Whisper, Book 1
by Kate Hill
Changeling Press
eBook ISBN: 05548-01777
The sexy owner of Dragon's Bar has supernatural secrets of his own. As an outcast sexshifter female who has chosen to live as a human male, Cal has found a home in Whisper. He knows Max is his soulmate but can these two unlikely partners learn to trust each other completely?
Chapter One
Welcome to Whisper. Established 1650.
Max read the sign through the window of the bus as it glided into the quaint little town on the New England seacoast. The vehicle stopped and just as she stepped out, the rain started.
Drawing a deep breath, Max smiled.
People outdoors in Whisper square hurried along the sidewalks or ran across the streets, eager to get out of the springtime downpour on a Friday night. Unlike the others, Max strode slowly without burying herself deeper in her cotton shirt and without the protection of an umbrella.
Max loved rain, especially warm rain. It soothed yet invigorated her and made her feel hopeful and clean, as if anything could happen. It hadn’t rained since she’d left home two months ago, so she took this downpour as a good sign.
As much as she enjoyed the weather, she was now thoroughly soaked, not to mention thirsty and hungry. She noticed a restaurant across the street, but it looked pricy. Until she found a job, she was on a tight budget, living on her savings account. Also the people walking in and out of the restaurant were dressed up. Something told her jeans, scuffed boots and a cotton shirt and tank so drenched that she looked naked wouldn’t be appropriate.
She walked a bit farther down the sidewalk and paused in front of a more welcoming establishment. Through the glass window of a pub, she noted the customers relaxing at the bar, booths and tables. She glanced at the menu taped to the window and saw a decent variety of food for reasonable prices. The name above the door read Dragon’s Bar.
Why not? The placed looked friendly enough.
Max stepped in and a couple of people glanced at her, then returned to their food and drinks. She walked to the bar where an elderly gentleman and two younger men, obviously a couple by the way they never stopped touching, sat drinking beer. Her gaze shifted to the tall, bald bartender who stood with his back to her as he arranged clean glasses on a shelf. He wore a black vest with a green and purple fire-breathing dragon embroidered on the back. Muscles rippled in his powerful shoulders and arms.
Max squinted, straining to see his face in the mirrored wall behind the bar. She had expected heavy features and maybe even a scar or two, but his face was angular with a longish, well-shaped nose. A dark goatee outlined his chiseled lips and long lashes rimmed his dark, wide set eyes. Max’s heart skipped a beat when his gaze locked with hers in the mirror. A faint smile flickered across his lips before he turned to her.
“Hey,” he said, his voice a bit raspy. “What can I get you?”
“Greyhound please,” she said. “And can I get something to eat?”
“Sure. Need a menu?”
“Read the one on the door. The tomato melt sandwich sounds good.”
The bartender winked, his lips twitching upward in another faint smile before he glanced away from Max and gestured for a waitress. A young woman in jeans and a T-shirt approached and he gave her Max’s order.
“You’re new around here,” he said.
“Yeah. Just got here tonight.”
“Planning to stay a while or are you just passing through?”
Max held his gaze, wondering if he was simply making conversation or if he was possibly interested in her. It had been a while since she’d been with someone and her magic cried out for sexual energy. Back home she’d needed to keep her sex life secret. Though magical, the rest of her family didn’t approve of her methods of honing her gifts. Having someone in the family whose sexuality was so closely tied to her magic embarrassed them.
What frustrated her most of all was that it enabled her to predict for others what she’d never have for herself -- a lifetime partner. Despite her hunger for sexual energy, she’d learned to let herself starve for as long as possible. When she hungered, her ability to foresee people on the verge of falling in love faded. Lately she just didn’t want to know.
The bartender placed the drink in front of her and she took a long sip, then closed her eyes momentarily, as if that gesture could shut out her memories. She couldn’t help what she was and she was tired of apologizing for it.
“You okay?” asked the bartender.
Again she held his gaze. Forcing a smile, she said, “Sure. I’m Max.”
He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to figure her out. Good luck. Her family didn’t understand her and they’d known her all her life. Some guy she’d just met, who probably had no clue that magic even existed, didn’t have a chance.
“Cal.” He offered her his hand and she shook it. His hand was warm and his grip firm. He held it for slightly longer than necessary and their gazes locked.
So it seemed he had some interest after all. Good for her, but maybe not for him, depending on what he wanted.
Most five-foot-two ladies would be risking their safety by contemplating a sexual interlude with a perfect stranger roughly twice their size. However most ladies didn’t work magic by absorbing sexual energy. When it came to lovemaking, Max’s partners flirted with danger.
“Well, Max, you haven’t answered my question. Are you just visiting?”
“Maybe. I might stick around if I can find a job.”
He shrugged and folded his arms across his gorgeous chest. “What kind of job? I know a lot of people in town. Maybe I can help you find something.”
“I’ll give just about anything a try. I’m looking for something temporary because once I get settled I’d like to continue my chosen career.”
“Which is?”
“I’m a massage therapist, but I need to get certified in this state. I’ve lived in California all my life.”
“What made you come here?”
“Just wanted a change.” That much was true enough.
“Problems?”
She chuckled. “Who doesn’t have problems, right?”
“True dat.” He picked up a towel and wiped a few droplets of water off the polished bar top. “I’m looking for a waitress if you’re interested.”
Max nodded. Everything seemed to be going well. Even though her magic was weak at the moment, she sensed Whisper was the place for her. Though everything about it contradicted what she believed necessary to integrate with non-magical people, her intuition told her to give this place a try. The city was less than an hour away, so she could go there to fill her magical needs without sleeping her way through the entire town of Whisper. That sort of behavior had driven her away from home. Too many partners and not enough commitment.
Yet she couldn’t bind herself to one person. No mere human could feed her sexual needs. Without meaning to, she’d kill them. Exhaust them. Drain them of their life force.
Max might be selfish and lacking in control, as her family accused, but she was neither a bitch nor a killer. She was tired of hiding and she’d done a lousy job of trying. Though she’d tried to disguise her affairs, traveling to different cities to seek out partners, her family had found out. Her meddling aunt Katrina was responsible. The woman used her powers of astral projection to spy not only on Max but on others as well. Why did the family explain away Katrina’s invasions of privacy but consider Max out of control?
It didn’t matter anymore. She’d moved from the west coast to the east coast and even Aunt Katrina’s magic didn’t stretch that far, or if it did Max no longer cared.
Oh, she kept in touch with her parents and sister. They even seemed happy when she called, but Max didn’t doubt they were even more pleased that she’d decided to move away.
“Are you interested in the job?” Cal asked.
“I am. When do you want me to start?”
“Tomorrow night. We can get the paperwork done after you eat, if you want.”
“Sounds good.”
The waitress returned with Max’s sandwich and Cal said, “Amber, this is Max. She’s going to start here tomorrow.”
Amber raised an eyebrow, and Max didn’t quite understand the expression on her face.
Then Amber smiled and said, “Cool, we can use the help. Does this mean I might get a weekend off once in a while?”
“Maybe. Now get back to work,” Cal said, his easy grin belying his clipped tone.
“Are you hearing this? He’s a slave driver,” Amber teased before she walked away to take an order.
Several people strolled in and while Max ate, she watched Cal tend bar, engaging in conversation with several men and women. At first she was so consumed by her attraction to the sexy bartender that she scarcely noticed anyone else. Then she became aware of people glancing at her from the corner of their eye. Across the room, Amber stood talking to two couples sharing a booth. All four had black hair and piercing green eyes. When they noticed Max watching them, they averted their gazes.
“Amber!” Cal said, his dark eyes fixed on her. He jerked his head toward the swinging door leading to the kitchen. Looking uncomfortable, Amber moved away from the table.
For the first time Max felt uneasy. Maybe she shouldn’t take the job here after all. Other places in town might be hiring.
“Can I get you something else?” Cal asked.
“Just the check,” Max said.
Cal rang up her sale and she left the change on the counter for Amber.
“Hang on a sec and I’ll take you in the office so we can get the paperwork out of the way,” Cal said.
Max nearly told him to forget it, but her magic burned deep inside, compelling her to stay.
Moments later, she followed the gorgeous bartender through a door leading to a surprisingly comfortable office.
It had a black carpet and pale green walls. An oak desk with a large chair with black leather cushions stood toward the back of the room. Two matching chairs faced the desk. A painting of a tropical jungle filled an entire wall.
Cal gestured for her to take a seat, then he settled into the chair behind his desk. He turned on his laptop computer and began the hiring process. Max hadn’t found a place to stay yet, so she had her identification and social security card on her.
While she filled out a few forms, she felt Cal’s gaze on her. The fresh, citrus scent of his cologne filled the room, and she tried not to squirm in her chair. Starved for a charge, her magic created an ache deep inside her. She felt it with every breath and heartbeat. Her pussy and clit tingled. Max tried to focus, to keep her thoughts off the bartender’s full lips and gorgeous body, but it was so hard.
What was wrong with her? Many times she’d been hungrier than this and hadn’t felt as out of control.
With a trembling hand, she passed the papers to Cal who looked them over.
“No permanent address?” he asked.
“I just got here,” she explained. “I haven’t even looked for a motel yet. Can you recommend someplace?”
He leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully, a lustful look in his dark eyes. This guy was playing with fire and he didn’t even know it.
“What’s your story, Maxine Ashley Barone? Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“Not unless you call falling out with my family trouble.”
Cal’s cheek twitched. He rubbed a hand over his smooth scalp. “I understand that well enough. My family and I have never seen eye to eye, that’s for sure.”
Strangely his confession stirred her interest. Lately Max had been too involved in her own problems to consider anyone else. Why did Cal have to rouse her curiosity? This man confused her. She’d learned not to get close to people. Her magic required her to feed on their sexual energy, like a vampire, and like her blood drinking counterpart, she could destroy her lovers if she took too much from their fragile human bodies. If she used people briefly for sex, she couldn’t form a relationship, but if she formed a relationship, she’d probably end up killing her mate.
With all the magic in her family tree, why did she have to inherit the worst possible kind? Perhaps that was an exaggeration, but to a woman being cursed to spend her life emotionally lonely, it sometimes seemed like the worst.
“Sorry to hear that,” Max said.
Cal nodded slowly. He rose and gestured toward the door. “I’d better get back to the bar.”
Max stood and slung her bag over her shoulder. She paused in front of the painting. “I like this.”
“Thanks. It’s mine.”
Raising an eyebrow she turned to him. “You’re talented.”
“I don’t know about that, but painting helps me relax.” He stood so close behind her that she felt the warmth of his body and the buzz of his sexual energy. She aroused him too. She sensed it.
A moment later, he confirmed her suspicions by brushing her hair aside and whispering in her ear, “Why are you really here, Max?”
She closed her eyes and leaned toward him. Cal’s hand settled on her waist. Some women might be afraid of their big, leather-clad, soon-to-be boss making a move on them. Others might try to sue him for sexual harassment.
Did he do this to all his staff members? Pressure them for sex? Is that why Amber had seemed so uneasy when she’d heard Cal had hired her?
If that was the kind of game he played, then he deserved the consequences of messing with a woman whose pussy could literally pleasure him to death.
“Like I said,. I want a new start.” She turned and faced him, moistening her lips.
His hands settled on her waist, warming her. She slid her arms around his neck and cupped the back of his smooth head. He had a strong neck. She liked that.
“Are you coming on to me?” she whispered against his lips.
“If you want me to.”
“And if I say no, am I fired before I start?”
“Of course not.”
Whether she believed him or not no longer mattered. Her hunger flared. If she didn’t fuck right now, she’d have to find someone else. Why look for another victim when this guy was obviously willing?
“I’ve never seen a woman look this hot,” he admitted, staring at her. “Your eyes are almost glowing. They look amazing.”
“I was thinking the same thing about you,” she whispered, running her hands over his chest.
His mouth covered hers in a passionate kiss. He tasted like mint, felt hot and hard and carried the scent of fresh, manly cologne.
Max closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of his body against hers. She opened her mouth to his tongue and hers met it, matching him in hunger.
When the kiss broke, she breathed, “Do you have condoms? Never mind. I’ve got ‘em.” She tugged away from him and unzipped her backpack. She removed a condom but didn’t bother with lube. He turned her on so much that she was already soaked and ready for him.
Even with her magical hunger, she usually took more time than this to warm up, but she’d never met anyone like Cal.
She tore open the condom and turned to where he sat on the edge of his desk, his jeans unzipped and his cock in his hand. His fist curled around it and he stroked, his thumb intermittently rubbing the tip. While he didn’t have a huge penis, it was fascinating. She loved its shape and its rosy color. The urge to suck it almost overcame her. She walked to him and he let her brush his hands away and roll on the condom.
“Let me see you,” he said in a husky voice and slid off her rain-dampened shirt. Her nipples stood out hard behind her tank and he rubbed them with his thumbs.
Desire tore through her. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back. His warm, slightly moist lips roamed over her neck, covering it with teasing little kisses while he cupped and kneaded her breasts.
Max’s hips rolled forward and she stepped nearer, wrapping her arms around him. She ground her pelvis against his stiff cock.
He reached down and unzipped her to slide his hand over her soft mound covered by satiny underwear. He circled her clit and the friction through the fabric nearly sent her into orgasm.
“Oh damn,” she breathed.
“You want it bad, don’t you?” he said close to her ear, then dipped his tongue into it.
Max trembled and clung to him, her fingers biting into his hard muscles. “Hell yeah.”
“Me too.”
Grasping his shoulders, she stared into his eyes. “Fuck me, Cal.”
He wrapped her hair around his hand and gently tugged her head back. He licked and kissed her throat and she quivered, her ass tightening and her lower belly clenching.
“How do you want it, baby?”
“Any way you want to give it.”
Cal pushed himself off the desk. He released her hair. Grasping her upper arm, he positioned her so that she faced the desk. Max braced her hands on it and closed her eyes while Cal pulled down her jeans and panties. She quickly stepped out of them and kicked them aside. Cal’s leg slid between hers. Spreading her thighs wide, she leaned forward even more, her heart pounding and her entire body buzzing. Her clit was so swollen and sensitive that if he touched it once she might go off.
Cal grasped her hips, holding her steady as he eased the tip of his cock into her. He thrust over and over. One hand reached around to fondle her breasts and she moaned.
Flooded by magic, she gasped and thrust her ass against him. Her pussy clamped around his cock, drawing him in deeper. She heard his heart pounding almost in time with hers, and she felt his energy flowing into her.
“You’re something else, Max,” he breathed.
He was something else. By now most guys had come and were drifting into a mindless stupor, drained by her magic.
Cal’s hand moved from her breast, down her belly and found her clit. He rubbed it and she cried out. Uncontrollable pleasure ripped through her and she came harder than she ever had in her life, so hard that she must have zoned out for a while. She didn’t even remember if he came or not.
He must have.
“You all right?” Cal asked after a moment. His hands gently caressed her back and he kissed her nape.
All right? She was absolutely fabulous!
Her magic tingled, invigorating her body and soul.
If she felt this good, if she’d taken that much from him, how was he still standing let alone soothing her with words and touches?
She turned, a quizzical expression on her face. “Are you okay?”
“Never better.” He grinned. Already he’d discarded the condom, pulled up his jeans and zipped them.
“I’m going to the john. Take your time getting dressed. Be back in a few.” He brushed her mouth with a kiss. Their gazes met and the warmth in his eyes surprised her. She hadn’t expected emotion from a quickie in the boss’s office.
Cal left, closing the door behind him, and Max dressed quickly.
Despite how great she felt, she wondered about a few things, mainly how Cal seemed impervious to her power-sucking magic. The man must have the constitution of a rhino.
A short time later, he tapped on the door then stepped inside. “You said you needed a place to stay,” Cal said. “A friend of mine has an inn right here in town. I can take you to meet her. She’ll give you a good rate.”
Max shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”
Cal left Amber in charge of the bar while they walked to the inn.
Max inhaled deeply, trying to ignore the wonderful sensations bombarding her since Cal had fulfilled her sexually and magically. She’d almost forgotten how good it felt. Now that he’d fed her addiction, keeping it under control would be difficult, yet maybe she wouldn’t have to. If she could settle in Whisper, where no one knew about her past and her gifts, maybe she could be happy after all.
On the way they passed a small park partially shadowed by a large stone building. Whispering Wolf Library was engraved over the door. Through a glass picture window, Max noticed a life sized bronze statue of a man in historical dress. People sat at tables surrounding the statue, reading books and periodicals. Nearby, two librarians worked at computers stationed behind the round reception counter.
Her gaze turned back to the statue and she shook her head slightly. Maybe she’d let herself starve too long this time because she tingled all over, her magic thrumming even stronger inside her. Usually she felt that way around someone on the verge of meeting their soulmate. An inanimate statue couldn’t fall in love. Perhaps her magic was directed at one of the humans? No, it was definitely the statue. Very strange.
She sighed. Once she was settled, she needed to focus on her gift. Tonight proved that she wasn’t prepared, or perhaps able, to give it up. Running wasn’t the answer. She needed to find a place to belong.
Max turned away from the library to watch a train whoosh over the bridge in the distance. “It’s funny, but you can almost smell the seashore.”
“You can. We’re only a few miles from the beach. Whisper is a really nice town. You’ll like it here, except maybe for the winters, LA Lady.”
He cast her a playful look that made her stomach tighten. He made her feel giddy, an unusual but welcome sensation. Sometimes Max felt jaded. The way she lived her life, how could she not? Yet Cal stirred something in her she hadn’t even known existed.
“Here we are,” Cal said.
They paused in front of a big white house with dark shutters. Despite its age, the place was well kept, the lawn neatly trimmed and the bushes and flowers healthy and carefully weeded. A hand painted sign on the lawn read Crawford Inn. Established 1774.
“This town has a lot of history,” she said, recalling various sights, such as the library and the sign she’d seen when the bus had entered town.
“You better believe it.” Cal tapped on the door so softly that Max doubted anyone inside could hear.
Seconds later the door opened and a tall, dark-haired woman with piercing green eyes greeted them. Something about her seemed so familiar, then Max recalled the foursome seated at the booth at Dragon’s Bar. They had to be related.
Cal introduce Max to the woman called Marka who stared at her with intense eyes, a faint smile on her lips.
“Yes I have a room. Please come in, Max. Cal, would you like a cup of tea?”
“No. I need to get back to the bar. See you tomorrow.” Cal cupped the back of Max’s head and brushed her mouth with a kiss. Though quick, it was startlingly possessive. A little thrill shot through Max followed by apprehension. Sexually she was accustomed to taking the lead. She made the rules. She dominated the bedroom.
At least she had, but that was before Cal.
The man fascinated her on so many levels and it frightened her. For the first time in her life, she knew that keeping her body separate from her feelings would be difficult, if not impossible.
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