Beating Hearts (A Contemporary and Paranormal Valentine Anthology) Read online

  Why was he still dressed?

  She grabbed the edge of the T-shirt and pulled it up, baring his beautifully chiseled torso. I’ve died and awakened in the presence of a Greek god. He complied, releasing her face and stripping off the offending shirt.

  Her hands flew to his waist, but he stopped her and twirled her to face away from him. He pulled the zipper on her dress down and helped her shimmy out of it. The purple knit slid to the floor in a small heap. She kicked off her heels and turned back around. Her black thong and lace bra were the only things left to remove.

  <><><>

  She was more beautiful than he remembered. The girl he’d loved in high school had grown into a strong independent sexy woman. Why had he ever tried to find someone to replace her? No woman could ever replace Morgan O’Neal.

  He cupped her breasts, running his thumbs over the nipples hardening beneath the black lace. A soft gasp from her lips made his cock jump. She had been his whole world before his family moved. After more than a decade apart, he’d finally realized he still wanted her to be his whole world.

  He unsnapped the bra and groaned at the sight of her bare breasts –round, pink nipples, just waiting to be suckled. They would wait no longer. He leaned down and nipped at one. She jerked, but didn’t shy away. Good. After few moments he moved to the other, sucking and nipping just a little harder. Her fingers clenched into his arms for a moment, but the tension faded quickly into a moan of pleasure.

  She murmured something unintelligible followed by, “Please, Connor.”

  He grabbed her thong and yanked, tearing it from her waist. Her bare mons glistened and the smell of her arousal nearly made him come in his shorts.

  “Lie back, love. I’m going to make you fly first.”

  She complied without hesitation. Sitting on the edge of her bed and leaning back to her elbows. Her blue eyes watched him from beneath dark lashes. He knelt to his knees between her legs and put one over each shoulder, spreading her sex wide open.

  He parted her labia and gave her a quick lick. “Baby, you taste so sweet.”

  Her heels flexed against his back, pulling him closer. He smiled and focused back on her swollen sex. Her clitoris peeked from beneath its hood. He trailed his tongue around it, but never quite touching. She was so soft. So wet. So good. He continued to tease her clit in between plunging his tongue deep into her weeping vagina.

  “Connor!” Her legs clenched and her head went flat on the bed.

  “Hang on, baby. You’re almost there.”

  Her body trembled against his and the juices of her arousal flowed in abundance. He eagerly drank her in. She bucked up against his mouth, but he held her in place with strategically placed hands wrapped around her strong thighs.

  He wanted to be inside her. To feel her tightness wrap his cock and milk it dry. To possess her completely. To call her his.

  “I can’t wait, love.”

  “I need you inside me, Connor, please.”

  “Condom?” He had some, but they were in his luggage in his rental car.

  She shook her head and pulled him close with her legs. “I’m on the pill. It’s fine.”

  He shucked his shorts to the side of the room, growled, and pushed her body up the bed toward the headboard, keeping her thighs pressed tightly against his chest. One thrust seated him balls deep in her warmth. She gasped and tensed at the intrusion. God, she’s so tight. “You okay, baby?”

  She nodded, fisting the sheets.

  He began moving in and out, slowly at first, listening to her small whimpers and moans of pleasure. As she relaxed, he increased his speed and pushed her further, rubbing the tip of his cock against her womb’s opening.

  Removing her legs from his shoulders, he pressed her knees toward her chest, pumping languidly in and out. Each movement eliciting delightful mewls and pleas to never stop what he was doing.

  He changed his rhythm and her breaths turned to pants. He released her legs and she wrapped them tightly around his waist, rocking into him with each thrust of his cock. She was reaching her peak. He drove in hard and shouted through his release.

  A cry tore from her throat as her climax swelled and rippled from her core. Ever muscle in her body flexed. Her sex milked his cock, pulsing hard and fast. Tremors of her pleasure continued to massage his length even after he was spent.

  <><><>

  The best orgasm in ever. “Why did you take so long to come back to me?” she murmured under her breath. Her heart slowly returned to a normal pulse and no longer felt as though it would jump from her chest at any moment.

  “I’m here now. I promise I’m never leaving you again.”

  She cuddled next to him. His strong arms wrapped around her, tucking her bottom against his twitching cock, and she sighed, content. This was what she’d needed. He was what she’d needed for so long.

  Anything was possible now.

  EPILOGUE

  15 years later…

  Morgan opened her eyes and stretched. The warmth of Connor’s body was missing. She rolled to her back and patted an empty bed. Where was he?

  No sound came from the open door of the bathroom. She sat up slowly, and scooted to the edge of the bed. A clank in the kitchen gave away his position. She grabbed the robe off the hook of her bathroom door and padded down the hallway.

  Connor stood in her kitchen in a pair of red boxer shorts, stirring something in a pan on the stove. She licked her lips. Damn, his ass is nice. Bacon sizzled and popped in another pan. The smell was divine and distracted her from the horny thoughts dancing in her head. A giggle escaped her lips and she rolled her eyes. So much for sneaking up on him.

  “You were supposed to stay in bed,” he grumbled, turning to face her with a wide grin. “I’m making you breakfast.”

  “It smells delicious!” She sidled up next to him and he leaned to down, giving her a quick kiss before turning back to the crackling bacon.

  “Happy Valentine’s day, love.”

  “How did I get so lucky?” She slipped a hand around his waist, letting it slide down his backside. Then squeezed the firm muscles. Yum.

  Connor chuckled. “I ask myself that everyday.”

  “Fifteen years since you swooped into my life and gave me everything I ever wanted. I love Valentine’s Day.”

  “I love you,” he answered softly.

  A door slamming down the hall broke the intimate moment and Morgan sighed. The quiet was over. She tilted her head and waited… 3, 2, 1…

  “Mom! Brian won’t get out of the bathroom.”

  “I was in here first!” The shrill sound of her eleven-year-old son’s voice carried through the locked bathroom door.

  Her oldest, Henry, stalked into the kitchen and sunk into one of the chairs at the table. The fourteen-year-old was usually annoyed with his brother. It wasn’t new.

  “Brian, hurry up so your brother can take a shower,” Morgan hollered, grabbing another quick squeeze of her husband’s ass.

  “Mom! Please! Could you and dad not fondle each other in public.”

  Morgan laughed and moved to sit across from her son at the table. “It was just a little–”

  “Mom!” He covered his ears and hummed an unfamiliar song.

  She chuckled again.

  “Mom! Where are my shoes?” Another young male voice called from the back of the house. “I have a game today. I need my cleats.”

  “Matthew, they are in the basket by the front door.”

  Connor walked to the table and set down two large plates heaped with eggs, bacon, and buttered toast. “It amazes me that you always know where their stuff is.” He laughed. “Brian, Matthew, Jared. Come eat before your mother eats all the bacon. And get your little sister up, too.”

  Henry laughed and swiped a piece quickly from the plate before she grabbed her first piece. She loved bacon. Always had. Her oldest son did too and they often ate most of it before the others ever sat down.

  The bathroom door opened and Brian emerged. Ja
red and Matthew’s door creaked as well, and Matthew came tearing down the hallway, half-dressed for his soccer game. Jared, however, was still rubbing sleep from his half-closed eyes and had his little six-year-old sister in tow.

  “Bonnie, sweetie, come give me a sugar.”

  Her darling little blue-eyed brunette skipped across the living room and into the kitchen, leaping into her lap. Morgan laughed and planted a kiss on top of her daughter’s head.

  “Morning, Mama.”

  “Good morning.”

  “Morning, Mama,” the twins echoed. Their nine-year-old twins were a handful and a half, but they were such sweethearts. They slid into their seats at the table and began digging into the food.

  The shrill bell of the phone rang from the wall opposite the fridge and Matthew bounded over to it before anyone else could move. “Hello?” He paused. “Oooh, Henry, it’s your girlfriend, Sarah!” He held the phone out and started making kissing noises.

  “Matty, stop it!” Henry shouted, jumping for his brother’s hand. “Gimme the phone!”

  Matthew danced to the side, but Henry snatched the handset on his second lunge.

  “Boys,” Connor bellowed.

  More kissing noises started at the table. Jared and Brian had joined the cacophony, and then Brian began chanting. ‘Henry and Sarah sittin’ in a tree K I S S I N G.’

  She grabbed a couple more slices of bacon, handing one to the little girl in her lap and then gave her exasperated husband a reassuring wink.

  All four boys looked just like their father and had the same drive to joke and tease. They had his blonde curls and warm honey-brown eyes, too. Gorgeous boys, just like their dad.

  Heaven help the women of Fort Worth in another fifteen years. Sarah was just the beginning.

  About the Author

  Krystal Shannan goes to sleep every night dreaming of mythical realms with werewolves, vampires, fae, and dragons. Occasional a fabulous, completely human story slips into the mix, but powers and abilities usually crop up without fail, twisting reality into whatever her mind can conceive.

  As a child, her parents encouraged her interests in Ancient Greek and Roman mythology and all things historical and magickal. As an adult, the interests only grew. She is a child of Neverland and refuses to ever stop believing in fairies. She is guilty of indulging in and being a Buffy the Vampire Slayer groupie as well as an Angel fan. For those of you unfamiliar with the world of Joss Whedon, you are missing out!

  She also makes sure to watch as many action and adventure movies as possible. The more exciting the better. Yippee-Ki-Yay..... If you don’t know the end of that phrase, then you probably don’t like the same movies.

  She writes stories full of action, snark, magick, and heart-felt emotion. If you are looking for leisurely-paced sweet romance, her books are probably not for you. However, for those looking for a magickal ride, filled with adventure, passion, and just a hint of humor. Welcome home.

  Putting Magick in Romance one Soul Mate at a Time.

  Receive a free book for subscribing to my NEWSLETTER!

  www.krystalshannan.com

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  Duke’s Valentine

  By

  Jennifer Kacey

  Dedication – To two of my favorite kinky sisters…this one’s for you.

  Love and all that crap was not in Duke's future when he accidentally on purpose forgot Valentine's Day. His on-again-off-again girlfriend told him so when she walked out.

  Anna sat alone at the bar in The Library on February 14th. Why? She got stood up, and decided to drown her sorrows in a few beverages before calling it a night.

  The scene she thought she'd be negotiating took on a life of it's own when the spikey-haired Dom across the room noticed her, and wouldn't take no for an answer.

  Inner scoop: If you like your kink with a needle sharp edge and a bit of the sticky red stuff then Duke's got a valentine with your name on it...

  Chapter One

  Valentine’s Day sucked balls.

  One little mess up, like totally forgetting the holiday, and Duke’s on-again-off-again girlfriend decided she was better off going out with her single friends. Emphasis on single since she was again a card carrying member, due to his slip up.

  So, yeah, February 14th could choke on his junk for all he cared.

  At half past nine on a Friday night he sat on a bar stool, alone, at The Library. Instead of books on the shelves, members found floggers, and whips, handcuffs and knives. At the private BDSM club he belonged to, there wasn’t a fantasy he’d come up with he hadn’t been able to make come true.

  But there he sat, on the most romantic holiday of the year, and he was pretty sure he was gonna call it a night as soon as his Shiner ran dry.

  He stared at his reflection in the mirror behind the bar. His short spiky black hair resembled Sonic the Hedgehog, well…if the fictional character wore a black t-shirt, had tattoos covering his arms and piercings up both of his ears and one in his eyebrow.

  The club’s owners, Chris and Jared, walked behind him, carrying their submissive and fiancée, Cyn, toward their private room. She moaned in happiness, spaced out after a scene they’d set up for her specifically for Valentine’s Day.

  Great.

  Bullwhips cracking on the main stage, echoed down the hallway, out to the bar, as Duke took another pull on his longneck.

  Scott, one of his best friends and also his boss at the tattoo shop, Inkfluence, had both of his slaves, Haleigh and Kyle, tied side by side to crosses on stage. The crosses were a present to them to commemorate the wonderful love filled day so he could whip them simultaneously. The six-foot-long hybrid whips he threw at them? Presents to their Dom to show him how much they adored him.

  Gag.

  “You’ve been moping for almost an hour,” Duke’s friend Oscar, the bartender of the evening, informed him as he filled a glass with ice for another member at one of the tables or booths behind him. “Stop being a pussy.”

  Duke stared at him, wondering who’d pissed in his breakfast cereal. “What the fuck, man? I’m not that bad.”

  “Oh, come on. Seriously? You’d better stop on the way home and get some ice cream and a copy of Steel Magnolia’s ‘cause you’re gonna need it.”

  Duke’s jaw dropped open but nothing fell out.

  “Pay attention, dipshit. There are a handful of subs here tonight wanting someone to rock their box of sweethearts, if you catch my drift. You’re just the shot of lust they’re probably here for.”

  Duke twisted on his chrome bar stool to survey the room, and wasn’t even suave about it. No less than four ladies, whom he knew to be unattached, tried to catch his eye, but he just wasn’t interested.

  He didn’t think anyone would do it for him until he caught site of a fair-skinned girl, who appeared to be in her late-twenties, with shoulder-length brown hair. She sat at a table, swirling a cherry around with a straw, in a glass of liquid courage. Looked a lot like plain soda, but he couldn’t tell from across the room. The answers to life’s mysteries could have been in the tumbler with how hard she stared into it. Her name was Karen, or Vanessa, or one of those y names, like Carrie or Brittany.

  She had some kind of purple corset thing on, giving her tits the ability to flip gravity the bird. He licked the corner of his mouth, suddenly overwhelmed with an image of her spread out beneath him, gloriously naked, and ready to play.

  He couldn’t see what else she wore because the table was in the way.

  Not for long. Duke emptied his beer and stood.

  “Go get ‘em, tiger,” Oscar mock-cheered from behind the bar.

  “Dude, get a life.”

  “I’m here or at Inkfluence tattooing with you and the guys. I have no time for a life.”

  Sick of being the only one taking shit, Duke decided to lob it back. “Not what I heard. You’d make time for Ryder.”

  As if conjured out of thi
n air, Ryder walked past, either going to or coming from a scene. Satisfaction came off him in waves as he sauntered through the bar. Shirt clutched in his hand, jeans riding low, and dark brown eyes glossed over.

  “Maybe.” Oscar’s voice trailed off as he followed the other man’s progress across the room. He stayed locked on the man’s back until he was too far down the dungeon hallway to see any longer. Oscar dropped his head, squeezing the muscles on the back of his neck, suddenly tense.

  “Mmhmm. Why don’t you find somebody to take the edge off?”

  Oscar shrugged. “My fucking skin crawls when anybody else even looks at me. I’ll stick with Jenna and her rope. That girl’s wicked sexy when she’s tying.”

  Duke quirked an eyebrow at him. “You’re gay.”

  He stretched his neck and chuckled. “No shit, Sherlock. But sexy is sexy and she has more than her fair share.”

  “True. Nick still sniffing around her?” One of the in-house bouncers had his focus locked on Jenna, one of The Library employees and rigger extraordinaire.

  “Yep. Her nays are sounding more like yays every time I see her. Plus…Nick’s pretty persuasive.”

  “Like a bull in a china shop.” Duke stared at the girl at the table again, unable to focus on anyone else. He made up his mind and nodded in her direction. “I’m off to play cupid.”

  “Enjoy yourself.”

  “Oh, I plan on it,” Duke rumbled more to himself as he stalked closer to the beautiful woman lost in her own world. She seemed vulnerable which made the Dom barely leashed below the surface stand up and take notice. “Is anyone sitting here?”