Shifter Starter Set

by Candace Ayers

  Lightheaded, I bent forward lowering my head between my knees. Jesus. When you didn’t age, forever was...forever. He was several hundred years old. I would be several hundred years old one day. In several hundred years. Oh, jeez, I’m losing my marbles.

  “Sky?” Nick called my name as he came into the room. “What’s wrong?”

  I sat up and forced a smile. “Nothing. Everything is okay. I mean great. Everything is great.”

  “Really? Because I thought I heard Beast bellowing your name outside last night.”

  I groaned. “You hear too much.”

  “Yep. So, why isn’t he still here? Where did he go?”

  Casey stumbled into the room. “Where’s Beast?”

  “Is there anyone in this family who didn’t hear Beast last night?”

  The boys answered simultaneously. “No.”

  Nick laid his hand on my shoulder. “You aren’t really going to leave him, are you? Come on, Aunt Sky. He’s a great guy.”

  My pulse quickened. “Boys, the three of us have a lot of work to do on our family. I’ve been trying so hard to provide you both with something you’ve never had, a nice, normal, stable family. That definition doesn’t include dragons.”

  Nick scoffed. “Are you breaking up with him because you think we have a chance at being normal without him? Seriously? Sky, all the rest of our family is either dead, addicted to drugs, or in prison. Our dad, your brother, is in prison for things that we don’t even talk about. We’re never going to be normal. If you’re trying to make us fit that definition, you’re fighting a losing battle.”

  “We could be normal.” I looked between the two of them and saw their disbelieving looks. “Shit. Maybe not.”

  Casey shoved my shoulder playfully. “We’re just not that kind of family.”

  I held his gaze and caught his hand. “But we are a family. Right, Casey?”

  He pulled his hand away and made a face, but nodded. “Yeah. We are.”

  Nick groaned. “Yeah, we’re a family. A weird one.”

  Casey piped up, “So, go get Beast back ‘cause he fits right in with us.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Why not?”

  “He’s bossy!” I said it and then bit my lip. They were both staring at me like I’d lost my mind. “I don’t want to be bossed around. I want to make my own decisions.”

  The boys looked at each other and Nick raised an eyebrow. “Okay?”

  I stood up and picked up Bax. He smelled like Beast and before I could help myself, I buried my nose in his fur. “It’s adult stuff, okay?”

  Nick shrugged. “All I know is that you were happy with him. I never saw you smile so much as in the past few days.”

  “I’m happy with you guys, too.” I was defensive, worried that they saw something that I didn’t. I was happy with them. “And I smile!” I did. And to prove it, I flashed a huge smile at them. Maybe a slightly over exaggerated smile because both boys burst out laughing.

  “Not in the same way. You’re all mushy when you look at him. I’ve never seen you laugh like you did when you were flying on his back.” After Nick said that, Casey and Nick exchanged looks and some unspoken communication seemed to pass between them.

  “We know you love us, Aunt Sky, and you’re trying. But, it makes us feel good to see you smile like that. It makes our family better when you’re trying less and smiling more. Still weird, but better.”

  My eyes teared up. I was momentarily stunned speechless. When did my oldest nephew become so mature and so wise beyond his years?

  Nick stood up and walked towards his bedroom. “I’m going back to sleep. I think you should get him back. We really like him. You don’t have to worry about us if you leave, either. I’m going to make sure that we don’t get into any trouble. Right, Casey?”

  Casey scowled but shrugged. “Whatever.”

  I watched as they both walked back towards their rooms and my heart throbbed. I felt as though we’d turned over a new leaf. Like they trusted me more and I could trust them more, too.

  I stood there holding Bax, smelling Beast, and trying to make sense of all the thoughts and emotions swirling around my head. Maybe, I just needed to talk to him. I’d just go over and we could talk and figure out where to go from there.

  My mind made up, I headed back to my bedroom to shower and dress. I chose a light sundress and braided my hair to keep it from sticking to me in the heat, then hurried back out of my room.

  Nick and Casey were standing in the hallway watching me with grins on their faces.

  Nick laughed. “Good choice.”

  “I’m just going over to talk to him.” Why I was defending myself to my teenage nephews, I wasn’t sure.

  “We’re going to be rich.” Casey high-fived Nick and then they both went back into their rooms.

  “That’s a snooty attitude and not a sure thing at all!”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  I rolled my eyes and hurried out to the boat. As I navigated through the thick, murky water, tall grass and cattails in the direction of Beast’s house, I tried to remain calm and repeat to myself over and over that I just wanted to talk.

  The closer I got, the more nervous I became. I started questioning myself. Was I doing the right thing? Was I thinking clearly?

  When I had just about convinced myself that I needed to turn around and go back home, I heard a faint rustling and flapping sound above and looked up to see five massively giant dragons in the air above me.

  “Holy shit.”

  Beast’s black and gold dragon wasn’t among them, and as I watched, slightly mesmerized, my boat continued forward. I was a little shaken, and quite frankly awestruck, by the sight I’d just witnessed. It was amazing, really. They moved through the air with such ease, no fear of being seen, yet their kind remained secret. I was curious about that.

  When the swamp opened up in front of me, I saw Beast standing on the dock, waiting for me. He was in a pair of low slung jeans that hugged his muscular thighs and a faded T-shirt, stretched taught over his well-built chest and biceps. How he could look so mouth-wateringly handsome in something so simple, was baffling. But, it was too late to turn back after he saw me. I powered the boat over to him and stopped.

  He looked down at me, smiling. “I’d ask if you want me to tie you off, but there’s no rope, huh?”

  I fought a grin. “Can’t you just pick it up and put it somewhere? You’re strong enough, right?” I winked.

  He laughed lightly, his smile so easy and yet so devastating. “Of course.”

  I took the hand he held out for me, climbed onto the dock and turned to watch as he effortlessly picked up my boat and set it on the dock behind us.

  “Shall we talk on the patio?”

  I nodded. I didn’t totally want to talk. I was so nervous, being that close to him, that all I wanted to do was push and shove my boat back into the water and power the hell out of there. What if we couldn’t come to some sort of agreement about the thing between us? Even more frightening, what if we could? I wasn’t sure which scared me more.

  He pulled a chair closer to his ergonomic exterior patio lounger and recliner and sat down. “You look like you might want to run.”

  I nodded nervously. “Thinking about it.”

  23

  Sky

  “Well, if that is your wish, I will not stop you.”

  I swallowed. Was it awful of me to wish that he would stop me? I had to make up my mind. “I’m nervous. That’s silly, isn’t it? I mean, you’ve seen me naked. In lots of ways. And all sorts of positions.”

  He growled. “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about that right now.”

  I laughed awkwardly. “Yeah, right.”

  Silence settled on us and I thought about leaving again. This type of awkwardness was a first for us. I hated it.

  “I don’t know what to say. Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”

  “Say what you’re thinking, Sky. I would like to know what you want
from me so that I can provide it.”

  I played with the hem of my dress. “I talked to the boys last night. And this morning. They said that I’m happier with you.”

  Beast sat forward. “Are you?”

  “I think so.” I hurried on. “I mean, yes. I am. I don’t like when you’re being too controlling of me, though. Nothing changes that, Beast. I’m my own person. I want to work and I don’t want you there constantly, hovering and watching me and attacking people who are rude to me or who touch me. I can handle myself in the café. I’ve done it for years. Also, I don’t want you making decisions that affect my life without asking me. That’s not how relationships work.”

  “I’m learning that.”

  “I… I feel strongly about you. I like what we have and what we do. I feel happy with you, that’s true. I just… I can’t be with you if you don’t treat me like an equal.”

  Beast leaned even closer to me. “You are not my equal. You are better than me. You are so precious to me that I got carried away. The feeling of finding one’s mate is intense for a dragon. It’s all-consuming. The very thought of something happening to you and me not being there to protect you, well, it made me go a little crazy. I can do better though. I will try hard.”

  I scooted towards him. “Are you going to let me live my own life?”

  He grimaced, but nodded. “I cannot promise that I will be perfect at first, only that I will try. I will not bother you at work, and I was wrong to jeopardize the job that you love.”

  “And you won’t just make decisions for me without consulting me?”

  “I will do everything I can to make you happy, Sky. Whatever it is you need or want, it is my privilege to provide.” When he rubbed his hands over his hair, I noticed that they were trembling slightly. He was as emotionally on edge as I was. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I handled this all wrong, but it doesn’t make my feelings, or anything we’ve shared less sincere.”

  I sighed and leaned back in the chair. “Well, then.”

  He stared at me. “What?”

  I fought the smile that was blossoming inside of me. It was still terrifying. Committing to him wasn’t just some light frivolity of the moment thing, not to me. It meant forever with him. I was beginning to see that my life with him in it could be great. Our lives, his, mine, and Nick and Casey’s.

  “What, Sky?”

  I stood up and walked around his chair. “I didn’t get a great sleep last night. I was thinking maybe we could take a nap.” I waggled my eyebrows hoping he’d get the hint.

  “A nap?” His voice sounded unamused, but he still stayed where he was, waiting for me to clarify.

  “A nap.” I put my hands on his shoulders and smiled down at him. “Aren’t you feeling tired, Beast?” This time I winked and grinned seductively.

  His eyes widened and he nodded. “Yes. Very.”

  I crooked my finger at him. “Come on, then.”

  He followed behind me, not touching me. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  I tossed a look at him over my shoulder. “Beast, you already signed our futures. You tied us together forever. I’ve just decided that, other than the fact that you didn’t consult me first, you made a good choice.”

  * * *

  “Fuuuck.”

  I stood in front of his bed and reached behind me to untie the dress straps at my neck. “You offering?”

  Beast watched as my dress slid down my body, leaving me completely naked. “Tell me what you want, Sky.”

  I crawled onto his bed, slinking like a cat, my heart pounding. “I like when you take control here in the bedroom. When it comes to our sex life, I like my bossy, demanding Beast taking what he wants when he wants it. In here.”

  He yanked his shirt over his head. “You’re sure?”

  I nodded. “I missed you.”

  He kicked off his pants and climbed on the bed with me. Wrapping his arms around me, he eased me down, hovering over me. “I missed you, my little mate, so fucking much.”

  “I’m still scared, Beast. I’m scared, but I’d be crazy to walk away from this. I feel what you feel.” I put my hand over his heart. “I don’t understand it, yet, but it’s there.”

  “Love.”

  I buried my face in his chest and grinned. “Maybe.”

  He kissed the top of my head. “I’ll take maybe.”

  There was more to be said, but it could wait. Beast kissed his way down my body and took his time feasting on me, making me come multiple times before he eased into me. Slow, easy, and steady, he rocked into me again and again until we both cried out our orgasms together. It felt perfect.

  Beast held me in his arms as we both fought to regain our breath in the afterglow of our love making. “What do you think about marriage?”

  I was still breathing hard, my heart pounding. “What?”

  “Marriage. Cezar said it’s a thing that humans do when they love each other.”

  I licked my suddenly dry lips. “Yeah, they do. Some of them.”

  “Good because I went out and bought our marriage certificate. I signed it and sent it in. I will give you a ring, but we are married, little one.”

  I sat straight up and my forehead bounced off of his chin as he sat up with me. “What?!”

  He laughed. “Just kidding.”

  I slapped his chest and then shoved him. “You jerk! You scared the bejeezus out of me!”

  He kissed me and pulled me closer against his body. “Is the idea of marriage to me so scary?”

  I thought about it and shrugged lightly. “It wasn’t the marriage. It was the control thing again.”

  He nodded. “So, if I asked, you would be okay with it?”

  “Beast…”

  He reached towards the bedside table and my heart stopped. “Sky, I want to spend forever with you.”

  His voice was solemn and serious and I clutched at my chest, my jaw dropping. What was happening? When Beast came back with a little bag of chocolates, one of which he popped into his mouth, I laughed out loud and slapped his chest again. “Stop it!”

  He grinned and smeared a piece of the chocolate on my collar bone. “Eventually. When you are ready. We have time, little one. For now, I’m happy to just lick chocolate off you and live our lives like this.”

  “And the boys?”

  “And the young males—boys.” He licked the chocolate off and moaned. “You taste like heaven.”

  “What do you know about heaven, dragon?”

  He met my eyes, his gaze burning into me with the intensity of dragon fire. “I know it intimately, mate. The taste, the feel, the sensation of you squeezing me as you come…”

  I tilted my head back and moaned as he ran his tongue over the mark on my shoulder. “You are my heaven.”

  Maybe it was the mate bond—he’d said that we would each start to feel what the other felt—but in that moment I knew exactly what he meant. He, too, was the closest to heaven that I’d ever felt.

  The End.

  NEXT BOOK IN THIS SERIES…

  Small town librarian Cherry Deschamps is perfectly content with her life. Who says evenings with hot cocoa, a bowl of Ramen noodles, and a Netflix marathon is boring? When the gorgeous “Mr. Hollywood” enters her life showering her with gifts and attention, of course she’s skeptical. She learned early on to guard her heart.

  Cezar fights every primal instinct he has to win over his human mate—including behaving like a human male. In the end, it may take the fiery passion and fierce possessiveness of his dragon to convince Cherry that she’s worthy of his love.

  Get Fire Breathing Cezar HERE

  (Get the entire Dragons of the Bayou Series HERE and save.)

  Rescue Bear

  P.O.L.A.R.

  Author’s Note

  P.O.L.A.R. (Private Ops: League Arctic Rescue) is a specialized, private operations task force—a maritime unit of polar bear shifters. Part of a world-wide, clandestine army comprised of the best of the best shi
fters, P.O.L.A.R.’s home base is Siberia…until the team pisses somebody off and gets re-assigned to Sunkissed Key, Florida and these arctic shifters suddenly find themselves surrounded by sun, sand, flip-flops and palm trees.

  One week.

  That’s all it took for Megan’s world to fall apart.

  She lost everything.

  Her marriage—shattered.

  Her business—demolished.

  Her life—ruined.

  Enter one hot Rescue Bear to pick up the pieces,

  build her back up,

  and shower her with the love she’s never known and always deserved.

  1

  Megan

  I knew before I walked any further into my house that I was about to become a cliché. Wife walks in on husband sleeping with someone else, wife screams and cries and tears at her hair. Husband, wearing a sheet and nothing else, chases angry wife and apologizes profusely as she runs out of the bedroom. There was nothing original about the scene that was about to play out.

  I listened to the loud moans, the grunting, the rhythmic knocking of my bedframe into the wall behind it. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been in the room as that bedframe rhythmically knocked into the wall.

  I stood at the bottom of the staircase staring at the framed photos that hung on the wall in the hallway just outside our bedroom door. I’d taken each one with care—capturing just the right lighting and angles in each of them. I’d managed to make Dylan look broader and “manlier” while also making myself look smaller and daintier. That hadn’t been easy. Then, after selecting the best proofs, I’d obsessed over the perfect matting and frame selection. Weeks of work had gone into the grouping on the wall. A thin layer of dust coated the top of each of the frames.