Discovering Her Delight [Panther Cove 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  Panther Cove 2

  Discovering Her Delight

  Panther Cove security heads and panther-shifters Jeremiah Jenkins and Mario DeBartelo take one look at the talented, long-legged blonde Kendis Leigh and know she’s their mate. Problem is, with The Sword threatening their safety, Jeremiah won’t put aside his duty to pursue her, but Mario knows it’s now or never.

  When Jeremiah’s in her presence, his spontaneous and loving self appears, and Kendis is determined to find a way to make him realize that only if he left Panther Cove could he be happy.

  When the conflict between The Shield and The Sword escalates, Jeremiah and Mario must train new recruits. Jeremiah’s intense loyalty forces him to suppress his personal desires. He tells Mario to take Kendis for himself, but she says no. She wants both men. What can she do to convince Jeremiah to leave his life behind and join her and Mario in a loving ménage relationship?

  Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Shape-shifters

  Length: 42,384 words

  DISCOVERING HER DELIGHT

  Panther Cove 2

  Melody Snow Monroe

  MENAGE EVERLASTING

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

  DISCOVERING HER DELIGHT

  Copyright © 2013 by Melody Snow Monroe

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62241-527-3

  First E-book Publication: January 2013

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Discovering Her Delight by Melody Snow Monroe from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Melody Snow Monroe’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Monroe’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  To Abigail of TeBella for helping me learn to love teas, and to the real Kendis Leigh for inspiring me. Hugs to you both.

  DISCOVERING HER DELIGHT

  Panther Cove 2

  MELODY SNOW MONROE

  Copyright © 2013

  Chapter One

  Blood dripped down the newcomer’s chin a moment after he stepped into Kendis Leigh’s tea shop. She didn’t know which was more disconcerting. The fact the tall, muscular man with the one-day growth might have been injured or that he and his equally amazing friend had nearly stopped her heart.

  Using his thumb, the stranger wiped away the evidence of his possible injury, and she finally found her voice. “Are you okay?”

  Had there been a skirmish outside that she’d been unaware of? Nothing would surprise her in Delight, North Carolina. Strange activities were constantly being rumored to have been going on.

  “No, ma’am. Must have bit my tongue.” The stubble on his chin hid the blush she thought she could detect.

  “Can I get you a napkin?” Way to go, Kendis. Keep embarrassing the poor guy.

  He hid the hand that he’d swiped across his mouth behind his back. “I’m good.”

  When he stepped a little closer, a weird sensation rippled through her body. Sure, these two were gloriously manly, but it was her visceral reaction to them that stunned her. She’d seen her share of strong, bodybuilder types before, but this one had taken one look at her and acted as if he wanted to eat her for lunch. Her stomach went all fluttery, but in a good way.

  It wasn’t just the swooning reaction that unsettled her. This guy had her mental thoughts swirling as well as her body. When she’d lived in California, she’d frequently spotted movie stars. The thrill at seeing them came from the bragging rights and not from being in close proximity. Never had her whole insides turned to mush.

  She’d only arrived in town four months ago, but she’d made a good friend in Jen Anderson, who fortunately didn’t seem the least bit affected by these two giants. Seeing as Jen had just snagged two of the hottest bachelors in town, it wasn’t surprising she only had eyes for the two Black brothers.

  “Kendis?” Jen placed a hand on her arm.

  The sound of her name broke her stare. “Yes. Sorry.”

  Jen faced the magnificent men. “We’re on our way to find my perfect wedding dress, so you two don’t have to hover.” She faced Kendis. “Hunter and Derek are rather over protective, and Jeremiah and Mario here are like my bodyguards.”

  Bodyguards. That made sense. Kendis certainly wouldn’t mind them guarding her body. Stop it.

  The shorter of the two, who was at least six foot six of solid man, stepped toward her and held out his hand. “I’m Mario DeBartelo. As Jen said, we work for the Black brothers.”

  Jen had mentioned that because Hunter and Derek were so rich that people often tried to steal from them. Now that Jen was their fiancée, they feared someone might want to harm her. Hence the reason for the bodyguards.

  The moment Kendis shook Mario’s hand, she swore a small electric current passed between them. They must have shuffled their feet on the floor and created static electricity or something because there was no such thing as an instant connection between two or more people.

  “I’m Kendis Leigh. I own Delightful Teas.”

  If they were Jen’s bodyguards, they probably had already checked out her background to make sure she was on the u
p-and-up and wouldn’t pose a threat to their ward.

  Jen threaded an arm through Kendis’s and pulled her toward the door. Her friend leaned closer. “The other giant is Jeremiah Jenkins. He’s the head of Panther Cove security.” From the way Jen had this know-it-all smirk, her friend probably had detected that something peculiar had passed between them.

  As if he’d come out of a fog, Jeremiah held out his hand, too. “Nice to meet you, Kendis.” She loved how he took his time saying her name as if his tongue caressed each syllable.

  “Boys,” Jen said. “We need to go. We’re shopping for the dress, remember?” Even though she wouldn’t be married until the spring, Jen wanted to start looking now.

  Mario held open the door, and they all stepped outside. As Kendis placed the key in the lock, he leaned in closer. “Is there any way Jeremiah and I can convince you to join us for a little socializing at The Black Cat Bar tonight?”

  Her brain froze. Jen’s elbow to her side a few seconds later allowed her to find her tongue. “Sure.”

  Her friend’s lilting laugh seemed to break the sexual spell. “I’ll text you Kendis’s number so you can tell her the time and send a gentle reminder.”

  “Thanks.”

  After Kendis attached a note on the door about closing early, Jen pulled her away. When they got into her car, Kendis leaned her head back. “Tell me everything about them. Oh, my God. Here I thought your two men were the best-looking creatures to walk the earth.”

  “They aren’t creatures.”

  From the funny look that crossed her face, she’d made a big mistake. “Sorry.” Though she swore Jen had called them that when she first met them.

  Jen waved a hand. “I know you meant that in the nicest way. They are rather imposing. At first I was afraid of Jeremiah, but after getting to know both, I realized they are the sweetest guys.”

  Sweet wasn’t the word she expected Jen to use as an adjective, but she was happy they treated her well. Wanting to steer the conversation in a different direction, Kendis focused on their shopping spree. “So tell me what kind of dress you’re imagining.”

  Jen laughed. “Before we look for a dress, I think we need to take you shopping for your hot date tonight.”

  Hot date it might have been, but going out with friends of a friend often got sticky. What if they didn’t like her? “Maybe I should just cancel. I don’t think I’m their type. Besides, if it doesn’t work, it will put you in the middle, and I don’t want that.”

  “Nonsense.” Jen stopped at the light. “Trust me when I say I am positive they will adore you. I could just tell from the look in their eye that you are perfect for them.”

  So much for that argument. She loved Jen’s upbeat attitude, but buying clothes right now when her money was real tight wasn’t the smartest thing. “You don’t have to go to any trouble. I can just wear that blouse I lent you when you first hooked up with your men.”

  Jen shook her head. “Jeremiah and Mario have already seen it on me.” She turned left off of MacLeash Boulevard toward the mall. “Tell you what. It’ll be my treat. After all you’re helping me with my dress buying, and you closed your shop early for me.”

  Kendis probably wouldn’t have had many customers anyway, but closing might have upset someone. “Thanks, but in return you get free tea for a month.”

  Jen smiled. “It’s a deal.”

  Kendis was both excited and nervous at the same time, but that little person inside her head told her that these men just might have been right for her.

  * * * *

  As fast as he could, Jeremiah raced to the car and got into the driver’s side. Mario seemed to be taking his sweet time getting back as if he wanted to savor the idea of having a mate. That was the last thing Jeremiah needed right now. He had to spend all his time training and working on the plan to take down The Sword. After all, he owed his life to Panther Cove, and a woman would only get in his way.

  What had he been thinking letting Mario talk him into going into the shop? From the first time he’d seen Kendis, he knew she’d be dangerous, though he never thought she’d be the one for them. If he’d known, he never would have gotten so close.

  Mario climbed in. “What’s your hurry, man?”

  “Why did you ask her out?”

  His friend twisted in the seat. “Weren’t you the one who couldn’t control yourself when you got near her?”

  “I wasn’t concentrating.” She stole his mind, which was a death sentence for someone destined to protect the Cove.

  “Bullshit. She’s our mate, and you know it.” Mario snapped his seat belt closed, acting as if Jeremiah was about to go crazy and drive like a maniac.

  “That may be true, but there’s no law that says we have to claim her now. I don’t have time to be entertaining her. You know what I was like when I lived outside the compound.” He stabbed the key in the ignition and turned it on.

  “Yeah, but you couldn’t help it that your parents didn’t want to live a shifter life.”

  “It’s more than that. Panther Cove gave my life meaning, and I won’t let them down. For anyone, even our mate.” Of all people, Mario should understand. He’d come from the same uptight community. The Cove had taken both of the young rookies under its belt years ago and had treated them like family. “It’s especially important to keep focused now that The Sword has flared up again.”

  “I hear ya.”

  Since their responsibility was to make sure that Jennifer stayed safe, he headed to the mall ahead of her. The last time he’d gotten lax, The Sword had kidnapped her. One more false step and he’d disappoint not only Hunter, Derek, and the whole group, but himself, too. He didn’t ever want to live through that hell again.

  Mario crossed his arms over his chest defensively. “Don’t tell me you’re willing to give up on our one chance at a mate because of The Sword. We can work it out, you know. You’ve got to give her a try at least for one night.”

  Going the rest of his two hundred and fifty years alone had never been his plan. “Maybe this once.”

  Mario grinned. “Did you see the way her tits pressed against her blouse or how her legs were about a mile long?” Mario leaned back in the seat. “Man, I can just imagine what it would feel like to have those babies wrapped around my waist as I fuck her sweet pussy.”

  “Shut the fuck up.”

  Mario laughed. “Got ya, didn’t I?”

  “You know we have a job to do.”

  “One night. That’s all I’m asking for. We take her out to the bar, eat some good food, take a swing on the dance floor, and bring her home. We won’t be gone but a few hours.”

  He knew Mario. It wouldn’t end there. “She’ll expect more.”

  His best friend shrugged. “Then I’ll go out with her. If you think you can’t control yourself, I have no problem having her fall in love with me.”

  He tightened his grip on the wheel. Mario was missing the point. “You know damn well that we need to share our mate, and you also know I won’t let down Panther Cove.”

  “I’m not asking you to.”

  Working hard not to speed, Jeremiah turned toward the mall. “The timing isn’t right.”

  “The Sword can wait a few hours. Hercules and Casius can be our eyes and ears while we’re with her.”

  His assistants were good men and probably could handle anything that came along. “You heard our snitch. They’re planning another bombing near Washington, D.C. soon.”

  “You should hear yourself. You’re just finding an excuse not to be with her.”

  His friend was full of shit. “Just one time. That’s it.” He held up a hand. “I promise I will be the consummate date, so don’t worry. I’ll show her a good time, but that’s all.”

  “Sure you will.”

  Smug little bastard. As much as he hated to admit it, his friend might have been right.

  * * * *

  Even though it was only seven on a Friday night, The Black Cat Bar was rather crowded. Good
thing Mario had thought to call the owner and reserve a booth for them, as he hadn’t wanted Kendis to have to sit at the bar to eat dinner. This was their future mate they were talking about, and she deserved the best even if Jeremiah was in denial about this being the right time to court her. Hell, if they didn’t keep an eye on her, someone else would scoop her up, and that would mean he and Jeremiah would be alone for the rest of their lives.

  After he’d spotted her through the storefront window last week, he knew she was special. When he’d told his bosses, Hunter and Derek, about her, both had regaled him and Jeremiah about what to expect as far as their physical response would be when they got near, but Mario hadn’t anticipated what her delicious scent would do to his body. He’d had a hard time forcing his cock to stay in his pants as soon as they got near.

  Jeremiah had an even worse reaction. The moment they got into her store, all hell had broken loose. If his friend didn’t get his act together, he’d blow their one and only chance at having a mate.

  The hostess showed the three of them to their reserved table. “Here ya go, folks.”

  Mario looked over at Kendis as she slipped into the booth next to him, and he inwardly smiled as he remembered her concern when she saw the blood on his chin. To make sure he wasn’t dripping blood himself, he licked his lips and fortunately detected no steely tang coming from his mouth.

  Julia, the barmaid, rushed over to their table as soon as she spotted them. Poor girl. When Jennifer came into Hunter and Derek’s life, Julia had turned her attention on them. If he ever got her alone, he’d have to tell her both he and Jeremiah were now off the market. Both her fathers were shifters, and they must not have explained the facts of life to her. Some higher power picked their mate for them. While it might not be fair, the woman couldn’t decide if she was the one for them.