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  Before she could change her mind, she pulled him to a halt. “Buzz. Wait a moment.”

  He turned to her, a confused frown on his face.

  She bit her lip, released it and went up on her toes to plant a kiss on him.

  It started as a mashing of her lips to his, but his arms quickly steadied her, and she softened her assault. Her lips parted, and his matched hers motion for motion. She lapped at the interior of his mouth. A low throb began deep in her belly. He tasted as wild as his scent, and that was not a bad thing.

  With a low, shaky groan, she broke the kiss and slowly let herself return to standing flat-footed. “Okay. That’s good to know.”

  He appeared to be dazed, and with a smile, she knew that the blood was not currently in his brain. “What?”

  “Whether I would like kissing you or not. I would. So, it was something I had to figure out before I wasted either of our time.”

  Buzz’s blink was slow as he regained his wits. “Oh. Shall I continue the tour?”

  “Please.”

  With their hands still together, she leaned against his body while they walked. The Meditation Centre at night was quite lovely. The hostels were easily visible even to those who couldn’t manage well at night. The row that made her most curious was a series of neat, tall Victorians on immaculately manicured lawns. Buzz was walking her down the lane, and she had to ask, “What are these places?”

  “Bed and Breakfasts. When a male comes here who is old enough to be territorial, he takes a room at the B&B. It gives us a temporary territory and a feeling of security.”

  His expression was wry. Apparently he was slowly getting over his shock over her kiss and that was a relief. He hadn’t shoved her away, so the ridge she had felt below the waist was definitely not something in his pocket.

  Ezzy moved a little closer to him as they passed a few folks on the wide walkway. “I thought there were only a few dozen seekers here at this time.”

  Buzz’s low voice made her lean closer. “There are. What most don’t realize is that this entire area has a basic need for support staff. They live here all year round, and while some come and go, they do keep a standard population on hand. They live in these other houses. It keeps them away from the guests for the most part, though pairings do happen.”

  “Are you staying in one of these buildings?”

  “Yes, at the Open Heart B&B. Dira is the owner and operator, and I have to tell you, she must have some precognition. When I was going to give up on this place and return home, she convinced me that my mate might simply show up in a day or two, but I was looking for her in the wrong place. I needed to ditch the bar and hang out at the café, and she would be here before I knew it.”

  Ezzy swallowed. “When was that?”

  “Yesterday. I had my bags packed and everything. It costs quite a bit to be returned home, but it was very tempting.” He stopped and turned her toward him.

  She looked up into his dark eyes and what should have been frightening features in the strange glow of the buildings, but her inner wings opened wide. There was nothing to fear here.

  “I am glad I stayed.” He leaned forward, and this time, his kiss was exploring her lips, the honey of his mouth warmed her and made her crave more.

  When he leaned back, she blinked up at him. His arms were around her, and his hands on her hips held their lower bodies together.

  “I don’t do casual sex.” Her words were blurted out before she could stop them.

  He smiled, and it was a slow and deep smile. “Nothing between us will be casual, Ezzy. I promise you that I take this most seriously. What would you like to see next?”

  Ezzy listened to her heart and said the words that surged up into her throat. “Your room.”

  Once uttered, there was nothing left to be said. Buzz lifted her hand to his lips, placed it in the curve of his arm and walked slowly toward the Open Heart Bed and Breakfast.

  Chapter Six

  Ezzy’s heart was pounding in her chest as she walked up the stairs to the second floor with Buzz at her side. She was really going to do it. She was going to have sex with a man she had only just met. Krisia would be so proud.

  “That is a fascinating smile. May I ask what prompted it?”

  She giggled, “I was just thinking my friend would be so proud that I followed my instincts.”

  “I must admit I’m quite happy you have.” His mouth curved in a smile. He paused in front of a door with a discreet number on it. A flash at his wrist and the lock clicked over.

  “It is set to your talisman?”

  “Yes, as your locker at the hostel is set to yours. Dira set the charm when I checked in.” He opened the door, and Ezzy preceded him into the room.

  For a bed and breakfast, the room was huge. A desk sat along one wall and a wide window let in the night air and ruffled the smooth bedding on the king-sized bed. A door to what had to be the bathroom was discreetly closed.

  When the door locked with a click behind her, her gaze flew to the window. She could ditch her clothing and jump into the night air, fly back to the hostel and be safe in her solitude. Ezzy breathed in and exhaled slowly. If she could just get past her nerves, she could find out if Buzz was indeed the man for her.

  “We can take this slow if you want…”

  She didn’t give him a chance to give her options. With a determined move, she whipped off her shirt, leaving her in her bra and jeans. She turned and pressed herself against him, reaching for his neck and pulling his head down to hers. “Before I lose my nerve,” was the whisper she murmured against his lips.

  He didn’t smile but whipped his own shirt off, exposing the lightly haired expanse of chest and an impressive array of muscle. “You know when this is over, we will have to talk a little more thoroughly.”

  She chuckled weakly as he took her in his arms and flesh pressed to flesh. “Later.”

  “Later.” His kiss sent her head spinning, and his wide, calloused hands caressed her back in a slow stroke that freed the clasp of her bra without pausing. He didn’t discard the bra but sighed happily as his hand made a slow uninterrupted caress down her spine.

  She gave herself up to him, body and soul, as his honeyed kiss sent her thoughts spinning and her body began to burn. Her clit throbbed, her sex felt swollen and hot, and it was hard to keep standing there as he leisurely kissed her lips, stroking her tongue with his.

  His body was hard under her touch, hot skin over iron muscle. Whatever he did for a living, it kept him in amazing shape. She idly ran her hands over his back, and a smile came to her mouth as he groaned and arched into her touch.

  The simple touch on his spine made him grunt, writhe and twist to get more of her hands on him. She kept her exploration up, and as he moved against her, her breasts rubbed against the loose fabric of her bra that was finally enough of an irritant to discard.

  He grunted and leaned just far enough back from her to let her remove the small barrier with its cheerful flowers and satiny fabric. The moment they were back together, she groaned at the feel of heat and light abrasion that the hair and muscle of his chest provided.

  She shivered and moved closer until their bodies were so close, not a whisper of air could get between them. Buzz moved to place kisses on her neck, and she clung to his shoulders for support as his lips and teeth made her weak in the knees.

  His teeth had sharpened, so each graze had the effect of setting her heart pounding. She shivered in his arms, and when he moved beyond her neck toward her breasts, the angle she was forced into released a whimper from her.

  “I think this calls for a change of orientation.” Buzz’s voice was barely understandable. His teeth were visible and they were fearsome.

  He lifted her, and with a quick move, he had peeled back the bedding and placed her against the pristine white pillows. His hands made quick work of her shoes, socks, jeans and finally the whisper of her panties.

  She didn’t have time to be embarrassed—his own clothing w
as flipped to the floor with a few soft grunts, and then, he was on her. His mouth continued its exploration of her torso while his hands caressed her hips, belly and then one finger stroked her sex and parted her, letting loose a flow of liquid heat.

  Buzz groaned and left her aching breasts in exchange for lying between her thighs and applying himself diligently to lapping up the honey that she was producing as her aroused tension kept her on the edge of release.

  Ezzy threaded her fingers through his hair and held tight as her low moans turned into harsher cries and finally a shriek of release that echoed in her owl’s voice.

  Buzz growled happily, his tongue lapping at her, burrowing inside and then scooping out all traces of her flow. When her body stopped bucking against his mouth, he raised his head and moved up to face her again.

  With deliberate motions, he licked his lips, and to her embarrassed amazement, there were no visible traces of her on his face. His hips parted her thighs, and she bent her knees to give him full access.

  She met his dark gaze as he fitted the head of his cock to her and began to put his weight into it. He didn’t slide in easily, but her body yielded slowly to the insistent pressure.

  Looking up into Buzz’s face, she watched the almost cruel intensity in his expression as he fit himself into her and began to move.

  If he hadn’t just gone out of his way to provide her with pleasure, she would have run at that point, but because ladies first seemed to be his private theme, she was willing to face the frightening visage above her.

  His shoulders blotted out the light coming through the window, but as he rocked against her, drawing back and thrusting forward with a delicious slowness, she ignored the call of the night in favour of what was happening inside her.

  Her body was rapidly climbing back to the peak that he had brought her to before. Each slow thrust into her sent shivers through her body, and she let the whimpers flow free.

  Ezzy clutched at his shoulders, and her fingers shifted into talons, holding fast. Her lips parted, and she shrieked as her body came apart under him, around him.

  A flicker of relief struck Buzz’s eyes, and his thrusts picked up in pace until she was rocking violently with every hard shove, and he growled a low moaning growl as his cock pulsed inside her.

  He rolled to his back and pulled her over him, bringing the covers over them both.

  She inhaled the scent that their combined bodies had created and smiled as she rested her head against his chest. Perfect match.

  Chapter Seven

  Krisia was about to leave her office for the evening when a knock at the door froze her in place. She wasn’t expecting anyone.

  She scanned the door, and three male figures appeared, with canine in their systems. This was not good.

  “I am closed for the evening—come back tomorrow.” It was a futile hope, but it got her to her desk where she pressed her panic button an instant before the door shattered.

  Three half-shifted coyotes strode into her office and one took point. “Where is she?”

  Krisia formed power, but before she could fire it, a clawed hand swiped across her face.

  “I asked you, bitch, where is she?”

  Her skin parted under his claws as he struck her again. She tried to remain flippant but it was getting harder. “Who?”

  “Your friend, the owl. Where is Ezmerelda Atkinson?”

  She could smell his fetid breath on her skin as he lapped at the blood. With hands raised, she clawed at his face. One hand got lucky with hair, skin and blood. “Where she needed to be.”

  He clawed her across the abdomen. “Human bitch, you sent her to the Crossroads.”

  Her shirt was no match for his claws, and blood spread across the fabric. Ruthlessly throttling down on her pain, she answered. “I did.”

  “Send me.”

  She spit blood at him. “No.”

  His companions moved forward and gripped her arms. There was now an unholy light in his eyes. “You will.”

  He used his claws on her until her clothing was dripping red.

  When she looked up at him numbly as she dropped to her knees, she smiled. With one hand, she sent him where he wanted to go.

  As his companions shouted in panic and power flashed around her, she knew that her help had arrived, and it was time to rest. Ezzy had her mate, so it was only a matter of who was stronger, her new man or the insane bastard on the hunt.

  “Rest easy, Krisia. You were badly beaten and lost a lot of blood.” The voice was calm and controlled, but there was a note of anger in it.

  Kris opened her eyes and confirmed what her ears told her. Guild Master Tobias Orcross was working on her, healing her.

  Damn it.

  Kris looked down at her body, hovering at waist height for Tobias’s ease. She was naked and covered with lacerations, but at least the bleeding had stopped. The two cohorts that had held her for the coyote’s mauling were wreathed in a swirl of dark energy that left them whimpering in pain.

  Kris tried not to look up at Tobias. “Shouldn’t you be doing something official, Guild Master?”

  He paused in his ministrations. “There is nothing more important than healing you, Krisia. You know that.”

  She grudgingly met his clear blue gaze and winced at the sincerity she saw there.

  “I know that you think it is. Why wasn’t someone else on my security duty?”

  He sighed and sealed up a wound across her belly with an even touch and a small surge of healing energy.

  Kris had to admit, Tobias was the one you wanted to heal you when you were injured. His talent came out in his hands.

  “I assigned you to my care two years ago. The moment your alert came through, I was on my way, though it did take a while to locate your precise position. You have quite the hidden office.”

  She grimaced as he stroked another hand down her hip, closing the red wounds and leaving pale skin in its place.

  “I have the attacker in my hand if you are interested.” She tried to distract him, but he was intent on her body.

  “It is a coyote named Anders. The Raven and the Swan have been alerted. Where did you send him?”

  “The high ground. I wanted everyone to have as much time preparing as they could.” She pressed her lips together as his hand woke a sliver of pain.

  “Good. I will tell the Guardians. They are having trouble finding Anders’s target. Do you know where she is?”

  Kris tried to ignore the warmth that always accompanied his touch. “She is with her mate. That is all I know. I do not know where they are.”

  “As you should be.” The chastisement in his tone was unmistakable.

  “You know my reasons.” She wanted to cross her arms over her breasts, but he was busy sealing her cuts in that region.

  “They are foolish, and if your friend has truly found her mate, they now have no grounding in reality. You are free to be with your mate now, Krisia, and I believe I have waited long enough.”

  There was anger in his angelic features, an expression she had seen only once before, a decade earlier when she had avoided his attentions at the rites of spring.

  Kris blushed as he moved his hands over her from neck to thigh, testing the texture of her new skin. He had waited a while to have his hands on her. That was obvious to both of them.

  “I honestly thought you would move on to someone else, Guild Master.”

  “There has never been anyone else but you since that day, Krisia. I had to take a willing partner, and since you dodged me that day, it had to be a volunteer. I never intended it to be your cousin.”

  She winced. Ten years earlier, she had attended the rites of spring, her first as an adult and a Transporter. The seer had tapped her as the sacrifice of spring, the woman who had to have sex in public with the Guild Master. Krisia had refused the honour in the only way she could think of—she ate everything she was allergic to and sought out poison ivy. In one hour, she went from a lithe sacrifice to a welter of pain a
nd rashes.

  In her place, the new Guild Master had to seal his link to the community with a volunteer. Her cousin Sara had stepped forward and filled the gap. Of course, Sara now was married with three kids, but back then, it had been a hurtful sight as the man she knew to be hers took her kinswoman in full view of the public.

  “You know, if we were not what we are, this would be considered in poor taste. I mean, even the shifters don’t arrange marriages anymore.”

  Tobias sighed. “Ours is not arranged, it is destined. We can simply see who our true match is and their name and where they are located. It is a small enough gift for what we pay out with our talents.”

  “Destiny sucks.”

  He let out another gust of air. “You have dodged it long enough. With this attack, you have proved that you are not capable of defending yourself and keeping my mate safe for the future. You will come with me this evening, and tomorrow, we will formalize our union.”

  “It still sucks. I was never even consulted on the matter.” She tried not to flinch as he worked on her face.

  He cupped her jaw as his hand sealed her final injury. His gaze was intense as he completed the healing. “I was not consulted either, but I am not complaining. It is the way our people have found their matches for centuries, and it is not up for discussion.”

  She didn’t have a chance to say a word—his fascinating mouth descended on hers and power wrapped them together as he swept them out of her bloodstained office and to the home of the Guild Master.

  It was the place she most and least wanted to be, and she hoped with all her heart that Ezzy was having more luck than she was.

  Chapter Eight