“It will,” he said with a grin. “You’re a very hard worker.”
“There are a lot of hard workers in the world.” She leaned down to make a face at Angelle, who giggled. “Isn’t that right, Angelle? She’s the hardest worker.” He cackled.
“Yes. A very hard life, getting someone to clean up all your body fluids and feed you all the time.”
“Good point.” Claire chuckled. “These are the gardens,” she said as they arrived at a well-manicured garden park sprawled over a large area. A few students were lounging in the sun, enjoying the weather and a break from classes. “Shall we grab a spot in the shade?”
“Yes, Angelle didn’t inherit any of my tan skin. She’ll burn like a baby lobster,” he said with a grin. Her heart skipped a beat. Sometimes, she wondered about Angelle’s mother. About the ex-mate that he seemed so reluctant to talk about. Instead of opening her mouth to pry into his business, she decided on another route.
“How are Shifters educated?”
He settled Angelle into the shade and began spreading out their blanket. “It depends. Mostly, we focus on trade occupations. Things that make sense to keep up the clan’s lodgings and occasionally offering services to humans. Bear Shifters are especially good with carpentry and handiwork.” He grinned, a dazzling display of his white teeth. “Obviously, my strength is the do-it-all handyman.”
She nodded. “I’ve seen that myself.” She carefully spread out their selection: over-stuffed roast beef sandwiches (many!) from Raul, a salad prepared by her, and cookies that her mother had made for their outing. A note was tucked in the basket. She looked at it. It read, in her mother’s writing: Good luck. A smiling, winking face was next to the scrawled note. She stuffed it back and served out plates. Angelle had already been bottle-fed, but they’d brought along her stuff just in case.
“Did you think we’d be eating a lunch civilly together when we first met?” he asked coyly. She blushed, a fierce red, as she got out the cold cans of iced tea.
“No,” she admitted. “I thought: who the heck is this towering figure in my door? We’d never seen Shifters before the Chief came to our house to tell us the news about Ana.” She bit her lip. “I was so upset. I mean, I still am.”
His gaze held hers. “We all have things to be angry about.”
“You’re right,” she said with a crooked grin. “I guess that’s life.” He didn’t say anything, but she felt his eyes upon her as she got out the napkins and plasticware. Their feast was ready. As Angelle dozed beneath the shade, they chatted about everything.
His childhood, her childhood. As they were rounding up to more recent times, she became brave.
“Angelle’s mother,” she said softly. “Are you okay?”
A sad smile cracked his face. “Sometimes, I struggle. It used to be a lot harder. But, there are people around me that remind me every day that Cassandra wasn’t the type of woman that I needed as a mate. I was starstruck and overlooking all her deep flaws. I have my own, of course, but she left her own baby.” He shook his head. “I’m happy with how things turned out.” Something flickered in his eyes.
Claire offered a sympathetic smile, but her mind was reeling. Cassandra, so that was his ex-mate’s name. And then a thought entered her mind, and before she knew it, the question was tumbling out of her mouth, “Are you allowed to mate again?”
He leaned his head back and laughed, covering his mouth of a bite of roast beef. He nodded furiously. “Of course. We’re not that backwards.” Her cheeks heated. She hadn’t meant that they were primitive in any way…only that she was interested if he could have another relationship.
She popped the can of tea and drank it down to have something to do. Thankfully, he checked on Angelle. It gave Claire time to press a hand to her chest and beg her heart to calm its rapid beating.
Something had happened during this picnic.
His freckles had never looked better in the sunlight.
“We have a leftover slice of birthday cake to share along with the cookies, if you want,” she said.
His smile was warm honey. “I’d like that.”
Her heartbeat spiked. If only she could fan herself without being obvious. Instead, she arranged the cake and cookies on a plate for them to share, while the sun watched over them.
Raul
Raul knew what was happening even before they sat down yesterday for a picnic. He watched himself, as if out of body, interact with Claire, and knew. Love.
Shit. He scrubbed his face with cold water in his bathroom and then tidied his short beard. He’d been growing it out. Hadn’t Claire said once, she enjoyed men with a bit of bear? He wanted to roll his eyes at himself. Ridiculous. Barely left with a newborn babe from a terrible ex-mate, and now, he was rearing to rush into a human romance. He smacked a hand on his face, but it did nothing to bring him out of his dreamy state.
But he was forming plans in his head.
Kissing Angelle behind, he left on his way to the Goodwin house. His hands couldn’t seem to find the stereo buttons, and he drove in his silence. Upon arriving, he found Claire wrestling with a stack of paper at the kitchen table, and he sighed.
“Your schoolwork?” he asked. She nodded but looked up as he came in. There were small dark circles beneath her pretty eyes. “You look like you need coffee.” He glanced at the machine. “You want me to make some?”
“Please,” she said in a strained voice. “I’m dying.”
“You know, Angelle and I are going to go to our little cabin in the woods.” He loaded up the coffee and set the machine on. “If you wanted a quiet place to work on your thesis.” He turned to see she chewed her lip.
“That does sound tempting.” Her voice wavered as he sensed her body heat was rising. He wondered—hoped—it wasn’t merely the offer of a quiet place that was tempting. She wrapped her bathrobe closer around her. “I think that would be nice. You wouldn’t mind?”
Mind. It was the whole reason he thought of the damn trip. He smiled as he brought over the full coffee pot to the table. “My pleasure.” He pushed down the smirk that arose when he saw her repress a shudder. Her cheeks were that perfect dusty pink that he so enjoyed.
“That sounds nice.” She smiled and poured herself a new cup.
“Creepy, but cool,” Claire said as they drove up through the winding roads. Raul laughed and glanced at her. She was sticking her head halfway out of the truck to admire the passing foliage. “The trees are gorgeous.”
“The cabin’s even better,” he promised. Angelle babbled something nonsensical from the backseat. “Even the baby agrees.” They laughed, and he heard Claire suppress a soft gasp as they pulled up to the cabin.
His cabin was a lumberjack’s paradise with a cozy edge. He’d spent the last few years working on it, as it was supposed to be a getaway lodge for him and his family. But now he was bringing a human woman and his baby Shifter into the cabin.
Claire beamed at the log cabin exterior. “The wood is gorgeous,” Once inside, she couldn’t contain her audible sound of awe. Cozy flannel blankets cast over stained-wooden furniture with plush cushions. Every piece of furniture was carved by hand and glossed with an impressive finish by Raul and his clan members. He grinned, unable to contain his pride.
“I think you’ll like the guest room,” he said and led her to the room. “It’s right next to my mine.” Her scent spiked as he said that, but then he swung open the door to the guest bedroom. A four-poster bed with a fluffy white comforter sat in the middle, but towards the end of the room was a magnificent window with a writing desk in front of it. He said, “The birds might be a bit distracting, but I think you’ll like it.” Indeed, there was a gnarled, mature tree just outside the window, which showed a spectacular view of the scenery.
“It’s perfect,” she breathed and set her bag onto the ground. “Thank you for letting me come.”
“No, it’s great for me,” he said. Her eyes widened a fraction. And then stupidly, he added, “Angelle
enjoys your company too.” Claire’s smile diminished by a fraction, and she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Thank you, Raul.” Her eyes wandered to the desks, and he could see her fingers fidgeting. “Do you mind if I work a bit?”
“Knock yourself out,” he said. “I’ll be chopping some wood for the stove.” He left her, looking as pretty as a picture in the middle of the room. He sucked in a breath as he shut the door behind him.
This was the weekend.
He’d tell her his feelings. In a few short seconds, he had Angelle propped up in her collapsible crib in the living room. He set about tidying the kitchen which fed into the living room, feeling like a housewife ready to dazzle a group of guests.
There was only one person he was interested in dazzling right now. He wiped the counters and prepped for dinner. An hour later, the rising smell of a roasting chicken seemed to lure Claire away from her work. She tossed her hair and admired the kitchen, her eyes crawling up his torso to his face. He’d purposefully donned his favorite plaid shirt and left the top three buttons undone.
“Wine?” he asked and jerked his thumb over to three bottles of red wine. She grinned.
“You know the way to my heart,” she said. His pulse spiked as she went over to the bottles, smelling her intoxicating rising scent of vanilla.
He hoped she was right about that.
Claire
It took just one look at the elaborate spread for Claire to realize Shifters could cook. She was almost embarrassed as they dug into his meal of chicken, vegetables, and two different sides of potatoes.
“Are you trying to show me up?” she teased. He stared at her, his fork and knife hovering over the plate.
“Show you up? What does it mean?”
She laughed. “It means trying to be better than me. I’m teasing. Since my roast can’t compare to your chicken.” She winked and enjoyed the smile that bloomed on his face. “Did Angelle help?” Her hand went to grasp her glass of wine.
“She did the whole thing,” he said with a chuckle. “I only helped a bit.”
“When did you start building this place?” she asked. He paused to reflect. She wondered if Cassandra had anything to do with this cottage, but she pushed down the painful thought. She didn’t want to think of the woman that Raul used to be in love with…still might be in love with? She took a big gulp of her wine.
“Six years,” he said finally. “It was an old hunting cabin. I redid a lot during each summer. I’d like to finish remodeling Angelle’s bedroom. It used to be a small room for storage, but I started renovating it last summer when talks of a baby came.”
“Angelle was planned?” she asked and then slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oops. I hope that wasn’t too nosey.”
He laughed. “No…I used to be upset, but I don’t mind talking about it now.” He paused for a beat. “When it’s you.”
She swallowed her food, even though her feelings brought a lump to her throat. Her eyes dashed between her wine and his mesmerizing eyes.
“Do you miss her?”
“No,” he said firmly. “I don’t.” He laughed, and his stare fell to the table. “It’s funny, but I think you’ve helped with that.”
“Me?” she echoed. Inside she was bursting with excitement. “Why’s that?”
He scratched the back of his head. “Do you ever feel like we’ve known each other much longer than a few months?”
She set her fork down and tried to steady her hands under the table. “Yes.” The confession came easily enough. They stared at one another in the dim light. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know,” he said lowly, but his burning eyes were on her. “Can I show you something?” She looked down at their nearly finished meals. “The food can wait.” He took her by the hand, and they went out through the sliding door, leaving it open so they could still hear Angelle.
“I want to show you what I am,” he said in a low voice. “Before we go any further.” She nodded, her jaw hanging as her skin erupted with goosebumps. He began unbuttoning his shirt. Her heart rate spiked. She remembered that incredibly sculpted body well.
He stripped himself of his jeans, and she saw that his legs were just as powerfully built as the rest of him. Then, suddenly, he was emitting a funny golden light. It came off his skin in tiny visible waves. His face changed first and then all of him. She gasped as the luxurious fur came forth. Before her, he was no longer a man, but a magnificently beautiful (and terrifying) beast.
The bear, Raul, approached her carefully. He bent his head down. She slowly placed her hand on his head and rubbed, feeling the fur. It was rougher than she was expecting but filled with the scent of Raul. She leaned forward, pressing her face into the fur of his head. He smelled of mountains and pinecones, of adventures yet to come. She kissed the top of his head before she could stop herself.
Suddenly, he was shifting back. She averted her eyes from his nudity, although her brain was beginning to look down. She didn’t have the chance to though. His rough hands cupped and lifted her face towards him.
“I believe that counts as our first kiss,” he said in a husky voice.
“One of many, I hope.” She gently tugged him towards her, and he needed no further coaxing. Their lips met in sexual heat. She moaned into his touch, both soft and desperate. She could tell he was trying to contain himself. “Should we go inside?” She glanced down, catching a glimpse of everything he had to offer and smiled. “I think a bed might be better than the dirt beneath us.”
“Agreed,” he said in a deep purr. With a sudden quick movement, he flipped her up into her arms and carried her back into the house. Angelle was sleeping, blissfully unaware of the festivities unfolding in the cabin.
Raul
Spicy vanilla. That’s what Claire’s lips tasted like to Raul. He’d waited so long to taste them, to touch them with his own. His kisses were desperate. He wanted to mutter apologies as his rough hands crossed over her smooth, soft skin, but he couldn’t find the words with his mouth occupied kissing her over and over again.
He mapped her lips and every part of her mouth, unable to get enough. She groaned against him, desperate pleas of want as she ground her body against him. They stumbled into his bedroom. He nearly threw her on his bed, a tiny squeak of protest responding from the bed. He pounced on her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him flush against her. Her grip was surprisingly tight for her size.
She managed to get on top and straddle him, using his much larger frame to her advantage in the tussle. Her tongue ran down from his ear, along his neck, until she nipped at his collarbone. He groaned, excited by her sudden passion. Her hair was thrown wildly around, the waves dancing across his skin as she leaned down to kiss his broad chest.
He gasped when her hands found his member, hard and naked. She smirked. It was time to turn the tables. Using a swift movement, he flipped her onto her side. She protested, but his kisses silenced her, and she moaned into his mouth. Their tongues moved against one another. His hands wandered down to caress her curves, to make sure every spot of skin felt appreciated under his touch.
Every touch felt like tiny fireworks going off beneath his skin. She was his firework, after all. He kissed her down her stomach, earning a series of giggles which he loved. He glanced up at her, and her eyes shimmered with desire.
“I want you,” she told him. His nipped just above her sharp hip bone, and she groaned, bucking up against his lips. He licked down her thighs and kissed them, using his skilled fingers to work their magic over her entrance. She moaned and threw her head back against the bed, covering her mouth so as not to make too much noise.
“Do you need it, though?” he asked her in a teasing tone. She glared at him.
“Yes!”
He chuckled and sent vibrations rumbling against the soft skin of her thighs, earning a shudder in response. She was whispering swear words and begging phrases as his mouth finally landed square between her legs.
His mouth worked against her, his tongue going to pleasure the wet slit she offered him. She groaned, grinding against him to obtain more pressure.
She was going to need more than that. He smirked and licked her with a slick movement. She shivered.
“Please, Raul,” she begged. She interlaced her fingers into his hair and pulled him upwards. His lips were on hers again, and her kisses were desperate, filled with fire. “Please.”
“As you wish.” He hovered above her, and her hand went to stroke him. Her blush and the heat rolling off of her was all the evidence he needed to see she was enjoying herself. Her cheeks were flushed, that damned pink he loved so much.
“Take me.” She threw her hair to the side, looking like a chaotic goddess on the bed before him. He entered her slowly, and she rolled her head back, moaning loudly and slapping another hand over her mouth. “I’m so loud,” she managed between her fingers, but her next sentence was silence as he thrust inside her. She gasped at the movement, but he didn’t stop. He pressed himself as deeply as he could, earning a mewling of pleasure from her lips. His hands found her breasts, toying with her nipples, as he rocked against her. He knew that his size would be large for her, but she continued to grind against him in bliss. He increased his thrusting as she dragged her nails down his sides. It spurred him to go faster. He became needy as the desire coiled inside him. He wanted her to feel the most pleasure she’d ever felt.
Her eyes teared up as she jerked her head back with a sudden moan. “There, please, there.” He followed her directions. Anything to please his firecracker. She guided him to increase his rhythm at a certain angle. Her panting became faster, and he realized that he too was breathing heavily. He could feel his release coming on soon. It wouldn’t take much longer with this human goddess and her divine body spread before him, her hair thrown to the side.
“Raul!” She cried out in a strangled voice as he hit the right spot, and her muscles tightened around him. He groaned, a guttural, primal sound, as he felt her body wrap around him. This was it. She muttered in ecstasy as she reached her peak, and he couldn’t wait any longer. He drove himself into her for a few final strokes as he climaxed alongside her.
The Baby Shift- New Jersey Page 3