Authors: Nikki Winter
Beastly Passions (31 page)
Asha snorted to his right.
“No,”—the boy rolled up the sleeve of his right arm and tapped his elbow—“there is one here though. Because
someone
taught me that putting a brown bear in a choke hold is a good idea.”
“And now it’s time for me to take my baby back,” Kamali said, scooping Kala from Taras’ arms. She looked between her husband and him, gave a disgusted sniff, and walked off.
“I told you what feline disdain does to me!” Kaisal called, following behind.
“Gods,” he breathed. “Just when I think we did a decent job…”
“We
did
do a decent job,” Asha argued. “It’s just that…oh gods-dammit! Basanti Shankur, you free your cousin from that trap right now! Mischa stop teaching her how to create these ridiculous things!”
Unable to help himself, Taras chuckled as his wife stormed in another direction, berating their children about their habits while Alexei ran after her to interfere with any possible slap boxing that could break out between her and his own mate. As he took in the scene before him, the chaos of it all he thought that perhaps it was a good thing that his offspring could rain down such insanity. After all, his wife had always told
him
that he had far more to offer…
The End
More about the Author
When Nikki wrote her first story in the tenth grade with the help of a pen, three packs of correction tape and a small, completely non-creepy obsession with cowboys, she knew she was destined for greatness. Now if she could just convince everyone else...
Her days were spent guarding her notebooks with her life, and her nights were spent continuing a love affair with insomnia. Eventually, just a bit disgusted with the traditional love story, she took a dive into the deep waters of romance with a not-so-gentle or subtle push by a beloved mentor.
These days she's taken the time to polish what she refers to as her "writing superiority." She hopes that the tales she creates will grab the reader's attention, and make them devoted slaves to her will...er, fans.
If you want to let her know just how absolutely, positively awesome she is, you can always e-mail her at [email protected], friend her on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/nikkiwinter19
, check out her works in progress at
nikkiwinter.com
,
weywardthoughts.com
or follow her at
@Pyro_Nikki
on Twitter.
Nikki’s Other Works
Titles can be found at Are, Amazon and Barnes and Noble:
Mocha Memoirs Press
One Shot Too Many
Talking Dirty
Under The Christmas tree
Self-Published Works
Ashes to Ashes (to be released)
Kiss and Tell
Kiss and Burn
Sweet Series Anthology
What a Bear Wants
What a Bear Needs
Beastly Desires
Beastly Urges (To be released)
Burn for Me
Beauty and the Barracuda
SEAL Bundle
Until the End of Time
Beauty and the Brute
Beauty and the Barbarian
Check out a pre-view of the next installment of the Verochka Pride “Beastly Urges” which is simply…fierce….
K
issa grabbed her cart and tried for a casual stroll towards where Mr. Universe had gone. She counted the aisles as she went along. Chips. Candy. Cereal. Laundry…bingo.
His head was moving back and forth as he scanned the shelves clearly looking for something but not finding it. Massive. He was massive. At least six foot five with a physique that looked to have been made by a deal with the devil and ungodly hours of gym time. His arms were folded across a brick cut chest, biceps showing sleeve tattoos that were beautifully done. Tree trunk legs were braced apart as he stood there. It was the perfect chance to snap one tiny picture and send it on.
She lifted her phone, making sure the flash was off and was seconds away from pushing the camera button when a wickedly husky voice got her attention and held it.
“Excuse me, Miss?”
The thrum of an accent was just beneath a baritone deep enough to get lost in. Kissa’s hand jerked down and she realized Mr. Universe was staring straight at her, slightly cat-like cerulean blue eyes glittering beneath heavy dark brows, thick lashes fringing the lids.
“Uh…yes?” Shit! Had he seen her being all creepy secret stalker photographer?
He waved one huge hand around the aisle, his lips curving on one side. “You wouldn’t happen to know where they keep the carpet cleaner for pets would you?”
“Uh…” Sentences. English. Speak now woman! “Yeah, let me um…” She stuffed her phone down into the pocket of her jeans and motioned for him to follow her as she went to the next aisle. The smell of sandalwood and peppermint teased her nostrils as he walked close behind. She finally reached the carpet cleaner and nodded towards it. “Carpets. Pets. Here.” Okay, she’d spoken English. That was good enough.
The sound of sniffing came from just beneath her right ear and she jerked her head around. He stood at least a foot away, an expression of pure innocence staring back at her from a face that was all hard angles and soft lips. He gave her a small grin. “Thank you.” Walking closer he stood shoulder to shoulder with her. “I need something that gets fur out easily. I uh…my cat started molting a few days ago and it got pretty bad in the living room and on the stairs.”
She just nodded, wanting him to keep talking. He could tell her just about anything he wanted, as long as he kept talking.
“Ah, here we go. Spring mist,” Casting a glance at her, he waved the box of scented powder. “Good enough?”
Once again, Kissa just nodded.
Flashing her another smile that was all teeth and completely gorgeous, he turned to walk away. Under the lights she could see that his hair was a mix of russet, inky black and platinum blond. The way his shoulders rolled when he moved made her mouth go dry, the moisture relocating elsewhere.
Pictures or it didn’t happen.
Kissa snapped out of her trance. “Can I ask you something?”
He stopped, turning as he shrugged. “Sure.”
She took a few steps forward, eyes on the ground. “My friend…she’s having a really shitty day and you’re really attractive so I was wondering if maybe—”
Kissa stopped when he stooped to get her to make eye contact. “I’m sure your friend is great but I’m not interested in—”
Shaking her head, she cut him off. “I’m not going for a blind date…just a picture.”
His head cocked, one brow quirking. “A picture?”
She nodded. “You’re her,”—Kissa made air quotes—“type.”
The rumbling laughter she got in response made her nipples tighten. “Okay.”
Her surprise had to be evident. “You’ll do it?”
He nodded. “I’ll do it.”
When she grinned he stared at her for the longest moment. “On one condition.”
“What?”
“You tell me your full name.”
“My name?”
“I have to put something beside your number in my phone right?”
Kissa’s brows almost touched her hairline. “I thought you said you weren’t interested in a blind date?”
He shook his dark head. “I’m not interested in a date with your
friend
. You on the other hand,” That molten gaze slowly raked her. “Are a completely different story.”
Sweet. Jesus.
“Now,” Mr. Universe took a step back. “How dirty are we getting with this picture?”
Kissa laughed as she raised her phone. “Just stand there and look pretty.”
“That I can do.” He flashed another smile.
“Oh…and lift your shirt a little.”
Catching his bottom lip between his teeth he did as she asked, murmuring about being objectified. She snapped a few photos then stopped. “Perfect. Thank you.”
He held his hand out and she gave him the phone. As he looked through the shots, he said, “You’re right. I am pretty.”
Kissa rolled her eyes. The tapping of his thumbs on her screen drew her attention and she realized he was sending himself a text from her phone. He then suddenly pulled her to him and planted a kiss on her cheek while simultaneously snapping another photo. “That one is just for you.” He handed it back over.
She took it, holding the small device to her chest. “Kissa Malachi.”
His lips twitched. “Fitting.”
Her mouth twisted. “Cute.”
Mr. Universe walked backwards, eyes still on her. “I’ll be calling you, Kissa.”
“You didn’t even tell me your name.”
The smile he gave her sent heat spiraling in her womb. “I’ll tell you on our date.”
“I’m supposed to go out with you and I don’t even know your name?”
“I thought we built some trust here. You trust me out on a date and I trust that my pictures won’t end up on a porn site.”
She burst out laughing. “You’re a little crazy aren’t you?”
He held two fingers and inch apart. “Just a little.” Sending her a wink, he disappeared and she finally felt like she could breathe again.
She stared down at the shot of him with his shirt slightly lifted before sending it to Isabelle.
Isabelle
:
Holy. Fuck. Okay, no food. Bring him home instead.
Kissa
:
Sorry, Izzy. That is mine and mine alone.
Isabelle
:
Selfish!
Maybe she was. And Kissa was completely okay with that because she had the very slight inkling that whatever had seemed to be missing just hours ago, was about to be completely and totally fulfilled.
“Beastly Urges” coming soon!
Thanks for reading!
Table of Contents
Check out a pre-view of the next installment of the Verochka Pride “Beastly Urges” which is simply…