North Peak Shifters Box Set

by Haley Weir

  He brushed his thumb over her cheek, then down along her jawline. “God, Ava. You’re so beautiful.” He leaned toward her, and his breath brushed her lips.

  His fingertips trailed down her neck toward her shoulder. She tilted her head to the side, closing her eyes at the tingling sensations he brought about within her. To feel his lips trailing down that same path would be heavenly.

  Just as thought entered her head, his hot mouth pressed against the skin behind her ear and then kissed down her neck over her pulsing heartbeat. She sank her teeth into her lower lip as he dipped his head further down to the spot where her neck meets her shoulder. The tip of his tongue tasted her skin as he made his way back up her neck in a sensual journey toward her mouth.

  Desire tightly clenched her core, and she squeezed her legs shut. She’d never been the type of girl to give her body away to a guy on a first date, but Mason made her want to rethink her tactics. Being with him felt different than only other guy she had been with. Besides, if she never saw him again, at least they would have this evening to remember. Then again, if this was part of the process for the job and he turned her down at the last minute, she’d feel cheap if he was hoping to test her limits. She pushed that thought away. Mason didn’t seem like the kind of guy to manipulate a woman for sex. Her hands slid around toward his back, and she scooted closer until she was almost sitting on his lap as he crouched, keeping only his head and the top of his shoulders above water.

  He placed his hands on her hips, drawing her toward him. A mischievous grin lit his eyes, and he brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was tentative at first, the barest of caresses as their lips touched. His tongue traced the seam of her lips as if asking her to open for him.

  Ava closed her eyes, savoring the sensation as she invited him in. She ran her hand through the wet hair at the back of his neck. Unlike the other guys she’d kissed, he didn’t rush in and hungrily devour her mouth as if she was a bounty to be plundered. He took his time, exploring and caressing, making her body feel so good. A moan escaped her throat, and she circled her legs around his waist.

  After what felt like an hour—or maybe a few minutes—Mason pulled back from the kiss just enough that she could still feel his breath on her lips. “Is this okay, Ava?” he asked breathlessly. “If we keep going, I’m not sure if I’d be able to stop. You’re driving me wild.”

  Ava’s head was spinning. Part of her truly wanted it, but she was wary. Should she give her body to him? Or should she be the good girl she’d always been? The girl who couldn’t remember the last time she’d shared her bed with someone who made her feel like Mason did. “I guess we shouldn’t rush things. But I’m not ready to stop yet,” she said. She leaned in and pressed kisses along his neck.

  “I…” Mason groaned. He didn’t move his hands away from her hips. He just tilted his head to the side as she explored him just as he’d done to her earlier. His reactions made her feel powerful; she had the ability to make him moan for her. His grip tightened a little when she traced her tongue around the shell of his ear before nibbling on his earlobe. He pulled her closer.

  She gasped feeling his hard erection against her lower stomach. She leaned back a little. Maybe she shouldn’t have gotten him revved up like this. She could be giving him mixed signals. What if he got the wrong impression of her? She scooted back just a little, keeping her hands on his chest.

  He released her just slightly and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry if I made things awkward. There’s no need to rush. I wouldn’t want to pressure you into doing anything you’re not comfortable with.” Hearing him say those words, and knowing he wasn’t expecting anything in return made her feel relieved and positive about what was yet to come.

  “Thank you. That means a lot. This has been the best date I’ve ever been on. Ever.” She leaned forward, giving him a soft kiss before pulling back. “Maybe we should call it a night, Mason.” Her throat was a little rough and husky from arousal. She glanced up at the sky with the twinkling stars above them. “Besides, I still have to drive home, and it’s better if I head out before I get too sleepy. I really had a wonderful time tonight. I’d love to go out with you again sometime.” She worried again. Was she being too brazen? What if he didn’t want to go out with her again? Would he feel inclined to lie? “Do you have my phone number?” What if he doesn’t call? Was she setting herself up for disappointment?

  “Of course, I had a lovely time too. I’ll have to think up other ways to dazzle you next time.” He glanced at his watch and raised an eyebrow. “I suppose you’re right. No, I don’t have your phone number, but I’d love to have it.” He yawned and leaned back with his arms outstretched to either side of him. “I have a few meetings tomorrow that I don’t want to be too tired during. Not good when the boss looks tired, huh? That’s not a great way to lead by example. Let me know when you get home, okay?”

  Ava wasn’t sure why she was surprised. Mason certainly looked like the boss type. “I’ll give you my number as soon as we’re not soaking wet.” She grinned then realized how it might sound. It was too late for any embarrassment. She’d walked herself right into that one. “I hope your meetings go well. Being overly tired at work is never fun.”

  Mason drew his hands away from her, making her instantly wish for that closeness again. It would be nice to stay together in the Jacuzzi longer, but she was worried she wouldn’t be able to stop herself if they kept going. Besides, neither of them needed to be dead tired tomorrow. Hopefully she’d be hearing from Prince Dating Agency, and he had meetings at work. She headed to the stairs, carefully getting out of the warm water.

  “If you don’t mind waiting a sec, I’ll walk you to your car.” He looked her over, and his gaze slid over her as if memorizing her every curve.

  She opened her mouth to agree, but she wasn’t about to lead him back to her beat-up car. Not after he’d brought her out to his family’s yacht.

  “No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine. I’ll change back into my dress, and then be on my way.” She could tell he didn’t like her answer. His eyes turned a darker brown that made her a little nervous. He looked almost animalistic, like a predator watching his prey escape. As quickly as the look registered on his face, it was gone. “I’ll text you though! Promise.”

  “Are you sure I can’t walk you to your car?” He sighed when she shook her head no with finality. “Be careful. I look forward to your message.”

  It wasn’t hard to find the room where she’d left her dress and her purse. She changed clothes, leaving the bikini hanging up in an adjoining bathroom.

  During her drive home, all she could think about was Mason. When she’d first been told about going out that evening, she was very reluctant. But her evening was better than she could have ever imagined. A night out on the town sure beat sitting on her couch with her laptop, staring at her inbox hoping to hear back from a job.

  She popped into the shower once she arrived home. The cool water caressed her skin, driving away some of the heat she’d felt being in Mason’s arms, but she still couldn’t stop thinking about him. The way his lips felt against hers and his large hands holding onto her hips... she leaned against the shower, remembering her promise to text him.

  Once she’d finished scrubbing herself clean and washing her hair, she shut off the water and dried herself off. She picked up her cell phone and saw a text from him.

  Are you home yet?

  She responded, yes, I just made it home. Thanks again for the great evening. Sleep well. <3

  Within moments he replied, my pleasure. I’m home too. Sleep well, Ava. <3

  Chapter Eight

  Mason grinned down at Ava’s texts from inside his SUV. He started to worry about her after not hearing anything; especially with the slightly awkward way they’d parted ways. Why hadn’t she let him walk her to her car? It didn’t make sense, and his beast wasn’t pleased when she rejecting his offer. But getting her sweet response made up for it.

  He walked inside his fami
ly’s mansion, his stomach filled with expensive wine and delicious food. It had been a long time since a woman had made him feel so good. The date with Ava was everything he could’ve hoped for and much more. The intimacy of their time in the Jacuzzi was hopefully a preview of things to come. He couldn’t wait to see more of her, and he hoped she felt the same way.

  The dark hallways of the mansion were a relief. Everyone was likely asleep by now. He could slip into his bedroom without having to field questions on how things went with his date. Last thing he needed was Liam—or worse, his dad—to be awake and curious.

  He walked through the hall, seeing the light on in his father’s study. That was unusual. Why was his dad awake at this hour? He stalked closer, not wanting to be caught snooping.

  Bradley’s voice was soft. “You know, Jim, I’m really starting to lose hope in Mason’s chances of becoming the next alpha for this pack. I’ve tried encouraging him to find a mate, but he doesn’t seem to want to listen. He’s working with some sort of dating agency, probably to appease me…but I’m not sure what to think anymore. Maybe Mason’s playboy ways have overridden his ability to live up to his destiny.”

  Anger and pain made Mason’s blood boil. He took another step toward the door. Bradley was being completely unfair. Mason was trying as hard as he could, and the fact that he was talking behind Mason’s back was even worse. He heard his uncle’s voice in the room.

  “You know how boys are. To be fair, you’ve certainly been after him about it for a while, but maybe he’ll come around? Bradley, you know how hard he has been working.” Jim was one of his father’s five brothers, and the one most like an oversized teddy bear. “But I don’t mean to overstep. You know your kids better than I do. His brother Liam could be a good fit for alpha. He’s had a girlfriend for a while, and has got a good head on his shoulders.”

  “I know Mason might come around, but when? Mary has been on me recently. She wants to retire so we can start living the life we’ve always talked about. The pack has my heart, but we’ve both dealt with so much. It’s nice to think about spending winters in Florida on a beach rather than in an office.” Bradley sounded tired.

  “Whew, that’s tough, Bradley,” Uncle Jim said with a sigh. “A momma bear can hard to deal with when they have their mind made up. It sounds like she certainly does. Have you talked with Mason about that? Rick is looking for someone to mate with his granddaughter. If you needed to find him someone, you could always—”

  “No, no. I don’t want to do that to my boys. I’d rather they found love on their own. It worked out for Mary and I, but I know there are many others who end up miserable and divorced. I’m just disappointed my boy hasn’t accepted the gift I’ve given him. He has a chance to find love and he’s squandering it.” His father’s chair squeaked as if he changed positions.

  Mason clenched his jaw. For a moment, he thought about walking in there and confronting the two of them to explain that he was doing everything he could to live up to his father’s expectations, but that wouldn’t solve anything. It would only make him look weak and defensive. Bears shouldn’t be either of those things, especially in front of their alpha and his second in command. Besides, after the date he’d been on tonight, he didn’t want to pick a fight with his family. He’d wanted to come back here, think about the amazing chemistry he’d felt with Ava, and plan their next outing together.

  “If Mason doesn’t find someone soon, I’m thinking of letting Liam take his spot as the CEO of the family business. Liam’s a good man. While he’s been under Mason’s tutelage, he’s learned how to lead. I don’t think I could keep Mason involved in the business at that level if he wasn’t able to do what was required of him. It would hurt to interact with him during board meetings and see how wrong I went in raising him.”

  “Are you sure that’s what you want to do? Mason’s done some really great work. You know how much he loves what he does. Isn’t that something you should be proud of? He’s still your son.” Uncle Jim let out a breath that was long and loud. “I suppose you’ve already thought of that, and I suppose you know what feels best for you. He has known what is required of him since he was a young man.”

  Bradley let out a soft growl. “You know I don’t take any of this lightly, but if there aren’t any consequences for his actions, how can he ever learn?”

  Mason couldn’t listen to any more of this conversation. He walked away, not about to stick around to be belittled even further. He balled his hands into fists, feeling his bear writhe in anger. He stalked through the massive house to his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

  This wasn’t what he’d expected to deal with after his wonderful evening. He grabbed one of the accent pillows from the bed and contemplated ripping it in half, thinking about how good it’d feel to watch the insides of the pillow burst in an explosion of feathers. Then again, he’d have to clean up the mess and face his mother’s disappointment when she eventually found out.

  He tossed the pillow onto one of the chairs near the fireplace, and then headed for his bed. The cold shower he’d taken at the yacht had temporarily helped to dull his desire for Ava and gotten him cleaned up again. He took off his jacket and stripped down to his boxers before stretching out on the bed.

  His father’s words wounded him. He placed his hands over his face and closed his eyes. Time was running out. If he couldn’t make things work with Ava, he’d lose everything he cared about. He let his hands fall away from his face and stared at the ceiling.

  Not even the champagne and the wine he drank could dull the pain in his chest. Then again, bear shifters weren’t usually as susceptible to alcohol as humans were. He wished anything could ease his pain and help him sleep. He hadn’t lied to Ava when he said he had meetings tomorrow.

  He tried to rest, but ended up tossing and turning most of the night as his father’s disapproval kept plaguing his thoughts.

  Chapter Nine

  The morning after her date, Ava felt lighter, with a positive feeling about the day to come. She sat with her computer in her lap, checking her email, and applying for jobs without any of her usual discouragement. Today, she felt like she could take on the world.

  The rumbling engine of the postal truck drew her attention toward the window. She chewed on her lower lip. He quickly drove off toward the next house. She looked over at her cell phone, hoping it would ring and give her another boost of happiness. She wished there was something that she could use to ward off whatever was awaiting her at the mailbox.

  When the phone remained silent, she set aside her laptop, put on her shoes, and headed outside. She may as well get this over with. She would see what the damage was, and then she could take a few deep breaths and try to relax again.

  When she reached the mailbox, she glanced over to her neighbors’ house. The elderly couple was sitting on their porch drinking their afternoon tea in their rocking chairs. The lady waved to her while the man gave her an exaggerated nod of his head. But she could still feel their watchful eyes on her. If she let on to any sign of anxiety, they would have plenty to gossip about at whatever get-togethers they had with their friends and the other neighbors in their subdivision.

  She opened the mailbox and saw the large red PAST DUE stamps on the envelopes. They appeared bigger and angrier than before, but that was probably just her imagination. She held the letters face down, trying not to let what she saw get to her.

  Ava held back tears, and headed up the path toward her door again. She didn’t let the neighbors see how distraught she was, which felt like a win. She didn’t even bother looking at the new bills. It wasn’t as if she had the money to pay them. They would be paid whenever she finally got a job and earned a paycheck. She lay on the couch and stared up at the ceiling.

  The tears finally slid down her cheeks, but it wasn’t as if her nosy neighbors could see her cry in the privacy of her own home. She’d get through this. For a moment, she thought of giving the Prince Dating agency a call back, but would she lo
ok too desperate? Her thoughts raced. More than ever she needed a lucky break, but would that happen for her?

  The phone rang, and her heart leapt into her throat. She wiped away her tears, feeling a rush of happiness and excitement. Maybe everything would be okay.

  “Hello?” she said cheerily.

  “Is this Ava Daniels?” a man spoke on the other end of the line.

  There hadn’t been any men at the Prince Dating Agency’s office. At least none that weren’t likely there for meeting a man or woman of their own. It could also be a hiring manager for any of the hundreds of job applications Ava filled out over the last few months. It could very well be someone else asking to interview her. Something about the man’s voice worried her, though.

  “Hi, yes, this is Ava. May I ask who is calling?” The cheerfulness of her voice broke a little as she spoke.

  “This is Bill over at Rex’s Coastal Auto Loans. I’m calling in regards to the money you owe on your car. Do you realize how past due you are?” he asked. He sounded bored at first, but his tone took on an accusatory note toward the end.

  Tears welled in her eyes again, and negativity punched her in the gut yet again. God. She’d been hoping not to have to deal with these people. They took guilt trips and accusations to a whole other level. She had a hard time forming a reply in between the lump in her throat and her head spinning, making her feel faint.

  “Ma’am? I can’t help you if you don’t talk with me. You owe a significant amount. If you want to keep your car, you’re going to have to pay up,” he snapped.

  “I’m sorry, sir. I do know how much I owe. Things haven’t been good recently. I was laid off, and I’ve had a hard time finding a new job. As soon as I am settled, I’ll get things straight with my loan. I need my car though. I won’t be able to go on interviews, or get to work, or—”

  “Stop sniveling. You’re not going to get my sympathy. I hear sob stories all day. ‘Please, sir, don’t take my car. I need it.’ Blah, blah, blah...you know what the company I work for needs? To get paid what they are owed. You know what will happen if that’s not done? We’re going to take the car. Now, if you want to tell me how much you can pay today, I’ll hear the number and contemplate what I can do.” The apathy and disdain in his tone shook her to the core. She couldn’t believe the way he was speaking to her.