The Shifter's Gift

by Haley Weir

  Once she left, he gave Ms. Prince a piece of his mind. He told her that he could report back to his brothers about this situation, and that they would be happy to share with their influential business friends that her dating agency treated their employees terribly. He also convinced her to refund Isabella’s money for the dating services on her last paycheck. Ms. Prince hadn’t been happy, but he didn’t care about her happiness. Not when she was walking all over her employees.

  He sat across from Isabella at their table in the cafe. She didn’t need to know about what he’d done. What he needed to do was talk to her, convince her that he—and his bear—wanted her in his life. He’d leave the bear part for later, though. The last thing he needed was a public reenactment of what happened to Will when his girl freaked out over the fact he wasn’t exactly...normal.

  “Instead of drawing the silence out, I just want to say that it took a lot of strength for you to do what you did. Not only coming clean and admitting what happened, but also standing up to your boss like that. That was impressive,” he said.

  Her eyes widened a little. “I...thank you. It’s been rough. She confronted me with it first thing this morning and again later in the day. Taking away my clients like that after all I’ve done for the company...I just couldn’t take any more. Quitting wasn’t easy, since I need to earn a paycheck to keep a roof over my head. But working there was becoming more frustrating than it was worth.” She gave him a smile. “I meant what I said to you though. I’d love to get to know you better.”

  Noah returned her smile. He’d do what he could to help her out. Mason helped Ava gain a position at their company, so maybe he could help Isabella with one, too. They could figure it out together. “I'm sorry you had a rough day, especially since it was basically caused by me. She never should've treated you that way, and yes, I'd love to get to know you better too." He placed his hand over hers. His bear drew closer to the surface of his skin, and he wanted to caress her cheek and kiss her again. "After we eat, let's get out of here?"

  He couldn't take her back to his parents' place. He considered going to a hotel, but that might seem like he was after a one-night stand instead of a night in with her. Drew's place might be empty since he was staying with his fiancée all weekend.

  Isabella tilted her head to the side. "You'd like to do that? Um, sure. What do you have in mind?" The hint of nervousness made her voice a little lower, and he could scent the sweet smell of her arousal.

  Did she think he was asking her back to his place for sex? The thought of it was incredibly tempting. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I live with my parents. It's a..." He sighed, thinking of the right words. "Family tradition for kids to stay at home until they find the right girl. Before I met you, I figured I would be living with them a long time. I was hanging out at a friend's apartment who is going to be out of town for the weekend, but I don't know what condition his place is in, there's a hotel but I don't want you to have the wrong idea of me, or..." He shrugged. "I don't want to take you back to my parents' house. That's all I know for sure."

  Isabella tossed her head back and laughed. "That's...yeah, I think my mother and I would've killed each other if I stayed with her until I found a guy. Don't worry about it. If you want, you can come back to my place. We can...talk, watch TV, or just hang out?" She sat up a little straighter and fidgeted with the menu as if hoping he wasn't about to crush her suggestion. How could he?

  "You really don't mind? Thanks. I'd like to go to your place. That sounds like a perfect evening. I'll have to let my family know. Can't be dodging text messages anymore, like I mentioned before," he explained, chuckling. "But yeah, I can relate. There are times when it's all a bit much to take. I'm only human." Not true. He grimaced and shook his head. It was way too soon to share that part of himself.

  Isabella glanced over at the waitress who had helped several other tables but had yet to make her way in their direction. "What if we blow this joint and hit a grocery store on the way back to my place? I don't have company often, and I'd love to cook for you."

  Noah lifted his eyebrows at the prospect of her cooking. The sound of it was very appealing. "Yeah, I'm game for that. I can't wait to see what you whip up." He stood up just as the waitress began to meander over in their direction and held out his hand for Isabella.

  * * *

  Cooking in her kitchen again nourished Isabella's soul after the long, stressful day she'd had. What made it all even better was having Noah by her side, telling her how much he enjoyed what she'd created. It was a taste of the life that she’d dreamed of.

  Noah decided he’d make her cookies from scratch, and they ended up in a flour fight. They were covered in flour, laughing so hard that Isabella had tears streaming down her cheeks. His shirt still had white powder on it, but the cookies had turned out incredible; better than any cookie she’d ever had. Part of her wondered if that was simply because of the fun they had while he was making them.

  Isabella looked in the mirror as she stood in the bathroom, a smile still on her face. There was a dot of flour on the tip of her nose and more on her cheek and in her hair. She was definitely going to need a shower. “Feel free to pick something on Netflix. I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be out soon,” she called.

  Her gaze lifted and she caught sight of him in the bathroom mirror. He stood in the doorway to the bathroom and his eyes skimmed over her. His sudden appearance startled her. “Sorry. I’m pretty stealthy. Also, that’s not fair. I’m equally covered in flour. Where’s my shower?”

  She nodded her head toward it. “It’s right there. There’s nothing stopping you from taking one.” A smile curved her lips, but she doubted he’d take advantage of it. It wasn’t as if he had any clean clothes here. What was he going to do? Wear a towel the rest of his time at her place? Not like she’d exactly mind that. She pressed her thighs together a little tighter, feeling desire burn between her legs for him.

  His gaze dropped as if taking in the sight, and he licked his lips. “No, I suppose there isn’t anything stopping me.” He stripped his shirt over his head, tossing it to her bathroom floor. Taut muscles rippled beneath his skin, and she wondered just how on earth she’d gained the attention of someone like him. When he hands unbuckled his belt, he stared her in the eyes, silently asking for her consent to continue.

  If she was being honest with herself, she didn’t want him to stop at all. She wanted to see all of him and run her hands over his muscular body as he pressed her against her mattress. She’d never been the type of girl to engage in behavior like this with a guy she was just getting to know. But maybe to live a better life she needed to try different things.

  She turned around to face him rather than watch him from the mirror. Her trembling hands lifted her own blouse off before sliding down to the waistband of her dress pants. She mirrored his movements, going at the same pace as him as she slid down her pants. Both of them were left in their underwear.

  “Damn,” he said in a low, gravelly tone. “You’re beautiful, Isabella.” A smile caressed his lips. “That is your real name, right?”

  “You’re very handsome. My name is Isabella Grace. I’m sorry for lying to you about it.” Heat warmed her skin as she blushed. She crossed her arms over her waist, suddenly feeling self-conscious for standing there exposed, physically and emotionally.

  “That’s an even prettier name than the one you made up.” He took one cautious step and then another toward her as if he was dealing with a skittish animal that might bolt at any moment. When he got close enough, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t be sorry. You did what you thought you needed to do. I’m not blaming you for anything.” His hands dipped down to her crossed arms, and he pulled them away from her stomach. He placed his hands on her hips and lifted her up so she sat on the sink, then he gently leaned in to place a gentle kiss against her lips.

  Isabella brought her arms up and around Noah’s neck, forgetting her nervousness almost instantly. She only wanted t
his with him. The fact he was so understanding made her even more sure. She swiped her tongue over his lower lip, and he opened his mouth for her, deepening the kiss. She tugged his boxer briefs down over his hips, but he grabbed her hand gently.

  “Are you sure you want this? With me?” he asked her, pulling back enough to look into her eyes. She nodded, her throat clogged with emotion, but he placed his hand on the back of her neck and brought her lips so when he spoke again they brushed against one another’s. “Say the words, Isabella.”

  “I want you. I want this.” Her voice was came out in a breathy whisper. She slid his underwear down without his resistance this time. His long, thick shaft bobbed up to attention between her thighs, and she could see that he wanted this just as much as she did. That made her all the more eager for his touch. "Bedroom? Let's go to my bedroom?"

  Noah lifted an eyebrow at her with a wicked grin in his eyes. "Bedroom? I thought you needed a shower first. I think we should shower." He leaned back in to kiss her lips even as his hands unhooked her bra before sliding down her back to the hem of her panties.

  One moment, she was sitting on the bathroom counter, and the next she was in his arms with her bra and panties hitting the floor. She wasn't quite sure how it happened, but it didn't matter. She was practically burning with desire for him as she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. She kissed him again, deep and urging.

  "How hot do you want it?" he asked.

  Her mouth dropped open, and she widened her eyes at him, not knowing what he meant. How hot? Um. How hot could her body stand, especially being in his arms like this. She stared at him, even as his eyes twinkled with mischief.

  "I meant the water in the shower. I already know how hot it will be when I give it to you." He squeezed her backside, sending a shiver up her spine.

  "Hot, but not boiling hot." Her voice came out in a little higher pitched than she'd known possible.

  Once the water was running, he stepped into the tub with her in his arms. He pressed her back against the tile, which was cold, but she didn't mind. Her nipples were standing at attention as if begging for him to lick and suck on them. And that was exactly what he did.

  His mouth ran down, spreading kisses from her mouth to her neck, past her shoulder. He lifted her up higher on his body, and he licked the water from her breasts before sucking her nipple into his mouth, sliding his tongue in circles over the perky bud before moving his attention over to her other breast.

  A moan bubbled up from within her, and she leaned her head back against the shower wall, enjoying being in his strong arms with their bodies pressed together, his mouth exploring her skin.

  Once he'd finished with her breasts, he moved back up her neck toward her mouth. He lowered her down his body again until his shaft brushed against her. He stared into her eyes for a moment as if waiting for her to protest what she so wanted him to do next.

  “I’m on the pill, and I really want this with you.” She nodded her encouragement, even if her body felt like it was begging for him to take her.

  He obviously took her at her word because his thick cock slid inside her inch by inch, feeling like it was stretching her impossibly and their bodies still seemed like they were truly made for one another. This felt so right.

  The pace he’d set started off slowly, letting her grow accustomed to his size. He repositioned his hold on her, letting her knees rest against his forearms so that he could grip the wall and hold her upright as he picked up speed.

  She dug her nails into his back, feeling like her heart was going to explode out of her chest if this kept up. She sank her teeth into her lower lip as a moan escaped her. “Oh my god. Noah. That feels so good.”

  “You feel incredible, Isabella.” He swiftly looked down at her chest when she moved her head to look him in the eyes. Instead, he pressed more kisses against her shoulders and her breasts. “The way you’re clenching around me is… I don’t know how much longer I’m going to—”

  Her nails sank in hard as he brushed against that sensitive bud within her again. She pulled his face up, seeing a brief amber flash in his eyes, but that didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but this. Her body exploded in wave upon wave of pleasure, and she kissed him hard, moaning into his mouth even as he pressed her harder against the wall. His thrusts became quicker and less controlled. He let out a low groan and felt the twitch of his cock as he poured his seed deep inside of her.

  For a moment, she was almost scared they were going to fall down in the shower, but she trusted him. She tentatively pulled back from the kiss with a dazed smile. “That was… wow.”

  A grin spread across his lips. “Trust me. I can do better than that. Maybe once we’re done in here, I can prove it to you. You did say we should go to the bedroom, didn’t you?”

  “It’s a good thing we have leftovers. I don’t think I’ll be able to move my legs if we go according to your plan.” Not that she minded.

  “There are plenty of cookies to keep our energy up, too.”

  The shower didn’t last much longer. The hot water became lukewarm and then cool in the time they spent in there. After toweling dry, Noah fulfilled his promise in the bedroom. She became intimately aware of just how good he was between the sheets.

  Chapter Fourteen

  That weekend, they continued to get to know one another and make love. Noah knew Isabella was his mate; they just felt right together. When Noah approached Mason about what happened with Isabella on Monday morning, he couldn’t be happier to learn that his brother didn’t mind hiring her and, in fact, had a position that she was welcome to, if she wanted it. He promoted Noah and asked Isabella to work as his assistant. His parents were also incredibly excited about their baby boy finding a mate of his own. It was pretty embarrassing, but he had to explain why he wouldn’t be at home that often anymore.

  His ideal evenings were helping Isabella stir up delicious meals and making love. The thought of needing to be the wild kid he was, and shunning commitment flew out the window after meeting her.

  There was one last thing he had to do. It didn’t sit right with him that he was keeping such a big secret from her, and he knew that sooner or later she’d need to learn it from him, not someone else. He came back to her place with a bouquet of red roses that were lush and full of life.

  Isabella was already in the kitchen cooking up a storm, and he closed the door behind him loud enough to not spook the knife-wielding woman. She turned to face him with a smile on her lips. “Oh, wow. Noah, those are really pretty.” She placed the knife back on the cutting board and washed her hands.

  “I went by the flower shop and picked them out myself this time. Didn’t want to be burned a second time and bring you terrible looking roses.” He handed them to her.

  She drew in a breath, and her eyes watered. “That’s really sweet.” She wiped at her eyes as she looked in a cabinet for a vase. “Darn onions.”

  His bear senses knew that was only a partial truth, but it warmed his heart to know he could make her so happy. Now he just needed to figure out how to tell her about who, and what, he truly was.

  They’d known each other for a couple weeks now, and he kept pushing it off. Whenever he worked up the courage to tell her, he’d think about what happened with his brother Will’s fiancée and would chicken out. That wasn’t like him. The sooner she knew, the better he’d feel, and then they’d be able to fully enjoy their lives together.

  “There’s something I need to tell you, Isabella,” he began, letting out a deep breath. “This is kind of complicated, but I need to get it off my chest.”

  She placed the now cut flowers in the vase and poured water in with them. The confusion on her face bothered him. “What’s going on? You’re starting to worry me. You’re not secretly married or something are you?” From the sound of her voice, it sounded like either she or someone close to her had that experience before, then again, he knew she was friends with Olivia and Sophie. Maybe she was referring to what happened with Oli
via.

  “No, it’s nothing like that. Before I met you I was commitment phobic, believe me. There’s a side to me that you haven’t seen before, though. A supernatural side.” He cleared his throat. “I’m a werebear. Like a werewolf, except a bear.” The words tumbled out quicker than he thought they could, and he cleared his throat.

  A soft smile curved her lips, and humor filled her eyes. Of course she wasn’t going to believe him. “I knew there was something different about you, Noah. When I mentioned to Sophie and Olivia about your eyes sometimes changing, they confided in me that they couldn’t say much. They said I needed to wait until you were comfortable enough to broach the subject, but it doesn’t change the way I feel about you. Nothing—aside from you randomly leading a double life—could change that.” She raked her gaze over him and tilted her head to the side. “That doesn’t mean I’m not extremely curious to see your bear though. Let me cut the heat to the stove first.”

  Noah couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He needed to remember to give both ladies a big hug and tell them thanks the next time he saw them. Isabella wasn’t afraid of him, and that meant the world. He unbuttoned his dress shirt and tossed it over the back of a kitchen chair before removing his shoes, his pants, and the rest of his clothes. When he looked up, he saw Isabella watching him with a hungry look in her eyes. She leaned her hip against the kitchen counter and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “I didn’t realize I’d get a strip show as well as seeing your bear form,” she said.

  “You’ll be getting more than that soon enough,” he replied, letting his eyes flash the honey brown of his bear. “This might be a little intense. Just try to remain calm. My bear doesn’t respond well to fear.”

  She nodded and stood up straighter. She took a deep breath before nodding. “Okay, I’m ready.”

  Noah let the change barrel through him. Bones snapped, tendons popped, and muscles ripped as his body shifted from man to beast. Isabella never looked away. When the last phase of his shift—his fur—came and went, he stood on all four paws. He stalked toward her, nudging his muzzle against her hip.