Falling for Shifters: A Limited Edition Autumn Shifters Collection

by Lacey Carter Andersen

  As a cougar, he'd often check in on them while they weren’t aware, watching from afar to be sure they were safe and all accounted for. Not long ago, when Grünwald's men had come for his family, some of the Miller's had gotten in the way and paid with their lives.

  He still thought often about Marty.

  Travis was more shocked to find Roxie beside him. After Ben introduced Roxie to the Miller family and their friends, Emma Brown and her daughter, Travis invited them inside.

  They'd arrived just in time for supper, which Ben hadn't planned, but the Miller's always had extra food for guests. They were welcomed at their table.

  Roxie glowed with satisfaction. Emma Brown and Elise marveled over Roxie's pregnancy, asking all sorts of questions. When she was due? How she was feeling? Did she know what she was having? Boy or girl?

  It unnerved Ben to hear the answers to questions he'd been pondering for days. It occurred to him then that he had been depriving Roxie of companionship. Even with his presence at the cabin, Roxie felt very much alone.

  Ben scowled as he swiveled pasta around with his fork. He had never intended to treat Roxie so harshly. His thoughts had been more about keeping her safe should Grünwald's men arrive.

  Hearing and watching her interact with the family at the table, he realized how callous he'd been.

  Maybe he'd been alone too long. Had he forgotten how to talk with people? How to interact and socialize? He'd deprived her to the point that she was willing to walk miles into town to get away from him.

  He'd have to do better.

  For Billy, if not for Roxie.

  But there were some things that Ben just didn't want to admit to himself. That he didn't want to feel. He forced himself away from her. He told himself he left the cabin everyday because he needed to keep watch for Grünwald's men, but he knew that wasn't the entire truth.

  He left the cabin each day because of the attraction he felt toward Roxie. He blamed it on being away from society for so long. And women. He was a strong, healthy male who hadn't visited a woman's bed in a long time. Too long.

  But it was more than that. He realized it wasn't merely his desire for any woman. He'd grown fond of Roxie. For the last two-and-a-half weeks, she'd done her best to make herself useful. She'd cleaned the cabin, even scrubbing the floors. It appalled him when he found out what she'd done. She was pregnant and in no condition to be on her hands and knees scrubbing floors he should have taken care of himself.

  And every time she tried to help him cook food, he couldn't help but be constantly aware of her close presence in the kitchen. The scent of her citrus shampoo floated like a cloud around her. The scent enticed him. Tempted him. Made him think things he shouldn't be thinking about his brother's girlfriend.

  The kitchen was too small. They bumped into each far too often. He was aware of every point of contact. From the brush of her hand on his arm, to her foot accidentally stepping on his, to the bump of her belly against his elbow. When her breasts brushed against his arm, reminding him of how soft a woman felt, he couldn't stand it. Finally, he'd asked her to wait in the living room, fearing it was only a matter of time before he grabbed her and kissed her soundly.

  Yes, Ben had it bad for her. For days, he could think of nothing else but imagining what it might feel like to kiss her, to hold her in his arms, to make love to her.

  But he couldn't tell her that. He couldn't let her know he desired her. She was Billy's woman, carrying Billy's baby. What kind of horrible brother would he be to seduce his brother's woman?

  No. She was forbidden. He had to accept that. And he hated the feeling of envy he felt towards his brother. He wished nothing but happiness for his brother. Billy had gone through much hardship. They all had. Ben wanted his brother and his cousins to find their perfect mates, to live long happy lives.

  He wanted that for himself, too. Eventually. But he couldn't have that with Roxie.

  Ben didn't realize until he saw Roxie interact with the Miller family how much damage he was doing by trying to keep his distance from her.

  Seeing her now, blossoming with conversation, smiling and laughing, he vowed to do better.

  After supper, Ben went outside to get some fresh air. Roxie was helping clean up the dishes, something she always offered with him, too.

  He stood in the dirt driveway, staring at the night sky. The stars twinkled. He caught the scent of cold in the air, the promise of oncoming snow. Autumn would soon turn to winter.

  He wondered if Billy would be back before winter. How long would Roxie need Ben to protect her? Or would she do as she promised? Leave the mountain. Head into town to find a hotel room instead. She didn't need to stay with him. Ben couldn't force her.

  The door to the cabin opened behind him. He thought it might be Travis or Rhody until he caught the scent of citrus. His gut tightened. Roxie appeared at his side, placing her small hand on his arm. Even through the thick flannel, his skin burned.

  "Hey," she said. "Are you okay?"

  "Yeah," he lied, keeping his face tilted away from her.

  "When I saw you leave, I thought you were abandoning me here."

  "I would never abandon you." He bit back the emotion he felt while saying those words. It was true. Part of the envy he felt toward Billy was also filled with anger. Billy had left her here. If Roxie were Ben's woman, he'd never leave her behind. He couldn't bear the thought of being apart from her. And he knew the only one capable of keeping her safe was himself.

  Of course, Billy knew that, too. That's why he brought her to him in the first place.

  Ben held back the swear words that tumbled through his brain.

  "I thought maybe you had enough of me," Roxie continued, oblivious to Ben's inner torment. "I know I'm not easy to live with. I've been making things difficult for you. I'm sorry, you know."

  He scowled. "There's no need to apologize. You've done nothing wrong."

  "Oh, yeah?" Roxie laughed lightly. "Forcing you to be my bodyguard. Tossing your life upside down. Burning your food. Re-arranging your bookshelf."

  "No harm done."

  "Right," she said, nodding. "What about the mental damage?"

  He swallowed hard, casting a curious glance her way. "What mental damage?"

  Did she know? How much he desired her? How difficult it was to hold himself back when all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms?

  "Having to listen to my endless ranting."

  He released a heavy sigh, looking away. No. She didn't know the truth. He couldn't let her know. Ever.

  "What?" She leaned forward to look closer at his face. "Was there some other mental damage that I don't know about?"

  "No," he blurted. "Of course, not."

  But she was silently observing him now. Like he'd given away a piece of his mind that he'd rather she didn't see.

  "I see you're enjoying yourself with the Miller's." He wanted to change the topic and get her to stop staring at him like he was a puzzle that needed solving.

  "Yes," she said, smiling. "Thank you for bringing me here. Elise and her mother are lovely. They've been telling me a bit about you and Billy."

  "Oh?"

  "They say you two broke many hearts in town." She grinned, patting his arm, then hooking her hand around his elbow, clinging to him as she stared at the night sky. "You were devastatingly handsome teenagers, they said. All the girls fell in love with you."

  He shook his head, denying it. Warmth pervaded his chest at the feeling of her close against him.

  "Still do, I bet." She paused, glancing to look at him again.

  "I'm too old for that sort of thing."

  "What? Too old to fall in love? You can never be too old for that."

  He shrugged gently, not wishing to shake her loose from his arm. Not, yet. It felt too good to have her next to him.

  "I don't meet many women living out here."

  "There's Elise," she said, nodding toward the cabin. "She's young and attractive."

  "Too young."r />
  "There's me."

  Ben's body went rigid. He couldn't even look at her.

  "You met me here," she added, her voice soft. "Anything's possible."

  "That's different." He spoke past the lump forming in his throat.

  "How is that different?"

  "Billy brought you here. It's not like you stumbled through the woods and found me." He stepped away, gently untangling her arm from his. "Listen, I've been thinking..." He swallowed again, trying to form sensible words when his brain was shouting at him to kiss her. "Do you want to stay here?"

  Her eyes widened.

  "I mean, you're getting along great with everyone," he stumbled rapidly over his words to get his thoughts out before he did something he'd regret. "I know they'd be glad to have you. It might be more comfortable for you to stay here rather than with me. I know I don't make things easy for you."

  Her lips parted. He thought she might deny his statement, just to be polite, but he hurried on, not giving her a moment to speak.

  "You'll have Elise and her mother. Her mother's a doctor, you know. She can help with any pregnancy questions. It might be best for you to stay here. More comfortable for you."

  "But how safe will it be?" Roxie interjected while he took a quick breath. "Billy brought me to you because he trusts you. He knows you'll keep me and my baby safe."

  "The Miller's won't let anyone harm you."

  "They didn't do so well last time Grünwald's men were around, I heard."

  She caught him off guard with that statement. He wondered just how much Billy had told her.

  "They're wonderful people," she continued. "And I really enjoyed visiting them, but I don't want to stay. I want to go home with you. I know you can keep me safe."

  "You were walking into town not long ago," he said, raising his eyebrow.

  She nodded, her gaze cast down to his feet. "I was angry and frustrated. I shouldn't have done that."

  "That wasn't safe."

  "But you came for me."

  He swallowed again. "I had to."

  "I think it would be irresponsible of you to cast me off on the Miller's. Billy entrusted my care to you, not them."

  He shut his eyes against the truth of her words. Even as he tried to convince her to stay with his only neighbors, he knew he'd be here every moment of the day as a cougar to watch over her. She was right. He didn't feel they could keep her safe. Not as well as he could.

  "Okay."

  Chapter Seven

  It had been seven days since Ben had taken Roxie to the Miller household. Things had altered between them since that night in subtle ways. Roxie might not have noticed if she hadn't been looking for it.

  Ben's gruff attitude toward her softened somewhat. He didn't snap or growl as often. He didn't spend as much time away from the cabin as he had before either. They still didn't speak much, but it was comforting to know he was there with her. She wasn't alone. Even if it were only to hear another human being breathing beside her, she liked that better than the solitary confinement of the previous weeks.

  Not saying that they didn't talk at all. She coaxed a few conversations out of him. She asked him about his childhood with Billy. He told her about how they had to travel a lot because of hunters, like Grünwald's men, who chased them from state to state. These were people who called shifters such as his family monsters. They hunted what they feared. Ben's family wanted nothing more than to live their lives in peace. They never wished to harm others. But the hunters didn't see things that way.

  In return, Roxie told him about her life before Grünwald's men abducted her. She talked about her life working as a bartender and a grocery store clerk, barely making ends meet. It had been a struggle to support herself. She had a younger sister. Her parents had both died when she and her sister were teenagers.

  Neither of them spoke of their time as Grünwald's unwilling guests. They referred to it in subtle ways, but they didn't go into details of what they endured there.

  Not that it wasn't on Roxie's mind. She wanted to ask him. She wondered if he suffered the same ill-treatment as Billy. She and Billy had talked often of their time in the laboratory, being experimented on, not knowing if they'd make it out alive. Billy was easy to talk to. He didn't have as many guards in place as Ben did.

  Talking with Ben... Roxie sensed there was so much more going on inside Ben's mind. He kept his thoughts and feelings tightly leashed. Under intense control.

  It made her yearn to see him lose that control. How much passion did he restrain? And why did he feel it was necessary to rein in his emotions?

  The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted. Her attraction to him grew every day. With every small smile he granted her. With every raised eyebrow when she said something to shock or amuse him.

  She began to imagine spending the rest of her life on this mountain with him.

  Instead of the thought horrifying her as it had a month ago, she saw the appeal of spending time away from the world. There was a peaceful quality to living here that she'd never experienced before in the city. Her tension had eased without her knowing it.

  Soon, she realized the forest wasn't as quiet as she'd previously thought. It was alive with noises of the wildlife. From insects to animals, she could hear life surrounding her. And without the chemical taint in the of city, the air smelled fresher... cleaner.

  She learned to appreciate the mountain and its tranquility.

  Roxie also began imagining what it might be like raising her child here with Ben.

  The image and the feelings it aroused appealed to her in more ways than one. Since her parents died when she was a teen, she never expected to live a happy apple pie kind of life. She'd had several relationships in the past that hadn’t worked out. Never had she imagined getting married or having kids. And although this baby came upon her unexpectedly, it was a life. It was part of her.

  Ben would do well protecting her and her child far into the future. And, she felt, he'd make an excellent role model for her child. Maybe even a superb father-figure.

  One night, Ben came home with a television.

  He carried it to the living room where he set the device on the coffee table in front of her.

  "What is that?"

  That small smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "A TV."

  She rolled her eyes. "I know it’s a TV. I meant, what is it doing here?"

  "I thought you might be tired of the books I brought you from Elise.” He nodded to the pile next to the sofa she'd already read. Lucky for her, Elise loved mysteries.

  "But you don't have cable here."

  "Ah," he said, and his grin widened. "This television comes equipped with a VCR. You know what that is, don't you?"

  "Yes, of course, I do." She rolled her eyes a second time. "My parents had one when I was a kid."

  "It just so happens that one of the Millers who used to live here was obsessed with movies. He had a vast collection of videotapes and he left some behind. Travis gave them to me."

  She straightened in her seat. "Really?"

  "Yes." He smiled, then left to go back outside. A moment later, he returned with a cardboard box stuffed full of videotapes. "He's got a wide variety in here. Take your pick."

  He set the box on the sofa and flipped the lid open for her to peruse. She gasped in delight at the many comedies, dramas and action-adventure flicks from which to choose.

  "Oh, if only we had some buttered popcorn!"

  "Next time I head into town, I'll pick some up."

  "But you don't have a microwave," she said, nodding to the kitchen area.

  "You don't need a microwave to make popcorn, just oil and heat. How do you think popcorn was made before microwaves were invented?"

  "Oh." She had never made popcorn without a microwave. "I didn't think about that."

  He waved his hand at the box. "Pick one and I'll get the TV ready."

  There were no modern movies. Most of the videotapes featured movies from the '80
s, but Roxie didn't mind. Some were familiar to her. She saw them when she was a kid. But some were new to her.

  She picked an action-adventure flick, thinking Ben might enjoy it. He gave it his nod of approval when he took it from her. She watched him pop the cassette tape into the slot on the bottom. Pushing a few buttons, an image flickered, and the beginning movie advertisements began to play.

  She curled up at the corner of the sofa, pulling her feet under her as Ben found a seat at the opposite end. Together, they watched the first half of the movie until Roxie moved, stretching her legs out from under her. She enjoyed the movie. It was a wonderful diversion from their typical day.

  But as she sat watching the movie, she was also aware of the distance between her and Ben. And how easily she wanted to close the gap. This was the first time he'd sat on the sofa with her. Usually, she'd take the sofa, and he'd sit on the chair on the other side of the coffee table.

  She took advantage of the opportunity and scooted closer to him.

  "You don't mind if I stretch my legs, do you?" She asked as innocently as possible while she curled up next to him.

  "I can move," he said, but she grabbed his arm, holding him back.

  "No, that's okay. I think we can get comfortable here together."

  And she took his arm, wrapping it over her shoulder as she leaned against him. She was practically sitting on his lap, but he didn't protest. Instead, he moved in his seat until her back was pressed against his chest. He held her as they went back to watching the movie.

  Only, she couldn't focus any longer on the scenes playing out on the screen. Not with the upper half of her body pressed against him. She was aware of every place her body touched his. His body heat warmed her, hotter than the flames in the fireplace across the room.

  She felt a flutter of movement within her as the baby shifted position and kicked.

  "Oh," she said in response, inhaling sharply.

  "What?" Ben's warm breath caressed her cheek. "What is it?"

  "The baby kicked. Here, you can feel it."

  She tugged his hand from where he'd tucked it between her and the sofa and guided it to her belly. She placed it firmly onto the spot where the baby had moved. A second later, the baby kicked again.