by Terri Lane
“Yes,” Baz smiled happily at me. “Come on, let’s go inside. Gabbi will be waiting.”
****
Baz
I loved seeing Gabbi and Keli get on so well, it made this whole budding relationship between us feel so incredibly right. Gabbi knew that I was opening my heart to Keli, and that I was really enjoying my time with her, and that made her happy too.
“Do you love her, Dad?” she asked me this morning, just after she asked if she could speak to her for a bit.
“Love her?” I replied, acting incredulous. “We’ve only been dating for a couple of weeks, how can I know whether or not I love her?”
But Gabbi knew me too well for that. “Dad, I’ve never seen you look so happy. It’s okay to love her already, we…feel things much faster than humans, don’t we? It’s as if we can’t be bothered to waste our time. You make sure that you never let her go.”
Of course I didn’t intend to. One of the best things about being a shifter was that my animal instincts were always right–a notion that it seemed my daughter had caught onto very quickly–and they knew exactly how to feel about this one. Keli was right for me, and I her. She was starting to realize that herself, but it was going to take her solely human mind a little while longer to know it fully.
She just made the world a better place, everything felt bigger and brighter with her around. Her smile could light up any room, and her laugh caused a stirring in my heart more powerful than anything that I’d ever experienced before. All I wanted was to be with her, and for someone that had spent the last few years being incredibly shut off, that sensation truly did set me free.
“Anyway, I really do have to go,” Gabbi insisted pointedly. “But it was good to see you again, Keli, and thank you again for everything that you’ve done for my family. I don’t know where we’d be now without you.”
They embraced as they said goodbye to one another, causing my pulse rate to kick up another notch. Keli slotted into every aspect of my life, not just the easy parts and that made it even better.
“So?” Keli stared at me with fire in her eyes as Gabbi left. “What now?”
The question was loaded, it hinted at something that we hadn’t yet done. Because everything had bulldozed over us both, our feelings had surprised both of us as if from nowhere, we’d currently been taking things very slowly. There had been a lot of kissing and holding hands, touching softly and being romantic with one another, but nothing more. It wasn’t that I hadn’t wanted to, I just needed to be respectful.
But we were in my home now, perfectly alone for the very first time since we’d started dating, and it seemed that Keli was just as aware of that as me.
“What would you like to do?” I shimmied closer to her and reached out my arms to hold onto her. As she fell into my embrace, I recalled the times at Mr. Lucas’s home when all I wanted to was hug her, but I couldn’t. It felt wonderful to finally be able to be free with my feelings now. “Any ideas?”
“Ooh, I don’t know about that,” she teased, pinching on my hip. “There are so many things that we could do. You could always take me out on another run…”
“Oh, you liked that, did you?” Relief flooded me as she said this to me. “You don’t mind me being a wolf?”
“Not at all, I think that it’s a wonderful side of you. Of course, sometimes it still blows me away a bit, it’s crazy to know that there are werewolves in the world, but mostly I just love that you shared that side of yourself with me.”
My heart thundered in my chest, I couldn’t remove the bright smile off my face, I wanted to scream loudly with joy. She loved me as a wolf, just as she did as a human, which only made her that much more special. I never thought that I’d be able to find happiness again, it felt completely impossible, but now there were a world of new possibilities lying at my feet.
I pulled Keli towards me and held onto her cheeks, then I rested my forehead against hers for a few moments so I could look into her eyes. The fire danced behind her warm, brown eyes, an intense sparkle glittered behind them. Then, I could no longer resist her, so I moved my lips into hers and I kissed her hard.
As our mouths moved together in unison I felt a powerful happiness explode in my chest like fireworks. I wrapped my hands tighter around her waist, enjoying the feel of her voluptuous curves between my fingers. Keli was unlike anyone that I’d ever met before, but that made her even better. She was a true, natural beauty, with a large golden heart that needed to be loved.
“I think it might be time,” Keli gasped into my mouth, needing her desires to be clear as if I couldn’t feel the lust vibrating off of her. “I like you, Baz, too, too much.”
“How the hell am I supposed to resist an offer like that?” I chuckled and kissed her again. “You’re the most beautiful woman that I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m falling deeply for you.”
“Yeah,” she panted, her head falling to one side. “I’m falling for you too.”
That was perfect, it felt wonderful, I had to be the happiest man alive.
****
Keli
With that, Baz growled, an animalistic sound that only sparked the fire deep inside of me even more. His face buried into my neck, his lips traced along my burning skin, his rough tongue flickering everywhere. My head lolled to one side, desire getting the better of me. I could barely hold myself up on my jelly legs.
Sensing that I was about to fall, Baz lifted me from the ground as if I weighed little more than a feather, and I wrapped my legs tightly around him. Feeling him and his desire made me wild and impatient. It hadn’t been really, a couple of weeks at most, but in that moment it felt like it’d been a long time coming.
Baz carried me to his bedroom, with utter confidence in every single step. I wasn’t even aware as to where I was until he dropped me onto the soft mattress of his bed.
“Oh, Baz,” I squealed happily, so glad at the way the night was turning out. “What are you doing to me?”
“You have no idea.”
He stepped back and tugged his shirt apart, ripping all the buttons off on the way, the second ruined shirt of the night, and as his body was revealed to me I gasped loudly in shock. He was even more muscular than I expected him to be, he had an actual eight pack running up and down his torso.
“You like that?” he teased me, confidently, wiggling his eyebrows as he played about with my desire.
“I do,” I could only pant a little breathlessly as my response.
Then he yanked his trousers down and his thick thighs made me pant too. Everything about him was taut and wonderful, I couldn’t wait until I got to feel him.
Luckily that moment came along very quickly.
Baz climbed over me, heating my body up with his own warmth, and he yanked my own top off, somehow managing to unhook my bra rapidly in the process. I ran my fingers down him, getting as much of a feel as I could, before he’d moved too far down my body and he took my hard, excited nipple in his mouth. He licked and sucked, causing my back to arch against him. It was all happening too fast, yet somehow not fast enough too. I wanted more, I needed more, I had to have everything.
Baz’s length hardened against my leg, I could feel the desire flooding from him, and that only intensified my emotions. All I wanted was to be claimed by him, him and his primal, raw sexuality.
“Baz, I...” I wasn’t sure how to express anything that I was feeling inside, especially as he cupped his rough hands around my butt and he pulled me closer to him. So I chose to stare at him instead, running my fingers through his hair and over his cheeks while he yanked my trousers down, leaving only our underwear between us.
Everything about him was beautiful, I hadn’t ever felt as happy as I did when I was with him.
Sensing that I was staring at him, Baz’s eyes looked up to meet mine, and as soon as our gaze connected, he crashed his lips into mine and we kissed hard and fast all over again. As we did, his hand edged towards the outline of my panties to where my wet heat was scre
aming out to be explored. It had been a long time since I’d had a man in my bed, and even longer since I’d been near one that drove me so crazy. I couldn’t wait to see how he would make me feel.
“Oh fuck,” I exploded, as one of his delightful fingers slid into me. My whole body hummed with lust, I jolted and buckled under the sheer intensity of the hot passion Baz was creating inside of me. “Oh, Baz. I...I need you.” This felt good, but I needed more and I wanted him to know that.
Luckily the bliss was swirling around in Baz too, and he could barely contain himself any longer either. He didn’t need to be asked twice, because in the next second I could feel his cock edging nearer to me, teasing me. I tried to slide myself closer to him, but he had full control of me now. I liked the way he commanded the room, it made me feel sexy and needed.
“Does that feel good?” he gasped, sounding just as breathless and desperate as I felt. “Do you want more?”
“So much more.” With him just as needy, I felt sexier than ever before, like a goddess sent just to seduce him.
With that, he slid his incredible length into me, and I instantly started to fly. A pressure was already beginning to build, and this only made it more powerful. I clung to Baz’s neck and he gripped onto my hips while thrusting into me over and over again, sending me flying over the edge and into the abyss of desire.
It wasn’t long until I crumbled, mostly because this moment had been coming for what felt like forever, and as I did I lost myself in Baz. I held onto him like he was the only thing holding me to the planet, I kissed him deepening our bond further, I lost myself in the sensations, feeling like everything was finally right with the world.
Baz was different, in every single way, and that could only be a good thing. I needed different, I needed more, and with the incredible amount of sensations flooding my body, making me happier than I’d ever been before, I knew that this was the start of something new, something amazing. After all, this was a chemistry that I couldn’t ignore, one that would soon turn into love.
I never thought that I would love a wolf, but then I never knew that werewolves existed. Now I couldn’t imagine ever being with anyone else in the world.
THE END
= Bonus Book 17 of 20 =
Shadows
Cold air raised gooseflesh on her skin as Whitney Shearing stepped off the bus in Cedar Breeze, Montana. Spring was on its way, but there was no warmth in her heart for the town she’d left. She wanted nothing to do with the place she’d grown up in. It was like a black hole that sucked people in, and kept them forever imprisoned.
She had the urge to get back on the bus, but she wouldn’t do that to her mother. The passing of her grandfather was enough to force Whitney into traveling the hour to get there, but it didn’t seem like a great reason to stay.
A cool breeze whipped at the nape of her neck. Whitney drew her coat tight about her, and clutched her duffle bag closer to her side. She wished more than anything she didn’t have to face her family. One person in particular she wished to avoid. She intended this visit to be brief.
The sound of a Harley Davidson revving its engine off in the distance sent chills down her spine as she looked up the street for a taxi. None were in sight. Her mother’s house wasn’t too far. All the same, Whitney opted to wait around for a few more minutes.
The home she grew up in wasn’t the warmest place on earth anyway. As long as her mother was still married to Duke, the place would always feel ice cold. There was no way she was going to hurry to get there.
“You’re gonna have to walk down to Mulberry Street to get a taxi,” someone stated from behind her.
Whitney wasn’t in the mood to talk to strangers, she wasn’t even in the mood to speak to anyone she used to know. With a flick of her hands and nod of her head, she refused to turn around as she responded, “Thanks, but I’ll wait here for a few more minutes.”
“Always stubborn, but I can’t say I remember you being this rude,” the voice joked.
The voice was familiar, but she wasn’t interested. His piercing green eyes were unforgettable. She turned to face the man.
Julian Danes was her step-brother, and all-around good guy. However, he was number one on her list of people she had wanted to avoid. She had hoped to see her mother first.
“I’m not being rude,” she shot at him, rolling her eyes and turning back to stare down the street.
“You are,” he said. “But that’s fine. You can stare down the street all you want. Ain’t no cabs coming back here. This strip is for buses only. So unless you’re getting back on one, then you’ll have to head down to the taxi stand on Mulberry Street. That or you can come with me, and I’ll drop you off at the house.”
“Ugh.” She twisted her face in disgust. “I’m in no rush to get back there. I’d rather walk.”
The truth of the matter was, she didn’t want to be near Julian. There was a piece of her that couldn’t deny how close they used to be. With their history, they could tell when something was off with each other, but she did her best not to let him see he was bothering her.
“Did I do something wrong here?” he asked her.
He always could hit the nail on the head, she thought.
Whitney huffed. “You never did anything wrong. I just can’t stand your sperm donor. So forgive me if I’m in no rush to be under his roof. Not that it’s his.”
“Well when you say smart shit like that, I bet he doesn’t look forward to spending time with you either. Cut him some slack, we’ve been family for a while now,” Julian said. He grabbed her bag, making the decision for her, and walked over to his pickup truck.
The logo on the side was of a dog standing in front of some animated tools with the words, “Great Danes Auto Repair.”
Whitney was proud of him for making a living outside of that damned motorcycle club her stepfather was so insistent on being a part of. Looking at Julian, she couldn’t help but feel ripples of emotions run through her body. He made her feel as no other man had. Even when they first met, she had been sure that they’d end up together. Their parents had beat them to it.
Her memories of being a gawky teenager made Whitney blush as she hopped inside the truck. The strength of his hand on her back as he helped her up was a feeling she’d missed more than she’d thought.
“Do you remember the day we met?” Whitney asked, staring out of the window.
He smiled as he pulled into the street. “Of course I do. You were super skinny, and super awkward.”
“Oh, and you were so cool,” she scoffed.
“I was the definition of cool,” he smirked, running his fingers through his jet-black hair. He was tall and leaned back away from the steering column. Her bag was the only thing separating them in the front seat. His tone got a little deeper when he reached reach over and rubbed her knee, “I remember we shared a lot of firsts together.”
Whitney pulled away. “Don’t.”
“I was joking, just trying to lighten the mood. I mean, I don’t want to tiptoe around you. We have history. You just left and we were—well, I just want to be comfortable around you again, you know? Why can’t we joke around with each other, Whit?”
“We can, you can.” She shook her head refusing to meet his gaze. “I just have a lot on my mind you know? School, and Pawpaw. My mother. I don’t even want to imagine what she’s going through right now.”
“I get it,” Julian put his hand back on the steering wheel. “I just thought with the way you took off, it was because of how things ended between us.”
“Oh believe me, that didn’t make me want to stay, but it was a bunch of different stuff hitting the fan at once. Your dad didn’t help either,” she said.
“Yeah, he knows how to make a mess of things. Have you ever told your mother about us? Or anyone for that matter?”
“Of course not! Can you imagine what they’d say at the club?” Her mind wandered to the insatiable gossips at The Shock Bar.
The Shadows of Chaos m
otorcycle club was a group like no other. They feared no one, and did as they pleased in Cedar Breeze and beyond. The club often used the family bar as their meeting spot, and with her mother being the wife of their Vice President, it was cheaper for them to gather there.
“So how long before you go running back to school?” he asked snidely.
She knew what he was insinuating. Julian always made it perfectly clear to her that he thought she was a coward for running away from her problems. But instead of jumping down his throat, she sighed and answered politely. “I’ve been given some bereavement time. My teachers gave me two weeks. I turned in most of the work that was due during the time I’ll be out here, so I’m good on the school side of things. I get to focus my attention on you guys and the funeral.”
“Why don’t we hang out before you go?” he suggested, pulling up in front of her mother’s house.
“I guess we can,” she shrugged. Hanging out with Julian wasn’t on her list of things to do. If he knew the real reason she was uncomfortable being back home, she was sure she’d be the last person he’d want to spend time with. But that was a bridge she wasn’t ready to cross.
“Well we’re here.” She got out of the truck and waved to Julian before making her way inside the house. The sound of Duke’s voice came through the walls and into the front yard. The front yard, still barren of grass or any other living thing, was kicking up dust as she made her way up the rickety wooden stairs onto the front porch.
It had been such a long time since she’d been home, but it all felt the same. Twisting the knob, she stepped back into the house she lived in as a little girl. Long gone was the college sophomore, and there stood Whitney Shearing, the ten-year-old smart ass.
“Well look who decided to come back to boring old Cedar Breeze,” Duke snarled as she stepped into the living room, “Shame somebody’s gotta die for you to show your face ‘round here.”