Their Shifter Princess

by May Dawson

  How in the world did I say any of that?

  The image that rose into my mind, as if answering my own question, was of shoving him against the wall, covering his lips and the hard angles of his cheekbones in kisses, and tearing his t-shirt over his head.

  I bit my lip. Maybe that wasn’t a communication method so much as a fantasy I’d had since I met him.

  Well, Josh had never minded my social awkwardness before. I tapped my knuckles against his door, two quick taps. They sounded faint in the long hallway. It was a weak knock. If I were a big, scary werewolf, I’d make fun of me.

  The door swung open, without a pause or a sound on the other side, and Josh leaned against the doorframe. His tall, powerful body was silhouetted in the doorway, with one hand tucked into his jeans pocket.

  “Mm?” he asked.

  “You were expecting me,” I accused.

  “I was,” he said. “And then, you know, I can smell and hear you when you lurk outside my door for three minutes. What was that about, Piper?”

  His smile was teasing, but gentle. He really wanted to know. There was a faint dimple of a frown between his eyebrows, too. Maybe he was worried I was leaving them.

  As if these guys could ever get rid of me easily. I’d never leave them if I had a choice.

  “I wanted to talk to you,” I said.

  He stepped back, holding his door open for me, and I followed him into his room. Just like I had that first night, the same day I met him.

  “The suspense is killing me.” Despite the words, when he turned around, his hands were in his pockets and his posture was as straight but relaxed as usual. He seemed cool, and yet I was sure he meant it.

  “Didn’t Callum talk to you yet about my birthday party tomorrow?” I asked. “I’m not really sure about his party-planning skills. He definitely is going to need help.”

  Josh quirked an eyebrow, looking at me as if he was waiting for the punchline. I never got much past him.

  “Well,” I said. “Part belated birthday party. My eighteenth really sucked. It could use a do-over. And part…”

  “Mm?”

  “Part homecoming,” I blurted out.

  I stared at him, expecting his face to be overcome by surprise, but instead one corner of his mouth quirked up. “Welcome home, princess.”

  “You knew?” I demanded.

  “I had a funny feeling.” He took my hand in his, swinging it between us, and then raised it to his mouth. When his lips pressed against my palm, it sent intimate tingles pulsing through my body. “Kai and I talked about it. The bond between us. Your hearing, your strength.”

  “I see.”

  “The only thing that made sense…” His eyes met mine as he kissed the inside of my wrist, and the wave of desire that washed over me caused me to draw a quick breath in. “…is that you belong with us. With me.”

  “Oh? And how do you feel about that?” I asked, my lips quirking, my tone light.

  “I feel like you’re fishing,” he said, his smile just as teasing. He began to kiss the inside of my arm again, but even though he was finding erogenous zones I never knew existed, I wanted the night I’d envisioned. I caught the back of his neck with my hand, leaning in toward him, and his big hands wapped around the waist.

  “I feel…” His lips met mine, gentle, tasting me. “That you know damn well how I feel.”

  “No words needed?” I asked the question, but then drew his lower lip into mine, making it near impossible for him to respond.

  “Is that why you were in the hallway, stalker?” He teased, his lips nuzzling the corner of my mouth. “Looking for the right words?”

  I hooked his collar with my finger, drawing his head down toward me so I could press a kiss to his jaw, which was stubbled with five o’clock shadow after the long day we’d had. It felt nicely scratchy when I kissed him. “I guess maybe words are overrated.”

  “Maybe.” He paused, cupping my face with his palms. Suddenly, the teasing dropped away, and his deep blue eyes were earnest as he gazed into mine. “You know that even if you weren’t the pack princess, I would have wanted you, right? I would’ve chosen you.”

  “Yes.” My whisper was so soft it was barely audible. I hadn’t wanted him to choose me over his pack, knowing how much they all needed each other. I’d been willing to sacrifice the love and warmth I felt here to protect them. But the sense of gratitude and relief that washed over me now made my eyes fill with sudden tears. I didn’t have to run away from them for their own good. I could stay. I hadn’t admitted to myself how much I wanted to be here.

  “Oh, none of that,” he said, swiping his thumb across my cheekbones, catching my tears. “I’m going to do my best to make you happy.”

  “Oh? How so?”

  “We’re going to have one hell of a party,” he promised me.

  “Mm?” I mimicked him. “And what else?”

  He laughed and his hands slid from my hips down my thighs. The stroking of his hands sent throbs of desire through my body, and then his fingers sunk into my thighs as he lifted me up easily. I wrapped my legs around his waist, catching his shoulders with my hands. I had to laugh at his sudden, sweet attack as he held me against the wall. His lips nuzzled my throat, and my chin lifted, inviting him in.

  “I thought I was going to shove you against the wall tonight,” I said, my voice soft, because it was strange to admit something so intimate aloud. “If you teased me one minute more.”

  “Teasing?” His eyebrows quirked over mischievous blue eyes. “Oh, you haven’t seen teasing yet, princess.”

  I laughed as his mouth swept across my throat and shoulder. My arm tightened around his shoulders as he peppered me with kisses, pushing the collar of my shirt aside. The throb between my thighs turned into a desperate aching need, and I turned my face into his dark blond hair, kissing his hard-angled, ruddy cheekbones. He finally looked back to me, and our lips met over and over.

  He turned and carried me to the bed. When he laid me down, his every movement was careful. He said he’d known who I was in part by my strength, but he seemed to think I was fragile, too.

  Maybe I was. Maybe I was strong and fragile all at once, after everything I’d been through. Maybe Josh and the rest of the pack were the first people in my life to ever see me as I truly was.

  He braced himself over top of me, careful to keep his weight off my body as our lips met again. My shirt rode up, and the hem of his t-shirt brushed against my waist.

  I tugged on the hem. “This shirt offends me, FYI.”

  “Oh?” He sat back, one knee braced on either side of my legs. “What did the shirt do to you?”

  “The same thing it did to you. I thought you hated shirts,” I said innocently.

  “It’s just another layer between us and the wolf.” He drew his t-shirt over his head, and revealed his chiseled abs, powerful, tattooed pecs, and the sexy rippling of his biceps as he tossed the shirt over his shoulder. “Better?”

  “Much.”

  His fingers swept over the bare skin in the gap between my t-shirt and jeans. “I’m not particularly keen on your shirt, either. FYI.”

  “Then take it off me.” I felt the small, dirty smile turning up my lips. I’d never have thought I would be so bold with a guy. But…it was Josh. I was safe with him, to be whoever I was.

  His eyes crinkled at the corners. What was he up to? Then he bent, brushing his lips over that gap of skin in a tender kiss that made my abs contract and flutter. He took the hem of my t-shirt in his teeth and dragged it up. I breathed in, aroused and curious, and sat up on my elbows. He dragged the shirt up until cool air brushed my skin, and then one of his big hands slid across my breast, caressing it, his thumb sliding under the cup of my bra. My breath gave at the feel of his thumb brushing my nipple, and his lips quirked around his teeth that still held the hem of my shirt.

  I sat up, raising my arms over my head, and he rose to pull my shirt over my head entirely. He whipped his head, tossing the shirt ha
lfway across the room.

  “And here I was worried for a second you were going to tear it off me,” I teased.

  “It’s on the table,” he said. “I figured I needed both my hands to make you happy.”

  “Oh?” I asked, and then his thumb caressed my nipple again, and I sagged back onto my elbows. His other hand slid between my thighs, caressing me over my clothes until that ache turned into a fire.

  “It turns out,” I managed, putting my hand over his, “that I, as a werewolf myself, actually hate pants.”

  “Everyone hates pants,” he informed me.

  The backs of his hands brushed across my abs as he worked the button and zipper on my jeans, then dragged my jeans and underwear down my legs. A moment of self-consciousness flashed over me—I was letting this man see me naked—and then was lost to my desire for him.

  He stood from the foot of the bed to pull the jeans off my ankles, and tossed them on the foot of the bed. His hands went to his belt—and then he paused.

  “Are you sure, Piper?” he asked me. “We can take this as slow as you need to.”

  “Slow’s not what I need right now.” My voice came out low, threaded with desire.

  “Good.” Relief was thick in his tone. He stepped out of his jeans, revealing the hard muscle of his lower abs, a faint dark blond happy trail, and then the bobbing of his long, thick cock. Despite his obvious desire for me, he added, “We can stop whenever you want, Piper. You can always change your mind. I want this to be good. Special.”

  It was special because it was him.

  But I couldn’t say something that cheesy.

  Instead, I crooked a finger at him, beckoning him toward me.

  He threw himself onto the bed beside me, landing with a bounce on his elbow. Those deep blue eyes met mine, and he leaned forward, pressing his lips to mine again. I savored the way he tasted as his lips parted. Tentatively, the tip of his tongue traced the inside of my upper lip. Throbbing for him, I threw my leg over his hip. I just wanted to press myself against him, to have him warm all the empty places within me.

  He slid his palm over the curve of my waist to my hip. “This might be easier if you’re on top. For the first time.”

  I nodded and, as he rolled over onto his back, I climbed on top of him. I would’ve felt shy, uncertain what to do, but he couldn’t hide his smile as he gazed up at me like I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

  I wrapped my hand around his cock. “Like this?” I asked innocently, pressing his tip against my core. The second I rubbed his cock against me, it somehow both satisfied the throbbing desire I had for him…and made me want more.

  “Yes. You’re so wet for me,” he murmured, his voice full of wonder.

  I drew him in circles across my throbbing core, and felt him groan in desire, as I teased us both now.

  “Hang on,” he managed, reaching across the bed to fumble open the dresser drawer. He pulled out a condom, and flashed a rueful smile my way. I sat back on his thighs as he ripped open the package and rolled it on. “No wolf cubs for us.”

  I took him in my hand again. This time, when he brushed between my thighs, I carefully sank down, letting him inside me. I drew in a sharp breath as his tip stretched me, and his lips parted, breathing in too. I grinned, amused that this first step had both of us gasping.

  “You feel so damn good,” he muttered, his hands tightened around my hips.

  With my knees against the hard muscles of his waist, I sank lower. Halfway down, I paused, getting used to the incredible full feeling of having him inside me. It was almost painful, almost overwhelming… but so good at the same time.

  “You’re doing so good, princess,” he murmured, and it was his time to crook a finger at me. I bent at the waist, covering his mouth with mine. His fingers wrapped around the back of my head, sinking into my hair, as we traded kisses. He nuzzled the corner of my mouth. “Does it hurt?”

  I turned my head, catching his lips with mine. “What really hurts is not having you inside me.”

  He smiled against my mouth. We kissed over and over, until the ache of him filling me had faded. Pulling away from his kiss, even though he half-rose onto his elbows to follow me, I straightened, flashing him a smile. He gazed up at me, his eyes lidded with desire and affection.

  I rode him, rising up until he brushed between my thighs, then sliding down until his cock filled me completely and my thighs met the hard muscle of his abs again. Deep heat flushed my body as we moved together. He held my hip in his hand, his fingers as hard and hot and individual as a brand on my ass, and the other hand twisted the bedsheets as he resisted his orgasm. He bit his lower lip, hard, and warmth filled my chest. I did that to him. He wanted me.

  And the heat rose. My core pulsed around him, and I leaned back, my breasts rising toward the ceiling as my back arched. He took my breast in his hand, his thumb stroking over my nipple, and I almost screamed at the intense sensation.

  Together, we came, and I felt him shudder inside me as I tightened around him, over and over, the intense heat fading as pleasure blossomed through every muscle. Then I fell forward onto his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly, even though he was still buried deep inside me.

  He stroked my hair back, then kissed my forehead. The most pleasant ache was between my thighs now, a gentle pain that I didn’t mind one bit. I nuzzled my head against his shoulder.

  “Don’t ever leave me, Piper,” he said softly.

  I wouldn’t. I needed him. But I didn’t want to say that, so I just smiled. “As if you could get rid of me.”

  “I need you,” he said, kissing me again.

  I didn’t entirely believe that this tough, powerful guy needed me, but it was clear he wanted me, and that was enough. He smiled at me fondly, and the two of us curled together.

  As the heat between us softened into warmth, I relaxed, safe in his arms.

  Chapter 29

  When Callum leaned back in the kitchen chair and tented his fingertips together, it gave me a bad feeling.

  “Is it too soon to get back to normal life?” he asked.

  Kai snorted, throwing his napkin on top of his plate and scraping back from the table to carry it to the sink. “When have we ever had a normal life?”

  “I thought maybe you guys could go to school today,” he said. “The Kingstons are gone. Piper’s father. I don’t want to draw any more suspicion toward us than we have to…”

  “It might be good for Maddie,” I said. “She’s always liked school.”

  “Wait, wait, wait.” Nick had been leaning back, his chair balanced on its back legs, and now he leaned forward, the chair landing with a thump. “You mean you want us to keep going to high school?”

  “Until the end of the year.” Callum met his eyes evenly. “Piper needs to finish.”

  “It’s a waste of her time and power, not to mention—” Nick began.

  “That part is not under negotiation,” Callum said. “The only thing we’re discussing is whether you go back today or tomorrow.”

  Callum glanced around the table, meeting the guys’ eyes in turn. Kai groaned as he gripped the back of his chair, but he nodded. Finally, Callum’s eyes met mine. One eyebrow arched over his hazel eyes.

  “I’m fine with going back today,” I said. The truth was that I wanted to graduate; I wanted as normal a life as possible for Maddie and me, at least for now. I still didn’t know what it really meant in the long term to be the pack’s princess. “If you’re going to hell, might as well not procrastinate.”

  Callum was being the bad guy here, making us all go back. And even though he was being bossy, once again, I was grateful for it.

  Callum nodded. “I have the day off work. While you’re at school, I’ll move your stuff and Maddie’s from your father’s house.”

  The thought of going back into that house made a shiver run up my spine. “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “Of course. Now—go get ready. All of you.”
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  An hour later, after we’d dropped Maddie off at school, Kai cut the engine in the school parking lot. He sighed and put his forehead down on the steering wheel.

  I clapped his shoulder. “Buck up. You’re practically a god in this school now.”

  “It’s still high school,” he said into the steering wheel. “I already did this. It wasn’t fun the first time.”

  “Now you get to do it all over again with me. Maybe it’ll be better.”

  He raised his head and ran his hand through his hair. “Really can’t be any worse.”

  “You know,” Josh said, “I was thinking this could be a good thing. We can hear any rumors about the Kingstons and the Sullivans. Control the narrative.”

  “I appreciate how you’re always upbeat,” Kai’s tone did not suggest sincerity, “but that doesn’t change the fact that I have homework.”

  “Like you did that the first time,” Josh accused.

  Kai considered that, pursing his lips to one side. “Okay, valid point.”

  Nick swung open my car door and offered me his hand. I took his hand even though I didn’t need it, because I liked the feel of his hand against mine. While Josh and Kai, still bantering, scrambled out of the car, the two of us headed for the school steps.

  As we reached the wide, concrete steps, Josh came up on my left, resting a possessive, protective hand on my lower back. Kai flanked us to the right, casting a watchful glance around. The students on the steps fell silent except for whispers. In sidelong glances or outright stairs, it felt like everyone watching us. The crowd in front of us melted away.

  Surrounded by my guys, we walked into school, and then the crowd folded around us. Everyone wanted to congratulate Josh and Kai on the game, once again, or invite them somewhere, or just say hello. The two of them were busy answering everyone—Josh with his usual golden boy charm, and Kai with grunted one-word answers—as Nick squeezed my hand, smiling down at me.

  “I don’t care where I am,” he murmured, “as long as I’m here with you.”