1001 Dark Nights Short Story Anthology 2020

by Fiona Archer

  Every summer my fingers had itched with the need to touch and caress her, but now that I had permission to actually do it? I was nearly giddy with my excitement. I vowed that by the time the moon rose tonight, Zoe would be mine forever.

  * * * *

  Zoe

  We were only a few minutes away from our destination when Cameron spoke up.

  “You know this is a creek bed, right?”

  I turned to face him and walked backwards for a few steps, grinning as I took in how sexy he looked prowling after me. He wasn’t super tall, only an inch or two taller than me, which suited me just fine. It meant I could instigate kisses. If I could just get him to accept me. He had no idea where I was leading him, and I could see the question in his uniquely luminous green eyes. I’m sure he knew as well as I did that staying in a dry creek bed for any length of time was dangerous, especially when there’d been heavy rain further upstream recently. Flash flooding was treacherous and not to be messed with. But since I had an idea that I hoped would leave him unable to resist me, it was worth the risk.

  Today was going to be the last time I tried to capture the attention of the man who’d held my heart for so long. Now that I’d finished my computer science degree, I needed to get serious about deciding where I wanted to live and work. To do that, I had to know if Cameron and I could have something special. It seemed like a hopelessly romantic dream that this summer would be any different than all the previous ones where he’d refused me, but I had to give him this one last chance before I cut my loses and moved on for good.

  He cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to his question. I gave him a smirk.

  “What gave it away? Was it all the sand and rocks without any trees?”

  I knew better than to taunt him, but I couldn’t seem to help myself. His head tilted down, and his body tensed. But before I could ask if he was going to pounce on me or something, an animalistic growl filled the air, leaving my skin prickling and my heart beating double-time. It had sounded like a canine. There were always stories floating around about dingo sightings, but I’d never seen one. We were far enough north that it was a given they would be around.

  Rubbing my arms to soothe my skin, I turned in a circle, scanning the area around us, not seeing anything threatening. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. I didn’t want to be mauled to death by a bloody dingo. With a wince I rubbed my chest, trying to calm my heart rate as I rushed to get to the cliff face that had been my original destination.

  Pressing my back against the rock, I kept my gaze moving around the landscape, but avoided looking toward Cameron. I hadn’t heard the sound again, and now I was wondering if I’d imagined it. If so, he must think I was crazy.

  “Zoe?”

  Wincing, I glanced toward him, holding my breath in anticipation of what I’d see in his gaze. But it wasn’t laughter I saw in his hazel eyes. It was concern. He stood only a few steps from me and seemed to take up more space suddenly. With his jaw clenched and his gaze locked onto mine, he didn’t stop his forward motion.

  I slid across the cliff face, trying to put some distance between us. I’d never seen him so intense and wasn’t sure what it meant. My foot landed on the edge of a rock, and I lost my balance. With a yelp I started to fall, but before I could land, he caught me. With a strong arm around my waist, he hauled me against him so I was trapped between his solid body and the rough rock of the cliff face. He’d never touched me before, and even through our clothes, I felt it all the way to my soul as my body began to come alive for him.

  * * * *

  Cameron

  My girl was such a damn tease. Taunting me with her smart-ass mouth until she had my inner beast growling. I hadn’t been able to bite the sound back before it had echoed around us, freaking my mate the hell out. I’d be able to explain it to her soon enough, but with her pressed against me, all I could think about was getting a taste of her. Finally. I’d spent way too many nights lying awake wondering how she’d taste, how she’d feel beneath me.

  Today, I would get the answers to those questions that had plagued me for so long.

  “There’s nothing to fear, luv.”

  She blinked up at me before she licked her lips, making me groan.

  “You- your eyes…”

  Dammit. From her reaction, I guessed my eyes must be glowing. It happened when I was close to shifting, or apparently when I had my mate in my arms.

  “Tell me, Zoe, you ever hear any rumors about my family? Or others in our area?”

  She gave me a small nod. “Of course. All country towns run on gossip, but I don’t think the fact that old Mr. Rogers steels the loo paper from the toilets at the tennis courts is what you’re talking about.”

  That had me chuckling. Everyone knew that one, and no one really cared that the old war veteran did it.

  “I was talking about something a little more out there than the mystery of the missing toilet paper. Ever heard about the dingoes around town?”

  She tilted her head to the side. “What about them?”

  “This might be hard to believe, but there’s a good reason we have so many sightings around here. Along with some others, my family are shapeshifters, Zoe. We can turn into dingoes at will.”

  Her beautiful blue eyes widened in shock as her skin paled and she began to tremble. It was like a knife through my heart seeing her so scared. The scent of her fear burned my lungs with each breath I took.

  “Don’t be scared, Zoe. I would never hurt you. You’re my mate, and I will love, protect and cherish you forever. Never cause you harm.”

  As I’d spoken, I’d lifted my free hand and trailed my fingertips gently over her face, from her temple down her smooth cheek and over her soft lips. I wanted to kiss her more than I wanted my next breath, but she wasn’t ready.

  She shook her head, causing my fingertips to brush back and forth over her lips. The contact had a shiver running down my spine and my inner beast clawing for more of my mate.

  “I don’t believe you. Not only are shifters nothing but made-up stories, you’ve always ignored me. Every time I’ve tried to get your attention, you’ve walked away. Easily. If we were somehow destined for each other, you wouldn’t have treated me so carelessly for so long.”

  Her eyes grew glossy as tears filled them, and my heart jolted again that I’d caused her so much pain in the past. I needed to explain myself and fast, before I lost her forever.

  * * * *

  Zoe

  None of this could be real. Cameron was standing close enough that I could lean up and take that kiss I’d always wanted. That, in itself, was a dream come true. But now he was telling me all this supernatural crap, like he could turn into a dingo and we were destined mates. All I wanted to do was knee him in the balls for being such a jerk, not kiss his sexy mouth for making up such bullshit. Why would he bother? I mean, it wasn’t like he needed it to get my attention.

  “Zoe, I swear I’m not lying. Shifters are real. That growl that had you scared a dingo was around? Well, that was me. My father is the pack alpha, a role I’ll assume someday. He ordered me to stay away from you until now. I hated having to turn away from you all these years, but it was to keep you safe. Shifters can’t live in the big city—too many people and not enough wide-open spaces or privacy. Since I couldn’t go with you to keep you safe, I couldn’t let anyone know what you were to me.”

  “This is just too much. So not only are you a shifter, but you’re some sort of prince of them?”

  I shook my head again. This was all so unbelievable. I tried to ease from his grip to get away from him. This whole stupid plan of mine had been a mistake. A stupid mistake that had me stuck alone with a lunatic out in the middle of nowhere.

  “Yeah, something like that. That’s why you wouldn’t have been safe. Those who want to see our family’s downfall would have gone after you. To take my mate would be to end our line. Zoe, you’re it for me.”

  The more he spoke, the more confused I became.
He couldn’t be telling the truth. Shifters? I needed to get away. He was toying with me because he knew I wanted him. I should have moved on years ago. I had no idea why I’d given in to my inner romantic and offered him so many chances. I mentally shook my head. I knew why. Cameron was the only man who’d ever held my attention so fully.

  But enough was enough. I was officially done playing the lovesick fool for this man. I tried to break free of his hold again, but his arm around my waist didn’t budge. Looking up into Cameron’s beautiful face, I shifted my hands to his chest and tried to push him away.

  “Let me go, Cameron. This was all one huge mistake, and I just want to go home.”

  Where I’ll pack my bags and leave this place for good.

  “Give me a chance, Zoe. Please. Just one minute to prove to you I’m not lying.”

  I glared at him, trying to see through his pretty exterior. What was he up to now?

  “Okay. One minute. And I’m counting. One. Two…”

  He released me with a quiet growl, but it didn’t sound animalistic, like the one I’d heard earlier.

  “Dammit, Zoe.”

  “Three. Four.”

  “Fine.”

  “Five.”

  He took two steps back, and the air began to crackle like it does during a thunderstorm. I stopped counting, unable to focus on anything other than what was happening before me. It appeared as though Cameron’s body was melting, shrinking down lower to the ground and stretching out as his clothes vanished and his skin morphed into fur.

  “Holy shit.”

  With a full body shake, Cameron finished his transformation into a dingo. A huge, honest to God dingo. My breaths quickened while I stumbled forward, oddly drawn to the animal before me. White noise filled my ears as the dingo lifted its head to look above me and bared its teeth. A sharp spike of fear left me trembling as I waited for it to attack me. I knew I had no hope of defending myself against the beast. Clenching my fists, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, hoping this was all a dream and praying to wake up.

  Drops of water landing on my head had me reopening them with a gasp as realization hit me. The damn water I’d been counting on coming today was here. My original plan had been to be here with Cameron when the waterfall started to flow. But now it was the last thing I wanted—or needed.

  * * * *

  Cameron

  The moment I completed my shift, I sensed the rapidly approaching water. Panic rose up within me as the first of it came over the cliff right above my mate. We had only moments to get out of the way before a rush of debris-filled water would wash us both away, most likely to our deaths.

  I leapt forward, shifting back to my clothed human form midair, gathering Zoe in my arms before shoving her against the cliff wall and tightly pressing myself over her. Surrounding her smaller body with mine, I hoped to protect her from being injured by the rocks and sticks flying through the air with the water.

  My cheek was resting against the top of her head, and she’d turned to press her face against my neck, her breath heating my skin. She also had a fist bunched in my shirt. That let a moment of relief flow through me. For all her angry words, she didn’t truly fear me. Instead, she was clinging to me as I provided her with shelter.

  Once the initial wave of dirty water had passed, I started guiding us to the side to get out from behind the waterfall. There wasn’t much of an overhang above, so the water poured straight down on us. I was grateful I’d worn my Akubra, as it’d saved us both from being struck directly on our heads by falling debris.

  Once we were out from under the water, I released her and with a finger under her chin, tilted her face up.

  “Tell me, luv, was this what you’d planned on showing me originally?”

  Her cheeks pinkened, and she dragged her shocked expression from the waterfall to me and nodded.

  “The initial flow of water is always the deadliest. Not only does it normally come up on you fast, but it’s washing down all the debris that’s built up since the river last ran. I wished you’d have shared your plan. I would have suggested we come up after the water had been running for a while.”

  “I didn’t consider the fact there was no overhang, no room behind the water.”

  That had me shaking my head. Seemed she’d planned on getting my attention at any cost today. “Hmm. So you wanted to be behind a waterfall with me and you wore a white shirt?”

  Her cheeks grew even redder as she quickly crossed her arms over her chest, covering what I’d already seen. We were both soaked through, and her shirt revealed she’d worn a sexy, lacy bra. She was completely adorable, she really was.

  Despite the fact the day was warm enough that we’d dry off before long, I wanted to push my mate a little more. To see if she was ready to accept me, to let me claim her. The rapid shift plus the adrenaline rush of beating the water had me on edge. And horny as hell. Of course, seeing her in her wet shirt didn’t help matters. Lifting my wet hat from my head, I hung it from a nearby branch. Then I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed that beside my hat.

  “Ah, is that really necessary? I mean, it’s hot enough we’ll dry out in no time.”

  I turned to Zoe, who still had her arms crossed over her chest, trying to hide herself from me. I leaned in, running my fingers down her damp cheek.

  “But this is what you wanted, isn’t it?”

  * * * *

  Zoe

  And I’d thought he was good-looking before! Without his shirt or hat on, he was simply spectacular. His sandy colored hair had curled now that it was wet, and his chest and abs were chiseled and glistening with water droplets sliding down into the waistband of his jeans. I barely resisted the urge to lick my lips before I shook myself back to reality and ignored his question.

  “You can’t be for real. Shifters aren’t real.”

  “As you’ve seen, we are indeed very real.”

  He reached out and took my hands in his, pulling them away from where I’d been trying to cover my boobs. Stupid really. As he’d guessed, I’d worn a white shirt, planning on getting it wet. Yet now that it was, here I was hiding myself from him.

  You hadn’t known he was a damn dingo shifter when you planned this.

  There was that. I’d thought I’d been trying to seduce a man, not some sort of outback prince.

  He pressed my palm against his left pectoral, over his heart. A rush of heat flowed up my arm the moment our skin made contact, and I gasped when the sensation landed low in my belly.

  “My heart beats just like any other man.” I blinked up at him, lost for words. “Tell me you’re okay with this. With me. That I didn’t blow this whole thing by waiting so long to tell you. To claim you.”

  I cleared my throat. “You turned into a dingo right in front of me, then saved my life. That’s a little hard to ignore.”

  “You planned to get my attention today. Now that you have it, tell me you still want it. That you want to be mine. That you’ll accept my mark and claim.”

  I gulped at his words. “Mark and claim?”

  Brushing my hair behind my shoulder, he stroked his fingertips over the sensitive skin where my shoulder met my neck.

  “Right here is where I’ll leave my mark for every shifter to see and know that you are mine. The pack’s future queen.”

  Shock had me taking a step back. He kept throwing more information at me.

  “Queen?”

  He followed my retreat until my back was pressed to the cliff face.

  “The position of alpha is an inherited role. My father is the current alpha of our pack, so I’m next in line to rule. As my mate, you’ll help me lead the pack.”

  Suddenly, a new fear had me sucking in a breath.

  “Will your bite change me? Will I become like you?”

  He shook his head. “Only males can shift. You’ll get some benefits like living longer, being stronger and healthier, but you won’t ever shift forms.”

  I blew out a breath in relief. As
cool as being able to turn into an animal was, I didn’t want the skill myself. Staring into his gaze, I decided him being a shifter didn’t change how I felt about him. How much I loved him. How much I wanted to give us a chance.

  Pressing a palm against the rock on either side of my shoulders, he leaned in. As he moved closer, I tilted my head to the side, giving him silent permission to continue. With a contented sigh, he nuzzled his face in against my neck. My hands crept up of their own accord, gliding over the smooth, warm skin of his ribs as my eyes slid closed. Everything I’d ever wanted was right here in front of me. All I had to do was say yes to the man who already held my heart. Was I really going to deny him the very thing I’d brought him out here to get from him? Even if it did come with a few extras I hadn’t expected.

  Hell no.

  I cleared my throat, and he lifted his head until his glowing hazel irises locked on to mine.

  “What’s your answer, Zoe?”

  I lifted a hand to cup his cheek, rough with stubble.

  “I’ve loved you forever, Cameron. I’ve just been waiting for you to be ready to take what’s always been yours.”

  His whole body shuddered before he moved in and covered my lips with his. The kiss was everything I’d dreamed it would be and more. It was possessive and deep, his tongue dancing with mine until I was squirming, pushing my body against his to try to get closer.

  With a moan he pulled back, breaking the kiss and leaving me panting as I blinked up at him to see he was staring hard into my eyes.

  “I will love you forever, Zoe. Never again will I turn away from you.”

  His words made my head spin, and before I could take a full breath, his hands were on the move, stripping my clothes away. His gaze roamed over my body as it was bared to him, but I didn’t feel the urge to hide from him like I had earlier. His heated look boosted my confidence, allowing me to believe he truly did find me attractive.