Compelled (Shadow Beast Shifters Book 5)

Behind the red door was the most beautiful set of rooms. The first one we walked into was a sitting area and library with dark timber shelves lining the walls. My lips quivered at the sight of all my favorite stories already filling the shelves. Not to mention thousands of new titles that I hadn’t had a chance to read yet.

Almost all of them were romance and fantasy, with just two other shelves of what I could only assume were Lucien’s favorites because western, action, and thriller didn’t do it for me. No judgement, though, because a man reading was sexy. End of story.

There was a roaring fireplace in our library, a stone and timber hearth surrounding it. Arranged nicely nearby were three green-tartan couches and a thick, white wool rug that I was dying to curl up on and read… among other things.

“I love this room,” I said, spinning on the spot and closing my eyes like I could drink it all in. “It’s perfect.”

“It is,” Lucien said, but he wasn’t staring at the room. He was watching me, hunger in his gaze, and I stopped spinning.

“We need to get dressed,” I reminded him. “We’ll christen this place later.”

With a resigned sigh, he nodded and took my hand so we could continue on.

The next room off the hall was a dining room and kitchen with a white and crimson theme. Everything was open and light. Huge wooden beams lined the ceiling, and red cabinets tied the entire space into the library and the front door.

It was so beautiful, perfect, and unexpected, that I felt speechless for the first few minutes of staring.

“With the dining hall next door, I thought we’d just eat there,” Lucien said, looking around.

“Mera knows I’ve dreamed of a big, amazing kitchen,” I murmured, taking in everything from the huge freestanding oven with its fancy clawed feet to the built-in fridge and dishwasher—appliances exactly like the ones I used to circle in catalogs when I fantasized about building my own house.

“Can you cook?” Lucien asked me.

Tilting my head toward him, I smiled. “Actually, I can. My mom is quite a few generations removed from a Japanese pack, but she took a lot of the handed-down recipes and passed them on to me. One of the few bonding experiences we shared. I haven’t had many chances in the last few years to cook, but this kitchen has everything I need to start again.”

Mera was ensuring the last of my childhood dreams came true, and I could never repay her for that. Between Lucien and Mera, I was probably going to have a heart attack from the joy pounding in my chest.

“Come, let’s see what clothing Mera picked out for you,” Lucien said softly, pulling me along with a gentle tug on my hand.

The next rooms were a bedroom and bathroom that rivaled the beauty and size of Lucien’s back in Valdor. Everything in here was neutral, with light walls and rugs to complement the massive four-poster bed in the center of the room. The wispy white curtains that hung on either side were tied back in a way that reminded me of images I’d seen of hotels in the Caribbean or other beachy paradises.

The bathroom was just as beautiful, with a giant claw-foot tub and shower in the corner, a double sink and mirrors, and thick crimson-and-white striped towels already waiting in the shelves. Opening the drawers, I confirmed what I’d expected: They were fully stocked with makeup, toiletries, and hair accessories.

Mera appeared in the doorway behind me, as if she couldn’t wait a moment longer to see my reaction. As I turned away from the vanity toward her, I just burst into tears. The emotion had been building since I’d stepped into my dream home, and I couldn’t seem to stop as hot trails spilled down my cheeks.

Mera laughed and hurried forward to hug me once more. “I knew you’d love it. I’ve been throwing myself into getting this ready while I panicked about what was happening in Valdor. I wanted you to return to all my love for you.”

“I love you too.” I sobbed harder. “Holy fuck. I think between you and Lucien, you guys broke me.”

She patted my back. “You deserve nothing less. Now go and put that stunning-as-fuck dress on. It’s black, sexy, and your man is going to want to ravish you.” Her voice got harder. “Don’t do it, Lucien. My baby needs her name so I can stop almost accidentally saying it before she’s been blessed. You will wait until after the naming ceremony to love on my girl. You hear me?”

Lucien, thankfully, didn’t lose his alpha shit over that order. “I hear you, Mera Callahan. Now get the hell out so I can dress my mate.”

Mera also didn’t take offense, stepping back and clapping her hands in delight. “Mate. I will never grow tired of hearing that.”

“Me either,” I whispered, still overwhelmed but no longer bawling like a baby.

Not that any of the current babies in our lives appeared to bawl. They were too mature for that.

Mera left us as soon as she was satisfied I was heading into the wardrobe; a room as large as my old apartment in Torma. The walls were lined with shelves and hanging space, and all of it was filled with clothing—along with a full-length shelf of shoes. And it wasn’t only clothing for me; there was a decent section of male items as well.

Mera had thought of everything.

Hanging on a round rack in the center was the dress she’d chosen for me. It was black and corseted, with a shorter front and longer tail behind. The skirt was tulle and sleekly layered. “Holy shit,” I gasped, circling it. “I am not wearing the right underwear for this.”

Lucien’s eyes darkened as his gaze flicked between me and the dress. “Put it on,” he commanded in a low, rough voice, “without underwear.”

Fuck. Fucking fuck.

Deciding to call him on the promise in his voice, I walked toward the hanging rack, losing pieces of clothing with each step until I was completely naked. Feeling powerful and sexy for once, I let my hips sway a touch more than normal.

Up close, the dress was dazzling, with sparkling threads woven through the black material. Pulling it from the hanger, I found that it didn’t have a zipper at the back; instead, there were laces that would loosen or tighten the corset top.

Turning, I found the black-eyed demon of my dreams two feet away. He hadn’t touched me yet, watching me “obey” his command in the way only an alpha could enjoy.

Or a master, in his case.

Same-same, really.

The dress was surprisingly heavy as it slid smoothly down my body. I’d never had curves like Mera, but I claimed C-cup boobs. And this dress, with the corseted waist, pushed them up like I had a perfect set of fakes attached.

Lucien growled, moving toward me, but I held my hand up to stop him. “You can only touch me to lace the back, okay?”

His chest rumbled louder, his eyes the blackest of blacks, but when he stepped around me to lace the back, he was careful not to brush any bare skin. He pulled the corset in firmly, and I groaned, the tightening against my skin corresponding to the tightening of other parts of my body. He’d asked for no underwear, and now my thighs were slick with need, nothing there to slow its path down my legs.

When I was laced in, Lucien found a pair of black boots to go with it, and it was the exact pair I would have chosen myself. I followed him toward the full-length mirror near the shoe shelf, and he knelt before me. “Permission to touch,” he murmured, staring up at me like a golden god of destruction.

My destruction.

Clearing my throat, I nodded. “Permission granted.”

He wrapped his long fingers around my left ankle, lifting that foot so he could slip the boot on. His touch scraped across my skin, and I fought back a moan as the scent of my arousal grew stronger. Lucien repeated the motion with my right foot, and by the time I was standing with an extra four inches of height, my legs were shaking with need.

Lucien’s firm touch traced up the sides of my legs until he was gripping my bare thighs.

“I can smell your arousal,” he rumbled as my trembling worsened.

His hold on me tightened, and he leaned in, breathing deeply.

“Crimson,” I moaned, desperate. “Touch me, dammit.”

With a low chuckle, he pushed forward, his mouth finding my pussy. I cried out, clutching his blond hair to keep myself standing. In the mirror I could see everything as he lifted my dress and his tongue swiped across my slick folds, taking all of me in until I was screaming his name and coming so hard I saw stars. He didn’t stop there, his tongue circling my clit as he drew out the jagged sparks of pleasure hitting me.

Lucien ate me until I was completely fucked, not stopping until he’d cleaned up all the evidence of my orgasms. When he stood, there was no masking the hard length straining against his pants, and I reached for him, but he shook his head. “No, baby. There’s no time for me, but I will always ensure my mate’s needs are satisfied.”

“My mate’s needs must be too,” I growled, my wolf raising her head.

Lucien captured my hand and pressed a lingering kiss to my palm. “You satisfy me just with your existence. I can wait for later. Shadowshine Jr. needs her name.”

Knowing he was right, I still pouted for a moment before resigning myself to letting this one go. There would be all the time later.

Taking another look in the mirror, now that my body wasn’t being destroyed by a vampire with a darkly magical tongue, I decided I loved Mera’s choice of outfit. The dress fit like it had been custom tailored. The dark length brought out the blue-black highlights in my hair, and I decided I needed some makeup to give my face the same dramatic look.

While Lucien was dressing, I entered the bathroom. Probably safer to get out of the room while he was naked anyway, or we’d never leave.

My legs were still a little wobbly, but I managed to prop myself up at the sink and spend the next few minutes applying eyeliner, mascara, some smoky eyeshadow, and a nude lip gloss that accentuated the fullness of my lips.

By the time I was done, Lucien was perched in the doorway looking fucking delicious in a black suit. He’d opted for no tie again, going with an open white dress shirt topped off by a fitted jacket that accentuated his broad shoulders and tapered waist.

“Fuck,” I groaned. “You’re not playing fair.”

He strode over to me, only a head taller now that I wore heels. “I play to win.”

I swallowed hard. “I really need to put underwear on. Otherwise, I’m going to slip on my own fucking arousal.”

Lucien’s lips twitched, and then he was laughing.

I really liked making him laugh.

“I’ll catch you, don’t worry,” he told me.

Bastard.

Since, apparently, I wasn’t going to have underwear on any time soon, I just did my best to think unsexy thoughts. Of course, that meant never looking at my mate, but for Mera and our soon-to-be-named baby girl, I could manage it.

For a few hours anyway.