Bran (Fae Shifters Book 2)

by M. D. Stewart

  Chapter Two

  Bran slid from the bed, sore and tired after spending hours last night searching for Mori and her niece, Lena. Connor had kept his word of bringing a large bag full of Fae blood pouches. Human blood was sweet, but Fae blood held power. The only thing more powerful for a Fae was the blood and sex energy of a true mate. Bran was over six centuries old, and though he’d had many lovers, he’d never come across his true mate. Until he met Josie. The closest he came was Michael Mato, the Chief and Lead Elder of the Bear Shifter Clan.

  The memories that flowed through his mind of he and Michael during their Healing ceremonies made him shiver. He’d had lovers before Michael, but none had touched his soul as he had. He’d loved Dev’s mother, but not in the same way. Even though he’d mourned her, he knew their love wouldn’t survive many centuries. But now there was Josie. She’d already claimed his heart, and he’d not physically touched her. His body was demanding he bind her. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could wait. Being close to her and not mating her, he was losing control of his Fae magic. That would not be good. Soon he’d have to return to Faedom and into seclusion if he couldn’t make Josie understand their connection.

  Bran couldn’t waste time convincing Josie she was his. He needed to claim her and the picnic he planned tonight would go a long way in helping him do just that. There were issues of course. For one, she didn’t know about his people or the Fae Realm. She was completely ignorant of the Other races that inhabited the Earth with humans and those in his world. Secondly, most humans didn’t believe in mates or even love at first sight. He wasn’t sure how he was going to show her they were born to be together. He only hoped their connection would make it easier for her to accept how much her life was going to change.

  Bran pulled a large blanket from the bed, folded it carefully and put it in a canvas bag. He’d called the local deli and had human food prepared. He hadn’t the first clue how to make human food or even cook. As King, he had staff who made the food and cared for him. He also wasn’t sure where he’d take her, but he knew he needed to get her alone. He could try to enter her mind and enthrall her, but trust was important between mates, so he’d never violate her privacy. After they bonded, she’d know he'd been inside her mind. Nothing could be hidden from one’s true mate once the bond was formed. Souls combined and everything would be laid bare. He’d not have that between them. Forever was a long time.

  He grabbed the bags containing the food and the blanket and headed to his SUV. He’d rather take the motorcycle as he’d gotten attached to that mode of travel, but realized the four-wheeled vehicle would be more convenient for this date. He only hoped he could impress his mate. A lot was hinging on her acceptance of him.

  *****

  Josie looked at the clock. Again. She twisted her hands as she paced her small living room. What if Bran didn’t show up? Oh god, what if he did? She walked to the kitchen and refilled her iced tea. She looked at the clock on the wall in the kitchen. It was almost five. She set the glass down with a thump. Why was she so nervous? So what if he broke a promise? Most men did anyway. She knew from experience that men didn’t like girls who were on the curvy side. She picked up the iced tea then sat it down again. The last thing she needed was to fill up her bladder.

  Unable to stand still, she moved back to the living room and looked out the picture window. The small house was attached to the back of the bar, facing the woods. It wasn’t much, but it was all she had left of her father. The living room wasn’t large but a small island separated it from the kitchen helping the room not to feel as tiny. A short hallway off the living room held a half bath on the left, next to the kitchen. Across the hall from the bathroom, next to the living room, was a bedroom. The end of the hall had a master bedroom that ran the length of the house. After her mother had died, her dad let her have the master bedroom since it had a private bathroom. He said girls needed their own space. Josie always thought it was because her dad couldn’t stand sleeping in the room that held so many memories of her mom.

  She teared up thinking about her father. He had gone to prison seven years ago on trumped up charges of murder. Her mom had disappeared when Josie was four years old, and it took them close to twenty years to charge her dad. There was no concrete proof he’d killed her mom, but the jury convicted him despite the flimsy circumstantial evidence. He’d begged her not to come to see him in prison. He didn’t want her to remember him in an orange jumpsuit and surrounded by guards. It broke her heart, but she tried to do as he wished. She did write to him all the time, and she made him promise to call her once a month. So far, he called her every month so she wouldn’t worry so much about him.

  The sound of an approaching car pulled her attention back to the present. Josie was surprised to see the black SUV pull up to her door and Bran step out. Dear god, he looked like a model. His worn blue jeans and tucked in Navy t-shirt accented his broad shoulders and trim waist. And his hair was loose. Her belly clenched at the sight of that man walking toward her door. How a man like him could look at her and see something desirable was beyond her.

  He caught her eye as he approached the house and the smile that lit his face shook Josie. He looked at her with emotions she didn’t want to interpret because if she weren’t really seeing desire and happiness, it would crush her.

  Even though she had seen him coming, the knock on her door startled her. Her heart was beating so hard she was sure he’d be able to hear it. Why was this man getting under her skin like this? Blowing out a breath, she opened the door and tried to look unaffected by him. Right. A woman would have to be dead to not have her heart race and wet panties when Bran St. Clair was standing at her door.

  “Good evening, Josie. You look gorgeous. Are you ready to go on a picnic?” She was so used to seeing him in the bar, that having him stand at her door dressed in jeans and a plain t-shirt stole her common sense. That had to be the reason she was going to go with him. “Gods, your hair is gorgeous.”

  “I have to keep my hair in a ponytail at work, you know with the health department.” She reached up and ran her fingers through her long brown hair. She quickly pulled her hand to her side to hide the shaking. She was babbling with her nervousness. “I’m ready if you still want to take me.” His grin could melt the ice while it was in her freezer.

  “Oh, Josie. I definitely want to take you.” He leaned in, putting his hands above his head against the door frame. He licked his lips, his gaze traveled down her body slowly before settling back to her eyes. “I want to take you for my own.” His voice was as sinful as any she’d ever heard. God, he smelled good, and she could swear there was a buzz of electricity in the small space between them. She had no idea how long they stood there like that. Inches from kissing, so close his breath fanned her face, his green eyes drifting from her mouth to her eyes.

  “If you only knew how much I wanted you, Josie, you’d not be standing there tempting me.” So help her, she couldn’t stop herself as she leaned the scant distance between them, touching her lips to his. After shocking herself with the bold move, she thought only to be soft and innocent with her kiss. Actually, she didn’t plan for it to happen at all. Her body made the call her mind refused to act on.

  The static electric of their skin meeting didn’t shock her as much as comfort her. Bran growled low but didn’t touch her with anything but his lips. If he’d grabbed her, she would’ve pushed him away, but he kept his lips soft and let her lead. She had to taste him, see what secrets he held that he was willing to share with his kiss. The tip of his tongue brushed her bottom lip, and her world narrowed to the two of them. Nothing else existed beyond her and Bran. She could hear his breathing increase, feel the softness of his lips against hers, and smell his subtle but alluring cologne. When his tongue slipped inside her mouth, her knees nearly gave out. She grabbed his shoulders to steady herself. Without thought, she wound her arms around his neck, bringing him closer to her.

  He slid his arm around her waist, and the othe
r moved slowly up her back to gently cup her head. He didn’t hold her too tight but did deepen the kiss. And what a kiss. He explored her mouth, plundered it really. The things he did with his tongue made her wonder what he could do if he applied it somewhere else. He gently sucked her tongue into his mouth, flicking the end with his own. Her nipples grew hard, and her clit tingled. His hand tightened around her waist, pulling her against his long, hard erection. She began to rub herself against him. She could feel her body moving but was too caught up in Bran to care. When her knees touched the couch, straddling him, she began to ride him, rubbing her core against his hard length.

  Bran moaned as he broke the kiss, running his lips over her jaw and down her throat. Her orgasm was just out of reach until he lightly bit the side of her neck. Lightning shot through her body, her back arched as she cried out. He tightened his grip around her waist with one hand and pinched her nipple through her clothes with the other. His lips and tongue played against her throat as she came down from her orgasm. She could hear her harsh breathing as she opened her eyes and pulled back to look into the heavy-lidded gaze of the man she straddled on her couch. His lips were swollen and red from her kisses while his cock throbbed against her. He smiled as he brought both hands to her face and gently stroked her cheeks with his thumbs.

  “You’re so fucking gorgeous, Josie.” He used his fingertips to tuck her hair behind her ears. “Thank you for sharing that with me.” He kissed her lips softly before pulling her into his embrace. He ran his hand up and down her spine as her heart slowed and her breathing returned to normal. He didn’t push her to give him relief as he held her, but she could feel the hard ridge of his cock against her lower stomach.

  “Let’s take a moment then we’d better get to that picnic.” His lips brushed the top of her shoulder as he continued to stroke her back. He made her feel cherished, something she’d never felt before. She had to blink back the tears as she got a hold of her emotions. Closing her eyes, she sighed, pretending Bran was her man.

  *****

  Bran held her hand as they drove to a secluded little grove near her house. She had mentioned having their picnic there and that she had gone there many times as a child. He was happy she wanted to show him something of her life. He wanted to get to know everything about her, share in her memories both the good and the bad. He knew from touching her that she was his true mate and while he needed to give her time to get to know him, he fought his instincts to claim her. Now. He brought her hand to his lips and smiled when she turned her head to look at him.

  “What?” He glanced at her pensive expression before returning his attention to the road.

  “I’m just shocked about this whole thing so far. I feel like I’m involved in a game but I don’t know the rules. I feel completely lost.”

  “Josie, I promise you this is no game.” He slowed down to make the turn when she indicated the wide spot in the road. After he parked and turned off the engine, he turned to face her. “I really do like you. I want to get to know you and for you to get to trust me. Please, don’t shut me out before you give me a chance.” Emotions flitted across her face. He automatically reached out to touch her mind and felt her fear of rejection before he slammed the connection down. Even unintentionally he didn’t want to violate her feelings. She was too special for him to do that to her.

  “What was that?” He raised his eyebrows in surprise, but she took it as a gesture of question. “I felt a tingle, and it felt like you, but…” Her voice trailed off. “Never mind, I’m sure I sound insane.” He swallowed hard, impressed at their connection, even though they hadn’t mated yet.

  He licked his lips. “Come on, let’s get some food in us.” He kissed her hand before letting it go and opening his door. He walked to her side of the car and opened her door to help her out before grabbing the food and blanket from the back seat. He wanted to tell her the truth of what she had felt when he touched her mind but knew she’d doubt him, and he couldn’t lie to her.

  They followed a small path into the wooded area before Bran heard water. As the trees thinned out, he spied a grassy spot and was enchanted at the small clearing. The shafts of light streaming through the trees offered a magical quality as it caught the chestnut highlights in Josie’s hair. The clean air, the scent of fresh pine and the sound of the water made Bran homesick for Faedom. He wanted to take Josie there to show off his beautiful world. He knew she’d love it there.

  “How about we put the blanket down here?” She had stopped and was looking at the area she indicated. “It’s shaded, and we can lean against this big oak tree.” She took a deep breath and blew it out like she was shaking off the stresses of the world and absorbing the beauty that surrounded them.

  *****

  Josie was surprised Bran had gotten her to open up about her life. As they shared steak sandwiches and French fries, he’d asked her questions about her childhood. She had started with vague answers, but as the meal progressed she had told him her life story. He laughed with her when she’d tell funny things that happened to her. He smiled when she talked about her dad’s bedtime stories of fairy tales and magical beings. He held her hand when she spoke of her mother’s disappearance and her father’s conviction. He pulled her into his lap when she explained how much she missed her dad and how fulfilling his wishes to stay away from him was killing her.

  He never tried to kiss her again or do anything of a sexual nature. She appreciated the fact he was offering her true friendship. After a good cry on his shoulder while he made sympathetic noises and held her tight, she wiped her eyes and blew out a breath.

  “Wow, I didn’t realize how much I was holding in. Thank you, Bran.” He ran his hand over her hair before pulling it over her shoulder and kissing her temple.

  “What are you thanking me for?” His kisses and gentle touch were comforting but arousing too.

  “For listening to me. For comforting me as you did. You were a real friend when I needed it.” He smiled as he used his thumb to brush away another tear that slipped down her cheek.

  “Oh, Josie my, sweet girl, it’s my duty and my pleasure to care for you. You’re welcome, but I’d do anything for you. I’m grateful you trusted me enough to comfort you.” She was so shocked to realize he was right, that she didn’t take time to analyze his first statement. It did take a lot of trust to give so much of herself to him. Damn, she was falling for him. She felt a pain in her chest, knowing that this could break her if he turned out to be the player she accused him of being.

  “Bran, tell me about you. You now know everything about me.” He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and adjusted his body to sit up straighter against the tree. He obviously didn’t want her to move off his lap, even as he squirmed around to get more comfortable.

  “Some things I’m going to tell you will shock you.”

  She swallowed, waiting for him to admit to being an ex-felon or something. Bikers very rarely had a spotless past.

  He started to laugh, a sound that skittered down her spine and brought butterflies to her stomach. “It’s nothing as bad as you must be thinking. Your face is expressive.” He continued to smile, devastating her further. “I’m older than I look.”

  “How much older? You look about my age, around thirty or so.” She pulled back to stare at his face. He had very fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and around his mouth, where apparently, he smiled so much. His skin was smooth and clear, and his bright eyes were dazzling. She didn’t see a single gray hair and she could tell it wasn’t colored.

  “Oh, I’m very much older than that. I have children but they’re grown and on their own now.” Josie hoped she hid her shock at that announcement. He had grown children? Holy shit. “I want to be totally honest with you, Josie. You mean more to me than anyone, and I want you to remember that. I’ve had many lovers over my life, Josie. Where I grew up, well, it’s not unusual to start off taking lovers at a young age.” He seemed nervous as he looked away then glanced back at her.
It was as if he feared her reaction.

  “Bran, I get that. You are an extraordinarily good-looking man. You have this magnetic personality. My dad would say you are a leader, an alpha male. Women are very attracted to that and would be throwing themselves at you.” She tried to hide the jealousy she felt. What he did before he met her, who he had sex with, she had no control over. Even if he fucked a woman at the door of her bar right before walking in the first time, it was before they met. She had no right to hold it against him or be jealous any more than he should be angry at her past lovers. But she couldn’t help it. She wasn’t a saint.

  “I’ve not had a woman in my bed in a long time, though.”

  “How long is ‘a long time’ to you?” She was surprised those words came from her mouth. She didn’t even have a right to ask. But it was too late now. Oops.

  “Years, Josie. And certainly not since I’ve laid eyes on you.” There, she felt better. It was petty she knew, but still, it calmed the green-eyed monster that suddenly invaded her thoughts.

  “But you should also know, I’ve had one lover that was a man.”

  That surprised her. And oh my, unexpectedly aroused her too. The image of Bran kissing another man flashed in her mind. Her pussy clenched. He smiled, but she wasn’t sure if it was from her wide eyes or the little squeak she made when she pictured Bran’s tongue sliding against another man’s.

  “But my male lover was a very long time ago.”

  Pity that. She’d have to change her naughty thoughts to a younger Bran, not the man who currently held her on his muscular lap. “Uh, okay.” What could she say? She wanted to ask him tons of questions about that but bit her tongue. Asking for specific details so she could use her vibrator later was out of the question. She had to find a way to stop thinking about Bran fucking another man. “So, um, how many children do you have?”