“No.” His deep rumbling voice sent an involuntary shiver running down her spine. What was it about his guy that affected her so much? His windswept black hair, disgustingly broad shoulders, and the fact that he would tower over her own five feet seven by about eight inches probably had something to do with it. As well as that incredibly potent gaze of his that made her feel like he could see everything under her clothes. Yep, exactly like the look he was giving her right now.
“Um, this is a private meeting.” Damn, she was trying to sound stern but all that had come out was a breathy whisper. Get. A. Grip! She had important, life altering business to get back to. “You really need to go.” She frowned, that still wasn’t right. “Now!” There, that was better. She started to turn back toward Dr. Pearson, who was still standing behind his desk looking strangely guilty, when his deep voice stopped her.
“No, I’m not leaving. This has as much to do with me as it does with you,” He took several steps into the room, “…more really, when you think about it.” He didn't notice the sudden widening of her grey eyes as he continued until he reached the other chair, and started to sit.
“Excuse me?…You have no idea…”
“Wait, Kaeden, I really need to talk to you in…”
Amelia and Dr. Pearson spoke over each other, making an unintelligible jumble that seemed to have no effect on Kaeden as he sat, stretching out his legs and crossing them at the ankles, crowding Amelia and unintentionally brushing her bare calf with the denim of his black jeans.
Kaeden sucked in a breath at the contact as goosebumps erupted, traveling outward from the point of contact. He tried to remain casual as a wave of arousal followed, trying to distract him from the matter at hand. The very gorgeous, and obviously confused, matter.
“Listen, that is my child you are carrying,” He nodded at her midsection, his eyes wandering over her ample curves of their own volition, otherwise he would have noticed the battle light suddenly firing in her eyes, making them deepen to the color of steel. He also would have seen her tense, pull back the hand still holding her purse, and swing it towards him.
“Are you kidding me? Who the hell do you think you are?” Each question was punctuated by another swing of her purse, and he raised his hands up to shield himself from the sudden and unexpected onslaught. “You can’t do that! Just walk into some random Doctor’s office and say ‘that one’s mine’ like some sick, demented caveman!” Another smack as the bag made contact with his forearm, Kaeden still trying to wrap his mind around the situation. “I don’t even know if I am pregnant yet, but if I am this baby is sure as hell not yours! What is your problem! I’m calling the cops! If you don’t leave, I am calling the cops. Right. Now!”
He grabbed hold of her wrists and held them gently but firmly, preventing her from continuing her attack. She wasn’t making any sense, this was the woman who had met all of his criteria? She seemed a little unstable to him, but he racked his brain for some explanation for her reaction. He was obviously missing something. Still holding her wrists, he directed his gaze towards the doctor, who had taken his seat and was rubbing the bridge of his nose underneath his glasses.
“Doc, care to explain?” His voice was deceptively calm.
“Not really,” Dr. Pearson sighed and leaned forward, supporting himself on his elbows, and looking suddenly a lot older than he had at the beginning of the meeting. “First, Amelia…you are pregnant. The tests came back positive.”
“Oh my God…” The words whispered passed her lips on a puff of released breath that she didn't even realize she was holding. “Oh, oh my…” All her thoughts were suddenly wiped from her as the words she had so long hoped to hear were finally a reality. She didn’t even notice the strong fingers that had at first restrained her wrists were now rubbing gentle, soothing circles on the backs of her hands.
Dr. Pearson cleared his throat.
“Yes, well…that’s the good news.” He looked at her, and she could see the sincerity in his eyes. “Congratulations, Amelia. I know you’ve wanted this for a long, long time.” His softly spoken words had sudden tears burning threateningly at the corners of each eye. His next words jarred her back to reality. “Kaeden…is the father.” The words sounded as if they were dragged out him with a crow bar. “He is the donor, and he had very specific instructions and criteria that we…had thought you met one hundred percent.”
Kaeden jerked forward at the last part. “What do you mean, you thought?” The words rumbled out of him in a soft growl. “You said you found a perfect match, the perfect surrogate I’ve been waiting for.” A gasp had him looking over, and he was instantly captured by the big, charcoal eyes that stared at him, clouded with too many emotions to decipher.
“Surrogate? No. No, no, no.” She shook her head in time to each ‘no’ for emphasis. “Nope. Listen,” Amelia pulled her hands from his, making him aware that he had unconsciously been holding them the whole time, and placed them protectively over her stomach. “This is my baby. My child. I didn’t sign up for some sort of surrogacy program. I decided to go through this process so I could have a child. To raise, and love. Not to carry for nine months and then give away.”
Kaeden felt his heart pound heavily as he suddenly realized the severity of the situation. Years ago he had contacted Dr. Pearson to help him find a surrogate who would be capable of not only being impregnated by a shapeshifter’s semen, but also carry the baby to term. It was incredibly rare to find a woman physically, chemically, and emotionally able to do both, which was why their population had dwindled so drastically, and why he had searched out the doctor in the first place.
But somewhere, someone had made a terrible mistake. It was obvious to him that Amelia would never consider giving the baby up to be adopted by someone else. But she had no idea what she was in for. A headache started pounding behind his right eye and his mind raced as he examined and summarily discarded several possible solutions to this suddenly complicated and fraught situation.
Kaeden turned in the chair to face Amelia but without any thought as to how to begin explaining everything. “Listen, this is a really complicated situation. But, like the doctor said, that is also my child and…” He was stopped short as she jumped out of her chair, and he unconsciously flinched as she grabbed her purse from where it had slid to the floor.
“No, I really don’t have to listen. This is my baby. My baby. I don’t care what kind of scam or sick plan you have, and I don’t care. I am leaving. Now.” And with that, she stalked from the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Kaeden sat in silence for a brief but heavy moment before turning to the doctor. “I need her address.”
Chapter 3
Amelia sat in her living room, huddled under the softly knitted blanket her grandmother had made, and tried to stem the flood of tears that hadn’t stopped since she walked through the front door of her home. This should have been one of the happiest days of her life, and yet, it was marred by not only the bizarre events of the afternoon, but also her intense fascination with that man, Kaeden.
Kaeden. She said his name in her mind again, instantly conjuring his image. Tall, broad chested, his muscles tense and flexing under the sleeves of his white t-shirt, but his hands had been so incredibly gentle as they had held hers. Long legs encased in black denim, and tipped with black leather boots that looked worn in with use and time.
She shook her head, knowing she was being ridiculous. Underneath the anxiety caused by the scene at Dr. Pearson’s office earlier, she could feel the warmth of happiness and awe at the thought that she was going to have a baby. After all the years of hoping and dreaming, it was finally happening. She hugged the blanket tighter, wishing she could have had the chance to tell her grandmother the good news.
After her mother’s accident when Amelia was eight, her grandmother had taken her in and raised her. Amelia smoothed a hand over the elaborate multi-color pattern. Bettie had battled cancer for six years before passing away the year before, takin
g with her the last relative that Amelia knew. Loneliness had reigned in her life, but she had a new focus now. A new little somebody to give all her love.
The sudden pounding at her front door made her jump, and she set the blanket aside as she went to see who it was, standing on her tip toes to reach the spy hole. Her heart lurched, then started racing in what she told herself was panic. Not desire, certainly. Definitely not that. Get a grip, Amelia. She peeked through the small lens again, drinking in the masculine, if slightly distorted, image of him on her doorstep. Kaeden.
She took a deep breath, a moment to compose what she hoped was an appropriately steely expression, and grabbed the brass door knob opening it just enough to see him, his arm raised to knock again.
Kaeden paused as the door slowly opened inward, revealing the same angel that had stormed out of the doc’s office this afternoon. The flash of need was instantaneous, but he quickly banked it as he admitted to himself that the situation required a delicate touch for everyone to come through unscathed. He mentally groaned, scratching ‘touch’ off of the acceptable words list when dealing with this woman that turned him into an inexperienced, hormone-driven cub every time he was around her.
“What are you doing here?” Her soft voice pulled him back to the matter at hand.
“I… I am…” He tried. “Can I come in?” He tried to look as non-threatening as possible, which was hard for him. As a lion shifter he was could be more beast than man, but the need to protect her and put her at ease rose up, dominating his baser instincts.
“Please?” He pleaded, surprised at the word that came so easily to his lips, when any other time he would have made it a demand, confident that it would be met. “Just, give me a chance to explain? To tell you everything?” Inwardly, he cringed, knowing that ‘everything’ was actually a serious understatement, knowing he would have to tell her the truth about his species and their hidden existence. Most humans don’t react well to that sort of news.
She hesitantly opened the door the rest of the way allowing him an uninterrupted view of every luscious curve. His gaze swept over her taking in her glossy auburn hair, now pulled up into a careless bun that left wisps to tease the nape of her neck. She was still wearing the same prim lace sundress that somehow seemed that much more provocative hugging the curve of her ample breasts, sweeping down over her waist, and flaring at the womanly swell of her hips.
His gut clenched sharply as he noticed the smudge of tear stained tracks on her flushed checks, knowing and hating the fact that he had helped put them there. He stepped inside as she backed up, allowing him room to get through then closed the door quietly behind him. He took a brief moment to look around her house, noting the cozy decor and sunny yellow paint on the walls making it feel like he had just walked into a ray of sunshine on a summer afternoon.
He followed her through an open archway into the kitchen, this time a softer blue but still just as happy as the rest of her house that he had seen. He briefly wondered what her bedroom would look like before banishing the thought. He had to stay focused. She turned the heat on a lady bug shaped kettle filled with water on the stove top and grabbed two mugs from an overhead cabinet before turning back to him and leaning a hip against the edge of the granite counter top.
The grey of her eyes deepened from a soft dove grey to a richer shade of charcoal as she looked at him from across the room, but he felt it like a punch to the chest. Or a caress. Either way, he needed to break the tense silence before he did something stupid, like go over there, wrap his arms around her incredible body, and kiss her until neither of them could walk straight. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
“We didn’t exactly start off on the right foot.” He uncrossed his arms, stepped the few feet forward to close the distance between them, and held out one tan hand, palm forward.
“I’m Kaeden Everett.” He couldn't help the gravel that had entered his voice as he was standing so close that her clean, lemony perfume enveloped him until his head was filled with the scent of her. He braced against her touch, anticipating the smooth slide of her skin against his. Nothing could have prepared him for the spark that shot from the tips of his fingers in a tingling wave as she tentatively placed her delicate hand in his. Her eyes widened impossibly, making him feel like he could drown if she let him. She gave one quick shake, then dragged her hand away, holding it behind her back as if burned.
“Um, Amelia…I’m, I am Amelia. Price…Amelia Price, that’s my name.” Oh my god, get a fricken grip! Amelia berated herself, feeling her cheeks heat as she slammed her lips shut, forcibly cutting off her rambling. She took a deep breath, and started again.
“Listen, I gave a lot of thought to what happened at Dr. Pearson’s office today, and I realized you are as much a victim of this misunderstanding as I am, but I can’t just give you…”
“No, wait. Just let me explain, before you say anything…Let me try at least?” He took her brief nod as assent to continue. “Yes, I had a contract with Dr. Pearson to help me look for a surrogate for my child. Obviously, there was a mistake made at the clinic. I have very…specific criteria the carrier would have to meet. Only a…very special person with the exact physical and chemical elements could carry my baby, or even get pregnant with my sperm.” Her face bloomed an even brighter pink, and he found himself momentarily distracted by the sudden flush of her pale skin.
“You see, I’ve been trying for years to find someone who was a match for my…er, me.” He stumbled over his words, trying to find a way to explain that wouldn’t completely freak her out. “To even find you was incredibly rare, you are an incredibly rare person,” He continued to speak, ignoring her head shake of disagreement, “I am so lucky to have found you, and regardless of the…the less than ideal circumstances, I want the chance to get to know you, and for you to know me. I want to be a part of this child’s life,” he knew he had taken it too far as Amelia wrapped both arms around her torso and unconsciously leaned away from him even though her back was still pressed against the counter.
“But let’s just focus on the getting to know each other part.” Why did that sound so dirty to him? He could easily picture all the different ways he would like to know her. Again, he found himself battling his libido.
“Wait, why would you even need someone so specific anyways? I mean, it sounds like you’ve been searching for years without finding someone suitable, so what’s the deal?” Her face suddenly dropped in an expression of dread, “do you have a disease or something? Did you pass it on to my baby?”
“No! Just, calm down,” He could already see the panicked thoughts flying wildly through her head. “I am perfectly healthy, don’t worry. Dr. Pearson would never go forward with something like this if it put the baby or the mother at risk, and neither would I.” He braced himself against what he knew was coming. The last, and only person he had told the truth about himself had thrown an entire set of dishes at him before threatening to call the cops if she ever saw him again.
“I am not diseased, but I am..Different.” Amelia just cocked a brow as she waited for him to continue. God, there really was no easy way to say it. He squared his shoulders, and looked deep into her sweet grey eyes.
“I am a were-lion.”
Chapter 4
Amelia stared dumbly, sure she had mis-heard.
“I’m sorry, what was that?”
“I’m a were-lion. Half human, half lion.”
“Oh my god, you’re nuts.” she felt frozen as she tried to take in what he was saying. “I think you need to leave.”
“Give me chance to prove it, ok? Then you’ll have to believe me.” The side of his mouth kicked up in a half grin. How did being clinically insane not lessen how incredibly handsome he was, or have any affect on her reaction to him. He’s crazy, she told herself. So stop drooling.
“Just watch…and try to keep an open mind.” His golden eyes peered deeply into hers, trying to judge how she would react, but he could only show her the tru
th and hope for the best. He took a few steps back until he was standing in the middle of the kitchen, and then stopped looking at her bashfully. “Actually, I should go into the other room to transform. I wouldn’t want to rip my clothes.” Amelia’s brain stalled at the image that statement conjured, but in her mind it was her who was doing the ripping. She cleared her through hoarsely, hoping her blush wasn’t giving her away.
“Sure, the bathroom is just down that hall on the left. Go do…whatever it is that you need to do.” She said dubiously, gesturing with her hand in the right direction. What did she expect, that he was going to pop out of her pink tiled bathroom in a lion suit or something?
She waited, bemused at the entire situation and hoping that she hadn't made a terrible mistake by letting a crazy person in her home. Even though she couldn’t really bring herself to regret it. She would have risked a lot to get a second look at him. Or third. Or fourth. Really, it wasn't fair. He was so incredibly gorgeous, and she was…she looked down at her figure. She used to hate it when her grandmother called her ‘big boned’ when she was younger, but eventually she grew into her curves and learned to appreciate the beauty of her body even if it didn’t match the stick skinny fashion model ideal she saw in every magazine. Amelia had a true hourglass frame that made it hard to find clothes that fit, which had led to her eventually finding and falling in love with vintage clothes. They just seemed to fit her better, and she especially loved that they were unique, not factory made or generic.
Amelia heard the door creak open, snapping her out of her musings, and she glanced up barely holding back a terrified shriek at the sight of a giant gold and tawny lion padding calmly into her kitchen.
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