ROMANCE: Time of the Werebears (Scottish Historical Time Travel Shifter Romance) (Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance)

by Sky Winters

  “Oh my god!” I fisted his hair in my hands as he worked his magic on me below the belt. The orgasm built fast and I was coming before I could register what was happening. I’m pretty sure I moaned loud enough for the neighbors to hear, but I didn’t care. No man had ever taken the kind of time and care to make sure I was fully satisfied and we hadn’t even got into the sex part yet.

  Nicholas reared up and pulled his shirt off.

  “Oh shut up! You’ve got to be kidding me!”

  He looked down at his body in confusion. “What? Is something wrong?”

  “Wrong? No there’s nothing wrong. Everything about this,” I gestured to his ridiculously hot body, “is perfect. How are you real?”

  Nicholas chucked his t-shirt across the room and fell back to the bed on his hands. “Trust me,” he said as he pressed himself against me again, “I’m real.”

  The mischievous twinkle in his eye brought me back to attention. Oh yeah, he’s real.

  He scooted back far enough to get his jeans unfastened and I couldn’t wait. I sat up and shimmied the tight fabric off his hips, freeing the most exciting part of him of all. Without the confines of the denim, he bobbed to life and I had to have him them. To hell with waiting. I grabbed his neck and pulled him down on top of me and grabbed his ass. Lifting my hips to meet his, I guided him inside me. The rigid thickness of him culled sounds out of me I didn’t know I was capable of. Nicholas hooked an arm under the small of my back and thrust. The head of him stroked over my g-spot; I couldn’t believe he’d found it. The sensation was so different, but no less welcome than having my clit played with.

  I scrunched the sheets in my fists as the first delicious wave crashed around me. “Nicholas.” His name slipped from my lips, egging him on. Moved a little faster, rolling his hips to brush against my clit. “Fuck!” I cried as I came a second time, pulsing around him and driving him closer.

  He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut. I watched with amusement as his face screwed up and his body went stiff as he spilled himself inside of me. He collapsed on top of me and I wrapped my arms around him. I held him to me as we caught our breath. The warmth of his body felt nice. Until it was too much. “Holy shit! You’re a furnace, Nicholas!”

  He rolled off of me, and on to his side. I adjusted my top to cover back up. I didn’t like how vulnerable my nakedness made me.

  “I like that you didn’t wear underwear. What are you doing?” He stilled my hands with his.

  “I’m not sure.” I just finished having this man’s face between my legs and screaming his name to the neighbors. Why so shy now? He was fully nude and clearly comfortable with every inch of himself.

  “Come on,” he grabbed my wrist, “I think a shower will help.”

  He led me to the master bath and turned the shower knob. He pushed the straps off my shoulders and my dress fell to my feet. He caressed the skin along my collarbone. “You’re a beautiful woman, Nicole,” he tipped my chin up and placed a gentle kiss on my lips, “There is no need to be shy around me. The water’s hot. Let’s get in.”

  He could have been playful and tried to lighten the mood, but he chose not to. Instead he went the tender route. He brushed my hair off my shoulders and massaged a sweet smelling soap into the knots. Once my insecurity crept back in, everything that had relaxed under his hands tensed right back up and then some. How could a man who looked like he was plucked from a firefighter calendar be attracted to someone like me? I didn’t want to be a Mary Sue about it, but as a size sixteen, I don’t often attract the attention of guys like him. In fact, I don’t think I ever did. I settled for whatever I could get and that’s how I wound up in this mess.

  “Mmm, Nicholas. That feels so good.” He used the soap to rub well-lubed circles into my upper back. Coupled with the hot water, I eased back into reality.

  “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, but I’m curious. What just happened?”

  No man wants to listen to a woman’s insecurities and I didn’t want to sound like I was fishing for compliments. “Nothing major. Just sort of an after sex crash. Endorphins go up and then come down kind of thing.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Bless him, he didn’t pry. I silently thanked him for that. His soapy hand slipped down my front and between my legs, cleaning off the remains of our bedroom romp. He pressed himself up against my back, poking me in the ass. It would seem a cleanup wasn’t all he had on his mind.

  Chapter 6

  Morning came. Now what? I had spent the night with Nicholas – at his insistence – and while it was nice, I wasn’t sure about the leaving etiquette. Sneaking out would be simple, clean, and easy, but made feel dirty just thinking about it. Acknowledging the fact that Nicholas had spent most of the night inside me would be difficult, but felt more like the right thing to do. Whichever I chose, I’d have to cut and run soon. I didn’t want to risk getting pulled in deeper. I could see myself liking Nicholas… a lot.

  I felt the touch of a pair of lips on my neck. “Good morning, beautiful.”

  I giggled and writhed as he rubbed his stubbly cheek against my neck. “Quit it! That tickles.”

  He pulled me more on my back and kissed me on the lips instead. “Time to get up.”

  I nodded and propped myself up on my elbows. While he bounded out of bed with the energy of a new puppy, getting up was slow going for me. He tested and worked muscles last night that I didn’t even know I had.

  I eventually heaved myself out of bed and slipped my dress back on. I twisted my hair into a knot and slipped my sandals back on. I was ready to go home and get some coffee.

  I sauntered out to the kitchen where Nicholas was busy pulling out mugs and arranging breakfast paraphernalia. “Whatcha doing?”

  “I’m starving. Would you like some breakfast? I’m making pancakes.”

  Tempting, but that was another step down a road I didn’t need to go. “That sounds lovely, but no thank you. I need to get home.” I padded over and kissed him on the cheek. “Last night was wonderful. Thank you.”

  As I turned to leave, Nicholas hooked me around the waist, drawing me closer again. He planted his lips on mine and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was staking his claim. “Are you sure I can’t get you to stay?”

  If I stayed for breakfast, I might stay forever. “No. It’s sweet, but I need to get going.” I stroked his cheek, a gesture that seemed to seal my goodbye and left. Once his door closed behind me, I picked up a little speed to the elevator. I had to outrun my urge to stay and I wouldn’t be safe from it until I was on the elevator with the doors sealed behind me. That’s when I let out the breath I had been holding. I survived my first one-night stand.

  ….

  “How did it go?” Mia asked.

  I met Mia for lunch three days later. She called me and I knew she wouldn’t be satisfied until I told her everything.

  “The other night was the most amazing, satisfying, liberating night of my life. That man made me feel things I didn’t know my body was capable of and I came so much I was almost in pain.”

  “But it’s the best kind of pain, right? Like the kind where you kind of like it?”

  I nodded. “Oh yeah. I needed that. And I will admit that you were right, sex with a shifter is something that should be shouted from the rooftops.”

  “Alright!” We high-fived like frat boys. “So, when are you going to see him again?”

  See him again? “Um, I’m not. He was definitely a doer, not a dater.”

  Mia tilted her head and studied me. “Did he say that or did you?”

  “Well, his profile made that clear. He said he didn’t want anything long term. You saw that for yourself, remember?”

  “Yeah. I just wanted to make sure that that was how all of this was going to play out.”

  “Let’s put it this way,” I paused and sipped my coffee, “I spent the night, but left without breakfast.”

  Mia shrugged. “Okay.”

  Ok
ay? What the hell did that mean? “Just okay? I feel like you have something else to say.”

  “It’s just, I know how you can be and you have a tendency to get attached and I want to make sure you don’t get hurt.”

  Wait, what? “Hang on. You were the one who pushed me to do this – against my will might I add – and now you remember that I tend to get attached?” I shook my head. “You hurt my brain sometimes, Mia. I’ll be fine. I knew what Nicholas was before seeing him so I knew what I needed to do to come out unscathed.” Mostly unscathed, anyway. I’d be thinking about my one night with Nicholas for awhile.

  “So now that you got that out of your system, what are you going to do next? He perked your mood up quite a bit.” Our server dropped our food and Mia shoveled a heaping spoonful of oatmeal into her mouth.

  “I’m going to spend the afternoon fluffing my resume and hunting on job boards. I’ll do some cold call hunting on Monday. With all the agencies in Chicago, the odds are one will hire me.”

  “That’s good! I know how much you love working. I think you’re insane for it, but you’ll be much happier being productive.”

  “I think so too. Hopefully, it won’t take me too long to get a job.” All I’ve wanted to do since losing my job is shop and that will burn through my savings very quickly, no matter how careful I spent.

  “I’m curious. What sort of shifter did Nicholas say he was?”

  Why did she have to bring the conversation back around to him? “Bear. Why?”

  “No reason. Jason told me that each species behaves differently. Wolves are the most likely to settle down. With Nicholas being bear, this one-night stand thing might be possible.”

  “Great. I would really like to stop talking about this now.” I was at the point where I felt like I was being clobbered over the head with the Nicholas thing.

  “Sure, whatever you want. So let me tell you about what Jason’s been up to.”

  Chapter 7

  I did it. I managed to land a job within a week of starting my job search and my life had quickly settled back to normal. And a bonus, I got a ten thousand dollar a year pay bump with bonus incentives. I was so lucky to get fired.

  I had settled into my busy work my second week on the job when my phone was hit with a random alert. It was from ComeShift. I had received a few inquiries from different guys, but since I never responded they started tapering off. I had thought about deactivating my account, but didn’t get around to it. I was about ready to just swipe away the alert when I saw the name: Nicholas Berry.

  Holy shit.

  I had all but pushed him from my mind in all the craziness of starting a new job. I was too tired most nights to think about watching Property Brothers let alone a person. My stomach flipped and I bit my lip, swiping the alert open.

  I’ve been thinking about you. How have you been? I’d like to see you again.

  Thinking about me. Oh boy. “Nope.” I powered my phone off and tossed it in my desk drawer so I wouldn’t be tempted. I wasn’t going to do this to myself again. As long as I reminded myself about how emotionally wrecked I was after the last several “relationships” and that I need me time, I could make it.

  I had to focus on my work. I managed to get through the next hour without too much trouble, but that was the point my nerves became too much. It was a mad dash, but I made it to the bathroom before my stomach upended itself. I rested my head on the icy porcelain to cool my heated skin. I knew the anxiety would try to kill me eventually. I guess it was my time.

  After cleaning myself up and rinsing my mouth out. I ventured back to my office, my stomach still churning. I made a mental note to call my doctor about a Xanax prescription if this kept on.

  I was now at the point of distraction where I couldn’t focus on my work. I signed off for an early lunch and decided to take a walk. I needed air and a chance to clear my head. I popped my head into my boss’s office to see if she needed anything. “I’m going on a coffee run. You want anything?”

  She didn’t even look away from her computer. “Yes. An Americano please. Skim milk.” She looked away from her screen then. “I also wanted to let you know that you’re doing really well here, Nicole. Keep up the good work.” She smiled broadly at me then set back to her work.

  “Thank you!” I chirped before popping out and leaving. My stomach still felt off and my heartbeat was still a little high, but I felt better just being outside.

  I decided to take the scenic route to the café around a nearby park. There was a woody area that was pretty to look at and I loved the smell of the pine trees. They cut through the permanent smog smell.

  There was another, muskier smell that caught my attention as I moved along the sidewalk. I paused and peeked between the trees, the scent growing stronger as I poked my head into the wood. “That is so weird.” I mumbled to myself.

  I whipped my head around as I heard the snap of branches off to my left. A pair of small glittering black eyes met mine and sent me screaming back the way I came. My four inch heels didn’t slow me down one bit.

  I hauled ass the last four blocks to the café. I couldn’t get away from the woods fast enough. Catching my breath after that sucked so bad.

  I placed my order as soon as I could speak again, and as I waited a thought occurred to me. “No. It couldn’t be him, could it?”

  The barista handed me my drinks and food over the counter and after saying thank you, I headed back to the woods. The musky scent still lingered when I got back so I thought I might have a chance. “Nicholas?” Bears in the heart of Chicago just didn’t happen. “Nicholas, if you’re still here you can come out.”

  A branch snapped behind me. I whirled around to see what it was when a handsome man appeared between the trees. “Hey, baby.”

  “Was that you before?”

  “It was me.” He smiled sheepishly at his shoes.

  “Why were you a bear? It wasn’t the best choice if you wanted to hide. The only bears around here are the shitty football team.”

  “I know. But when I didn’t hear from you I wanted to see what you were up to, but didn’t want to seem like a stalker. This is the only time I’ve done this I swear.”

  Earnestness was clear in his big brown eyes. I believed him. In a weird way I thought it was kind of sweet. If he had made it a habit, I would have run away again.

  “I thought you only wanted a fling? Didn’t we do that?”

  “I thought that’s what I wanted to, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. I want to date you, Nicole. I think we could be more than one night of sex. Although the sex was spectacular.”

  My cheeks heated. Did that mean I was good in bed? I wouldn’t know, no one’s ever told me before. “You really want to see how this goes?”

  Nicholas furrowed his brow. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. Because you’re you and I’m not anywhere in that league.” How’s your foot taste, Nicole?

  “What’s wrong with wanting to date you? I don’t see anything wrong with that. You’re a beautiful woman and judging by your dress and the fact that you walked out of an office building, I’m guessing you work.”

  “Yeah, but you don’t know me.”

  “Uh, isn’t that the point of dating?”

  I supposed he had a point. “Well, yeah. But, but-“He closed in and kissed me, successfully cutting off any idiotic excuse I had. I didn’t have anything worthwhile anyway. I wanted him. Why not give him a shot?

  I pulled away when I remembered I was technically supposed to be working. “Okay. Let’s do this, but I have to get back. I’m too new to push the lunch break time.” I went in for one more not so quick kiss and took off. I’d make plans with him later, but for now I had one Americano for a very understanding executive cooling in my hand.

  ….

  I had plans with Nicholas for Saturday night after his gig, but first I needed to get in a little girl time with Mia. I was so excited I was going to explode if I didn�
�t get to tell her.

  I popped the wine cork to let the red breathe just in time for a rapid-fire knock at my door. I opened the door to find Mia grinning like an idiot.

  “You got a shifter boyfriend.” She sing-songed.

  “He’s not my boyfriend.” Not yet anyway. “It’s only our second date.”

  “Semantics. Tell me everything.”

  We found our way back to the kitchen where I poured out the wine into my huge globe glasses. I passed Mia hers and gave mine a swirl and a sniff. I jerked the glass away from my face. “Does this wine smell bad to you?”

  Mia gave her glass a sniff and shook her head.

  I took a cautious sniff and spit the wine out in the sink. It was too late. I swallowed a little bit and my stomach gave a lurch. “Fuck.” I sprinted for the bathroom with Mia hot on my heels. She held my hair back as I emptied my guts. By the time I was done I was sweaty and exhausted. “Sorry. I hope I’m not getting sick. Lately, some smells just turn my stomach.”

  “Huh.” Mia wet down and wrung out a washcloth and squatted down to clean me up. “Smells are making you sick? You aren’t pregnant are you?”

  I chuckled and waved her off. “I think I’m getting sick. You have to have sex to get pregnant remember.”

  “I remember that you have had sex in the last month, but clearly you forgot. Did you use protection?”

  I froze. I was so caught up in the moment that I didn’t give a second thought to using protection. “Fuck! No, Mia, I didn’t even think about it! I’m so fucking stupid!” I fought back the tears, but they were coming too fast.

  “Hey, relax. Let’s get you a test and find out for sure first before you freak out. No use getting bent out of shape until you know for sure, okay.”

  I wiped my eyes and nodded. She had a point, but I already knew. The test would only confirm it for me.

  Mia ran down to the corner drugstore for me. I was too out of sorts to go with her and frankly it was embarrassing. I know it shouldn’t be, but there was a part of me that was a little ashamed that I let this happen.