Page 23 of Hers to Claim

“Different kind of sexy when they’re shifted,” Pricilla explained as she stood. “Plus the shifter you are attuned with is more concerned with your safety than taking part.”

“I don’t mind if you want to go have some fun.” Mari scratched his chin. “I’ll go back with Cisco.”

Rio wrinkled his feline nose and made a chirping noise of irritation.

Cisco shook his head. “Even I couldn’t make him leave your side without a fight at this point.”

Mari hugged the puma and then rubbed her face into the side of his neck. “Okay, gorgeous. Let’s get out of here.” She let Rio help her to her feet.

She walked toward Cisco slowly, trying not to move in a way that would attract the attention of the predators all around them. Pricilla was already beside him, Samar circling anxiously around their legs with his tail swishing.

Mari reached to take Cisco’s hand when he held his arm out to her. At the same moment, Rio snarled viciously in Samar’s direction. Samar dropped into a crouch and laid his ears back, baring his teeth in a hiss but not moving from Pricilla’s side.

“Take it easy, mi amor,” Cisco said in a soft voice. “He’s no threat to Mari.”

Rio tilted an irritable feline look his way, but didn’t press the issue. Instead, he rubbed against Mari’s legs as if to shoo her from the area.

“Let’s go, both of them will calm down as soon as we get away from all the pheromones that are flying around here.” Cisco led them toward the house with an unhurried stride, glancing over his shoulder occasionally to make sure none of the other shifters were following.

With each step they got away from the impending orgy, the two cats relaxed further. By the time they were at the pool, they might have been out for a stroll rather than retreating. In the distance, she heard one of the shifters yowling a challenge and several of the others answering back. The sounds drove a shiver up her spine.

“Not a moment too soon,” Pricilla said, hugging herself.

“What was that about?” Mari asked as she eased into one of the poolside lounges. “I don’t remember that ever happening before.” Rio jumped up beside her and lay with his side against her legs.

“Kima got riled up and because she’s so dominant she drove the others into a frenzy,” Cisco said. “It has happened before, but not for a while. It was one of the reasons your father sent her to the club.”

Mari had never heard about that. “Were we in danger?”

“I don’t think so, shifters don’t usually involve the non-shifted in their orgies, but Rio and Samar were both feeling very protective.” Cisco glanced back in the direction they had come from when the noise picked up again. “I thought it was wise to remove you from the situation before a fight broke out.”

Pricilla crouched down and took Samar’s broad head into her hands. “I’m not sure why you decided to protect me, but thank you.” She rested her forehead against his when he started to purr.

They practiced magic for the next little while by the pool, until the sun started to set and it was time for Mari to head to her appointment with Dante.

Chapter 8

Mari hadn’t been inthe playroom before, so she took a moment to look around after Cisco led her there, taking in the implements she recognized and especially the ones she didn’t. “This is all new, isn’t it?”

Cisco nodded. “I prioritized getting us some spaces of our own because I didn’t want to use his.”

Getting all of this ready in a few weeks’ time had not been a simple matter. The room was large, comfortable, and well-lit. Warm, dark wood lined the floor and gleamed with magic that she imagined was put there to ease with cleaning. There were three play areas set up, but it seemed the sort of space intended to be changed depending on the need.

A large wooden X sat in the corner farthest away from her, slightly foreboding with heavy chains hanging from the arms. Closer there was a bench that looked strong enough to strap down and hold even someone as strong as Cisco. And finally, the area they stood in had a cozy daybed and several chairs. One long wall held a wide array of implements and tools, some of which she knew the purpose for, but some she did not.

Her magic tickled inside her as she looked them over. “You and Rio don’t play this way, so why did you rush it?”

“I had a feeling that you might want it.” He shrugged. “And Rio and I don’t play like this because of me, not because of him.”

She glanced back at him. “I didn’t know that.”

“He’s willing to experiment with anything, but I’ve been reluctant given everything he’s gone through.” His tone was sad, and more than a bit regretful. “That may change now. I don’t know. We’ll see how this feels.”

The sound of approaching voices had both of them turning toward the door when Rio and Dante entered. Dante’s hair was still wet from a shower, and he’d changed into some loose-fitting pants. His feet and his chest were bare.

When Dante caught Mari eyeing the acres of sculpted muscles he had left on display, he winked. “See something you like?”

Battling the embarrassment that heated her cheeks, she said, “You are exceptionally pretty.”

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