by Kate Sheperd
Candy sat there on the couch, unsure of everything in her life, and a simple kiss made it so much worse. She realized she wanted whatever that passion or spark was that she'd felt with this man was the kind she wanted in her marriage. Danny had kissed her once and it hadn't felt anything but cold and wet. Nothing like this.
Sighing in defeat, she wondered if she could go through a marriage to a man she barely knew and wasn't really attracted too. He just wasn't her type physically, or emotionally. Burying her hands in her face she wondered if she could stand up to her father and tell him the truth.
Chapter 2
Sneaking back to the room after he'd left, she saw all the cameras and TV's in the backroom. There were monitors everywhere, sensors, and other equipment lining the room top to bottom. It looked like some weird room out of a spy movie. Candy felt a little guilty snooping, but she didn't know anything about the man who's house she was in.
What she saw, however, was not what she was expecting. Shocked completely by what was on the cameras, she saw him strip his clothes off and couldn't take her eyes off the screen. Wondering why he was taking his clothes off, she noticed the way his waist tapered to his hips and he had strong legs with muscles that made him look like he did a lot of running.
What happened next would have traumatized most people, but Candy was enthralled. He shifted, the white light that encircled him didn't last long but when it flashed and disappeared, standing there was a gigantic black bear who was sniffing at the trees.
So, this was his secret. He was an animal shifter. Candy had a particular interest in the paranormal and had since she was a kid. It was a secret that no one knew about her, not even her father. She swore as a kid she'd seen a boy shift into a wolf once, and had never been able to shake the feeling that shifters were real. Here was her proof. What was she going to do about it?
Looking around the room, she saw his diplomas on the wall and finally caught his name. Hoss Blackburn. Somehow, that suited him. She watched him on the monitors for a while longer, and saw him find a wolf that was trapped in a metal trap, using his paws, he freed the wolf. It snarled at him, but limped off when it was freed. With his strength of the bear, he ripped the trap off the ground and broke it in half. He left it in pieces by the tree and then sniffed the ground. He walked around and random cameras would come on and pick up his movements on the monitors. Candy watched with fascination, but when she saw him run back to his clothes and shift back to human, she quickly left the room and shut the door behind her.
She walked into the kitchen and got some water and drank it, trying to understand what she'd just seen. It should have traumatized her, she should have run out of here screaming in the other direction, but all she could think about was seducing him and seeing if her feelings for him were real.
When he came back into the house he paused and looked at her drinking water by the sink. "Sorry, poachers caught a tagged wolf. I'll have to track it down tomorrow to check on it and see if I need to tranq it and get the vet out here to fix it."
"Did you catch the poachers?" Candy asked, knowing that he hadn't, but she didn't want him to know she'd seen him shift.
"No, but I think I will know them the next time they come into my park." He growled low in his throat as he said it and Candy had an eerie chill go up her spine. This was a man you didn't want to cross.
"Why were you in my camera room?" He asked her and leaned against the doorway of the kitchen and watched her reaction. Candy froze with the cup midair towards her mouth.
"What?" She whispered and gulped.
He raised a brow in her direction. "Let's start over, my name is Hoss, you already told me you were Candy. Now, Candy, tell me why you snooped in my office."
"I... I just wanted to see what the alarms and cameras were. I meant no harm." Candy told him and set the glass down. She walked over to him and looked up at him facing her fears. This man could snap her neck in a single motion if he wanted too. If he was going to harm her, she wouldn't be able to get away from him, so instead she faced him head on.
"I'm guessing the cameras weren't the only thing you saw." He whispered softly and looked down at her.
Candy nodded at him and then before she could stop herself she put a hand against his chest and looked up at him, her eyes fascinated with his features.
"You don't scare me." She told him, though that wasn't entirely true. He did scare her, but in a good way. When she stood next to him, she felt safe, protected, as if he'd be able to keep all the bad guys away. She snorted, she had body guards for that if she needed it, yet with him she felt like she didn't need guns to keep her safe. Just him.
"I bite." He told her and watched her reaction. When her eyes widened with shock and then arousal, his nostrils flared and he could smell it. Her musky scent. He swallowed hard and shut his eyes. Whatever was going on between the two of them needed to stop before he did something he regretted.
Like falling for a politician’s daughter. A man like him wasn't the kind that daddy would approve of dating his only daughter. Yet, he couldn't stop himself. He reached out and touched her hair. The strands of hair rolled between his fingers smoothly and he lowered his head and kissed her.
She knew who and what he really was and was still standing here in front of him and when their lips touched, she melted against him and he brought his arms around her to hold her tight. Unable to resist her, he let his lips part hers and thrust his tongue between hers to let the age old dance of seduction begin.
Tugging at the buttons on his shirt and jacket, she pulled the first few buttons apart. Putting her hand inside his shirt she touched his skin. He had thick hair on his chest and she tangled her fingers in his chest hair and tugged slightly.
Hoss hissed in a breath and felt himself grow uncomfortably hard in his pants. Feeling a niggle that he was taking advantage of her, he finally broke the kiss and took a step back.
"I should get you home." He said gruffly. "Your father will kill me."
"I'm a grown woman Hoss, let me decide what I want." Candy said pushing herself closer to kiss him again. She didn't want to give him a chance to change his mind. She wanted him.
"Candy, you're tempting, believe me, but I don't want to do anything you'll regret in the morning." Hoss told her and put his hands on her shoulders, intending to push her away.
Candy grabbed his hands and put them on her breasts, before he could react she pressed against him and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She wouldn't let him reject her. She could tell he wanted her, she wanted him, especially now that she'd seen proof he was a shifter. It wasn't because he was a shifter, she'd wanted him since first laying eyes on him. But knowing he was real, it made it that much sweeter for her.
"Hoss, I'm a big girl, let me make my own decisions, okay?"
“It’s not that I don’t respect that you’re a grown woman Candy, it’s that I don’t want to get on your father’s bad side. He’s already tried to shut down a lot of our funding for the local parks, and if I piss him off by getting involved with you, it could make it worse.” Hoss told her the truth.
“I won’t let my father do that. Have a little faith that not all of us are evil people.” Candy said, and reached out to touch him. “Look at me Hoss, I’m not afraid to stand up to my father. I’m also not afraid to go after what I want, and what I want is you.”
“You are playing with fire Candy,” He told her as she continued to touch him.
Looking up at him, Candy flashed a big smile. “I like it hot.”
Hoss shut his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. This girl was nothing but trouble and he found her irresistible. He’d always had a sweet tooth.
Chapter 3
Hoss scooped her up in his arms and took her to his bedroom. Setting her gently on the bed he took his shirt off, one button at a time. Slowly, giving her a chance to change her mind and run screaming in the other direction. When she took her shirt off and exposed her perky breasts it was all he could do not t
o pounce onto the bed to grope her right then. Forcing himself to hold still he started to work on the rest of his clothes as he revealed himself to her, one piece of clothing at a time.
He left his boxers on and climbed onto the bed next to her and helped take her hair out of the ponytail it had been in. Touching her hair gently he finger-combed it for a few minutes before moving on to touching her neck and shoulders, seducing her slowly, taking his time. He kissed her passionately as he moved his fingers down her body and between her legs. He wanted her and if he was going to do something wild and crazy, he might as well make it count.
Hoss let her touch him and didn’t try to stop her when she found her way to his groin. She grabbed him tight and he had to shut his eyes for a second and shuttered, it had been a long time since a woman had touched him like this. Partially by choice of living so isolated, and partially because he was worried he’d shift in front of a human who would be traumatized by seeing it. Candy was different. She knew shifters existed somehow even before she’d spied on him from his cameras and wasn’t scared of him.
“I like when you press right there,” She murmured as he touched her between her thighs, she was growing wetter by the minute and his fingers continued to stroke her. Getting her juices to coat his fingers and her skin in rivers until she was grinding her body up against him. She continued to touch his cock with her fingers and palm.
She spread her legs wider, waiting for him to take her. Candy wanted him and she didn’t bother to hide her desire for him. When he pushed himself off his side to lay between her legs he kissed her as he guided himself between her legs and rubbed the tip of his cock against her wetness. She pushed her hips up, taking him inside of her. He slipped inside and started to thrust hard and kept her mouth busy with his lips and tongue.
He kept an even pace, grinding his groin against her so that he hit her clit with the front of himself as he thrust inside of her. She tipped her head back and he leaned his head down to nip at the delicate skin of her neck and shoulder. Feeling her getting closer to climax, she squeezed him and it nearly sent him over the edge. He stopped moving for a minute to try to control his orgasm, not wanting to cum quite yet.
Candy had other ideas, she reached down and grabbed his ass, wrapping her legs around his waist and grinded herself up against him. Hoss moaned and started to move hard and fast inside her, feeling the muscles squeezing him hard he couldn’t last much longer. He’d have to make it up to her later, shuddering, his climax hit him hard and fast and he tensed up, his entire body jerking on top of her.
Candy arched her back and her legs shook around him as she took him deep. “Mmmm, that felt so good.”
“You came?” Hoss whispered, surprised. He’d been so wrapped up in his own feelings, he didn’t feel her cum.
“Yes, I did, that’s why I didn’t want you to stop, I’d been so close to the edge.” Candy grinned at him and pressed a firm kiss against his lips. “As soon as your up for round two, let me know.”
“Round two?” Hoss blinked at her and then a slow smiled curved his lips. “I think I can handle that.
“I hope so,” Grinning, she wiggled against him, letting him know she was still ready to go.
Chapter 4
Candy was kissing Hoss goodbye on the front steps to her house when her father, Henry, opened the door. Standing next to him was her fiancé, Danny. Jumping away from Hoss, she felt like a deer in headlights.
“I… can explain?” Candy said, though it sounded more like a question, like she wasn’t sure of the answer.
“I’ll see you later Candy, I’ll see if I can get your car unstuck.” Hoss said and made a hasty exit.
“Were you kissing him?” Henry asked his daughter, startled when the big hulking bear of a man was walking away from them and got in his pick up to leave.
“Yes. And I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you myself, privately, I didn’t mean for you to find out by seeing us like that.” Candy said and felt like rubbing her hands over her face. “Danny, I’m sorry, but I cannot marry you. I don’t love you and you deserve a woman who can love you.”
“I’m willing to overlook a pre-marriage indiscretion as long as it doesn’t happen again.” Danny said, sounding cold and something about the way he said it made Candy feel like he didn’t even see her as a person.
“I can’t Danny, I’m sorry.” She told him and pushed past both men to go to her room. She needed a shower, and time to think about what she’d just did to her father. He was not going to be happy with her.
A couple hours later, her father found her and opened her bedroom door. Leaning against the doorframe he stared at her. “Want to explain to me what’s going on?”
“I… found someone I actually like. As a man. Not someone who’s going to improve your political career, but someone who actually makes me happy when I’m alone with him. I’m sorry it’s not Danny, I tried, but I can’t do it daddy.” Candy told him and walked over giving her dad a sad hug. “I know it was important to you, but isn’t my future and happiness important too?”
“Of course your happiness is important to me. But you never had anyone special. I just want to see you settled down and happy. Candy, if this man makes you happy, then I’m not going to get in your way.” Henry told her and scratched his head and looked a little confused. “If you didn’t like Daniel, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to make you happy Daddy, a lot of women marry men they barely know, and only kind of like and it works out long-term if both people want to make it work. There’s a lot of factors when it comes to a successful relationship, and love isn’t always enough.” Candy sighed and smiled at her dad. She appreciated that he could be reasoned with. She never knew, he could be a little moody. It appeared he was in a reasonable, happy mood today.
“So, what happened to your car?” Henry asked her, his brows up looking curious.
Candy looked a little sheepish and then laughed. “I got it stuck in the mud. Hoss helped me out last night, brought me home. We have a date. I’m going. I hope you like him, he’s a good man. He’s not rich, and he’s not in politics, but he’s a strong, determined man with good life goals that you’d be able to respect.”
“Is it important to you that I am okay with him?” Henry asked her.
“I would be happier if you liked him.” She said and shrugged. “I don’t think you liking him or disliking him would make me change mind though. It’s one of those things were when you meet the right person, I think you just know. He’s that person for me, Daddy.”
“If you’re sure he’ll make you happy, then you have my support.” Henry told his daughter, and wondered how he was going to break the news to Daniel’s father. The man wouldn’t take it well. Daniel had wanted his daughter for a while, but he wouldn’t force her to marry a man she didn’t want.
Even if it met he had political problems and donation issues with the upcoming election. But Candy didn’t need to know or worry about that part, Daniel and his father could be very dangerous men, and the more Henry learned about them, the more he realized that he didn’t want his daughter anywhere near them. He was relieved that she’d ended it herself.
Chapter 5
Candy was quite happy to be seeing Hoss for dinner tonight. She dressed up all sexy for him and wanted him to take her back to his house. She liked his house even though it was small and not fancy. No maids, no security cameras, everything about him and where he lived represented the life she wanted.
“So your father took it pretty well huh?” Hoss asked her at the end of their meal. Candy had forced him to let her pay, she said it was the least she could do after he’d rescued her car.
“He did, surprisingly. I was kind of surprised.” She said. She took her credit card back and signed, thanking the waiter. “Are you ready to go?”
“Whenever you are.” Hoss said and linked his arm with hers. They walked outside down the street. A few minutes later when Hoss reached to unlock his truck his body jerked and he slamme
d into the side of his truck.
“Hoss? Are you okay?” Candy gasped as he slid down the side of the truck with a shocked expression on his face.
“Get down Candy, quickly.” He said, scanning the area. “I just got shot. It couldn’t have been someone who was used to shooting guns, they missed anything vital, but damn that shit hurts.”
Candy immediately pulled out her cell phone to call 9-1-1 and Hoss stopped her.
“No police. No cops. They can’t find out I’m a shifter. I’ll heal, I just have to get the bullet out. Do you think you can drive?” Hoss said, he was couldn’t figure out exactly where he got shot from, but he assumed the person would be coming to finish the job if they didn’t get out of there soon. He didn’t want Candy at risk and managed to get the doors open and get them inside. Candy was able to slide into the driver side and turn the car on, heading towards Hoss’s house.
“What now?” She whispered, her eyes wide. This was the closest she’d come to seeing anyone be hurt, and it sunk in how important the security she’d always had growing up had been with her father.
“Now, we see if he follows me home. I’m guessing if he wanted to kill me, he will want to finish the job and knows what car we are driving.” Hoss told her and when he saw the fear on her face he squeezed her leg. “Don’t worry, I just need you to help me get the bullet out. I can shift and take care of the rest.”
“Are you going to kill him?” Candy asked, concerned.
“Only if I have too. I’m not big on killing people.” Hoss told her and gave her a funny look. He felt a little sick from the bullet being in him, and was thankful that it wasn’t silver, silver really hurt.
“Do you think he’s doing it because you’re a shifter?” Candy asked a little while later, as they drew closer to his cabin.
Hoss shrugged and then let out a low groan from the pain. “I don’t know; I’ve been pretty careful over the years.”