Men Love Curves: BBW Romance

by Ruby Madden

  Sahr grimaced. “We might. It is not my preference. How do you judge a female's worth on the internet?”

  “I don't know. How does she judge yours?”

  He frowned, then laughed. “Touché.” Sahr rose. “You will not be for one of my brothers, but...” he hesitated. “May I call on you from time to time? When we take our mates, they will need other female shifters to... talk to.”

  She wanted to tell him she wasn't staying in Seattle, but suddenly- she wasn't so sure about that.

  “That would be fine. Give me your cell.”

  He handed it over after unlocking the screen, watching as she put her number into his contacts.

  Sahr bowed when she returned the cell to him. “Thank you. And my felicitations on your upcoming mating.” He was a shifter, of course he would be able to tell they hadn't sealed the deal- yet. “May it be fruitful.”

  Norelle sighed. Everyone wanted her to have a cub.

  CHAPTER

  9

  Boden fled early, off to do whatever single, horny males do in a big city. Norelle and Cassius spent the evening playing in the kitchen- and then the deep night playing in the bed. By morning they’d managed to get some sleep. Not much, but some. Cass had to go back to work eventually. Even being the boss- especially being the boss- he couldn't play hooky all day.

  Norelle didn't mind. Growing up independent with few friends, she was used to keeping her own company. And okay with keeping her own company. Did life get lonely? Yup. But she had her family, albeit more peripherally now that her brothers were adults, and she had a fulfilling career.

  She was content.

  Was content good enough? Now that she'd had a sip of honey, she wanted the whole pot. Damn her mother for sending her here. Damn Cassius and his unexplainable geeky sexiness. His stubborn rebellion to all that was right and proper and Councilfied.

  Choosing a cafe downtown, she took an outdoor seat, pulled out her coloring book and pencils. Enjoyed people watching as she sipped green tea and shaded a pattern of exotic flowers. A young mother taking a corner table- as far from the other customers as possible- caught Norelle's attention. Messy brown ponytail, velour jogging suit and expensive but battered purse, she was the picture of a career gal turned mom. She buckled a toddler into a booster seat, the child swiping her small finger across a tablet while the woman took out a laptop and tried to get work done. After a while the toddler began looking around, bored. Her eyes lighted on Norelle, who winked at her.

  The little girl climbed down from her seat, squealing. Well, okay. Maybe acknowledging the girl had been a bad idea. The woman settled her down again and the second time the toddler was craftier, waiting until her mother was engrossed before silently slipping out of the seat.

  “No, come back,” the woman muttered, eyes glued to her screen.

  Norelle observed with growing amusement; the sous chef understood very well the lure of finishing just that last bit of work before getting up. Mama kinda knew her child was wandering off but… The little girl toddled closer to Norelle, placing tiny hands on fat thighs and crouching, giving her a toothy grin.

  “Hey, baby girl,” Norelle said. “I bet your mama is trying to get work done.”

  The woman rose from her seat, expression a mix of amusement, irritation, resignation and affection. She lifted the girl. “Sorry. She’s active.”

  “It's no problem. Must be hard getting anything done with a handful like her.”

  The mom sighed. “I work from home because daycare costs more money than it would be worth to get a 'real' job.”

  Norelle sipped, curiosity piqued. “My... fiancée wants to have a child. He's rich though,” she added.

  The woman snorted. “Well, you lucked out, girl. We aren’t rich, but we aren’t poor enough for state subsidies. We’re in the middle class hell where we have to foot the bill for everyone else.”

  Norelle pursed her lips to keep from grinning. “It'll be worth it when she's old enough to pay you a monthly mommy stipend.”

  The human laughed, moving back towards her table with the squirming toddler in tow. Norelle realized how good she had it- luxuriating in some quiet alone time, able to come and go as she pleased. She worked long hours, yes, but that was by choice at a job she loved. How would a child change all of that? Hell, how would pregnancy change all of that?

  She texted Cass a quick note about the encounter.

  Cold feet? He replied.

  Well, kids r work. Not sayin don’t want one, just sayin adopt older kid looks real gd right now.

  Norelle. We can always hire a nanny.

  Ick. Why bother w/kid if r not raising rselves? It'll turn into heartless monster.

  I had a nanny.

  Oh.

  She cut the conversation short, not wanting to wedge her foot in her mouth. Wandered some more, realizing after a while she'd almost entered the district that housed Cass' building. She slowed, about to turn around when her cell rang. The number wasn’t familiar, but it was a Seattle area code.

  “Yes?”

  “Norelle, this is Musa. Cass isn't answering his cell.”

  Inner alarms pealed. “You think something happened?”

  “No, he goes AWOL all the time,” was the brusque reply. “It's you I need to warn. Where are you?”

  “A few blocks from the office.”

  “Head towards the office, quickly, don't stop moving for anything.”

  She obeyed, kicking into a fast walk. “What’s wrong? What am I watching out for?”

  “Sahr is hunting.”

  What? “Hunting what?”

  “Hunting you, female,” was the grim reply.

  She slowed down, stopped. Scowled at the cell, adrenaline deflating. “That doesn’t make sense, Musa. Sahr and I already talked-”

  “You what?”

  “Don’t you snap at me,” she snapped at him. “I don’t need your permission to talk to anyone.”

  “Just get here.”

  “No, I'll call Sahr and see what’s going on.”

  “Damnit, Norelle-”

  She disconnected. He didn't know her well enough to curse at her, especially not while using her first name. She'd have to talk to him about that later.

  “Norelle.”

  She turned, sliding her phone back into her purse. “Sahr. What’s going on? Musa just called me and said you were hunting.” She leveled him with a direct look, Bear analyzing the predator in front of her. His eyes flared in response to hers. Two shifters, facing off in the middle of a street, glowing eyes and silent, subtle menace. The humans gave them a wide berth.

  “I need you,” he said, nearly curt. “I did not explain to Musa because he is disrespectful.”

  She relaxed, allowing Bear to fade from her eyes. “You know, this is a classic overdone romance trope. I used to read those things when I was a teenager. I should have been a writer.”

  He frowned. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

  “See, in a romance novel, when the writer wants to create conflict, she has the characters run around like chickens squawking over an issue that is easily resolved by simple communication. A real writer will just let the characters sit down and talk it out. Real conflict is internal.”

  Sahr rubbed his hand over his head. “What does fowl have to do with communication? And… romance novels?”

  Norelle sighed. He looked utterly baffled. “The point is, if it weren’t for male ego-” she poked him in the chest. He'd come to her for help of some sort, after all. So she felt free.”-Musa would not now be tearing out of the building at full speed attempting to rescue me from you.”

  Sahr's head snapped up. “Excellent point.” He grabbed her forearm. “Let us go. Please excuse me, but it is an emergency or otherwise I would not be so rude. My brother is about to bite something from his worry.”

  He referred to her pointed look at his hand on her arm, ushering her forward. For some reason- and
Norelle really hoped she wasn't being silly- she trusted the Lion king.

  “I’m coming, you don’t have to herd me. Tell me what's going on.”

  “The lioness cub is not doing well,” he said, jaw ticking. “She has not spoken in two days. She is like a ghost.”

  “Lioness cub? I thought you said it was just you and your brothers.”

  “And my niece. Her mother- is not with us. Her father is doing everything he can, but we don't understand what is wrong with her.”

  Norelle shook her head, slowly. “I don’t know what you expect me to do.”

  Sahr hesitated. “Female cubs are strongly bonded to their mothers. We think that maybe having another female present...”

  Norelle sighed. Poor child. “Sahr, she'd can’t bond to me. When I leave it will only make it worse.”

  He rubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know what else to do.”

  She thought about it for a moment. “I’ll come, but I can’t promise anything. I’m not a counselor- I don’t even have children.”

  “You are female,” he replied, decisively.

  She rolled her eyes. Just like a male.

  They took a cab. Norelle had Sahr step away from the curb so she could hail the driver- it was just faster. Waiting on someone to pick up a tall, foreign man with glowing eyes would have taken more time than he appeared to have. The ride was quiet, Sahr's replies to her queries edged. But it was an edge honed from worry. Norelle didn't know why all of a sudden the lion princess was faring poorly, only that she was- and as perhaps the only female shifter Sahr knew of in this area, he'd turned to her.

  It couldn’t hurt that she was also the intended mate of the territory's unofficial Alpha. How Alpha Norelle knew she would need to determine over the next few days. So far she'd seen little evidence of his paws dipping into affairs other than his own- but then, it had only been a few days and Cassius rarely spoke about his business.

  Sahr stirred as the cab began to slow. They were in a residential area, middle class and nondescript. A few larger homes, but mostly two level brick houses with yards. Trees lining the street.

  “Please forgive the sparseness of my home,” he said. “We are still searching for permanent accommodations.”

  “I’m a small town working girl, Sahr. Your home is just fine to me.”

  She glanced at the place he indicated as the cab left. The brick could use tuck-pointing, but the cobbled stone porch and entryway was charming. Large evergreen bushes guarded the two front windows, offering privacy. Plenty of grassy area in the front, enough for a game of catch. She noticed the backyard was fenced in with solid wood planks. As she observed, the front door opened, a male walking outside with a young girl in his arms.

  A slender child with a face bearing the remnants of baby fat. There were cubs around that size in the Den, but Norelle hadn't exactly paid attention to age. She lifted her head from the shoulder of the male- her father, from the protective way he held her- staring at Norelle.

  “The Bear’s female,” the male said.

  Sahr moved past Norelle. “She is here to play with Asha. Would you like that, my heart? To play with Norelle?”

  The Lion king tapped the girl’s cheek gently, smiling at her. Liquid honey brown eyes looked between Sahr and Norelle, slowly warming from blank to aware. Her father and uncle watched her closely, holding still.

  “Not a Lion,” the girl said finally, voice rusty.

  Norelle smiled at her, moving closer slowly. “No, Asha. I’m a Bear. Very furry.”

  “You have fur?”

  She nodded solemnly. Asha examined her. “My mommy didn’t have fur.”

  Norelle glanced at Asha’s father. His expression was harder than a brick about to hit someone upside the head.

  “Well, not everyone does.”

  “Let’s go inside,” Sahr said. “The ladies can make everyone some lunch.” He flashed a grin at Norelle, unrepentant. “Norelle is also a chef, my heart. She likes to cook, like you do.”

  She gave him a droll look. Of course her gender had nothing to do with him offering her services in the kitchen. Of course not. The little girl squirmed in her father’s arms. The male let her down, eyeing Norelle coldly, but said nothing.

  “Daddy and Uncle Sahr don’t cook,” Asha said. “Girls cook. Boys eat.”

  Poor child. Norelle scowled at Sahr, who looked unabashed. Entering the house, Asha darted ahead through the hallway, presumably leading the way to the kitchen. The girl doubled back and grabbed Norelle’s hand, pulling her along.

  “Come on, it’s okay. I’ll show you what to do.”

  The males disappeared as Asha took her to the kitchen. Galley style and clean- which was bonus. One never knew with males. The girl pulled items out of the fridge and cabinets, hopping on and off a stool with a practiced speed that gave Norelle a great deal of information.

  “Do you cook often, Asha?”

  “Since Mommy left,” was the matter of fact reply. “Daddy burns stuff. And Uncle Sahr says bad words at the oven. Then my tummy doesn’t get full.”

  Norelle bit her lip, surveying the food on the counter. A package wrapped in white butcher paper- probably steaks, if she was lucky. Various vegetables and a plastic bag of quinoa. Hmm.

  “What about your other… uncles?”

  “They like Chinese from the Chinese restrant.” Asha paused. “Uncle Ackbar makes nice oatmeal. He puts real apples in it and raisins. And lots and lots of brown sugar.”

  Norelle sighed, washing her hands and rummaging through cabinets for a cutting board and knives. It was uniquely surreal. She was standing in the kitchen of a pride of lion shifters she hadn’t even know a few days ago, making them… dinner. Unbelievable. But at least it sounded like the males were just inept, rather than chauvinistic and trying to force a gender role onto a little girl. Besides, as Asha chattered, some of the distant melancholy lifted and she seemed genuinely happy.

  “Do you know how to use those?” Norelle asked when the girl grabbed knife and a potato and began chopping. Her brow rose. The girl’s skills were impressive. She julienned the potato, skin on. “Never mind. Those are nice cuts, young lady.”

  “I like to cook, but it’s no fun by myself. I used to cook with mama.”

  Oh, jeeze. Feeling her heart squeeze, Norelle took another potato. “French fries and steak?”

  CHAPTER

  10

  Where r u?

  She'd ignored his calls, and Musa's. Well, not on purpose. She'd simply turned the ringer to silent. Cooking with Asha was surprising fun. The little girl had an aptitude which, if developed, could turn into a real talent. And so young, as well. They chatted about her favorite dishes and television shows- Asha swearing Gordon Ramsey was a lion shifter. The father passed by the kitchen a few times, all casual like. Norelle found the not so subtle stalking amusing- why didn’t he come in and sit down? It wasn’t like she’d be offended. It was his den. But maybe the males were trying to give Asha girl time. If she didn’t have any female friends or relatives to talk to… oh my.

  Oddly enough, the hour in the kitchen solidified in her mind that her almost decision to adopt rather than have a biological cub was the correct one. How many girls out there- even shifter girls, though it was rare for a shifter child not to have family to go to- needed a home, a family? And if she adopted a human girl, then maybe she could marry into a Den. So in a way, she’d still be contributing to the Council’s agenda to help diversify the bloodlines.

  Norelle checked her phone when the steak and fries were done- she’d insisted on a salad as well because greens were an important source of micro nutrients.

  At Sahr’s, visiting his niece. I’m fine.

  He replied immediately. Must have been typing damn fast. You are not fine. He took my mate without permission, behind my back and against my express wishes you be left alone.

  Ooooo. Texting in complete sentences meant he was pissed. I’m a big g
irl, stud. I agreed to come. His niece is lonely. She doesn’t have girls to play with.

  Then send her to school!!!! Where r u? Damnit, if I have to hunt u down, ur ass will be red tonite.

  ;D can’t wait, hot stuff. Will u spank me hard?

  Norelle.

  Cassius.

  Alright. Fine. I have a tracker in ur cell anyway. See u in 30.

  She stared at the text, then laughed. She should have known better with a geek. Norelle knew it shouldn’t amuse her- that was serious stalker mojo to bug her cell. They’d have to have a serious talk- once she could manage a straight face- about privacy and boundaries. Males.

  “Asha, I need to talk to Uncle Sahr for a minute.”

  “Okay, I’ll set the table,” the girl replied, getting out napkins and utensils.

  “Good, and clean up your prep area. You don’t want to serve from a messy kitchen.”

  Norelle wiped her hands on a clean towel and left the kitchen to find the Lion king. Walking through the hall towards the front door, a wide archway led into the living room facing the street. Sahr sat on a leather couch, watching his brother pace the carpet. The room was sparsely furnished, with boxes still stacked in one corner.

  “Sahr? Cass tracked my cell. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”

  Sahr rose as the brother stilled. The males looked at each other. “What did you tell him?” Sahr asked, wary.

  She frowned at him. “The truth. Asha needed girl time and I agreed to come have lunch.”

  The Lion relaxed. Norelle rolled her eyes. Did he think she was going to accuse him of kidnapping or something? She wasn’t that kind of female.

  “I made an extra steak, if you don’t mind. You should invite him to dinner.”

  “Of course, of course. The Bear is always welcome.”

  “He will be angry we took his female,” the father said, edged. “I don’t want Asha to see any unpleasantness.”

  “I’ll deal with Cass- look, what’s your name?”

  He frowned at her. “Laban.”

  “Ok, Laban, I understand your concern. I’ll meet him outside and head him off and ask him to come in for dinner.”