Sexual Shift

by Beverly Rae

  Confusion mixed with anger to flare inside her and wipe away her timidity. “You want to teach me?” She snorted, knowing how the rude noise sounded but not caring. “You couldn’t teach me a thing. At least nothing I’d want to learn.”

  He gritted his teeth, making a muscle in his jaw twitch. “You really don’t think so?”

  “No. I really don’t think so.” The look he gave her burned through her, and she had to avert her eyes from his.

  “Wanna bet?”

  She had to leave, had to get away before she lost a wager she didn’t want to make. “No. Please be gone by the time I come back.” Pushing away from him, she hurried down the hallway leading to the rear of the store and the safety of her sisters.

  She gasped to find him blocking her way. “How do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  She fisted her hands on her hips. “You know damn well what I mean. How do you—”

  He pressed his mouth against hers, cutting off her sentence. The kiss was sensual, more seductive than any kiss she’d ever experienced. He sought her lips, at first tender, then tempting her to take the kiss further. With his tongue, he traced a path along the seam of her lips, as though asking permission to enter. But he didn’t wait for permission and thrust his tongue into her mouth. She moaned, enjoying the intoxicating, spicy taste.

  Snaking his arms around her waist, he pulled her closer, flattening her breasts against his solid chest until she could feel the buttons of his shirt through the material of her blouse. She inhaled, taking in the hot scent that singed the insides of her nostrils. Unclenching her hands, she slid her arms over the wide shoulders to the muscles that would yield to nothing and locked her fingers behind his neck.

  He slipped a hand lower to cup her butt cheek. Her heart leapt to her throat. She was both surprised and stunned at his move. Yet she surprised herself more with her quick acceptance of his intimate caress.

  She wished she’d worn a skirt. Anything besides the loose khakis she found comfortable for working in the shop. Her frustration filled her moan and he increased his fervor. Heat boiled in the vee between her legs, and she lifted one leg to wrap it around his. Now it was his turn to moan as he took her weight in his hands and lifted her to ram her against the wall. Her breath puffed out of her, and she clutched him tighter, afraid he’d mistake the sound for pain.

  Hilly had recognized his power before, had known he possessed an unusual strength. Yet she hadn’t expected to feel as light as a feather in his grip. Using the wall to brace herself, she wrapped both her legs around him and pushed against the oh-so-thick bulge in his slacks.

  She arched against him, urging him to take her right there in the hallway of her bakery where her customers could hear them. She closed her eyes, no longer caring what anyone might think, no longer needing to set an example for her sisters. Hilly smiled, a wickedly sexy smile no one would see.

  He fondled her and sought entry through the thick material into the crevice between her cheeks. She vowed never to wear slacks again. But that mistake wouldn’t stop her.

  He pressed his mouth to hers as she fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. Vaguely, she wondered how she’d managed to unbutton all of them when she’d only touched the first button, but that was a question for another time. Instead, she concentrated on the hard, hot flesh searing her palms as she slid her hands over the firmness of his chest.

  Tanner gripped her harder, rubbing against her until she was ready to scream for him to take her. Only his mouth on hers stopped her cries. He lashed her tongue with his in a teasing game of hide-and-seek. Then, when she was sure she would faint from lack of air, he pulled back, giving her a precious moment to breathe before taking it away again as he nibbled on her bottom lip. A groan broke free, and she wanted to hit him. Not to get away but to hurry him along. She tugged his hair free of the ponytail so she could clutch a handful and keep him close.

  “Damn, I wish you hadn’t worn slacks.”

  She laughed, happy he’d had the same thought. “I could say the same for you.”

  His chuckle, so manly and filled with sex, tickled her neck. “Next time I’ll wear a kilt.”

  She would’ve responded but couldn’t when his mouth found her nipple. When had he undone her blouse and tugged her bra aside? Pleasant zings of pain speared into her and she pushed against him, wanting to give him more of her aching nipple. Hell, she wished he could take her whole breast into his mouth.

  He fondled one breast as he nipped at the other. Her slacks fell open without warning, without her feeling his hand there until he found her damp curls below. She tightened her legs, holding him yet trying to give him room to find her clit. When he did, one finger, then another spread her folds to find the heat between her legs, and she cried out. The rumble of his moan flowed from his chest into hers, and he massaged her, bringing the threat of unconsciousness as an orgasm shuddered through her.

  He lowered her legs to the floor, letting her slacks puddle around her ankles, and she uttered a protest. He chuckled again, dropped his body lower and tugged her thong down to join her slacks. She slipped her hands from his hair—hair that was inching outward from his head—over his shoulders and pushed his shirt aside. She cried out again as his mouth found another place to kiss. A flash of stunning heat zipped through her like a sexual forest fire, and for a moment, she thought she’d been struck by a thousand matches.

  He drove his tongue across her throbbing nub to elicit short blasts of release. Although she was unsteady on her feet, her legs suddenly unable to support her, she knew he wouldn’t let her fall.

  She looked down and almost passed out from the sight of his dark head between her legs. He sucked, licked, nibbled at her, at once teasing her and fulfilling her wildest fantasy. Digging her fingernails into his bare skin, she held on.

  “Stars and moon, sis!”

  “Holy crap, Hilly!”

  Chapter Three

  Hilly inhaled but couldn’t, wouldn’t break free of Tanner. Tanner held on to her, wiped his mouth, then stood to greet her sisters.

  She gaped at Meg and Allie, her heart threatening to break out of her chest. Lingering lust mixed with shock and humiliation. Blinking, she struggled to calm her wild emotions. She clung to Tanner and dragged in a long, slow breath.

  What have I done? She started to speak but couldn’t find the right words.

  Allie fumbled with the box of napkins she carried, her shocked expression giving way to embarrassment. An embarrassment that couldn’t equal Hilly’s own mortification. Meg, on the other hand, crossed her arms, a bemused expression lighting her face.

  Still needing Tanner’s support, Hilly pivoted, placing her back to her sisters, and straightened her clothes as quickly as she could.

  Meg shook her head, then clucked her tongue at Hilly. “Who is this and how long have you two been friends? Or should I say, friends with benefits?”

  A question danced in Tanner’s eyes, and she nodded to tell him she could stand on her own power. He returned her nod, then shot a wide grin at Meg before fixing his attention squarely on Allie.

  “It’s nice to see you again, Allie. To answer your question, Meg—you are the other sister, right?—Allie and I met in the park yesterday. Behind the bushes, in fact. Didn’t she tell you?”

  His shit-eating grin widened and he winked at Hilly. “Allie and her two little girls were having a great time while I was, um, talking to a couple of friends, and we happened to run into each other.”

  If Meg’s mouth fell open any wider, she could catch a dozen flies. “Wait. This is the man at the park? The handsome player? Wow, big sister, when you walk on the wild side you don’t mess around.”

  “Player? Well, I guess I am. Especially the handsome part.” Tanner’s bemusement sent another blast of mortification through Hilly.

  “I don’t understand. How could you? Here. In the bakery.” Allie stuttered, her hand at her throat. “I mean, this isn’t like you.”

  “Yeah, s
is. You never go for the bad-boy type.” Meg’s enjoyment was written all over her face. “And this guy’s a bad boy with capital Bs.”

  Hilly frowned and wished Meg would cut her a break. Knowing Meg, she already had a dozen jokes about Hilly “getting hot without an oven” running through her head.

  Tanner seemed to stand a little straighter. “I hope Allie wasn’t too hard on me in her description. About how we met, I mean.”

  Meg crossed her arms, her bright blue eyes taking in everything about him. “Trust me. As far as what you looked like, Allie nailed it. But she didn’t say anything about how, um, talented you are.”

  She kept a straight face and leveled her attention at Hilly, making her squirm even more than she already was. “But then, I guess Hilly would be the expert concerning your talents.”

  Tanner skimmed his fingers along her arm, sending a thrill into Hilly. A thrill that called for her to take up where they’d left off. If only she could…

  “I’m sorry if I’ve caused any trouble. But I heard people around town rave about the bakery and I had to come and eat—” he stared at Hilly’s face, then let his perusal slide lower, “—some of your creations.”

  If any moment called for passing out from humiliation, Tanner’s emphasis on the word eat was such a moment. Somehow, however, Hilly managed to stay on her feet.

  “Look, sisters, I’m sorry you saw…what you saw. I don’t know what came over me. Tanner, I want you to leave right now.”

  Hilly started to step away but didn’t get far. Tanner grabbed her by the shoulder, then loosened his hold to take her hand. Her body betrayed her by shivering in pleasure.

  “But I’m not ready to leave.”

  He spoke the words softly, but the intensity, the allure in his tone was unmistakable. She wanted to let him stay, wanted to drag him into the back room and strip off his clothes. Nonetheless, Hilly fortified her resolve. Still, if her sisters hadn’t been standing a few feet away…

  Tanner’s eyes changed to a mesmerizing silver-blue. “After all, we only just met.” The corners of his mouth tipped upward. “For the first time.”

  Oh, hell, he definitely knew. But how?

  Hilly tugged her hand from his and forced the words out. “I need you to leave.” Her sisters watched, their attention glued on them, their silence a quiet reminder that they hung on every word.

  Anger flashed across his face but was gone before Hilly was sure she’d seen it. “Fine. I’ll leave on one condition.”

  “No. No conditions.” Alarms went off in her head. “I’m not asking you. I’m telling you to get out.”

  “Meet me for a drink and I’ll make you a promise. If you have one drink with me and tell me to go away, I’ll do as you wish.”

  “What if I don’t want to have a drink with you?” Her breath caught in her throat, tamping down the sudden urge to say yes to his invitation. He had a strange hold on her she couldn’t shake. A hold she wasn’t sure she wanted to shake.

  “Then I’ll sit in the bakery all day and profess my undying devotion to you as loudly as I can.”

  Was he serious? The twinkle in his eye said he was. Could she call the police and have him hauled away? Or have Meg put a spell on him?

  “Fine. One drink.” Hilly stuck out her hand, ready to seal the deal.

  Tanner took her hand, gently, almost reverently. Then, catching her off-guard yet again, he yanked her forward and kissed her, hard and longingly, making her pulse jump into high gear. After several delicious yet torturous moments, he released her, whirled around and walked away.

  Tanner ignored the redhead sitting alone at the bar of the Good Eats Restaurant. He didn’t know which cliché bothered him more: the name of the restaurant or the single woman on the prowl. Her come-on glances and even the glide of her tongue over her red lips didn’t draw him in. Instead of accepting her invitation, he shifted in his seat to get a better view of the front door.

  Why was he here, anyway? Cottageville rated a mere dot on his GPS system, but he hadn’t been able to resist the pull he’d felt when he’d approached the highway exit leading to a two-lane road filled with potholes. The instinctual tug had overtaken him, and he always listened to his instincts. After all, great instincts were one of the perks of being what he was.

  He recalled the last time he’d explained his heritage to a human. What humankind didn’t know about the universe and its vast and varied inhabitants could produce enough volumes to fill all the libraries in the world several times over. Yet after vowing never to reveal his true nature again, here he was, ready to spill the beans to another woman.

  He could still picture Mira’s disbelief-turned-horror when he’d revealed his true identity. Even after she’d promised to accept him, she’d trembled under his touch. Still, maybe things would have turned out all right if his mother hadn’t found out about Mira. He hated the all-too-familiar sickening churn of his stomach. Although his mother had denied doing anything to Mira, he couldn’t shake the gut feeling that she’d driven Mira to the edge of despair. Tormented for nights on end, was it any wonder she’d taken her own life?

  He’d never forgive his mother for what she’d done.

  Could he stand it if Hilly reacted as Mira had? Yet Hilly wasn’t any ordinary woman. As a supernatural being, she might find it easier to accept what he was. As for his mother, he’d never let her hurt Hilly the way she’d tortured Mira.

  He took a swig of his drink, hoping to loosen the knot in his stomach. Instead, he concentrated on remembering the way Hilly’s body fit his, the soft sounds she’d made as he’d sucked on her tender bundle of nerves.

  Desire swept over him, stunning him in its intensity. She was gorgeous, no doubt. But it was her eyes, those startling bluer-than-blue eyes that gave him a glimpse into her mind and had him wanting to tell her, to let her know what he really was. If only to prove how special she was.

  Still, he should play it safe. After all, why not just take her like he had all the rest since Mira?

  Because Hilly was the type of woman he could fall for.

  The idea jolted him, and he knocked back his drink as though the smooth liquid would burn away the ridiculous thought. What he was feeling wasn’t love. Just big-time lust. No way should he tell her. Maybe he should revise his plan for the evening.

  Hilly. He smiled at the sound of her name in his head, fingered the rim of his glass, then traded it for the new drink the young waitress quietly set down on the table. She stayed, staring at him in that hungry way women tended to do. He grumbled a curse, then waved his hand in front of her. She jerked as though he’d physically stuck her, then hurried away. Not that she wouldn’t come back. They always came back.

  He closed his eyes and recalled Hilly’s expression as she’d clung to him. Once again he felt the yearning clawing at him, urging him to take her. The instant he’d seen her, he’d sensed a special connection. A connection that reminded him of the one he’d had with Mira, but was much stronger.

  Damn, but what a sexy woman she was! Her eyes held the promise of sensual escapades while the black hair cascading down her back made his palms itch to catch the obsidian waterfall. And the way her body felt against his? The brief glimpses into heaven his father had shown him hadn’t thrilled him as much.

  Tanner lifted his drink and let the liquor slide down his throat. Was it because she was a shape-shifter? No, she was so much more. But how much more?

  What would his father make of her? He glanced toward the ceiling then away, careful not to draw unwanted attention. His father would like Hilly because her heart was good. How many other women would give their lives to raise their sisters? In his estimation, and no doubt in his father’s, Hilly Tristan was as close to an angel as any mortal could come.

  Tanner’s attention drifted to the floor. What his mother would think of Hilly unsettled him. He forced himself to look at the front door, although the compulsion to glance down toward the floor again was almost unbearable.

  He could easi
ly picture his mother scrutinizing Hilly’s womanly body, her smile, her eyes. She’d hate Hilly, especially once she looked into Hilly’s soul. He chuckled, imagining the howl his mother would let loose.

  His mirth died as quickly as it had come. His mother’s howl would soon be replaced by Hilly’s screams if his mother thought he was interested in more than just a night of sex.

  But what was he planning to do with Hilly? Tanner lifted his glass to take another sip, then set it down and stared into the clear liquid. His cock twitched in anticipation. Once through with her, could he discard her as he had all the others? He frowned and took a bigger drink. To discard a woman like Hilly would take a lot of resolve. Did he have enough strength? Enough willpower?

  She was here.

  Tanner’s heart leapt as he lifted his gaze toward the front of the restaurant. His demon senses came alive, picking up Hilly’s scent a full minute before she stepped through the front door and greeted the hostess.

  Dressed in a slinky red dress showing off her assets to perfection, Hilly smiled at the younger woman, then looked toward the seating area to his left. Her hair flowed from side to side as she moved her head, scanning the restaurant. Instead of raising his hand to beckon to her, he continued to watch her, unwilling to end his chance to study her without her knowing.

  Yes, his father would love her. Her kind spirit shone through in the way she held herself, the way she gave a special smile to everyone she greeted. His heart grew larger simply watching her.

  The other side of him, however, the side his mother had nourished, longed for nothing more than to throw her to the floor and make her his, to make her cry at his leaving. He frowned, unable to rid himself of the awful thought.

  I should leave.

  Hilly could hear the small voice in her head shouting at her to turn on her heel and run. Another voice commanded her to stay. The voice she yearned to listen to, the voice of her desire, spoke to her, sending a thousand butterflies fluttering inside her stomach.