by Zoe Chant
His head jerked upward, surprise flashing across his expression. Then he let out a brief bark of humorless laughter. “It really is my day for disappointing people, it seems. I was a firefighter, Hayley.” He gestured at his left leg. “Not anymore. About a year ago, I had one of my seizures, a bad one. I came back to human eventually, but not quite in the same shape I started. It ended my career.”
Hayley blinked at him, taken aback. “But I thought you said you worked for the fire service.”
“I do. As a dispatcher. That’s how I knew to come to you. I overheard your call.” He fell silent for a moment, head bowing. “Hayley, my condition…the episodes are getting more frequent. And worse. At some point, it’s going to be more than just a leg that goes wrong. Probably sooner rather than later.”
The weary slump to the set of his shoulders stabbed her to the heart. Hayley desperately wanted to touch him again, but he’d retreated back out of her reach. The few feet of space between them seemed like an impassable chasm, impossible to bridge.
Griff let out a long, slow sigh. “Maybe it would have been better for you if I’d sent someone else. If we’d never met. You’ve already been through this kind of thing once, with your mother. I can’t ask you to do that again. I won’t. But…”
He raised his head, meeting her gaze at last. Hayley’s breath caught. His eyes had gone that intense, feral yellow again…but this time they burned with something other than anger.
“I’m not sorry,” he growled, low and forceful. “I don’t regret coming myself. No matter what happens, I won’t ever regret meeting you.”
The naked desire in his gaze ignited an answering heat in her core. Hayley found that she was leaning forward, every part of her drawn towards him like a moth to a flame. If he touched her, if he moved toward her, even just a little…
But he didn’t.
Griff closed his eyes for a moment, and when he re-opened them they’d gone back to their usual deep, warm gold. “It’s enough,” he said, very softly. “Enough just to have known you. Thank you.”
It’s not enough for me!
But her rational mind overruled her yearning body. She pressed her thighs together, trying to cool the throbbing need between her legs with cold logic.
He’s right. This can’t go further. What about Danny? How can I let Griff into our lives, knowing that we’re going to lose him? How can I expose Danny to that sort of pain? What kind of a mother would I be? Think of Danny!
Grief filled her chest, heavy and leaden. It was more than just mourning for what-might-have-been. The thought of Griff’s kind, generous soul being snuffed out, lost to the world forever…it was intolerable.
Desperate for any glimmer of hope, she asked, “Is there really no treatment? Nothing that might help you?”
He hesitated, and her heart leapt into her mouth—but then he said, firmly, “No. Nothing.”
And she knew, knew, that he was lying.
“There is!” She jumped to her feet, crossing the distance between them in a single stride. “There is something, and you don’t want to tell me what it is. Why? What are you trying to hide?”
Griff was shaking his head with increasing vehemence. “No. No!” It sounded more like he was shouting at himself than at her. He knotted his fists, his face contorting in sudden pain. “I. Will. Not! No!”
“Griff!” Frightened, Hayley grabbed his head between her palms, forcing him to look at her. “Is it your beasts? Is it one of your episodes? What am I supposed to do?”
His breath hissed between his clenched teeth. With a jolt, Hayley noticed that they’d visibly sharpened, the canines extending down into leonine fangs. His skin prickled under her palms, as if fur or feathers were trying to break through. “My eagle wants—me to tell you—no.”
“Whatever it is, just tell me!” Hayley yelled at him, terrified he was about to start shifting uncontrollably right there in her kitchen. “Do what it wants! Please, Griff!”
Griff grabbed hold of her hands, clinging onto them as if he was lost in a howling storm. His blazing golden eyes locked onto hers. Hayley couldn’t move, couldn’t even breathe, as he focused on her as if she was the only thing in existence, the only thing in the entire world.
Griff drew in a deep, shuddering breath—and relaxed. The spasms shaking his muscles slowed, stopped. “All right,” he said hoarsely. He let go of her hands, scrubbing his palms across his face. “I didn’t want to tell you this. I didn’t want it to influence…bloody hell, this is going to sound like the worst line ever. But there is something that helps.”
“Well, why didn’t you say so?” Overcome with a mixture of relief and anger, Hayley jabbed him in the shoulder, glaring. “Spit it out! What is it?”
He dropped his hands, tilting his head up to meet her eyes. “You,” he said, simply.
Caught off-guard, Hayley gaped at him.
“You…bring me and my beasts into harmony,” Griff continued reluctantly, every word sounding like it was being forced out of him. “It’s like you’re the missing part of us. Just now…you stopped me from starting to shift. And yesterday, I was on the brink of a seizure, but the memory of you brought me back. I’ve never been able to do that before.”
If just the memory of me did that…what else could I do?
“This doesn’t put any sort of obligation on you,” he said forcefully, before she could speak. His expression was fierce, determined. “You mustn’t feel that this means you have to—that is, just the thought of you helps. That’s enough. More than enough. You don’t-”
Hayley gently put a finger on his lips, silencing him. “Does it help more when I’m close to you?”
Griff held very still, as if her touch had frozen him in place. “Aye,” he whispered, his lips barely moving against her hand.
“And this?” Hayley traced a path over his chin and up the strong line of his jaw. The slight, rough drag of stubble caught at her fingertips. She laid her whole palm flat against the side of his face. “Does this help even more?”
Very slightly, never taking his eyes off hers, he nodded.
Hayley leaned in closer, closer, until those golden eyes filled her world, until his warm breath caressed her parted, eager lips. “What about this?”
Fire raced through her blood at the first touch of his mouth against hers. The kiss stayed soft and gentle for barely a moment before Griff’s strong hands seized her upper arms. Hayley gasped against his mouth as he yanked her down to straddle him, her wet, eager core pressing tantalizingly against the hard bulge in his jeans. She rubbed shamelessly against him, unable to help herself, every touch sparking lightning bolts of pleasure through her body.
Once they’d started, there was no question of stopping. Desire swept them both up, as all-consuming as an inferno. His tongue plundered hers, seeking and claiming. His hands roved up over her shoulders, pulling down the soft fabric of her top and exposing her breasts. His mouth still hard on hers, Griff growled deep in his throat, the vibration thrilling through Hayley’s bones. He broke the kiss, ducking his head down, licking and nipping.
Hayley arched against him, her fingers twining through his hair as his mouth found her taut nipple. Even through the fabric of her bra, the sensation was almost more than she could bear. A hot, powerful ache built between her legs. She writhed against him, desperate for release, tormented by the layers of clothing separating them. “Griff—please, I need—”
His mouth captured hers again, silencing her plea. His large hands scooped under her butt, effortlessly lifting her. With one powerful motion, he flipped her up onto the kitchen table, carelessly knocking the empty glasses aside. Before she even knew what was happening, he’d stripped away her leggings and panties.
He spread her legs wide, kneeling down between them. Hayley had a brief, fleeting moment of concern for his bad knee—and then his mouth closed over her, and she was lost to everything except him.
“Griff!” she cried out, as powerful waves of pleasure shook her. He didn�
�t stop, his tongue still circling and teasing as her thighs shuddered and her breath came in helpless gasps. He entered her with two strong fingers, and she clenched around him, throwing back her head. “Griff!”
He straightened at last, bracing himself against the tabletop, one hand on each side of her hips. His own breath came in ragged pants, but a devilish, satisfied smile curved his lips. He kissed her again, long and slow and lingering.
“You were right,” he said, pulling back a little. “That does help.”
Hayley hooked her fingers through his belt loops as he started to push away. “Don’t you dare. You haven’t taken all of your medicine yet.”
Even despite the lingering flutters of pleasure, she was still wet and eager, needing more. She fumbled with his fly, releasing his cock. She caught her breath at the sight—so thick and full, the broad, glistening head straining toward her.
Griff groaned as she ran her fingers over him, thrusting forward a little with his hips in an involuntary, jerking motion. “Hayley…are you sure?”
“Yes. God, yes.” She needed him inside her, now—
She stopped abruptly. “Fudge.” Long habit made her substitute the swearword, even at a moment like this. “I don’t have condoms.”
Griff shot her a sideways, gleaming look. “Will you think terribly of me if I happen to pull one out of my wallet?”
In answer, she grabbed his head, drawing him down for a deep, devouring kiss. Releasing him again, she leaned back on her elbows, waiting impatiently as he efficiently sheathed himself.
“Ah…” Despite his rock-hard, eager cock and the animal hunger in his eyes, Griff hesitated. He sheepishly gestured at his left leg, then at a chair. “Do you mind if we…?”
“Any way you want,” Hayley gasped, wiggling off the table. “Seated. Backwards. Upside down. Just now, Griff!”
Griff laughed, a deep, delighted growl at her eagerness. Seizing her hips, he guided her down with him as he sat, once more pulling her onto his lap…but this time, there were no clothes between them.
Hayley arched her back as at last, at last he slid into her. His thick girth stretched her deliciously wide. Her inner walls clenched, the friction of his cock along her most sensitive areas nearly pushing her over the edge with his first thrust.
He snarled, arching up against her for a moment as though fighting for control—then his fingers dug into her hips as he surrendered himself to her, pounding into her with unrestrained need.
Hayley wrapped her legs around his torso, grinding to match every thrust. His powerful arms flexed, lifting her so that she slid intoxicatingly against his full length with every stroke. A last intense wave built within her, as unstoppable as a tsunami.
She covered his mouth with hers as he arched up into her one final time, muffling both their cries of ecstasy as they came together. For a timeless moment, he filled her utterly, body and soul. Together, they were complete.
Hayley collapsed against Griff’s shoulder. For a long moment, all she could do was lie there, languid and wrung-out. His chest heaved below her, gradually slowing.
It had been so long since she’d last had sex, her memory was a little hazy…but she was pretty certain it had never, ever been like that before.
“Well, I don’t know about you,” she mumbled into his neck. “But I certainly feel better.” She felt as relaxed and glowing as if she’d just spent a week on a beach in the Bahamas.
Griff’s soft, low chuckle rumbled in her ear like a cat purring. He traced a lingering, gentle caress down her spine. “I’ve never felt so well in my entire life.”
“Good.” Reluctantly, Hayley pushed herself up off him, sitting upright. Suddenly a little self-conscious about how disheveled she must appear, she tugged her tunic back up to cover her overspilling breasts.
Harsh kitchen lighting, and I’m not even wearing my good bra! What I must look like-
“Hayley.” Griff caught her wrist, bringing it up to his lips. He inhaled deeply, his eyes half-closing in rapture, then pressed a gentle kiss to the delicate skin. His other hand skimmed the curves of her waist and hips, lightly, reverently. “You look beautiful. God, you’re so beautiful.”
The simple sincerity in his tone chased away her insecurity. “How do you do that?” Hayley asked as she scooted off his lap so he could deal with the condom. Away from his intoxicating heat, gooseflesh rose on her bare legs. She retrieved her panties and leggings. “Always know the right thing to say. It’s like you know what I’m thinking.”
“I do, somewhat,” Griff said absently as he zipped himself back up. “I’m good at reading people, thanks to my eagle.” He dropped the condom into the garbage. “My mother’s clan are white-tailed sea eagles, renowned for our uncanny perception. Olar sùil na grèine, we’re called in Gaelic.”
Hayley’s toes curled at the rolling, beautiful words. She’d always been a sucker for a gorgeous accent. “What does that mean?”
“‘Eagle of the sun’s eye’.” He pointed at his own bright eyes, winking at her. “When you can spot a fish swimming underwater from ten thousand feet up in the sky, noticing tiny tells in the body language of someone within arm’s reach isn’t hard. I can spot when people are lying, or trying to hide something. And now you’re getting nervous about that. But you’re also reassuring yourself that you don’t have anything to hide anyway, so it doesn’t matter that I can read you like this. And now you’re starting to get just a wee bit annoyed with me-”
“Griff!” Hayley took a mock-swing at him, which he avoided easily, laughing. “Stop that!”
Her heart skipped a beat as she noticed that he’d casually put his full weight on his left leg, without a hint of a wince. There was something looser, easier about his movements. She hadn’t realized before just how constantly he’d been in pain.
Until now, when that pain had finally ceased.
Did I do that? Hope rose in her soul, sparkling light and effervescent as champagne bubbles. Is it permanent, or will it wear off? Not that I mind if we have to keep doing this…
Griff’s gaze heated, roving over her body hungrily. “Me neither.”
“Okay, that really is unfair.” Hayley pouted at him, crossing her arms. “I wish I could tell what you’re thinking.” Of course, from the growing bulge in his pants—seriously, already?—she actually had a pretty good idea at the moment, but still.
“Well…” Griff hesitated, the playfulness in his expression turning more serious. He shot her a sidelong, strangely shy glance. “You could, actually. If…you wanted to. Eventually. One day. You see, if we were fully mated-”
And then he collapsed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Griff
There was no warning. One moment his inner beasts were sprawled happily in separate corners of his soul, smug and satiated—and the next, they were lunging at each other, screaming in rage.
Relaxed by pleasure, he was caught completely off guard. The eagle’s claws and the lion’s teeth tore into his unprepared mind as if it was the soft, unprotected underbelly of a rabbit. Griff doubled over, every nerve in his body abruptly aflame with agony.
Our mate! his lion roared at his eagle, mane bristling and teeth bared. Ours!
No! Our mate! His eagle folded its wings and stooped on the lion, talons outstretched and deadly. We will kill you!
“Griff! Griff!” Hayley’s voice sounded as if it was coming from very far away, drowned out by the storm of snarling and shrieking in his head. Dimly, he was aware of her hands on his shoulders, shaking him. “What is it? What’s happening?”
“I—don’t—know!” he managed to gasp out. His bones twisted sickeningly under his skin as his body instinctively tried to shift in response to the sudden assault. The kitchen floor hit his knees, cold and hard. “They just-!”
WHY? he shouted futilely at his raging animals. Nothing’s wrong! No one’s threatening our mate! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?
“Look at me!” Hayley’s face swam before him, through the red haz
e of pain. She pressed her forehead against his, her hands on each side of his skull as if trying to forcibly hold his dissolving mind together. “I’m right here. I’m here, Griff!”
Desperately, he tried to focus on her, to anchor himself in her steadfast presence. But this time, the sight of her just seemed to enrage his beasts further. They were each still filled with the drive to protect her, to worship and cherish her…but added to that was a new, fiercely burning possessiveness that could only be satisfied by the utter destruction of any rival.
Including each other.
Our mate! Not yours! His lion sank its teeth into the eagle’s powerful wing. Griff convulsed, phantom fangs plunging into his shoulder. Ours to claim!
You will not have her! His eagle’s talons gouged great gashes in the lion’s tawny hide, each one slashing across Griff’s own back. We will claim her, we alone! She is ours! Die!
“Oh God, why isn’t it working?” Hayley sounded frantic. She released him, jumping to her feet. “Griff, I’m calling an ambulance.”
“No!” He grabbed at her ankle, stopping her. She cried out in surprised pain, and with horror he realized that his fingernails had already sharpened into claws.
That had only ever happened once before, at the very height of his worst uncontrolled shift. That episode had cost him his leg. If the claws were coming now, right at the start of the seizure…
STOP! he roared at his animals. Or we’re all going to die!
It was no use. They ignored him utterly, and he didn’t have the strength left to separate them forcibly. His eagle and lion tugged on his body like two dogs fighting over the same bone. If he didn’t do something, they’d tear him limb from limb.
There was only one thing he could do. The last, desperate resort that he’d hoped never to have to use.
“Hayley.” Griff fought to keep his throat and tongue human enough to speak. His voice came out somewhere between a lion’s snarl and an eagle’s shriek, monstrous and distorted. “My coat. Hallway. Now!”