Elizabeth rocked her hips into me and tightened when I pushed into her until my eyes were damn near rolling back in my head. I knew I wasn’t going to last much longer, so I angled my hips higher so every stroke would rub her clit. Just a few thrusts more and she raked her nails down my back while crying out my name. She sank her teeth into my shoulder and it was all I could handle.
I came harder than I ever remembered coming in my life. My body felt like it was being sucked through my dick as I jerked and spasmed inside her body. I grunted out her name and wrapped my arms around her while rolling to the side so I didn’t completely suffocate her.
Several minutes passed before either of us moved. When I did slip out of her, she groaned and buried her head against my shoulder. I reached down to take the condom off and felt it hanging off of me in shreds. I looked down and cursed.
“What’s wrong?”
I leaned back so she could see and watched her eyes go big.
“That’s not good.”
My chest tightened and I had a moment of panic, thinking the worst. My bear roared at me, telling me that it was okay, that this was how it was supposed to be because she was mine. Although, I knew she was my mate, thinking that she could potentially get pregnant with my cub scared the hell out of me. I wasn’t ready.
“Are you by any chance on the pill?”
She sat up and fumbled to get the flannel shirt back on.
“No, but don’t worry. I’ll just take a morning after pill.”
My chest tightened even more, until I wasn’t even sure what I wanted or needed. I reached out and tugged the shirt back off of her shoulders.
“Come here.”
Her body was stiffer than it had been, but I didn’t know how to fix it in that moment. I just did what felt right. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into my chest.
“Rest, little one.”
9
Elizabeth
I woke up before Alex and squeezed myself out from under his heavy body. The man slept like the dead. I was used to that, though. Sam slept the same way.
At the thought of Sam, I felt sick. It wasn’t the way I thought it would be, though. I thought I’d feel sick because of what I’d done with Alex the night before, but instead, I felt sick thinking of having ever been with Sam. The idea of Sam settled on my stomach about as easily as a brick.
I went to the bathroom and then brushed my teeth using some of Alex’s toothpaste and my finger. My hair had dried into a weird mess, so I braided it down my back and then pulled my slightly stiff, dry dress back on.
The spark I felt for Alex had grown into a torch. I couldn’t even look at him without feeling slightly unbalanced. He was kind and seemed like someone I would actually enjoy being with outside the bedroom as much as I did inside. I stifled a giggle. Inside the bedroom had been amazing. The sex was earth shattering. I’d actually lost my mind and bitten the man. I’d never bitten anyone during sex before.
It was all so strange, though. One night stands had never been my kind of thing. Meeting him and feeling comfortable enough to come back to his trailer with him and sleep with him all on the same night was so unlike me. I just instinctively trusted him and felt drawn to him. Everything about this sounded so stupid in my head, but it was real.
I pulled my legs under me and stared out of the windows across from Alex’s couch. None of what I was feeling for Alex mattered, though. I couldn’t stay. I had to go back to DC. Wyoming wasn’t my dream, I didn’t even have a job here, and now that things were over with Sam, it was time for me to go home.
“Come back to bed.” Naked, Alex stood in the doorway to his bedroom, looking confused and grumpy.
“Sleep better with you there.”
My chest ached painfully and I shook my head. I wanted to go back to bed with him. I wanted to pretend like I’d come to Wyoming to be with him instead of Sam, and that things were going great. I wanted last night over and over again. But that wasn’t the reality. The reality was that this hot sexy sweet man and I just had an awesome roll in the hay which temporarily took my mind off of the fact that my life was a mess, but now it’s time to put on my big girl panties. I had to rip off the Band-Aid, and face my future.
“I have to go.”
He rubbed his hands down his face and then pushed them through his hair. It went all over the place and, somehow, he ended up looking sexier than ever.
“Why?”
“I have to go home.”
He growled and stepped towards me. “To your ex?”
I shook my head. “To DC.”
“No. It’s too early. Just come back to bed.”
“I can’t. I have to go, Alex.”
He went back to his room and came back out a few seconds later with a pair of pajama bottoms hanging low on his hips.
“You can stay here. Stay until you get on your feet.”
Tears filled my eyes and I had to look away so he wouldn’t see them. “There’s nothing here. Everyone treats me like I’m diseased. I came here for my ex and now it’s time for me to go.”
He sighed. “I can’t make you stay, but I wish you would.”
I nodded and stood up. “I have to go by the motel and grab my wallet, at least. I have to buy a bus ticket and get out of here.”
“I’ll drive you.”
Sam was gone, luckily, so I just ran in, grabbed my purse, and packed a quick bag. I held my tears in all the way to the bus stop. I was confused about how much pain I was feeling. I didn’t know Alex well enough for any of the feelings I was having towards him to be genuine. I bet a shrink would tell me that it’s some sort of misplaced something-or-other and that I had transferred feelings I’d wanted to have for Sam over to Alex, or some mumbo-jumbo like that. Regardless, I felt a massive amount of weighty sorrow at saying goodbye to this man I barely knew. He insisted on buying the ticket for me and then slipped his number into my purse while we silently waited for my bus to arrive.
When it did, I stood up on shaky legs and awkwardly backed away from Alex. I was weak and let the tears fall as I turned and got on the bus without hugging him goodbye. I’d never felt anything quite as intense and the entire ride back to DC was spent crying over a man I’d known for less than twenty-four hours. I was going home but it’d never felt less like home.
10
Elizabeth
Three Months Later
I’d arrived in Landing, Wyoming the night before and had stayed in the same motel where Sam and I had lived for those couple weeks. Landing was exactly the same, although, I felt like everything had changed. I woke up early, feeling like shit, as usual. My body was revolting. I’d heard of people having easy first trimesters. I wasn’t one of them.
I stood in front of the floor length mirror on the back of the bathroom door and stared at my body. In my floral sundress, my pregnant belly was slightly blending in. So far, the rest of my body had stayed the same. Except my breasts. They were exploding all over the place.
Pregnant. Pregnant after a one night stand with a stranger. I was living in a Lifetime made for TV movie special.
I’d gone back to DC and thrown myself into work. I had been offered my old job back. They really didn’t need me but had hired me back anyway out of the goodness of the boss’s heart. I’d tried to forced myself to forget about Alex, although it never really took. I’d dreamt of the big man every single night, and daydreamed about him every single day. I was living in a constant haze, a fog that I hadn’t been able to lift.
The first month, I’d been able to act like my missed period was nothing. In my sadness at leaving, I’d forgotten to take the morning after pill, but I’d convinced myself that it was just the stress that made me miss my period.
The second month, I realized that something wasn’t right. I started getting sick in the mornings. When I was finally able to get away from work, I took a pregnancy test and, sure enough, it read positive. I was pregnant.
I spent the next month arguing with myself about what I should do. The inte
rnal conflict was tearing me up. I didn’t want to have to be the girl who showed up at some guy’s doorstep with the stork news. I also didn’t think it was right for me to keep this news from Alex. Maybe he’d want to know. A part of me just wanted to see him; another part worried that I was asking for more heartache. I couldn’t help the fact that I really did want to see him. Something about him was drawing me back like a moth to a flame. I just hoped I didn’t get burned.
It was scorching hot outside, but that didn’t stop me from walking towards Alex’s trailer. I passed a few different people on the way that stared at my stomach with wide eyes. I looked down and rubbed it. “It’s okay, little guy. This town is just weird.”
I didn’t know for sure I was having a boy, but I just felt like I was. A mother’s intuition. I smiled to myself and shook my head. As crazy as it seemed, I felt good about my baby. Everything was tense and up in the air when it came to work and Alex, but I was solid when it came to my protectiveness of my baby. I would be having and taking care of a little one.
Alex’s trailer came into view and the little tornadoes in my stomach started turning like crazy.
His truck wasn’t in the drive, so I didn’t figure he’d be there, but just to be sure, I knocked anyway. No answer.
The next place I looked was the stadium. There were a few cowboys standing around outside, but Alex wasn’t one of them. Sweat was rolling down my chest and face. I started feeling a little panicked.
“Ma’am?” A big guy sent a little wave my way and started over to me. “You looking for Alex?”
I tilted my head. “Yeah. How did you know?”
He grinned and cast a glance at my stomach. “Just a hunch. He’s at the ranch today.”
I looked around and wiped sweat off my forehead. “How far is that?”
He held out his hand and shook mine. “Pretty far. I’m Jason. Let me drive you. It’s too hot for you to be out walking.”
I started to shake my head but then nodded. “I should probably refuse to get in a stranger’s car, but this heat has melted my brain.”
He grinned. “I’m not a stranger, anymore. I’m a friend of Alex’s. I also have a wife who’s a little farther along than you, so you’re safe.”
I held my belly. “Is it that noticeable? I thought it was kind of hidden in this dress.”
He laughed. “You’re fine. Come on. Let’s get some air on you.”
At the potential for air conditioning, I shut up. I climbed into his truck and adjusted the vents to point right at me. Jason turned the air on high and then waited until I buckled my seatbelt before putting the truck in gear and heading out of the lot.
“How’s he been?” I felt stupid as soon as I asked it. Was I really expecting to hear that he’d been just as wrecked as me?
“Well, I don’t know. He’s been a little distant from all of us lately. Cranky as hell, now that I think about it.”
I stayed silent the rest of the way. I was desperate to actually see Alex and put my anxiety to rest. Either he’d want to be a part of his child’s life, or he wouldn’t. There was nothing more to it. I just needed to give him the news and accept the answer. I was also hoping that seeing him would calm some of these tornadoes. Maybe I had falsely built up the connection I’d felt for him in my imagination so much over these last three months and that seeing him would bring me back down to earth. I’d see first hand that he was just a normal man, not the demi-god my damned psyche had made him out to be.
Jason made a few turns and then drove us through the gates and under a big sign that read Long Ranch. I looked around and spotted animals and a huge barn. We drove past that and after a few minutes, a large house opened up in front of us.
I was shocked by the sheer size of it. I could see people moving around through the large windows in the front of the house and saw a big tent set up out to the side of the house. “What’s happening?”
Jason laughed. “You picked a hell of a time to come back. The annual Long BBQ is tomorrow. Everyone is busy setting it up, looks like.”
I opened the door and climbed down from his truck. “Where should I look for Alex?”
He pointed to the front door. “You knock on that door there and someone will find him for you, no doubt. Good luck.”
That wasn’t exactly reassuring. I waved him away and then headed towards the front door. My stomach rolled.
I stood at the door and looked at the doorbell, with my hand over my stomach. I whispered to the little guy, doing my best to settle both of us. I raised my hand to knock, but the door yanked open and then a young girl was staring at me with wide eyes.
She had the same sandy blonde hair as Alex and the same honey brown eyes. She couldn’t have been any older than thirteen and the excited squeal she let out solidified that she was definitely a ball of energy. She threw her arms around me and squeezed me tight.
“Oh, my gosh! You’re having a baby!”
I didn’t feel uncomfortable with her little arms around me, so I just rested my hands on her back and let her hug me.
“I am.”
“You’re having Alex’s baby!”
11
Elizabeth
I pulled back suddenly and frowned.
“How do you know that?”
She grinned a mischievous grin and shrugged.
“I can just tell. Come on. I’ll take you to him. He’s upstairs, working. We’ll get him up, though.”
I dug in my heels, suddenly convinced I’d made a hugely stupid decision coming here.
“I think I’d better wait out here.”
An older woman, just as beautiful and striking as the little girl, stepped into the entry way and stopped short. She looked at my stomach and took a deep breath in. Her eyes went wide and she screamed Alex’s name at the top of her lungs.
I held up my hands and felt my entire body go red.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt. I’ll just go. This was a mistake.”
She rushed towards me and grabbed my hand.
“No, no. I’m sorry to startle you. It’s just not every day a pregnant woman shows up at my doorstep. Bailey, go and get your brother. Now.”
“Really. I think I’d better go.”
She held my hand in both of hers and met my eyes. “Sweetheart, stay. I was just shocked for a moment.”
I let her lead me into a massive kitchen. “How do you know?”
She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and motioned for me to sit down.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m Carolyn, Alex’s mother. Now, how did I know what?”
I took a sip of the water and looked down at my belly. “How did you know I was here for Alex?”
“I have five sons, but I just knew that you were Alex’s.” She looked behind me and grinned. “There he is. Alex, you’ve got a special visitor.”
I’d already felt him in the room. It was like my body could sense his presence. The closer he got, the more my nerve endings tried to stand up tall to be closer to him. I slowly turned to face him and thanked god that I was sitting down. My entire body seemed to sigh and a tension that I hadn’t even realized was there left my body.
He was just as drop dead handsome as the last time I’d seen him. His hair was longer and the shadow had turned into a full beard, but he was still enough to make my body react instantly.
I blew out a shaky breath. It wasn’t a fluke. He still affected me the same as before.
“Elizabeth.”
“Hi.” I clenched my water tighter and tried to remember how to breathe.
In the blink of an eye, he was across the kitchen, and had me in his arms. His hug was crushing, but I needed it, for some reason. I felt better than I had in months and, like some sort of magic, my queasy stomach settled down.
“Bailey, come on. I think we need to give your brother some privacy.”
“Are they going to do it? Mates are so gross with the sex stuff.”
Alex growled at his little sist
er from over my head. “Bailey.”
“Okay, we’re going. Come and find us when you’re done, Alex.” Carolyn sounded happier than earlier, singing her words instead of speaking them.
Alex leaned back and looked down at me. “Hi.”
I bit my lip. “Hi.”
He grinned. “You already said that.”
I felt his eyes dip lower and then felt him stiffen as he breathed in deeply. I knew he was seeing my belly and I knew things weren’t going to be as nice as they’d just been. I pulled away and went back to the counter. “As you can probably see, I gained a little weight while I was away.”
He stuttered out nonsensical words and kept his eyes on my stomach.
“Bad joke, you’re right. I’m actually pregnant. I found out last month and I’ve been trying to think of a better way to tell you, but a singing telegram just didn’t feel right.” I continued on when he still remained frozen. “Another bad joke. Okay. Well, he’s yours. I just… know. I’ve been to the doctor and he’s healthy. Bigger than normal babies his age, but healthy.”
“He?”
“The man speaks!” I laughed awkwardly and wrung my hands together. “I don’t know for sure yet, but I just have a feeling. I’m sorry to just burst back into your life like this, Alex, but I thought you might want to know.”
He shook his head.
My heart sank. I had envisioned a thousand different scenarios, but I hadn’t been able to stop my hope from building. There had been something between us that night. There still was if the way he grabbed me meant anything. Maybe I was mistaken, though.
“Okay. I’m sorry.” I turned to leave and tried to fight the tears back.
“Wait! Where are you going?” He rushed over to me and grabbed my arms. “I didn’t mean no. I’m just… shocked. I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again and then you’re here. Carrying my baby…”
I rested my hands on his chest and felt my body respond to his. “I can’t imagine how big of a shock this is. Why don’t you take some time to process it?”
Shifter Starter Set Page 3