by Jane Jamison
She was one of them. The news was both thrilling and disconcerting.
“Let me tell you what you should do, Mira.”
“What’s that?” she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
“You should ask your men about the lions. They’re the ones who should tell you.”
“Why is that? Why can’t you tell me?”
His amber-flecked eyes met hers. “Because you’re theirs and they’re yours.”
“Oh.” It was simple enough. “Okay. I will ask them.”
She turned back to stare out the window.
Oh, you bet I’ll ask them. I’ll ask them tonight.
* * * *
Mira returned to the ranch that very night. Not only because she’d promised she would and because she physically ached to see them again, but she was dying to hear what they’d have to say about lions in Lonesome, Texas.
The men greeted her on the porch, and although it took every ounce of her strength to keep from falling into their arms, she pushed past them and into the house. “We need to talk.”
“Shit,” muttered Rick. “We’ve barely started the relationship and we’re already getting the ‘we need to talk’ crap.”
“Shut up, man. She looks serious.” Henry butted against Rick and even beat Davis through the door.
She waited for them, arms crossed, doing her best to keep up her resolve. But not giving in was more difficult than she’d ever thought it would be. When Davis grew closer, she held out a hand, palm out to stop him. “No. Don’t touch me. I need to keep my wits about me.”
“Where’s the fun in that, babe?” asked Rick.
“No,” she said and threw him a glare. “You are not going to charm me out of talking first.”
Davis gave his brothers a quick nod then motioned her to the couch. “Have a seat, sugar-baby.”
“I’d rather stand.”
“What’s going on? What’s got you so riled up?” Henry moved closer but off to the side.
She drew in a breath. How was she supposed to tell them about seeing lions?
Straight out.
“What do you three know about lions around Lonesome?”
It was as though their bodies had suddenly been frozen. Their expressions were blank. Too blank. Emotionless, yet keeping their thoughts carefully restrained. Which meant they knew something. But would they tell her? Or would they shift the responsibility to someone else like Doc had done?
“I’m not sure you know what you’re asking.” Davis hooked his thumbs in his jeans pockets. He tried to act nonchalant, but he was anything but nonchalant as he shifted from one foot to the other.
“I can tell you know something. Tell me. Are there really lions running around wild?” The answer, of course, was yes since she’d seen them for herself. But what would they say?
“Running around wild?” countered Rick. “I’m not sure what you mean by wild.”
She shot him a glare. “Oh, come on. You know what I mean. I mean not locked up, which is where lions should be. Unless they’re living on a nature preserve or in Africa. But they sure as hell shouldn’t be running around loose where people live.”
“We need to tell her.”
She shifted toward Henry. “Tell me what?”
“About the lions,” he answered.
“We will.” Davis shot Henry a hard look. “But we need to do something else first. I’m not taking a chance on losing her.”
“I don’t understand.” She sought an answer from each of them. “What do the lions have to do with you losing me?” As far as she was concerned, there wasn’t anything they could do to lose her. But she had to know. “Just tell me. I know there are lions because I saw three of them earlier today.”
“So much for staying under cover,” mumbled Henry.
“Under cover?” She gritted her teeth. Why were they being so damn frustrating? “Will you please just tell me? What’s going on? What are you covering up?”
“Okay, here’s the thing, babe. We’ll tell you all about the lions if you promise to do one thing for us.”
Suspicion hit her. The mix of that emotion along with frustration churned in her stomach. “What one thing do I have to do?”
Henry smiled just enough to make her suspicion grow stronger. “Kiss us.”
“I’m sorry. You want me to kiss you before you’ll tell me?” What was he trying to pull?
“Yeah. Kiss us first. Not so much me, but Davis and Henry. Still, I’d like a kiss, too,” said Rick.
“If you’re thinking of doing what I think you’re doing, we should ask her a question first.” Davis cleared his throat. “Answer a question first and then kiss us. Then we’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
She didn’t understand what they were doing, but she didn’t want to waste time. After all, she didn’t have any secrets, so she could answer any question they wanted. As for kissing them? She’d love to do that and more. “Fine. I agree. Ask me the question.”
Rick and Henry waited for Davis to ask her. “Do you love us, Mira? I mean really love us with no reservations?”
“Don’t get technical, man. It was a simple question.” Henry’s dark eyes met hers. “At least, it should be a simple question.”
She still didn’t know what they were getting at, but for her, it was easy to answer. “Yes. I love you without any reservations.”
“Are you sure?” asked Henry. “I mean, after what happened with Carl Hartley, we need you to be sure.”
She’d had the same concern several times, but every time she compared what she’d felt for Carl and what she felt for the Fairland men, she came up with the same answer. “I didn’t know what real love was like until I met you three. I love you. With every breath I take, I love you.”
The relief on their faces was enough to bring tears to her eyes. But it was now their turn. “Before I kiss you, I need you to answer the same question. Do you love me?” She added, just for good measure, “Without reservations?”
“Babe, I couldn’t love you more. You’re everything to me.”
Rick had never sounded so romantic. His words made it even harder not to cry.
“And you, Davis?” She couldn’t wait to hear him say the words.
“Yeah, sugar-baby. I love you so much my heart hurts. But in a good way.”
Henry moved closer and took her hands. “And I love you, too. I’ll never love any woman the way I love you. Now, are you going to kiss us or what?”
“Yes. I’ll kiss you.”
He took her chin and brought his mouth to hers. His kiss was light, almost non-existent when he whispered, “Breathe, honey. Just breathe.”
She remembered the last time she’d heard those words. She remembered Rick’s sweet yet sexy breath. And she inhaled, drawing in Henry’s breath.
Her head swam, and her body heated up. She inhaled yet again, wanting more, needing more.
“My turn,” said Davis as he took her hand from Henry’s and had her face him. He kissed her, more urgently than Henry had done. His mouth crushed hers as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.
“Just do it, Davis. Don’t get too much going right now.”
Shut up, Rick.
Yet Davis obeyed his brother and ended the kiss. Taking her face in his hands, he looked into her eyes and said the words she loved to hear. “Breathe.”
And she did, the sensation sweeping through her. Her lust for them grew stronger, wilder, and she clung to him. But too soon, he eased away to let Rick step closer.
“Breathe,” he said as he’d done one night before.
She nodded slightly and drew in a breath. His was as she’d remembered it. So much like his brothers’ breaths, yet different. Each was unique. Each was sweet yet musky with each man’s special edge.
By the time Rick had stepped back, her legs felt weak and she wobbled on her feet. “What did you do to me?”
Instead of answering her question, Davis answered the question she’d come to
ask them. “The lions you saw were real.”
“I know that.” Why did her mind seem so fuzzy while her body felt so alive? “But what are they doing here? Why isn’t everyone doing something about them?”
“What would you want us to do?” Rick’s tone had gone low. He planted his feet apart and took what looked like a confrontational stance. “Lock them in a cage?”
“Yes. Or a zoo. Or a wildlife preserve. I don’t know.” She willed her mind to think. “But we can’t let them roam freely. What if they came on a child?”
“These lions wouldn’t hurt a child. They wouldn’t hurt anyone unless they had to protect themselves or someone they loved.” Davis put his arm on Rick’s, silently urging him to calm down.
“How do you know? They’re wild animals. Or are people raising them as pets?” She’d heard of it before, and most of the time, the animal ended up either attacking a person or having to be returned to their natural habitat. Raising an exotic animal as a pet like it was a dog or a cat was cruel and unnecessary.
“They’re not pets, either,” said Henry, his expression sad. “They’re part of the community.”
She laughed, a coarse sound. “You make it sound like one of them is the mayor.”
Why didn’t they think that was funny?
“Well, at one time, we did have a lion as the mayor,” answered Davis. “And most of the town council, too.”
“You’re kidding. Come on, guys. This is a serious matter.” Why were they making light of this?
“Babe, you need to listen to us. What we have to tell you is going to be tough to hear.”
Henry took over for Rick. “He’s right. Tough to hear, but we’re hoping you’re going to think it’s a good thing, too.”
“What are you talking about?” Were they purposefully trying to change the subject?
“But the main thing to remember is that you trust us. You do, don’t you?” asked Davis.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We need to talk about the lions.” Frustration set in, but she held it back, trying to understand.
“Honey…” Henry came forward, his gaze set on hers, his expression serious. “Just answer the question. We know you love us and we love you. But do you trust us?”
She didn’t have to think about her answer. “Of course, I do. But what does that have to do with lions? Why won’t you answer my question?”
Henry took her hands. “Honey, we’re the lions you saw.”
She was certain then that her mind was too far-gone to think straight. Whatever had happened had taken away her ability to hold a conversation. “That’s ridiculous. I saw lions. Not men.”
Davis was by her side then with Rick coming to her other side. The men she loved surrounded her, scaring yet comforting her at the same time. “Those were animals. Not men. And not you.”
For a moment, she wasn’t sure they’d respond. Then Henry let go of her hands. “Honey, I’m telling you the truth. The animals you saw? That was us. We were watching you and Doc and then followed you back into town.”
“Listen to him, sugar-baby.” Davis was just as earnest as Henry. “We are men who can change into lions.”
“We’re called shifters,” added Rick. “And we don’t belong in a cage.”
She’d heard about shifters and had even read a few novels with shifters as the heroes. “Shifters? You’re telling me that you’re men who can change into animals.”
“We’re werelions,” offered Henry. “We change into lions.”
She took in a breath and could still pick up a scent of their aromas. The strange yet intoxicating sensation was still working through her, drawing her to them. She felt calm, safe.
“Remember. You trust us.” Rick’s intensity had eased a little, but he still gave her an intense, probing look. “Either you do or you don’t. Which is it really?”
“I do,” she said, again answering without hesitation. “I trust you.”
“Then promise us that you won’t run.” Davis’s gaze held bits of amber. “Promise us that and we’ll show you.”
“Is the amber part of it?” Did she really believe what they were saying? But how could she? How could any sane person?
“When we allow our lion to come closer to the surface, you’ll see the amber.”
“When you allow your lion? So you’re saying you can control it?” She paused, realization dawning. “Wait. I’ve seen amber in a lot of people’s eyes. Including Doc’s. Are you telling me that all those people, that Doc, is a shifter, too?”
“Yeah. Some of those people are werelions, and some are other kinds of shifters,” explained Henry. “Like werewolves.”
She imagined a line between them. If she believed them, she’d have to cross over the line between sanity and insanity. If they were insane, then what did that mean for her?
“If you promise not to run, we’ll show you,” said Davis, repeating the proposal.
How could she say no? Although every bit of logic said that what they claimed was impossible, part of her believed. Part of her wanted them to be werelions. Because, if they were, then neither she nor they were insane. “I promise. Show me.”
Henry led her to the couch and had her sit down. “We won’t hurt you. We’d never hurt you. Even while we’re in our lion bodies, we still know and love you. Remember that.”
“Okay,” she breathed, her nerves taking over.
The men grouped near her and began to undress. At first, lust seared into her and she could already imagine their hands sliding over her naked body. They’d touch her gently then urgently, as they’d done so many times before. They’d tell her how much they cared for her, that they loved her, and would love only her for the rest of her life.
“Babe, this isn’t about sex.” Rick dropped his shirt to the floor then began taking off his belt.
“I know.” Yet would her body figure it out?
“Get ready,” said Davis as he heeled off his boots then shoved his jeans to the floor.
“It’s kind of scary,” added Henry. “You’re going to hear our bones break and change.”
She nodded, hearing what he said, but not really believing it. Her attention was locked on their cocks. They were so magnificent that she almost didn’t hear Rick’s next words.
“Here we go, babe.”
Her body had revved up, wanting, needing their bodies next to hers. She moaned then blinked.
Why is my sight getting blurry? Surely, I’m not about to pass out.
Then she realized that it wasn’t her eyesight. The men’s bodies were growing blurry. Soon the awful sound of breaking bones hit her, jarring her.
Oh my God. They’re really changing. This can’t be real.
Yet it was. As she watched, fascinated, the men’s bodies reformed, limbs bending and then reforming in different angles. Fur spread over hard, tanned bodies.
When the lion that had been Rick dropped onto all fours then padded toward her, she let out a small cry and pulled her knees to her chest.
I won’t run. I won’t run.
She trusted them. She loved them. Staying would prove both to them.
The lion moved closer, albeit going slower. Tentatively, he stuck his head out. She sucked in a hard breath but still managed not to flee.
He touched his large flat nose, the black nostrils flaring, against her foot. The touch was so gentle, so playful, that she let out a huge breath and, along with it, her fear. Reaching out slowly, she put her fingertips to the bridge of his nose.
It’s so soft.
He was huge, monstrous, larger than a “normal” lion, but she wasn’t afraid. His mane begged for her to stroke it. Coarser than his nose, but still pleasant to her touch. She smoothed her fingers through the mane traveling from the golden part of it all the way to the darker ends.
Henry and Davis, fully transformed, walked over to her. With an easy jump, Henry landed on the other side of the long couch, dipping the side. Yet she didn’t startle. Instead, she reached out
for him, urging him to come closer. He did then lay flat on the couch, his head lowered, his amber eyes staring up at her. Davis paced to the other end of the couch then lifted onto his back legs to rest his front legs on the arm of the couch. She giggled when he put his face next to her ear and purred.
I’m touching real live lions. No. I’m touching real live shifters.
She stroked them, loving it when the sound of their purrs grew louder with each stroke. Henry had closed his eyes as though relishing the attention. Rick used his massive body to shove the coffee table out of the way, then sat down like a dutiful dog ready to hear his master’s command.
No. Not a dog. And not a pet. But not a wild beast, either.
These are lions. Shifters. And the men I love.
When they began to move away, she stopped them with a plea. “No, please. Stay as your lions. Can you stay in those bodies for long? If you can, please stay.”
They came back to her and settled in around her. As they’d cocooned her as men, they did now as lions. She stroked them, petting them, but talking to them as her men. She asked questions, too. Questions that could be answered with a growl.
Did they understand what she was saying?
Did they like being lions?
Could they change anytime they wanted?
Had they ever killed anyone while in their lion forms?
That question took longer to answer, and she held her breath, afraid of what they’d say. At last, however, Rick growled, telling her that they hadn’t killed. She let out a breath of relief.
The time went quickly, unnoticed, until, at last, sleep overcame her. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep her eyes open.
Chapter Eight
Mira awoke with the sensation of a tongue between her pussy lips. Her eyelids opened wide. “Oh!” Her first thought was that one of the lions—one of her lions—had decided to taste her juices.
“Easy, babe, it’s me.”
Rick.
She was in a huge bed, one that held all four of them with room to spare. “How?” The last thing she remembered was sitting on the couch with three lions.
“We changed back and brought you to bed.” Henry lay beside her and stroked her arm with the backs of his fingers, much the same way she’d stroked him as a lion. “We didn’t want to, but you were so worn out, we let you sleep a few hours. See?” He nodded toward the blinds where sunlight peeked through them.
