Donovan (The Shifters of Eagle Creek Book 1)

by Ashlee Sinn

  Mariah looked down at the cow hide rug under her feet and giggled.

  “It’s a joke,” I said with a smile. “Rhys’ sick sense of humor.”

  “Okay…,” she drawled. “A story for another time?”

  “Sure.”

  “Donovan,” she began, placing her hands on her hips. “I think I deserve an explanation.”

  “You do.”

  “Do you like me?”

  My words caught in my throat. She had no idea just how much I wanted her. Tight breasts, rounded hips, an attitude that could match my animal…Mariah was the perfect woman for me. I just couldn’t seem to find a way to say that. So instead, I simply mumbled, “Yes.”

  “Well, I like you too. A lot. And this,” she waved her hand back and forth between us, “this isn’t the way to express that.”

  “I don’t know how to be around you, Mariah,” I said. “I don’t know how to be around anyone.”

  She stepped forward and flinched a little when I retreated. “That’s bullshit. You have two amazing friends here who would do anything for you. If you didn’t have a bond with them, they would have given up on you years ago. But they haven’t.” Mariah reached out and grabbed my hands. “And I’m not giving up on you either. Despite what you say to me.” Her voice trembled with those last words. “I’m not giving up on you, Donovan.”

  I wanted to devour her right then and there. Yet, something still held me back and I couldn’t seem to push through that wall. “Mariah, I am no good for you.”

  “Bullshit.”

  I smiled a little. “Sassy.”

  “Yes, I am. But I’m also determined. And when I want something, I go after it.”

  “I like that,” I growled, my hands squeezing hers a little more.

  She swallowed and dropped her gaze before speaking again. “Rhys and Max told me about…about your past.”

  I stiffened and instantly started to shut down again. No fucking way was I talking to Mariah about the torturous life I had so many years ago. It was embarrassing and hurtful and not a story they should have shared.

  “Donovan, I want you to know that I’m here for you now. I may not be able to understand what you went through or how you survived, but we have something in common. We are both alone in a world where our animals don’t want to be. We have to fight against nature every day. But now we have each other, and we don’t have to be alone anymore.”

  “I don’t know how to be with someone,” I breathed.

  Mariah’s eyes filled with tears a moment before she wrapped her arms around my waist. With her head resting against my chest, I ran my fingers through her silky hair. Her body felt wonderful—peaceful and right against mine. I wished I could enjoy this forever, but I knew that deep down inside, my tortured psyche would ruin it all.

  “Stop it,” Mariah whispered.

  “What?”

  “Your heart races and your muscles tense when you’re thinking about bad things.”

  Bending forward, I gently lifted her chin so I could see Mariah’s eyes. “How can you possibly know me so well?”

  She reached up so that I could kiss her and I didn’t back away. When she removed her lips she said, “Because we have something special between us, Donovan. I can’t explain how or why it happened so quickly. Just that I know it’s there. Can’t you feel it?”

  “I can,” I growled, wanting her more than ever.

  “Just promise me you won’t fight it,” she begged.

  “I don’t know if I—”

  “You can.”

  Smiling down at the determination written on her face, I tried to let go of all my demons. I wanted to be happy with Mariah. I wanted to be happy at Eagle Creek. I just didn’t know how.

  Mariah squeezed me tighter. “Relax.”

  I let out a deep breath and allowed my body to melt against hers. I wanted to share something with her. Something that would let her know I was willing to try. “I had a sister,” I said.

  This time, it was Mariah who tensed. “You did?”

  “I only met her briefly. It was before they separated us and sold her to another circus. My mom and dad had been given one weekend together and that led to my sister.”

  “I’m sorry you didn’t get to grow up with her. Do you know what happened?”

  “I searched for her once I…once I escaped. But all of my leads were dead ends. Last I heard, she’d been shipped to Russia.”

  “Russia?”

  “They still have a strong circus and underground fight scene there.” I suddenly realized how inappropriate this topic was and wanted to do better. “Also, I’m afraid of cows.”

  Mariah’s small frame shook underneath mine as she giggled. “What? You’re a lion!”

  “I am.”

  “So why are you afraid of cows?”

  I shrugged and pulled her tighter to me. “Because I hate their eyes. They’re too big.”

  This time, Mariah almost choked from laughing so hard. “That’s crazy.”

  “They look crazy.”

  “No, I mean, I get it. But that’s definitely a surprise to hear from you.” She kissed my neck and then snuggled back in against my shoulder. But then she must have put two and two together because she let out a hoot and backed away from me so she could double over in laughter. “The cow rug?”

  “Yep. Like I said, Rhys’ sick joke.”

  “It doesn’t freak you out?”

  “I don’t mind dead cows.”

  “Ha!” She giggled again and I couldn’t stand to be this far away from her.

  I rushed to her side, scooped her up so her legs wrapped around my hips, and smothered her with my kiss. I loved the way Mariah could enjoy life and that was something I needed in my own. She was tough, yet graceful. Strong, yet fragile in a way. My little flower—delicate and beautiful.

  Carrying us over to my bed, I carefully set her down so I didn’t have to break contact with her. “Mariah, I may be broken on the inside, but I know I need you too.”

  She pulled away from the kiss and held my face in her hands. “You are not broken. A broken man wouldn’t be as strong as you. A broken man wouldn’t have the friends he has and he certainly wouldn’t be able to tell me things the way you just did. You may not be whole yet, but together, we can heal each other.”

  “I want you so bad,” I growled.

  She giggled and tugged at my tee shirt. Lifting it over my head, I didn’t waste any time. I set her on the bed and stripped her of her clothes. I was gentle but fast and I just loved the way she watched me do it. As she lay there, naked and goddess-like, I smiled. “I can’t believe this is going to happen again.”

  “Oh, it’s happening. And it’s going to happen many more times.” She wiggled her fingers and coaxed me toward her.

  Climbing over top of her body, I held my weight up as I sucked on her soft lips. Her tongue danced inside my mouth, enticing the lion forward and calming a part of me inside. The animal purred and the human got excited. Especially when Mariah grabbed my shaft and started stroking. She was a forward kind of woman and I was starting to learn that I loved that. My body trembled under her touch and in no time at all, she had me close to release.

  “I love the way you get so hard,” she murmured against my lips. “But don’t lose control just yet.”

  Suddenly, with a strength I didn’t know she possessed, she flipped me around so she was on top and straddling my hips. Sliding her sex up and down my cock had me writhing beneath her. I squeezed her breasts and she rocked back and forth a little more forcefully.

  “You have to let me in, Donovan,” she whispered.

  “I want to be in you right now.”

  With a giggle, she stopped her movement. “That’s not what I meant.”

  I grabbed her ass and squeezed once before slapping it. And when she made a little surprised sound, I chuckled. “I know.”

  Leaning forward, she kissed me again. Her lips brushed against mine ever so slightly before moving down to my n
eck. I ran my fingers up and down her back as she caressed my skin, and for the first time in my life, I freely gave over my neck. Titling my head to the side, I wondered if she’d realize just how big this was. I didn’t submit to anyone anymore. But Mariah…Mariah turned me into putty.

  She nuzzled her nose against my ear and whispered, “Thank you.”

  Grabbing her face, I plunged my tongue inside her mouth and moaned as her scent filled me up. She didn’t hesitate and instantly lifted her hips high enough for my erection to stand straight up, and then lowered herself slowly onto me.

  “Fuuuuck,” I drawled. “You feel so good.”

  “I know,” she teased, riding my cock hard but slow.

  “Sassy.”

  She laughed and sat up, hands resting on my chest as she controlled the speed. Dominating me, she pumped her hips up and down my shaft, the warm moisture of her sex giving us all the lube we needed. Her mouth formed a perfect little “O” and her breathing increased as she got closer to orgasm. Tits bouncing up and down like two perfect little pieces of heaven, she started to pick up speed. Our skin slapped together as I begged her to go faster. Harder. She gave me a wicked smile as she obeyed, and in no time at all, I felt my release pouring into her. Mariah panted and breathed my name as she came—her tight folds squeezing my cock and pulsing with each wave. I caught a quick glimpse of my future with her. Amazing sex. A companion by my side. A life I never knew I could have. I was starting to see the possibilities.

  Mariah collapsed against my chest, bodies moist with sweat and satiated with orgasms. Her tiny fingers traced a circle around my peck mindlessly. We didn’t say another word to each other for the longest time. In fact, we both fell asleep and didn’t wake until late afternoon. Mariah ran out to grab her belongings while I started up the grill. And we spent the rest of the day living in absolute bliss like an old married couple.

  In fact, I’d been wondering if that was something we could do some day when I heard the knock on my door. Mariah looked up at me in surprise.

  “Do the travelers ever knock on your door?”

  “Never.”

  “Oh.”

  She must have had that same foreboding feeling as I did, because we shared a look that passed a thousand messages between us. Today had started out like shit but had gotten exponentially better. And now, I had a feeling we were about to lose our little happy place.

  “Donovan, open up!” It was Max and he didn’t sound happy.

  “Shit,” I mumbled, while walking to the door. I opened it and quickly felt the dread building. It was Max and Rhys and that couldn’t be good. “What happened?”

  “We have visitors.”

  “More shifters?” Mariah snuggled against my side and Rhys gave me a smirk and a brow raise. I narrowed my own eyes at him in warning.

  “No,” Max said. “Humans. Police.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Don’t know,” Rhys added. “But they’re waiting on the main road.”

  He meant the spot where shifters had to meet us before being allowed onto our property. Or where those wanting to simply drive through had to ask our permission.

  “Okay,” I said. “Let me grab some clothes.”

  Rhys made a noise under his breath but Mariah shut him up with a punch to the arm. He whimpered and she laughed. As I left the doorway and pulled on a shirt and shoes, I heard her ask. “So, a cow rug, huh?”

  “He told you?” Rhys sounded genuinely surprised.

  “Of course.”

  “You like it?” he sounded anxious, like he really wanted her approval and the jealous monster inside of me started to rumble.

  “It’s pretty funny,” she joked.

  “See? I told you, Max,” Rhys sounded absolutely thrilled and I actually had to chuckle a little. The great alpha wolf still needed validation just like the rest of us.

  “Cows are scary,” I said, joining them again at the doorway.

  “They aren’t,” Mariah and Rhys said together, sharing a laugh.

  “Can we go?” Max asked with a slight hint of irritation.

  I kissed Mariah on the head. “Be back shortly.”

  “Oh no,” she said. “I’m coming with you.”

  “Fine,” Max said as he turned and jogged down the stairs.

  “No,” I added.

  Mariah pushed past me and caught up with Max. “You don’t control me, big man,” she teased.

  Rhys slapped me on the back and then quickly removed his hand when I growled at him. “She’s gonna be good for you.” He ran away before I could respond.

  But I would have told him just how right he was.

  I didn’t like the tension I was sensing from the three men. Growing up as the alpha’s daughter, I’d been in one too many meetings where I knew when those leading it were trying to keep their cool under pressure as everything around them was going to shit.

  And that’s exactly what this felt like to me.

  We ran through the camp, ignoring the stares and questions from the other shifters who inevitably knew something was going on. Rhys told them to stay put. Max waved a few of them back, and no one even made eye contact with Donovan. I kind of liked that, though. To know he only gave his attention to me, had my heart swelling and my coyote bonding to him faster than we probably should have. But after today, I knew there was no going back. Donovan was a part of my life now. And he would be forever.

  Max was fast, as was Rhys. But I managed to keep up with them despite my lack of knowledge of the terrain. I mean, I knew parts of these woods, but it was like they knew every boulder, tree, and ledge. Donovan stayed behind me in a protective way. A part of me didn’t like that but the female side thought it might be so he could stare at my ass. I wiggled it a few extra times when I heard his chest rumble in content.

  “Guys! Chill,” Rhys said, waving his hand in front of his nose. “You’re going to send every animal in this forest into heat if you don’t get your hormones under control.”

  I swallowed a laugh and enjoyed the way Donovan slapped his friend on the back of his head. There was certainly no denying the brotherly type of relationship these three unlikely friends had. And it made me feel like I had a home as well.

  As we reached the intersection where the humans were waiting for us, I was surprised to see so many troopers and state park vehicles. “Jesus, did they send enough?” I muttered.

  Donovan grabbed my hand as the four of us walked in a line toward the awaiting officers. Rhys whispered quietly enough for just our ears. “Anyone know what’s going on?”

  “Not a clue,” Max grumbled.

  “Hello.” One of the state troopers walked forward and held out his hands as though telling us he was harmless. “Are one of you Donovan Bain?”

  I squeezed my lion’s hand and refused to let go when he tried to pull away. “I am,” he said with his deep timber.

  “Who else do I have the pleasure of speaking to?” the trooper asked, looking at the rest of us.

  “Why are you here?” Donovan said by way of answering.

  The trooper cleared his throat and adjusted his hat. He didn’t seem to be comfortable with whatever he was about to say next. “I understand that you have a camp back there.”

  “We have property, yes.” Donovan was good, giving the man absolutely nothing to go on.

  “Well, is it a camp for shifters?”

  “It’s a stop-over place for hikers.”

  “Shifter hikers?” The way the man spat the word shifter made my skin crawl. Something bad was about to happen.

  “Hikers,” Donovan said again.

  “Is there something we can help you with?” Max added. I could smell his panther on the edge of his skin.

  A woman, about my size but at least twenty years older, marched forward from one of the park’s vehicles. She wore the standard brown uniform and had a clipboard in her hand that she tapped her fingers against. “We know what you have going on back there. And so do they.” She jerked her chin over
her shoulder to where three people, two men and a woman, stood quietly in their black suits.

  “And who are they?” Donovan asked.

  A raven screamed overhead followed by an eagle. I could feel others waiting in the darkness of the forest—waiting in case we needed them.

  “We are from a newly formed branch of Homeland Security.” A tall but lanky man stepped away from the others. He looked like a freaking secret service wannabe with his cropped hair and tailored suit. I didn’t like the way he smelled. “We’ve been tasked with making sure every shifter has registered with the government as required.”

  “We are all registered,” Rhys said.

  “Yes, we know,” the man replied in a way that sent shivers down my spine. “But what about the others in your camp?”

  “The hikers?” Donovan asked with a hint of sarcasm. When the man nodded slowly, he added, “How would I know? I’m assuming they have all done their legal duty.”

  The state trooper and parks lady sucked in a breath. It was as if they knew something we didn’t. The government man stepped closer toward us. “Well, here’s the deal. Eagle Creek has officially been name a shifter town. This means that every single “hiker” that spends even one night on this property, must be registered and affiliated or they’ll be held accountable.”

  “Bullshit,” Max grumbled.

  “No way,” said Rhys.

  And for the first time, I spoke up. “You can’t do that.”

  The man turned his blank stare at me. “Yes, we can.”

  “No, you can’t.” I stepped forward despite Donovan tugging on my hand. “According to the registration law, only packs or clans or prides can be forced to register as a whole unit. You can’t claim an entire town as one of those.”

  He tilted his head and the corner of his mouth tweaked up. The forest rumbled with the tension from the other shifters. “Who are you?”

  “Mariah Stillwater.”

  The female government official typed quickly on her phone as the man waited. “Coyote. Daughter of Marcus, alpha of the Nenana Pack.”