Page 83 of Secret Shifters Next Door

Groaning, I slid into her, her warmth enveloping her. Her breasts pressed against my chest and my hips began to move. Harley slipped her hands up into my hair, and her eyes rolled back in her head as I began thrusting faster and harder. My lips grazed across her jaw and neck, the dragon screaming at me to do what we both wanted.

“Do it, Tate,” she gasped, barely in control. “Take me. Claim me!”

The dragon roared, and my own voice echoed its cry. I clamped my teeth onto her neck, my fangs already out. I sucked in a mouthful of her blood and injected her with my venom. I could almost feel that part of me coursing through her body. Theconnection was already forming, and I’d never felt anything like it. I came, grunting and burying myself deep inside her as my body shuddered. Harley screamed my name and slammed her hips into me over and over, fucking me even as I was locked in motionless pleasure. Moments later, her own body vibrated and shook beneath me, a wordless moan erupting from her throat. We collapsed against each other, heaving and panting, overcome by what had just happened.

Not sure if I’d done it right, we lay there, holding each other, waiting for… something. I’d never done this before. Even if there hadn’t been a curse, I wouldn’t have really known what would happen. My body knew how to claim someone—it was instinct. Just like a man or woman knew how to have sex even if they’d never seen it or been taught. Other than that, I didn’t know what might happen.

I laughed. “I feel so much better. The feral feeling, it’s gone.”

Harley caressed my face and nodded, a faint smile growing on her face. I pulled her close to me, the bond between us growing with every second, unbelievably powerful. I put my hand to her chest, feeling her pulse.

I pressed my face to hers. “Our hearts are beating in sync.”

“I feel different,” she whispered.

Nodding, I said, “It’s the mating bond. I kind of thought you’d have shifted by now. The wound on your neck is already closed up and vanished. It definitely worked.” It was true, but there was a faint scar where my teeth had torn her skin. A scar that would permanently mark her. Just enough for me to see, to know that she was mine forever. My dragon purred with satisfaction.

Before we could drift off to sleep, a heavy fist pounded at my bedroom door. The explosive sound snatched our bliss and peace away. There would be only one reason for someone to come over here and interrupt this. Something had happened.

Before I could ask who it was, Steff screamed through the door, “Tate! The hunters are here. They’re in Harley’s backyard.”

THIRTY-SIX

HARLEY

Tate threw my clothes to me, and we got dressed as fast as we could. Once we stepped out of the bedroom, Steff was there waiting for us. The look in his eyes could only be described as anxious rage.

“They started calling to us from the woods out back. Humans wouldn’t have heard it. I’ll be damned if Miles was the first of us to hear them. He started yelling at me and Blayne. As soon as I saw them out there, I busted my ass over here to get you.” He glanced at me and Tate awkwardly before adding, “Hope things went… well?”

“Yeah, we’re good. What do they want?” Tate said.

“Haven’t said. They kept saying they wanted all of us there before they’d talk.”

The walk across the street was much different than the one we’d taken a few minutes before. The woods behind my house, which had always looked quaint and lush compared to the concrete and steel of New York, now seemed dark and intimidating. In those trees, Miles had been attacked. Danger stood among those shadowy branches and leaves.

We walked into the house and locked the door behind us, not wanting to be flanked if that was their idea. Blayne joined us,and we walked toward the back door. Before we opened it, Tate took me by the shoulders and looked me in the eyes.

“If things go badly, you need to get the hell out of here. My truck is out front with the keys in it. You run, you get the girls, and you get the hell out of here. Don’t look back.”

I looked into Tate’s eyes. In my heart, I knew I could never leave him, especially after what we’d just done. After the deep, unending connection we’d made. I knew what he needed to hear. I looked back at him and nodded my head firmly in assent. He still didn’t look comfortable letting me come outside, but I think he wanted me where he could see me. He unlocked the door and swung it open.

We stepped out, and I could see a single man in the distance, about twenty yards from my back porch. He had a rifle slung across his shoulder, but it was hanging to the side, not in his hands. His arms were crossed, and he had what I would call a prickish smile on his face. I hated him on sight, like I probably would have even if I didn’t know he wanted to hurt us. This was the type of person you would cross the street to avoid.

Tate stepped in front of all three of us and called out, “Do you have a death wish? Is that why you’re here? Because if so, by God, I’ll grant it.”

The man rocked back on his heels and laughed. “Looks like you’re the one with the death wish. But no, we didn’t come here to fight you. We all know the kind of magic you dragon shifters possess. Shit, you by yourself could roast all of us in a second.”

I noticed rustling branches and limbs, then another six hunters appeared near the leader. Fear spiked deeper into my chest. So many? They all had guns. Could the guys take this many? I had to keep reminding myself of the mansion. There had been twice this many men there. Of course, those men had thought they were going to fight humans. These hunters knewexactly what they were up against. That had to make them more dangerous.

“You need to know there’s a war coming. We plan on ridding the world of every one of you abominations. That’s what we came to let you know. Say your goodbyes. Get your houses in order, because we’re coming. You’ll die…” he jerked a chin toward my stomach, “…and your filthy fucking devil spawn will die, too. I’ll happily grind a baby shifter into the dirt with my own?—”

So fast. My God! I never knew anything on earth could be so fast. One moment Tate was standing in front of me, the next, he was roaring in rage, and was twenty yards away, holding the man in the air by his throat. It had caught the hunters off guard. They all took a half second to realize what had happened before they raised their rifles and pistols at Tate.

The leader waved them off and croaked out, “Weapons down. The boss wants the dragon for himself.”

Tate started to squeeze the man’s throat. “I should fucking end you right here. Right now. Pop your goddamned head off. You threaten my unborn child? Maybe I should go ahead and shift, then fucking devour you alive.”

Hearing something like that would have made me piss my pants. But this man must have had balls of steel, or maybe he was totally off his rocker. Instead of begging for his life, he started laughing. His face grew redder by the second as Tate squeezed. The guy seemed to have no fear.

---