my powers?”

He grabbed her hand and sobered. “Then we won’t even try.”

He was so accommodating. “Thank you.” Rye slipped off his shirt and toed off his shoes. “What are you doing? I am not having sex in the open.”

“Sex? Is that all you think about?” He winked.

He was such a liar. It was all he thought about. “Why are you getting naked then?”

Rye finished taking off his jeans. “Hurry.” He jumped off the rock, crossed the path, and then dove into the water.

Was he kidding? With strong strokes, Rye swam toward the middle of the lake and dove down under. When he failed to surface within thirty seconds, Izzy rushed to the edge of the water. “Rye?”

Even though her hands were shaking, she lifted them then widened her arms in an attempt to part the lake. As the water fell away, Rye surfaced about ten feet from where she’d performed her magic.

“What are you doing?” he asked with a hint of fear in his tone.

She immediately motioned for the lake to fill back in. “I thought you might be drowning.”

Rye returned close to shore then grinned. “You were worried about me, weren’t you?”

It wouldn’t hurt to tell him that much. “Yes.”

“Come on in and show me how concerned you really were. The water’s great.”

Did he really think she’d take off her clothes out there? “I’m good.”

“No you aren’t. You need to cut lose. What are you afraid of?” Rye stepped out of the water and droplets cascaded down his glorious body, and her every need surfaced. As if someone else was guiding her hand, Izzy stepped out of her shoes and pants.

Rye neared. “Keep going.”

“Or what?”

“You’re going in that water with or without clothes.”

Izzy was never this spontaneous.
No time like the present.
With Rye inches in front of her, she discarded her top. Wearing only her bra and panties she looked around but spotted no one. “Are any wolves around that you can sense?”

His gaze never left her face. “No.”

Here goes
. She took off her bra and Rye’s eyes turned that gorgeous golden-green when he was aroused, and his cock stood firm at attention. “No sex in the lake, okay?” she said.

He laughed. “Where’s the fun in that?”

“Rye!”

“The longer you take, the weaker I become. It’s so damn hard to resist you. You have no idea how much I want you.”

She hadn’t meant to be a tease. Inhaling deeply, Izzy stepped out of her panties and his grin widened. In a flash, she was in his arms and then in the lake.

“It’s cold,” she said, though pressing against Rye’s warm body helped somewhat.

“I’ll show you cold.”

Holding her in his arms, he dove down but surfaced quickly. As soon as she was able to breathe again, she twisted around and straddled him while Rye treaded water. “What if I couldn’t swim?” she asked.

“Not to worry. I wasn’t going to let go of you.”

She smiled. “Race you to that tree over there.” It was about fifty feet from them.

“You like losing, don’t you?” he asked with way too much sass.

It was one sport she actually enjoyed. She could swim by herself and not be taunted by others. “You chicken?”

“What do I get when I win?” he asked.

“A kiss.”

“A kiss could lead to other things.”

“Only if you win.” Before they had the chance to seal the deal, Izzy took off.

When Rye grabbed her leg from behind then shot past her, she had no choice but to use a little magic. With a big exhale, she created several large waves on Rye’s side that caused him slow down.

She was laughing so hard at his attempt to win that she nearly lost. Rye caught up with her one second later. “You will pay for cheating.”

“I didn’t cheat.”

“Did too.” Rye drew her close then tickled her.

Barely able to reach the bottom, Izzy grabbed his hands to stop him, but she couldn’t catch her breath. “I give.”

Rye stopped, gathered her in his arms, and walked out of the lake with her. “I’ll have to teach you a lesson about playing fair.”

Given the way his incisors had elongated and his scruff had sprouted, she was going to love that lesson.

‡

R
ye carried Izzy
back to where they’d stripped and set her down. “We’ll need our clothes.”

About time he came to his senses. She picked them up. Putting jeans on while she was wet wouldn’t be pleasant, but she certainly wasn’t planning on walking back to his house naked. Before she could put anything on, Rye took her hand and led her to his rock. Instead of climbing on top, he half dragged her behind it.

“Drop your clothes,” he commanded.

The intensity of his gaze heated her from the inside out, so she did. “Now what?”

“Take your punishment.” With one arm, he pulled her close. “I plan to torment you with kisses and touches.”

She laughed. “Oh, let the torture begin.”

“I don’t want you to move,” he commanded. “I don’t know how long I’m going to last, but I’m going to try.”

This time she didn’t ask what would happen if she did. Instead of the deep, soul-penetrating kiss she expected, he dropped to his knees and spread her legs wide. Goose bumps raced up her arms and legs in anticipation, though it was possible the air was cooling her wet body.

Rye didn’t move as he stared at her naked form. “Stop stalling,” she said.

Rye raised his head, his eyes almost glowing. Uh-oh, pushing him might cause an unwanted shift. While she doubted her eyes had changed color, Izzy was convinced something in her was different. His mere touch sent her desires to new heights, and his scent had already invaded her body. It had a magical element all its own.

“Prepare to be ravished,” he said.

True to his word, the first swipe of his tongue had her clamping down hard on his head, and waves of euphoria spread across her like ripples of water on the surface of the lake.

“That feels so good.”

Rye slipped a finger into her, and she rose up on her toes, trying to catch her breath. When he hit her G-spot, she almost came. Begging him to take her right then might push him over the edge, and she wanted them both to last.

To her delight and dismay, he sucked on her clit just as she was attempting to gain some control. It was too much, too intense, too exciting. Her whole body shimmered blue as her climax swooped down and claimed her. Her near scream had a few birds taking flight, which was exactly what her heart was doing—flying away with joy.

Rye stood and grinned. “You liked that?”

She cupped the scruff on his face. “Not at all. You’ll have to work a little harder next time.”

Rye drew her closer until their wet chests were plastered against each other. The kiss that followed was demanding, powerful, and so full of passion her knees weakened. A second later, her feet left the ground and she was forced to wrap her legs around his waist or chance slipping out of his grasp.

Together, he walked them over to the pile of clothes on the rock, adeptly snatched his shirt from the heap, and placed it over her shoulder. “Protection.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant until he backed her up to the rock slab.

Rye broke the kiss. “I want you so damn bad.”

“And I want you.” As much as she really wanted to suck on his cock, she wanted him inside her more.

Rye pounced and kissed her again, then trailed his kisses down her neck before scraping his teeth along the shell of her left earlobe. How that little act could make her so wet, she didn’t know.

Tempted to help guide him into her, she couldn’t gain any traction on his legs. Darn.

“I’ve got you,” he said. Lifting her with one arm, he aimed his cock at her entrance then slowly eased her down.

Lust descended, and she realized she needed him more than life itself. Naliana must be above guiding them because all hell broke loose as soon as he filled her. With her arms around his neck, Izzy dove at his mouth, and their tongues entwined. Breath for breath, they joined as one, and as Rye plunged into her even deeper, sparks lit her up from the inside out. Her blue glow grew and grew until it cocooned both of them into one bright shell of light.

This was it. She would finally mate with Rye. Izzy lowered her head and sucked on his shoulder as he pounded into her. The blood pulsing in her head blocked out the sounds of the world, and nothing mattered but Rye.

His grip tightened, and when he filled her to the hilt, another orgasm threatened to descend. As if the world might end tomorrow, they fucked each other with a wild fierceness born from being mates for life. His teeth dug into her shoulder just as his hot seed heated her insides, and she swallowed her scream as her orgasm claimed her. Rye’s grunts and groans seemed to come from deep in his chest, and he didn’t seem to care that he made enough noise for every shifter around to hear.

They were now mates in the truest sense.

When his dick stopped pulsing, Izzy lowered her legs to the ground and sagged against him. “Why can’t I ever seem to get my fill of you?” she asked.

“That’s what happens when you find the perfect mate.”

“How true.”

He nibbled her neck. “You’ve made me a very happy man, my mate.”

His touch was turning her on again. “I’m the one who’s happy. I never thought I’d ever find someone who understands me like you do.”

He lifted his head and kissed her briefly. “That means a lot to me. Perhaps we should take another dip to clean up. Because if we don’t, I have to take you again.”

She laughed. “Is it always going to be like this?”

He grinned. “I hope so.”

“Wait. Turn around. I want to see if your marking has changed.”

When she saw the vine laced through his paw, she ran a finger down his marking. “It’s beautiful.”

Rye whipped around. “Alphas don’t have beautiful marks.”

Izzy laughed. “You have a very masculine addition to the paw print then.” She grinned when he grunted.

“You ready to take that dip?”

Since she was already wet, she wouldn’t mind rinsing. “Can you check first that we’re alone?”

He tapped her nose. “I keep forgetting how shy you are.”

Izzy lifted her chin. “I think what we just did proves I’m quite adventurous.”

“You’re right. You are.”

After they had a refreshing dip, they dressed then returned to the house, discussing what she needed to do in the coming days and weeks to remain safe. While she appreciated his concern, Rye was becoming more possessive than ever, but she kind of liked it. No one had ever looked out for her interests like he did.

He pulled two bottles of water from the fridge then sat with her at the dining room table. Izzy downed half the bottle then waved it at him. “Just so you know, I’m not going to stop living my life because of a crazy man. Having to look over my shoulder every minute of the day would drive me crazy. Besides, my powers are restored, which means I can handle him.”

“You trying to convince yourself or me?” Rye scooted his chair closer and ran his hands down her shoulders. “Look, if this Owen Chancellor guy is still in town, it means he’s planning another attack. I imagine he paid a nice chunk of change to have a Changeling witch give him a spell. He won’t stop now.”

She blew out a breath, her shoulders sagging. “I know you believe he won’t leave until he has me, but how does he plan to accomplish that?”

“Ophelia said the spell can be reinitiated after twenty-four hours have passed.”

That was true. “Which is tomorrow,” she said.

Rye wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

She leaned back. “You can’t be everywhere. You have a job, and you have to prepare to take over the Clan’s leadership role.”

He cupped her face. “You are more important to me than anything else—the Clan included.”

She swallowed hard. As much as she liked hearing how much he cared for her, she wished she understood the source of his desire. Did being mates alone create his need? Or was it that he respected and perhaps even loved her a little?

“A penny for your thoughts,” he said.

She painted on a smile. “Just trying to come to grips with all of this.”

“I know just the thing to help.” He grabbed her hand and placed it on his crotch.

Izzy laughed. “Sex is not the solution to all problems. In case you forgot, we just made love at your favorite spot.”