Kept in the Dark of Love and Lust: Kept in the Dark, #1
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About this ebook
A shifter romance
Hardworking city girl Misty Statesly travels to a coastal town in Victoria, determined to save her job from sabotage and win over new clients before a sleazy colleague undermines her success.But déjà vu crashes over her when she runs into a gorgeous stranger at the town's supermarket—only for it to happen again when she meets her newest client, Braven O'Geary.
Braven is captivated by the mark on the inside of Misty's thigh—a perfect match to the one he gave his soul mate, the girl he was told had died sixteen years ago in a tragic car accident with her parents.As Misty uncovers the truth about her lost memories, the life she thought she knew begins to unravel. The dangerously attractive man before her isn't just her client—he's her soul mate. Her husband. And the revelation of who she truly is will change everything.
Can Braven and Misty outmaneuver the cat shifter clan and survive the sinister plot his vengeful ex-fiancée and the ruthless Alpha have set in motion? Will Misty reclaim the childhood memories that were stolen from her and fight for the man she loves? Or will she die—for real this time?
M. L. Tompsett
M. L. Tompsett has been creating worlds to escape to since she was a little girl. Years later she is still enjoying her writing in her imaginative make-believe worlds with interesting characters and steamy scenes. Finally moving forward to the big wide scary world of publishing in print and the new world of digital eBook publishing.Married to her childhood sweetheart. They live in Victoria, Australia and have two fully grown, handsome and extremely talented sons.With her new books out on the digital shelves and in print (softcover) M. L. Tompsett is excited to see something she has been working on for far too long become a reality.In the Sex, Lies and Family Secret, series- The Guy Next Door- Dark Surprises- You Never Know- It's You- What You Know- Boxset - 1-2-3Shifter series- Kept in the Dark of Love and Lust- Kept in the Dark of Lies and DeceitContemporarySecond Chance at Love, series.- Insta Bride- The Bodyguard's Convenient Marriage- Ghost of a Chance in Love.
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Kept in the Dark of Love and Lust - M. L. Tompsett
Prologue
Sixteen years earlier.
With his arms secured tightly around her, Braven O’Geary stared down into the beautiful swirl of bright blue and green eyes of his little soul mate — Malisty Ashton. He knows what they are doing is wrong — they are both too young, but his instincts are pushing him, compelling him to take his soul mate and mate with her to complete their mating bond; a bond they had acknowledged and set in motion only a week ago, along with their best friend, Xavier. His instinct within him sensing something is going to happen soon, something terrible, amongst the adults.
The beautiful little pixie sits astride her soul mate’s lap and clings to his ten-year-old slender shoulders. She slowly moves her face from his and tucks her face under his chin.
Another squeeze of his arms, encasing Malisty in a protective, loving manner, allows Braven a few needed seconds to gather his senses. He needs to find the words to persuade Malisty to agree to become his mate for life. If Malisty does not agree, as far as he understood from overhearing the adults in his father’s clan speaking of mating bonds — their bite will not take, and their bond will fade, and he will lose her forever.
Braven lifts his chin, trying to look and sound like a grown-up, Malisty, you are my soul mate, I am yours, and we’ll be together forever.
With a hitch in his breath, and his eyes pleading, he asks, You do want to be my soul mate, don’t you?
Searching her beautiful eyes, for his much-needed answer, Braven nods his head in encouragement and whispers, You do feel our bond?
Malisty draws her bottom lip into her mouth, her baby teeth holding her lip into place and contemplates Braven’s words as best as a five-year-old can. For a while, she has felt the strange sensations travel through her little body whenever she is near Braven and Xavier.
Malisty nods her little head causing her beautiful hair to bob and sway. Okay, Braven,
she says in her little voice. I have always felt our bond.
With her little hand, Malisty places it on her chest, over her heart, Right here. I want to be your mate and be soul mates forever.
Trusting her best friend and soul mate, she hopes Braven will not get her into trouble, once more. As long as Mumma doesn’t tell me off,
giving her little head a shake to her words.
Malisty remembers Braven mentioning to her; they will have to bite one another to finish the soul mate bond. A bite, which can hurt. Malisty does not like pain and is hesitant about the biting part. Braven’s words of reassurance had said it would only hurt for a second. That cannot be all that bad then, can it?
Braven glances up and around to make sure they are still alone in the room they have been playing in. He knows his parents will take him away if they catch them, and is now sensing their time together is running out.
Braven leans forward and brushes his dry, warm lips against Malisty’s cupid ones. The feeling of tingling starts to travel through his lips before he deepens their tender kiss by pushing his lips harder against her soft little ones. With funny sensations moving through his body, it is not long before Braven begins to notice a particular part of his body coming to life. Uh-oh... Should that be happening?
Malisty tries to make herself more comfortable on Braven’s lap, feeling something hard poking her thigh, she tries to move away from the hard object until Braven grips her slender hips, preventing her from moving.
With the strong feelings within her little body, urging her forward, Malisty now knows what she has to do, to complete their bond to become soul mates.
Tilting her little head back, Malisty meets Braven’s concerned gaze. Braven, I love you,
she whispers, bite me.
Her glowing blue and green coloured eyes follow Braven’s lips as they move into a big smile. Feeling the love they share through their bond blossom, she knows what they are about to do is right.
I love you, too, Malisty. You are my soul mate. We will be together forever, and no one will ever separate us again.
Two Weeks Later
JAZEY & JANELLE
A silent warm tear makes its way down his cheek. Jazey Ashton’s eyes continue to watch over his tiny beautiful sleeping daughter. His heart continues to break, shattering into a thousand pieces, leaving behind a new type of pain. An agonising, gut-wrenching pain — spreading throughout his chest and body. Something he would prefer never to experience again. With a slow deep breath, he finally lifts his hand to wipe away the moisture from his face.
The ache in his heart deepens as Jazey notices the small smile forming on the sleeping child’s cupid rosebud lips, lighting up her angelic face. Her long dark eyelashes sweep across her warm, plump cheeks and flutter a couple of times before resting once more. The look of pure innocence lay before Jazey and yet, nothing will ever be the same again.
The pain Jazey feels seeping throughout his body nearly has his knees buckle beneath him. The growing ache continues to mount with each passing breath, with the knowledge that his beloved baby daughter’s life is now at risk. All three of them will be in danger, once the facts are out in the open to the rest of the clan. The knowledge and written proof, his beloved wife and mate, still holds, clutched tightly in her delicate hand.
He hears the rustling of paper, the dreaded documents of doom. The latest results of their little Malisty’s blood work has arrived, and with it, the knowledge his precious daughter is more than anyone can ever imagine. If only the documents never came, if only the tests had never been performed.
Life would have continued. Malisty would have continued to grow with her acknowledged soul mate Braven O’Geary, and the eldest son of the pack leader — Brian O’Geary. The handsome little boy, barely five years older than little five-year-old Malisty. Her sixth birthday is just over two weeks away and the first of many ceremonies for the little couple, to take place. These ceremonies cement and forge the bond between two soul mates.
If it had not been for Malisty’s other little friend Xavier, they would never have known. They’d never know that their precious Malisty somehow has not one but two soul mates.
Two soul mates.
From two different packs.
Two different species.
Braven from the clan they belong to — the black panther clan. And Xavier from the local black wolves pack. Two species are forbidden to form a mated bond with one another. Malisty has somehow formed a bond with both Braven and Xavier.
Jazey recalls when he had come across the three children playing three weeks ago. He had scented the air, recognising the beginnings of the mating scent, followed by the scent of blood. He soon discovered all three children with matching bloodied bites on their pinky fingers.
Jazey was shocked when he saw the bite mark also on Xavier’s finger from Malisty. Malisty had bitten both Braven and Xavier on their small fingers, and Braven and Xavier had bitten Malisty on either of her little pinky fingers, acknowledging and starting the mating bond between all three of them.
An event no one knows happened apart from himself, the three children and also his loving wife and mother of Malisty — Janelle.
To make matters worse, two weeks ago, Janelle first came across a whimpering and bleeding Malisty on the floor of our playroom. Braven also naked, and bleeding with a mating bite mark on his neck. Janelle was shocked to witness Braven crouched low over Malisty and biting into her slender shoulder. The pair of them somehow performed and completed the soul mate bond, by placing mating bites on one another’s bodies.
With the mating scent heavy in the air, Braven’s parents rushed into the room, forcefully ripping Braven away from Malisty’s small body, dragging him out of the room. Leaving behind a traumatised crying Malisty with a deep bloodied and jagged bite on the back of her little shoulder; it was not long after when they discovered another bite mark on the inside of her thigh — a mating bite.
Jazey hears his emotional wife’s voice, he turns and tiptoes out of his daughter’s peaceful bedroom and towards his beautiful wife.
Jazey, we have to do something. These new test results prove that our little girl is the one mentioned in the ancient prophecy. When our little girl hits puberty, she will be able to turn into either a great large black panther or a large black wolf at will.
Inhaling a shuddering breath and with a shake of her beautiful head, her haunting words continue, "Just like the prophecy. The first. But, we both know, she will be treated as an abomination. The clans will go after, and kill her, without giving Malisty a chance, and then they will come after us. We know the law, we have to stick to our own species, and our beautiful little girl will not have a chance of life if we stay here. We have to leave, Jazey."
He nods his head in agreement, Jazey has already begun to organise their disappearance secretly. The clan has to think they have been killed in an accident of some kind — leaving them to start a new life with new identities. You are right, Janelle. We have to take Malisty, our innocent little girl away from here. We—
Before Jazey has a chance to say another word, Janelle glances down at her silver jewelled watch, her eyes opening wide at the sight of the time and replies, Shit, the O’Geary’s will be here in thirty minutes. What can we do? What are we going to do?
He closes the gap between them, Jazey wraps his arms around Janelle, embracing his wife’s trembling body and absorbing her fears. With his voice slightly louder than a whisper, Jazey replies, For now we have to pack everything away and act like it’s any other day. No one can find out about our baby girl. Malisty and Braven are soul mates and today might be their last time together until the day comes when Braven and Malisty will meet again. I can feel it in my soul; they will be together again. When? I do not know. I just pray that they have not bonded to the point where they cannot live apart from one another. Let’s hope as their age is so young... The two of them will survive this ordeal.
Giving his wife another comforting squeeze before finishing his words, we will leave in two days.
Chapter One
MISTY
Present Day
Road traffic continues to speed by my stationary modern Holden sedan. The vibrations from the passing trucks and buses travel through my car with each consecutive pass. Why did I pull over to the side of the road to answer my phone? Why did I answer my phone in the first place?
Annoyed with myself, sitting here listening to my indicator is not something I had in mind or speaking with a co-worker - which happens to be the workplace pain in the arse and idiot — is definitely the last thing on my list of what I wanted or needed today.
I feel tired and hungry from the hundreds of miles I’ve already travelled so far. I glance at my GPS, and the screen indicates I am nearly at my destination. Only ten more minutes until I reach my accommodation for the next eight days. My next destination in a beautiful part of Victoria, known as Lakes Entrance.
I had the feeling I should have let the call go to voicemail; but when I noticed the call was from the office, I knew I had to take it. If only I had known who was on the other end.
I hear the snivelling nasal tones of my co-worker screech through the speakers of my phone — setting my teeth on edge.
The guy is known throughout my workplace, and especially on the floor I work, as the ‘Wannabe Boss’. From past phone calls and sabotage of my client’s files, I now know to make sure I have a copy of all correspondence with this man. He wants my job, and he is trying every dirty trick to make me lose my employment. As soon as I realised it was Kenté on the phone and not my co-worker Mace or my boss, I instantly hit the record feature on my phone.
I force a smile on my face and using my professional phone voice; I answered the idiot, Hello Kenté, what can I assist you with?
How I cannot stand this poor excuse of a man. Every time I deal with him — if my flesh were able to crawl off my body, it would.
Misty, when will you be arriving in Lakes Entrance? The meeting for tomorrow needs to be confirmed.
My forehead scrunches to his words. What is the snivelling little chirp up to? Also, what is he going on about? My meeting is all set and pre-arranged.
Kenté, is this really necessary? Why are you phoning me? All arrangements have been made.
Before I can say another word, Kenté interrupts me, Misty, you are about to meet one of our biggest Victorian clients, I do not want you to stuff up the account. I really do not know why Samuel is allowing you to handle this account. I have more experience and more knowledge…
I stop myself from listening to this poor excuse of humanity, knowing this guy is digging his hole deeper and deeper with every word he spews from his lips, and that he is going to find himself out of a job.
I glance out my car window, a couple of birds caught my eye, high above me in the sky. Flying and maneuvering around one another as if they haven’t a care in the world. If only I could be free and fly away.
Kenté’s aggravating voice brings my attention back to the phone call, Misty, I have emailed you the new contracts. The contracts you had drawn up are inadequate. Silly mistakes like the ones you made can cost this company millions of dollars. You are lucky. I saw your mistakes first.
My breath catches and freezes in my throat. What the hell...?
Is this idiot for real?
Just when I am about to reply to Kenté, his next words send a chill down my spine as dark spots start to form in front of my eyes, Oh, by the way Misty, I have also emailed the new contracts to the client in Lakes Entrance.
I decide to pretend I am not able to hear the idiot. That way, I will not say something I can be sued or dismissed for.
I interrupt his charade of nonsense and unbelievable crap — I question, Kenté, can you hear me? You seem to be breaking up, and the reception must be bad in this area. I have missed ...said, can you... Kenté, I’ll repeat. Can you...me? Are yo...
Without much thought, I hit end on my phone and hang up on him. Before I say anything out loud, I also turn off the phones recording feature. I make a copy of the audio file, and then send a copy to my email and to my friend Lacer-Jane, just to be safe.
I’m in need to hear a friendly voice and tap the screen of my phone. I press on the picture of my beautiful friend, which instantly starts the dialling of her phone number.
The call is answered on the third ring, and the soft tones of Lacer-Jane fill my ears, Hello Misty, how’s the driving going? Are you there yet?
Relief fills me, hearing her laugh at the old joke.
The old joke and the annoying phrase ‘Are we there yet’ which Lacer-Jane would otherwise constantly ask on previous driving trips — repeatedly. Now that I am hearing my best friend’s voice, hopefully by speaking with Lacer-Jane or as I call her — LJ, my anger and anxiety will settle down enough to continue driving.
LJ, hey. I’m not interrupting anything, am I? I can call back later,
I say. Hoping LJ has some spare time for me.
Misty, don’t be silly. You are always welcome to phone me. Now, by the tone in your voice, something has happened. Come on, girl. Spill. What has happened?
LJ happily enquires.
How, in the world does she do that? How does LJ manage to know when something is wrong?
I pause long enough to listen to the sound of my car’s noisy indicator; its repeating beat is filling the quietness of the interior of the vehicle. I look up just as my car shakes from the pressure of the three fast and long, heavy trucks speeding by, while I contemplate what to say next.
Um, well. I just got off my phone,
I reply in an annoyed voice.
Okay. Okay, now you have my attention. Don’t tell me. Idiot Kenté has been at it again, hasn’t he?
Oh, this girl is good. She can read me better than I can understand myself.
I sigh. A frown starts to appear on my face, and my shoulders begin to sag. Yeah, the idiot has done it again. He’s sabotaged another account LJ,
I say in a huff.
I slowly breathe in another, filling my lungs before I continue, Sabotaged another one of my accounts, this is the final straw. I have all the proof I need now. When I arrive back at the office, I am going to put in an official complaint and have his pathetic arse fired. He thinks he has covered his tracks. He has just sent me an email with his new contracts for my clients in Lakes Entrance. He has just stuffed up big time,
my voice just about screeching down the phone line.
"Oh, you, poor girl. I just hope this guy is fired soon. He has cost you, two clients, already this year. Surely your boss can see what Wannabe Boss is really doing?"
I shake my head. My boss believes everything Kenté has said.
"That is just it, LJ. I do not know. My boss spoke with me on Monday morning, stating I have now been given another warning. Another warning… Me. When that idiot ‘Wannabe Boss’ is the one causing all the trouble for the company. Not me." Oh, geezballs, I feel like crying.
I feel the pressure build up behind my eyelids, and my eyes begin to mist up. I realise if I am not careful, my life is headed down the drain because of some stupid idiot who wants to move up the company ladder and take the credit of his co-worker’s hard work, and, at the same time make them lose their job. I’m sorry, LJ. I’m just annoyed and upset.
With another shaky breath, I glance back up towards the oncoming traffic.
Hey, there is no reason for you to apologise. I have seen what that man has been doing. He is trying to sabotage your job position. Look, this guy is digging his own hole, and it is getting deeper. He is just jealous because you’re earning more money than he is. You are one of the youngest corporate leaders in sales the company has ever had.
I nod my head to LJ’s words, and my mind starts to wander back to my own job and what I need to do. I think I had better phone my clients and warn them about the new contracts.
From hearing LJ’s soothing tones, I start to feel a little better, and say, LJ, thanks for listening. I had better phone my Lakes Entrance client and start damage control. I’ll phone you tomorrow. Luv ya.
Love you too, my little kitty girl. Look after yourself. Talk tomorrow. Bye.
Since LJ had seen my tattoos on my back of a large black, blue-eyed panther and a black, green-eyed wolf in a beautiful tree and water setting, she had been in love with my tattoo design, especially the beautiful picture of my large blue-eyed cat. Ever since then, her nickname for me has been ‘Little Kitty Girl’.
For some reason, I am not comfortable explaining the real reason to LJ for the tattoos. It is part of my past — to cover up the scarring I received as a small child. The scarring caused in the attack I sustained by panther cubs at a petting zoo. Mind you; I do not remember any of it, which my parents are grateful for.
I hit the end button to disconnect our call. And start to scroll through the contacts, until I find the file name for my clients.
The need to phone my client increases as if something inside me is urging me to make the call. Sometimes, I swear I can hear someone’s voice in my head. Ever since I can remember, I’ve had the feeling of someone or something — a presence trapped within my mind, trying to escape.
I was in primary school when I had mentioned the voice to my parents. They had rushed me off to see some kind of specialist, and the voice vanished for a long time.
Well until a year or two ago, the familiar quiet voice started again. It started more like a thought, or maybe a suggestion. Hmmm. Perhaps I should try to find that specialist and find out what is really going on within my mind. I have the strangest feeling there is more going on, and my parents had been hiding something from me?
With another quick flick of my finger across the screen — there he is, Braven O’Geary. The eldest son of my client — Brian O’Geary from Lakes Entrance.
Time for damage control and hopefully to save my job.
Chapter Two
MISTY
I sit eyeing the name on