Palm Haven Shifters: Complete Five-Part Series Read online

Randal tried to push Sloan off of him, but failed. “No, I have proof.”

  “Proof? How? I thought witches had a way of detecting surveillance or their magic fucks with electronics or something?” Sean wasn’t clear on the specifics.

  “You two should know better. I’ve yet to see anything done with magic that couldn’t be recreated with enough money. Besides, drones are as close to magic as humans have come.”

  “Drones…” Sloan said, his arm dropping. “You have video?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I have all the proof you’ll ever need.”

  “And why are you being so generous with it?” Sean didn’t believe Randal to be an altruistic man.

  Randal’s shoulders lifted and fell in a shrug and he rubbed his neck, giving Sloan a dangerous glare. “Like I said. I don’t need to overthrow the old man anymore. I don’t need her help, but she’s still warmongering and claiming I owe her a debt. Esther disappearing wouldn’t be a bad thing for me at all.”

  “We need that footage,” Sloan said.

  “Yeah, sure. I’ll get it to you tomorrow. I’ll have to compile all the relevant footage.”

  Sean got the sneaking suspicion that he didn’t want to know what the irrelevant footage comprised of. He was willing to wager it involved a gross invasion of privacy for a whole mess of people.

  “You’d better.” Sloan exchanged another look with Randal who sighed.

  “I already told you. I want her gone as much as you do.”

  “Good,” Sean said. “Then we’re all in agreement.”

  Chapter 10

  EMILY

  “Are you freaking kidding me? Where is my shipment now?” Emily screeched, near tears.

  “Albany? What is it doing in Albany? I have a national photo shoot in two days and you’ve just ruined it. Thanks a lot.” She hung up the phone, guilt instantly worming its way through her.

  It wasn’t Melissa’s fault her company was completely incompetent. Though, Emily was sure Melissa had heard worse things in her time at the call center.

  “No luck?” Sonya bustled in with a tray of warm cookies and Emily wanted to kiss her.

  If there was one thing she couldn’t resist, it was warm baked goods with a heaping side of panic. Not that she got a choice about the second part, but gooey chocolate chips seemed to soothe the raging anxiety.

  “Yeah right. I told you. The whole thing is going to be a disaster.”

  Sonya frowned and Emily ate half a cookie in one big bite, not even caring that she had crumbs on her shirt.

  “And what about things with Sean?”

  Emily waved her hand side to side. “Eh.”

  “Eh? What is ‘eh’ about a man like that?”

  “He’s kind of coming on a little strong, don’t you think?”

  Sonya’s lips pursed and she folded her arms. “Is that what you really think or is that your insecurity talking?”

  Emily ate another cookie before mumbling. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Mhm,” Sonya wasn’t buying it. “You don’t think a hot billionaire could be that into you. That’s it, isn’t it?”

  “No.” Yes.

  “Emily.” Sonya leveled her best bad-cop-mom stare at her.

  “Maybe?” Definitely.

  Sonya sighed. “Girl. Stop. You are amazing and it’s about time someone else realized it.”

  Before she could launch her laundry list of grievances, Emily’s cell phone rang.

  She took one look at the caller ID, frowned and waved it at Sonya. “Speak of the devil. Maybe we summoned him.”

  Sonya cocked her hip to the side, still annoyed despite Emily’s attempt at a joke.

  “Aren’t you going to answer it?”

  I wasn’t…

  But she had to. Sonya might actually strangle her if she didn’t.

  “Hey Sean.”

  “I’ve got what you need,” he said.

  What I need? Emily’s heart quickened and her blood warmed. She could think of a few things Sean could give her. But none of them classified under ‘need’.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Meet me for dinner. I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Sonya had her ear pressed to the other side of the phone and heard every word. Before Emily could decline the offer she was glaring daggers at her.

  “Go,” Sonya mouthed silently.

  Emily shook her head and Sonya put her hands on her hips, nodding.

  “Uh… Okay, I guess,” Emily sighed, having a bad feeling about this. Every time she and Sean were alone together things turned… heated. How was she supposed to stay professional with all of that going on?

  “Great, I’ll see you tonight. I can’t wait.”

  Emily hung up the phone before she let out a long defeated groan. “Why did you make me do that?”

  Sonya rolled her eyes. “I didn’t make you do anything. You just gotta stop being your own worst enemy.”

  Emily pouted.

  “Don’t act like you’re not excited to see him again,” Sonya teased.

  “Are you at least going to help me get pretty?”

  Sonya’s scowl finally melted into a smile and she nodded. “You know I will. He won’t know what’s hit him.”

  It was evident to Emily the moment Sean let her into his house that there would be nothing at all professional about this dinner.

  “Wow,” she said, taking it all in.

  Sean had clearly taken a liking to the massive piles of pillows they’d frolicked in because now they covered the floor of his main living space.

  All around the room there were candles, creating a soft warm glow, and right in the center of the room there was an enormous sheer gauzy tent draped artfully from the vaulted ceiling.

  “What do you think?”

  It looks like something out of a harem…

  More tactfully, she said. “I don’t think this is one of my designs.”

  Sean laughed and Emily couldn’t help but smile with him. He had such an openness about him. Such a willingness to give all of himself. She appreciated that.

  “Well, you’ve only worked on the bedroom and I thought having dinner in there might be pushing my luck.” He stepped into the room and pulled a bottle of wine from an ice bucket. He popped the cork with ease and poured Emily a glass of the sparkling beverage.

  She took a sip of the sweet and tangy wine before she nodded. “Yeah, you wouldn’t want to come on strong or anything.”

  His face fell a fraction and Emily wanted to take the words back. He’d put a lot of effort into this and she shouldn’t belittle that.

  “It’s too much, isn’t it? I improvised. I’m sorry. We can go out if you’d like?”

  Why did he have to be so agreeable? It made her feel like the bad guy. Like she was crazy for not throwing herself at him.

  Maybe she was.

  “No, no. This is very nice, really. It’s a little ‘Arabian Nights’ but I like it.”

  His shoulders visibly relaxed and he waved her into the tent.

  Emily wasn’t really sure how to maneuver herself in the simple sundress Sonya had picked out. At least the skirt had enough material to cover her legs completely when she sat. It still felt awkward, but Sean took care of that quickly.

  “I didn’t know what you liked so I got some charcuterie and pastries…”

  “Pastries? Now you’re talking my language.”

  It wasn’t long before they fell into that easy conversation she’d come to expect from Sean. But as nice as the evening might be, she still wanted to know why he’d brought her here.

  “So?”

  “So,” he said.

  “So, why did you want me to come over here?”

  Sean frowned. “Do I need a reason to want to spend time with you?”

  Emily’s heart stuttered and she knew her cheeks were probably red hot. She shook her head. “No, but you said you have what I need. What’s that?”

  Sean l
ooked as though she’d reminded him of something unpleasant.

  “I told you I couldn’t stay out of it.”

  Her stomach knotted. “What?”

  “I’ve got the proof you need to out Esther. Or…” he looked at his watch, “I should have it in a few hours, rather.”

  “What? How?”

  Sean seemed like he was trying to gloss over certain bits of information, but from what Emily gathered, they’d gotten the information out of another tiger — the hard way.

  “Why would you go through all of that for me? Why even care? I’m just a decorator… Nothing special. Why are you trying to help me?”

  “We’re not the strangers you think we are,” Sean said with a sigh. “I probably should’ve told you much sooner. Or maybe not at all.” The pained look in his eyes made Emily lean in. She rested her hand on his for support.

  “Tell me what?”

  “We’ve met before, Emily. A very long time ago. So long ago that I’m sure you don’t remember it, but it made an impression on me. You made an impression on me.”

  The room spun before her and the roar of her pulse in her ears made it difficult to focus on the words Sean said. Had she really heard him right? No, she couldn’t have.

  “But… surely I would remember meeting you,” she protested.

  “I wasn’t anyone special back then. I’m still not. I’m more successful, but that’s all thanks to you.” He tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear, and Emily leaned into his touch, wondering if this was the familiarity she’d felt all along.

  “I… I don’t understand. What did I have to do with any of it?” She found herself moving towards him, tilting her head up, bracing herself for a kiss that she could only dream was coming. What was this spell he had on her? How did this always happen between them?

  “You believed in me. You told me that an idea is only crazy until someone pulls it off. That really stuck with me.”

  Emily’s eyes flew wide open with realization of who Sean was.

  “The airport…”

  “You remember?” The hope in his tone made her ache.

  But she remembered. They’d crossed paths briefly. She’d been on her way to design school and he was a kid with big dreams and no direction, getting shuffled around.

  They struck up a conversation over coffee — innocuous as that was — that quickly morphed into more.

  Hours went by them in that crowded restaurant and they shared their fears and hopes and dreams.

  “You were the one that convinced me I was capable of more. And that I needed to be a man worthy of you. I’ve worked towards that ever since.”

  It was only when Emily heard the final boarding call for her flight and dashed off that she realized the one thing they’d never shared: last names.

  But by then it was too late.

  “I tried and tried to find you, but after a while, I had to give up. Then I saw you on the news and you need my help and it all just seems too right.”

  “I… after all of these years?”

  Sean nodded. “I didn’t recognize it when I was a dumb teenager, but you’re it for me. My mate. The one woman I’ve never stopped thinking about…” His hand cupped her jaw and pulled her closer. “Or dreaming about…”

  “Sean—”

  He captured her response with his lips, closing in on her in one swift movement.

  She felt his kiss all the way down to her soul. There was no doubting that they had a connection. But a shifter? What would the other witches say?

  His tongue delved into her mouth and started its languid exploration. Every stroke of his tongue was telling; he let her know exactly how in control he could be and her insides melted in response. To hell with the other witches.

  She kissed him back, matching his intensity as she clawed at his shoulders, trying to bring him closer to her. Her magic crackled and sparked within her, soaking up everything he could give her.

  “I’ve wanted you for so fucking long,” he groaned.

  Ordinarily, Emily never would have believed a man if he said something like that to her. That was something they said just to get girls into bed.

  But there was no denying the truth in his words when she looked into his eyes.

  Every bit of waiting and wondering he’d endured for the past decade was reflected back at her.

  For all of his confidence and command, he was still uncertain if she would give in to him.

  She didn’t know either, but before she’d made up her mind, the words left her mouth.

  “Take me,” she whispered.

  He didn’t need to be told twice.

  Sean scooped her into his arms like it was nothing at all and carried her upstairs to the bedroom.

  Their lips met in another passionate embrace. Suddenly, Sean was all that mattered and she never thought she’d have enough of him.

  He tossed her onto the bed and in one swift movement, he ripped the straps of her dress down her shoulders, leaving her upper half exposed save for a see-through lace bra. He growled, and the hungry look he gave her sent shivers through Emily’s body.

  Emily arched her back off of the mattress to unclasp her bra. She’d no sooner removed it when Sean’s mouth descended on one of her sensitive nipples, drawing it to a hard point as his hand reached up to mold the other.

  She moaned and squirmed as the familiar sensations of magic and sex mixing sent her into the stratosphere.

  His hands raked down her sides and he nibbled and kissed his way over her belly and down her thighs, removing her dress as he went. He was purposefully avoiding the juncture of her thighs, teasing all around, but not giving into her whimpering pleas.

  No matter how much she begged him, Sean took his time. He placed soft kissed up and down the backs of her thighs, his hands steadily spreading her knees apart with each pass.

  “Please,” she whined. How had she ever resisted this man? He was the world’s strongest aphrodisiac.

  His breath stirred the fine curls guarding her sex and he gave her slit one long lick. Emily’s legs quivered and she sucked in a sharp breath as her hands grabbed fistfuls of sheets to steady herself.

  She couldn’t remember a time when she was so wound up. So on edge. The smallest touch from him sent sparks through her entire being. The rough pad of his tongue made contact with her clit and she saw stars burst before her eyes. She couldn’t take it anymore. Her magic was impatient and so was she.

  “Please,” she begged him. “I need you.”

  A guttural groan came from deep in his throat as he took another long lick over her, tasting her.

  “I’ve wanted to hear you say that for so long,” he said, ripping his clothing off without hesitation.

  For all of her imagination, she never could have pictured anything as exquisite as the reality of what was under his tailored suit. His body was lean, taut and carved into muscle groups she didn’t even know existed. He looked like a study in the perfect human form – which was ironic since he wasn’t really human.

  She didn’t care what he was at that moment. All she wanted was to have him inside of her. She took one look at his impressive cock and her jaw dropped. There was no way that was going to fit inside of her! She knew shifters were big, but damn.

  He claimed her lips again and Emily tasted her own arousal on his lips. It sent a fresh wave of desire coursing through her until she found herself wrapping her legs around his waist to draw him in.

  “No more waiting,” she panted.

  The tip of his cock pressed at her wet entrance and Emily gasped at the sudden pleasure. He pushed forward slowly, inch by inch, each maddeningly slow movement sent her higher and higher.

  Finally, he slammed into her, drawing a cry of surprise from her lungs.

  He moved within her with a purpose. She felt her body give way to the sensations created by his cock and her magic mingling together as if they were made for one another. Electricity arced through her limbs and her brain was overwhelmed with the nee
d for release.

  The wave kept building higher and higher with no end in sight. It was almost too much pleasure, almost overwhelming. Almost. But still somehow not enough.

  His fingers dug into her hips and the bite of pain brought her back down to Earth for a moment.

  Everything else melted into the background. It was only her and Sean and the connection of their bodies. The friction between them sent delicious shivers up and down her spine and before she knew it, his body was bringing her ever closer.

  “Oh god,” she moaned, her hands grasping onto his shoulders for stability.

  “My god, you feel so much better than my dreams. So fucking good,” he groaned, thrusting into her and holding her hips firmly in place as she squirmed and clenched around him.

  The feeling of being so full and so connected was enough to make Emily’s head spin.

  “That’s it,” Sean said, withdrawing slowly only to slam back into her to the hilt. His thumb found her clit and began to circle it slowly.

  “Oh, Sean,” she moaned, her back arching from the bed. How could she keep going? He kept building her pleasure higher and higher, but release had to come soon.

  His teeth clamped down on her nipple and the world exploded around her into stars and flashes of light. Sean didn’t stop his relentless love-making. He plowed into her, pushing her through the tsunami of one orgasm straight into the throes of another.

  “Yes, come for me, sweetheart,” he said, dipping down for another blazing hot kiss.

  She shuddered and clung to him for dear life as another monumental orgasm wracked through her.

  With another few quick jerky movements, Sean filled her with his offering and rolled over, pulling her on top of him.

  It took a few minutes for her heart to slow down and her breathing to return to normal. Sean just drew lazy circles with his hands over her back. She giggled as his gentle touches sent goosebumps up and down her arms.

  For just a moment, she wanted to forget all of the bullshit happening around them and just be. Be with Sean. Be in the moment. And relaxed. He relaxed her like nothing else ever had.

  “I think you’ve done quite a nice job with the bedroom,” he said, trailing feather touches up and down her arm now.

  Emily sighed contentedly and snuggled into his chest, listening to the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. “Well, at least this wasn’t all just a ruse to get me into bed, right?”