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Chapter One
“A woman without curves is like a pair of jeans without pockets.
You don’t know where to put your hands.”
—Marilyn Monroe
“Chewie! Get back here! I’m not done with you!”
The shrill screech was the first thing that assaulted Ere as he stepped through the towering gates that magically opened on their own.
The second thing that assaulted him physically took him to the ground in a golden-brown blur.
With the breath knocked out of him, spreadeagle in the dirt, and stars flashing behind his eyelids, Ere opened his mouth to speak, but no words emerged. Only the whispery groan of a dying man.
He couldn’t breathe. His chest was crushed. Probably because something the size and weight of an elephant was sitting on top of him.
“Chewie,” a female said with utmost exasperation, “what did I say about staying still? I’ve only finished half. You don’t want to look lopsided, do you?”
The thing squashing Ere like a bug let out a sonorous growl that was part whine, followed by more growling.
“Don’t talk back to me, mister,” the female lectured like an affronted mother hen, “I’m just trying to make you pretty. Don’t you want to be mommy’s pwetty baby? Don’t you, pookie boo?”
Her words turned to coos at the end. She clucked her tongue at the monster truck on top of Ere the way deranged women clucked at kittens or other small, cute, furry creatures that made them all gooey with love inside.
Except, the thing on top of Ere was definitely not a kitten.
Extra-large feet encased in utilitarian combat boots appeared in Ere’s peripheral vision. Oh good, Sorin was here to save him.
“Off.”
The low rumble, imbued with the unquestionable authority that only a King of Beasts could possess, worked beautifully.
The tank shifted off of Ere’s flattened body with a conciliatory whimper. But not before it slobbered Ere’s entire face with one long lick of its disgustingly wet tongue.
Ha! Met your match, haven’t you?Ere would have taunted if he had the voice and strength, and if he wasn’t trying not to gag from the indignity of the lick.
Mess with me, you mess with Sorin. And nobody beats the fucking phoenix, mate!
Strong hands grasped him by the upper arms and hauled him upright. He leaned into the heated fortress that was Sorin’s body as the male wrapped an arm around his waist, carrying most of his weight.
“Shi-mei,” Cloud said dryly from somewhere close by, though Ere was still too dazed to look around, “I see you have acquired a new pet.”
An excited feminine squeal, yet again, assaulted Ere’s eardrums, making his already aching head throb even more viciously.
“Shi-ge! Whatever are you doing here! It’s been ages since you came!”
Ere turned his head just in time to see a small, honey-skinned, scantily-clad woman throw herself at Cloud Drako with complete abandon.
The Elite warrior easily caught her in his arms, despite the exuberance of her leap, for she must have been at least a foot shorter than he was. Than all of the men, in fact.
Cloud gave her a brief hug and patted her back gently while she squeezed him tight with all four limbs. Though it was clearly platonic affection between them, Ere couldn’t help but wince on behalf of Cloud’s Mate.
Aella didn’t like any woman touching her male, and when one was a badass Amazon warrior, other women tended to give Cloud a wide berth whenever Aella was around.
And even when she wasn’t around. It was as if the warrior had Aella’s brand stamped all over his forehead where his celestialchimuused to be.
Clearly, this woman hadn’t gotten the memo yet.
