Taking Shape

by Tielle St Clare

  Crouched on the ground, he willed his human form to return. The slow stretching of his muscles was a silent, painful process. The thin layer of baby fur faded from his skin and his human hair returned. It didn’t take long to make the switch but it took a moment for him to recover.

  He lifted his head and looked across the mattress. Tally was deep in sleep, her mouth slightly open, almost begging for his kiss. Her leg was curled up to the side and Nick knew if he lifted the bottom of her nightgown he’d see the deep pink of her cunt. Damn, he’d become obsessed with her pussy in the past three days.

  With a sigh, he stepped away from the bed. He wasn’t here to make love to her. Again. He hurried downstairs and found Tally’s open briefcase on the kitchen table. Papers were casually stacked inside. He glanced through the financial reports she seemed to be reviewing.

  He kept part of his mind focused on noises from upstairs and with the rest he reviewed the pages and the calculations. She didn’t seem to be hiding information—she seemed to be searching for it. The disk lay in the bottom of her briefcase.

  He grabbed the disk and went to her office. It took only a few minutes to bring up her computer. A quick scan of the disk’s files revealed that this was her high priority disk. It appeared that anything of importance was on this disk. There were lists of subordinates’ salaries and employee reviews. She was smart and protective.

  He looked through the files and there was nothing to indicate that she’d been stealing. More notes about the Georgia plant sale. He dialed into the network and sent some of the files to Jameson for review.

  Nick glanced at the clock. It was getting late and he needed to get back into puppy form. He meticulously returned everything to its place and went upstairs. He listened at the door for the slow steady pace of Tally’s breathing.

  Instead there was a soft gasp. Nick recognized the sound. She’d made it the night before when he’d licked her clit. He pushed open the door, inching it wider so he could see her on the bed. The cool moonlight that drifted through the window was enough to illuminate her pale body. Her nightgown was raised, baring her sleek legs and that hot pussy. He licked his lips at the memory, hoping to find some remaining trace of her flavor. He took a step back and leaned against the wall as the memory of her sighs and groans flowed into this crotch and hardened his cock.

  Another breathy sigh from Tally didn’t help the affliction. Unable to resist, he looked back through the opening. Her hand lay between her legs, pumping and pushing. Her knees pulled back as she thrust her fingers into her cunt. His hand pushed the door open even as his mind—the distant portion of his brain that was functioning—commanded that he draw back.

  But the exotic vision of Tally spread before him, her own fingers plunging into her pussy, was too much for his desperate body to resist. He stepped to the side of the bed and stared down. Her eyes were shut, her lips open as she gasped for air.

  Get out, change, move. Do something. He knew he had to follow the strident commands of his mind but there was something so compelling about the slow pump of her hand between her thighs and scent that arose from her sex.

  Her eyes fluttered open. Nick tensed. The haze of sleep was gone from her gaze and he could see the fear building in her body. He had to do something.

  “It’s just a dream,” he whispered.

  As his words drifted into the air, he began to change. His body shrunk and…turned furry. Tally blinked and sat up, staring at the puppy wagging his tail. She’d been so sure she was awake—on the verge of coming—and when she’d opened her eyes Nick had been standing in her bedroom. It had seemed too real.

  Right up to the point where he turned into a dog.

  The puppy yipped. Tally jumped, the sound giving an extra jolt to her heart. She was awake now. With the tilt of his puppy head, he bounced on his hind legs, trying to get to her. After a moment, she reached over the side and picked him up. He jumped over her leg and crawled up until he was again nestled against her chest. One quick sigh later, he closed his eyes and collapsed into sleep. Tally watched for a moment then shook her head. It had all seemed so real.

  She rubbed the puppy’s head and stared into the darkness. The dream lingered, keeping her awake until the sun rose. Finally, she dragged herself out of bed and got ready for work. Before she left the house, she let the puppy out, fed him—which he again refused to eat—locked him in the laundry room and ran from the house before she had to endure any of his mournful cries. The guilt at leaving him alone all day was bad enough.

  Still trying to shake off the affects of the dream, she arrived at work in a daze.

  Tally stepped off the elevator and was immediately hit with the wave of concern and fear that permeated her office. She looked at the receptionist, hoping to get a sense of what was happening. Bethy’s eyes grew wide and filled with tears.

  “Bethy, what’s wrong?”

  “Doug, the security guard?” Tally nodded. She knew him. Saw him most nights when he made his rounds and she was working late. “He’s dead.”

  “What happened?”

  “I don’t know but the police are here.” Bethy took a deep breath. “They found him in your office.”

  “What?”

  “Tally?”

  She whipped around at Edward’s low, serious call. Martin hovered in the background as Martin tended to do.

  “Edward, I just heard. What happened?”

  “I really can’t say much. The police would like to talk to you.” He nodded to two men standing beside him.

  “Of course.”

  One of the men stepped forward. “We’d like to talk to you at the station if that’s all right, Ms. Hayward.”

  Tally felt her heart skip a beat. Oh, she’d seen enough TV shows to know that was never a good thing.

  Nick stared at the numbers on his phone. This couldn’t be good. He flipped the phone open. “What’s up?” he asked Jameson.

  “We’ve got major problems.” Energy raced down Nick’s spine and he was immediately on his feet and moving to the door.

  “What’s happened?”

  “The police just took Tally in.”

  Was this why Branch hadn’t needed Nick’s service? He’d decided to have Tally arrested. It didn’t make any sense. Devon, Caitlin and Nick had gone over everything they knew about Tally and all agreed there was nothing to indicate she was stealing.

  “What’s the charge?”

  “It’s not official yet, but they think she murdered someone.”

  Chapter Seven

  Tally stared at the gunmetal gray walls, trying to get her mind around the fact that they thought she’d killed Doug. Oh, they hadn’t arrested her. The police just wanted to “talk” but it amounted to the same thing. They thought she’d killed someone. Her initial panic was eased slightly when she learned that Doug was probably killed on Friday night. She was safe. She had an alibi. Richard. He’d been with her all night. Well, he’d disappeared for a little bit but he’d been naked at the time. Somehow she doubted he’d gone far.

  She tapped her fingers on the tabletop and waited. She hadn’t asked for a lawyer—not yet anyway—because she was innocent. All they had to do was make a phone call to Richard and he would confirm that she was home all night. With him. In bed. There was no way he could forget that night, she thought with a smile. It was indelibly burned into her memory.

  The door opened and she slowly stood, expecting Detective One—she’d long since forgotten their names—to tell her she was free to go.

  “Did you talk to Richard?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the detective answered, stepping into the room and closing the door. “And he says he was in Chicago on Friday night.”

  “But he didn’t go to Chicago until Saturday.”

  “No, ma’am, we checked the airlines and Richard Chalmers was on the plane Friday afternoon so he couldn’t have been with you.” He nodded to the chair, indicating she should sit back down. “Now, is there anything you’d like to tell me about t
hat night? Maybe it was an accident. You were startled, thought the guard was a burglar and you hit him before you realized who he was.”

  “I didn’t hit him. I wasn’t there. I was at home, with Richard.” Why would Richard say he hadn’t been there? It didn’t make sense.

  “Your boyfriend says different. Are you sure you want to stick to that story?” the detective asked softly.

  “It isn’t a story. It’s the truth. Let me talk—” Her plea to talk to Richard was interrupted by a knock and the door swinging open. Nick, looking strong and comforting, entered without acknowledging the detective’s presence. Two other men walked in behind him. One was the other detective. The other was a man she didn’t recognize but he had the aura of “lawyer” about him. Nick immediately came to her and pulled her into his arms. The warmth of his body melted the strength she’d been fighting so hard to maintain. Tears welled up and crept over her eyelids. She wrapped her arms around his neck and began to cry.

  “Shh, shh. It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be all right.” She knew the others were there but she didn’t care. All that mattered was Nick had come for her. She didn’t know how or why but he was here. He continued to whisper to her, soothing nonsense that somehow reassured her. A long time later, when her tears were cried out, she lifted her head and looked into his blue eyes. “Okay now?”

  She nodded, the strength she’d been faking no longer an act.

  “What’s going on?” Detective One said.

  “This is her legal team,” Detective Two announced from the doorway.

  Tally blinked away the last tear and took a good look at the well-dressed man.

  “Tally, this is my brother Devon. He’s going to act as your lawyer.” Nick settled her against his side. “But I think we can clear this up right now.”

  Devon stepped forward. “I’m hoping to forestall any more inclination in my client’s direction with regards to this murder. She couldn’t have killed that security guard. She was in her house all night.”

  Somehow she felt comforted when the lawyer said it with such official tones. She knew it was true but it sounded better coming out of his mouth.

  “So she says,” Detective One said. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. “But her building access badge says different. Shows her entering at twelve-thirty Saturday morning.”

  “I lost my badge on Friday,” she protested. Devon nodded. At least he believed her.

  “Tally couldn’t have been downtown at twelve-thirty on Friday night,” Nick said. “She was in bed.” He paused and she could see him bracing himself. “With me.” Heat spun through her chest and stomach. He was lying for her? Why?

  The two detectives smirked at each other and then turned to her. “That’s interesting, because she told us she was with another man all night.”

  “She’s confused.”

  Tally’s overwhelmed brain snapped back into clarity. “What?!” She stared at Nick but he kept his attention on the detectives. He looked so confident—but he was lying. She’d been with Richard.

  “Friday night, I picked her up at her office, we took her car to dinner and then went back to her place. All night.” The wicked glint in his eyes revealed clearly what they’d been doing all night. But that had been Richard. Hadn’t it?

  The sexy words, the exciting lovemaking. So not like Richard. No—she stalled her wayward thoughts—it had been Richard. She’d seen him. Confusion and fear that she was losing her sanity pounded at her already stressed temples.

  “Then why would she say it was someone else?”

  Nick had the grace to look sheepish. “I’m pretty good at disguising myself. I dressed up like her boyfriend, clothes, wig, makeup, and stayed in low light. It wasn’t that hard to fool her.” He looked at her and she could see the apology in his eyes. She turned away. Why was he lying? She’d seen him in full light—in her office and at her house. There was no way that was Nick.

  “Check her phone records,” he said. “I made a call about two in the morning and I dialed in to the Internet and sent an email. I was there.” He sounded so definite, Tally was starting to believe him.

  Either she was crazy or stupid. She moved forward so she could look directly into Nick’s face. Into his eyes. His blue eyes. The same color that Richard’s had been on Friday night.

  “Oh my God.” She didn’t know how it was possible but somehow it had been Nick, not Richard, in bed with her that night. The air that had seemed in such short supply suddenly flooded her lungs. She gulped in a deep breath. Her hand snapped out and came into sharp contact with Nick’s cheek. His head rocked to the side. He paused then nodded.

  “I guess I deserved that.”

  The other men backed away, as if they knew the true power of an infuriated woman. He’d made love to her—fucked her. She felt her stomach roll over and she thought she might throw up. A warm hand on her back counteracted the sick feeling. Damn it, even when she was furious with him, his touch seemed to comfort her.

  Devon snapped his briefcase shut. The definitive click seemed to declare the conversation complete. “Check her phone records, detectives, and confirm the time of death of your victim. I can assure you, it would be physically impossible for Ms. Hayward to be your killer. And if you want to talk to her again, you can call my office.” Devon handed him a card. “We’ll be going now.”

  Her mind reeling, Tally followed the command in Devon’s voice along with everyone else in the room. Devon led her out of the station house and to a silver sedan. Nick opened the passenger door and helped her inside. Exhaustion from the tension that had bound her body for the past three hours tore at her strength and Tally collapsed into the seat.

  “Get busy on finding out what more the cops know,” Nick commanded his brother. “And find out where Branch and Jessup were on Friday night. Get Jameson working—”

  “I got it, Nick. We’ve done this before. We’ll have all the information we need in a few hours.”

  The words entered Tally’s head but she wasn’t sure she was processing the information fully.

  “You’d better take care of her.”

  She looked up and saw Nick nod—the grim face of a man who didn’t want to confess his sins.

  Nick climbed into the car and started it, pulling out into traffic without speaking.

  “How—?” she started to ask. Nick shook his head.

  “I’ll explain it all when we get to your place.”

  She was vaguely aware of Nick driving through town, stopping at her house and getting out of the car. He’d obviously been here before because he didn’t ask for directions. He followed her up the front walk, waiting patiently as she opened the door and went inside.

  She looked at him, remembering the first time she’d seen him—in the coffee shop. A casual meeting—an accident. Or maybe it wasn’t.

  Tally walked into the living room and spun around to face him. She was done waiting for answers.

  “Who are you? And how—” She jabbed her finger into his chest. “How did you do it?”

  He winced. “If you’ll give me a chance, I might be able to explain some of this.”

  “I don’t know how you’re going to explain how you disguised yourself as my boyfriend, fucked me and then provided me with an alibi for a murder I didn’t commit. It’s not possible. I saw Richard that night. Not you. Explain that.”

  “I’m a shape shifter.”

  A cough came out of her throat—a mixture of laughter and choking. “What the—” A yip from the laundry room grabbed her attention. The puppy.

  “Go get the dog and I’ll explain.”

  She laughed this time. “You’ll explain.” Somehow Nick’s answer eased some of her anger. He was crazy. That was something she could understand since she was feeling a little insane herself. She walked to the room off the kitchen and opened the door. The brown little puppy crouched on the floor. Once again its tail was flapping back and forth. “Hi, sweetie.” She p
icked him up. He licked her face and then scrambled his legs like he wanted to get down. Strange, last night he’d wanted her to carry him around.

  She brought him back to the living room and placed him on the carpet. The puppy immediately ran to Nick’s side. Nick knelt down and scratched the dog’s ears.

  “Hey, little guy. Remember me?” The puppy wagged and bounced, the excitement obviously too much for his little body to contain.

  Fighting to regain some of her anger, Tally dragged her attention away from the puppy and back to Nick. “Well?” she demanded.

  He stood up and faced her. “I’m a shape shifter,” he said again.

  “You know how crazy that sounds right?”

  “Yeah but it’s the truth.” He sat down on the arm of the couch. “My whole family can do it. It started back in the mid-1600s and it’s just passed to every generation.”

  “A whole family of shape shifters,” she said, not even trying to keep the disbelief out of her voice.

  “Exactly. So on Friday night I turned into Richard—or at least made myself look like him—and took you out to dinner, brought you here and made love to you.” He stood up and walked toward her. Even though he was patently insane, she didn’t feel the urge to back away. “You admitted it yourself—that he hadn’t acted like himself that night.”

  “It’s not possible.”

  “Anything’s possible.”

  He took a deep breath and his body changed. It shrunk and grew furry. Tally’s throat closed up as she watched him. His clothes fell into a pile as the form beneath it collapsed. One moment he was standing in front of her. The next—he was a puppy. She shook her head, trying to erase the picture in front of her. It wasn’t possible. It wasn’t. But there it was. She pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. The dream. She’d seen this in her dream, the one that had felt like reality.

  Nick sat on his haunches and looked up at her. His tail fluttered with little doggie excitement.