This book contains sexual content and is intended for readers 18+ only!
Five hours and several glasses of wine later, Ann found herself stumbling outside for some air and a breather. Her head buzzed with alcohol and her lady parts buzzed with desire. She had guys doting on her constantly, excited with the rare prospect of getting to try a shifter in bed. She was the exotic party favor.
Strangely, in the mood she was in, she was totally okay with that. All she had to do was point at the person she wanted, and she would get him. Or them. In true Mansion fashion, they were okay with sharing.
She closed the sliding glass door behind her. She needed a break.
A giggle sounded off to her right, followed by a masculine hum. Ann veered to the left, feeling the cool breeze against her fevered skin. She lifted her hair off the nape of her neck and leaned against the wall of the house as her gaze traveled the shimmering swimming pool.
“Ann?”
Ann glanced to where a man and a woman stood in the faint light of dawn. The drop-dead gorgeous woman gave a whine of disapproval as Charles stepped forward. The light splashed across his handsome features, illuminating his smoky, grey eyes. Without saying anything to the woman he was with, he started across the patio to Ann, his huge breadth of shoulder drawing her gaze and setting her core burning.
“I haven’t seen you all night,” Ann said in a voice much huskier than she’d intended. “I thought you’d be all over it, trying to get a piece now that I was back on the market.” Ann saw the woman pulling the strap of her dress onto her shoulder. She adjusted her breasts before heading back inside.
Ann’s confidence withered. “Ah.” She looked back over the pool. “You didn’t want to wait that long, I gather.”
Charles’ eyebrows pinched together as he glanced behind him where the woman had been. “Oh no—she was just showing me her tits to try and get some.”
“I’m amazed you could restrain yourself,” Ann said, rolling her eyes.
Charles shrugged and leaned beside her. “She had a nice rack, but I’ve seen it before. Literally. A million times. I’m the last of Sasha’s bodyguards to get tied down. They all want me.”
“Should I step away—give your ego more room?”
“Nah. I’m bored with all the attention, now. At first it was cool. I mean, being a bodyguard was a shit job, right? It was embarrassing. But then she became a black mage, and the leader. Now I’m hot shit in this role. Even the humans want me—to get them knocked up, I mean. I can’t find the thrill in it, anymore, though. And I don’t want to get attached to some human. They always expect to mate the father. Not interested.”
“Wow. Hard life.”
Charles sighed. “Yeah. I mean…look at me! I’m walking around the place like a freaking disco ball. I got most of it off, too, and still I shimmer. Jonas punches me every time he sees me.”
Ann couldn’t help laughing, her dour humor lifting despite herself.
“Oh sure, mock me. But do you get showered in glitter? Doubt it.” Charles ran his fingers through his hair. “Anyway, I was giving you space. Sasha said you needed some you time. Needed to choose your guy, or whatever. I’d hate to distract you with the glitter arms.”
Ann laughed harder. “Lemme see.”
Grinning, Charles sauntered in front of her to give her a better view and put out one of his arms, which lit up like a Christmas tree as the light played across the multi-colored glitter. “Sexy, am I right?”
“It is all over?” Ann asked between large, belly laughter.
“Yeah.” He stripped off his shirt, exposing his broad shoulders and defined chest. Perfect pecs led down into a deliciously ripped six-pack—actually, almost an eight-pack. Tattoos swirled around his arms and dotted his torso.
Suddenly, she knew exactly why the girls had put glitter on him. That perfect body gleamed and sparkled. If he were in the throes of sex, it would also glisten. Her mouth turned dry as her fingers itched to touch that smooth skin, cut and defined in all the right ways. Tim had been muscular, too, but not like this. Charles was so tall and broad, so powerful, but sleek as well. He moved like a dancer. A lethal, efficient dancer.
“Light up your tattoos,” Ann said in a breathy voice as her gaze roamed his torso.
Deep orange swirled around his arms, playful and light. The magic tickled her animal side, her magic responding to his in ways that were supposed to be completely foreign, but for some reason, seemed as perfect as his body.
As his humor.
As his personality.
God she wanted this man. Had for years. She’d always said no to his advances because she knew she’d fall just that little bit more, and he didn’t want to get attached. He’d just affirmed it a moment ago—not even a child would make him want to mate. He wanted his independence, and he wanted to bed whoever he chose, whenever he chose. Everyone in the Mansion knew that. It was only the humans who had a problem with it.
Ann sighed, feeling the fire as she looked over his delicious body. Then she came to a decision. Just this once, she wouldn’t back away. Just this once, she’d give in to the thing he’d been trying to get from her since he first saw her.
She’d give in to him, just this once.
“Come closer, Charles…”
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