Shifter Wonderland: Twelve BBW Paranormal Holiday Shape Shifter Romances

by Christin Lovell

  “Stone.” It came out as a plea.

  “Let me make it up to you.” He paused, giving me a moment to process it. “Please, babe. Any time; any location.” He sounded genuine…and pitiful. He definitely needed to be in bed resting.

  The ache continued to grow and expand, consuming more of my core as I thought about never hearing his voice again, never receiving another text from him. The permanence attached to that thought sliced me deep. And I knew, in that moment, that sooner was better than later.

  I didn’t need his picture in front of me to vividly recall every detail of him, from the weight of his dark brows to the curves of his lips. With each feeling I attached to him, he became easier and easier to remember.

  I genuinely cared about him, and I didn’t want to hurt him, even if he did hurt me. “Your gym. One hour.” That gave me fifteen minutes to get dressed and ready.

  “Yes.” He immediately sounded better, more cheerful, as if he was excited to see me. “I’ll text you the address, beautiful.”

  Tapping down the joy manifesting from his response, I focused on my mission. “I’m not dressing beautiful, just so you know.” My plan didn’t involve going on a proper date. It involved getting him home, in bed, resting, before I said a permanent good-bye.

  “I don’t care, so long as I get to see you.” As if he only just thought it of, he added, “I’m not dressed well, either.” There was a sweetness, an innocence, about the way he said it, like he was so focused on me that he forgot about himself for a moment.

  He had a knack for doing that, for making me feel special, worthy of all of his attention, when he could give it. And that alone made all of this bittersweet.

  Glancing down at my outfit, realization dawned on me: I was actually doing it. I was shocking myself right now. I’d never taken the lead in a relationship; I’d always been passive. It was only slightly ironic that I was stepping up as he was about to step down. “See you soon.”

  “See you soon, beautiful.”

  Hearing the smile in his voice had me smiling, had hope blooming within me before I could stop it. Crap.

  Hanging up the phone, I leapt up off of the sofa and dashed to my bedroom. Throwing my closet door open, I snagged a pair of thicker-than-normal black leggings, my oversized University of Florida Gators hoodie, compliments of my best friend who went to school there, and my gray Ugg knock-offs. Moving to my dresser, I pulled out dark gray, spaghetti strap, tank top, a lacy bra and panties set – just in case – and a pair of socks. Dropping everything on the bed, I made quick work of changing into my uber-casual ensemble.

  Rushing to the bathroom, I doused my hair in silkening, conditioning serum that smelled amazing, ran a wide-toothed comb through my often-unruly strands, and brushed my teeth.

  Straightening, I looked in the mirror. It didn’t look like I was putting forth much of an effort with my outfit; I needed make-up. And contouring. God bless bronzer and its ability to slim the roundest of faces. It wasn’t that I didn’t love myself, double chin and all, it’s that I wanted him to be impressed, to want to do a double and triple take; I wanted him to think about me from time to time, even if he never told me.

  Prior to nursing school, I was a cosmetologist. Hair and make-up were my passion before everything happened. I kept Gran looking fabulous up until the end. A burning pain developed in my chest.

  Focusing on my reflection, I grabbed my basket of products and dove in. Five minutes later, I was on my way out the door, plugging the gym’s address in my phone’s GPS, praying my signal didn’t drop along the way.

  Sliding behind the steering wheel, I set my structured purse on the passenger seat with my phone. Shoving the key in the ignition, I started my faithful Nissan and immediately turned on the heater. Glimpsing at myself in the rearview mirror, I took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. “Here goes nothing.”

  Putting the vehicle in reverse, I backed out of the parking spot, pulled out of the lot and onto the main road that led to the highway. My stomach did somersaults the further I got from home, and the closer I go to him. I was more than a little nervous, more so than last night even. There was less at stake yet, somehow, the pressure was amplified, and music did nothing to calm my nerves.

  As the Black Fall welcome sign came into view along the side of the road, butterflies fluttered amongst the knots in my stomach. I’d done my best to ignore the anxiety pumping through me, but, seeing how close I was, I lost the battle.

  Inhaling deep, I turned off the heat, suddenly feeling like I was suffocating. It was a crisp thirty-degrees out, according to my car’s thermostat, cold enough to warrant some hot air, but it was too much right now. It was all swiftly becoming too much. Oh, God.

  Slowly, I wound through the quaint mountain town. There was a certain degree of charm to it. Despite my unease distracting me, I was still able to acknowledge its appeal.

  “In point-five miles, turn-”

  Grabbing my phone off of the passenger seat, I let out a groan as my service abruptly disappeared. He wasn’t kidding about the bad cell reception. I had been paranoid most of the drive, randomly checking my signal. The closer I got to Black Fall, the fewer bars I had.

  And now I had none, not even a roaming or extended network available.

  Looking at my dash, I carefully watched the odometer. Coming to a crawl at the stoplight, I peered right and then left, trying to determine which way to go. Unease slid through me. There seemed to be more businesses to the right, but that didn’t mean much.

  Glancing in the rearview mirror, I cringed as I saw an SUV. It had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Crap.

  On a wing and a prayer, I swung my car to the right, letting out a small growl of frustration as the vehicle quickly followed me. Trying to think on my toes, I did the only thing I could do: pull over and let them pass.

  Maneuvering my car into the small passage meant for bicyclists, I turned on my flashers, signaling for the truck to move beyond me. To my utter shock and dismay, the SUV parked right behind me. My angst multiplied. I was in a strange place with no reception and no clue as to where I was going.

  A well-built male with rich chocolate skin stepped out of the vehicle. He was shorter than most men I knew yet he seemed twice as intimidating.

  Pressing the automatic lock button on my door panel, I made sure there was at least some semblance of safety to the situation.

  Steadily, he approached my Nissan, his jeans and sweater moving with his lean frame, giving hints at the muscle beneath them. Coming to the driver’s side, he tapped on my window, immediately stepping back, putting space between himself and my car.

  Reaching for the panel on the door, I pushed the appropriate button, cracking my window just enough to communicate.

  “I haven’t seen you in town before, and you look a little lost. Where are you headed?” His voice was velvety, with the perfect amount of rasp, in a baritone sort of way.

  I watched as he kept his distance, standing a few feet away, as if he knew I was unsure of him. “Um, Beast Mode.”

  His brows furrowed momentarily, his gaze analyzing me. Smoothing his features, he nodded. “Drive about a mile down this road, following the curve. At the fork, stay right and Beast Mode will about a quarter mile down on the left.”

  “Thanks.” I gave him an appreciative smile. Maybe I had been jaded these last few years. I didn’t live in the city, but Montgomery was certainly bigger than Black Fall. You had Southern hospitality in my town, but safety precautions were still required.

  He beamed, revealing a set of pearly whites. “You moving here?”

  Studying him, I debated how much to reveal. He seemed friendly enough, but I sucked at reading men. “No.” I shook my head negatively.

  Standing patiently, he openly assessed me, as if he could see through my tinted windows. Cocking his head slightly, he narrowed his gape. “You here to meet Stone?”

  Feeling my brows rise, surprise setting in, I conceded. “Yes.” Idly I wondered if Stone g
ot a lot of out-of-town visitors. This whole time I’d thought I was special; he made me feel special, but maybe I was one of a dozen. That should have made this easier emotionally, but it only made it worse, compounded the throbbing in my chest.

  He stared at me for a long minute, his grin broadening. “You must be Lora.”

  Confusion washed through me. Okay, so maybe I’m not one of a dozen, but then, how does he know who I am? I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

  “Shit. Sorry, love. Forgot my manners.” He took a careful step forward, towards my car. “I’m Nate, the deputy sheriff of Black Fall, and Stone’s best friend.” He added that last part at the final second, realizing I would need the information to make the connection.

  The moment he said it, it clicked in my brain. I recalled Stone talking about his best friend on several occasions. Seeing him in person, I finally understood what he meant when he said they were opposites in looks but shared the same brain and the same heart for extra curvy women.

  Relief washed through me, my nerves settling for a brief moment. At least one part of Stone’s story checked out.

  Suddenly realizing I was staring at him and hadn’t responded, I unbuckled. I was comfortable enough with Nate, based on his considerations and precautions in not encroaching on me too fast, to properly greet him. And, for some odd reason, I felt like he deserved it. He’d saved me from driving aimlessly through unfamiliar territory. Opening my door, I stepped out of my sedan. The cold air instantly brushed every exposed inch of my flesh. Extending a hand towards him, I met his gaze. “It’s nice to meet you, Nate. And yes, I’m Lora.”

  His eyes widened as he took me in, an awkward silence stretching between us as I held my hand out. Visibly shaking himself, he scrubbed his face before taking my hand. “Damn. Stone’s one lucky beast.”

  Biting my lower lip, I felt my cheeks rouge. “Thank you, I think.”

  A dimple appeared in his cheek as he smiled. “Oh, that was definitely a compliment, love. But, I’m not looking to get my ass kicked by a good friend today, so I’m going to leave it at that.” He chuckled softly.

  Suddenly, a breeze blew through. I shuddered as a chill chased down my spine. Stuffing my hands in the large front pocket of my pullover hoodie, I curled inwards.

  Nate jumped forward, reaching around me and opening my car door. “Do you need me to show you the way to Beast Mode?”

  Taking a blind step backwards, I gripped the door’s frame before dropping into the driver’s seat. “I think I can find it with your directions, thanks.”

  Shaking his head in acknowledgement, he patiently waited for me to buckle up. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Lora. Drive safe.” He waved farewell before he closed the door.

  Starting my car again, I once again blasted the heat. With a wave, I pulled back onto the road, more confident this time. Within a few minutes, I parked in one of the appropriated spots of the small parking lot outside of Beast Mode.

  Looking through my windshield, I studied the scene. The brick building was larger than I expected, yet not as big as some of the gyms in my area. The letters mounted on the front of the building spelled out the establishment’s name. ‘Beast’ was in clean, solid orange, and ‘Mode’ was in white. Between the two words was a ferocious looking bear head, his teeth bared, embodying the first word perfectly. A single line of well-trimmed shrubs lined the narrow space between the building and the sidewalk.

  Meeting Nate had been unexpected, but learning that at least part of Stone’s story was true made me feel better, lightened the weight currently sitting on my chest. Realizing that he wasn’t a closet fat lover had me relaxing a bit, some of my queasiness subsiding.

  The longer I peered at the gym’s exterior, the better I felt, the less stressed I became. Running into Nate changed things. Dare I say he had excitement slipping in amongst the unease? This whole time I’d been so negative. This entire trip, I’d steadily built the Berlin Wall, fully anticipating the worst. But what if the worst wasn’t coming? What if it was all in my head? What if Stone reacted to me as well, if not better, than Nate did?

  I didn’t know what fate had in store for Stone and me yet, but being a Debbie Downer wasn’t improving the situation. It was only turning me into someone I’d never been: bitter. Yes, I’d been burned; I’d been hurt and tossed aside like I was worthless, but I’d never allowed it to make me bitter. I’d never put the inconsiderate mistakes of others on anyone else.

  Stone made a mistake last night in waiting till the last minute, but he messaged me this morning and he agreed to meet me now. He wasn’t walking away yet, so why was I planning to?

  Sharon was right. I could give Stone forty-eight hours. He’d made me happy, proven my happiness mattered these last few months. The least I could do was pretend his mattered, too. There was no denying the change in his voice when I asked to meet him today.

  If I was honest with myself, I was prepared to walk away now because I knew it would hurt ten times more to do it later. It was self-preservation at its best. In three months and not a single meeting, I’d grown to care about him on a deep level, one that had me acting out of character and spontaneously driving forty-five minutes for a chance to see him finally.

  And that was why I did it. I could erect all of the walls I wanted, but I couldn’t lie to myself. I wanted him. I bought into the life with him that I pictured in my mind, that I dreamed about, that he shared dreaming about.

  I wanted this, and that was reason enough to go for it. Worst case scenario, Nate was a wonderful reminder that there were other men, handsome, attractive men, who were interested in a full-figured woman like me.

  If Stone wasn’t my prince charming, then I needed to celebrate. Because it meant, as wonderful as he’d been, the right man was going to be even better.

  Checking my reflection in the rearview mirror, I took a deep breath. Shoving my keys and my unusable phone in my jacket’s pocket, I stepped out of my vehicle. Adjusting my layers briefly, I stared at the front door. The sticker on the glass read, ‘Beast Mode: Where beasts come to train.’ Something about the slogan made me smirk, probably because I knew, based on his photos, that Stone was a beast in the gym.

  Shutting and locking my car, I strolled up to the entrance. Reaching for the handle, my heart began to pound in my chest. This was it. Fate was about to reveal itself. Three months of pictures, phone calls and text messages came down to these next few minutes.

  Yanking the door open, I bit my lower lip, in awe of the space before me. My brows arched upwards as I stood frozen, looking around in utter shock. I never expected to be impressed by a gym. Shiny machinery wasn’t my thing, but, then again, neither were brawny, buff beefcakes.

  It wasn’t what I’d pictured in my head. Everything was streamlined, modern, and clean, yet there was a certain warmth to it; it invited you in. Gray walls were what grounded the colorful design; it was bright yet not overpowering. The motivational quotes on the walls, each in a different color, tied in with the piping on the edges of the black equipment.

  Walking inside, I was immediately greeted by a lean, young woman, no older than twenty. She was dressed in black workout pants that showed off her toned legs and pert derriere and a company t-shirt. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. I’d always heard male voices in the background. Naïvely, I wasn’t prepared for Stone to have a fit female on staff.

  Coming towards me, she beamed at me, no judgment in her depths. “Hi. Welcome to Beast Mode. How can I help you today?” She was overly polite. Most people would have come off as fake being that cheery, but I could tell she was genuine, which only made me feel guiltier for judging her.

  So often as a curvy woman, I assumed the world was judging me; I hated society for judging me. But I’d just done what I loathed to her. I assumed who she was as a person based on her size, and I assumed I wouldn’t like her.

  Closing the distance between us, I mustered a polite, albeit guilt-laden, smile. “Hi. I’m here to see-”
/>   “Me.” His voice had my heart thumping a rapid melody. “I’ve got it, Lana.”

  The petite blonde’s gaze bounced between us before a sparkle appeared in her depths. Biting back a grin, she nodded her head. “Let’s hope you do.” She patted his chest encouragingly as she strode past him, back behind the circular black reception desk.

  Gradually, I shifted my focus towards him. My breath hitched as I finally fully peered at him. He looked even better in person, a rarity in the dating world.

  Thick, dark grey, cargo-style sweatpants hung perfectly off of his slim hips. A black Beast Mode t-shirt clung to his bulk, showcasing every inch of his chest and arms while simply gliding over his trim waistline. His brown hair was in slight disarray, exactly as it was in every photo I’d seen: carefree, fresh out of bed, sexy.

  His nose was red, the first telltale sign of his cold, yet he was still handsome. His lips were pouty, but they had a hard edge that took away from their plumpness. A little more than a five o’clock shadow softened his sharp jawline and rounded out his just-rolled-out-of-bed style.

  He inhaled deep, his gaze roaming me openly. “Damn. You look even better in person.” The grin that split his face, lighting his eyes, hit my heart like an arrow.

  Abruptly, he threw his arms around me. “Hey, beautiful.”

  I was caught off guard, momentarily stunned. It only took me a few seconds to recuperate and reciprocate his embrace, though. As I let go, as I sunk into his warmth, all of my stress melted away. There was something about him, about the way he held me. I couldn’t help but think about doing it again and again. It was difficult, nearly impossible really, to explain, but, somehow, it felt like I’d been in his arms before and was simply returning home again after a long journey. It felt right. He felt right. I swore I felt his heart beating atop mine, syncing with my own. His bulk seemed to fit perfectly around my plush edges. The way we locked together, like two puzzle pieces, was unexpected. He was unexpected.

  Swallowing hard, I took a step back, unprepared for the emotions that welled within me. I hadn’t expected his strength to feel so amazing around me, so incredible. His embrace was reminiscent of a cocoon, with just enough constriction and just enough breathing room; just enough security and just enough wonderful.