Witches Be Burned: A Magic & Mayhem Novel (21 page)

“Your timing is horrible, just so you know.” She wiped off the hair stuck to the moisture on her forehead. “But that’s an easy promise. I don’t plan on ever doing that again.”

His hands tightened around her face and he did nothing to hide the surge of possessiveness he, at most times, hid from her. “I don’t need you fighting for me,
Álainn.
Say the words.”

She slowly began to frown. “Vampires were going to attack you—”

“They weren’t, though, were they?” She needed to promise him that what happened tonight would never happen again—he couldn’t live through it again. He couldn’t survive it, bear it. “The vampires were a means to get you away from the crowd so Astoria could draw you into the portal.”

“Maybe that’s true.”

“I understand your desire to protect me. I suffer the same desire for you.” He stared deeply at her, urging her to understand. “I can’t fault you for that, but I can’t have you putting yourself in danger for me. I won’t stand for it.” He hesitated, letting that statement sink in. “Say. The. Words.”

She stared at him, then heaved an exasperated sigh. “Okay, you can fight your battles. I shouldn’t have tried to save you, since I totally fell into Astoria’s trap. Happy?”

The tension that hadn’t been released from his climax slowly began to drain out of him, and he loosened his grip on her face. “We’re stronger in numbers. Don’t ever forget that. There is no reason for you to take all this on yourself.” He softened his voice, needing her to see this his way, because of their unknown future. “I don’t need you to save me unless I’m on the ground nearing death.”

“I know you don’t.”

He arched a brow at her. “Do you?”

Her actions constantly said otherwise. She might be strong—
Christ,
he knew how powerful she was—but she was
not
going to use him to prove her strength. He needed her alive, and he didn’t know how many ways he could possibly explain that.

“Yes, of course I know you can fight.” She pressed her lips against his. He didn’t kiss her back, causing her to move away with raised eyebrows. “There’s more?”

“Yes, you have more to declare.”

“Which would be…?”

He wouldn’t allow the anger he felt during this mission to be forgotten. “That you will
never
share your blood again.”

“Right.
That.
” She lowered her chin, her dirty-blond hair curtaining her face and tickling Kyden’s shoulders before her eyes lifted. “I promise to never share my totally delicious blood again for information.” She moved toward him, but his firm grip on her face stopped her. She heaved an even longer sigh. “More still?”

Raw emotion made his throat thick. “That you’ll never leave me to wonder if you’re dead or alive.” He leaned in closer, his lips nearly touching hers. “I can swear to you I cannot endure that again.”

Happy tears mixed with obvious relief welled in her eyes. Some promises might be harder to keep than others, but, as he witnessed in the gentleness in her expression, this promise was all too easy. Perhaps for the first time ever, she realized her life was more valuable than her need to prove herself and protect others.

He hoped that was true.

She brushed her lips ever so lightly over his. “I promise to never get lost again.”

For my husband, who becomes Super Husband when I’ve got my nose in my laptop because of a deadline. I love you.

Sue Grimshaw and the entire Random House/Loveswept family, thank you for all that you do! I’m so very blessed to work with such a fabulous team.

Kerry Vail, thanks for your kick-ass input.

Claimed

Bared

Desired

Freed

Tamed

Commanded
(coming soon)

Witches Be Burned

Warlocks Be Hexed
(coming soon)

PHOTO
:
PAIGE
RICHARDSON

S
TACEY
K
ENNEDY
is the
USA Today
bestselling author of the Club Sin series. Growing up, Stacey wandered the path less traveled, and that path most often led to love. She has always broken rules, and she continues to feed off emotion—always staying true to her heart. Those traits are now the bones of her stories. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who puts any of the heroes in her books to shame, and their two young children. If she’s not on mom duty or plugging away at a new story, you’ll find Stacey camping in the summer, hibernating in the winter, and obsessing over
Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones,
and
Outlander.

www.staceykennedy.com

Facebook.com/AuthorStaceyKennedy

@Stacey_Kennedy

May flowers are abloom and so are our fabulous Loveswept romances—beautiful covers and stories to fill your eReaders to the brim!

New this month is
New York Times
bestselling author Tracy Wolff’s next Ethan Frost installment,
Exposed
—the more time I can spend with Chloe and Ethan the more “happy-happy-happy” I am
.
Next up is a new storyteller we’ve added to our list, Gina Gordon, and her risqué love affair,
Rush,
where a bad boy shows a straitlaced law student how to slow down and savor the good things. And what happens when you start falling for your worst enemy?
New York Times
bestselling author Missy Johnson and debut author Ashley Suzanne tell you all about it in
Breaking Noah.
The final installment of The Devil’s Den dancers by Violetta Rand also comes out this month, so look for
Sin
. The third book in Cecy Robson’s Shattered Past series
Once Pure,
will be on sale as well, where true love lands a knockout punch
.

Western contemporary fans will be thrilled to know
USA Today
bestselling author Tina Leonard’s
Last of the Red-Hot Riders
will be available, featuring the toughest rodeo rider in Hell, Texas.

And, PNR fans, never fear—
Witches Be Burned,
A Magic & Mayhem novel releases from
USA Today
bestselling author Stacey Kennedy, where a rookie guardian sworn to combat the undead risks life and love in a world of violence, witchcraft, and seduction.

New Adult audiences will enjoy Amber Hart’s
Captured by You,
the sequel to
Until You Find Me,
in which Raven and Jospin must fight for each other in a world where love is never safe—and power is deadly.

Meet new friends this month with Loveswept books—stories that invite you on fabulous journeys with some pretty amazing characters. Who knows, you may find a new book boyfriend, too!

Until next month ~Happy Romance!

Gina Wachtel

Associate Publisher

Available from Loveswept

Whistles and applause echoed through the exclusive BDSM dungeon Club Sin. Submissive Kenzie Hart smiled and leaned against the pole off to the side of the stage, the scent of sex and sweat sweeping through her nostrils. There was nowhere in the world she’d rather be than right there, surrounded by leather and lust.

Club Sin had been her kinky salvation since the dungeon opened more than four years ago. She knew for a while she needed the sexier side of life. And she sure as heck relished the Dominant men who called Club Sin home. These men could—and often did—rock her world.

Outside of the club, she was a bookworm and simple in nature, not wanting for much. Inside the walls of the dungeon, she was Club Sin’s brat—a submissive who liked to push the boundaries between pleasure and pain, and who was known to give Dominants a difficult time. But that truly wasn’t her—she had worked hard to create the new identity for herself, because in her mind she wanted to be different from who she was in reality.

Club Sin was the fantasy that aroused her mind, body, and soul.

A soul that she’d known for a long time had been battered by a painful past.

Years ago, she had discovered a way to cope, a way to reach toward happiness, and that came in the form of attending Club Sin. The welts and bruises left on her body after an intense scene overshadowed the demons in her heart that were always right on the surface, ready to threaten to send her spiraling into a deep depression.

She scanned the members of Club Sin, glad that she had even the most observant Doms fooled. Her chin rose with pride, as the act she put on in the club made living outside these walls easier. It made her believe she was that strong woman, at least for a little while.

Movement stirred around her as she was surrounded by submissives in lingerie and Dominants commanding the space. The exclusive dungeon, known for its forbidden desire, with some of Vegas’s finest Doms, was in full attendance tonight. Some were new members. Others, like Kenzie, had belonged since Club Sin’s opening.

The dungeon’s owner, Dmitri Pratt, had taken pity on her at their old club, Chains. If I don’t take you with me, you’re going to end up in trouble, he had told her. Not that Kenzie agreed with him; she could handle herself and proved that time and time again, but she hadn’t argued, either. She loved playing with experienced Doms, and Club Sin had them in spades.

The soft music drifted through the romantically lit room, setting the sensual mood. Even though Club Sin was called a dungeon, the only dungeonlike thing about the space was the stone walls. Black sofas were situated throughout the main room, with fancy chandeliers hanging above them. To a vanilla crowd, the room would appear to be a classy lounge, but the BDSM equipment set this room apart from anything so casual.

Someone laughing drew her back into the moment. She turned toward the stage, focusing on the newest submissive to Club Sin, Ella Snow. Kenzie was surprised Ella still possessed the ability to stand. Her Dom, Club Sin Master Kyler Morgan, had sure as hell claimed her as his, putting her through an intense scene only moments ago.

Tall, powerful, and devilishly handsome, Master Kyler approached Ella in slow strides, savoring the moment. The crowd began to whisper; the bodies that were shifting in movement went still. The light above Kyler sparkled off the diamonds in his hand, and rapid shock fluttered through Kenzie. He doesn’t waste any time collaring his woman, does he?

Kenzie had been in the BDSM lifestyle since she was twenty-one, and she’d never been collared. Ella and Kyler had known each other for only a month, if that, and this symbol was held as strong as a wedding vow to those in Club Sin. Though Kenzie understood why Kyler acted so hastily—Ella was an incredible woman.

She was one of those women who were naturally beautiful, with long blond hair and baby- blue eyes—Kenzie figured Kyler was making sure no other Doms could touch her. And since Kenzie had known Kyler for more than four years, she knew he waited for nothing; he simply took it. She admired and understood that because she did the same.

Kenzie hadn’t waited around for a better life, she had created one for herself.

Kyler drew closer to Ella, and Kenzie’s heart warmed for her friends. While she couldn’t help but be happy for them, collaring wasn’t for her. Seriously, being attached? No, thank you. Wild sex and hot BDSM kept her interested. The challenge of new Doms, while pushing against their mastery, is what she lived for—it’s what kept her sane.

Throughout the years while exploring the BDSM lifestyle, she’d learned that nudging a Dom only made him intensify a scene. Not out of anger or punishment. Doms had too much control for that. It pushed against their authority. That gave Kenzie exactly what she needed, a higher intensity of play.

Pain skirting the edge of pleasure made her forget her old self, past heartbreaks, and everything in between. One intense scene erased her weakness, giving her strength for the workweek, until she could return to Club Sin the following weekend for her next fix.

The crowd went silent as Kyler settled in front of Ella and asked, “Will you kneel for me and wear my collar, Ella, as a symbol of my ownership and of our love?”

Ella smiled and gracefully knelt before him. “I will wear it proudly for all of my days, sir.”

Kyler’s eyes softened in a way Kenzie had never seen from him as he fastened the diamond choker around Ella’s neck. Then he became more serious, tucking a finger under her chin. “You now belong to me.”

A tear slid down Ella’s pinkened cheeks. “Yes, I am yours, sir.”

The crowd shifted on their feet in anticipation as Kyler offered his hand and Ella rose. He took one step toward her, sliding his hands around her face and taking her into a kiss that Kenzie thought was sweet. Intimate. Not at all dominant. Feeling like Cupid had done his work here, she clapped along with the crowd. Until Kyler deepened the kiss, and then Kenzie’s stomach roiled. She’d never been kissed with such devotion. Then again, how could anyone become invested in her when she never let anyone close enough to form a real relationship?

Impossible.

Cupid could keep his cute ass away from her. Lust fulfilled her, because in her mind, this ultimately kept her in control of her destiny and kept her moving forward. Every submissive chose what she wanted out of the lifestyle, and Kenzie wanted casual Doms who could deliver intense scenes. She certainly didn’t want a Dom she belonged to in every sense of the word. For if she went there, her façade would be exposed. That, she couldn’t allow. She didn’t want to drown in the past. She wanted to live in the future.

A future where she was someone different. Someone stronger. Someone happier.

Her heart, her secrets, her soul all belonged to her.

“How is Ms. Kenzie tonight?”

She glanced sideways and smiled at Club Sin Master Aidan Knight. His shadowy gray eyes were kind and commanding, reflecting what existed in all the Club Sin Masters—a confidence that was alluring and that Kenzie often wanted to steal. “Doing well, sir, though I’m carefully dodging Cupid’s arrows.” At Aidan’s low chuckle, she added, “A girl has to be careful of late, but I’m good at swatting them away.”

The stony expression he typically wore softened. “I do wonder if any Dom here will ever win that heart of yours.”

She folded her arms, scrunching her nose. “It can only be won if it were available to win, which it is not—I have no interest in that type of relationship.”

“Yes, I remember,” he replied firmly, yet only amusement shone in his eyes. “But you never know.”

Kenzie’s smile grew. This was what she loved. Even if she tested the Doms from time to time, she always felt appreciated and liked by them. They were good friends to her; she’d always believed that. She liked how easygoing they were around her. The distance she had wanted so desperately in the past she had achieved in Club Sin.

Cora, Aidan’s new wife, stepped in next to him. Her long, dark hair draped her shoulder and her ocean-blue eyes all but sparkled as she smiled up to her husband. He, of course, wrapped an arm around her, holding her tight.

Kenzie groaned. “Okay. All this love is a little too much for me tonight; this is Club Sin, not Club Cupid.”

“Oh, please,” Cora said and snickered. “Better to be in love than to be referred to as the crazy book lady. If you were more open-minded, you might find a Dom who has a collar that fits you, too.”

“There is nothing wrong with being in love with books,” Kenzie defended. Books were fantasy. They were a way to escape to another world and be another person for a little while, just as Club Sin was.

Cora winked. “So says the crazy book lady.”

Master Aidan’s gaze connected with something over Kenzie’s shoulder, amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes. “A crazy book lady who happens to also be a feisty submissive. Be good tonight.”

Cora all but bounced next to him. “Let’s go grab a seat. I wanna be front row for this show.”

Before Kenzie could figure out what they were going on about, a low voice rumbled behind her. “It’s time to play, troublemaker.”

Kenzie stiffened in that instant. Warm breath trailed over the back of her neck, and shaking it off, she turned to the newest Club Sin Dom, Porter Marshall. He stood right in her space, grinning down at her with his charming and most delicious smile.

She had to angle her head to meet his dark hazel eyes. His tall stature dwarfed her five-foot-five height. Dressed in cargo pants and a black T-shirt, Porter’s beefy, muscular physique filled out his clothing. She supposed private investigators needed to stay in shape, because Porter’s body put most male models to shame. A strand of his sandy-colored hair hung over his brow, and his chin was square, cheekbones defined, lips sculpted to the purest perfection. Porter, so masculine and powerful, pressed all her on buttons.

One brow lifted. “Do you plan on answering me?”

Kenzie blinked. Damn, I’m ogling him. She jerked away, realizing that Cora and Aidan had taken a seat on the couch a few feet away. Her mouth went dry and insides quivered, and she wasn’t sure what it was about Porter that knocked her flat on her ass. She wondered if maybe it was because Porter was a new Dom to her, and tonight would be their first scene together. Whatever it was, the man commanded her mind whenever he was near. He also awakened her body, as if his mere presence demanded it.

Hell, she had come to discover that he electrified the space around him. Whenever he entered a room, no one else existed. She didn’t know if other people noticed that or if it was her alone. Feeling a tad thrown off by his effect on her, she lifted her chin, giving him her sassiest smile. “Yes. Let’s play.”

Porter hrmphed and then gripped her jaw, angling her chin down. She held her breath, refusing to inhale his delectable woodsy scent as he leaned in. “Is that how we’re going to play this?”

She held his stare, not wanting to show how uneasy he made her. This Dom possessed a power that Kenzie hadn’t experienced before with a Club Sin Dom or even in Chains. He made her unsure in her steps, and that never happened to her. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

His bedroom eyes twinkled at her. “Lifting your chin at your Dom. Really, Kenzie?” His arched brow rose higher. “Are you that inexperienced? Should I treat you like a newbie when we play?”

One month, that’s how long she’d been assigned to be Porter’s submissive, and tonight was day one. It wasn’t typical for that kind of situation to happen in Club Sin, but these were unusual circumstances. Porter had been offered the chance to obtain Club Sin Master status, which all Doms sought. It was a prestigious role, given only to the most experienced Doms who helped Dmitri monitor and teach the Club Sin members. Younger Doms respected the Club Sin Masters, and all the submissives wanted to play with the Masters. The title was a great honor.

Since Porter had been a member of Club Sin for only a couple months, Dmitri decided that Porter needed to prove himself to their members. That’s where Kenzie came into play—she would be Porter’s submissive for one month as a test for him. She knew the reason Dmitri picked her. Most Doms lost patience with her. If Porter could withstand a month playing only with her, that said a lot about his skill.

She thought that should insult her, but it didn’t. Bottom line: It worked for her, because it meant that they all saw her exactly as she wanted them to. A brat. She didn’t push against Doms because she wanted to be a Dominant, nor was she a switch—a person who enjoyed playing both roles. She was most definitely a submissive. She liked receiving pleasure and pain, not giving it, as a Dominatrix would. All the same, she nearly shuddered at the thought of Porter being careful with her like he would be with a new submissive. “Don’t treat me like a newbie,” she said sternly.

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t treat me like a newbie, what?”

“Don’t treat me like a newbie, sir.”

His grip tightened on her chin. He was too intense. Too focused. Unease swept through her as he asked, “So what is that gesture, then? When you lift your chin, are you showing defiance because you want to play games with me?”

She swallowed, not liking the scrutiny he put her under. Never, not once, had a Dom called her out on her behavior. They simply punished it, which was exactly how she liked it. It kept her at a safe distance. But she also wanted Porter in a bad way. To have this Dom’s hands on her body: Yes, please. The arrangement between them gave her the chance to get what she wanted…him, especially considering he hadn’t yet asked her to scene with him in the couple months he’d been at Club Sin. “No, sir, I don’t want to play games.”

“Then why do you make such newbie mistakes? Is it on purpose?”

To challenge you.

She ignored her thought and shrugged. “Habit, sir.”

A wicked smile slowly crossed his face and he took the final step to close the distance between them, making the air thicken. His strong body pressed against hers, and her sex moistened as quickly as she drew in a deep breath. What special thing this man had that others didn’t, she didn’t know, but one look, one simple touch, made her burn.