Moonlight Mist: A Limited Edition Collection of Fantasy & Paranormal)

by Nicole Morgan

  “Yes. We need beef today. More game-y things will work next week,” Gunny said.

  “So, it’s true. I’d heard you were sweet on the new girl at the sewing shop, but I blew it off. To be honest, I thought you’d lost your mate and just didn’t want to talk about it.”

  Gunny rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Hallie is really sweet.”

  “And, from what I hear, a wolf shifter that doesn’t know about her gift.”

  “What the hell? Does everyone in town know?” Gunny asked.

  “Nah. Just the entire shifter community. As soon as you figured out she was your mate, word went out so all unbonded males would steer clear.”

  Makes sense. “I’ve got to go. Hallie is coming for dinner tonight. Have a good night, and I may see you after the shift.”

  “Possibly. But, I doubt it.” Cal laughed.

  The cowbell rang as Gunny opened the door and exited the brick-front establishment.

  When he arrived home, Aunt Martina met him in the foyer. “‘Bout time you got here. When is Hallie coming over again?”

  “I reminded her all day that Hallie was coming when she got out of work, around six,” Clara said.

  “That’s right. I’ve got time for a quick shower and then I need to get dinner started. I stopped at Prime Cuts and got some beautiful steak.”

  “What? Venison isn’t good enough?” Aunt Martina asked.

  “We’ll have venison over the weekend. Cal will get a fresh kill in and keep some for us.”

  Placated, Martina wandered into the next room.

  “She’s been disoriented and so forgetful all day. Each time we near the full moon, it gets worse and worse with her. I worry that her wolf has the same thing going on,” Clara said.

  “Me, too. That’s why I don’t want Hallie here—I want Martina to be able to come home so she is comfortable. Maybe, after this month, we’ll stay home. She’ll have Hallie to keep her company while I’m hunting.”

  “Well, maybe Hallie will be the better hunter. Then you can stay with your great-aunt. I’ll be here tomorrow a little early in case she is up rambling around all night.”

  His cell pinged.

  HT: Just locked up. Stopping at the diner for dessert. Hope you like pecan pie.

  GN: Love it. See you soon. <3

  Did I really just put a heart emoji in that text? Can I edit it? Erase it? Oh, why can’t there be take-backs for texts?

  His phone pinged again.

  HT: <3

  That was close. Gunny was worried about Hallie freaking out over the news of being a wolf shifter—but he was even more concerned that she would reject him.

  Part of it was the pheromones in preparation for Hallie’s first shift. They were driving him nuts. He tried to relax but every part of him eagerly anticipated Hallie’s arrival.

  Even Martina was anxious—though she couldn’t express why.

  Gunny sat in the living room with some courtroom reality TV show playing. Aunt Martina loved them, though he couldn’t understand why.

  “Why are you trying to deny that your mate is Hallie?” Martina asked.

  “I’m not exactly trying to deny it—I just think it would be a lot to take in. First, Hallie finds out she’s a wolf shifter. Then, she finds out I’m her mate—or vice versa. That’s a lot to deal with.”

  “Have you talked to your parents about ending the bonding with Gisella?” his aunt asked.

  Gunny shook his head. “But, I left them a message asking them to call when they had a minute.”

  “When was that?” Martina asked.

  “A couple days ago. Not really that long.”

  “Not long by your father’s assessment of the passage of time.” Martina scoffed.

  “Can we not do this right now? Hallie will be here any minute.” Gunny’s patience was but a thin filament stretched across the table at that time.

  They sat in silence until the knot in his chest unraveled.

  Martina stood. “Hallie’s here.”

  “I knew that.” He rubbed his breastbone.

  In three long leaps, he’d crossed the living room and stood in the entryway. As his fingers wrapped around the doorknob, warmth infused him.

  And, his cock filled.

  It felt like an hour before Gunny opened the door, but it had probably only been a moment or two.

  In one hand, Hallie held the pecan pie she’d picked up from the diner. In the other, she held her purse—with a toothbrush and toothpaste inside. No way I’m going to have bad breath if he kisses me—or asks me to spend the night.

  It wasn’t like Hallie to want to rush things, though. Something about Gunny was different.

  Like, the way she fully relaxed when she was with him. That uncomfortable twist in the middle of her chest was gone for the first time when they were together.

  The way he doted on her. They hadn’t spent a lot of time together, but lunch that day? Spectacular. She’d never been treated like royalty before.

  There was more she couldn’t identify, but was confident that Gunther Newfield was a good choice for a boyfriend.

  Gunny took the pie and pulled her in the house. The door closed and she was pressed against it by Gunny’s lean, hard body.

  Her lady bits tingled and ached for touch.

  Hallie rubbed against Gunny and he groaned, grinding his erection into her belly. She wrapped a leg around his and ground against his thigh.

  “Ahem.”

  Shit. Martina.

  “There are bedrooms upstairs. Unless you want an audience, I suggest you make use of one.” Martina giggled.

  Gunny stood straight, still pressed against Hallie. “You should mind your own business.”

  “Your business is my business—especially when it comes to continuing the family line.”

  “That’s enough, Martina. I’d really like some privacy with Hallie,” Gunny said, his voice laced with a growl.

  “It’s okay. We have lots of time. I just want to stay here for a few more minutes because I missed you.” Hallie looked upward.

  Gunny’s gaze met hers.

  The crawling sensation beneath her skin subsided for the first time that day and she felt like howling again.

  Gunny smiled. “Whatever you want, Schatz.”

  “He called you treasure,” Martina said.

  “One. Two. Three. Four. Five…” Gunny counted to ten, exhaled, and turned toward Martina. “I love you, Auntie, but I need you to let us navigate this ourselves.”

  Martina grinned. “You don’t have much time, Nephew. I’ll go start dinner while you two reconnect.” Martina winked at Hallie.

  “I’ll be in shortly. Remember, we don’t want to overcook those steak cubes.”

  “I prefer them tartar, myself. So, you don’t have to worry about that.” Martina strode purposefully down the hallway.

  Hallie raised up on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss on Gunny’s collarbone. He towered over her, and she was nearly five feet, nine inches.

  “If things go well tonight, did you want to stay after Martina’s in bed?” Gunny asked.

  Hallie nodded.

  A slow smile split Gunny’s face. “I’d love that, you know. Laying next to you. Holding you. I can’t wait.”

  “I must confess—I brought my toothbrush.” Hallie felt heat creeping up her neck.

  “Nothing wrong with being prepared. I’m just sad you’ll have to go home before work.”

  “You leave earlier than I do,” Hallie said.

  “Doesn’t matter. I want to think about you laying in my bed all day. Then again, I’d have a raging hard-on from thinking about it, so it’s probably better this way.” Gunny laced their fingers.

  “Maybe. Probably.”

  Gunny’s phone chimed. He read the text and frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” Hallie asked.

  “Nothing. Just a weirdo.” He put his phone in his back pocket. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “That makes me think there’s something to worry about
, you know,” Hallie said.

  Gunny sighed. “It’s just Kat Elliott—the middle school social studies teacher. She sends me random texts all the time. Today, there’s just a picture of the front door as you’re walking inside. Makes me nervous.”

  “I don’t know her. Why would she do that?” Hallie asked.

  “She’s…different. I don’t know any other way to explain it.” Gunny’s lips became a thin line. “Don’t let it worry you. I’ve got this covered.” He smiled, but Hallie could tell he was faking it—even though they hadn’t known each other long.

  Something in her gut sensed his deception.

  He stepped away from her, and the crawling sensation—just below her skin—resumed. She hated it.

  They meandered through the hallway and into the kitchen where Martina had all the ingredients for dinner out.

  Apparently, there were a lot of meat cubes.

  Spinach leaves sat in a colander in the sink. Two cucumbers, fresh mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and a block of parmesan cheese stood next to a cutting board.

  “I can make the salad if you want,” Hallie said.

  “I’m going to mix up some of the salad dressing I really like—it’s got strawberry puree in it, so it’s a little sweet,” Martina said.

  “You and your sweet tooth.” Gunny sighed dramatically.

  Martina stage-whispered, “Don’t mind him. He thinks sweets are bad.”

  “I do not. I happen to love dark chocolate,” Gunny responded.

  Hallie shook her head. “You two have a wonderful relationship. I wish I had family.”

  “You don’t?” Martina asked.

  “Hallie was adopted as an infant and her adoptive parents were older—they died last year. Hallie has no information on her birth parents,” Gunny said.

  “Ah, that makes sense, then,” Martina exclaimed.

  “What?” Hallie asked.

  “There’s a change a-comin’, girl. It’s going to be painful at first, but you’ll learn to love it.” Martina pulled Hallie in and hugged her.

  “Aunt Martina. That’s enough. If Hallie wanted to find her birth parents, I’m sure there are ways. We can look into those next week if you want,” Gunny focused on Hallie. “I mean, only if you want.” He stepped toward her and leaned in, inhaling deeply.

  He sighed.

  Hallie sighed.

  Martina sighed.

  Making dinner together felt natural to Hallie. It was like she was made to work side-by-side with Gunny and Martina.

  Gunny fed her. Again.

  Martina took her plate into the living room and watched some game show—and she didn’t say anything when she got up.

  Which was amazing.

  He dipped the best pieces of spinach and other vegetables into the strawberry vinagrette dressing and placed them gently on her tongue. He watched her mouth as she chewed.

  Eventually, Hallie was in his lap—with his erection poking against her.

  “When does Martina turn in for the night?” Hallie asked.

  “Around nine. We can go watch TV with her for a couple hours—or, we could play a board game.”

  “Whatcha got for board games?” she asked.

  “Scrabble, Monopoly—mostly the classics,” Gunny replied.

  “Scrabble it is! Let’s get this cleaned up and we can play in the living room. That way, Martina can play if she wants—or she can continue watching her shows.”

  Gunny stood and settled her bottom on the edge of the table. Her thighs spread and he stepped into the V her legs created. “You’re wonderful. But, you knew that already.”

  Hallie shook her head. “No one has ever treated me with so much respect and reverence. You’ll have to be blunt if you want to get rid of me.”

  “Never.”

  “That sounds good.”

  Later that night, after Martina was asleep, Hallie and Gunny made sure all the doors and windows were closed and locked before ascending the stairs, hand-in-hand.

  Gunny made a big production of removing each piece of Hallie’s clothing and kissing the bared flesh.

  “I’m on the Depo shot,” Hallie said.

  “We’re not doing that tonight,” he said.

  “O—okay.” But, with Gunny’s naked body wrapped around hers, nothing could’ve been more right.

  Hallie slept soundly for the first time since she moved to Zephyr.

  She floated to the surface, the division between awake and asleep. Weight on the bed shifted. Hallie managed to open her eyes as Gunny slid from beneath the blankets.

  “Where are you going?” Hallie asked, her voice barely a whisper.

  “Out for a run. I need to…burn off some energy,” he said.

  “Don’t go. I have an alternative—come back to bed.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to rush into this. I’m perfectly content sleeping next to you—until my dick has ideas of its own.” He grinned, attempting to hide is erection from her.

  “I’m sure. I ache for you, too.”

  As Gunny slipped between the sheets again, and slid over next to her, his nearness made her senses go into overdrive.

  It felt like her skin rippled and things poked out through her flesh, but Hallie put that to the side and focused on Gunny’s touch.

  Her nipples came to a point as his fingers danced over them. Pinching, stroking.

  When she thought she’d scream if he didn’t touch her down there, his hand drifted across the flat expanse of her belly and searched her curls at the apex of her thighs.

  She spread her legs wide, granting him access to her most private parts.

  One of his digits danced at her opening, gathering her wetness. He swiped upward and coated her clitoris with the lubrication before his fingers began masterful swirls with the perfect amount of pressure.

  She couldn’t have done better herself.

  As her pleasure coiled tighter and tighter in her pelvis, Gunny kissed her. His tongue mimicked the motion of his fingers as he teased her bundle of nerves and dipped digits into her vagina.

  “Shhh. Don’t want to wake Aunt Martina,” he whispered.

  Was I being loud?

  “Yes, you were,” Gunny said. Then, he stopped all motion.

  “I didn’t say that aloud,” Hallie said.

  “I—I could tell by your expression,” Gunny said.

  “Doesn’t matter. I want you.” Hallie reached for him, and attempted to flip him from his side to his back.

  “Not for our first time. I want to have every inch of our skin touching.” Gunny settled his hips between Hallie’s thighs, his erection sliding against her slit.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist, trying to encourage him to slip inside.

  Hallie needn’t have worried.

  “Slowly,” Gunny said as he entered her slick walls.

  Hallie’s focus was where their bodies met, and the pleasure of Gunny’s invasion.

  He held her captive with his gaze.

  Before long, Hallie felt the tight coiling of her orgasm—the first with a partner. And, definitely the first during sex.

  She whispered, “I’m going to come—oh—” The volume of her voice rose and she wasn’t able to stop her cries of pleasure.

  Hallie gasped as Gunny’s cock throbbed inside her. No condom. What about STIs?

  After he caught his breath, he lay on his side next to her and gathered Hallie in his arms. “I’m clean. You are, too.”

  Hallie looked at him.

  “I’d be able to smell it,” he said.

  Hallie nodded. “That’s weird, but I’ll let it go for now.”

  “Everything will be clearer tomorrow—er, tonight. When the moon rises, I am certain you will transform into a wolf. As will I, and Aunt Martina. Laura, and Clare, too.”

  She nestled into the crook of his arm. “Okay. Whatever it takes to be with you forever,” she murmured.

  “Forever is perfect,” Gunny whispered as she drifted off to sleep.

  Cha
pter Five

  Hallie became more and more restless. Her temperature went up, and she talked in her sleep.

  “I’m not afraid of wolves, Mom.”

  After a moment, “I don’t know why they’re rubbing up against the glass.”

  Pause.

  “So what if they like me and follow me if I pace in front of the glass.”

  She’s always been like this, but now—the fever is here already. What will I do?

  Aunt Martina tapped softly on the door. “Fever’s early, huh?”

  Gunny nodded.

  “I’ll get her to stay here today—tell her I could use some different company. Clare will be around, anyway, so maybe we can get her ready for her shift. To at least accept it.” Aunt Martina stepped soundlessly into the room and touched Hallie’s cheek with the back of her hand.

  “I need to take the day off. To help her.” Gunny was convinced he was the only one who could help Hallie through her first shift into a wolf.

  “She’s pack, boy. Ask Clare what she wants you to do when she gets here. Bet she’ll tell you to go to work,” Aunt Martina grinned.

  “I don’t care what Clare says.”

  “Better not let her hear you say that. She’ll sic those boys of hers on you. Good luck outrunning them.”

  “Hallie is my responsibility. She’s my mate, and I’ll be damned if I let her feel as though I abandoned her.”

  “Hallie says go to work. Martina and Clare can watch over me today. And, hell, if I’m going to turn into a wolf, I suppose it doesn’t matter who’s around.”

  “We’re all wolves, sweetheart. Clare is the matriarch of the Mayer clan. They’ve adopted Aunt Martina and me. We struggle to survive without pack.” Gunny slid beneath the blankets and cuddled into Hallie.

  “Go. To. Work. I get it. You can’t be with me all day, every day before I change. You’ll run out of vacation.” Hallie slid up in the bed a little.

  “But, this is your first time. And I’m…”

  “My mate? I heard you say that. It’s ridiculous—how can we be a perfect match and we haven’t even dated or gotten to know each other?” Hallie captured his lips in a kiss. When they were both breathless, she said, “Eventually, we will be a perfect match. Today? I don’t think so. I don’t even know what got into me last night—I never sleep with a guy until we’ve dated for a month.”