The Baby Shift- South Dakota

by Becca Fanning

  Chapter 6

  After he left his clan, shifting was harder. It took a while to adjust to being without his pack. How lonely it felt the first few years. Now, he was used to it. Bella wasn’t at the age that she could shift…especially as a half-breed. If she could ever shift at all. He undressed in the pale moonlight filtering through the densely covered trees.

  If he went longer than a month without shifting, it was painful. Dreadfully so. He took a deep breath as his body began to change. Gone were the colored contacts, the thoughts of Karla. It was only the moon and himself. As a wolf, he breathed in nature and hunted for game to keep his skills sharp. They would have to be sharper than ever to protect his family. Family. The word spun away from him as he finished his transformation. He was an animal again—his true self.

  For hours, he ran, muscles moving alongside the quiet buzz of the forest. He came back to the house only after the sky was beginning to lighten, the first signs of a lavender pink as the sun threatened to show itself. As soon as he reached the back door, he shifted and grabbed the robe that he’d left near the backdoor. He slipped it on and headed to the kitchen. Ginger always prepared snacks, red slices of thinly roasted beef, for his excursions. He wolfed them down with a glass of water. A creak sounded across the room.

  “Oh,” Karla said with flushed cheeks. She was in her nightgown, a knee-length dress that allowed him to see the hint of her curves beneath the fabric. He wiped at his face quickly with a napkin, aware suddenly of the dripping bits of blood around his mouth. “I didn’t realize anyone was up.”

  He tried to remember how much he was covered in dirt and cleared his throat. “I came in for a snack,” he said with a shrug. She eyed his legs, covered in scratches and dirt, but said nothing. Her lips were pressed tightly together. Her eyes traveled to his chest, partially exposed due to his lazy tying of his robe. Her face grew red, and he immediately sensed the arousal pulsing beneath her skin. He concealed a smirk. Sometimes, it wasn’t fair to be a shifter and have a leg up on what was going on in a human body before the human in question even realized it.

  “Well, I’m going back to bed,” he said with what he hoped was an innocent, casual smile. He couldn’t help that it was partially mischievous as he brushed past her and noted her excitement spike. The first thing he did was climb quickly into a hot shower, noting thankfully that his appearance hadn’t been that bad. Of course, she would have questions, but she didn’t need to know about their true nature. An excited thrill hit him as he wrapped a clean towel around himself, inhaling the rising spearmint soap off his skin.

  She looked cute in her nightgown. His heart throbbed, and he cursed underneath his breath. Time for bed, he decided. But, his dreams were haunted with sexier scenarios of his employee in her nightgown than he cared to admit. When his alarm for six-thirty in the morning finally rang, he begrudgingly rolled out of bed with a scowl. “A fitful sleep,” he muttered. He’d have Ginger send toast, orange juice, and coffee to his study. He couldn’t find the energy to face Karla again downstairs after his night filled with dreams of her.

  Even the picture of Elizabeth seemed to be mocking him when he opened up his drawer. He could almost hear her gorgeous, teasing voice: Malcolm! I’m dead. Fall in love! Have some fun! Elizabeth had always been more laidback as a person. He dragged a hand down his face and quickly shut the drawer as he heard Ginger arriving with his breakfast.

  “I ran into Karla last night,” he admitted to her. Ginger raised her eyebrows as she set the breakfast tray down on his desk.

  “I hope you were clothed,” she said sneakily with a wink. He let out a bark of laughter.

  “Had the robe on.”

  “Well, you didn’t track in much mud, so I hope she didn’t think it was too strange,” she said and then cocked her head. “Why not just tell her, Malcolm? She’s an open-minded woman, I can tell. She’s got a gay brother and loves him to bits.”

  He laughed. “I’m not sure sexual orientation acceptance is in the same as acceptance of supernatural powers.”

  His housekeeper scoffed and wagged her finger at him before leaving. “Lots of chores to do, no time to talk,” she told him before her footsteps faded away down the hall. He sighed. Now, his housekeeper was too busy to talk with him. There was a sudden buzz on his phone. It was a message from Karla: The kids would like to invite you on a small picnic this afternoon. Ginger has made us lunch.

  He drummed his fingers against the desk. What harm in there was lunch? He sent back: Ok. When should I meet you?

  Her reply took a few minutes: Around noon at the front door!

  The hours seemed to pass slowly as he wrapped up his work. He was reading his online newspaper when he realized that it was nearly noon. Downstairs, Bella was ecstatic.

  “Dad! I helped make the lemonade!” She said proudly and nearly dropped the closed jug that she was twirling in her hands.

  “I’ll hold that,” he told her with a smile, and Karla gave him a grateful look as she carried Charlie in her arms. There was a small pond with a perfectly manicured sitting area for a picnic. Bella began reciting her favorite new phrases in French for them while he and Karla watched with Charlie.

  There was an instant that his hand brushed Karla’s as he went to grab something from the basket. A spark shocked them both. Bella looked between them with confused eyes when they yanked their hands back towards themselves.

  “Let’s eat!” His young daughter cried. They all laughed, even Charlie, amused by the sound.

  It was nice. It was familiar.

  It felt like home.

  Chapter 7

  “I’m screwed,” Karla said to her friend on the phone.

  Daphne, her old college roommate, laughed wildly. “Because you’re crushing on your boss? Your hot rich widowed boss that’s desperate for love and companionship? Sounds awful.” She dragged out the last bit.

  Karla groaned and flipped over on her stomach. She was in bed this Thursday, relaxing before Charlie woke up from his nap and Bella was done with her math lessons. “I feel like I’m back in college,” she muttered.

  “You sound more like a high schooler,” Daphne teased and then her voice dropped into a serious tone. “Aren’t you still a bit worried about that old creep you worked for?”

  In truth, Karla had pushed Dave far from her mind in the last two weeks. “It’s been half a month,” she said. “I haven’t heard from him at all again.”

  “I can’t believe he had the audacity to accuse you of telling on him,” Daphne said. “What a creep.”

  “You’ve got that right,” Karla muttered, and suddenly she heard a few rustles on the baby monitor next to her bed. “Charlie’s waking up from his nap. I’ll talk to you next week.” They said goodbye and Karla glided out of the room and down the hall to find Charlie, just beginning to whine and squirm. It would be time for a diaper change, clearly the most glamorous part of the job. But, he was an oddly happy and peaceful baby, most of the time. She couldn’t really complain. Once they were done, she took him to the playroom and set him up in his play crib with some children’s music playing. He nodded happily along to the peppy sound lyrics.

  Her thoughts wandered to her boss. Her very handsome boss. She bit her lip. Everyone seemed to think that it wasn’t an issue. He was available, a bit older than her, but it wasn’t like she was the nanny breaking up a happy family. She sighed and rested her head against her hand, wondering if her heart was beating much faster these days. It’d been a few months since she started working here. Even Ginger had slyly commented on the romantic tension after they shared a glass of wine one night.

  “Elizabeth would’ve wanted him to be happy,” the older woman had told Karla with a wink. Karla flushed, remembering how scandalous she’d felt after hearing that!

  “Karlaaaaaa,” Bella called as she careened into the room. “Can we go play outside?” Karla glanced out the window. It was cloudy, but nice weather.

  “Sure, but you’ve got to put on a hat to pr
otect your face, and I need to grab Charlie’s carriage.”

  Bella helped her with everything and placed a large bucket hat on her head. They walked out towards the outskirts of the estate near the fence. Bella enjoyed launching herself off the iron fence into wild cartwheels. She seemed to have boundless energy, Karla admired with a smile. Charlie began to doze off in his carriage, and she placed the sun shade above him. Bella laughed and played, narrating a scenario in which she was a prince and Karla and Bella were her faithful faeries. A flash of color made Karla start. Without thinking, she quickly scooped Charlie into her arms and told Bella to get away from the fence. Why? Her mouth opened and suddenly a voice sounded behind her.

  “I know it was you, Karla.”

  Her blood ran cold as Bella’s face paled and eyes widened, looking just beyond Karla’s shoulders. Dave! Karla whirled around, clutching Charlie to her chest and holding a protective arm outstretched in front of Bella. He looked worse than ever. Dark bags hung beneath his wild eyes.

  “You need to leave,” she told him firmly, but her voice broke towards the end. She was terrified. Charlie began to cry. Dave took a menacing step forward.

  “Bella, get Ginger and tell her to call the police. Now.” She’d never used such a serious voice with the girl. Bella took off, faster than a girl her age should’ve managed, but Karla couldn’t think about that now. She took a step back and pressed Charlie’s face against her chest. He was close to wailing now.

  Dave took one more step further, but he didn’t get much further. From out of nowhere, a barreling movement of fur and fangs swept past her and tackled the man. She watched in horror as two shapes tumbling towards the fence and slammed up against the iron. There was a flash of black, and then Dave let out a cry, knocking his head and passing out.

  Karla gasped as she finally saw what had saved her. A wolf! The wolf limped forward and then collapsed. And soon it wasn’t a wolf at all, but the crumpled body of Malcolm. Holding Charlie in safety was the only thing that kept her from dropping to her knees. She sucked in a greedy breath, suddenly unable to get oxygen into her system.

  “Malcolm,” she said as the naked man, covered in the tattered remains of a luxury suit, lifted his head with a groan.

  “He’s not dead,” he said gruffly as if that was what she would be most concerned with.

  “You’re a shifter,” she said with shaking lips. Bella and Ginger came running up.

  “The police are coming, Malcolm,” Ginger said as she threw a robe over their boss. She glanced towards the crumpled man near the fence. “He’ll be waking up any second now, I’m sure.” Karla saw with wide eyes that the housekeeper had brought some heavy rope. “I’ll tie his hands behind his back before the police arrive.”

  Charlie began to calm down as Bella helped her father stumble upwards. Karla went towards him with wide eyes, blinking in disbelief as she stretched out a hand and patted his flesh. “But you’re were a wolf just a moment ago,” she breathed. Bella giggled.

  “That’s the idea, Karla!”

  Karla glanced at her. It wasn’t until now that she’d noticed Malcolm’s eyes had shifted to a strange shade of gold, the same color that one of young Bella’s eyes also were. “Are you…?”

  “I’m only half,” the girl said proudly. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to shift.”

  Malcolm cracked his neck and winced. “The police are coming, Karla, can we get the children inside?”

  She nodded numbly and dragged a protesting Bella back to the house. Charlie was more than happy to be back in his crib and fell asleep after a few moments. Bella looked at Karla with a curious face.

  “Miss Karla, are you mad…” she trailed off with a frown. “Are you mad that we’re shifters?”

  Karla’s mouth dropped. “Of course not, Bella. You’re perfect just the way you are. I didn’t know…it was a surprise.”

  “I wanted to tell you,” the young girl told her in a matter of fact tone with her arms crossed. “But, Dad said that we should wait.”

  Karla had a feeling that, if it were possible, he would’ve never told her. Ginger popped in after a moment. “The police would like to speak with you. I’ll take care of the children today.”

  The police were told the entire truth, except for the wolf part. They took Dave away in handcuffs. She immediately went to shower under a hot spray. For what seemed like hours, she sat beneath the heated water and tried to process what had happened. By the time she emerged, it was well past midnight. She crept up to Malcolm’s study and knocked lightly. There was no answer. She crept inside. He was fast asleep; his head rested on his desk in his arms. She tapped him gently.

  “Malcolm.”

  His eyes stirred and focused on her. “I’m sorry, Karla.” The statement was automatic. She shook her head. When he straightened upwards, there was a picture beneath him. She smiled.

  “It’s Elizabeth?”

  He frowned. “Yes.”

  “She was beautiful,” she said with a smile and then stared at him. “Malcolm, I like you…but I don’t want to hurt you and your family.”

  He blinked in astonishment. “I should be the one saying that I don’t want to hurt you. Do you have any idea how hard it is to live with a shifter?”

  She caressed his face with one hand, admiring the golden tint of his eyes. “You usually wear colored contacts. I prefer your real eyes.” His hand reached up to hold her own. His eyes closed.

  “I didn’t want to tell you.”

  “I know.”

  “Are you upset?” His eyes opened, and he searched her face for some kind of signal. She smiled wryly.

  “Not at all,” she admitted. “But, you haven’t said if you’ve liked me back, yet.”

  He flashed her a grin. “It sounds like we’re two high schoolers.”

  She laughed. “Don’t tell me that. I’ll run back to my room.”

  He protested quickly, “No. Please. Stay.” He slipped the photo back into his drawer in a swift movement. “But, I can’t say that I’m over my wife.”

  “I don’t think one can get over something like that,” she said with a shrug. “As long as I’m the person that you want in your life…but will it be difficult with the children?”

  “The children adore you,” he said and smirked. “It’s a shared trait in this family, I’m afraid.” She covered her face in embarrassment using her other hand.

  “You’re going to make me blush.”

  “What if I like making you blush?” he asked, his voice a bit huskier. Her heart hammed against her chest.

  “That wouldn’t be so bad,” she confessed. His arms came up suddenly around her in a second, and he pulled her into a tight, passionate kiss. She melted into him.

  Chapter 8

  They made it to Malcolm’s bedroom somehow while pawing at each other wildly. He wasn’t prepared for the soft sensation of Karla’s skin under his fingertips. How could something feel so utterly wonderful? It’d been so long since he’d touched a woman like this. Her eyelids fluttered open as he broke away from their embrace to undo his bedroom door. When the doorknob turned beneath his hand, her eyes opened wide as she scanned the room behind his shoulders. He feigned a bashful look.

  “It’s dark, but it fits you,” she said with a timid air, raising her fingers to her lips. How he wanted to claim those delicate lips for eternity! His bedroom was draped mostly in black and royal blue with gilded accents of gold. He gestured around the room with a lopsided grin.

  “Not too much of a bachelor’s room?” He asked in a teasing voice. She took a step towards him and placed her hands on his chest. His heart slammed against his chest as she looked up at him beneath her lashes. Her cheeks were dusted with pink. Somehow her blushes only served to arouse his passion even more.

  “I can’t really concentrate on the décor right now,” she admitted with a sneaky smile. She didn’t have to mention it again. He leaned down to capture her lips with a hungry movement, a vicious speed. She moaned benea
th his touch, and his hands swept upwards to roam her sides. It was as if she couldn’t get close enough to him. They had to be one. She pressed herself against his chest with a desperate breath and muttered, “Malcolm. Is this wrong?” He searched her eyes for those thoughts tumbling beneath the surface.

  “No,” he answered quickly. And he was sure of what he wanted now. “And I should be the one asking you that.” He delivered this revelation between short kisses that she didn’t fight off. She nodded her head and rested it against his chest. Could she hear his heart thundering inside him? He felt her fingers roam around his lean back, her fingertips exploring the hard edges of his muscles. She shivered against him, and he smirked, smelling her interest was easy enough. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that he could smell it on her before. His mouth went to the delicate expanse of her naked neck. She groaned in pleasure as he nibbled against her. Later, he would place his mark on her when she was ready for it. But, there were more important things to attend to now.

  He slipped his hands beneath her shirt as they stumbled over to the bed. They pressed their lips together in a steamy embrace. His hands couldn’t stop touching her luscious skin. Her moaning responses weren’t helping. His tongue ran over her lips, and she began to tug at his suit pants. He chuckled darkly against her ravenous kiss and helped her. They undressed with impatience, nearly tugging so hard that they ripped the fabric of their clothes with their actions. He could afford to spare a ripped suit, although Ginger would undoubtedly have some suggestive remarks.

  Before she could slip her hands beneath his black briefs, he grabbed her wrists and leveled a serious look at her startled face. “Are you sure, Karla?”

  She smirked. “You can’t get out of this now, Malcolm.” He returned the saucy look. Soon, they tumbled naked into the bed behind them. He was quick to get on top of her, unwilling to restrain any of his carnal desires as he pleasured her. She squirmed beneath him, crying out in pleasure as his mouth and hands explored the intimate places of her body. She was panting as his hands slipped by her entrance and writhed against him with pleasure. Watching her body was witnessing poetry being written. He wanted to write his love for her against her skin with all the loving touches that he could give.