The Aberrants Box Set (Books 1-5)

by Sarah J. Stone

  Because, as it were, she was a snake, and snakes were cold-blooded creatures that relied on their environment to influence their body temperatures. Smooth and perfectly silent, she slid toward one of the cubbies in the door that was filled with receipts and other trash. Even if they did search the vehicle, she was doubtful they would find her there, tucked safely in the well.

  Of course, she had an ulterior motive for her form. Corn snakes were notoriously easy to take care of, rarely being bothered by anything and generally willing to just roll with the punches as long as they had a chance to explore. It was difficult to be stressed in such a primitive form. Her heart didn’t accelerate and her stomach didn’t twist and her lungs didn’t squeeze. She just… waited.

  She vehicle stopped and she could feel the vibration of human speech in counterpoint to the rumble of the engine. She couldn’t hear it, per se, just… sense it, in true snake fashion. The exchange went back and forth, the slightly different vibrations answering each other in varying volumes. For a moment, she was sure that something terrible was happening, and soon she would feel gunshots, so each minute dragged on like an eternity. She was glad that she had chosen her reptilian form, as she was sure her heart would have long since burst after a few seconds of the tension.

  But then, they were rolling forward. She couldn’t believe it, but she also didn’t dare come out of her hidey hole until they had been driving, uninterrupted for a while. She felt what she assumed was David call to her, and quickly slithered out of the door well, climbing all the way onto the seat before allowing her body to return to its original form.

  It was an uncomfortable transition and she felt the urgent need to go to the bathroom kick in. Biting down on her burgeoning lip with her teeth as they grew in her mouth, she furrowed her brow and forced herself to keep going.

  Then, finally, with an almost audible popping of her jaw, she was human again. She heaved a sigh of relief, then looked to David while wiping a thin sheen of sweat away from her forehead. She wasn’t quite sure what kind of reaction she had been expecting, but it certainly wasn’t the open expression of both horror and admiration.

  “What?” she asked, feeling self-conscious.

  “I, uh, I just…” He shook his head and took a deep breath. “I know you told me about everything but I guess it was one thing to know it could happen, and another thing to see it actually happen.”

  “It’s fine. I remember how disconcerting it was when I first Shifted, and that was with being raised in Shifter culture. You’ve just had your world tipped on your head and you’re managing not to drift out of your lane.”

  “Yeah, I guess I’m good for something after all.” His look of shock slowly began to fade and he looked back to the road. “I think you’re right about the Hunter people having moles, though. That border patrol guy gave me way too easy a time.”

  “That’s unfortunate.”

  “Yeah, it is. But the chances of them figuring out that you’re on your way to an Army Base in America are slim to none.”

  “But what about when we cross over that border. Won’t they put two and two together?”

  “Yeah, they might, but we’re going to ditch this cart and take a boat.”

  “We can do that?”

  “We can do that. All we have to do is make it to one of the general ports, ditch the car, take a bus to the specifically Alaskan port, then hidey-ho, to America we go.”

  “You make it sound so simple.”

  He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, like he had done when they had first been dating. “That’s because with me, it is. I’m here to protect you no matter what, and as long as we have a plan, you don’t have anything to worry about.”

  “Even if I shift into a snake?”

  “Even if you shift into a snake.”

  Chapter Ten: Mending Fences

  They drove for two more days, exhaustion wearing at the edges of Jaelle’s mind like a grate -and she was sure David wasn’t doing much better either. Even with their constant changing of shifts, the sleep they were getting never seemed like enough. Jaelle found herself constantly on edge, the long stretches of silence while the other slept wearing at her patience while her mind chased itself in unsatisfactory circles. David was just as prickly, which was a stark contrast to his normally easy-going demeanor.

  She was in one such nap when the truck suddenly stopped and she sat up instantly, on full alert. But looking around, she saw that they weren’t about to be ambushed, or and they hadn’t been forced off the road by a Hunter-loyal trucker. Instead, they were at what looked like some sort of campsite.

  “Where are we?”

  “We need a break before we make the final part of our journey,” David answered, already sliding out. “I saw a tarp in the back so I think I can set up a type of tent in the bed of the truck. We’re going to have a real, eight-hour sleep.”

  “Can we afford to do that?”

  “Can we afford not to? I’ve almost fallen asleep at the wheel twice, and one time I woke up from my nap to see that you had fangs and red, glowing eyes.”

  “Partially shifting helps me stay awake longer. It’s like an adrenaline boost.”

  “Yeah, well we shouldn’t be doing that. We need clear minds in case they catch up to us before we’re able to ditch the truck.”

  “Wouldn’t they be less likely to catch up with us if we didn’t take an eight hour break, though?”

  He gave her a hard look. “How confident are you in your driving abilities right now?”

  “… not very.”

  “Exactly.”

  He disappeared around the back of the truck and she listened to him as he began setting things up. She debated for several moments whether she should argue with him more, but she felt completely exhausted right down to her bones. Sleep, and real sleep, seemed almost magical and she didn’t think she had the strength to refuse it.

  She lasted about a solid ten minutes before giving in, sliding out to join David.

  The farmhand had certainly been efficient in the time she had been fiddle faddling inside the cab. Apparently, the Hunters did indeed have a pretty thorough set up for sleeping in their vehicle bed, which made sens,e considering how many months at a time they spent on the road. They had magnets that clamped one end of the thick, black tarp to the top of the cab, and ties at the other end to make sure it was attached to the end of the bed. A thick, self-inflating air mattress was already slowly growing across the metal floor, with David picking which blankets they would lay on, and which would go on top.

  “That all fits even with the cooler?” she asked, somewhere between amazed and dubious.

  “Yeah. About three people could sleep in here as long as they were comfortable with each other. It’s not a bad set up. I even found a package for one of those hammock things, but this did not seem like the appropriate time for that.”

  “No, not quite,” she agreed.

  It only took a few minutes more for the air mattress to finish inflating, then they were both crawling into the cozy makeshift-shelter, then pulling the gate up with some finality. Despite its definite lack of a five-star rating, Jaelle felt instantly comfortable in the small space. It reminded her of a den, but with a few more modern comforts to make it just right.

  “Hey, I can even sit up in here.”

  She looked over to David to see that he was indeed sitting up, one of the many blankets curled behind him as he leaned against the back window of the cab. “What are you doing? I thought we were supposed to be sleeping.”

  “We are,” he said with a bit of a smirk. “But can you begrudge me wanting to wind down a bit? After so much non-stop going, slowing down seems a bit surreal.”

  “It does, doesn’t it?” She rolled onto her back, almost expecting to see brilliant stars above, but instead being met by black tarp. “We really should settle down. We can’t afford to waste time if we’re already planning to give up eight hours.”

  “I know.” But his tone was non-commit
tal.

  “What? What is it?”

  “Look, I know you’ve been through a hell of a lot. And I also know that I missed the daring and probably traumatic escape that you had to go through to get away from the Hunters and end up in that cabin I found you in. And I am also acutely aware that the moment you ran, you had already given me up.” She opened her mouth to object but he shook his head quietly. “Look, I’m not upset about that. You needed to survive and holding onto me would have just hurt your chances. But…”

  “But?”

  “I respect your decisions. And as much as I would like to cling to what we had, I understand that might not be the best thing for you right now. But seeing you laying there, your hair splayed out on the pillow, I just want to hold you in my arms while you drift off just like we used to.”

  That was probably the last thing she had expected to hear. She craned her head, looking up at him with guilt eating away at her. What had she put this kind, supportive man through? He didn’t deserve it. He didn’t deserve any of it.

  He should be already heading toward marriage with a sweet country girl. One who cooked for him as often as he cooked for her. One who enjoyed washing dishes and was genuinely proud that he had won the rodeo the next town over. One who would have normal human sex with him, and normal human babies, and grow old together without growing insane -except for the statistically probable onset of dementia and/or Alzheimer’s.

  “How could you possibly forgive me after I abandoned you like that?”

  “What’s there to forgive? You were pushed into an impossible situation that wasn’t exactly fair. I can’t hold that against you.”

  She couldn’t help it, tears began to well up in her eyes, trickling over the ends of her dark lashes to leave salty, stinging trails in their wake.

  “Oh, whoa. No, no, no. What’s all this about?” David shifted, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to his chest. “Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to upset.”

  “I’m not upset.” She gasped between growing sobs. “I mean, I am, just not about what you think I am.”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

  “I’ve always had a plan to leave you. You were my comfortable way to pass the time and convenient friendship. I always knew I would have to run, and that never bothered me.” The words felt sour out of her mouth, but they held the truth. A truth that she needed to say. “And yet here you are. You risked your life. You’re still risking your life. And after I used you for so long, you’re so ready to forgive someone who doesn’t deserve a single ounce of mercy.” Even against her tears, she could hear the soothing rhythm of his heartbeat, steadily thumping away like it didn’t have the world waiting to strike it down at any moment.

  “Hey, none of this now. I understand you might not be able to love me like a human girl would. But I don’t doubt at all that you do care for me, as much as a girl who’s been on the run for her entire life can.”

  “That’s a shitty way to be loved.”

  He shrugged. “If you say so. But I’m not lying when I say that in this moment, with you in my arms, all of the craziness seems worth it.”

  “You shouldn’t say that.”

  “Why not? It’s the truth.” Tenderly, he tilted her chin upwards, his gaze holding her watery one.

  The moment hung heavy between the two of them, making each and every breath seem significant and lasting. She didn’t know how long they stared at each other, a million thoughts and memories passing between their eyes, but then suddenly he was kissing her and she was responding with all her being.

  It wasn’t the salacious, scandalous passion she had felt with John. It wasn’t a reckless escape. No, not at all. The kiss was comfort and security. It was like returning home after a long day and sinking into the sofa while kicking her shoes off. It was reliable, and full of kindness that she could never understand.

  When David pulled away, it almost broke her heart. What was she doing? She had no right to—

  “I’m sorry,” the farmhand breathed raggedly. “I shouldn’t have done that. I know you have a lot on your plate.”

  She gripped the top of his flannel shirt, even the fabric a comfort to her. “Do it again.”

  “You’re sure? Because you don’t-”

  She crashed her lips to his, desperate for more of everything he offered her so selflessly. For one, it wasn’t her feralness urging her onwards, or even a need to forget the terror lurking in the dark. It was real, actual, ardent desire to love and be loved by the one person who bizarrely still cared about her existence.

  He responded in kind, nearly crushing her to his chest. But she loved it. Every bit of affirmation, every minute iota of belonging. They gripped each other, two lonely souls whose paths never should have crossed.

  If she wasn’t so selfish, she would tell David to move on and find someone he could actually be with. Someone who didn’t have multiple powerful people gunning for their death. But she was selfish and she wasn’t going to let go of him anytime soon.

  Her hands tugged at his shirt, pulling it up out of his practical jeans. She was almost distracted by the thought of how uncomfortable it must be to wear the same set of denim pants for five days straight. Key word being almost.

  Then her fingers went to his buttons, undoing each of them with a practiced ease. His arms loosened around her, only for his own hands to find purchase at her hips, gripping her hard while his thumbs rubbed circles there.

  His mouth moved from hers, tenderly kissing down the line of her chin, then her neck, lavishing the skin with affection. She tilted her head back, reveling in the feeling.

  David continued his ministrations until his exploring lips reached the top of the camisole she was wearing. Without warning, his mouth crashed to hers yet again, and she let herself be swept away by the passion of it all. Her hands finally finished their unfastening of his work-shirt and peeled it back from his frame. The farmhand complied, rolling his shoulders backwards to aid her in disrobing him.

  Once he was freed from the confines of his flannel, he slowly leaned forward from his sitting position, guiding Jaelle until she was flat on her back, the air mattress comfortably solid beneath them. In one smooth motion, he was posted over her, knees positioned on either side of her womanly frame.

  “I don’t care what they say you are,” he breathed, breaking away from their kiss gaze hungrily into her eyes. “You are the most perfect woman I’ve ever known.”

  Jaelle didn’t need any other words. Her hands came to either side of David’s face and pulled him down to her. Their bodies moved hungrily against each other, grinding against each other in their own rhythm. Impatient, her fingers wrapped around the worn, leather belt fortifying her jeans. Her hands leaving his face, she yanked at it urgently, insistently, greedily. Of course, he didn’t seem to mind a bit. Chuckling at her enthusiasm, the farm hand disentangled himself from her to sit up, his calloused fingers undoing the belt without even looking. She was impressed, but still didn’t waste a second of time. The moment he finished pulling the length of leather from his belt loops, she yanked him back down to her, devouring his lips once more while raising her hips to his.

  She laughed throatily, releasing him so she could let her tongue travel along the muscled scape exposed to her. His torso was several shades paler than his arms, stricken by the quintessential farmer’s tan that seemed to be a requirement for almost all small-town boys. While some might have mocked him for it, it just endeared him that much more to her. Her fingers traced the occasional freckles that her tongue couldn’t reach, and it was in that strange moment that she realized she loved him.

  Really, truly loved him.

  That moment of emotional revelation was suddenly interrupted as his hands gripped her tightly, and flipped her over without warning.

  She gasped, completely surprised, but in the best of ways. Her body was already responding to the display of strength. She could feel herself growing wetter by the second. She heard a chuckle from Dav
id and then he was peeling her pants from her own body.

  Once she was bare, he turned her back over and yanked the camisole over her head. She was confused by the back and forth and what position the man actually wanted her in, but it was also nice to have no idea where the session was going.

  He pressed himself to the young woman once again. She could feel that his body was responding fully to her, pressing urgently against her belly. If he was anyone else, he would have focused on sating that need and that need alone, but – as usual – David was intent on making sure that she was fully satisfied before continuing.

  With a pure devotion that could only be described as worship, he poured all of his focus into her. No inch of her was neglected by his warm, soft lips, and his calloused fingers slowly, deliberately, delicately slipped into her center.

  She gasped yet again, her hips rising off the air mattress to meet his hard-working digits. He played her like an instrument, using some of his fingers to penetrate, and another to gently encircle that sensitive bundle of nerves at the apex of her womanhood.

  It was perfect, it was mind numbing, it was everything she could have hoped for and more. She never wanted it to end, but at the same time she could feel her end rapidly barreling toward her. She could hardly breathe, hardly prepare herself, and before she knew it, she was cresting that impossible deluge of undiluted pleasure. She crashed unchecked into a pool of ecstasy, her mind almost scrubbing itself out of existence for a few blissful seconds.

  It seemed to take forever to come down, and when she did, she was covered in a thin sheen of sweat. She looked to David, who was wearing a satisfied expression that conveyed he knew exactly how well he did.

  “Ready?” he asked, voice so low it barely had a tone at all.

  “Yes. Urgently.”

  The corner of his mouth went up and then he was pressing himself to her. Her mouth opened in a silent moan, the sound not quite making it past her lips as he filled her completely. They laid there a moment, still and locked together in the moment. It was as intimate as they could physically be, and it was clear that neither of them wanted to rush it.