To Love a Shifter: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set

by Marian Tee

  “You look troubled,” he commented.

  She didn’t speak, smart girl.

  “Have the women been giving you a hard time because of the rumors about you and Moretti?”

  She was visibly dismayed, which oddly discomfited him. “You heard about it, too?”

  “Everyone knows about it by now,” he said awkwardly. “What exactly is your relationship with him if what the rumors are saying aren’t true?”

  The woman bit her lip. “I don’t think I’m at liberty to say.”

  Interesting, he thought. Was she truly loyal or was she just being practical?

  Out loud, he said simply, “Then we won’t speak about it. How’s your day been so far?”

  “It’s been…enlightening.”

  He grinned. “That bad, huh?”

  She laughed.

  And that was when he saw it. Lyccans were extremely sensitive creatures and when the woman laughed, it was then he sensed the beauty in her, something delicate and strong at the same time.

  “I just….I don’t understand. Why is everyone here so interested in --” When she paused, Jayme knew it was because she almost referred to Domenico by his first name.

  “Why do they care about Mr. Moretti so much? I know he’s rich and powerful and all that, but so are a lot of people here.”

  Jayme shook his head in amusement. She didn’t know that Moretti was expected to be one of the leaders of the Lyccan Council one day? That many believed he was the one royal destined to lead all the other pack leaders under his command?

  “He’s just very well-respected,” he said finally and changed the subject. “Did Moretti send you to work in the mail department?”

  “No. I was supposed to be a substitute secretary.”

  “Then why are you…?”

  “I didn’t think it was worth the trouble, demanding for them to change my job. Besides, Domenico told me I should understand how…things worked here and I can do that better if I’m not chained to a desk.”

  Jayme was impressed more and more. She really was smart.

  He said slowly, “But…you know, you should make an effort to really get to know people. Observation can only go so far.” He couldn’t believe he was saying all these things. He was typically self-centered and proud of it. So why was he concerned about this girl all of a sudden?

  The woman’s shoulders slumped. “I know. I’m not that good at getting to know people--”

  He stood up. “It’s up to you, of course. But you seemed to want to do what Moretti instructed you so…” Jayme trailed off.

  She stood up, too. “You’re right,” she sighed. A dimpled smile suddenly appeared on her face, one that entranced him because it was so refreshingly unspoiled. No artificial ingredients. 100% natural.

  Misty beamed at him. “Thanks for helping.” She offered her hand, saying shyly, “I’m Misty, by the way.”

  Jayme took it, and with just one touch, he knew. It was like that for Lyccans. Just a sniff of a woman’s scent, a touch of her skin – just one of those was more than enough to know whether sexual chemistry would be present or not. And between him and Misty, it would be explosive.

  “Thank you again,” she said, still smiling. “I guess I’ll leave first. I have work to do, like you said.” She waved cheerfully before walking away.

  For a long time, Jayme simply stood there, staring without seeing.

  Ah well.

  It was decided.

  He was going to steal her from Moretti.

  ~~~~

  Across the street, on the rooftop area of another building, Domenico Moretti observed the entire scene between Misty and the heir to the Cavalier clan. Jayme rarely visited the Lyccan Hall, preferring not to have a hand in Lyccan politics, but Domenico had known there was a chance the younger man would come today to visit his father and he had gambled on that chance.

  He wanted Jayme on his side when he presented his proposal to the council for voting, but Domenico also knew that Jayme would never have voted for him as a rule. Or at least he wouldn’t unless Misty entered the picture – which she had.

  Domenico knew just how irresistible Misty could be and as he had predicted, she had enslaved Jayme Cavalier without even knowing it.

  “You are not worried the younger boy will steal her from you?” Matteo asked. Although non-Lyccans simply saw the other man as Domenico’s personal chauffeur and bodyguard, Matteo was more than that. He was Domenico’s second-in-command, his oldest friend, and the son of his father’s retainer. Matteo might not have royal blood, but the years he had devoted to serving Domenico gave him a unique right and privilege to speak honestly to him.

  Shrugging, he ignored the niggle of doubt treacherously crawling along his spine, responding with feigned blandness. “Everything is going according to plan. There is nothing for me to worry about.”

  “He is smitten with her, perhaps much more than you bargained for,” Matteo continued.

  Domenico’s fists clenched.

  So perhaps he was just the slightest bit apprehensive. And jealous.

  However, the fact remained: he needed Cavalier’s vote.

  “I have nothing to worry about,” he finally said. Changing the subject, he glanced at Matteo. “Let’s go.”

  Matteo gave him one telling look before bowing. “As you wish, Your Highness.”

  Twenty minutes later, on his way to one of the scores of meetings he had to attend each day, Domenico called Misty on her mobile phone. It was not because he was worried, he told himself swiftly. It was only because he wanted to, well, make sure she was --the same.

  That Jayme Cavalier had not messed things up.

  For if he had, Domenico would--

  “Domenico?”

  He relaxed slightly at the sound of eagerness in Misty’s voice. Smiling, he answered softly, “Si.”

  “H-hi,” Misty stammered over the phone.

  “You’re okay?”

  “Absolutely.”

  There had been a note of hesitation in her voice. What should he make of that? He said on impulse, “I’ll pick you up later.”

  “No!”

  His eyes narrowed. “Why not?”

  Her voice lowering, she said, “People here don’t know--”

  “That you’re mine?” he ended silkily, wondering if she was hesitating because she was thinking of Jayme Cavalier.

  “Yes.” The relief in her voice was obvious, and it incensed him. “And honestly, I don’t want the same thing in our office to happen here. So I thought I should keep a low profile…can I meet you at the house instead?”

  Domenico decided to give Misty a chance. If she failed this early, then she was not meant to be his bride. Dammit, she better not fail.

  “Yes,” he said. “We’ll meet at home. My home.”

  Yet if she failed--

  If she failed, Domenico would make love to her the entire night until she was permanently branded by his scent and she’d never forget who she belonged to ever again.

  Chapter Seven

  Dear Diary,

  There’s something about Rebecca Findley that bothers me. She keeps talking about Domenico when I’m around. She keeps dropping hints that I don’t want to read too much into. If I do, I don’t know what would happen. I don’t want to think about Domenico making love to any woman but me. I know it’s silly, he’s anything but a virgin, but I can’t help it. I want him to be mine and mine alone.

  I hate the thought of Domenico with another woman. Hate it so much that sometimes when I see women staring at him, I have this urge to show them just how much he loves my touch. I want to have his cock inside my mouth, want to hear him gasp in pleasure as I suck him dry. I want them to know that only I can do that to him.

  It was only thirty minutes before midnight when she got to Domenico’s home. Rebecca had made her work overtime and by then, Misty was simply too tired to argue. Domenico had demanded an explanation over the phone and she said a little white lie about wanting to make a good impre
ssion.

  She managed a smile for the butler, who smiled back kindly and said, “We have dinner waiting for you.”

  “Oh.” She was too tired to eat but didn’t think it was polite to refuse. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  And then she heard voices.

  No way.

  She rushed inside, heart in her throat.

  It was true.

  Tears rushed to her eyes.

  “Misty, you’re back!” Andy crowed, rushing to her.

  She laughed, her exhaustion swept away at the sight of her family crowding Domenico’s living room. She had never seen them so happy and at ease. Her eyes met Domenico, who was dressed casually in shirt and jeans but managing to look like a million dollars all the same. He smiled at her. It said everything.

  Misty was crying when she tucked Andy in his bed – his own bed. She couldn’t believe how Domenico had managed in one night to prepare separate bedrooms for her siblings, designed to suit their different personalities. Nicole, for instance, had a mini library in her room. Even Dylan had his own room, a nursery decorated in shades of blue and adjoining her own room.

  Misty heard a knock from the balcony doors around midnight. Hurrying to open it, Misty let Domenico in, who shook his head at her. “The things you make me do,” he murmured with the faintest hint of exasperation.

  She smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry?”

  “Creeping around in my own home…”

  “I don’t want to set a bad example,” she protested.

  “Having to go through the balcony…”

  “But it was because I didn’t want to risk having them see or hear you knock on my door or something.” She looked up at Domenico with a look that he found irresistible. “Sorry.”

  His eyes narrowed. “That’s not enough.”

  “It’s not?”

  “I want you to make it up to me in another way.”

  All of a sudden, Misty became extremely conscious that she and Domenico were alone again – and they were in close proximity to the bed.

  They looked at each other.

  No words were needed after that. Clothes were strewn around the room as their lips fused, Misty gasping when she felt Domenico’s hard body against hers.

  “Make love to me,” she begged as he took her nipple into his mouth.

  He bit it gently, making her whimper.

  “No. Just a few more days and then I’ll make love to you so much you’ll be complaining.” Before she could protest, his mouth hovered over her other breast, his hand kneading and cupping it, holding it up to his lips. As he took it in, it felt like her nipple was an offering.

  She moaned, unable to help it.

  He lifted her in his arms and Misty immediately wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling his head tightly against her. Her nipple still in his mouth, Domenico navigated his way to her bed until he could lay her down.

  “I want to please you again,” she whispered.

  “You always do.”

  She shook her head and, ignoring her shyness with an effort, she took hold of his face to make Domenico look up to her. “I want to make you come once more.”

  An idea occurring to him, Domenico asked throatily, “How much do you want it?”

  “I haven’t wanted anything as badly as this.”

  The words inflamed him, and it took every single bit of his willpower not to ram into her and possess Misty once and for all. Flipping her around and rolling onto his back in one move, he settled Misty over his body, his head between her thighs and hers between his.

  Misty stiffened. “What--”

  He pulled her cunt down to him, shoving his tongue inside her.

  She screamed.

  “Sssh,” he said as he retracted his tongue, savoring her taste. “Your siblings might hear.”

  Misty stiffened again when he licked her folds slowly. “I d-don’t think I can keep quiet.”

  His laughter vibrated against her cunt, making her arch over him again, and forcing Domenico to hold Misty by the hips to keep her still. “You can if you suck my cock.”

  She didn’t need another second’s urging. When he shoved his tongue back into her, he felt Misty lowering her head over him. Domenico groaned as Misty took the entire length of him in her mouth. When he moved up to suck her clit, Misty sucked him harder as well.

  The sucking sounds that filled the room were the most erotic noises she had ever heard in her life, spurring Misty to dig her fingers into Domenico’s buttocks as she pulled him down so she could swallow even more of him.

  As his tongue went in and out of her, Domenico could feel Misty moving more wildly on top of him, letting him know that she was close to coming. He wasn’t too far away himself, but Domenico wanted them to come together so he let go of one of her hips to start playing with her clit.

  She screamed even as she sucked on his cock harder, making Domenico’s hips jut more aggressively into her mouth.

  “I want you to come with me, Misty,” he said harshly.

  She bit his tip in response.

  Tightening his hold on her hip, Domenico rammed his tongue in as far as he could while pressing on her clit in the exact way that he knew would drive her wild.

  Misty immediately bucked, coming in his mouth while her hands squeezed his cock and caressed his balls, her mouth closing around him tightly. He spilled his seed into her mouth even as he continued lapping her up once more with slow and long licks so as not to miss even a drop of her. His body shuddered as his cock didn’t stop pouring out its load.

  Later, draped on top of Domenico, her body heavy and replete, Misty couldn’t help grumbling a little, saying, “We still didn’t do it.”

  His laughter was muffled by her hair. He shifted to her side so that they were lying in a spooning fashion, her back against his chest, his arm curled around her waist possessively, and his erection pressing against her back.

  “Domenico!” she gasped.

  “It doesn’t matter if we don’t do it. I can still make you happy. And I do, don’t I?”

  “Yes, but...”

  “You want to make love to me?”

  She nodded.

  “So much?”

  Misty sighed and said almost miserably, shamefully, “Yes.”

  His laughter rocked the bed.

  Misty’s eyes widened and she looked at him in panic, hoping the sound did not wake any of her siblings “Shhh!”

  “You’re priceless.” He rolled her back to her original position, making her gasp as he loomed above her like a wild pagan god. “You know that, don’t you?’

  “Er…”

  “You are,” he said firmly.

  Nuzzling her neck, he murmured, “Anything eventful happen today?”

  She gave him a sanitized version of her time at work.

  He raised a brow. “What was the guy’s name? The one you spoke to at the rooftop?”

  Her forehead furrowed. “I…I don’t think I asked.” She shook her head wryly. “I forgot to.”

  Domenico nodded. “Ah.” But it was interesting. If Jayme had not given his name and yet Misty made an impression on him already, then he’d have no reason to doubt Misty’s sincerity at all. Things were going even better than he had planned and it was all because of Misty.

  ~~~~

  Be sociable!

  That was what the guy on the rooftop told her. Since Misty so wanted to be a perfect wife, she was determined to be everything he would need in a wife. If that meant she had to be sociable, then she was going to be the most approachable employee in Lyccan Hall, even if it killed her.

  Armed with her smile and push cart, Misty entered the first office, now wearing sensible shoes to match her equally sensible uniform. She had snuck out of Domenico’s home wearing a semi-casual two-piece suit but changed into her mail girl uniform when she arrived at Lyccan Hall.

  Most people ignored Misty after giving her a sly glance, but she was fast becoming immune to such reactions.

  A girl at t
he end of the office on the third floor caught her eye. Hers was the only messy table around, with documents heaped on top of each other to form a leaning tower of folders.