by Zoe Chant
Mason reached across the table, his massive hand covering Charity’s. His palm was warm against her, and Charity shivered, her skin tingling.
“I never doubted that for a second,” she said softly. Perhaps she’d simply needed to hear Mason say it out loud – but as soon as he had, she realized it was true. She and Mason were mates, in every sense of the word. She trusted him, more than she’d ever trusted anyone. They belonged together.
“We’ll figure this out,” Mason said, squeezing her hand, looking into her eyes. “But whatever we do, we’ll do it together. I won’t leave you. I’ll protect you, no matter what. Jessup can’t hurt you, I promise – I’ll make sure of it.”
Charity blinked at Mason’s last words, biting her lip a little as his voice became a low growl. She couldn’t suppress a shiver, feeling warmth pooling in her belly. The sheer protectiveness in his voice sent a thrill down her spine. No one had ever looked after her like this before – made her feel so safe or protected.
She’d always resisted the idea that she needed to rely on anyone else. She’d thought it would make her weak. But now, she realized that relying Mason wasn't a sign of weakness at all – they were partners. But in this, she needed his help – his protection.
And from the edge of anger in Mason’s voice, she had no doubt he had the power to back up what he said. For the first time, Charity truly began to think about what it meant to be mated to this man – a man who could, in the blink of an eye, turn into a massive, powerful lion.
She hadn’t seen it, but if Mason’s lion form was anywhere near as impressive as his human one, Charity couldn’t imagine Jessup or anyone in his gang being able to put up much of a fight against him.
“Will you show me?” she suddenly blurted, without thinking about what she was saying.
Mason cocked his head. “Show you?”
Charity smiled a little. “Sorry, I was following my own train of thought there.” She drew in a shaky breath. “I meant, will you show me your lion? I’d… I’d really like to see. If you wouldn't mind showing me.”
For a moment, Mason looked searchingly into her eyes, before he nodded. “Of course, Charity. Now?”
Charity nodded. “If you don’t mind.” She didn’t know if it was impolite to ask him if she could see him shift, though she had a feeling that Mason wouldn’t say no. “We could go around to the back – it’s private there.”
“Then let’s go.”
Mason stood, keeping Charity’s hand enclosed in his own. She felt a little light-headed as he led her through the diner, toward the back door. Was this really going to happen? She didn’t doubt for a moment that Mason really was a shifter, but it would be the first time she’d ever seen anyone do this. There had been rumors for so long that shifters existed, but she’d never imagined she’d meet one, much less be mated to one. Excitement thrilled through her.
They emerged together into the soft afternoon sunlight, and Mason released her hand.
“I don’t want to shred up my sheriff’s uniform,” he said, smiling, his hands going to the buttons of his shirt. “Would you mind holding onto it for me?”
Charity watched as his fingers slowly made their way down the front of his chest, opening the buttons, revealing his white undershirt beneath. His pectoral muscles showed clearly through the cotton fabric, while his abs were a series of hard ridges. She swallowed. It was taking all her self-control not to simply go to him and run her hands over his body – but she knew she shouldn’t. If she did that, she didn’t think she’d have the willpower to stop.
“Does that happen often?” she asked, as Mason handed her his shirt. “Your clothes getting all torn up?”
Mason flickered her a heated glance, before he pulled his cotton undershirt up over his head. “Sometimes,” he said, before handing it to her. “If I don’t think before I shift.”
Charity swallowed. Hard. It wasn’t just Mason standing in all his shirtless glory before her, the deep golden sunlight playing over his tanned skin – it was the thought of the raw power and strength that skin was wrapped around. And the knowledge that all that power, all that strength, would be used to protect her.
Mason unzipped his fly, pulling down his pants, taking his boxer briefs with them. Charity found that she wasn’t at all constrained by ideas of modesty as he stood up again – she wanted to look at him. His cock was large where it rested against his muscular thighs, and he didn’t seem at all concerned with her stare.
“See something you like?” he joked as he stood before her.
Charity almost couldn’t answer, her desire roiling up from between her legs, pooling in her stomach and making her tongue feel thick and heavy in her mouth. She wished she could go to him and run it over the sharp V of his hipbones, feel his muscles shifting beneath her hands…
“Come on,” she finally said, yanking her gaze back to his face and smiling. “You better do this, before I lose control of myself.”
Mason laughed a little – that low, deep chuckle in his throat that drove her wild.
But then, he started to change.
Where there had once been tanned skin, there was now golden fur – his hands spread out and became massive paws. A huge black and gold mane sprouted from his head and neck, and his eyes, gray-green in his human form, became a deep yellow.
It all happened so quickly that Charity barely had time to take it in. Almost before she knew it, it wasn’t Mason standing before her, but the largest and most majestic lion she had ever seen.
No, she quickly corrected herself. It was still Mason. Despite the fact that there was a massive lion standing in front of her, Charity could still, somehow, tell it was him. It was something about the way he looked at her – and the knowledge that despite the fact that he was now a fearsome creature, he would never hurt her. The massive muscles in his shoulders and haunches would only ever be used to protect her, and keep away anyone or anything that could bring her harm. The sharp, white teeth in his mouth would only ever come out against Jessup and his crew.
Charity had never felt so safe in all her life.
She’d only ever seen lions – or any kind of big cat – on nature documentaries, and she was mildly surprised at the size of him. But then again, Mason was big in his human body, so it made sense he’d probably be an especially big lion as well.
Reaching out, she stared down into his eyes. Mason stepped forward, nuzzling against the palm of her hand with his velvety nose. It tickled, and Charity felt a smile tugging at her lips.
“You’re just a big pussycat, really, aren’t you?” she whispered, raising her hand to bury her fingers in the thick fur of his mane. It was a little coarse against her hand, but she worked her way down through it until the tips of her fingers found the warmth of his skin, and she skritched him behind his ear.
Mason responded immediately, his eyes half-closing, and a deep, booming purr emanated from his chest.
Charity laughed. “Yep, just as I thought – a pussycat.”
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