Hope you've enjoyed reading the novella series. While writing this one character in particular was very demanding in getting her own story. She was so adamant I couldn't ignore her and before I knew she had one.

So it's finally here! Here's the bonus story, this time featuring Keisha Anders, the younger sister and best friend to Joseph and Layla from the first novella "Love Lines." Hope you enjoy this one as well as the others. 

Happy reading!

Click. Flash.

"Beautiful." Click. Flash. "Now turn away from me, your chin grazing your shoulder as if you can't help but over your shoulder for one last glimpse of your lover." Click. Flash. "Sim. Lindo."

The model-slash-ex-lover blushed. She actually blushed. And Keisha wanted to punch the woman then herself next. The tone of voice Alejandro used was smoother than she ever heard it before. It hinted at something dark. Sexual. It was as if he was making love with the subject through his camera. And though the camera was pointed at her she felt its caress the same as that woman. Whatever her name was.

For want of better things to do than sitting in the director's folding chair and imagining things she didn't want to imagine she looked around the room. The lights overhead on the floor were at optimum illumination. Creating an almost halo effect around the subject. The wardrobe was rushing onto the set to change an accessory. The clunky beaded bracelet replaced with something slim and thin as gossamer wings. Alejandro was changing the lens of his camera.

Everywhere around her people were busy, working together like bees in a hive, towards one goal. Alejandro's first art showing. And finally, finally they were making progress.

"It's not going to work," said the accented voice startling Keisha, ruining her euphoria like deflated, popped balloon. She slowly looked up, ignoring the muscled abs pressing through his thin shirt, pass the why-did-they-have-to-flex-so-deliciously chest and into the bearded face of the Brazilian god of lust.

Desire and frustration battled it out. Her emotions stretched to snap from the ridiculous position she put herself in. All in the name to make this man's show a success. And for once, frustration won outl

"What did you say," she hissed through clench teeth. Her arm gripped the wooden arms of her chair for patience. But the suspicious sound of wood breaking suggest patience was futile. "I know you did not just say what I think you said."

He gave a noncommittal shrug then went back to fiddling with his camera. Keisha eyed the camera and wondered how long he'd breathe with it wrapped around his throat. Or better yet, what would he look like with his wrists strapped around them in bed, arms pulled taut and over his head...

No! Desire would not win and make her susceptible to Alejandro's whims. She was on a deadline. He was on a deadline.

"Simply. She's not the one querida.-"

"Don't call me that. I know what it means. And I'm not your darling. I'm pretty sure I'll be the primary suspect in your murder."

The tip of his full, sexy, made for pleasuring lips lifted in a smile. And dammit, her heart fluttered in her chest like young girl having her first crush.

"Ah but to die by your hands would be a beautiful way to die. Much better living a half life under my family curse."

And just like, like buckets of water to a bonfire, her irritation at the man snuffed out. The lingering smoke of another wasted day coiling around the air tickling her lungs. Taking two deep breaths, she closed her eyes to find her happy place. Lounging on a beach of white sand. She'd been going there a lot lately.

Click.

A red haze flared behind her eyelids. Her eyes flashed open in time to see Alejandro take another photo of her.

"Didn't I tell you not to take pics of me without my permission."

One thick brow arched into the very edge of hairline almost disappearing completely into his mop of curly fro.

Keisha rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You're an artist. The camera's you're medium. You can't help it. Yada, yada, yada."

Alejandro laughed and took another. Giving up, Keisha huffed, stood up from the chair and walked over to the work table to check on the photographs on the laptop. Unperturbed he followed her, his arms and thighs touching hers as he leaned down along with her to view the photos he'd taken. Her entire left side warmed from the heat radiating off of him.

"I've never seen such a peaceful look on your face before. What were you thinking of?"

Keisha thought of her happy place. But this time she wasn't alone. Alejandro's nearness, his smell of the tropics and whiskey and something else set her synapsis firing, bringing him, wearing not a stitch of clothing where he wasn't wanted.

Her mouth became drier than the sahara. Her vajayjay fluttered. Her whole world became off kilter with the sexual haze she stupidly cloaked herself in.

"Oh that's much better. Now I really wanna know what you're thinking?" Turning his back on the computer, he laid against the table and crossed his arms. Staring intensely at her, as if to pry into her mind, he said in a voice deeper than before, "Tell me querida, what's on your mind? What dirty thoughts were you thinking?"

Keisha ignored the question and scrolled the images, marking which ones she liked.

"Were you thinking about me?" He leaned in closer, his mouth hovering at the shell of her ear. "What was I doing?"

Okay, the silent treatment is not working. Glaring over her shoulder, Keisha meant to put him in his place to get him back to work, when her lips brushed against his. She froze in shock as her lips tingled then blazed through her chest, down to her fingers, stomach and her feet, spreading like a brush fire.

Omigod. Omigod. Omigod.

She had to do something. He couldn't know. What just happened was not a kiss. It was a slight bump of body parts that happened to be in the facial area. So why can't she stop staring at his lips.

"Keisha." Her name on his lips sounded like he'd say it when coming to an orgasm while inside her. And she really wanted to hear it again. This time in bed together.

Alejandro looked backed at her, his eyes swirling with conviction that he wanted the same. She waited in bated breath, remembering too late to breathe in and out, while watching his mouth.

"Keisha," he whispered, his tone suggesting it was a question that really needed to be asked.

"So how was I?"

Keisha jumped away from Alejandro, her hip hitting the edge of the table. She winced at the sting. The same grimace of pain flashed on Alejandro's face but he wiped it clean and turned to the model of today's shoot. His smile at full flirting wattage.

"Jocelyn, querida." He reached for the slim, raven haired beauty, bringing her into his arms and placed a kiss on her cheek. The woman had the temerit to smile up at him like a lovesick fool. "You were perfect."

That's right, thought Keisha. She should remember this moment. He wasn't for her. Jocelyn and all the other women participating for the shoot were. One of the women was his destined mate he had to find before the full [effect] of the curse take him away from the art world. The human world. For good. If they couldn't find her, though Keisha had a feeling the next one would be 'it,' this show would be Alejandro's last.

She just wiched they'd found her already. She was done with directing and co-hosting this crazy Shifter Curse Bachelor mess.

Keisha cleared her throat, reminding them that she was still there. Pointing to the screen, she suggested they look over the photos. Several minutes later she grabbed her stuff, dodged whatever Alejandro was trying to tell her and was out of the building as if it was on fire.

Layla, Bea and Jenna were waiting. They needed her help. And so worried, obviously she was in a rush. The man she left behind had nothing to do with it.