The Shifter's Gift

by Haley Weir

Ava’s hand ran over his arm gently, sending a nervous tingle down his spine. He looked down at her. “That sounds amazing. I hope you get a chance to see the world like that.” She smiled at him, and her blue eyes twinkled in the moonlight.

  The yacht was just ahead of them, and he nodded to let her know it was his. “I do too. Would be nice to have someone to go with me though.” Ava wobbled as her high heels got caught in one of the small gaps of the gangway. She tried to yank it out to no avail. She looked up at him helplessly, clearly embarrassed. He walked up to her, and swiftly picked her up, holding her in his arms like she weighed nothing at all as he walked. He winked quickly and set her down. “Welcome aboard, Ava.”

  She looked around the yacht with those wide eyes again. “Thanks for the lift! This is...incredible.” She kept her hand on his arm, grateful for his nearly inhuman grace and sure-footedness.

  “Follow me and I’ll show you around.” A couple crewmembers were inside; ready to make sure the evening went according to plan.

  Rodrigo, one of the Sinclair families most trust employees nodded to Mason as they entered the boat. “May I take your coats?” He went to Ava, helping her out of her sweater, neatly draping it over his arm before taking Mason’s own coat. “Becca has everything prepared for you on the top deck, sir.” He disappeared down the hall to put their coats away and presumably give them some privacy.

  Ava looked up at Mason with a bewildered smile. “This is crazy. I’ll follow your lead. I’m sure you know where the top deck is better than I do.”

  “That I do,” he chuckled. They walked up a set of stairs toward the back of the ship. Earlier he met with Becca, one of the Sinclair’s chefs, to discuss the best place on the boat for their date. The top deck was an instant choice. “Here we are,” he said, and opened the door for her. She stepped onto the deck, her eyes shining.

  “This is incredible. I...don’t even…I don’t know what to say. I’ve never been anywhere like this before.” She looked back at him, then at Becca, who stood a short distance away by a table. Beside her, a candle was lit, surrounded by the bottle of champagne Becca and Mason had hand selected earlier that evening. The chocolate-covered strawberries were already on plates for the two of them.

  Rodrigo and Becca had done a wonderful job preparing the yacht for Mason’s date. He would ensure that they both received special bonuses for their hard work.

  “I’m guessing you don’t have a swimsuit with you,” Mason mused with a crooked grin. “But I have one set aside for you in case you’d like to take a dip in the Jacuzzi with me after dessert. It might be a nice, relaxing end to the evening…watching the stars, drinking a glass of champagne.”

  From the flushed look on Ava’s face and the arousal scenting his nose, he could tell her thoughts were drifting somewhere else again. Not that he minded. The yacht had a few bedrooms to choose from, if things progressed that far. She glanced over at the deck, taking in the view. “Of course, I’d love to do that.”

  They headed for the table where Becca was patiently waiting. He pulled out Ava’s chair and waiting for her to sit down before walking around the table to take a seat.

  He took the opportunity to sneak a look at her curvy form once again. Her body was perfect hourglass shape in that little black dress. He wondered what she looked like without the dress on. If they dipped into the Jacuzzi, he’d soon find out. Mason smiled at Becca as she opened the bottle of champagne with practiced ease. She poured Ava the first glass before filling his glass too.

  “Have a wonderful evening. Please let us know if there’s anything else we can do to make this evening special for you,” Becca said as she sat the champagne in a bucket with ice before heading inside.

  Mason picked up one of his chocolate-covered strawberries and placed it to his lips, watching as Ava stared at him. She swept her tongue over that lower lip of hers with a worried look. He kept her gaze as he bit into the strawberry with a grin, finishing it in two bites.

  He picked up a second strawberry and leaned toward her, touching it to her lower lip. Normally he would never be this bold with a woman on a first date, but his bear approved of her. The more time he spent with Ava, the happier he was that he’d persuaded the dating agency to hook them up, despite his strong-armed methods. He worried about that coming back to bite him, but he cast those thoughts out for now.

  Ava giggled and bit into the strawberry, cupping her hands beneath her mouth, catching a piece of chocolate that broke away. “Why thank you. I didn’t realize you would literally be feeding me. I could get used to his.” She picked up a chocolate-covered berry from her own plate and held it out for him. He playfully grazed his teeth over her petite fingers before biting into the strawberry. Her face reddened into another blush.

  “To an excellent night with fantastic company,” he announced, holding up his champagne glass after they’d finished feeding each other strawberries. They clinked their glasses.

  Mason led her inside toward a bedroom where Becca had laid out a swimsuit. They had plenty of parties on the yacht with his fellow bear shifters. They kept extra clothing around for guests. “I’ll change and meet you outside, unless you’d like me to stay here and walk you back?” He smiled at her, checking her out for at least the third time that evening.

  “I think I’ll be fine. I should be able to find my way back to the top deck. I guess if I do get lost, I can always call out for help?” She grinned at him and walked over to the small bikini and trailed her fingers over it. “Wow, that’s…” her eyebrows rose and she cleared her throat. “Pretty.”

  “I’ve been told I have excellent hearing. If you call out for help, I’ll be right here.” The way she reacted to the bikini made him wonder if something was wrong. She had a nice figure, and the suit would no doubt fit. “Is everything okay?”

  “Oh no, it’s fine. It’s just more revealing than I thought it would be. Sorry, I’ll get changed now.” She tugged that lower lip between her teeth, and he had to fight the urge to grab her, throw her on the bed, and bite that bottom lip himself.

  “I’m sure it’ll look lovely on you. I’ll be right down the hall.” He paused. “If you don’t feel comfortable, there are other swimsuits. Don’t hesitate to ask, all right?”

  A blush ran up Ava’s neck as she walked over to the door. “No, I’m sure it’ll be great. Thank you,” she replied quickly, and smiled slightly before closing the door behind her.

  After quickly changing into his swim trunks, he headed back to the room Ava was in. She walked out right as he approached, and his heart hammered in his chest at the sensual sight of her. His beast was already convinced she was the one. It wanted to take her into his bedroom and claim her as his own, but she was a human. Things didn’t work the way they did with bear shifters. Humans had to be wined and dined. Connections needed to be formed. Only then could he reveal who…and what…he really was.

  “I was right. You’re beautiful,” he whispered.

  She whirled toward him and placed a hand over her chest, letting out a small yelp. “You scared me! For such a big guy, you move so quietly. Are you sure you’re not a ninja?” She hunched her shoulders a little and crossed her arms over her stomach. “Thank you though.”

  His bear might be massive, but it was a predator well adept at stalking its prey.

  “Nope, not a ninja. I grew up with three younger brothers. That helped me develop my stealthy walk.” He nodded toward the direction of the top deck. “Shall we have some more champagne and relax in the Jacuzzi?” He held out his hand to her, wanting to make her feel more comfortable.

  Slowly she held out her hand to him. “Three brothers? I bet that was nice. I was an only child.” There was something sad and distant about the way she talked about family, like she was recalling painful memories.

  “Are you kidding me?” he said with mock outrage. “There were many times when I’d wished I was an only child. My parents never listened when I asked them to put my brother Liam back where he came from.” Her gig
gles brought him relief. Knowing that he could cheer her up meant something to him.

  Again he remembered how this date had come to pass, and hoped that he could forget his actions soon, because things were going really well with Ava. For the first time, he was glad his father had pushed him to find a mate.

  Chapter Seven

  The combination of the heat and the jets of the Jacuzzi massaged away the tension in Ava’s back. She sipped on a glass of champagne and looked out over the endless dark water and the night sky. Her evening felt like a dream. She never imagined she would experience anything like this, especially not with a man like Mason.

  His stealthy footsteps had startled her, but seeing him in his swim trunks and his rippling muscles had thrown her entirely. She’d imagined he took care of his body, but his abs and toned body exceeded her wildest expectations. He was tall with a wide chest, and looked like he’d be more comfortable on a football field than in a boardroom.

  They sat there in comfortable silence for a while, just relaxing and taking in the ambiance of the evening. Granted, Mason appeared more interested in stealing glances at her than staring the stars, but she didn’t mind. After a little while, he stretched his arm behind her on the Jacuzzi’s edge.

  Ava set her glass out of the way before resting her head on his shoulder. She turned her face up toward him, feeling the butterflies return with vigor. He looked down at her, his brown eyes held a warm glow that made her insides hot. She sat up even straighter, keeping her face lifted toward his, hoping for a kiss. In the moment, Ava second-guessed herself. She still wasn’t sure whether or not their evening together was rooted in business. But she was starting not to care. She wanted more of Mason, and it seemed like he wanted more of her as well.

  He drifted toward the center of the Jacuzzi, gently tugging her along with him. His hands skimmed up her arms toward her shoulders, and a shiver chased up her spine, especially as he leaned in closer to her.

  She placed her hands on Mason’s chest, unable to believe how comfortable she felt with him. She’d dated before, but she’d never been in a relationship that really made her feel good about herself. The previous men in her life only seemed to want her around to stroke their ego, and while she could tell Mason certainly had a confidence about him, he seemed to be much deeper and more genuine. The evening he’d planned for her was unexpected and delightful. It was easy to see how much thought was put into making sure everything turned out perfectly.

  He brushed his thumb over her cheek, then down along her jawline. “God, Ava. You’re so beautiful.” He leaned toward her, and his breath brushed her lips.

  His fingertips trailed down her neck toward her shoulder. She tilted her head to the side, closing her eyes at the tingling sensations he brought about within her. To feel his lips trailing down that same path would be heavenly.

  Just as thought entered her head, his hot mouth pressed against the skin behind her ear and then kissed down her neck over her pulsing heartbeat. She sank her teeth into her lower lip as he dipped his head further down to the spot where her neck meets her shoulder. The tip of his tongue tasted her skin as he made his way back up her neck in a sensual journey toward her mouth.

  Desire tightly clenched her core, and she squeezed her legs shut. She’d never been the type of girl to give her body away to a guy on a first date, but Mason made her want to rethink her tactics. Being with him felt different than only other guy she had been with. Besides, if she never saw him again, at least they would have this evening to remember. Then again, if this was part of the process for the job and he turned her down at the last minute, she’d feel cheap if he was hoping to test her limits. She pushed that thought away. Mason didn’t seem like the kind of guy to manipulate a woman for sex. Her hands slid around toward his back, and she scooted closer until she was almost sitting on his lap as he crouched, keeping only his head and the top of his shoulders above water.

  He placed his hands on her hips, drawing her toward him. A mischievous grin lit his eyes, and he brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was tentative at first, the barest of caresses as their lips touched. His tongue traced the seam of her lips as if asking her to open for him.

  Ava closed her eyes, savoring the sensation as she invited him in. She ran her hand through the wet hair at the back of his neck. Unlike the other guys she’d kissed, he didn’t rush in and hungrily devour her mouth as if she was a bounty to be plundered. He took his time, exploring and caressing, making her body feel so good. A moan escaped her throat, and she circled her legs around his waist.

  After what felt like an hour—or maybe a few minutes—Mason pulled back from the kiss just enough that she could still feel his breath on her lips. “Is this okay, Ava?” he asked breathlessly. “If we keep going, I’m not sure if I’d be able to stop. You’re driving me wild.”

  Ava’s head was spinning. Part of her truly wanted it, but she was wary. Should she give her body to him? Or should she be the good girl she’d always been? The girl who couldn’t remember the last time she’d shared her bed with someone who made her feel like Mason did. “I guess we shouldn’t rush things. But I’m not ready to stop yet,” she said. She leaned in and pressed kisses along his neck.

  “I…” Mason groaned. He didn’t move his hands away from her hips. He just tilted his head to the side as she explored him just as he’d done to her earlier. His reactions made her feel powerful; she had the ability to make him moan for her. His grip tightened a little when she traced her tongue around the shell of his ear before nibbling on his earlobe. He pulled her closer.

  She gasped feeling his hard erection against her lower stomach. She leaned back a little. Maybe she shouldn’t have gotten him revved up like this. She could be giving him mixed signals. What if he got the wrong impression of her? She scooted back just a little, keeping her hands on his chest.

  He released her just slightly and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry if I made things awkward. There’s no need to rush. I wouldn’t want to pressure you into doing anything you’re not comfortable with.” Hearing him say those words, and knowing he wasn’t expecting anything in return made her feel relieved and positive about what was yet to come.

  “Thank you. That means a lot. This has been the best date I’ve ever been on. Ever.” She leaned forward, giving him a soft kiss before pulling back. “Maybe we should call it a night, Mason.” Her throat was a little rough and husky from arousal. She glanced up at the sky with the twinkling stars above them. “Besides, I still have to drive home, and it’s better if I head out before I get too sleepy. I really had a wonderful time tonight. I’d love to go out with you again sometime.” She worried again. Was she being too brazen? What if he didn’t want to go out with her again? Would he feel inclined to lie? “Do you have my phone number?” What if he doesn’t call? Was she setting herself up for disappointment?

  “Of course, I had a lovely time too. I’ll have to think up other ways to dazzle you next time.” He glanced at his watch and raised an eyebrow. “I suppose you’re right. No, I don’t have your phone number, but I’d love to have it.” He yawned and leaned back with his arms outstretched to either side of him. “I have a few meetings tomorrow that I don’t want to be too tired during. Not good when the boss looks tired, huh? That’s not a great way to lead by example. Let me know when you get home, okay?”

  Ava wasn’t sure why she was surprised. Mason certainly looked like the boss type. “I’ll give you my number as soon as we’re not soaking wet.” She grinned then realized how it might sound. It was too late for any embarrassment. She’d walked herself right into that one. “I hope your meetings go well. Being overly tired at work is never fun.”

  Mason drew his hands away from her, making her instantly wish for that closeness again. It would be nice to stay together in the Jacuzzi longer, but she was worried she wouldn’t be able to stop herself if they kept going. Besides, neither of them needed to be dead tired tomorrow. Hopefully she’d be hearing from Prince Dating Agency, and he
had meetings at work. She headed to the stairs, carefully getting out of the warm water.

  “If you don’t mind waiting a sec, I’ll walk you to your car.” He looked her over, and his gaze slid over her as if memorizing her every curve.

  She opened her mouth to agree, but she wasn’t about to lead him back to her beat-up car. Not after he’d brought her out to his family’s yacht.

  “No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine. I’ll change back into my dress, and then be on my way.” She could tell he didn’t like her answer. His eyes turned a darker brown that made her a little nervous. He looked almost animalistic, like a predator watching his prey escape. As quickly as the look registered on his face, it was gone. “I’ll text you though! Promise.”

  “Are you sure I can’t walk you to your car?” He sighed when she shook her head no with finality. “Be careful. I look forward to your message.”

  It wasn’t hard to find the room where she’d left her dress and her purse. She changed clothes, leaving the bikini hanging up in an adjoining bathroom.

  During her drive home, all she could think about was Mason. When she’d first been told about going out that evening, she was very reluctant. But her evening was better than she could have ever imagined. A night out on the town sure beat sitting on her couch with her laptop, staring at her inbox hoping to hear back from a job.

  She popped into the shower once she arrived home. The cool water caressed her skin, driving away some of the heat she’d felt being in Mason’s arms, but she still couldn’t stop thinking about him. The way his lips felt against hers and his large hands holding onto her hips... she leaned against the shower, remembering her promise to text him.

  Once she’d finished scrubbing herself clean and washing her hair, she shut off the water and dried herself off. She picked up her cell phone and saw a text from him.

  Are you home yet?

  She responded, yes, I just made it home. Thanks again for the great evening. Sleep well. <3