Shifting Life (Skull Shifters MC Book 1)

by Tricia Wagner

  We make it back to “our home” and head inside. Of course Outlaw greets us and I feel like I am at a loss for what to do next. Everything feels so pressed. I know that nothing is really fixed and he’s expecting us to get married like tonight. I just don’t know if I can handle all of this. I also know that he is planning on celebrating tonight. When Brantley celebrates, he celebrates. I never have any complaints in that department. I have; however, not felt this way before we were about to do that. I want a celebration to be legit. “What has that look on your face babe?” I give a big sigh. No getting anything passed him. “I don’t know. I just feel…weird.” He pulls me into a hug. Nothing beats the feeling I feel when he holds me. Never, did I ever think that I could feel like this. “I have a big day at work tomorrow.” “No, you have a big day of moving tomorrow. Remember?” Another sigh. “I’ll see what I can move around, but I should really try and get some work done. Brantley, are you sure that this is really the way you want it to be?” “What? My life?” I shrug, “Yeah.” Instantly he says, “Of course it is. You’re all I want. Melanie, is it not what you want?” There it is. He does care how I feel. It was starting to feel like he was just pulling me along. Now time to think for myself. Is this what I want? The good, the bad, the really good, the really bad? I feel like no matter what the good is always going to outweigh the bad. “Gotta say babe, I don’t like that you’re takin so long to answer.” I hurry and say, “Sorry, I was just thinking over your question. Yes, this is without a doubt exactly where I want to be. That’s really all there is to it. Doesn’t matter if it’s days like today where there is really good and then kinda really bad, or days that are just bad or just good. I’m in this with you. I just want to make sure that you’re sure you want us to be moving this fast. I will trust you on this if you think that is what we should be doing.” To this he smiles. Huge. “Babe, if we could get married tomorrow and you would be happy we would do that. I want you to get what you want though. I just need to know what that is.” I blurt out, “You.” “What do you mean?” “I mean, nothing else matters except that it’s you. It doesn’t matter when, where, or how. The only thing that matters is that it’s you. I love you Brantley. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” To this I throw myself into his arms and he promptly lifts me into the air. I wrap my legs around his waist. His mouth is demanding and hard. God I love this man. How could I ever question the way I wanted my life? I’ve never felt so alive. He is easy with my ribs, but still completely in control. He starts to carry us to the bedroom, but I don’t think we’re going to make it past the hallway. He has me up against the wall unbuttoning my pants. I work at getting his shirt off and then I undo his pants. He pulls me off the wall to finish undressing me, and I’m back against the wall. Before I can think any further he is completely filling me. “Oh God.” “Babe, name.” I whisper, “Brantley.” To this he growls and starts thrusting inside of me. You would think that it couldn’t get better, but I swear each time we’re together, it does. I feel that all too familiar feeling building in my gut and when it comes over me I honestly think I black out. I feel my head go back and hit the wall as I see a picture go crashing down beside us. Woops. Brantley doesn’t stop his relentless thrusting. I don’t understand how he can just keep going like that. I need to find a better workout routine. It doesn’t take long before I feel another one coming over me. “Brantley.” This was almost whispered. “Too much. I can’t” “You can baby. Let it go.” That’s all it took. I came apart just as I see Brantley come apart. I feel us both collapse onto the floor as I let out a little chuckle. That is when I remember my ribs. “You ok baby? Did I hurt you?” Sigh, “Never. I’m good. Perfect really.” I’m not sure how long we sit like that catching our breath, but as soon as Brantley does he has me up and headed toward the bedroom. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Brant, I need to head out! I’ll see you in a bit.” I hear him yell back, “Comin, babe. One minute.” I sigh. This is crazy I am running so behind. “Brantley, if I don’t get there then I’m not going to get back in time.” I see him turn the corner, “Mel, I’m right here. Give me a kiss and I’ll see you in a little bit.” I nod. Give him a kiss and head out to my car. I need to get to the store and get back or we will never make the awards dinner tonight. Brantley wasn’t happy about having to get all dressed up, but because I won a pretty prestigious award he conceded. Which means that I get my man in a tux tonight. I also have the best dress to wear. Unfortunately, I have to give a speech, but I’m pretty excited about my work winning the award. It’s a long ceremony and I had to threaten Trance and Jason both in order to get them to stop teasing Brantley for it. I was beginning to think he wasn’t going to come, because of everything they were saying.

  I head into the store and get the few groceries that we need for the picnic we’re having tomorrow with the club. I head back out to my car and just as I turn the corner to the driver’s side door I see Justin standing there. Seriously, we’ve had three weeks of no contact. Completely off radar, and today is the day he decides to show up. “Ahh, there she is. Just the girl I was lookin for.” He hasn’t made a move toward me so I slowly look around at my surroundings. I see a couple walking towards us and I am pretty close to the entrance of the store. I don’t give him time to react I just leave my buggy and run. Luckily the buggy was in between us. I have my cell out of my pocket and I’m dialing Brantley. “Brant, it’s me. Justin is here at my car. I don’t know if he followed me back into the store or not. Please.” He instantly says, “Mel, calm down I’m like five seconds away. I got you.” I go into the store and tell the manager that there is a fugitive outside who is trying to get to me. He locks us in his office. I sit on the ground trying to calm my breathing. I hear knock on the door and I give out a little scream. I look up to see two police officers standing there. What the hell. The manager lets him in. “Hello ma’am. The police were called about a disturbance in the parking lot. They said that it was you that was having the issue.” Shit, I don’t know what I’m allowed to say to the police. “Is that man still out there?” One of the officers explains, “There was a couple that was out in the parking lot that saw you running and they saw a man start to follow you, but then turned back out and got in an SUV and drove away.” I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I’m just waiting for my fiancé to get here.” He nods, “Ok, well we would love to ask you some questions.” What was I supposed to say? “Ok sure.” The other cop steps forward, “Has this happened before ma’am?” Think Mel! “This particular situation? No.” “Ok, do you know the man that was at your car?” Well, this was on record so I’m sure I could mention it, “Yes, when you pull my information you will see that I am Melanie Doran. Two years ago I filed charges against a man named Timothy Benedict. He turned out to be a conman who ended up stealing over 150,000 dollars from me. I think his name is actually Justin. It was him.” The other cop says, “Why is he back?” Well. “Your guess is as good as mine.” Kind of. I really do not feel comfortable here without Brantley. He should be here.

  I see movement at my side and I jump a little when I see Brantley closing the distance between us. “Why is the president of the Skull Shifters walking toward us?” They know Brantley? “That’s my fiancé.” “You’re kiddin.” Brantley confirms, “No sir, she’s dead serious.” The cop looks to him, “Brantley, we didn’t know she was yours.” He snaps a look to me that says I should’ve told them that already. “We were just getting acquainted. I hadn’t really gotten very far into a conversation to mention you.” He gives me a nod that says we will talk about this later. It’s not like I’ve ever been in this situation where we had to have a conversation about what I can tell the police. “I just let them know about the charges I had pressed on Timothy Benedict back two years ago. I also told them I think his name is actually Justin. He was the guy at my car.” He gives me another nod as I see the cop turn to Brantley. “I’m to assume this is off rec
ord and being handled.” What? “That part she advised you is all on file.” He gives him a nod and I kid you not they shake hands and the police leave. Seriously? It was that easy? I turn to the manager, “Sir, thank you so much for looking out for me while I waited for my fiancé.” He still looks scared as he says, “Absolutely miss. I’m just glad everything worked out ok for you.” Brantley shakes his hand and we head out to my car. We load the groceries and Brant follows me home. As you can see we had settled quite well into our roles here at home. I am completely moved in and my house is on the market. There really wasn’t a need for me to keep it. Brantley’s house was much more important to him than mine was to me. So I jumped all in. We decided to set the wedding date for two months from now. That doesn’t give me much time to plan, but at this point I know that Brantley is right. Life is too short to not jump in with both feet. I carry the groceries inside with his help and we get everything situated. “We need to talk.” I huff out a sigh because I knew this was going to be the conversation to come. “Brant, I am not missing tonight because of that man. Besides you’ll be with me. Why would I need anything more than that?” He pulls me into his arms, “Baby, I don’t know what Justin’s play was today. Obviously he has healed from the beating I put on him over the last three weeks. I need to know what we’re up against and while that’s happening I need to know that you’re safe. Tonight is a big deal. I’m sorry I know that, but I’m not comfortable with you being out in the open like that.” I will not cry. I pull from his arms, “I am not going to let that man run my life. If you don’t want to see me out there in a vulnerable position then don’t come, but guess what Mr. Silverman?” He quirks that damn eyebrow, “What?” My hand goes to my hip, “I’m going. I will not miss this dinner tonight. This is a big deal to me. I don’t ask for much Brantley, and normally I would concede to your point, but I need to stand my ground on this.” I hope he understands where I am coming from. “I get what you’re saying, baby. You know I would never let you go by yourself, I am obviously going to back you. I know this dinner is important, but your safety to me comes first. I need to make a few calls while you go and start to get ready.” I give him a nod and I can’t believe that just went the way I wanted it to. I thought for sure that I would be locked in a room somewhere until they find Justin. Which, if I’m saying, has basically been the case for the last three weeks. I’m actually surprised that I was alone at the store.

  I head back to our bedroom and hop in the shower. I go through the motions and get out and start to dry my hair. I pull out my big hair curler, straighten out my hair and put in soft big curls. I pull it half up half down with pieces falling down in front of my hair. With the highlights I had put in last week it all flows nicely together. I always go a little lighter in the summer months, and the blonde that I had put in came out perfectly. I throw on makeup a little heavier than what I normally would do. I do a smoky eye and put on my fake lashes. I get out my stunning evening gown and slip it on overtop of the cute little under garment I found to wear. The top is all diamonds in a sweetheart neckline that go down to my hips. The rest of the gown flares out in an A-line that is the color of my skin tone. The beige heels that I pair with the dress make it even better. (Even though you can’t see them) I put on my necklace, earrings, and can’t get my bracelet to snap. I make sure my ring is in place, because as promised I never take it off.

  I head out of the bathroom to an empty bedroom. I thought for sure Brant would be getting into his tux by now. I walk out to the great room to find him and see him standing in the kitchen looking absolutely edible in his black tux. “Holy shit.” Yep. That came out really breathy. I see him whip himself around and I stand there with my mouth open. “You keep lookin at me like that babe we aren’t gonna make it to your dinner. Especially with you lookin like that.” At this point I really lost all interest in receiving any kind of award. The look on my face must convey this because he says “Oh, no. Melanie, you just gave me a whole speech about why you needed to be there tonight. You are not going to use that look to get out of it now. You look absolutely stunning and I am taking you to this banquet.” Well that was nice. I give him a short nod and still stay stuck in my place. Seriously, my man in his regular biker clothes was hot, but this Brantley. Damn. “Melanie.” Yep, he was yelling at me because I was still looking at him like I wanted to eat him for dinner instead of the three thousand dollar plates we had purchased. All for charity of course. Just like my design. The piece they chose to honor me for was actually a boys and girls clubhouse. Locally, they come to businesses for donations and I got the team I was working with to do everything for free. The design was awesome. Completely modern and came with state of the art equipment for the kids to play with. Anything in the building was top of the line. It’s like an after school program for kids in need. With us doing that pro bono work they were able to keep more funding for the people that actually work there. It was really the least I could do in our community. Every little bit helps though and it was a good project to be a part of. “I can’t get my bracelet. Can you help me?” He nods, “Sure, give it to me.” I hand him the bracelet as he takes my left hand. He wraps it around and snaps it for me. The diamonds in my jewelry go perfectly with the diamonds on the dress. I feel him get close to my ear as he whispers and gives me goosebumps. “You look absolutely beautiful, baby. Let’s get this done so I can get you home and show you just how much I appreciate that dress.” He kisses me on the temple and lets me go on wobbly legs. Holy Crap. We take his car, and by his car I mean the muscle car that he has. To say it is hot is an understatement. I wanted to get a limo, but Brantley insisted that we drive his cool car. He didn’t say cool car, but that’s what I call it. It is a 1969 and a half (whatever that means) Plymouth Roadrunner in classic red. It’s hot. That is pretty much all I know. We pull up to the valet and they take the car after special instructions and a tip from Brant (insert eye roll here).