by V. A. Dold
Rose rushed to the front door the moment she heard the car pull up. Anna was still a good two feet from the door when Rose threw it open and dragged her inside.
“Hurry, there’s a werewolf out there! We need to get Cade inside!”
Anna hugged her tight and shushed her like a baby. “It’s okay, hun. There isn’t a werewolf outside. You saw Simon shift.”
It took a few seconds for that to sink in. “What? You knew he was a monster and left me with him!”
Cade stepped through the door as Rose broke from Anna’s arms and glared, confused and angry at her best friend.
“Calm down and just breathe for a minute. I’ll explain everything just like I did with Etienne.” Anna said as she reached for Rose’s arm and led her to the couch.
Cade was about to speak when Anna put one finger to her lips. Let me know when you want me to help explain. Anna had this under control.
“Would you like something to drink while I tell you about us?” Anna asked calmly.
“Yes, a VERY strong whiskey coke. NO, make it a double, better yet a triple.Wait, what? Anna? Us?!”
Cade can you get her that drink asap?
Sure, cher
“Yes, sweetheart, US. All of the Le Beaus are shifters, including me. When Cade and I completed the mating ritual I was converted. Long ago, shifters were created by a Goddess. They only have half of their soul and their destined mate has the other half. I am Cades mate and you are a shifter mate as well.”
Anna paused as Cade handed Rose a VERY strong drink and his mate a glass of sweet tea.
“We aren’t werewolves like in the movies. Shifters change or shift at will and we don’t attack people. We are basically humans who live a long time, have a few magical qualities or should I say abilities, and can change into a wolf.”
Rose took a gulp of her drink and eyeballed Cade. “You are absolutely sure they don’t bite when they go all furry? Or have I gone insane and your just keeping me calm until the men in white coats show up?”
“Cade would you please shift for her and let her pet you?”
You are going to owe me for this. He growled suggestively into her mind.
“Are you ready, Rose? I would hate to scare you.”
Rose scooted closer to Anna. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Suddenly Cade the wolf stood before her wagging his tail.
“You can pet him, hun, he is still human inside. He can think and control his actions just like he does in human form.”
Rose hesitated glancing between Anna and the wolf when Cade stepped to her and rested his head next to her on the couch still wagging his tail.
She gingerly touched him with only her fingertips at first. “He’s so soft,” she said quietly.
As she became more comfortable with the wolf at her feet, she petted him in long sweeping glides.
“Simon will be frantic by now. He’s very worried about you and concerned that you won’t speak to him again.”
“I’m okay now…I think. He shocked the heck out of me and when the other wolves showed up snarling and all drooly I freaked. But I’m good now.”
He stared at their house and prayed for a sign from Cade. He didn’t hear any screaming or crying, that had to be good, right? He raked his hands through his hair again, in frustration. If he kept this up he would be bald by dinner.
An excruciating forty-five minutes later Cade walked across the yard. “Are you holding it together?”
“Barely. Is she okay?”
“Anna calmed her down and we explained shifters to her. She believes you’re a shifter now. You’ll still have to explain what a mate is and that she’s yours, our rules and magic as well as the ritual.” He glared at Simon. “She made me shift because she thought she had gone insane and made it all up.”
With hands on hips he hung his head. “What should I do, Cade?”
“She’s ready to see you again. Take it slow, her nerves are stretched very thin. And before you try to complete the ritual, you and I are having a talk.”
“Why? Is there something I need to worry about?”
“The effects of the ritual on women over thirty is different than younger women. I’ll explain it later, for now, go see your mate.” He clapped Simon on the back and walked with him to the house.
As they entered the great room, Cade reached for his mate. “Come on, cher, Simon and Rose need privacy.”
Simon entered the room slowly, afraid fast movements would set her off. The scent of stress and anxiety rolled from her in waves.
“Rose, please don’t be afraid of me,” he begged.
“I’m not afraid of you, at least not anymore. You scared the crap out of me, though. I dread the dreams I’ll have tonight.”
“I’ll hold you and keep the nightmares away, if you let me,” he whispered.
“In your dreams,” she quipped.
“May I sit with you?”
She patted the cushion next to her on the couch.
He hesitantly joined her. As he reached for her hand he stopped and searched her eyes. “May I hold your hand?”
She chuckled. “You don’t need to worry that I’ll run screaming from the room. I have it together now.”
He breathed a sigh of relief and took her hand.
“Obviously, I believe you now. You can indeed turn into a wolf. And, it seems there is a lot I don’t know about you,” she said as she sank further into the couch.
He nodded and looked ashamed as he met her gaze, then a frown creased his brow. “I really am sorry. I thought Anna would have told you about us by now. I know she wasn’t supposed to, but you are the closest she has to a sister. I thought you were just staying quiet about it.”
She put her hand up like a stop sign. “I’m not sure I’m ready to hear all of the wolf details, but I do have a few questions.”
He liked the idea of her leading the conversation with questions. Maybe he would avoid being an idiot again. “Okay, what can I explain for you?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not forgetting about you sprouting fur, but start with the whole prince thing, and we’ll go from there.” She had one brow cocked like she’d caught him in a lie.
“Technically, my family is the royalty of the shifters. I’ve never seen the actual pomp and circumstance it used to involve. My parents ceased that before I was born. I wasn’t aware we were still considered the royal family until today.”
“So, Isaac is the king. Is Cade automatically the next king?”
“I guess so, like I said it all ended before I was born and we never really talk about it.”
“Do I need to be worried about that crazy guy Travis?”
“I’ll be calling a meeting with the family. I’d like you there as well. We do need to prepare for his return, to follow through on whatever it is he’s set his mind to. I’m not sure who or what that is yet, so I can’t truthfully answer you. I will say, I don’t want you outside the house alone until this is dealt with.” The more agitated he became the more he rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand.
“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that. He scared me to death. But you might want to ease up on my knuckles before they start to bleed.”
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry. I had no idea I was doing that. Did I hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine.” Rose shook her head, her long blond hair tumbling over her shoulders. She chuckled and patted his hand to emphasize her point.
“Can you explain what a mate is? Cade and Anna told me she’s one and I am too. Whose mate am I?”
Sheepishly he looked her in the eye. “You’re my mate. I told you in my kitchen, but you were pretty upset and must not remember. I knew the moment we met, I just wasn’t sure how to explain all the wolf stuff and being a mate is a part of that. A shifter only has one mate in the world, needless to say it’s rare to find each other against those odds. A mate is like a spouse for a human but so much more. Do you want me to explain it now or when you’re ready to hear all the �
�wolf stuff’?”
Rose had turned a vibrant shade of pink. “Does that make me your girlfriend?”
“My girlfriend and a whole lot more.” His voice was gentle and soothing. A slow smile tugged at his lips. “Now that I’m your boyfriend do I get to kiss you?”
The look of longing on his face tore through her. “I guess so,” she shyly whispered. She felt a strange wrenching in her chest as her soul reached for his, crying out for its mate, recognizing its other half. She didn’t understand what she was feeling or what it meant.
He cupped her cheek with his palm. The softness of her skin amazed him. It also made him hard enough to pound nails.
She leaned into his touch and offered her lips to his. Her trust hit him like a sledgehammer and left him oddly dazed. She cocked her head as if studying him in turn.
With his heart hammering in his chest he gently brushed his lips to hers.
He felt her hands creep up his chest tentatively and it added fuel to his desire. His palm slid into her hair as he deepened the kiss.
He reluctantly pulled back, groaning when her teeth tugged at his lower lip. Good Lord, this must be punishment for some past sin. He was so aroused his jeans nearly cut off his circulation.
Her eyes opened and her entire body trembled. Her gaze held such a deep-seeded desire, it rocked him.
Savoring having his mate’s trust once again, he held her in his arms for a minute longer. She was a gorgeous woman with a beautiful heart and soul who was also barely more than a stranger. Since the moment she’d been introduced to him at the Thanksgiving feast and they’d locked eyes with each other, he’d been on a rapid road to recovery. The knowledge they were mates had been the shock his system needed to put it into high gear. He had swiftly returned to himself and his loved ones, and now he was back completely.
He knew Rose had lived a lonely life. He was determined to give her everything she’d missed out on. A home, safety, and people she could call family and count on.
He leaned back and swept a tendril of hair from her cheek. “I’m so thankful for you, Rose.” He kissed her gently once again. “It’s still early, would you like to have dinner with me? I’d like to take you on a proper date.”
“I’d love to.”
Looking down into her enormous blue eyes, Simon felt like he was falling forward into a deep, beautiful pool.
Her gaze locked with his. Her body reacted, shuddering.
The way he kept eye contact, he wasn’t letting her look away. Taking her hand, he raised her palm and laid it over his heart.
Rose swallowed hard and blinked up at him, all too aware of his muscles beneath his shirt. Aware of his heart beat. Aware of the heat from his skin. She felt mesmerized by him.
“I’ll be back with my car in two hours. Jeans and T-shirt are fine.” He gave her one last lingering kiss and left.
Like clockwork, Simon knocked on the door for his first of many dates with his mate. “Ready?”
“Yes, and starving too.”
“Close your eyes, I have a surprise.” He took her by the hand and led her to the driveway. “Okay, you can open them.” He heard her gasp when she saw his vintage Chevelle SS convertible. Candy apple red with black interior and the top was down.
“I love this car!” she squealed as she ran to get a closer look. She caressed the hood with just her fingertips. The way she was touching and looking at it, he wanted to be his car right then.
He opened the passenger door sweeping his arm dramatically. “Climb in and I’ll take you for a spin. There’s a diner not far from here but we can take a quick drive before dinner.”
Once he cleared the driveway and had a stretch of asphalt in front of him, he let her rip. He laughed as she threw her arms out like in the movie Thelma and Louise.
Simon was torn between watching the road and watching his mate, as she enjoyed every second of the ride. She was a plus sized beauty, perfectly proportioned. He was having a hard time focusing on his driving and not on the fascinating fact that the wind plastered her shirt to her body. He could see the exact shape of her beautiful breasts, the outline of her puckered nipples as they strained against the thin, tight material. He licked his lips, unable to stop looking at them. She had tucked the cotton shirt into the waistband of her jeans, and it called his attention to the curve of her hip.
She had her head thrown back, her thick, blond hair streamed in the wind. He could see her neck and the outline of her body beneath the shirt, almost as if she wore nothing at all. His body stirred, hardened. Simon didn’t bother to fight his reaction. He admired the flawless perfection of her skin. Imagined the way she would feel beneath his fingertips, his palms.
Rose’s head suddenly snapped up and she crossed her arms. Her breasts ached, felt swollen and hot, and deep inside, a sexual appetite began to stir. Simon was watching the road, his hands on the steering wheel, but she felt his hands on her body. Sweeping caresses, his palms cupping her breasts, thumbs stroking her nipples until she was shivering in awareness and hunger.
She couldn’t help seeing the rigid length bulging beneath his jeans, and he made no effort to hide it. His unashamed display sent her body into overtime with its reaction. She bit her lip and imagined what he looked like naked, what he’d feel like under her tongue.
She tore her gaze away when she felt the car slowing to enter the diner’s parking lot.
“I’ve requested their private room, we can enjoy dinner and I can answer the questions I feel rolling around in your mind.” He said in a husky voice as he opened her door and presented his hand. The owner gave Simon a nod and escorted them to their private table.
They enjoyed a wonderful hearty gumbo and were now sipping wine. He rolled the wine on his tongue as he devoured her with his eyes. He wanted to get her home where he could kiss her again.
“Simon, Anna mentioned abilities shifters have. What did she mean?”
“There are several generally known powers. Shifting into a wolf, which you have already seen. We also have the ability to dress or undress with a thought, instantaneously. We heal ten times faster than humans and we can move so rapidly, the human eye can’t detect us. As mates we can talk telepathically and send caresses or feelings of emotion through the use of magic. Plus, each shifter is born with one additional gift. The ability manifests during childhood.”
“Holy mackerel! My head is spinning from all that.”
“Let’s take them one at a time, how about we try the telepathy. I’ll send you a message, so when you hear me don’t freak out.”
She looked leery. “Okay….”
You look amazing tonight.
Her eyes got huge. “I think I really heard you.”
“Send something back to me, just think it at me.”
You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met.
Well, thank you, Rose. I think you are pretty amazing too.
“Wow, this could be useful. So, no one else can hear me but you?”
“No, you can only hear your mate. Let me try one more thing.” He caressed her hand with his thoughts.
She gasped and pulled her hand back. “Was that you?”
He gave her a wry grin. “It sure was, you try it. Imagine touching me.”
She closed her eyes and concentrated. When she opened them he was smiling and had his hand on his cheek. “I felt that.”
He was thrilled to see the shine of excitement in her eyes. “Let’s leave the rest for another time. I don’t want to overwhelm you after the day you’ve had.”
They finished their wine and hopped into his car for another ride. Rose was like a child in her exuberance. She was leaning back with her arm out the side of the car catching the wind.
His eyes instantly feasted on her taut nipples from the cooling night air. This was his new favorite car. Naturally, he began to imagine the way her breasts would feel in his palm.
Rose’s eyes shot to him, a look of shock on her face. “Stop touching my breasts.” Faint color stole under
her skin.
He held up his hands in surrender. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
She felt his palm cupping her breast, a thumb stroking her nipple until she shivered with hunger. “You mean, that?”
“Yes, that. I still feel you touching me.”
He nodded and frowned a little. “I consider myself an innocent victim to your charms. I’ve always had control, in fact I took pride in my self-discipline. You have destroyed it. Permanently.”
She felt his hunger as he devoured her with his eyes. With his mind. He ran his tongue over his teeth, and she felt it across her nipple.
Rose’s breath hissed out. She was thrilled by his touch and yet a little terrified by her body’s reactions.
“One day soon I’ll convince you to show them to me,” he growled.
His bold behavior fueled her own. She turned toward him, panting. “Keep that up and I may do just that. You have seen breast before, right? Mine are no different than any other woman’s.” There was color in her face and her breath came fast. “You know, I once heard that men thought about sex every sixty seconds but you must be setting some kind of record.”
“They aren’t just any breasts, Rose. They’re YOUR breasts. And if you keep teasing me, I’m going to dare you to take that blasted T-shirt off.” She heard him take a shuddering breath and as he reached for the blinker, his hand shook. She must have really rattled him.
She bit her lip and looked at him from the corner of her eye. Should I? They’re just boobs. She took a quick glance to make sure no one else would see her. Not a soul in sight. I could flash him? Hell, like Jack always tells me if you do something do it all the way. Grinning secretly to herself she took a deep breath…
Simon nearly ran off the road as she pulled her shirt off.
He swallowed hard. “I don’t think that was a good idea.”
Rose realized instantly she might have been a bit impulsive. His blue eyes began to glow, raging with a hungry fever. His hand gripped the wheel until small cracks appeared. Sexual heat leapt between them, fierce and passionate. She wanted to rip his shirt away, and feel his hands, his mouth, sliding over her skin. She wanted things she’d never dreamed or thought of. Had no idea she craved.