I love Sherrilyn Kenyon's books. She is one of the few authors that got me into the supernatural and paranormal genre. Here is my tribute to her work and her Were-Hunters by using one my favorite pairings! Sorry for it being so long! I had written this several time until some inspiration hit me at work. Please enjoy the steaminess!
Were
She should flee, or at least the common sense in her brain was screaming at her to do so. Levy McGarden tries to be mature about every situation she finds herself in. Still…
How is she supposed to respond to a very hot, half naked guy who has her arms pinned to the backstage wall behind the Howler's sound stage? A very non-human piece of man flesh that very naughtily is licking the skin of her throat and collar bone might she add?! Biting back a moan as he nipped and suckled his way back up to her sensitive ear, Levy thought back to what got her into this very sultry situation.
Lucy Heartfilia, her best friend and fellow booklover, decided Levy needed to peel herself away from her cataloging hours at the local Magnolia library and breathe fresh air with the rest of humanity. What she didn't know was that coming out of paid hermitage equaled skimpy, revealing clothing and a night out at a biker bar called Sanctuary in New Orleans! To say she was kidnapped was putting it a tad understated. It did not help that Lucy's three month old "husband" just happens to be loaded with oodles and oodles of money. So to get a last minute plane ticket on a private jet to any location they wanted should have thrown up all the red flags for Levy had her best friend not threatened to cancel her next subscription of Newbooks magazine. They rewarded five year members and she didn't want to pass up on their upcoming sweepstakes bundle!
So to appease her friend and take a much needed break for work, she hopped on the jet and let Lucy take her shopping around the French Quarter. They had some interesting looking book holders and bookmarks which she snatched up eagerly. It was fun until they started looking at clothes and Lucy's apparel tastes were a tad revealing for Levy but after much cooing, Levy bought a light purple mini skirt, a worn looking corset, a leather jacket and mid-calf black wedge boots with a hairstyle of pulling her wavy hair in a black headband. It just screamed dance club, which is where they kind of went for dinner and a mini concert.
As they sat in a small booth that faced the stage and munching on their edamame appetizers, Levy noticed a fun filled commotion over at the stairs leading up to the stage. A long black haired man wearing black jeans and a white, sleeveless jacket over a bare chest was being playfully pushed by none other than Lucy's husband, Natsu Dragneel. Just a week into their relationship, they explained to Levy what Natsu exactly 'is' out of respect of her sanity.
Watching the pink haired young man tussle and play fight with his stud covered friend, the young woman still didn't quite shake the shock of her friend being a Red Dragon Were Hunter whose base form is a human, making him an Arcadian. He did not show his animal form to very few due to its three story building size and weakness to electricity, but did demonstrate his flashing ability to appear in almost any location at will, lift objects several times his size and prefer very spicy foods that would give any normal person instant heartburn. It also dazzled her the first time she saw him manipulate fire with just the wiggle of his fingers and a playful smirk.
As she watched her friend tilt her head to the side in a telepathic nod to her mate, Natsu instantly turned to look at them and wave them over in hyper, jerky movements.
Laughing, Lucy hopped off her stool and slapped down ten bucks on their table to cover their food. "I guess he wants us over there. Come on, Levs. It will be fun to meet the Howlers, the hot band of this place!"
As they neared the group of leather clad men tall as six foot poles, Natsu hooks a tanned arm around his mate and gave her best friend a toothy, goofy grin that showed off his feral looking canines that he normally keeps hidden from human view. Here in Sanctuary, all types of creatures are on neutral ground and are to respect the ground rules set down by the Peltier and Kattalakis families, the Were owners of the club.
"She convinced ya to come, eh Levs?" he guffawed while throwing his head back. Lucy used the opportunity to nuzzle her cheek against this chest that rewarded her with a content purring sound.
Natsu's other hand is full of a torn looking tank jacket worn by probably the most handsome and gorgeous man Levy ever lied eyes on. It looked like he had put up quite a fight trying to keep Natsu from edging him closer to the stage, as if wanting him to sing with the Howlers. Is he a singer?
Snapping his fangs threateningly, the surly looking man growled low in his throat with such force that Levy though she was listening to a feral lion.
"Dammit Salamander, let go! I aint going up there!"
"C'mon girls! Help me convince this guy to sing. He's wasting his centuries not performing every once a blue moon!" Natsu nagged peevishly, tearing more holes in the already ravaged shirt by elongating his nails into sharpened claws as his black eyes flashed red.
As if sensing the tension between weres, the tall and feral looking co manager Fury Kattalakis stepped from the crowd to stand at Natsu's elbow. He gave them all a stern eye which are the color of gold and amber that contrasted his brown, mahogany and black colored hair pulled to the nape of his powerful, corded neck.
"Down, boys. Let the Howlers sing before my mate and fellow sisters break my heels for not getting the party started sooner. We got anniversaries to celebrate."
Once he left to join a beautiful blonde woman behind the bar, Levy turned back to find her at the end of a narrowed, red eyed stare filled with heat and promise. She had received such a lusty look only a handful of times and feels she can use this to settle matters. If he is anything like Natsu, she should be fine and will treat her safely. If she did have problems, Natsu will sense her fear and come with claws bared.
Inhaling a calming breathe, Levy stepped across the small circle of bodies to lay a hand against the man's clenched hand in a calming gesture.
"Let the band sing the first couple sets. I'll see if I can convince him to go up later. I'm sure he's just jittery in front of people."
Natsu bent over laughing as all four of them stepped to the side to let the band head up to start singing.
"Gajeel, scared? This guy sees that emotion the same as me, something to feed our enemies when tearing them apart."
Looking up at the tall man, Levy gulped her fear down. So his name is Gajeel. Natsu had mentioned him a time or two concerning other Dragon Weres who were considered Katagari Slayers. Something about how their species is related and how these two boys are grudgingly family in a distant way. He continued to stare down at her, his eyes glinting with want as he leaned towards her, brushing her cheeks with his shaggy, layered hair that fell over his broad, muscular shoulders.
"How will you convince me?" he asked, his deep voice flowing over her in a promising caress that made her shiver in anticipation. She wants him with no doubt, but with that voice now she wants him to sing too.
Taking a step backwards to the door that leads backstage, Levy gives the big man what she hopes is a flirty grin. "C-come find out!"
Already he is stalking her every step she takes backwards until she whirls and runs through the door. Making only five steps into the dim lit hallway, Levy bites back a surprised squeal as a strong arm wraps around her shoulders to whirl her around and press her against a wall covered in vinyl and rope.
"Chase is over, mouse. Care to convince me now?" he murmurs against her nose as he nuzzles his way across her cheek.
Inhaling sharply as a shot of lust hit her belly, Levy hissed as he hovers his lips teasingly over hers before she lunges forward to capture his lips with hers. Never has she wanted a man as much as she wants this one, and they have only known each other about five minutes! It is much too fast yet she feels like being with this man feels right.
Breaking the kiss, Levy smiles up at him. "My name is Levy, thanks for asking and I'm just getting started."
He raises a studded brown before she lifts a leg to curl around his corded thigh. "Natsu says you won't force woman, no matter how foul your mood. If you want to continue whatever this is….sing for me out there."
Gajeel stared down at the tiny slip of a woman with the prettiest shade and feel of blue hair he has every felt. She tastes amazing and she is willing to bargain for his voice in the most enticing of ways. He hasn't had a woman in a while and for a while he feared himself broken for not being aroused by any who made a pass at him. Natsu still gripes at him these last couple centuries for being a bachelor but recently has gotten quiet. Later Gajeel will have to wheedle it out of the bastard why he hasn't nagged in a couple months. He suspected devious plottage…
After smirking at his little caught mouse, he paid devious attention to her collar bone and neck before letting go of her wrists to settle his big hands at her waist. Gently raising her up the wall to settle himself between her legs, Gajeel kisses her again, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth which causes them both to moan just as a loud guitar riff vibrates through the wall behind them.
Pulling away, he licks his lips as he thinks out their whole entire evening that involves a bowl of grapes, some whip cream and a very strong bed that will last them all night. Her lips are bruised from their rough kisses and Gajeel wonders if this is too fast for her.
Leaning down to press their foreheads together, the Black Were Dragon Katagari stares hard into her heavy, lidded eyes. Already the beast inside him roars for him to take her in the back of a biker club but he soothes the beast for a few more minutes.
"You know what I am?" he asks in a rough whisper, fighting to keep himself from kissing her senseless.
She nods and arches up to brush their lips together but he keeps the painful distance. He needs to do this for both their sakes.
"So you understand this might be a one night thing?"
That gets her attention and her eyes clear a little from their haze of desire. A few breathes tick by before Levy smiles gently at him. "How can I say this? You already decided to trust me once I touched your hand. We are both adults and have lives to get back to. At least tonight, we'll have this sweet memory to remember each other by."
It sounded very poetic, and true. It is in a Were Hunter's nature to 'hit it and quit it' but Gajeel felt he should make tonight worthwhile for her.
"Fine," he murmurs as he flashes them to his apartment just down the street from Sanctuary. Unlike the rest of his kind, he just went to Sanctuary for the food and occasional company. Pinning the beautiful woman beneath him onto the king size bed with a black and silver bedspread, Gajeel leans down to nip at her bottom lip with his fangs gently.
Panting beneath him, Levy mewls as she nuzzles his chin in the most adoring way that he can't help but chuckle. "Lucy mentioned something about flashing clothes…"
Smirking arrogantly down at her with a hint of fang, Gajeel flashes their clothes away to leave them naked against each other.
Levy's eyes widen in amusement as he kneads the flesh around her waist and thigh. "Oh, so that's what she meant."
"Hush you," Gajeel growls teasingly as he flashes in a bowl of grapes covered in a mountain of cool whip beside them on the bed. "We have a looooong night yet."
Natsu yawns wide as he and his mate sit in a booth of Sanctuary the next very late morning. After a round of much needed sex and a blissful couple hours of sleep, the Dragneel's returned to the bar for a late brunch. Already he is working on his second mug of Fire Whiskey that normal humans cannot consume and Luce is sipping her fancy latte macchiato thing when her cellphone rings.
He tried to ignore Levy's frantic voice that his sensitive ears picked up and clenched the mug tighter. Gajeel better have behaved. He went out on a well-respected limb to get those two together.
"Oh Levy, please stop freaking out. No it's not a scar, yes its permanent but only if you want it to. I'm sure Gajeel will explain if-"
Natsu had taken another gulp of his whiskey when Lucy clutched his hand to keep from laughing.
"Levy, just let Gajeel out of the bathroom and let him explain. No he won't flash out unless you want him to. At this point he will do anything you say. Okay. Good luck. Think of it as Beauty and the Beast. That's your favorite fairy tale, right? Ah huh, alright see you later!"
Turning to her husband, Lucy set her phone back onto the table and wiped away some tears as she burst out laughing. Natsu smirked at her over the rim of his glass and leaned over to nuzzle her ear through a lock of her luscious blonde hair. Catching her hand, he presses their palms together, making the circular, geometric mark line up.
"She freaked at the mating mark, huh?"
"Yes, poor thing!"
Chuckling, he pulled out his own cell that is covered in flame stickers. "Gotta report to Ash and say our thanks. Without his freaky fate powered fortune skills, this couldn't have happened."
Blowing on her latte, Lucy sipped it a few times. "You think Gajeel'll be pissed or grateful once he figures out our meddling?"
Natsu froze with his thumb over the speed dial for Acheron's number, the world's most powerful Atlantean God. "Maybe I can barter with him to alter the dude's memories…"
Until the next one!