Tangled with a Shifter

by Moira Byrne

"It isn't bad . . ." she reassured me, "just a scratch. Come in the shower with me and you'll see."

  Sophie stepped into the water. I stood there and watched as it poured over her body. She tilted her head back and ran her hands over her hair, then looked at me with a raised eyebrow and an unmistakable invitation.

  It was clear that the decision was mine. Did I take a chance on the promise she offered? Could I trust her not to hurt me again?

  As I met her eyes, I knew there was only one answer to that question. My heart was in her hands and I couldn't turn away. I quickly removed the rest of my clothing and got in the shower with her. Sophie's smile burst to life. The way it warmed my heart told me I made the right decision.

  I picked up the washcloth and put it under the stream of water, then ran a bar of soap over it. Sophie's eyes flickered blue as they followed my movement. She reached up and ran her hand down my arm. I shivered as I felt the light touch of her claws.

  "None of that, you," I said, my voice a low growl that was nowhere near as intimidating as hers. "I need to get you cleaned up."

  Sophie shrugged, unrepentant. Challenge made her eyes burn brighter. I rose an eyebrow in warning. She just smiled. I dared to look away from my sneaky cat lady as I took the cloth and carefully ran it over the big red mark along her side.

  As the water washed the suds away, I saw it was, indeed, only a long, shallow scratch. Nothing else on her body was half as bad. She really was okay. I let out a small sigh of relief.

  "See?" Sophie said, laughter in her voice. "Just a scratch. But feel free to finish what you started."

  "How generous of you to let me wash you."

  "I know," she said with a sigh.

  I gently took her hand and ran the washcloth up her arm, leaving soapy lather behind. Her smile was pure seduction as she held out her other arm when I got to her shoulder.

  I took her hand and slowly ran the cloth over her body. When I got to her shoulder, I ran the cloth across the top of her chest, the corner brushing over the tips of her breasts.

  Their peaks tightened into little buds, and I couldn't stop myself from dipping my head down to flick my tongue against them. Sophie's breath hitched in her throat as I took it even further, pulling one of the tips into my mouth.

  I kissed and nipped as my other hand moved to brush the cloth over her other breast. Sophie's hands came up and threaded through my hair, holding me tight. I moved to her other breast and lavished attention on it.

  A moment later, I pulled back, to her disappointed moan.

  "I'm not done washing you yet," I said with a pant that betrayed my own desires.

  I straightened up to lather some more soap on the cloth when Sophie reached up and gripped both sides of my head. Before I could process anything, her lips were on mine.

  It wasn't a simple kiss. It was pure fire, roaring through my body, straining my already hard member. We were all lips, tongue, and teeth nipping at each other. Each breath that fell from our lips was hoarse.

  Her body pressed up against mine. I wrapped my arms around her to hold her tighter, the washcloth slipping from my hand. The water poured over us and her slick skin felt like heaven against mine.

  She wrapped her leg around me and my body touched her core. She pushed against me—slick, wet, and hotter than the water that fell over us. Irresistible to the strongest man. I moaned in the back of my throat. There was no world wherein I could stop myself from thrusting against her.

  She pulled back and gasped a breath of air. "Alex."

  I reached down and slipped my hand between us as my lips met hers again. I slid a finger inside, then placed my thumb over her sensitive bud. As I moved my fingers, her hips fell into my rhythm.

  Her arms slid around my shoulders, holding onto me tight. With each of her moans, I groaned against her lips and moved my fingers faster, harder.

  Her tongue danced frantically with mine until she suddenly pulled back, her body arching against me as she cried out. I held still inside her, gently circling her bud as I felt her pulse around me. Sophie panted in my ear as she slowly came back down.

  I was achingly hard, but I wanted to finish washing her first. Before I could even move to retrieve the abandoned washcloth, my plans disappeared as she circled a hand around my throbbing length. She gave a gentle squeeze, then ran her hand up and down my shaft.

  I closed my eyes and dropped my head back as I groaned. My eyes snapped open when she suddenly stopped touching me.

  "I'm clean enough, I think," she said as she turned off the water and grabbed my hand. "I want to continue this in bed."

  My mind felt like it was in a haze. It was all I could do to simply nod at her. She stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel, briskly rubbing the water off herself. I followed her out of the shower and she started to dry me off.

  I'd never thought something like this could be so erotic, but Sophie turned a mundane chore into sexual torture. I couldn't take this much longer, I felt like I was going to burst.

  While she ran the cloth over my body, I couldn't resist reaching out to run my fingers over her breasts. My hand trailed down her body, desperate to touch her again, but before I could reach my destination, she pulled back and grabbed my hand. She tossed the towel aside.

  We left the bathroom and fell to my bed. She was under me and her mouth was on mine again. Our kiss was even more heated than before, almost primal in the way we bit and sucked at each other's lips. I pulled back and trailed kisses along her jaw.

  "Sophie. My Sophie," I said before I lowered my head to her chest. I flicked out my tongue and played with the tip of her nipple, teasing her with feather-light touches.

  She moaned in protest and arched her back. I answered her plea and sealed my lips over one of the hard buds, lavishing it with my tongue. I smiled as a purr rumbled through her chest.

  I trailed a hand along her body. I turned my attention to her other breast as I slid my hand down and slipped through her slick folds. I found the hidden nub and traced deliberate circles around it with my finger.

  My body throbbed, bordering on painful. I could feel how ready she was for me and I wanted her now, but I forced myself to wait.

  She arched her hips into my hand, and I answered her unspoken plea and finally brushed my fingers over her clit. Her breath came out in short gasps as I moved my finger faster, giving her what she wanted. I gently tugged on her nipple with my teeth and her breathing grew short.

  "Alex," she panted. Her hands opened and closed helplessly, grabbing fistfuls of my sheets.

  Suddenly, she pushed on my shoulder and flipped me on my back without warning. My surprised gaze met her sultry smile. Her hand slipped down to caress my straining member. Her eyes were full of erotic promises as she slid down my body.

  "Sophie," I gasped as she took me in her mouth.

  It was just as much heaven as it was hell. I was already so hard I knew it wouldn't take much to send me over. But it felt so good and I held on as long as I could. She pulled me in deeply, then slowly slid off, trailing her tongue along the hard vein that ran along the underside of my shaft.

  "My God," I moaned as I pressed my head into the pillow and closed my eyes.

  My eyes snapped open as I felt the vibration of a purr on my already straining member. I groaned and she moved up to circle her tongue around the swollen head of my shaft, then back down. I couldn't take it anymore.

  "Sophie," I said, "I want to be inside you when I come."

  I reached down to grab her shoulders and she closed her lips tightly around my cock and gently pressed on me with her teeth. The sensation shot through me—a mix of pleasure and pain that short-circuited my brain.

  I groaned, "Sophie."

  Her answer was to run her tongue along my length once more. I couldn't stop my hips from jerking before she released me. As soon as she let go, I grabbed her and flipped her onto her back. I hooked an arm underneath her leg and slid inside her with one long stroke. We both moaned in unison, low and deep, an
d I held still for a moment.

  She was so tight and hot, and I wanted to stay there forever. But my body wanted to move. She rotated her hips and I let out a harsh gasp. She would be the death of me. I grabbed her hips and pulled almost all the way out.

  "No," she protested as she wrapped her legs around me and dug her heels into the backs of my upper thighs.

  In answer, I thrust all the way back in and she sighed in pleasure. My moan was a low counter to her sigh as a purr continuously poured out of her.

  I held tight onto her hips as I quickly found my rhythm. I wanted her to come with me, so I let go with one hand and reached between us. I slid my hand into her folds and found the spot that made her hips arch whenever I touched her.

  I timed each hard circle of my fingers with the thrust of my hips, rapidly moving us both toward release. I was almost there and wanted her to go over first. I pressed down harder and thrust deeper. Her body squeezed me as she climaxed, and she cried out, arching high into the air.

  I thrust into her twice more, then dropped my head down to her shoulder with a low moan as my climax claimed me. I shuddered, her breathing heavy in my ear. Somehow, I managed to prop myself up on my elbows so I didn't crush her as I rode out the waves of my own pleasure.

  When I could finally move, I lifted my head as I slid out from her and moved to lie down beside her. I pulled her in close and slipped an arm under her head. She nuzzled against my chest and a content purr softly rumbled out of her. Everything felt unbelievably perfect. Before I slipped into sleep, I hoped I wouldn't wake up to discover this was all just a dream.

  The next morning, I rolled over and ran my hand over the sheets. My heart sank as I encountered only cold emptiness. I opened my eyes, disappointment coursing through me. Where had she gone? It was then that my eyes fell upon a slip of paper on my nightstand.

  I had to go, but come by my place tonight. - Sophie

  I stared down at the simple note and rubbed at my tired eyes. Was I seeing things? I wasn't sure what was going on, but between last night and this note, my hope was swelling out of control. She had said that she didn't want us to be a one-time thing. Dare I gamble on the promise I saw in her eyes?

  15

  Sophie

  I took a deep breath as I jogged through the orchard. I knew Petunia was around here somewhere. It was early, but this was her domain. During my runs through here in cougar form, I'd noticed that her scent was strongest near the apple trees, so I headed there at an easy jog in my human form. I'd find her faster as a cat, but I needed to talk to her, and she always seemed uncomfortable when I was naked. My cat huffed in laughter.

  As I grew closer I noticed one of the trees ahead shook like a nervous, giggling girl. A flash of tightly pulled back silver hair glinted on the other side of the tree. Petunia Greenhaven strolled toward me, although she hadn't noticed me yet. Each tree subtly bowed toward her as she walked by them, as if trying to reach out and touch her, and slowly raised back up when she passed.

  The fae reached out her hands and gently brushed the trunks of the trees as she moved. Her eyes eventually found their way to me, glowing brightly. It was a shock to the system. Alex's eyes glowed like that, but nowhere near as strong as hers. I understood that only the eyes of the full-blooded fae glowed that brilliantly.

  Her peaceful expression faded and was replaced by one of annoyance.

  "What do you want? More scratching posts? I think you have quite enough."

  I held back a chuckle as I glanced at one of the posts several feet away. "No, thank you."

  She frowned deeply. "Then why, pray tell, are you here?"

  "Can't I simply come and pay my neighbor a visit?"

  "Not at the crack of dawn, you can't." Her voice was sharp enough to cut as she carefully enunciated each word. "Furthermore, it is considered polite to call ahead and schedule these things."

  I bit back my laughter. I could never tell if Petunia was teasing me or not. Since I was here to beg for a favor, it was in my best interest not to irritate her any more than I already had.

  "Sorry about that, but I needed to catch you before you became otherwise occupied."

  Her amber gaze never left me, even as a tree branch reached out and gently brushed her arm. She patted it, like a parent would comfort a child, and the branch straightened up.

  "Do they do that all the time?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.

  "Is that the purpose of your visit? To discuss my flora?"

  I shook my head and pulled myself back to the purpose of coming here. If anything, her voice was getting colder. I had no idea that could happen.

  I thought she perpetually spoke in icy tones, but she apparently had levels of frigid. I'd better get to the point before she put me in a deep freeze.

  "I need to discuss flora, but not yours. Actually, the acquisition of said flora." My cat was highly amused as I found myself matching the tone of her dialogue.

  I felt like I was talking with a very proper language professor. Or like I'd fallen into a scene in Alice in Wonderland. I halfway expected a giant caterpillar smoking a pipe to ask me who I was.

  "What flora are you attempting to acquire, and why does it necessitate seeking my assistance?"

  Her question sobered my mood. During my jog over here, I thought about what to say. How much to tell her. As I looked into her eyes, my careful speech flew out of my head. Suddenly I regretted disturbing her. This was a stupid idea.

  "It's about my grandson, isn't it?"

  My eyes widened. Was I that obvious?

  "Yes, how did—"

  "Let me guess," she interrupted, a calculating look in her eye. "For some inane reason, you pushed him away. Given you are a shifter, it probably had something to do with his inability to grow fangs and claws. Tell me, how close am I?"

  My jaw dropped in surprise. A small smile curved her mouth. I thought I might pass out from shock. What was going on? Had I actually fallen down a rabbit hole? Petunia Greenhaven did not smile.

  "I've lived many years and have seen many things." She looked off in the direction of the Greenhaven house. "I have made idiotic decisions of my own and had to make amends."

  "I . . ."

  I had no idea what to say as I watched her fondly stare ahead, a faint smile lingering on her face.

  She suddenly turned her attention back to me, her icy expression back in place and one eyebrow raised. "Now, tell me, what do you need to make your amends?"

  I nervously bounced on my toes as I watched the horizon, my stomach in knots. I had sent Alex a text to meet me at my house just before sundown. I had been filled with relief when he agreed, but now the wait was killing me.

  "Would you sit down already?" Aly groused from the couch. "You're making me nervous and I don't have any reason to be."

  "Oh, hush," I said with a small grin. She was reading a magazine, but I hadn't heard her flip a page for over five minutes. When I glanced over at her, she was staring out the window, too.

  "Will the sun never set?" she whined.

  "I thought I was the one who was nervous," I said with my attention back at the window.

  "Yeah, okay. So maybe it's, like, contagious or something. You're getting your nerve-cooties all over me."

  That was when I heard a faint rumble in the distance. Aly and I both went still at the same time, straining our ears. There was no mistaking the sound of the vehicle. Alex's vehicle. I whipped my head around to face my sister and she grinned at me.

  "Showtime. Good luck, Soph."

  "Thanks," I replied. I noticed the faint tremble in my voice. I couldn't believe my nerves.

  With a deep breath, I opened the front door as Alex pulled into my driveway. This time, he managed to park next to my car instead of behind it. Excellent. I watched him intently as he walked around his truck, then abruptly stopped.

  He looked around my yard, and I watched as his gaze bounced from one potted plant to the next. I stood on my porch, fidgeting with my fingers and tapping my thighs
. I didn't know what to do with my hands anymore. Is this what nerves were like? I hated it.

  "Sophie," he said, his confusion evident, "what's with all the plants? I just did your landscaping. Is this your way of saying you don't—"

  "It's a game," I blurted out as I forced myself to be still. This was too important for me to mess up. "Can you identify all the plants in the pots?"

  I'd spent the afternoon running all over Fayoak and even farther out, picking up five-gallon pots, bags of soil, and all sorts of unique plants. It turned out asking Petunia for help had been the best idea I ever had.

  She had some suggestions on some of the plants I should get, and even gifted me a plant from her private collection. I'd despaired getting it all pulled together, but then a few of her workers had shown up to help me get all the plants ready.

  "Uhh, yeah," Alex's gaze locked on a container at the end of my driveway, "I think so. Why do you have a pot of poison ivy?" He looked at me and continued, "You do know that's poison ivy, don't you?"

  I nodded and burst into a grin. "Yep. I do."

  "Sophie, people don't put poison ivy in pots. Have you lost it?"

  "Hush, I'll explain in due time. First, answer my question. Can you name all of the plants?"

  He shrugged. "I'd need to touch each one to be sure, but probably."

  "Okay, so you don't need to see them? Can we finish the game after dark?"

  My excitement seemed to infect him and he smiled despite his confusion. My heart melted as I saw it was his real smile and not that fake one he put on for show. But I saw the wariness in his gaze, too. I hated that I put that look there in the first place. Hopefully, tonight would put that to rest.

  "Yeah, sure, we can finish after dark. Mind telling me what's going on though?"

  "In the car," I said. "We're going on a short trip."

  "Sophie," he hesitated, "I don't understand."

  "Please, just get in the car."

  "Are you kidnapping me?" he asked with a laugh as he opened the door and got in, clicking his seat belt into place.