The Shifter's Dream

by R. A. Boyd

  The scent of her passion was an aphrodisiac to him. He needed to taste her pussy, taste her skin, taste her lips.

  Teague let his lips hover above her clit as it waited for him just below her panties. With his tongue he traced the sides of her panties, nipping at the delicate skin of her thighs. “Do you think I’d let you fall, Riley?” he asked again. He used his teeth to pull at the fabric, and then let go to let the soft material slap at her pussy.

  “No,” she whispered.

  He looked up at her and rewarded her for trusting him to keep her balanced. Teague ran his tongue up and down the material and teased her clit, over and over, until she started pulsing her hips toward his face.

  Carefully, he planted one of her heels on his knee and used his free hand to pull her panties to the side. He slid his tongue along the seam of her wet slit, just barely skimming her clit with the tip of his tongue.

  Her hips raised higher toward him. She skated her hand down her stomach, down her thigh, and grabbed a handful of his hair. She tried to pull him closer, but he kept up his game of teasing her until soft moans of wanted release sang from her mouth.

  “You want me to make you come?” he asked, moving his hand to grasp the side of her panties.

  Just as she was about to answer, he balled his hand into a fist and ripped the thin material from her body. She let out a quick curse as the cloth tore apart against her skin, but her swearing turned into soft groans of pleasure as Teague buried his face in her core.

  He feasted on her, sucking on the tender lips between her thighs. She groaned and thrashed her head back and forth, urging him on for more. He bit down on her clit and pushed two fingers inside her, zeroing in on that sweet spot just inside her wet heat.

  Teague smiled as he looked up and watched as she played with the pebbled peaks of her nipples. She was exquisite, her head thrown back as a sheen of sweat covered her face and her beautiful shoulders. Her dark hair a crown of coils that framed her lovely face. She was trembling for him. She watched as he pleased her and it lit up something inside his chest that made him want her to look at him just like this for the rest of their lives.

  He covered her clit with his mouth and suckled her, and slowed his long fingers to a curling caress to press only on her G-spot.

  Riley went silent for a moment and he could feel the orgasm contracting in her core. Her back bowed from the bed and she screamed his name, begging him to keep going. Pleading with him not to stop.

  He couldn’t stop. He existed to make her happy. To keep her safe. To make her body quake beneath his as he pleased her in every way she desired.

  With a wildness he didn’t recognize in himself, he used his torso to push her up on the bed, and in one swift move he sunk his cock deep into her still quaking pussy. She started to scream again but he covered her mouth with his and drank in her song of passion.

  Teague held her close like this, kissing her and driving himself into her wet heat. He had to keep his skin to her skin. He needed this contact with her. Riley made everything disappear in his life but her. Nothing mattered. The sting of being stripped of his wings, stripped of his beast, and being turned away from Heaven disappeared when he was with her. Riley was his healer, his dream, his balm.

  Ecstasy gripped hold of him where he was connected with her, and he felt his gums begin to tingle. His cock became heavy. Orgasm was snaking its way from his cock, to his balls, to the base of his spine. Fuck, his whole body came alive and he embraced the feeling.

  Claim her.

  What the fuck was that? Just as his orgasm was making its way through his body, an urging from his beast rang out loud and clear. He hadn’t heard that voice in forever.

  Claim her. Keep her safe.

  “No, no,” he said, over and over again.

  His gums were itching where his upper canine teeth were starting to protrude from his mouth.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?” Riley asked, putting her hands on either side of his face. She pulled him away from her and gasped.

  He couldn’t stop his body from moving. He wasn’t in control. Not like he should be. He was scaring her. “I’m so sorry.”

  She would hate him now. She would reject him for losing control, but damn-it all if he could just sink his teeth into her just like he was sinking his cock into her. That would sate something in him, fulfill that need in him to keep her safe. To help her keep herself safe from whatever was coming at them.

  “Riley,” he said, his voice thick with strain. “Please… I’m so sorry.”

  She held tight to him, still welcoming him into her passion. She surprised him as she leaned up and kissed his forehead and made a soft mewling sound as another orgasm was swelling in her body. He could feel it.

  “Teague,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t bite me. Not yet. Not— oh, God.” She detonated around him and brought him with her.

  She was beautiful like this. Uninhibited. Unafraid of his beast. Trusting. Loving. Accepting.

  With his eyes closed, Teague threw his head back and bellowed a growl so loud it resonated through his whole body and shook the room. Starbursts erupted behind his eyelids. His body jerked and trembled as he came inside Riley, pouring every emotion he was capable of into her in every way he knew how.

  When he brought his head down to face her, his teeth had already begun their retreat to where they’d come from. From where they’d been hidden for millennia. He pressed his face into the bend of her neck and put his lips against her pulse. He still moved inside her, wringing every ounce of pleasure out of both of them.

  He panted and kissed her over and over. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

  Riley smiled up at him and rubbed her hands up and down his back, soothing him. “You would never do anything to me I didn’t want you to do. I trust you, Teague. Always remember that.”

  She pulled him to her and pressed her kiss against his and smiled against his lips.

  “You have more faith in me than I have in myself,” he said, tucking her dark hair behind her ear. “My beast told me to claim you. Help keep you safe.”

  “But you didn’t because you know I’m not ready.”

  Teague watched her for a few moments and then carefully slid himself from her body. He’d love to stay inside her forever, but he’d never get anything done. She flinched as he moved, and as he started to apologize she waved her hand, dismissing his regret before he could speak the words.

  “You do realize you’re a big man in the man-bits department, right? I’m fine.” She pressed herself into the side of his body and put her hand on his chest, over his heart. “Sleep now. Shower later. Deal?”

  He glanced down at her and saw her eyes were already closed. Her breathing had slowed down. She was falling asleep in his arms.

  He kissed the top of her head and whispered, “One day when you’re ready, you’re going to be my wife.”

  He waited to see if she would react, but she was already under. She’d just gotten out of a marriage and probably vowed to never marry again, but he was different. They were different. Riley Belton would one day be his wife. He would give her whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it. He would keep her safe. He would learn from her, especially how to make those chocolate strawberry tarts that were a hit at her shop.

  She definitely had to teach him that.

  Chapter 9

  Pointing at Riley, Liv said, “Can’t you just declare me as hers?”

  Riley huffed out a nervous laugh and nodded her head. “I’ll take her,” she said, shrugging and giving a tight-lipped smile to the judge.

  Liv sat in the leather chair of the small courtroom with her arms crossed, tapping her small booted foot. Her red hair sat in a high ponytail that swished this way and that as she kept turning to look at the door. Her father was twenty-seven minutes late to the hearing. She was irritated. The judge was irritated. Riley wouldn’t have expected anything less from Aaron.

  Riley put her hand on the
girl’s leg to stop it from bouncing up and down. “Sweetie, it doesn’t work like that. This is just to work out a time schedule.”

  Liv shook her head back and forth, uncrossed her arms, and folded her hands in her lap. “But I want to stay with you, Riley. My dad doesn’t want me around.” She blew a raspberry and threw her hands in the air. “Well, he wants me around so he can keep seeing you. That’s just how my dad is, Your Honor. Can’t we just say that since he’s a no-show Riley can claim me by default? I’d really like that.”

  Riley mimicked Liv and blew a raspberry. “Sorry for taking up your time.”

  The older woman looked like an Egyptian Queen. Honey brown skin, high cheekbones that you could carve wood on, and a dark halo braid framing her head. She was the epitome of beauty and grace. “Little girl,” she said, pointing at Liv. “I knew your mother when she was a child. Knew your father, too. If I could hand you over to Ms. Belton like a door prize I would. But that’s not what the law dictates. We’ll postpone until Monday. If your father is still a no show we will proceed from there. Enjoy your weekend.”

  Violently, Liv shook her head and tears started streaming down her face. “This is what he wants. He wants to draw this out and make Riley suffer. I just saw him this morning. This isn’t fair!”

  She stood up so fast the chair flew backward and slammed against the low partition that sat behind them. Liv picked up the statement that she’d prepared for the judge and stuffed the papers in her back pocket. Riley ached for her girl as she watched her fight the tears and disappointment. She shouldn’t have to live with the knowledge that her father was a douche and used her as a pawn. It was something they both knew.

  Riley looked at the judge and the clerk. “I’m sorry. She’s just… It’s a lot. We’ll see you on Monday. Same time?”

  The clerk clicked away at his little machine, looked at the calendar, and gave Riley a remorseful smile. “How is noon?”

  Riley shrugged. “It’s fine with me. We’ll be here. We just want to get this settled. Thank you.” She picked up her purse and hurried after Liv.

  As she burst through the courtroom doors and surveyed the hallways she watched as Liv rounded a corner and headed toward the stairs. Riley broke into a run to catch up with her. Liv cast a glance over her shoulder and sped up.

  “Olivia River Baker. You will stop right now,” Riley said, her voice loud enough that it echoed through the hallway. She wasn’t even embarrassed when people turned to look at her.

  Liv stopped and turned to face Riley. With her small hands balled into fists at her sides, Liv shifted from one foot to the other as she waited. As Riley walked closer, Liv’s posture changed from aggressive to sadly vulnerable, one arm hanging low and the other wrapping around her middle. She was fighting back the tears. Her normal flawless complexion was blotchy and bright red, and her bright eyes shined with unshed tears. Right now, Liv looked so much younger than she really was. Insecurity and rejection could do that to a kid.

  “Why didn’t you tell her that you wanted me and that you wouldn’t take no for an answer? Don’t you want me?” One tear managed to escape and Liv quickly swiped it away with her finger.

  Riley wrapped her arms around her daughter and pulled her in for a hug. She kissed her forehead and whispered, “You know I do. I’m trying to play nice. One word from your dad and I might lose custody of you all together. I want you to be with me more than you know.” She took a deep breath and pulled away from her. “But you need to know something. It’s time we talked.”

  They stopped for coffee, cocoa, and horribly stale doughnuts at a small convenience stand in the courthouse. Slowly, they walked to Riley’s truck in silence and when they were finally in the vehicle Liv broke down crying.

  “You really don’t want me, do you? That’s what you want to tell me.”

  Sobs punched through her lips, echoing through the cab of the truck, and Riley had to grab Liv’s cocoa before she dropped it in her lap.

  “Oh, my God. Liv, are you insane? What would make you think that? Why do you think I’m fighting to keep you? Why do you think I haven’t told your dad off even though I want to punch him in the throat?”

  How could she even think for a moment that Riley didn’t want her around? Liv was her daughter. She loved her as if she were her own flesh and blood, and as far as Riley was concerned they were closer than that. Family didn’t begin or end with blood.

  Liv’s large, red, tear-rimmed eyes peeked at her through her fingers. “Really? Then what did you want to talk to me about?”

  Riley skootched over on the bench seat and pulled Liv close to her. She rubbed her arms and dried the tears from her face with her sleeve. Where the heck were her napkins?

  “First things first. Other than me and your dad not working out, why do you hate him so much? We were always so good. What he did to me has nothing to do with you. He’s your dad. Always will be.”

  Liv put her head on Riley’s shoulder and took a deep breath. You’re what a mom should smell like, Liv would tell her every once in a while over the years. Apparently, Riley smelled like fresh deodorant, cookies, and warm love. That’s what she always said. She knew she smelled of cookies and cakes. Even before she opened the bakery Riley would bake sweets for everyone she loved. It always brought her joy and satisfaction to give someone something she had made with her hands and watch them smile as they enjoyed it.

  “He only wants me around because he wants to keep you around.”

  “Liv, that’s just not true. You were seven when I started coming around. You and your dad were good before that. Our divorce should not alter the way you feel about him.”

  That had to be it. Life for them didn’t start when Riley came around. He’d raised her since the day she was born. He had no choice. Riley never wondered about their instant connection all those years ago. Aaron introduced Riley to Liv after their fourth date, and they had an instant affinity to one another.

  For Riley, it was love at first sight. She remembered meeting the then seven-year-old girl whose smile was lopsided and beautiful. Right after they’d shaken hands Liv started to run to the kitchen to get a snack. She tripped on a toy she’d left on the floor. She went down hard. Cried hard too. She’d fallen onto another toy and chipped one of her front teeth.

  Riley ran to the girl and picked her up so quick neither one of them had time to be concerned that they’d just met. She was so worried and scared. Liv’s lip bled nonstop. As Aaron drove them to the dentist’s office Riley sat in the backseat and sang to her about being in love on Christmas. It was mid-Summer and Riley had a Christmas CD stuck in her radio. Unless she chose to drive in silence, holiday songs were the only thing that played and the only thing she could think of to calm Liv.

  The doctor told them not to worry about the chipped tooth. It was going to fall out one day soon anyway, but she had to get two stitches put in her bottom lip where her tooth cut right through it. Liv still had a little bump in the center of her bottom lip that added to the fullness of it and made her look as if she was always pouting.

  To be good and honest, Liv was one of the reasons she’d stuck around so long.

  “Riley, I stayed with my grandma in Baltimore most of the time. I came to him on the weekends, but my grandma raised me. When you came along and he told me I was moving back home with him, I was so happy. I didn’t question it.”

  Riley inhaled sharply and put her hand to her neck. Why didn’t she know this? “You lived in Baltimore? That’s over an hour away. I don’t understand.”

  From the beginning, Aaron had told her that he worked hard to raise his daughter. That it had taken him so long to get over the loss of Liv’s mom. He had lied. Well, why the hell was she so surprised?

  Liv’s words were so unaffected. She was used to this shit. “It took me a while to realize I was just someone he used to get what he wanted. He wanted you. I think I was bound to you that day we met. I always looked at it like labor pains. I was hurting because I fell and bust my
lip, and you were hurting because I was hurting. I saw it then. I remember it. That’s when you decided to stay. When you saw me.” She put her head down as if ashamed and whispered, “That’s why I never said anything about not living with him. I didn’t want you to hate him for lying. I didn’t want you to go.”

  Riley’s insides were crying. Her heart was heavy and pulled at every other organ in her body. Her stomach was drawn in from not being able to take a breath, and her chest heaved as if fighting for the air it craved. This child knew her father used her presence to keep their family together.

  “Olivia. Why didn’t you say anything? I would have fought for you whether I was married to your dad for eight months or eight years. You’re my girl. You’re my daughter.”

  They sat in the car in silence, holding each other and crying. More birth pains. They were being tethered together more and more, and Riley hoped that what she was going to tell her wouldn’t rip her away.

  “My dad is empty,” Liv whispered. Her face was blanketed in a fear that Riley didn’t understand. “He hides it really well. But he’s empty. I see it now. Have for a while. I don’t want to be with him. I’m no good to him now. Not until he finds someone else to try to hold on to. I think you’re starting to see it too.” She looked down at her fingers and rubbed her thumbs together, clearly uncomfortable. “Like this morning when he came home after his shift. He was off. He wouldn’t even look at me. Just said he would see me later. I thought by later he meant at the hearing. I don’t even think he worked last night.”

  Riley nodded. She didn’t want to believe it, but it was there. She looked around the truck as if waiting for the answer to magically appear in front of her. She had to do something to keep Liv in a place where she felt safe. Where she felt loved. And that as with her.

  “Damn-it,” she whispered, handing Liv her cup of cocoa to warm her. She’d started to shiver, and Riley had the notion that it wasn’t from the cold. “I’m here for you. No matter what. No matter what a judge says or if your father tries to keep you from me. I’m here. Understand that. Know that. It’s truth.” She took a deep breath, reached into the bag, and took a bite of the doughnut. “I need to tell you something. It’s about me and Teague.”