Read Online Claws and Effect by Jessica Sims - Free Book Online Page A

and tucked them back into their box, and then it was time to go.
    "One blindfold, coming right up," Ellis said, and pulled out one of his long, dirty sweat socks.
    "Ew, no!" I said, laughing. "Don't put that thing anywhere near me!"
    "Come on. We gotta get you blindfolded."
    Laughing, we wrestled over the fake 'blindfold' for a moment, and then Ellis trapped me in his arms. My breathing grew shallow and I stared up into his face. This flirting thing was potent. He gazed down at me, and the dirty sock was forgotten. After a moment, he brushed his knuckles along my jaw. "No more teasing."
    "No more dirty socks."
    "Fair enough." He produced a black length of fabric. "You want to change shirts before I put this on?"
    I looked down at the sweatshirt I was wearing. "Is this one bad?"
    "It's warm outside. Won't you get hot?"
    I tugged at the long sleeves. "I want to wear this one. It covers up all the bite marks."
    Ellis was silent. When I looked up, his expression was grim. He said nothing, though, just gestured for me to turn.
    I did, obedient, and then I was blindfolded. My hands stretched out, feeling around. "I'm going to run into every tree from here until Sunday."
    "I've got you," he said, and his arm slid around my waist.
    That...was more distracting than being blindfolded. "Are...we going to be able to walk like this?"
    "Oh sure," Ellis said easily.
    We made it out of the cabin and a few feet more before I stumbled on a rock.
    "Careful," Ellis warned, then sighed. "Actually, change of plans. Put your arms around my neck. I'm going to give you a piggyback ride."
    "A piggyback ride? Seriously?" I mentally pictured Ellis with me sprawled across his back and swallowed my laughter. "How far do you think you'll be able to take me before your back gives out?"
    "Oh please. You're a twig. Besides, I'm strong. Feel."
    I reached out and he took my hand and placed it on his bicep, then flexed. I felt it move under my fingers, rock hard, and another giggle escaped me. My pulse was fluttering in response to his nearness, and I had to admit, I rather liked feeling him flex that bicep. "This is just a ploy to get me to admire your guns, isn't it?"
    "You figured me out. Now, come on."
    I felt him squat low, and with his hands guiding me, I went to his back, looped my arms around his neck, and gave a squeak of alarm when he hauled me into the air. With a bounce, he hefted me higher on his hips. "You good?"
    "I'm good," I replied, clinging to him for dear life.
     

     

Chapter Five
     
    He was strong, it seemed, because he was able to carry me all the way in. We tromped through the woods, the only sounds that of my breathing and the crunch of Ellis's feet on the undergrowth as we talked and chatted about the weather, Everett's books, and the kittens. I hugged his neck and clung to him, enjoying just being outside, even if I couldn't see anything.
    "All right, we're here," Ellis said at one point. "You can get down."
    I peered through the black fabric of my blindfold. "I don't hear anything."
    "We're still a short ways off, but you can take the blindfold off now."
    I did, blinking at the bright afternoon sunlight. We were still in the woods, but in the distance I could see a plume of smoke from a chimney, and caught the occasional hint of laughter on the wind. We were close. I slid off his back, my feet landing on the ground. "Where are we?"
    "Top secret," Ellis said again, and I rolled my eyes. I stuffed the blindfold into his pocket. "Come on," he said. "You can meet the others."
    "Other whats?" I asked.
    "Shifters, of course. This is a clan party. My family's throwing a shindig to welcome Marie to the cougar clan."
    I gasped, stepping away from Ellis in shock. "She did what?"
    His brow furrowed as he looked over at me, clearly surprised by my reaction. "My brother Josh changed her into a shifter."
    "How does that happen?"
    Ellis shrugged. "He bit her until she turned."
    I shuddered, my memory full of Andre's sucking, painful bites. "I