Taboo Kisses(15)

Their mind manipulation abilities were a spectacular talent to possess, not to mention the obscene amount of cold-hard cash they paid their servants for loyalty.

On the drive to their house, Gabriel had contacted their local gal-pal, Kat, a witch who could fuck you up before she broke a smile. Asking few questions, she’d met them at their home and hexed their abode, locking Sameya within the private boundary. The magic had a one-week time limit. Not very long to convince her to remain with them.

“Congratulations. She’s beautiful.” Kat ran a fingertip along Sameya’s cheek, her gaze locked on his siren. Kat’s leather one-shoulder top flattened her ample breasts. That thing couldn’t be comfortable. Her long brown hair offset her teal eyes. As far as witches went, Kat was the best of her ilk. Highly sought after, she garnered a huge asking price for her spells. They’d been close friends for over three hundred years. She’d even been his and Gabriel’s lover for a short period of time, so he knew how ample her breasts were, and that top did nothing to showcase them.

She spoke a series of words that stung Maximus’s skin and a diamond-encrusted collar appeared in her palm. She pressed it into his hand. The magic coming off the piece tickled his flesh.

“She’s old, and I’m not strong enough to trap her in the house for long. That snapped around her neck”—she indicated the jewelry in his hand—“will keep her bound to you, Maximus, until you’re ready to release her.” Kat tossed Gabriel a woeful expression. “The cat in him won’t allow him to enslave her.” Maximus noticed the muscles tensing in Gabriel’s shoulders. The tiger would enjoy dominating her in the bedroom and chasing her, but his feline’s sense of fair play wouldn’t allow him to take the choice away from her. “Your vampyr, however, will love lording over her.” Just the idea made his cock thicken in his leather pants.

Gabriel scowled. “You’ve done all we asked, and we’re thankful. But we don’t need further complications. Take your necklace and get the fuck out, Kat.”

A slim grin tweaked the corners of her lips. She ignored Gabriel. “The magic activates when you snap the gemstones around her neck. Since Gabriel’s too big a pussy—all puns intended of course—you have the honors, Maximus.”

A displeased grumble rolled from Gabriel as Maximus flipped the necklace over in his palm. There weren’t any discernable clasps.

She must have sensed his confusion, because she said, “Magic holds it together. Place the two ends together, and it’ll lock tight. Only you will be able to remove it, Maximus.”

He should refuse to enslave her. But when Sameya woke, she’d run first chance she received. He couldn’t take the risk of losing her. Not until they had an opportunity to convince her to remain.

“You’re not seriously considering this, are you, Maximus?” Gabriel gaped at the sparkling collar. He spoke funny thanks to his tiger being half out. White striped fur mixed with flesh along his arms and his canines were elongated.

He shouldn’t be, but….“She’ll reject us outright. This will give her time to get to know us.” Maximus held no hope she wouldn’t wake enraged and ready to bolt. And he wouldn’t blame her. Anyone took him down the way he had her he’d want blood, also. The collar would keep her with them.

Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest. “You know this is wrong.”

“I’ll release her in a month.”

“Maximus—”

Maximus bent over Sameya and hooked the necklace on her before Gabriel could talk him out of binding her to him. “I won’t lose her without a fight.” As the words departed his lips, the jewelry adjusted and tightened about Sameya’s throat, turning into a choker. It looked damn good on her. Went a long way in marking her as his property.

“Smart decision, Maximus.”

“Fucking leave, Kat.” Gabriel pointed at the door, but glared at Maximus. “You’ve done enough damage.”

Maximus wasn’t sure to whom the last comment was intended.

“You’ll thank me later, pussy cat.” She blew Gabriel a kiss and twirled a dark brown lock of hair around a finger.

“Give us some time alone, Kat.” No point in taunting the tiger beneath the surface. While the witch was a long-time friend, she pushed his mate’s buttons often.

“Nah…I think I’ll hang around.” Gabriel snarled and their unflustered gal-pal went on. “You might need me, so I’ll be in the game room playing X-box.” She trounced out of the room in her black four-inch, calf-high boots and skinny jeans.