“We may not have much time, but I can give you this.” He kissed her neck and allowed the water to cascade over her hair, slushing around her shoulders. His fingers filtered through her long strands, and she sighed.

  “Hand me the shampoo,” he whispered. She did as he asked, feeling his fingers rubbing gently along her scalp, the bubbles cascading down her neck. The comforting smell of lavender vanilla soon filled her shower. “Rinse,” he said, turning her around and fitting her to him as he leaned her head back, cradling it in his large palm. She closed her eyes and gave in to the sensual indulgence.

  She felt his soapy hands on her warm breasts and her breath hitched. He molded them to his hands, sliding ever so gently across her body, down between her breasts, lingering along her stomach. She arched, wanting his touch on her most private parts.

  He chuckled at her need. “Not yet, sweet,” he murmured in her ear. “Soon.”

  She shivered as he continued to lather her legs and toes, coming back up to caress her bottom, kneading it, so close to where she wanted his touch, and then she was turned around and kissed feverishly. Diana could feel his erection against her. She wiggled, standing on tiptoe, trying to entice him.

  He smacked her bottom to still her movements, and she gasped. “Let me love you,” he whispered as he crouched down. “Let me show you how beautiful you are to me.” He moved his lips lower, and she practically fainted from the pure pleasure of his devilish tongue.

  “I'm sorry I could not court you the way you deserve.” He licked at her sensitive nub. “But you are mine, and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.” He stood, once again taking her mouth, and she held onto him with fierce abandon.

  She sighed when he finally let her go. “I know you only want to run because you found me,” she told him as he dried her off while applying little nips and kisses of pleasure. “But we can trust these people. I've known them all my life.”

  “We would be putting our lives and theirs on the line.” He picked her up, cradling her against his chest. “But that is for the evening to decide, and now is our time.” He carried her to the bed, sitting her gently down and crawled beside her.

  Diana watched as Killian’s eyes roamed over her body, claiming her with his possessive stare. When his gaze landed between her thighs, she moved her legs in sensual abandon, feeling her own arousal to his visual caress. If she had any doubt, it fled at that moment. Watching Killian's face turn from cool beauty to passionate lover was immensely arousing.

  Killian grasped her arms and clasped both hands above her head. “Do not move them,” he commanded. Her body was suffused in erotic heat as his fingers glided between her breasts, down her stomach, to her saturated folds.

  She moved her hips, needing more. “Please, Killian.” She reached for him, but he replaced her hands. He was torturing her, but she quieted, eager for his next sensual torment.

  “You are mine,” he uttered as he came on top of her.

  His kiss was warm, and yet his skin was cool to the touch. The erotic sensations caused by fire and ice on her body was more than Diana could handle. Her body tightened, ready to orgasm. He brought her back from the edge by pulling her hair. She writhed with pleasure and pain.

  “You will do as I say, come when I say,” he demanded, looking deeply into her eyes. When she nodded, he threaded his hands through her hair to bring her mouth to him once more. She could feel his cock probing, and she opened her legs wider, ready to receive him. “My mate, Diana. Tell me you believe.”

  “Yes, I believe. Please.”

  He shifted, every muscle in his body rippling with pent up need, “You will never be free of me, Diana. You will always be mine.”

  Killian buried himself within her with one powerful thrust. The heat from inside her body began to catch fire, making her release with a primal scream. She flexed her hips against his groin, grinding wildly against his rock-hard cock. Diana gasped as the ecstasy of her orgasm began building even higher. She urged him on, digging her heels into his ass and ignoring the bit of pain his faster movements caused.

  Her tight channel closed around him as he lifted her hips to embed himself even further within her. Her back arched as a thousand jolts of electricity battered her body, centering on her core. Killian pumped faster and Diana turned her head, baring the vulnerable curve of her neck. His fangs sunk into her flesh with a sensual pain that sent her over the edge once again.

  She grasped his shoulders, her nails biting into his skin. The marks on his shoulder beckoned her and she found herself with the overwhelming urge to taste him as he tasted her. She suckled at his wounds, finding him sweet and intoxicating. She pulled away slowly, savoring his essence, feeling his warm release flooding her womb as his blood ran down her throat.

  They fell back onto the pillows with a deep sigh of satisfaction. Killian rolled, keeping his cock embedded inside her until she was sprawled on top of his huge body. Diana could barely speak as she floated down from heaven. Killian held her lovingly, possessively, his hands comforting her as her breathing returned to normal. Still trembling in the aftermath of the most extraordinary experience of her life, she wished that she could find the words to express her thoughts.

  So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours, but still one question remained. Diana hated to ask, to break up their sensual moment, but time was of the essence. “Do we fight or run, Killian?”

  “If we run, we continue to run. If we fight, we may die.” Killian kissed her head and pulled the covers up around her. “The thought of you in peril, Diana…”

  “I know. This protectiveness is new for me as well. But I’ve always been a fighter. And we are better, stronger, together, aren’t we?”

  He touched her cheek lovingly. “You are sure about your people? This is what they want?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.” She kissed his hand. “The danger is here now. There’s no way Royas will let them go unscathed. They didn’t turn you over to him immediately. They know they have no recourse.”

  “Then we fight.” Killian moved her to his side, tucking her within his embrace. “But now, we sleep. It will be all right. I'll see to it.”

  As Diana drifted off, she realized he would do everything to keep her and those she cared about safe, even at the risk of dying himself. But what he failed to understand was that she would do the same.

  CHAPTER 5

  Diana came awake slowly with a gentle kiss from Killian on her brow.” It's time, love,” he whispered in her ear.

  She stretched, feeling more energized and positive, even stronger. If this was what Killian's love did for her, she was truly blessed. She sat up, flinging off the covers. But a bit of luck wouldn’t hurt. She darted into the bathroom to fish the silver bullet from her pocket. He quirked an arrogant eyebrow from the doorway.

  “It's my lucky charm.” She smiled and kissed him. “It brought me my love, my mate.”

  Shaking his head, he kissed her quickly. “You no longer doubt me. That’s good. My blood is powerful and will strengthen you if you find yourself in danger. Get dressed. The others are waiting.”

  She donned her clothes, braiding her hair. Gone was her passionate lover of this morning, Killian was all business now. She bounded down the stairs to the street, greeting the townspeople who were armed with what they could find, as the sun began to set.

  “We know Royas will be here soon. He will bring an entire contingency with him. Leave now if you wish to avoid the confrontation.”

  An old crone approached the group. “My coven and I have set a hex for protection around the perimeter of the town. It is as powerful as we could make it, only the most determined should be able to break it. This is our home and we will not be defeated!”

  Diana could feel the apprehension in Killian. “Thank you, but as I have told everyone- if I say retreat, run. Find your safe spots. Royas will not go down easily.”

  “No, brother, I will not.” A gravelly voice boomed across the town square. Before the assemblage could disburse, the skies were filled with winged creatures, their cries of battle mixing with the shrieks of surprise and pain as the townspeople were set upon by the rogue vampires and werewolves.

  “Retreat!” Killian shouted. His large body seemed to grow before their eyes as he pushed Diana behind him. “Show yourself, coward!”

  Diana put her hands to her ears as the fearful noise of battle rang out. She wanted desperately to close her eyes but was unable to look away as her friends and neighbors faced the onslaught of evil or ran into the trees.

  Killian nodded to her to follow the retreat as several vampires advanced on him. “Go!”

  She ran through the streets toward the forest, only turning back once when Killian’s angry cry rent the air. He had thrown himself into the fray as if he could kill them all.

  She continued to run through the streets as darkness descended. Abruptly, she was seized from behind. Diana screamed, then recognized the shadow of Killian. He grabbed her arm, heading for the meadow at the edge of town.

  “Stop! Where are we going?” Diana pulled away, digging in her heels.

  He turned, and the moonlight revealed the truth. It wasn’t Killian, no shock of gray at his temples. It was Royas. He increased his grip until Diana feared her arm would snap.

  “Let me go, please,” she whimpered.

  Royas laughed. “Pathetic. He has a whiney human as his mate. That is why he will never be the new leader. A new world order is due, and I will see it done.”

  “No, you will die on this day, brother.” Killian stepped from a side street.

  Royas pulled Diana against him. “Watch her die like our parents and know there is nothing you can do.”

  Diana wasn’t afraid. Killian would never let her die. “I will always remember how we met, my fiery Diana.”

  Memories of their encounter flashed through her mind. The window, the fire, taking of her blood, the silver bullet… She reached in her pocket as Royas’ hot breath descended upon her neck. With lightning speed, she shoved her arm up, tossing the silver bullet into the vampire’s open mouth.

  Royas stumbled, releasing Diana to clutch his throat. “What have you done?” He croaked out as he fell to his knees.

  Killian pulled Diana to his side. “My mate, a mere human, has killed you, brother. Your faction has been defeated. You should have spent more time on strategy than on strength. We didn’t retreat, we simply surrounded you. In your haste to get to me, you allowed my people to get away.”

  Royas clawed at his throat, blood pouring from the slashes he made. He screamed in agony, then fell silent, his body collapsing onto the cold earth.

  Killian lifted Diana to his chest and headed back toward town.

  “How did you know?” Diana whispered against his chest.

  “I sensed your fear, love. Our union heightens my senses,” he murmured. “Yours will as well, given time.”

  They came into view of the town square, where folks were tending to the injured. “I wish that I hadn’t brought the fight to your town. Perhaps one day, they will forgive me.”

  The cheers erupted as soon as they were spotted. The shifters and humans crowded around them, slapping Killian on the back, demanding to know how Royas was defeated. Diana took it all in stride, but Killian seemed rather embarrassed at the attention.

  “You’ll get used to it,” she remarked as the folks dispersed.

  “To what?” Killian glanced at her as he healed an owl shifter’s arm with a bit of his blood.

  “Friends,” she said.

  Killian looked around at the remarkable people in this small community. “Yes, but only with you by my side.”

  Diana kissed his cheek. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Author - Maggie Adams, International Best-Selling Author

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  PENNY & PRYCE

  PHOEBE ALEXANDER

  Copyright © 2023 by Phoebe Alexander

  All rights reserved.

  No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

  Mountains Wanted Publishing

  Po Box 50

  Harbeson, DE 19951

  www.mountainswanted.com

  Created with Vellum

  WELCOME TO SPICETOPIA

  CHAPTER 1

  TWENTY YEARS AGO

  PRYCE

  I didn’t want to go on this dumb trip. I was too old for a little kids’ amusement park, so my parents let me bring my buddy Cameron along. They were so busy celebrating my little sister’s birthday, they pretty much let Cameron and me do whatever we wanted.

  We were bound and determined to find some fun—and probably mischief—at Sweetopia.

  It was corny, hokey, and juvenile, but there was some entertainment to be had for two teenage boys. While my sister got done up like a princess at the Sweetopia Salon, Cameron and I were banished to the pool. Two fifteen-year-old boys with no adult supervision? What could go wrong?

  “Yo, check out the girl in the pink and blue bikini over there by the waterslide.” Cameron waggled his thick, dark eyebrows at me before his gaze darted back over to some lounge chairs on the other side of the pool.

  It didn’t take long to spot the girl he was ogling. She was piling her long copper-colored hair into a bun on top of her head while someone—her older sister, perhaps?—slathered her freckled shoulders with sunscreen.

  “Holy shit, look at those tits.” I elbowed my best friend in the ribs, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her curvy figure.

  “She’s gotta be older than us, right? With a rack like that?”

  “Only one way to find out.” I sucked in a deep breath, puffed out my chest and started to march in her direction.

  “Wait!” Cameron called after me, hustling to catch up. “I saw her first. You can’t—”

  “Can’t what?” I laughed as he tried to grab my arm to stop my forward motion, then wrenched it away from him at just the right moment.

  He caught up, right on my heels. “What’re you gonna do?”

  I waited until we were only a few feet from the beautiful redhead, then I whipped around to face my best friend. “Sorry, man.” I smirked as I shoved him hard into the water.

  He squealed like a pig as he belly-flopped into the deep end of the pool. I squared my jaw and dove in after him, pretending to make a heroic rescue as he flailed about, splashing and screaming. A lifeguard perched on his stand at the end of the pool stood up and blew his whistle at us, but by that time, I had my arm around my friend and was swimming him to the side with strong, masterful strokes.

  “What the fuck was that about?” Cameron sputtered as he shook the water out of his hair like a wet dog.

  “Impressing the girl, duh,” I stated, looking up at the pool deck to see if she’d noticed us.

  She was standing there with a less-than-impressed snarl on her face. She turned to her sister—had to be her sister because they had the same copper hair and thick, curvy build—and they both laughed.

  I launched myself toward the ladder, racing up the steps so I could go over and talk to her, but by the time I reached her, she and her sister had joined the line for the water slide. Wasting no time, I grabbed Cameron and jogged toward the line.

  But when we got there, twenty people or so had filled in the space behind the girl in the blue and pink bikini and her sister.

  “Tough luck,” Cameron said. “She was supposed to be mine anyway.”

  PENNY

  Piper dragged me into the line for the roller coaster right behind Kyle and Liam. She’d been hot on Kyle’s heels all day, and I was getting tired of being the third wheel. I knew she was trying to get me interested in Liam, but just no. He smelled like a giant sweaty armpit and only seemed to know one-syllable words.

  I should have gone with our parents today instead of hanging out with my older sister. It was my younger brother’s first time at Sweetopia, and they were taking him on all the kiddie rides. So it was either that or hang with Piper, her crush and his best friend.

  We went to Sweetopia every summer over the Fourth of July, and every year it got worse.

  I was too old for princesses, and I practically got cavities from walking down the sweets-themed streets. Plus I wasn’t a roller coaster person. At all.

  This line wasn’t even moving. Maybe I’d gotten lucky, and the ride had broken down.

  I tapped my sister’s shoulder, interrupting her conversation with Kyle. “Piper, I need to use the restroom.”

  When she whipped around to face me, there was a vicious glare in her turquoise eyes. “You can go after the ride. It’s only like two minutes long, Penny. I’m sure you can hold it.”

  My nostrils flared as my hands flew to my hips. “But we’ve been in line for twenty minutes, and it’s not even moving.”

  Just then, the people in the row next to us started to move. A wide space opened up, and the people in front of us filled it, and then we followed, and it continued like a wave through the entire queue. I trudged forward, grateful we were finally moving when, suddenly, someone rammed right into me.