The Shifter's Gift

by Haley Weir

  With her cell phone back in her possession, she called him. He answered on the second ring, “hey. Are you okay?”

  “Exhausted after all the questions, but yeah. I feel better, especially now that I’m talking to you. Are you doing better? Did you get patched up?” she asked. She looked around her apartment. Before today, it was her safe space. Jared robbed her of that peace.

  “I’m doing fine. Maybe not as good as new, but I’m well on my way.” His voice had that playful, mischievous tone that melted away the tension coursing through her. “Have you eaten?”

  The pizza delivery man arrived during the police questioning. The box sat on her kitchen counter, but it didn’t appeal to her in the least. Her stomach growled. “No, I haven’t yet.”

  “Let’s go somewhere together so you can get away from your place, at least for a little while.” She leaned her head against the arm of the couch, feeling a warm spark in her chest. He really cared about her.

  “Okay, I’ll be ready. I… I don’t think I can be here tonight. I could ask one of my friends if I could crash with them…” her voice sounded hesitant and unsure, even to her own ears. She loved her friends, and they were super supportive. But right now, she didn’t have the energy to explain everything that happened.

  “Would you like to stay with me? We could stay at a hotel or even the yacht. I live with my parents, not because I need to, but it’s a tradition for unmated werebears,” he explained. The slight nervousness in his tone brought a smile to her face.

  “Yes, I’d love to stay with you. Maybe we could go to a hotel? Jared knows about the yacht, and I’d feel uncomfortable staying somewhere he knows about, even if it might sound silly...”

  “Olivia, it doesn’t sound silly,” he assured her softly. “You’re right. It’s better to be safe. Go ahead and pack a few things. I’ll text you when I’m there.” He sounded calm and sure, and it made her feel less like her world was spinning out of control.

  “Thank you. I mean it. I’ll see you soon.” It didn’t take long for her to throw a few things into a tote bag. As she finished packing, she received the text message from Liam and headed outside to meet him.

  Liam drove them to a beachside hotel. Their large suite was on the top floor of the building. She blinked, freezing in the doorway for a moment. The hotel room looked sharp and luxurious, with a balcony and a breath-taking view of the ocean. Liam watched her react to the grandeur of the room. He nudged her forward gently so he could close the door behind them.

  “This is incredible. You didn’t have to go out of your way for something like this. I didn’t expect...” she trailed off.

  “I’m not doing this to impress you, Olivia. It’s a great room, but it’s also a distraction from what happened today. You deserve this.” His gaze slid down her body, and for a brief moment, she thought about what would be the perfect distraction: Liam.

  “Okay. Tell me more about you. About being a werebear?” she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

  Liam ran a hand through his hair as he sat beside her on the king-sized bed. “I was born a werebear. My father, mother, brothers are all werebears, too. It has run in my family since the very beginning.” He glanced toward the flat screen TV, deep in thought. “Remember when I told you about my brother? We are fated to have specific mates... and I think you’re mine. My bear really likes you. He reacted to you when we were in the waiting room, but it became more evident to me on the yacht. Being at your place and helping you solidified things for me.”

  Olivia wasn’t sure how to react, but she knew that she had feelings of him from the moment they met too. The idea of being mated with Liam made her feel safe...and happy. “Is your bear dangerous? Can I see him?”

  His lips quirked in a grin. “He can be dangerous, especially in situations like at your apartment, but I have really good control. For you? It’s safe. He wouldn’t hurt you.” He looked around them and stood, heading to the doors leading to the balcony to pull the curtains closed. “I guess there’s enough space here. He’s not small by any means.”

  She couldn’t help but giggle at the unintended double entendre. Her giggle quickly faded when he stripped off his shirt and his hands went to his pants. She watched as his fingers moved to unfasten his belt. When he unzipped his jeans and she realized he didn’t have underwear on, her gaze jumped to his face.

  A blush warmed her neck and her cheeks. “Wha... What are you doing?”

  “I can’t show you my bear if I’m fully clothed. Like I said, he’s not small. He’d rip my clothes, and I’d have nothing to wear later.” The explanation made sense, but it didn’t stop the moisture from pooling between her legs when he tugged his jeans down.

  “Right, that makes sense.” She couldn’t stop herself from looking at him. She saw him in his bathing suit, but this felt different. More intimate. He was revealing all of himself to her.

  Her breath caught in her throat when he went down on his hands and knees. His body started moving and changing before her eyes. The sound of cracking and tearing and groans filled the room as his body reshaped itself. After a few long moments, a bear crouched before her in the hotel room.

  “Oh my god. You really are a werebear.”

  The bear huffed, and his tongue lolled out of his mouth as if he were laughing at her realization. He stalked toward her, looking like a protector, rather than a predator, like Jared. That realization struck her with a fierceness. She slid her tongue over her bottom lip, feeling her mouth go dry as he moved toward her. Her thighs quivered a little, and she could not stop herself from squeezing them together. Now, more than ever, she wanted him.

  The large bear’s nose lifted a little, and he scented the air. His warm honey brown eyes met hers and darkened with desire. He continued stalking toward her, and his muzzle brushed against her knee, rubbing his cheek against her leg.

  She steadily lowered her hand over his massive head. Despite everything, she wasn’t afraid of him. The intelligence in his eyes reminded her that underneath it all, this was Liam. He protected her and kept her safe when Jared threatened their lives. She trusted Liam and his bear.

  He arched into her hand as she ran it over his large head and down the back of his neck toward his shoulders. She buried her fingers into his thick fur, savoring the feeling of it. Without thinking, she used her other hand too, enjoying the sensation and the heat of his breath on her legs through the thin yoga pants.

  After a few moments, he pulled away from her. His gaze lifted toward hers, and he began his change back into a man, not bothering to move away. It didn’t disturb her as much this time, especially with her gaze locked with his. The cracking and popping were like distant tunes on a radio. The only thing that mattered was her connection to.

  He pushed to his feet when he regained his human form. “Your hands feel so good. I’ve never been touched like that before in my bear form.”

  Her gaze drifted down his naked body, and she paused at his protruding erection. Without thinking, she trailed her fingers over his shaft, stroking him. “Your bear is so majestic. I’m honored you showed me.” She glanced back up to look him in the eyes, but he was focused on her hand.

  “Are you sure you want to do this? I want you to be my mate. This is serious for me.” He placed his hand on her wrist to make her pause, but his soft touch didn’t restrict her movements. He did not want it to stop any more than she did.

  “I’m sure. I don’t know exactly what being a werebear’s mate entails, but I know how I feel, especially now.” She pulled her hand away to lift off her t-shirt.

  He hungrily drank in her breasts, and he took that action as the permission he needed. He pulled her to her feet and slid down her yoga pants and panties in one swoop, then set her in the center of the huge bed.

  She had never felt so vulnerable. He looked at her intently as he remained at the foot of the bed. For a moment, she wondered if he was going to stay there forever. But he slowly crawled up the bed, nudging her knees aside for
him to move between her thighs.

  He kissed her from her ankle up to her knee and then he slid his tongue up her thigh toward her moist core. Her body burned for him, and she spread her legs even farther apart, wanting desperately to feel his mouth on her. His tongue trailed over her lower lips and separated them. He stroked her clit before encircling it with his lips and sucking on the bud. A gasp fled her lips as she dug her fingers into the comforter. Liam pressed a finger against her entrance, and she arched into him, craving the sense of fullness he could provide.

  He kept flicking his tongue over her clit as he slowly pushed his finger inside her. Her walls clenched around his finger, and his hungry eyes met hers. His eyes glowed with that same honey brown of his bear rather than the green she saw before. Seeing him like that made her eyes widen, but he didn’t scare her. She felt safer than she ever had with him this close. She couldn’t stop staring at him as his mouth caressed her most intimate parts.

  “Liam, I want you inside me,” she said, her voice husky with desire.

  His tongue swept lower when she spoke, and he removed his finger from her. Instead, he speared her with his tongue. His eyes darkened with desire even more than they had before.

  A moan escaped her lips as he caressed her with his tongue. When he pulled back, he swiped it over her slit from her entrance to her clit before crawling up her body. He leaned forward, kissing her neck and breasts before brushing his lips against hers. His hips tilted forward, and she felt the press of his erection against her entrance.

  She pushed against him as desire fanned flames throughout her body. She wanted him so badly. “Take me, please.”

  Without any hesitation, he pressed into her, stretching her body to fit him inch by inch. By the time he was completely inside her, he was panting. His body shook as if he were holding himself in check. “You feel so good, Olivia.”

  “You do too.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, sliding her hands through his dark hair and over his tense neck muscles.

  He slowly withdrew until just his tip was inside her before sliding back in. His movements were controlled, steady at first, then picked up speed. Her moans and the way her body bucked beneath his gave him more confidence.

  She couldn’t help herself. He made her feel so good. Her nails bit into his skin as he thrust inside her, making the large, heavy bed rock. She never felt so full and alive before. He perfectly angled his thrusts to the sensitive flesh inside her, and she moved her hand away from the back of his neck to put over her mouth as she grew closer to the edge with each stroke. Her moans grew louder as his cock rocked inside her.

  He took her wrists and entwined his fingers with hers, pressing her hands into the bed. “I want to hear you. I don’t want you to muffle your desire for me.” His voice was low, guttural. It only enhanced her pleasure.

  She didn’t feel confident that she could respond verbally, so she nodded her head as another moan escaped her lips. Her chest arched up into his, and he pulled back a little to slid his tongue over a nipple. He gave it proper attention, and drew it into an incredibly hard peak before he doing the same thing to the other.

  When his mouth descended on hers once again, his tongue caressed her lower lip before slipping inside her mouth. Her body clenched around him tightly. Waves of pleasure exploded as her cries were swallowed by his mouth. His kiss became fiercer, more intense as he picked up speed. Each thrust drew out her pleasure until he slowed. The rumble of his groans vibrated against her chest as the warmth of his release filled her.

  They remained like that for a few moments. Sweat dampened their skin in the cool hotel room. But she didn’t feel cold, not when Liam’s hot body blanketed hers. She looked up into his eyes and caressed his cheeks. “That was incredible. Thank you. Again. For everything.”

  He finally withdrew from her and he rolled onto his side. He cradled her in his arms. “You’re incredible, Olivia. I don’t need thanks. Just you.” His hand trailed over her back as he stared up at the ceiling. Only then did she remember that Liam had been shot earlier that day. She sat up slightly.

  He didn’t have a bandage on, but she saw the pink puckered scar near one of his shoulders. But that didn’t make sense. His gaze dropped to her eyeline and he gave her that lopsided smile, setting her body on fire yet again. “Yes, that’s where I was shot. That’s why I told you I’d be fine. Werebears have excellent healing capabilities.” He pulled her closer, kissing her again. “Excellent stamina too.” His words tightened her body and made her blush at the implication. “Whenever you’re ready, that is.”

  Olivia straddled his waist and held his cock into her hand. She guided him toward her entrance as she pressed him inside her. “I’m more than ready.” The humor faded from his lips and eyes as a dark desire smoldered in his hot gaze. He cupped her hips with his hands, helping to guide her over his length.

  They explored one another’s bodies for a few hours until the sun rose, then called out of work, and curled into each other’s arms. Olivia craved these moments. For the first time in a long time, she realized dreams really could come true.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Liam was helped by the bear pack’s doctor . When they arrived at the hotel, he silenced his cell phone, because they both needed the rest. Changing between his werebear form and his human form took a lot out of him, especially during the healing process. But Olivia’s health and safety made the pain of the bullet inconsequential. The thorough lovemaking session wore him out, too. But she was worth every second.

  He opened his eyes to look down at her sleeping against his chest. He didn’t want to wake her. The thought of remaining here, forever in her arms, was an appealing one; even if it was impractical. After a few minutes, he extracted himself from her sleeping form.

  He reached for his cell phone to see if he missed anything important at work. Apparently, the pack’s doctor reported his injury to his parents. They tried calling and texting him several times. He set his phone aside and placed his hands over his face, knowing he would need to explain everything, and soon. His all of brothers, even Noah, tried getting in touch with him. The fact Noah reached out surprised him, but maybe his baby brother cared more than he let on.

  Leaving Olivia here wasn’t an option. If Jared hired a private investigator, he didn’t want to put her at risk if they were still out there, watching in the darkness. She needed to be with him, but more importantly, he wanted her to be with him. But he wasn’t excited about the prospect of telling his parents everything that happened. They would know that he broke up with Cindy without telling them, and that he went to the dating agency to meet Olivia. But he wasn’t ashamed of that. The only thing he wished went differently was the trauma of Jared’s arrival back in her life.

  “What time is it?” Olivia asked as her warm hand slid over his back.

  He set his phone down and turned on the bed to look at her. Her peaceful face was marred by the bandaged cut and the bruise on her face. Anger began to boil within his chest that she was hurt, but Jared would get what was coming to him. He’d help make sure of that by providing Olivia with the best lawyer he knew.

  “It’s nearly 2:30. I need to go home. My parents and brothers have been trying to call. The pack’s doctor let them know I was hurt. I should let them know that I’m okay.” He shrugged a shoulder and trailed his thumb along her jawline. “Come with me?”

  Olivia’s eyes widened a little, and she leaned her face into his hand. “Of course. If you want me to?” She swallowed before nodding.

  He pressed a kiss against her lips. “I really do. It’s safer that way, too.”

  Her full lips pressed into a thin line of concern as she considered his words. “You’re right. I didn’t think about that. I’d much rather be with you. You make me feel safe.” A pretty pink blush tinted her chest and ran up her neck toward her cheeks. He trailed his thumb down her throat toward her breasts.

  “I’m glad. You deserve to feel safe and more.” He smoothed his palm over her bre
ast and squeezed lightly before pressing a kiss to her lips. “I look forward to continuing where we left off after dealing with my parents.” The thought of plunging into her warm core made him hard again. He knew if he didn’t stand up and put his clothes on, his willpower would fade quickly. He might decide to stay here with her instead of doing what he knew had to be done.

  “I can’t wait.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. The scent of her arousal filled his nostrils, and he groaned in anticipation. The desire to settle between her legs and take her was so powerful, it nearly drove him into action. “But, we should do that after you talk with your family,” she said at last, pulling away from him. A naughty glint sparkled in her eye as she ran her gaze over him. She wriggled from his arms and pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt—along with undergarments—that she’d packed into her duffle bag.

  “You’re not helping matters,” he said, gesturing toward his hard shaft.

  “I think I am, just not in the way you’d like.” She winked at him, and he chuckled. She was “helping” all right.

  He texted his parents and his brothers before getting dressed himself. He checked in with the front desk about keeping the hotel room for a few extra nights. Going back to Olivia’s place wasn’t a good idea, and he wanted to claim her body without the possibility of someone else in his family accidentally listening in on their lovemaking. Perhaps they could find somewhere to call their own. The drive to his parents’ house gave him enough time to think about what he was going to say to them.

  * * *

  Liam sat in his father’s study with his parents as they watched him carefully explain the events of the past few days. Olivia was at the kitchen table, where he left her with his brother and Ava. His parents took everything surprisingly well, even the fact Olivia was here with him. Maybe his mother had suspected something was wrong during Saturday morning breakfast.