Their group seemed to be close, pack brothers of some description. It was obvious they were comfortable with each other, joking and drinking. Axel even smiled a few times, and I wished I could unsee that. It transformed his hard, masculine beauty, adding another dimension to it. He was already too captivating. He did not need more dimensions.

  “You need to stop staring at him. You know the rules for wolves. Alphas especially.”

  Carissa had been plying me with drinks and trying to get me to dance all night. She’d also been trying to stop me from burning holes in the side of Axel’s head with my stalking gaze.

  I threw back the last of my drink. I’d switched back to fae wine a while ago, but was already more than a little drunk. “You’re right!” I slammed the empty wine glass back on the bar, jumping to my feet. “This is our holiday and I’m ready to mingle.”

  A desperate, burning need was clawing through my chest. I needed the distraction. I needed it badly.

  Carissa let out a whoop, calling to Faith, who was a few feet away, flirting with a vampire. “Come on, girl. We’re going dancing.”

  With a wink, Faith inclined her head at her conquest, before making her way to us. No siren would turn down dancing. A makeshift dancefloor had opened up in a space just outside of the immediate bar area. There weren’t many out at this stage, but I knew it wouldn’t be long. We were sirens. It was what we did.

  The music changed then to a bass filled song, and the three of us lifted our arms and started to move, slowly and sensually, our hips swaying and gyrating with the song. Our bare skin rubbed together, and the siren side of us came out to play. More of the girls joined in, and soon the dancefloor was filled with a siren glow.

  Men and women converged on us, drawn to our pull. They were just lucky none of us had started to sing; it would have gotten out of control in a blink. Heavy hands landed on my hips and without turning I started to move with them. I didn’t recognize the scent of the man, but I had a sneaking suspicion it was a demon.

  Which should have scared me, but I was too far gone to care at this point. The music filled my body, my soul, and I was buzzing with life. Add in the alcohol pumping through my veins, and you had a siren combo that was hard to control.

  The demon moved in closer, and I twisted my head to see that it was not the scary blond one. Nope, this guy had smoky quartz-colored eyes, black curls, and enough facial hair to give him a rakish and dark look. He was only a little taller than me, around six foot, which meant we moved together with ease. I swiveled myself around and pressed into his body. His hands flexed on my hips and I threw my head back, lost in the moment.

  The demon leaned closer. “Name is Kiel. Want to get out of here?”

  Part of me screamed yes, because I needed something to quell the ache deep in my body. But another part of me knew I was done with random sex. I couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t even know or particularly like this demon, he was just a decent distraction. I’d promised myself I would stop doing that.

  No sex unless you are truly attracted.

  The reminder was for the siren part of me that didn’t give a shit who she touched as long as she got her fix of energy. Death was the strongest of all energies, which is why we had a bad rep about luring sailors to their deaths – just one of the many ways sirens used to get their kicks. But sexual energy was a close second.

  We weren’t like succubi; we didn’t need to feed on the energy of others to survive. But it still revitalized us like nothing else.

  Pulling back, I shook my head, genuine regret in my voice. “Sorry, I’m just here for the dancing.”

  He didn’t glower or fight me, just gave an incline of his head and turned to find another partner for the night. Even though I told myself not to, I still had to see where Axel had gotten to. The shifter corner was pretty empty now, most of them on the dance floor.

  The massive Viking was nowhere to be seen. I rubbed at a sudden pain in my chest, dull and throbbing. This was fucking stupid. I was fucking stupid.

  Going to bed. I sent the mental message to Carissa, and waited a beat for her to acknowledge it.

  Everything okay, Let?

  Yep. All good.

  I sensed she didn’t quite believe me, but she didn’t push it. We were pretty good about respecting each other in this sort of situation.

  See you in the morning, sis. Her words trailed off and I knew she was distracted again. I probably wouldn’t see her again this night. She would be out for many more hours.

  I started to push my way through the crowd, dodging a multitude of groping hands. I’d just made it to the stairs when I heard the call.

  “Siren…” It was low, and at first I wondered if I had imagined it. Turning to stare out into the crowd, I found a startling pair of blue eyes on me.

  Amon? What does he want?

  I stepped lightly toward him. The angel was at the end of the bar, his wings spreading out a little behind him, and I couldn’t help but admire the masculine beauty of them. With each step closer I fought to keep control of my siren again. When we were standing across from each other, he held out his hand. In it was a large key. It was brass, like mine, but a howling wolf was carved in the end.

  “He’s waiting for you.”

  I didn’t have to ask who. I just didn’t know what I was supposed to do with the key.

  “I don’t … it’s a bad idea,” I said to my new “friend.”

  Amon tilted his head to the side, regarding me carefully; he leaned over and kissed my cheek. As he pulled back he whispered in my ear: “Axel is an old friend of mine. You can trust him. He’s worth the fight.”

  My body was on fire then, thoughts of Axel enough to have everything inside of me throbbing with need. It had been too long. For a siren … far too long.

  “I haven’t been with anyone since the last time I was with him.” The words escaped before I could stop them, and Amon’s surprised face was there for a moment before he could school it.

  Both of his hands were on my biceps now, large fingers curling around them. “I have to go back to work, but if Axel doesn’t satiate this need inside of you, then you come and find me later.”

  Fuck. Me.

  I swallowed hard, and with a low growl Amon turned away and went back to the bar. His back and shoulder muscles were rigid, and I knew it had cost him something to leave like that, but he had. Which meant he really was friends with Axel.

  My eyes dropped to the key I was holding tightly in my right hand, clenched so hard there would no doubt be a wolf imprint on my palm when I finally released it. All shifters were on the top floor, sixty-nine. That floor was off limits for me, but right now I really didn’t care.

  This is a bad idea, Lettie. You’re going to get yourself hunted by a pack of wolves. I should run and lock myself in my room.

  Turning away from the stairs, I moved to the lifts. Stepping inside, I could see a bunch of key grooves, one for each floor. There was an extra penthouse section on floor sixty-nine, which was surely where the alpha would be.

  The key slid in with ease, and barely made a click as I turned it to engage the lift. The box shot up with great speed, and I found myself white-knuckling the railing, trying not to lose the contents of my stomach.

  What the hell am I doing?

  I silenced the voice inside me, forcing my mind to go blank. I was pretty much just a ball of sexual need by now, which made it very easy to ignore my misgivings.

  One more night, I told myself. Get him out of your system, then you can enjoy the rest of this holiday.

  It was as good a plan as any, and it let me relax and be okay with my decision.

  The lift dinged, and the key came free at the same time. As the doors slid open, I stepped out into a forest. Soft grass beneath my feet, the sounds and smell of nature everywhere. Like the siren floor, this one adapted to whatever shifters were there, what suited their animal. And since there was only one door in this section, I knew exactly what animal I was dealing with.

  Alpha wolf.

  There were no nerves as I crossed the long path to reach the huge set of double doors. Clearly being alpha paid more than being an assistant to a marine biologist. I hadn’t even stepped inside and already I could tell this was a luxury that would make the orchard room look like a slum.

  My head was clear; I’d burned off the alcohol, which meant in the morning I couldn’t blame anything but my own needs. The key fit perfectly again, clicking the door open without a noise. I let it swing forward, my eyesight adjusting to the darkness awaiting me on the other side. Everything inside of me clenched in anticipation. I needed this night. My body needed it. Already my underwear was soaked. I could feel my desire.

  I was ready for Axel.

  Pulling the key free, I stepped into the dark entrance. A stark contrast to the forest – miles of white marble, cool against my feet as I stepped silently through to the main sitting area and stopped at the edge of the room, staring at the floor-to-ceiling windows spanning right across the entire wall. We were so high up that it felt as if the stars and moon were nestled around this room. It wasn’t a full moon for another week or so, but it was still bright in the sky.

  Axel turned from where he too had been staring out of the window, and his eyes locked on me. He stalked across the room toward me, nothing but predator and sex in his gaze. I dropped his key onto a small side table, my legs also moving.

  I couldn’t wait another minute. I needed to taste my wolf.

  5

  We came together in a crash of bodies and energy. Axel was so strong he had me up and off the ground before I could even blink. My legs opened for him, wrapping around his waist, and he pressed himself right into my center. Cold hit my back as he spun and slammed me against the thick glass, his hands caressing up and down the sides of my body. I arched, my head cracking into the window, but I didn’t care.

  Full lips pressed into mine and I felt like I was about to combust. Our mouths moved with urgency, and as I opened my lips for him, he stroked my tongue with his, his movements strong, commanding, taking claim of me. As I tasted the dark spice that was all Axel, my body started moving against him.

  Wrenching my lips from his, I gasped out, “You need to fuck me, now. I can’t take it any longer.”

  His responding growl came from deep within his chest, and he used a free hand to tear my dress off me. I hadn’t bothered with a bra; my breasts ached, nipples tightening as the cool air hit them. He wasted no time closing his mouth around them. The left first, then the right got equal attention.

  I was mindless, my siren free, skin glowing almost as brightly as the moon and stars that were our backdrop. Lighting up the room too. I had a lot of skin on display right now.

  Axel lifted his head, staring into my eyes. It was a heavy look, filled with a lot more than I expected.

  His voice was a husky caress. “You’re even more beautiful than I remembered. I would have thought that was impossible.”

  It was the first thing he had said since I stepped into his room, pleasure and happiness intertwined within me.

  My center clenched, and I strained even closer to him. “You’re wearing too many clothes,” I breathed out, needing to feel more of him.

  My feet hit the ground. I propped myself back on the glass, watching as Axel reached over his shoulder for the back of his shirt, yanking it up over his head.

  Holy blessed gods. It was better than I remembered too, his muscles as chiseled as Amon’s, but harder somehow. Larger too. He was massive in all ways, which was something I had not forgotten. In the human world I rarely looked up to men, but he made me feel small.

  He kicked off his boots, and was just about to shuck his pants when I reached out and stilled his hand. I needed to touch his skin. My fingers skimmed down his sides, hooking in the band of his pants, so I could follow that delicious vee all the way down. I took my time, caressing every hard plane of his body. When I couldn’t stand it any longer, I yanked his pants the rest of the way down, my eyes locked on his long, rock hard cock as it sprang free.

  My hands wrapped around the silky head, and I couldn’t stop the low moan that slipped out. Axel echoed this sound, before he hoisted me up in his arms again, his impatience clear. We didn’t have to worry about protection; sirens could only breed once a year, and there were no diseases either of us could catch. It was definitely one of the benefits we had over humans.

  No need to stop when it was just starting to get good.

  His lips slammed into mine again, and I heard a soft tearing sound, which was my underwear disappearing. There was nothing between us now, our bodies and mouths straining against the other’s. It had been too long. I needed him.

  I cried out as he plunged inside of me, my body wet and ready, and I only needed a few seconds to adjust to his length. He moved slowly at first, only speeding up as my cries grew louder.

  “Axel, holy … fuck … yes.”

  I was gone, nonsensical words spilling from my lips along with moans and cries.

  He held me against the wall with ease, his body slamming into mine in long sweeping motions. My head was back against the glass, stars filling my gaze. I cried out as my orgasm spiraled through me; it was strong, starting at my center and ricocheting outwards.

  Axel’s loud growling groans joined mine as we both tumbled over the edge into mindless bliss.

  My breathing was a harsh rasp as I tried to suck more oxygen into my lungs. My body was still pulsing with need, Axel still buried deep inside of me, when he started striding across the room and into the huge bedroom suite. I closed my eyes briefly, letting the contentment settle in deep, only reopening them when the hot water cascaded over my back.

  Axel’s room had a waterfall shower over the top of a massive tub. It was big enough to fit three or four shifter-size people in it, which meant we had plenty of room. He lowered me down under the spray, our lips meeting again, bodies ready for more.

  He lay back on the floor of the bath, stretching himself out. I was draped across him, cradled by his powerful body. His lips pulled away from mine, both of his hands lifting to cup my face.

  “Where were you for the last year? I have searched for you.”

  Everything in me stilled, water dripping across my skin and face, settling in my lashes as I stared blankly at him. “You searched for me? Why?”

  He dropped his hands from my face, only to wrap them around my middle. “Because I couldn’t get you out of my mind. Last year … I had responsibilities to get back to. I couldn’t stay. But I regretted leaving you from that moment on.”

  I felt like I was dreaming, because there was no way he meant what he was saying. “You’re an alpha wolf. The alpha wolf. I’m a siren. We don’t … we can’t work.”

  A tinge of gold flashed in his eyes and I knew his wolf was rising to the surface. “I don’t give a fuck about the rules. I choose who I want. And I am not done with you yet, Lettie of the sirens.”

  I had felt the pull too, and since the fates were old friends of mine, I knew that for both of us to feel it … it was too big a thing to just dismiss it. “Why does my power not work on you?”

  Last year I had mentioned my worry that if I used too much of my energy, or my song, he would be entrapped. He dismissed those worries in a second, asking me to sing so he could prove it. And he had been right.

  There had been no time to question it then, but now I needed to know.

  He shifted beneath me, hands running gently up and down my spine. The combination of his touch, and the soothing nature of the water, was enough to have my body thrumming with need again.

  “I will tell you why, if you promise you will give this a chance – at least for the next seven days of your siren convention.”

  I considered his proposal, and found that I was not even close to being done with Axel. I wasn’t sure, though, that even in seven days I would be done.

  “It’s a deal,” I agreed. “Seven days of this.” I arched my body into his. A smokiness turned his eyes an even darker brown, and he lifted me up and I slid right down onto him. As he filled and stretched inside of me, I let out a contented breath, starting to move.

  The water beat down on us, but all I could see and feel was Axel. My mouth opened and lyrics slipped from between my lips. Thrumming with power, my siren song burst to life, and it spurred our sex into a frenzied pace. Axel’s eyes were pure gold now, and I started to move even faster.

  An orgasm hit me. I rode the waves of pleasure, a song still spilling from me. It didn’t stop at one orgasm though, they continued to build, one after another until I was nothing more than a beam of energy, filled with so much pleasure that it felt like I was going to burst from my skin.

  As the last of my song died off, Axel lifted my hips and plunged up into me three more times, finding his own release. My body was spent as I collapsed forward onto his chest. The room seemed extra silent without my echoing song.

  “That was fucking amazing,” I mumbled against his chest, which started to shake a little as laughter rocked through him.

  “You haven’t seen anything yet, siren.”

  He wasn’t kidding either.

  6

  For the first time in a long, long time, I awoke completely sated. Every single part of me was content – sore, alive. My body protested as I rolled over on the soft mattress and stretched deliciously aching muscles. The full scale of everything that had happened last night came back to me. Axel. He had rocked my world. Rocked it, turned it upside down, and now it was spinning on a completely new axis. Axel the axis whisperer.

  Warm hands settled across my stomach as the wolf shifter in question slid me back to rest against his body. I could feel every hard inch of him pressed against me and I was starting to think that waking up any other way from now on would be a disappointment.

  I rolled over so I could see him, the morning light caressing his golden features. There was not a tan line on his entire body, which made me wonder if he was naked in the sun a lot, or if that deep tan was his natural color.

 

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