ROMANCE: SHIFTER: Shifter to the Max Collection (Dragon, Bear, Wolf and Panther Shifter Romances) (Paranormal Fantasy Romance Collection)

by C. J. Ayers

  She turned to him. "If you follow me again, creep, I'll break your balls off."

  She pushed the door open and left Jakob standing wet and alone, more startled than the crowd of coffee drinkers.

  Chapter 4

  Blake stared at Jacob, horrified. "You missed the meeting?"

  Jakob barely looked at him as he shrugged out of his suit coat and tossed it onto the cherry wood bench lining his pack home's entrance hall. All he could think of was Sabrina. Had he blown it? He didn't think that was possible. Once established, the connection with your mate could never be severed. But still... She had run from him twice already.

  Blake's anger overwhelmed him. He felt his body wanting to shift. His eyes glowed a golden orange and his fingers extended towards the floor.

  "Pull it back in," Jakob said. "Now is not the time."

  Blake forced himself to concentrate. Soon his breathing normalized and his eyes were once again a very average looking hazel. He was embarrassed at such an outburst in front of Jakob.

  "Did you hear what I said," Jakob growled, "or are you so focused on money you can think of nothing else?" Blake did not respond so Jakob continued. "I found my mate."

  Blake knew Jacob shouldn't be faulted for what had happened—when you found your mate, there was nothing so important as solidifying the bond—but he didn't care. If Jakob couldn't do the deal himself, he should've sent Blake in his place.

  Jakob sensed Blake's anger, and it unsettled him. Blake had always been loyal, but he felt that loyalty waver now. It upset Jakob to think that Blake, his oldest friend and second in charge, could show signs of wanting the blood draw. If Blake persisted, Jakob would have no choice but to put him in his place. Even if that meant banishment from the pack. Or worse.

  "Next time, I'll go to the meeting." Blake said.

  Jakob's growl grew deep in his throat. "You are still second, Blake. You do not make demands, you ask permission." He paused and let the strength of his will wash over Blake's own. All alpha's had the ability to force their will onto clan members. It was for the safety of the pack this was possible—contradiction in a clan led to death and destruction.

  Blake tried to fight the power of Jakob's injunction, but it was stronger than his own.

  "Forgive me," Blake finally said, because he had no choice. The words were bitter on his tongue.

  Jakob nodded, dismissing Blake. He would deal with him later. For now, there were more important matters to take care of.

  ***

  Jakob was hunting Sabrina. He found her scent easily in the air. Even from miles away, it could not hide from him. There was something else... a gentle tugging at the back of his brain that told him where she was. He'd heard the stories, of course, of sharing a connection with your mate so strong it was like you were one person. He'd thought the stories were exaggerated. He knew now it was the opposite.

  Jakob left his house early and followed Sabrina on her Saturday morning routine. She'd stopped first at a convenient store and come out carrying a bottle of water. She'd seen him, but he'd disappeared quickly, knowing it wasn't the right time to reveal himself.

  Next, she stopped at the bank. She'd seen him again, and he smiled at her through the window and continued on his way, as if the meeting were mere coincidence.

  Now he stood outside a coffee shop. Not the same one as last time. This one offered chocolate mocha volcano cups, whatever those were. He watched through the window as Sabrina placed her order.

  ***

  Sabrina knew Jakob was outside. He'd been following her all morning. She didn't know if he thought she was too dumb to notice, or so confident that it didn't matter.

  She tried to gather her thoughts. Call the police? No. Despite his trailing her everywhere, she didn't feel threatened by him. She felt flattered. A rich, sexy man was giving up his Saturday morning to follow her around as she ran menial tasks like going to the bank and buying coffee.

  She looked at the latte in her hand—coffee was her one vice, she couldn't live without it—and knew she shouldn't spend the money on it. She'd had to transfer money from her savings to her checking account yesterday after getting home. Her savings were almost completely gone now. A couple hundred dollars and she'd be dead broke.

  She watched Jakob pace outside the shop. He sent tingles up her spine, even as he stalked her. She couldn't stay in here all morning. She stepped outside. "Are you following me again?"

  "Yes." Jakob watched for her reaction. He didn't want her running off again, but he also refused to lie. There was weakness in lying, and Jakob was not a weak man.

  "Why?" she demanded.

  Jakob shrugged. "Because you're my mate."

  His mate? Was he for real? However...the words sounded strange, but also right. She'd dreamt of him last night. It had been very vivid, charged with a sexuality almost as unreal as the muscles under his clothes.

  "I want to explain about yesterday," Jakob said. "When I asked for companionship, I only meant the pleasure of your company." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "In a public place," he added. "I only wanted to talk to you."

  "Why?" Sabrina asked. She couldn't believe a man like this would have anything much to say to her. He was obviously wealthy. The suit he wore today was just as nice as the one he'd worn yesterday.

  Jakob could not believe how beautiful yet how stubborn this woman was. He knew she felt what he did. Why was she resisting? "I told you. You're my mate." Sabrina's heart thumped. "Let me take you to dinner," he said. "Tonight. I want you to know me."

  Sabrina felt herself giving in. "But I have work stuff," she murmured.

  Jakob's eyes went black then lightened to an almost unnatural degree of light blue. Sabrina saw flecks of white and silver that she'd missed the other day. "This is more important," he said. "It's the weekend anyway."

  She couldn't fight the electricity that ran over her skin just being near him. In this moment, her brain and heart wanted the same thing, and she gave in. "Alright," she said, and gave him her address.

  Chapter 5

  Sabrina double checked herself in the mirror. Her dress was tight and showed off every voluptuous curve of her body. She especially liked the way her breasts rounded out to form a nice line of cleavage skinny chicks could never get without implants.

  The light green of her dress highlighted the deeper green of her eyes, and she added a dash of red to her lips before pressing them onto a napkin to blot the excess. The bell rang and Sabrina's heart almost gave out. She ran down the hall of her apartment and slipped into some black heels before adjusting herself one last time.

  Jakob stood outside the door, flowers in hand, feeling silly. The typical courting rituals weren't usually done when you found your mate. They weren't necessary. Mates instinctively knew they were supposed to be together, and things like dating were usually skipped. Marriage took place, then children.

  Sabrina was making this more difficult than it should be, but he also found that to be something fascinating about her. He felt as though he already knew her, yet he could not wrap his mind around exactly what made her tick. She infuriated him in ways no woman ever had. Jakob had become accustomed to getting his way, especially with women, and now he found himself having to work for Sabrina's affection. It aroused him like nothing ever had.

  "So you're not a model?" Sabrina asked after they'd been seated. The restaurant they were in was too fancy. Sabrina shifted in her seat. At the table next to them, a woman in a Valentino dress drank Dom Pérignon like it was water.

  Jakob laughed. It was a rich sound that made her body itch to touch more than just his hand.

  "No. I suppose you could call me an entrepreneur. I own several companies, and buy other companies that I think will make me more money."

  "That sounds boring," Sabrina said. She shuffled her hands nervously. She didn't like the idea of wealth. Despite the money her family had, she'd never been comfortable with it. Having money always made you want more money, and there was never enough of it to satisf
y. She'd watched her parents spend more time with their money than they had with each other, or even her.

  Jakob's face twitched. "I've worked hard for money. My work supports my family, and I like having control over my own life. You can't have that if you're always broke."

  His words felt like a dig at her, but there was something else he'd said that was far more alarming. "Your family? Are you married?" She was horrified she hadn't thought to ask. Of course a man like this was married. She'd seen too many couples break up because of infidelity, and she would never allow herself to be a part of that, no matter how much Jakob made her head spin.

  "No," Jakob said. "I'm not married. I meant my brothers."

  "Oh," Sabrina relaxed, relieved. She hadn't thought it was possible to want a man so much, so fast.

  The waiter brought some champagne in an elegant gold bottle embossed with a lavish golden spade. The bottle looked more expensive than the watch Jakob wore on his hand. The waiter poured it out for them and Sabrina read the label.

  "It's Armand di Brignac," Jakob said. "Brut gold." He added these last words as if they should mean something to her.

  She smiled and sipped the champagne. It was silky and creamy and Sabrina wanted to get rid of it. She would've rather had wine in a box than this stuff sitting in front of her. She picked up a menu, trying to relieve her mind of its discomfort. The menu prices were like a punch in the jaw. One hundred dollars for soup and salad! Was that for real?

  Jakob caught Sabrina eyeing the bottle of Brignac and thought he'd made the right choice. Wealth and power were always the things most attractive to women, and he had them in abundance. "It's one of the best champagnes in the world," Jakob said, thinking to entice her further. "Only the finest restaurants stock it. Three thousand a bottle." The last part might have been considered a bit gauche, but Jakob was proud he could afford such luxuries. Soon Sabrina would have them too.

  Sabrina dropped her menu. Her eyes were bright. "What's wrong?" Jakob asked.

  "How much did you say?"

  "What?"

  "The champagne. How much did you say it was?"

  "Oh," Jakob relaxed. His trick had worked. She was impressed. "Only three thousand. You can buy it cheaper wholesale, but the way the restaurants mark things up..."

  Sabrina grabbed her purse and pushed her chair back.

  "Are you going to the restroom?" Jakob asked, uncertain. He did not like uncertainty.

  "No. I'm leaving."

  "Leaving?" he stood up now and reached out an arm to stop her. "Why?" He was shocked to find tears in her eyes.

  "I knew this was a mistake. Why did you bring me here? Just to show off?"

  "Well..." Jakob felt himself stumbling. He wasn't accustomed to such outbursts. "Yes."

  Her mouth dropped open and her cheeks grew red. Jakob had no idea what to do. It angered him to feel so clueless.

  "This could never work between us. You're everything that I hate." Sabrina ran out of the restaurant and Jakob stood baffled as patrons at the tables around them pretended not to stare.

  Chapter 6

  Blake paced the room again. The moon was bright tonight, soon it would be full. No matter. Blake was a master at self-control. Hadn't he proven that time and time again, assisting Jakob with his business ventures?

  Mark walked into the room and snapped the light on just as Blake's plan was beginning to shape itself.

  "Blake?" Mark asked. He'd come in for some of Jakob's scotch—he allowed them to it whenever they wanted—and found Blake standing in the dark, looking crazed. Mark thought the moon had gotten to him.

  "What?" Blake snapped.

  "Err..."

  Blake liked Mark most of the time. He did as he was told. Blake wondered how deep his loyalty to Jakob ran.

  "Doesn't it upset you?" Blake shouted from the window.

  "What?"

  "Jakob. Out with his Sabrina. Blowing the deal with Remy because of her."

  Mark shrugged. "He found his mate." It was simple to him. He was happy for Jakob.

  "Yes, but does that mean he gets to disregard us? Forget his pack?"

  "Well," Mark said, suddenly uncomfortable. He didn't like where this was going. "The pack has plenty of money."

  "Jakob's money," Blake corrected.

  "I guess. But we all share it. We all have our own interests in the companies—"

  Blake cut him off with a howl. "How can you defend him? He chose a woman over us, his brothers."

  Mark hadn't really thought of it like that. It was sort of irritating.

  Blake saw Mark's doubt and dialed down his outrage, he needed to sound calm and rational. "If he wants to be with Sabrina, that's fine. I don't want to stop him. But does he need to be alpha then? There are others amongst us with no mate who would be happy to fill his shoes. That way Jakob could concentrate on what's truly important to him now—his Sabrina."

  Mark thought Blake had a point. If Jakob didn't want to lead anymore, someone else could.

  Blake didn't want to push. The seed was planted now, he could see it in Mark's eyes. Mark would tell William, and William would tell Tony. The seed would spread.

  "Did you come in for scotch?" Blake asked. Mark nodded. "I'll join you."

  ***

  Sabrina ran down the sidewalk, raising her hand for a taxi she couldn't afford. The tears stung her eyes, and worse, her pride. She'd let herself believe there could be something real between her and Jakob, but there could never be anything more than an awkward pairing of social class.

  "Sabrina, wait!" Jakob was running towards her. He moved so fast, it almost seemed like he was flying. "Tell me what I did," he said when he got to her.

  She shook her head and turned away. He grabbed her shoulder—not too rough, just hard enough to spin her back around—and made her face him. She closed her eyes, afraid the sight of him would make her forget herself again. Sabrina did not date. She did not take lovers. She did not have money and did not care to know anyone who did.

  Jakob's arms wrapped around her and she gasped. It felt like she was melting into him. The warmth of his body, the strength of his muscles, it was like nothing she'd ever felt.

  Jakob felt her curves beneath his hands. He dropped them to her waist, and when she didn't protest, her hips. The flesh under her clothes filled his palms and his heart began to race. Her scent was all over him now. He drew it into him in long, deep breaths and held it, refusing to let it go.

  "This won't work," she said through muffled tears. Her face was buried against his shoulder. "I don't like money."

  He started to laugh, then thought better of it. It seemed preposterous to him, but she was serious.

  "We shouldn't have come here," he said.

  She nodded into his chest. She could hear people walking past them and hoped she and Jakob didn't draw too much attention.

  "Let's just walk then," Jakob said.

  She looked up at him. Her eyes were wet and he longed to kiss those full, ruby lips.

  "Walk?"

  He nodded and took her hand, pulling her along. She fell into step beside him. The moon was out and her hair glowed under it. He liked the way she wore it short. So different from the women of his past.

  They walked to a park and went over a bridge where a creek ran beneath it. They didn't talk, just relished in the buzz of electricity that ran between them in the starlight. Sabrina was the one to break the silence.

  "I like you," she admitted, though it pained her to do so. "But this can't work."

  "Let me try again. Tomorrow."

  She shook her head. "Your job... your money..."

  "Is that all you see when you look at me? My money?"

  She bit her lip. Jakob longed to bite it too.

  "No," she said. She didn't know what was wrong with her. Normally she would never give a guy like this the time of day. There was no such thing as love, she knew that. Yet she couldn't stop thinking about Jakob even when he was a foot away from her.

  "Tomorrow," he
said again.

  "Maybe if I plan things?" Sabrina piped up.

  "No. I'll plan it." His voice was harder than he'd intended. "It will be perfect. I promise."

  Sabrina wanted to argue, but she was too entranced with his eyes. They were glowing. She thought it was the moonlight at first, but they kept getting brighter and lighter. It was as if glistening silver flecks were floating inside them. Then it was gone.

  Jakob took a deep breath and forced his eyes back to their normal blue. Now was not the time to tell her his secret. She looked so beautiful in the moonlight. Jakob couldn't resist. He leaned down and kissed her.

  Sabrina's mouth opened instinctively. Jakob's lips were almost as hot as his hands, and she appreciated the appetite they had for her. A strange tingling began in her toes, nipping at them like static electricity. The tingling spread to her legs, increasing its strength. Soon her whole chest was embraced by a heat and an energy not of this world. When the heat moved to her head, it stretched to Jakob like the tentacles of a jellyfish, and it was as if a lightning bolt struck Jakob and Sabrina where their mouths met.

  She pulled away, gasping for breath. Jakob's hands shook. He hadn't known what to expect when they kissed, but this... this was beyond his imagination.

  "Tomorrow," she said, letting her hand fall against his cheek. It buzzed against his skin. He nodded his head, prepared to do anything necessary to make Sabrina his.

  Chapter 7

  Sunday came and went. Sabrina had completely forgotten that she'd promised to have dinner with her parents, and had to cancel her date with Jakob. He suggested going with her to her parents house, but there was no way she'd ever let that happen. She dreaded the time away from him. During the night, she'd dreamt of him again. Of their bodies touching, skin against skin. She still hadn't seen all his chest muscles. At times they seemed impossibly huge, like under his clothes lurked the body of the Hulk.

  Sabrina and her parents were just sitting down to dinner when the bell rang and her parents introduced Walter. Walter was a bachelor stockbroker who had millions. Sabrina cringed. "Nice to meet you," Walter said, taking Sabrina's hand. It felt cold, and she realized she missed the heat Jakob offered with his touch. She smiled and nodded, but said next to nothing all through dinner.