A Bride For a Werewolf

by Rachel E Rice

  “My name is Harper...”

  “We know who you are, Mr. Samsa,” Fiona said her eyes smiling. “My father works for you.”

  “And my father,” the young man about twenty two said as he held Fiona’s hand.

  “I work for you, too, Mr. Samsa. What are you doing here? You are miles away from your mansion.”

  “I was out jogging. And I saw you sitting in there with a couple and I thought I would have a drink with you.”

  “A couple? Were we that obvious?” Fiona said.

  “It’s obvious that the young man is interested in you. And you in him.” Fiona and the young man looked at each other and their cheeks blushed red.

  Harper was being a gentleman. He knew that there was an attraction and it was of sexual nature and he could smell the scent they produced by being near each other. He had no doubt that after they left tonight, they were going to engage in sexual intercourse.

  If Emily had been a were-female, she would have come to him looking to mate. However she was a human, and he had to remember that human females found pleasure in being courted.

  He smiled, “You look beautiful.” His voice husky yet gentle. It was the truth. She was more beautiful to him than any female, even Elisabeth. He extended his hand to Emily. She gazed up at him.

  “What are you doing here, Mr. Samsa?”

  “Call me Harper.” His eyes a gleaming gold. His voice low and smooth. “I came for you. Will you join me for a drink?”

  “I have a drink.” And she raised it to show him.

  “Then can I sit with you and your friends?” He glanced around the table at the warm faces and smiles of Emily’s friends.

  “I would prefer that you do not,” Emily said. She felt uncomfortable being in his presence. She had wanted to relax, and not have to be uptight around this man who didn’t think much of virgins.

  When she saw that Harper wouldn’t go away, she stood. She faced him and she felt the rush of desire shiver through her body. She stared in his eyes, his warm golden eyes never left her. She thought his eyes were blue, but she couldn’t speak to ask him. She had no wish to resist him when he led her to another table. He seduced her as an animal would a mate and she surrendered.

  She was his and he knew it. He had become a cold predator. And Emily was his prey under the full moon.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Would you have a drink with me? I’ll see that you get home. We’re going the same way,” Harper said opening with a smile.

  How could she say no? He stood six feet, shoulders wide and muscles straining against his tee shirt. He held his head high with confidence. Handsome features, strong jaw, and with the reflection of the dim light, his eyes shown bright piercing Emily’s soul. His sensual lips opened when he smiled to display his gleaming perfect teeth and she had to be with him if just for a moment.

  Emily stood and looked at Fiona who nodded in encouragement. Fiona was happy to be alone with her friend, and Emily appeared speechless and overwhelmed by the smoothness of Harper’s voice and his handsome features.

  When Emily glanced up at Harper, his eyes had changed from a dark blue to golden. She didn’t know what to read into that other than he was probably wearing contacts. She wouldn’t ruin this day by asking a stupid question, like the nerd she feared she had become. There must be something she could talk to him about. Not the weather for fuck sake.

  “I’ll have one drink. You choose,” she said. He led her to the table and pulled her chair and she sat. She wore a closed smile. He wasn’t the arrogant ass-hole she thought he was. But what did she know. She couldn’t think straight in his presence.

  Instead of waiting for the waitress he excused himself and walked to the bar and ordered two beers. He came strutting back with them in one hand. It was then Emily took notice of his hands.

  Harper never took his eyes off Emily as he sat across from her.

  “Tell me something about yourself Emily.” That was a question his lawyer had asked her when he proposed to her through him. Maybe he didn’t have time to read the papers. Was the lawyer the one who was making the selection, and didn’t bother to tell him she was the one he interviewed, she wondered.

  “There isn’t much to tell. I live at your mansion. I’m a maid and I’m in my final year at the state university.”

  “And what’s your major?”

  “Education. Minor in Philosophy.” He smiled at the philosophy part. Emily knew what he was thinking. It was a thought she had herself. What the fuck am I going to do with a degree in Philosophy?

  “I plan to teach children.” Harper listened. He pretended that he was interested in her profession, but he was interested in one thing. He liked the notion of her teaching children because he had planned on having a large family.

  “Continue,” he said as he leaned forward. His eyes moving from her hair to her lips to her teeth and then down to her breasts. He watched her intently. Emily didn’t notice. Her eyes down. She didn’t want to meet his eyes. She was nervous. She didn’t want to have to reveal too much about her life.

  And she didn’t want him to know that if he had threw her on the table in front of everyone and fucked her there, it would have been the best day of her life.

  “I have a father that depends on my help. He’s a disabled veteran.” She watched for Harper’s reaction then she proceeded, “He’s not an invalid, but he has a drinking problem and he never has enough money to pay his rent.”

  “You have a lot to do. You work and go to school and take care of a parent. Your mother, where is she?”

  “She left when I was a child.”

  “Mine left too,” Harper said his eyes searching around and holding back tears.

  “But your mother died.”

  “Let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about you and me?”

  “What about?”

  “I’m looking for someone to take care of me. Not in the sense of making my bed or having my clothes cleaned, but taking care of my needs.”

  “I don’t know what you mean?” Emily sat back.

  “How old are you, Emily?”

  “I’m twenty one, I’ll be twenty two in two weeks.”

  “I’m looking for someone to marry me.”

  “Yes, I know.” Harper didn’t pay attention to her comment. He was concentrating on getting her to understand what he had just said. He was attracted to her in all manner of ways. She was beautiful, and he needed someone, and what could be better than to ask her since she had needs also. How long could she continue taking care of a father with what she would make from teaching?

  “Will you marry me?”

  “What did you say?” She narrowed her eyes.

  “I want to know if you would marry me?” Emily slanted her head to the side and looked over at Fiona and her date holding hands and kissing over their drinks. The music playing low so she actual heard right—he asked her to marry him.

  “Now? Would you marry me now? Don’t think about it. Don’t ask me questions. Just take a chance and marry me. You won’t be sorry. I’ll try my best to make you happy and you will never want for anything. And I promise you, I’ll love you always.”

  “But you don’t know anything about me. And I don’t know anything about you. I think you should tell me something.”

  “I’m rich. I can make it so your father will never have to worry about anything again.” That’s what Emily wanted, for her father to be taken care of. He deserved it, and she felt the sacrifice she would make would be no sacrifice at all.

  She fell in love with Harper the first time she saw him, and now she would have the last laugh on Elisabeth. She would travel in the same circles as Elisabeth and smirk quietly at her. She would think of how stupid Elisabeth must have been for losing a guy like Harper. And Emily would get the greatest pleasure of showing off because Elisabeth had been so mean to her.

  “I’ll marry you,” Emily said. She heard and thought of nothing of what Stanley had said to her. She didn’t ask one
question of Harper.

  “I have to call a judge. He’s a family friend and I need to call for my limo. Go over and ask your friends to be witnesses to our wedding.” As Harper took out his phone, Emily walked to the table where Fiona and friend had just come up for air after a long kiss.

  “I’m getting married tonight.” Their mouths opened. “Will you two be our witnesses?”

  “Sure. How the fuck did that happen and so fast?” Fiona said.

  Her friend glanced over and said to Fiona, “Would you like to make it a double wedding?”

  “Fuck no. I just met you. You don’t want to ruin a good relationship with a marriage. She glanced at Emily. “I’m sorry, Emily. It’s not for everyone. But I’m sure you had good reasons to marry him at such a short notice. I hear he’s a decent man who just inherited a fortune. And you can’t go wrong with a face like his and a body I would kill to have wake up with me in the morning,” Fiona said looking at her friend and sliding her tongue across her lips and her boyfriend leaning over and biting her lip.

  Trying to feel good about everything, Emily kept smiling amid all the uncertainty and angst she felt.

  Harper walked over and held out his hand to Emily. “My limo is coming. Is everyone ready to celebrate my marriage to Emily?” He brought Emily to him for a heated kiss. His lips soft and warm touched hers lightly. His heart beat fast and Emily felt it and he felt hers. Emily pulled away nervous and embarrassed.

  “Yeah, but how could you get a marriage certificate so soon,” the young man asked Harper.

  Ignoring the question, Harper trotted to the car as if he didn’t hear him. When he spotted his limo through the window it cruised to the curb, and stopped. But Harper heard every word and every whisper. This new sense of hearing was making his life unbearable. He couldn’t get used to it because everything was all too new.

  “Don’t ask him that. Don’t you know when you have money, you can buy anything,” Fiona said. “There I go again, Emily. I’m sorry. I just found a friend and my big mouth is ruining everything.”

  “No. I’m happy. I like Harper.” Harper heard Emily. But she didn’t say she loved him. He wanted her to say that. But what could he expect. He asked her to marry him and she accepted without questioning his motives.

  What more could a werewolf expect? He thought.

  Chapter Fourteen

  When Emily entered Harper’s limo and sat next to him he placed his hand over hers and she felt the tingle of warmth and arousal and she knew she had made the right decision. When Harper touched her hand, he knew he wanted and needed this woman and she would bear him children.

  He called Michael from his limo. “Michael, meet me at Judge Aaron’s home in fifteen minutes.

  “For heaven sake it’s eleven thirty. By the time I get there, it’ll be midnight. My wife will think I have a mistress.”

  “Tell her I’ll fire you if you aren’t there. That should get her attention. You will lose everything if you don’t come.”

  “You don’t sound like yourself, Harper,” Michael said.

  “I’m not. I’m in love and I’m getting married.” He looked to Emily. Emily smiled back but in the back of her mind was the question about her being a virgin. Did he forget about that? Did he even know? He had explicitly said to Michael that he didn’t want a virgin.

  When Harper and Emily were leaving the judge’s library and they were officially Mr. and Mrs. Harper Samsa, Michael rang the bell, and the judge’s wife opened the door with a confused look and a sour face. Michael apologized for the time and entered the judge’s home.

  “I got here as soon as I could,” Michael said breathless his shirt untucked on one side. He put the papers he held in one hand under his arms and tucked his shirt into his pants, before he raced to Harper standing holding Emily’s hand. Harper couldn’t tear his eyes away from Emily.

  Handing Harper the documents and looking at Emily, Michael reached inside his coat pocket, and put on his reading glasses. He watched at Emily.

  “Emily, how are you doing? You made a good choice with Harper,” he said turning to offer his hand to both of them. “I knew once you two got together, you wouldn’t let a little thing like her being a virgin keep the two of you apart.”

  “She’s what? You’re what?” His eyes shot to Emily. His mouth opened and he huffed through his teeth. She shook her head yes. “Keep those papers. I won’t need them,” he said to Michael. His warm smile vanished and to take its place a glum cold look.

  “What’s wrong, Harper?” Michael called out as Harper took Emily’s hand and rushed out the door and into his limo.

  “Take me home,” he said to his driver.

  “What’s wrong?” Emily questioned. She watched as his expression of warmth turned to remoteness. He dropped her hand and moved away leaving a gap between them.

  “Nothing,” Harper said and turned away from her.

  “Is it because I’m a virgin? I thought you knew this and it didn’t matter to you,” her voice pleading for him to reconsider.

  “I didn’t know,” Harper said his voice low. “I’ll make arrangements to have the wedding annulled.” Emily watched as his expression of love passed from his handsome face, to an expression of disgust.

  “But what about the promises you made to me?”

  “They will all be honored.”

  “All except honoring your marriage to me. I didn’t want this, you wanted it remember.”

  “I remember, and now I don’t want it, and I can’t discuss why I want an annulment.”

  “The minute you discovered that I was a virgin you became cold. What do you want me to do, find someone to take my virginity?” He turned with a raised eyebrow.

  “That may help.”

  “What about you? Why can’t you do it?”

  “I just can’t.”

  “Then why did you want to marry me? What about Elisabeth, she wasn’t a virgin yet you called off your engagement to her. Do you like to break women’s hearts? Is that what’s wrong with you. You just wanted to break my heart. Well my heart has been broken too many times to care about another broken heart. You can have your revenge on all woman. I agree. I want the annulment as soon as possible.”

  And Emily turned away from Harper. Their backs to each other. When the car stopped, Emily bolted from the car. Harper realized how much he had changed. He would have given anything to have a woman like Emily, but now that he had become a werewolf, it wouldn’t be possible.

  How could he expect her to understand? He was afraid he would hurt her just by placing his large sheath into her small opening. He didn’t know if he could get the tip in without tearing her apart.

  What a fucked up life he had been thrust into. He wasn’t a man and he wasn’t a werewolf, but he was something in between.

  That wolf part of him didn’t care. It had to have her tonight. When he stepped out of the limo he looked up, raised his head, and he needed to howl. But he couldn’t because this was the middle of San Francisco and there were no wolves and he had to hide his secret from people and the world.

  Everyone was sleeping. Emily’s room was nearby. He wanted to explain to her but he couldn’t. He needed to mate but he resisted the urge, and then the urge grew greater and instead of climbing the stairs up to his bedroom, he walked passed the kitchen, down the hall, and to the right. He opened the door to Emily’s room but she wasn’t there.

  Harper stood wondering where she had gone. He turned to walk to his room and he heard her. She was taking a bath. He heard her footsteps when she stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel, and then he heard each footstep when she opened the door and faced him.

  “What do you want now? I have nothing you would want.” Emily watched at his face change. She watched as his eyes turned from blue to gold. He stepped close to her without a word and reached and snatched her towel off her body.

  “Is that what’s wrong with you? You just want to look at me but never touch me?”

  “I want t
o do more than look at you.” His tongue swiped across his dry lips. His breathing became loud and he heard his own heart beat. He wanted Emily. He needed her tonight and he would give her what she wanted. She wanted to be his wife. She no longer wanted to be a virgin. Well he would indulge her.

  She wanted him to take her virginity and he would. Now.

  Harper would present her with the harsh reality of being a werewolf’s mate. The harsh reality of having a manhood which couldn’t fit into a virgin’s opening.

  All this was new to him. Where would he start? Could he start by claiming her? Bend her over the bed and show her what kind of animal she had married.

  As his mind went through different scenarios of how to make love to her. He wasn’t expecting what she said.

  “I don’t want you anymore. You are cruel and I don’t want to be with a cruel man who carries secrets. I know you have secrets. I thought you could over look me being a virgin, and I would overlook your secrets, and we could find respect and love for each other.”

  Emily had expressed that so eloquent. Harper couldn’t have said it better, but now it’s over and he didn’t want it to be over. He had to have her tonight.

  Striding over to her, he leaned his head to the side and smiled. “Can we start again? Can this be our honeymoon? Let me show you how much I want you.”

  It was the wolf in him that showed in the slyness of his words. The man in him would never behave so cunning.

  “I know how much you want me. You want someone who can satisfy your sick fantasies and a virgin can’t do that for you. What do you want to do? Tie me up.” She was just repeating what Stanley had said. These weren’t her feelings, but she didn’t understand and Harper didn’t make it better for her by rejecting her and embarrassing her in front of her friends.

  She thought she had married a gentle man. She wanted her first man to be understanding and gentle, but that is the stuff of fairy tales and this was a horror story in the making for both of them.

  He laughed quietly. Where did she get the notion that he wanted to tie her up?