Fur-Ever Yours: A BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (The Protectors Book 1)

by Roxy Wilson

  “So, you’re scared of dogs too?” Justin asked in a voice that showed exactly what he thought of this new information about her.

  She cringed, but she couldn’t very well lie to the kid. “A little bit.” She glanced at Keran, expecting he would smile at her hilarious revelation.

  The man was frowning. It looked as if she’d said something that offended him. Just as she opened her mouth, his cell phone rang.

  Putting his hand in his pocket, he drew out his phone. “Yes, Rogers.”

  Devyn gazed over at Justin. “You’re not scared of any animals?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Come on. You must be scared of something. Snakes?”

  “Pfft…” He waved a hand.

  “Lions?”

  “Blah!”

  “Wolves?” she suggested.”

  He glanced at her and then at his dad. “No, I’m not scared of animals.” A strange tone rippled in his voice as if he wanted to say something else but wasn’t sure if he could.

  “We’re leaving for Switzerland.”

  Devyn turned to face Keran. “A business trip?”

  “Yes, something like that. It’s going to be very short. We’ll leave next Monday and be back in town on Wednesday.”

  “I don’t want to go,” Justin said. Letting go of Devyn’s hand, he folded his arms. There was an obstinate look on his face she hadn’t seen before. “The concert is next Tuesday and you promised I could go.”

  “Oh, damn! I forgot about that.” Keran ran a hand through his hair. “If we try to reschedule…All right. Let me try.”

  Devyn had heard about the concert from Justin. It was one of his favorite bands playing in Chicago and he really wanted to go. “Why don’t you go on your trip and Justin and I can stay here. We’ll go to the concert, and you won’t be gone for a long time. Also, we have other people around, including the bodyguards.”

  Keran didn’t look convinced.

  Devyn was a little taken aback to realize that he took his son’s safety this seriously, obsessively so. Is the boy in any danger? If so, she should know. Perhaps she was just being paranoid. It could be possible he preferred to take his son to such outings himself.

  “I’ll see if I can push the dates forward a little,” he said.

  She shrugged as they strolled into the house. “I’ll go and change. Justin, why don’t you wait for me in the classroom? And maybe you can begin reading the chapter we’re starting today. I’ll be there in a little while.” As the boy clambered up the stairs, she turned towards Keran. “Thank you for the riding lesson. I appreciate the time you took out of your schedule.” Her tone sounded a bit formal, but then she was trying hard to maintain a professional front.

  “You’re welcome,” he replied just as stiffly.

  She climbed the stairs, aware that he stood downstairs staring at her. His gaze seemed to sear through her, and she felt relieved when she reached the landing. Devyn rushed to her room and took a cold shower. If her hormones were any more out of control, she would probably die. What was it about Keran that made her feel so desperate? She’d never experienced such a strong yearning for a man, and it was something that took her quite by surprise. Would she ever be able to feel normal around him?

  Probably not.

  Although, she still debated leaving after her trial period was over, she liked Justin. In the past week, she’d developed a genuine affection for the smart and friendly child who brightened her day with his constant chatter. She also enjoyed living in this house with all its amenities. The staff was very nice to her, and she felt at home. Except of course, she didn’t think she could survive for long if she continued to lust after Keran.

  It needed to stop, but she didn’t have any idea how to go about it.

  When she entered the classroom, Justin was dutifully reading the book. She worked with him for two hours on various topics. They began a new science project in which he was keenly involved. Around lunch time, they took a break.

  Keran usually didn’t join them for meals as he worked all through the day and preferred to eat at his desk.

  “So, what shall we do in the evening?” she asked Justin when they returned to the classroom. “If you study for another hour, we can do some activity that you like. Swimming? Maybe you can go for a ride, and this time I’ll watch.”

  “Kite flying,” he answered.

  She blinked her eyes. “Kite flying? I’ve never done that. We’ll have to get a kite first.”

  “I have a kite. Simon got it for me, but I haven’t gotten a chance to try it. It’s windy today so…” His voice trailed off, a look of longing on his expressive face.

  Simon was one of the bodyguards who worked in the house. “Sure, we can try. But I have to tell you up front that I’ve no clue about how to fly a kite.”

  “We’ll learn on the go,” he said with confidence.

  Nothing could shake this boy’s confidence. She liked that about him. “Okay. But first, we have to finish this math lesson.”

  He got to work and she supervised him. It was a good thing he was such a quick learner. Once he memorized something, he didn’t forget. In reading, he was precocious for his age. Not many eight year-olds read Shakespeare. The fact that he disliked it was probably because it was too advanced for him. She’d gotten a few more age-appropriate books for him and he was already reading them.

  Once the work was finished, they went out in the garden. The kite was bright yellow and green. It fluttered in her hand as she held it up. When she jumped and let it go, it floated in the wind for a few seconds and then dropped.

  “It’s supposed to go up,” said Justin.

  “I know, honey. Let me try again.” Despite her best efforts, it seemed impossible for them to get it off to soar. “When others do it, it looks much easier.”

  “Maybe we should just drop the idea,” Justin suggested.

  “Hang on, let me try,” Keran offered as he strode into the garden. “I’ve done this before.”

  “It’s not as easy as it looks, dad.”

  “Really?” He smiled at his son. “Why don’t you take the kite and stand over there? I’ll pull the string and when I shout, you can let it go.”

  “Tried that and failed,” Justin muttered but he did as he was instructed.

  Much to their collective amazement, Keran managed to get the kite to fly in the air

  “Wow!” Justin called out with glee as he ran to his father. “How did you do it? We’ve been trying for half an hour.”

  Keran laughed as he peered up at the kite. “It’s all in the wrist movement. See…I’m keeping it light and easy because I want to allow the wind to take it but I also don’t want it to go too far away. You want to give it a try?”

  “It might fall right back down.”

  “I won’t let it,” Keran assured his son.

  While she walked towards him, Devyn thought there wasn’t a prettier sight in the world than to see the father and son as they glanced up at the kite. Her heart contracted and she actually felt giddy. She’d known she was fast falling in love with Justin, but now she realized she was also in danger of falling in love with Keran.

  Damn.

  She couldn’t afford it.

  “You want to give it a try, Devyn?” Justin asked.

  “No, honey, you do it.”

  “Try it, try it,” he insisted. “It’s really fun.”

  When he passed her the string, she didn’t have an option but to grasp it firmly.

  Keran put his fingers on her hand. “Not so hard. It will come down if you do that. Relax your wrist right here.”

  When he touched her arm, a strong sizzle of desire jolted up along her skin. She shivered as he stood behind her, his arms around her as he helped her to guide the kite. She wanted to turn in his arms and kiss him. Her lips ached to feel his, and her hands burned to touch his skin. Devyn handed over the string to Justin. “That was lovely, honey, but I think you should try it.”

  As the father and son
continued to fly the kite, Devyn stepped away. She was in a great deal of trouble. If nothing was done, she might lose what was left of her sanity. This crushing need she felt for Keran had to stop. She just needed to figure out a way not to feel like this, or else it would become impossible for her to work here.

  She had a decision to make fast, because she was running out of time.

  Chapter Four

  Her trouble wasn’t over yet. While she roamed the fun fair, holding Justin’s hand, Devyn couldn’t believe yet another week had gone by. How could she have survived it? It was hard to say. Day after day, she longed to get away from the house, so she could go far from Keran. Then with each passing day, she wanted to spend more time with him. Her heart and mind were in direct conflict and she just didn’t know what to do about it.

  Such an enigmatic man too. Although, he ran a huge corporation, he gave enough attention to his son and never appeared to be pressed for time. Managing time was an art that he appeared to have perfected quite well.

  She admired him on many levels, and the more she got to know him, the greater was her fear that she would fall in love with him. She didn’t want that to happen. It would only increase her misery. He wasn’t even thinking about her in a romantic way.

  “Want an ice-cream?” Keran asked as he walked by her side.

  Justin jumped up. “Yes, dad.”

  “Come on, then.”

  The two bodyguards that followed them at a discreet distance came forward. Much to her surprise, he gave the bodyguards a cone each too. Licking the cones, the trio walked over to the video arcade.

  “My stomach’s still a little queasy from the rollercoaster,” Keran admitted as Justin ran ahead.

  She kept her gaze on him. “Mine too.”

  “You were laughing,” he said as if she’d committed a heinous crime. He’d been a violent shade of green as they sat on the rollercoaster.

  Devyn licked her chocolate ripple ice-cream. “Okay, fine. So, I love roller coasters.”

  He snorted, apparently upset because she seemed to take the rides better than him. “You’re scared of animals, but enjoy roller coasters. It’s not fair.”

  “You sound like a child.”

  Keran grunted and licked his ice-cream.

  Devyn was hit with the sudden realization of how this scene seemed a little too domestic. She glanced away and stood behind Justin as he killed enemy soldiers on the screen. “I don’t know what it is about men. Why do they take such pleasure in these games?”

  “It’s the testosterone,” Keran explained. “We’re born to protect women, and instincts don’t fade.”

  “Women don’t need protection anymore. We’re self-sufficient and independent.”

  “Sure, sure. I’m all for women empowerment, but I really think it’s impossible to fully beat down the genes that have been passed down through generations. That’s why men are still aggressive.”

  “I don’t know. Cavemen days are long over.”

  “Where did you grow up?” He suddenly changed the topic.

  “In Nebraska,” she said. “My father was a mechanic, and my mother was a seamstress. I was an only child.”

  “I was one too. I think siblings are overrated. When I was growing up, I was happy to spend time with my parents.”

  “What happened to them?”

  “My father went for a hike, fell down and died, and my mother was in a car accident,” he said.

  Devyn got a weird feeling he was lying. No. Maybe she was just being paranoid. Why would he lie about such things?

  “It’s been ten years since I lost them and sometimes, I think about how different things would have been if they were alive and were able to enjoy Justin’s birth and just having him around.”

  “I’m sure they would have treasured every aspect of his life.” She could tell he missed his parents. “But he seems to have grown up fine without feeling the loss.”

  “He’s a strong child. After his mother passed away, I was worried that he wouldn’t be able to cope, but he has done remarkably well.”

  “Children are far more resilient than we give them credit for,” she said. “How did his mother die? I mean…” She cleared her throat. “Um…if you don’t mind talking about it.”

  “She was driving too fast,” he said simply.

  Devyn felt grateful that at least, Justin hadn’t been with her. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “It was a long time ago,” Keran said in a voice that sounded a little cold.

  She couldn’t tell if he was upset she brought up the topic or if he just didn’t feel anything for his wife. No, he was such a loving man she couldn’t imagine him not being caring towards someone who shared a life with him and gave him such a beautiful child.

  Justin finished the game and came over.

  Devyn took out a tissue from her purse and wiped her hands. “So, what do you want to do now?”

  Justin pointed. “There’s the pirate ship.”

  “Oh, dear God, you may as well kill me right here, son.”

  “Weren’t you the one who was telling me to be brave when I didn’t want to ride?” she teased Keran as they walked to the pirate ship.

  “So, this is revenge?”

  She laughed at his fierce expression. “I wasn’t the one who suggested we come to the fun fair. It was Justin’s idea.”

  “And you didn’t do anything to discourage him,” he complained.

  “I thought you wanted your son to have all kinds of experiences. It’s important for him. He gains so much from these outings,” Devyn retorted.

  Keran merely shook his head.

  They strolled over to the pirate ship. Justin already stood in line. “Do Simon and Emmett want to come in?” he asked about the bodyguards.

  Keran looked over at them.

  They both shook their head.

  “No, I guess they don’t.” It seemed obvious that he wished he could join the bodyguards but didn’t want to lose face in front of his son.

  Devyn suppressed a grin as she took a seat. He sat next to her. His thigh brushed against hers and the fizzle of desire was instantaneous. Her fingers clenched the rod because she longed to touch him. Devyn took a deep breath to steady her nerves, but it had the opposite effect because she caught the male scent of him….spicy and strong. Her lungs became filled with it, and all she wanted to do now was to run her fingers over his skin. She wanted to turn towards him and plant her lips on his. Luckily, the pirate ship began to move and her attention became slightly diverted.

  Keran gulped beside her.

  She wanted to grasp his hand but, of course, if she did something like that, there would be no stopping her.

  Justin squealed with delight as the ship went almost vertical.

  Keran’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the rod and she patted his hand. He didn’t look at her.

  The ride was over in ten minutes and she felt glad to be on solid ground.

  Keran’s face wore a delicate shade of green, an impressive improvement on the color it had turned into when they were on the roller coaster.

  “I want something to eat,” Justin said. “And then we can go to the house of horrors. I heard they have a cool one and there are ghosts and ghouls.”

  “Oh, what fun,” Keran replied as he followed his son to the hot dog stand.

  “I’ll take one,” she told him.

  They all had a hotdog and fries and then strolled over to the house of horrors.

  “Don’t tell me you’re not scared to go in there.” Keran pointed at the sign that announced dire dangers in the tent that held the house of horrors.

  “I’m not. If you want you can stay outside.”

  “I think that would be best,” he announced in a solemn voice.

  She fought hard to suppress her laughter. So much for the man who was amused when she refused to learn to ride. Now, she had something to hold over him. Every time he threatened to make her ride, she could plan a fun fair outing with Justin.
When she glanced at him, she could tell he knew exactly what she was thinking.

  “Don’t go there. Believe me, I’m not a good enemy to have.”

  “I believe you.” She beamed at him and got into a line with Justin. “We’ll be out in a little while.”

  The house of horrors was a little disappointing for her taste, but she enjoyed watching Justin have fun. He screamed so loudly her eardrums nearly burst.

  When they got out, Keran was on the phone. “Keep me posted. This is serious stuff, but to date they haven’t made a move, so we need to give them space. I don’t want to be the first to make any hostile move.”

  “Work?” she asked when he cut the line and shoved the phone into his pocket.

  “No,” he replied in a curt voice.

  His gruff tone surprised her. Gone was the fun guy who was enjoying himself at the fun fair. This man was serious…dangerous. For some bizarre reason, she actually felt a shiver of fear run up her spine. What was wrong with her? This was Keran. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt a fly. She’d seen the soft side of him and the fun side too. He was a great guy. Maybe she was just tired.

  She used her fingers to ruffle Justin’s thick, wind-tousled hair to distract herself from thoughts of his father. “What’s next, Justin?”

  He pointed to a stall. “How about we go play those games? We have to shoot the target and win toys,” he said. They followed him to the stall. Justin tried his luck and didn’t win anything. “I wanted that red car,” he complained as he put the gun down.

  “How about I try to win that for you?” she offered.

  Justin stared at her. “Do you know how to use a gun?”

  “Oh, I have some idea.”

  Keran paid for her turn before she could do so. He looked a little amused as if the idea of her hitting the target was something he found funny.

  Well, she would show him. Devyn picked up the gun and lined it. Without as much as staring too much at the target, she fired a shot, again and again.

  “Oh, my gosh!” Justin gawked at the straight shots she’d lined up. “That’s awesome.”

  “Thank you, kind sir.” She bowed playfully and then turned to the bemused owner of the stall. “We’ll have the red car, if you don’t mind.”