“I told you, asshole! They’re gonna win the cup this year, and that’s the fucking truth.”
She glanced over at the group of shifters who were crowded around a table just a few feet from her. They were young, early twenties maybe, and based on the natural grace of their big, lean bodies, she guessed they were a group of cat shifters. Tori had brought them pitcher after pitcher of beer in the last forty minutes or so, and their good-natured arguing over some sort of sporting event had gradually gotten more heated.
She slid off the stool and smoothed down her dress. She would use the washroom and check her hair before Hudson started his break. As she started toward the bathroom, the two cat shifters stood and glared at each other.
“You’re a fucking idiot, Terry!” The larger one snarled. “They’ll never win the goddamn cup and you know it.”
“Shut the hell up,” Terry said before baring his fangs and hissing at him. “You’re just fucking upset because your team didn’t even make the goddamn semi-finals. Not that I’m fucking surprised by that. Your team couldn’t throw their way out of a wet paper bag if they -”
“You fucking dickhead!”
As Rosalie skirted by their table, the larger shifter reached out and shoved Terry in the chest. Terry staggered back, and Rosalie cried out when his heavy body smashed into hers. It knocked her on her ass, and she made another sharp cry when the back of her head hit the bar. She crumpled to the floor, her ears ringing and bright lights flashing in her vision.
Above her, the two shifters were swelling in size. They growled at each other as black and orange fur began to sprout from Terry’s skin. Faintly, she heard Hudson shout her name as Judd grabbed the larger shifter.
“Hey, knock it off, ya dickweeds. Or I’ll kick – fuck me! You son of a bitch!” The larger shifter had turned and sliced Judd’s chest open with a quick flick of his nails. Judd roared with anger and pain as Rosalie struggled to her feet.
Judd, blood soaking into the front of his t-shirt, grabbed the larger shifter and threw him to the ground. He made another roar of anger that sent Terry skittering back and directly into Rosalie again.
This time she managed to catch herself on the bar as the tiger shifter turned and hissed at her. He raised his hand, the nails were turning into sharp claws as more fur sprouted across his face. “Stupid human bitch! You’d better watch where you’re going or I’ll fucking slice you open from -”
“Hudson, no!” Rosalie shouted as the giant polar bear lumbered into view behind Terry.
He ignored her, his roar of anger making the glasses vibrate on the table as one massive paw smashed into Terry’s side. The tiger shifter went flying, his big body landing on one of the tables. It collapsed under his weight as beer bottles shattered on the floor, sending the cloying scent of hops into the air, and Terry groaned in pain. Rosalie could see blood dripping down the tiger shifter’s ribs as Hudson growled and dropped to all fours before striding toward him.
“Hudson, get back.” Judd, still in his human form, stepped in front of the polar bear, blocking him from the terrified tiger shifter lying on the floor. “He didn’t mean to hurt your woman. Go on, I’ll take care of this. C’mon, man, don’t be - shit!”
Judd, moving way faster than a man his size should have been able to, dove to the left as Hudson stood and swiped at him with one paw. It just missed his head, and Judd glared at him from the floor.
“Goddammit, Hudson! You asshole, knock it off!”
Hudson bared his teeth at him before turning his gaze to the tiger shifter. Terry had staggered to his feet and he licked his lips nervously before holding out his hands. “Please, man. I didn’t know she was your woman. I didn’t mean to hurt her, I swear.”
Hudson snarled again before rising up on his back feet. He towered over the frightened shifter and raised one paw. Terry’s moan of fear trailed off when Rosalie stepped in front of him.
She stared up at Hudson and shook her head. “Hudson, no.”
He snarled and bared his fangs, saliva dripping off their very pointed ends as he stared at the tiger shifter over her head.
She took another step toward him as Judd shouted, “Rosalie, get away from him! He’s not thinking straight!”
She shook her head again. Despite his anger, despite the blood that was splattered on his thick fur and coating his claws, she wasn’t afraid. Hudson would never hurt her.
She reached up, ignoring the frightened gasps of the shifters around them, and pressed her hand against the thick fur that covered his chest. “Hudson, look at me, honey.”
The bear growled again, she could feel it reverberating through her hand and down her arm and she rubbed her hand through the thick white fur.
“Look at me,” she demanded.
His gaze dropped to her, and she smiled up at him. “Don’t do this, honey. Please.”
He studied her for a long moment before he shivered all over. Thick fur turned to warm, hard flesh, and she smiled at him when he was fully human again. He picked up her hand from where it rested against his chest and pressed a tender kiss against the palm.
“My mate,” his voice was low, “are you all right?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m all right, honey.”
“Well, fuck me sideways. Ain’t this just fucking great.”
They both turned at the sound of Judd’s voice. He was looking at his chest and he winced and touched the bleeding gashes before studying the utterly silent crowd of people staring at Hudson and Rosalie. Judd shook his head as Porter came out of the back hallway and joined them.
“What the hell just happened?” He peered at Judd’s bleeding chest. “Jesus, Judd, are you all right?”
“I’ll live,” Judd growled.
Porter stared at the bleeding tiger shifter and at the naked Hudson before running a hand through his hair. “Will someone please tell me what the fuck is going on?”
* * *
“Hudson, I’m fine,” Rosalie said.
Hudson ignored her and carried her up the stairs to her bedroom. He set her on the bed with infinite gentleness, and she gave him a look that was half amusement and half exasperation. “The ER doctor said I was fine. I don’t even have a concussion.”
He knelt in front of her and removed her shoes.
“Hudson, sit down.” She patted the bed next to her and he finally sat beside her. She took his big hand. “Did you text Judd?”
“He’s fine,” he grunted. “Fully healed.”
She sighed with relief. “Good. What about the tiger shifter?”
“Healed. He told Porter he wasn’t going to press charges.”
More relief flooded through her. ‘Thank God.”
They lapsed into silence and she gave him a small smile. “It was nice of Porter to let you leave early to take me to the hospital.”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t say anything else, and she hated the uncomfortable silence. “Hudson, are you upset with me?”
“What?” He gave her a look of bafflement. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”
“Because you’re acting so weird and -”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry for scaring you and for growling at you and… but when I saw you fall, I thought you were really hurt and I…”
“You didn’t scare me.” She squeezed his hand. “Not even when you growled. I knew you wouldn’t hurt me, Hudson.”
“I wouldn’t,” he whispered. “I swear to God, Rosalie. I would never hurt you.”
“I know.” She stroked his light hair and pressed a kiss against his shoulder. “Are you hungry? You never did get to eat dinner.”
He cupped her face and kissed her on the mouth. “I’m not hungry.”
“In that case.” She reached for the bottom of his shirt but he put his hands on top of hers.
“Rosalie, wait.”
“Don’t you want me?” She asked.
“You know I do, but maybe you should rest.”
“I’m fine.
Just a small bump on the head.” She tugged his shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor before running her hands over his broad chest. He inhaled sharply, and she smiled to herself before hopping off the bed.
She stood in front of him and said, “Take off your jeans, Hudson.”
He stripped them and his briefs off in record time, leaving them on the floor by the bed. He sat back down on the side of the bed, one big hand rubbing his growing erection as he stared at her body. She turned around. “Unzip me, please.”
He unzipped her dress, and she shivered delicately when he pressed kisses along her exposed spine. She let the dress slide down to the floor and didn’t object when Hudson pulled her into his lap.
She ground her ass against his erection as he quickly unclasped her bra and raked it down her arms. He tossed it aside and she leaned back against him, bracing her hands on his heavy thighs as he cupped her breasts and kissed her neck.
“You smell so good, little human,” he said.
She arched her back, moaning and crying out with pleasure as she watched him play with her tits until her nipples were swollen and aching. He pinched the right one, growling with satisfaction when she cried out with pleasure.
“So beautiful,” he growled again.
She jerked with surprise when he tore her panties from her body as easily as if they were made of paper. He dropped them on the floor and rubbed her thighs. “Open.”
She spread her legs apart, letting them dangle on the outside of his thighs. He spread his legs, exposing all of her pussy to him, and she clutched at his forearm when he rubbed her clit.
“Please, Hudson,” she moaned as he circled her clit.
He pressed against her core, making a small grunt of surprise when his finger slipped into her easily. “So wet already, honey.”
“I need you,” she said.
“Do you want me to fuck you?” He slid his finger into the last knuckle and pressed against the front wall of her pussy.
She cried out, her entire body trembling. Her cry of need turned to frustration when he slid his finger out of her pussy and resumed his lazy circling of her clit. “Hudson, no!”
“Does my good girl want to be fucked?”
“Yes,” she moaned.
He weaved one hand into her long hair and tugged her head back so he could nip her throat. His other hand cupped her pussy, his rough fingers tapping gently on her wet entrance. “Whose pussy is this?”
“Yours,” she said immediately. “It’s your pussy.”
“Only mine,” he said.
“Only yours,” she whispered.
“That’s my good girl.” He squeezed her pussy and then patted her thigh. “Turn around, good girl.”
She slid off his lap and turned around before climbing eagerly into his lap. She straddled his hips, rubbing her wet pussy back and forth over his thick cock. The head bumped against her clit, and she moaned and rocked against it. Fuck, she could come like this. In fact, she was going to come with just another stroke or two…
She pouted, and smacked Hudson’s back in frustration when his hands cupped her hips and stopped her from moving. “I was going to come.”
His low laugh made her pussy drip. “Not until I say you can.”
He reached between them and gripped the base of his dick before pressing it against her. She wiggled eagerly into place, crying out a little when the head slipped into her. She pressed up against him, feeling her walls stretch around his thickness as he cupped her ass and carefully eased her down over his cock.
When they were completely joined, he leaned back and stared at her pussy before rubbing her clit with the ball of his thumb.
“Oh God,” she moaned, and rocked against him again.
He made a low growl as his other hand rubbed her lower back. “Don’t come yet, little human.”
“I want to,” she said.
“I know.” He hooked his arm around her hips and held her tight as he thrust in and out of her. “But I want you to wait. Are you my good girl?”
She cupped his face, studying the lovely chocolate shade of his eyes, and rubbing her fingers against the stubble on his jaw. “I’m your good mate,” she whispered.
Lust flared in his eyes and his arm squeezed her tight before he thrust hard and deep. “Good mate,” he growled.
She closed her eyes, letting her head fall back as she rode Hudson. He cupped her breast and placed hot nips and kisses against her upper chest as she squeezed her pussy around him and met every stroke of his cock.
“Look at me, my mate,” Hudson demanded.
She opened her eyes and stared at him as he took one hand and linked their fingers together
He kissed her deeply, sliding his tongue into her mouth before sucking on her bottom lip. “My mate,” he breathed against her mouth.
“Your mate,” she whispered.
He groaned and rubbed her clit, kissing her again and swallowing her cries of pleasure as she came on his cock. She squeezed around him as he released her mouth and groaned with desire.
She cupped his face, grinding her body against his as they stared at each other. When he came, his big body shuddering and twitching beneath hers, he moaned her name. She held him tightly, studying his face intently as he found his pleasure in her body.
He collapsed on his back, bringing her with him and she rested her head on his chest, smiling at the sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear.
“My mate,” he said again, the sound vibrating out of his chest.
“Yes,” she murmured. “Yours.”
Chapter Nineteen
“You’re such a good boy for letting mama sleep in,” Rosalie cooed to Mr. Pibbles. She poured his food into the dish and petted the purring cat before leaving him to eat. She made herself a cup of coffee and added a generous splash of milk then sat down with her phone.
Before she could check her texts, the phone rang in her hand. She hit the answer button. “Hi, Maggie.”
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Did Porter tell you what happened?”
“He did. Apparently, Hudson freaked the heck out last night and almost killed a tiger shifter,” Maggie said.
Rosalie sipped at her coffee. “That’s a bit of an exaggeration. He just got upset and shifted, but he wasn’t going to kill the guy or anything.”
“I saw the video, Rosalie. If you hadn’t stepped in between them, he would have killed him.”
“Video?” Rosalie set her cup on the table. “What video?”
“Shit, you haven’t seen it yet?”
“I just got up. After we got back from the hospital last night, Hudson and I went straight to bed. He’s still sleeping.”
Maggie laughed. “Girl, you’ve gone viral.”
“What are you talking about?” Rosalie said.
“Someone recorded what happened last night with their phone and then uploaded it to YouTube. It’s already got like three hundred thousand views. Hell, there’s even a meme going around Facebook.”
“You’re kidding me,” Rosalie said.
“I’m not. You might even be trending on Twitter. Hashtag Beauty tames the Beast,” Maggie said with a giggle.
“I – what? Beauty tames the Beast?”
Maggie laughed again. “Hang up the phone and Google ‘polar bear shifter freaks out’ or ‘Beauty tames the Beast’. You’ll find it.”
“Okay, um, bye, Maggie.”
Feeling a little like she’d been hit by a train, Rosalie Googled the words “Beauty tames the Beast’ then clicked the YouTube link that immediately popped up. She watched the video in silence, paying no attention to Mr. Pibbles when he weaved around her leg.
“Oh my God,” she whispered when it ended. She immediately hit play again and watched it a second time. The person had started recording just as Judd was telling Hudson to stop. She stared wide-eyed at the giant polar bear, sweat breaking out on her temples when he tried to attack Judd. Her hands clenched around her phone when she
stepped into view.
She looked incredibly small and fragile standing in front of Hudson in his polar bear form, and she could hear the audible gasps on the video when she stepped toward him and placed her hand on his fur-covered chest. He shifted to his human form, and the way he kissed the palm of her hand so tenderly made her pulse go skipping into overdrive.
The video ended, and she read some of the comments, her face going bright red and hot to the touch. Some of them were crude – did you see how much blurring they had to do to hide his dick?, some of them were horribly racist – all fucking shifters should be shot on sight. I’d fucking hang his head on my trophy wall where it belongs, but the majority of the comments focused on how she’d convinced Hudson to shift to his human form. She read comment after comment, her eyes nearly bugging out of her head.
“Beauty tames the Beast!”
“What the hell? That bitch’s got nuts of goddamn steel!’
“I’m a coyote shifter. She can tame me anytime she wants. Anyone know her name? I need a woman like that in my life and my bed.”
“I gotta find this woman. I think I’m in love. I’ll be her beast.”
“Who knew a hot chick could tame the savage beast?”
“Is this 4 real? How the fuck she get that bear 2 calm down?”
“That giant bear loves his woman. She about to get some 2nite!”
She sat back with a thud, staring at Mr. Pibbles when he jumped up on the table. After a moment, she checked Facebook. She didn’t have many friends, but Sam, the squirrel shifter from work, had already tagged her in a post with a “Holy shit, it’s you, Rosalie!” comment.
The post was a still shot of the video turned into a meme. It had already been shared thousands of times, and this time she didn’t even bother to scroll through the long list of comments.
‘How a Beauty Tames a Beast” was written across the image in bold dark red letters. It was the moment where Hudson kissed her hand, and she stared at their images – at the way he looked at her as he kissed her palm and the way she looked at him – for a long time.
Rosalie Undone (The Shifters Series Book 6) Page 29