by J. K Harper
I quickly looked away. Even coated in blood he was gorgeous. Ruggedly handsome and built with what seemed like all the muscle in the world. Shyly I turned back and cautiously pressed the diaper against his wound.
“I think you’re going to be okay,” I heard myself say.
“I’m not,” he croaked out, so muffled that I wasn’t too sure what he’d actually said.
“What?”
“I’m not going to make it,” he said weakly.
I froze. I couldn’t have him die on me… not when we’d just met. It was the most unconventional of meetings, but I’d known right away there was something alluring about him. “Oh god, I’ll call an ambulance.”
“No, don’t. Come here. Come closer. Be with me.”
I scooted down to where his head lay and placed it on my lap. He looked like he was at death’s door, and if this was the only time we had left, I would make it as nice as possible. I stroked his face, my fingers touching his hairline. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“I know you didn’t. It’s okay, just as long as you and Ava are safe.”
I nodded, looking to where I’d seen him stash Ava safety away. I longed to go pick her up, but I was torn between a dying man who’d saved my life and my baby girl who was for all intents and purposes perfectly safe and unharmed.
“Thank you so much for making sure she was okay, for keeping her away from Hunter.”
He whimpered, his eyes drooping slightly, unable it seemed to look up at m with his glowing amber eyes.
“Kiss me,” he said abruptly.
“B-but I don’t even know your name.”
“Joseph,” he replied. “Now, kiss me. It’s my dying wish… I’ll be able to die happy knowing I kissed the most beautiful woman in the world.”
If I wasn’t blushing before, I was definitely blushing then. But it was like he could almost read my mind. From the time I laid eyes on him, there had been nothing I wanted more than to kiss him; it had been like something I couldn’t control, an impulse that couldn’t be stopped.
I lowered my head to his face, and as our lips brushed together for the first time, I felt my whole body come alive. It was as if I could sense every single cell within me, from the tips of my fingers to the top of my head; there was a zinging of electricity.
I wanted to kiss this man forever, and the thought of him dying right there in my arms had the tears flowing.
The kiss lasted for just the right amount of time, and yet it still wasn’t long enough.
“I wish I’d met you sooner, Joseph. And under different circumstances,” I whispered, gently trying to find all the words to express my gratitude… and my love for him. It was crazy, but there was this feeling inside me, a big ball of overwhelming love sitting side by side with the one I had for Ava. Hunter had never made me feel that way, I thought.
“Why?” he said, a little clearer, and lifted his head. “I’m all better now.” He beamed at me as he rose to a sitting position, and my mouth dropped open. “Seems you have the healing touch.”
“Oh my god! But your wound? You son of a—”
But I couldn’t speak anymore. He’d pulled me into an embrace and crashed his lips to mine again. The kiss was harder and more passionate than I ever thought possible. So much so I wanted to lie with him right then, and I would’ve done so if I hadn’t heard Ava’s little cry for attention.
“We’re not done. I can’t believe you did that. So sneaky,” I said, trying to be furious, yet all the while smiling at him as I got to my feet.
“Oh we’re far from done, Cora. I’m never going to stop kissing you.”
“Is that a promise?” I said bravely, coming back to where he was standing—naked, I might add!—after scooping Ava up into my arms.
“It’s more than a promise… it’s forever,” he replied and pulled us in close, Ava between us.
“You do know you’re crazy, right?”
“I’m aware.”
“That this whole night has been insane.”
“Yup. At least we’ll have a wicked story of how we met to tell the grandkids.”
“Oh there’ll be grandkids, will there?”
“Dozens of them,” he said confidently. “And I can’t wait to get started.”
* * *
I moved around in a bit of a daze for the rest of the night. We focused on the small tasks that we needed to do to get the store looking presentable for the next morning… you know, so it didn’t look like a bear had rampaged through the aisles and attacked someone. But it was almost impossible not to think about what had happened, and what Joseph had told me, that we were meant to be.
It wasn’t that I questioned what he said—it was almost the opposite, and that wasn’t the scary bit: I knew it right down in my bones that we were meant to be.
Joseph, bless him, tried to explain what he was and all the issues that came with it. It hadn’t really sunk in that he was part bear—a shifter—but that I could deal with in time. I could deal with anything with him by my side.
“Are you ready?” he asked as he wrapped a spare blanket he’d found around my shoulders, almost covering Ava from sight. It was better that she was warm while we walked to his truck.
I nodded, and Joseph hoisted the duffel bag onto his shoulder, and we walked side by side, catching glances from each other as we went. He’d managed to find some clothes in his size to cover up, and I was almost disappointed when his sculpted abs disappeared from sight. But he’d assured me, once we got to his place, that he wouldn’t be clothed for long.
He tucked us both into the truck and left the engine running while he ran back to a little booth around the side of the store. For a moment he stood with a huge smile, talking to another man who I presumed was another security guard. God knows what he was saying, maybe the truth… maybe the other man knew that Joseph was a shifter, too. I didn’t know… there was so much to learn about each other, and I couldn’t wait to start.
The driver’s side door creaked open, and Joseph jumped in. “Ready to go home?” he asked.
Home with him… I loved the sound of that. “Yes, I can’t wait.”
Joseph leaned over and hooked his hand around my neck to pull me into a kiss.
“You’re going to love it. I’m going to love both of you with all my heart… forever.”
Chapter 8
Joseph
“But we have to get dressed,” she said. “We’re going to be late.”
“I don’t care. I need to have you again.”
I darted around the bed as she tried to escape to the bathroom, my arms wrapping around her waist and pushing her back towards the bed we’d just gotten out of.
“I want my Christmas present,” I said as I laid claim to the soft hollow of her neck. I kissed up to her earlobe as I pulled her in close. For the days that we’d been together I could hardly keep my paws off her. Everything had changed in my life, but it was a welcome change. We both knew this was for real.
“You’ve already had your Christmas present, you naughty boy. You’ve filled my stocking too many times to count.”
“I didn’t hear you complain,” I teased, her head lolling to the side, giving in.
“And why would I? You’re the best Christmas present I’ve ever received. I still can’t believe all this has happened so fast… we barely know each other.”
“That’ll come in time, my love.”
She nodded, knowing it was true.
“Speaking of Christmas presents, though. I actually got you something.”
“No, Joseph. You’ve already done enough—”
“Hush. You’re going to have to get used to being spoiled by me.” I eased her down on the bed. “Wait right there; don’t you dare move.”
She giggled and bit her lip.
I found my hiding spot where I’d stashed it the day before and came back into the room, hands behind my back.
“Close your eyes.”
She did. And for a blissful moment I stu
died the woman of my dreams. Who knew that so much could change when you least expected it, and in such a short amount of time, too? But I wouldn’t have changed anything.
I lifted her hands from her lap and placed the small wrapped box into them. “Okay, now you can open.”
I couldn’t wait to see her face when she opened it, and I sat down on the bed next to her. “It’s not much, but I couldn’t bear for you not to have it. Go on, open it.”
“Okay,” she said a little breathless. With such careful precision she eased back the wrapping paper and revealed the chunky box. My eyes went from it to her eyes, waiting for that moment when she’d see what was inside.
The lid creaked open and immediately, as soon as she saw the watch inside, tears covered her cheeks. “Oh my god, Joseph.”
“You like it?”
“Of course I do! I can’t believe it. My dad’s watch.” She took the watch out of its container and flipped it around, studying every side… including the engraving on the underside from her father. “How? I don’t understand… how did you—”
I took her free hand and moved it to my lips, placing a gentle kiss on the back. “After you told me the story of how you ended up in the store, I knew I had to find that watch that in a way led you to me… I had to get it back for you.”
“But I never told you where.”
“You could say I had help going to every pawn shop in a fifty mile radius of the store.”
She flung her arms around my neck. “Thank you so much! You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“I think I have a pretty good idea,” I said kissing her gently, never wanting to stop.
“Maybe we do have a little time before we have to get ready, right?”
“I will make time,” I replied as I pulled her into the middle of the bed, reaching for her flimsy nightgown and tearing it off her body. She squealed as her heavy breasts were exposed, and I dived in to taste them.
“Oh… but that was new,” she said, moaning between her words.
“I’ll buy you another one, or even better… how about you don’t wear clothes ever again?”
“Deal,” she said her hands lacing through my hair at the base of my neck and arching her hips upward in anticipation.
“I think I’ll have to buy you some new underwear, too,” I said laughing as I began to rip her panties off, “’cause these are ruined now.”
I snaked my tongue down her torso, needing to taste every last morsel of her, needing to hear her moan in pleasure over and over again, all as a result of my touch.
My cock was throbbing to be inside her, but I urged myself to take it slow this time, to give her everything. With my tongue I traced lazy circles over her hard clit, lapping up her sweet juices every time she came.
“Joe, I can’t take it anymore… please,” she moaned, clawing at my shoulders to come up for air.
“Please, what?” I asked, loving the way she needed and wanted me. I’d never been totally needed like this before… and the feeling was mutual.
“Please make love to me,” she said, her eyes wide and waiting.
“Like this?” I replied as the head of my cock nudged at her entrance.
“More.” Her hips moved higher, making me slip inside her deeper.
I braced myself on the bed and kissed her softly, my tongue seeking hers out as I filled her inch by inch. She moaned into my mouth, sending my cock pulsing. She was everything I’d never thought I needed, but now that I had her, I wasn’t ever going to let her or Ava go. We’d be the family I was never able to have; we’d have more kids, and just thinking about getting her pregnant with my cub made my cock swell.
“I love you, Cora,” I breathed as she began to climax, her breath ragged.
She held on tighter and opened her eyes. “I love you, too.”
* * *
I held a bundled-up Ava in one arm, the other hand holding Cora’s as we waited on the doorstep, staring at the jolly Santa decoration that hung off the knocker. The snow was coming down hard as the doorbell chimes were still playing Jingle Bells in the hallway beyond.
The front door was flung wide open to reveal Jayne, a festive red and green apron around her waist and a look of shock plastered all across her sweet face.
“Merry Christmas!” I said, unable to hide my smile. This was probably the best Christmas present I could give Jayne. She would be in heaven fussing over Cora, but especially Ava.
“Oh my! And who is this?”
“I hope you don’t mind, I brought a couple of mouths along to feed.”
“Of course I don’t mind! More the merrier… but you never told me you were seeing anyone.”
“It’s a bit of a long story,” I said as I kissed her hello on the cheek. “Jayne meet Cora—the love of my life. And the little one is Ava, the other love that has taken up residence in my heart.”
“Oh, wow, isn’t she to die for?” she replied her eyes flitting from me to Cora and finally resting upon Ava. “Come in, come in, before you all catch your death. You can tell me all about it over Christmas dinner.”
Cheetahs Never Run
by Suki Selborne
Chapter 1
“Keep your head still, girl!”
“I’m trying! And why are you fixing my hair? You’re the bride, for cryin’ out loud. This is the wrong way around.”
April frowned in concentration as her hands hovered over the side of Tyla’s head. She fixed a gardenia to her best friend’s hair with a bobby pin. “Okay! We’re all done here. Maybe you could grab us a soda while I reapply my lipstick?”
Tyla hobbled over to the dresser on her five-inch heels and picked up two cans from the cooler, along with two straws. The damn shoes were uncomfortable already.
“This is all wrong, April. I’m your maid of honor! I’m meant to be looking after you here.”
April waved Tyla’s words away with a grin. “Nah. I’m good. Panther shifters don’t like to be fussed around. It breaks us out in hives.” She patted the chair in front of her. “And anyway, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Yeah?”
April shot Tyla a guilty half-smile. “You might want to sit down.”
“Huh?” Tyla sat down and poked a straw into each of their cans. “This is real classy, by the way. Nothing screams sophisticated wedding day like Dr. Pepper. Who needs champagne?”
“Shut up. I like Dr. Pepper. It’s my wedding day. I do what I want.”
Tyla ducked as April threw a bridal magazine at her head. She chuckled at April’s fake-mad face.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s your big day. You should have everything exactly as you want it.”
April’s eyes shone so brightly, it made Tyla feel proud and emotional, and just a tiny bit envious, all at once.
It must be incredible to be so much in love, and to know the other person felt the exact same way.
April and Noah had been so lucky to find each other at high school. Other people wasted years of the prime of their lives finding The One.
Some people never found them. Tyla had started to wonder if she was one of those eternally sad people.
But April would get to spend her whole adult life with her fated mate, starting right at the beginning. It was such a beautiful thing.
Tyla adjusted the shoulder drape of April’s dress, as her friend blotted her lipstick and pouted at herself in the mirror.
“So what did you want to talk to me about?” She wiped a dab of stray lipstick off April’s earlobe with a tissue. “Did you want your sister to lead today instead of me? Because if it’s that, then I’m totally cool with it. I said all along that family should come first, so if you want me to take more of a back seat and give Mindy more to do, then—“
“Tyla. It’s not that.” April turned to her and took her hand. “It’s something else. Look, I… I know you aren’t going to like this.”
April seemed kind of serious. That was weird. Tyla wasn’t sure she liked the sound of it
. “You’re starting to worry me, bae. Talk, and fast.”
April took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m going to come right out and say it.” She paused for a few seconds, as though trying to think of the right words. “Well— it’s Noah’s best man.”
Tyla’s stomach suddenly lurched.
“Oh, God. It’s not—?”
“Yeah. It’s Quinn.”
Tyla’s hand flew to her mouth. “You’re joking, right? Quinn is here? In Rocky Falls?”
“Yeah. No. I mean, no I wouldn’t joke about something like that, and yes, he’s in town. It’s him. He’s here. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, only he was a last minute addition to the wedding.”
Tyla stared at the floor. She was a little lightheaded.
“How long have you known?
“Only since last night. Truly. Noah didn’t know Quinn would even be in the US at the right time. He was supposed to be competing in some international triathlon in Australia, but he missed the qualifying round when his coach messed up some scheduling thing. Then he bailed on some sponsorship thing he was meant to be doing. I don’t know the details. It was all a little sudden, anyway.”
“Fuck. Fucking— fuck.”
April squeezed her friend’s hand. “It’s going to be ok, Tyla. Really. We’ll all be here. I know you maybe still have feelings for Quinn, but—“
“Feelings?” Tyla bit her lip. “Feelings? I don’t have feelings for him. What I do have is Louella.”
“I know.”
“What if he works out that she’s his daughter?”
“He won’t. She looks exactly like you. Not him.”
“But what if he does? Anyone would wonder, in that situation.”
“Then you’ll deal. But it’s not going to happen.” April’s words made it sound like she was sure, but her face showed how uncertain she was. “You do need to be on your guard, though. You know what a vain asshole he is. He’ll probably try to get with you again while he’s in town, because that’s what he does. You’re beautiful, and he thinks with his cock.”