Tidal Wave (14 page)

Until another hand wound through her hair. Faith opened her eyes and saw Sadie by her side, desire filling her eyes as she watched them. Sadie’s hand stroked the side of Dean’s neck and down his shoulder. He pulled away from Faith and reached up to Sadie who lowered her mouth to his and the two kissed. At first, jealousy flared in Faith, but it buckled under the excitement of watching them. Sadie’s eyes were closed as she flicked her tongue along Dean’s mouth, and Dean’s eyes shone a thin thread of blue as he studied Faith’s reaction. Sadie was now between them and Faith gulped and leaned forward to kiss her friend’s neck. The scent engulfed her senses and she let her fingers skim under Sadie’s sweater and around to cup her breasts. Her friend’s nipples sprang up and encouraged, Faith bit her neck, sucking at the tender skin gently, then harder when she felt Sadie groan.

Four hands pushed Faith back into the soft pile of the pillows. Dean’s rough kisses covered her mouth while Sadie’s fingers unbuttoned her shirt and spread the cloth. She opened her eyes to see Dean at one breast and Sadie at the other, sucking her nipples and biting the hardened nubs, teasing her until she arched off the bed. Despite the indecent pleasure, she wouldn’t lie to herself. The bizarreness of the situation inserted itself in her mind. Everything in her upbringing—such as it was—commanded her to stop. Good girls didn’t have threesomes. Good girls didn’t get excited watching their boyfriends kiss their best friends.

As if she could tell Faith’s attention wandered, Sadie cradled Faith’s chin in her hand and kissed her. She thrust her tongue between Faith’s lips and dominated her mouth, licking at her tongue and lips. The kiss drowned out the naysaying voice, but what really obliterated doubt was the sensation of Sadie on her. Her best friend hiked up her own sweater and the softness of her breasts and stiffness of her small nipples on Faith’s own sent a thrill that called to her body.

Sadie slid her body between Faith’s legs and moved her lips along Faith’s cheek and down until they lit on her breast. Her teeth were rough. Faith moaned and opened her eyes. She could see Dean over Sadie’s head, his eyes boring into her, gauging her enjoyment. Much as she reveled in Sadie’s touch, her body searched for him. She reached out and he caught her hand, sucking on each finger and biting her wrist. Two mouths on her brought another moan to her lips and she raised her hips to connect her center with Sadie’s. The cloth of their panties kept the friction at a teasing level and Faith wanted to remove the barrier.

Before she could move, Dean pulled Sadie upright. Her friend’s body hid most of his nakedness, but Faith could tell he was nude. Sometime during the interlude with Sadie, Dean had rid himself of his jeans. His hands started at her hips then swiftly coasted upward, bringing the sweater with them. Sadie obediently raised her arms and Dean lifted the clothing over her head and tossed it aside. Faith saw his lips curl as he sank his teeth into Sadie’s shoulder. Her friend rolled her head and pressed Dean’s head down on her. The slight gesture urged him to bite harder. Faith gulped and sat up.

As if he could sense her misapprehension—or smell it—Dean tipped his head without loosening his hold. When he drew away, his mark stood out on Sadie’s skin. He gripped her hips and Faith closed her eyes as she imagined what Sadie felt, the pressure of his erection on her ass. When she opened her eyes, his stare challenged her, questioned whether she could go through with this. Sadie slipped out of her underwear and Dean reached in front of her, pushing his hand between her spread thighs. A small sound escaped from her best friend and she lolled against him, nestling the back of her head on his shoulder. He stroked her, a dare in his gaze, one arm under Sadie’s breasts as he rubbed his hand between her folds. Faith saw her friend’s body convulse when his fingers entered her. The sight maddened her, making her want him inside her, to deliver her from the frustration building in her untouched body. He withdrew two glistening fingers and without releasing Faith from his gaze, licked them slowly.

The action galvanized Faith. She whipped off her panties and shirt and went to her knees, pressing Sadie’s form between them. She captured her friend’s lips, her tongue demanding entrance and Dean’s hand skated down their bodies. His knuckles brushed her curls as he once again sought entrance to Sadie and the tease of the slight contact forced Faith to press closer, letting her friend be the conduit of their passion.

He grabbed the hair at Sadie’s neck and used it to tilt her head to the side. In the space, he leaned and covered Faith’s mouth with his own. They ravished each other with their lips, Sadie’s form a solid buffer between them. His hand continued to work unseen below and Faith heard her friend’s breath speed up. She didn’t know how close Sadie was, but knew from the way she moved her body on Dean’s fingers that release wasn’t far.

Nilana has one night to make the choice of a lifetime: Accept the love of two men, or keep hunting—alone.

Hunting the Huntress

© 2007 Ember Caser

No man has ever tempted Nilana to give up her freedom. Life as a huntress has given this shapeshifter everything she thought she could ever want. But one look at the warrior and the shaman who have come to run the Harvest Hunt has her questioning her own decision.

Tate and Cheveyo have ridden far across the plains, drawn by dreams of the woman they are sure will unite their tribe. They just never thought they’d have to convince their fantasy woman that they are the future she has never considered.

They have one night to convince the huntress that becoming the hunted can lead to a beginning, not the end of all she holds dear.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Hunting the Huntress:

The moon had barely begun its path through the night sky when she’d slipped away from the maidens. Hoping she’d gotten away from camp before the warriors had time to begin their hunt, she’d headed for a quiet spot by the river. After covering the slight trail her footsteps had made she let her totem answer the lunar call, enjoying the feel of the autumn wind ruffling through her fur as she breathed deeply the smells of the coming night.

She’d headed for the river alone, eager to lose her scent in the quick running water. A hunter could not follow where there was no trail. She had been almost giddy with her power as she headed out under the clear, bright sky of the early twilight.

She had hoped for a quick run through the night followed by a quiet evening of rest under the full moon while the hunt went on without her. Her hopes had been quickly dashed. It was there by the river they had found her, the warrior and the shaman. She’d stared at them for a moment, unable to believe they had tracked her down.

And there the chase had begun.

She should have taken them more seriously. Overconfident in her ability to hide her trail from any hunter in her tribe, she had taken them lightly when she first picked up their scent. Nilana admitted it had thrilled her just a bit to be pursued by the men so many of the maidens were dreaming of. That excitement had faded as they proved hard to shake from her trail. She should have remembered her role tonight was that of prey, not huntress. It was a truth driven home again and again as they ran her down the path they wanted her to take.

A glance over her shoulder now showed only one form behind her. Tate, the warrior. His longer legs continued to eat the ground between them. Under other circumstances, she would have enjoyed watching him run. His glossy brown coat rippled with the powerful muscles beneath. There was awesome strength in his lean body, whether he took the form of man or cougar. As a man he stood head and shoulders above the warriors of her tribe, his long body impressively formed of muscles and sinew. But when he called his cougar totem to take its form, he became the
Chimaga
who was already the source of legends.

Pursuit by the legend had lost its charm for Nilana. She needed to get to higher ground.

The canyon curved ahead and she used the tight corners to her advantage. Her legs were shorter than his, but her agile body was better able to take the corners at high speed. Shooting out of the last curve, she saw a fork ahead in the path.
Yes
! With any luck one of the branches would lead up and out to the forested foothills where she would have the advantage. To freedom.

Get out of the canyon. Get to the hills.
The two thoughts ran through her head with the rhythm of her paws as she sped across dry ground.

She poured her last reserves of energy into a final burst of speed. Higher ground was to the left, and that way should lie freedom. Great bounding leaps took her onward, hope adding strength to her feet as she reached the split.

Already springing for the left path, she roared her anger when she found she had been outmaneuvered. The shaman Cheveyo stood guard there quietly, a furry, gray shadow blocking her path.

With a snarl of frustration, Nilana headed right, further down the canyon. She had not scouted this far past the forking canyon during the days of hunting and had no idea what lay ahead. Desperately she prayed for a way out.
If this path dead ends…

It did indeed dead end.

Nilana skidded to a stop and began to pace the small space, her tail whipping behind her as she studied the steep walls on all three sides. She had been herded into the canyon like a buffalo in the hunt. She admitted the hunters had chosen their trap well, running their target into the ground and making sure there was no escape. She could have admired their skill, if she were not the prey.

Angry howls escaped her as she sprang from one side of the canyon to the other. Desperation clawed at her. Capture during the harvest hunt was not only a blow to her pride. It could mean an end to her freedom. Her heart pounded with frenzied outrage.

A muted roar came from behind her. They had managed to corner her, but she was not down yet.

Nilana backed into the corner made by the rough, rocky walls. She would not give in without a fight. She put her backside to the wall and faced the opening, then dropped to a crouch. A warning rumble escaped her throat. Let them come to her.

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