by Kyanna Skye
Jay and his friend, the detective, had been hiding in the bathroom, lights off, door cracked just enough to hear every incriminating word, not mention witnessing his breaking and entering. While Blake was being detained, Jay rushed to Adeline’s side, throwing his arms around her and squeezing so tight she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t complain either, there was no other place she wanted to be except in his embrace.
“I’m so proud of you.” His gruff compliment sent warmth shooting through her, helping to settle her still jangling nerves. She looked up into his eyes, her own shining with gratitude.
“Thank you.” She turned to watch Detective Jones walk Blake out of the motel room, out of her life, and into the unmarked squad car parked outside. She leaned into Jay, soaking in the feeling of his body, his strength, surrounding her. Adeline whispered again, so quietly Jay could barely hear it, but he felt it echo throughout his entire being.
“Thank you.”
Jay sat back in the old desk chair, it creaked as it gave alarmingly under his weight, but soon stabilized. Rubbing his eyes against the headache that had been steadily growing all day, he glanced at the clock on his desk. Damn it. Almost seven already.
Another long day, and longer night stuck in the office had him feeling restless. As his reputation as a top Private Investigator had grown, so had the seriousness of his cases, and the file he had flipped open in front of him was one of the biggest jobs he’d had yet.
He was still waiting for a break, but his animal instincts told him to keep persevering. And his animal instincts were hardly ever wrong. They tingled now, the hair on the back of his neck rising just before the frosted glass door opened.
Jay could hear the soft click of high heels against the checkered linoleum floor as they drew closer to the back office, and where he was sitting. Her distinctive scent found him first, wrapping around him in clouds of Lavender and sweetness.
The door of his office opened, and Adeline’s shining blond curls peeked around the big slab of aged hardwood. It was closely followed by her wide forehead with furrowed brows slashing over the most beautiful blue eyes had ever seen. The sight of them still had him catching his breath, even after six months.
Her curved nose, full mouth, and pixie chin all followed in quick succession, but his eyes stayed fixated on her mouth. Oh, the things she could do with that mouth. Jay shifted, trying to ease some of the sudden pressure caused by his wayward thoughts, when the chair gave another ominous creak. He felt it give with a slight drop, level out, and then the back loosened completely, leaving him in an ungracious heap on the cold floor.
Peals of feminine laughter had him looking up, Adeline’s sweet face staring down at him with mirth and love shining clear and bright as she tried to control her giggles. She put a hand over her mouth, covering the inadvertent cause of his predicament.
“Are you okay?” She managed between chuckles, reaching her hands down to help him up to his feet. He took hold, but turned the tables on her by giving a quick tug, pulling her down on top of him instead, and inciting another burst of laughter.
“Hey, you better watch that bear strength of yours.” Adeline teased. It warmed his heart whenever she joked about his true nature. It had been a hard conversation a few months ago when he had brought it up, but it had turned out that she had known about him, and his other half, since the beginning.
She had seen him shift when he had defended her against those thugs in the alley, not quite believing her eyes at first. As she had come to know him, witnessed more of the incredible feats his bear half allowed him to accomplish, she was convinced.
Jay was still amazed that she had accepted him so easily, more open-hearted and generous than he had a right to ask for. And also sweeter. He stared up at her, awed at how lucky he was to have found this incredible woman, the twists and turns of fate that had led him into her path.
“Hey.” The mirth in her eyes slowly transformed into something more serious as she stared down into his dark brown eyes, still laying on his chest.
“Hey back.” He whispered back, his body hardening, impossible to ignore the press of her luscious curves, or the spark of desire firing behind the blue in her eyes.
“I was thinking we should go get some food, but maybe we should just find someplace more comfortable first.” Jay chuckled, the sound distinctly masculine as he drew her up his already straining body.
“How about you just stay on top,” He grinned at her, “It’s your favorite anyways.” It had quickly become his as well. Adeline grinned saucily back at him.
“You’ll be my bed?”
“Baby, I’ll be your bed, your house, your whole world if you just promise me one thing.”
She shifted on top of him, tilting her head to one side.
“Oh yeah? What’s that?” His eyes stared up at hers holding all the love he had in his heart for her.
“Don’t let go”
THE END
The Lion’s Secret Baby: Paranormal Romance
Tabitha drove down the winding gravel road with her big, dark chocolate eyes as wide as they could go. Drinking in the gorgeous mountain views that peeked through the snow-dusted evergreens lining the path. She cracked her window just enough to breathe in the crisp, crystal clear air tinged with the scent of pine that was exactly like she remembered as a little girl.
She steered her bright red SUV with caution on the icy road as she pulled into the long drive leading to the towering brick and log manor that rose up like it had been grown there in the forest. She drove past the sign that read White Mountain Lodge in letters twined with carved white roses and exhaled a sigh of relief, releasing a tension that had plagued her since almost eight months before.
As a professional figure skater, Tabitha was no stranger to working through incredible pressure, stress, and pain. But the injury that had ended her career so suddenly not even a year before had been something that even her indomitable will couldn’t overcome.
She had torn all the ligaments in her right knee after a nasty fall, and at twenty five all her dreams, everything she had spent her life working for, collapsed underneath her. In the aftermath she had realized exactly how much she had sacrificed in the mindless pursuit of that gold medal.
No friends, no family except for her grandfather who loved and supported her no matter what decisions she made. And a no-good, bastard, jerk-face ex fiancé who Tabitha had found out had been having an affair with her coach the entire time they were together.
He had the nerve to blame it on her! That she was never there, didn’t care enough, and didn’t put half as much effort into their relationship as she did her career. Which was true, she had to acknowledge. At least to herself.
The ethereal beauty of the lodge and surrounding woods, so still and calm in the early winter afternoon soothed her in a way Tabitha desperately needed. She hadn’t realized just how much the stress of the past months had been eating at her.
Pulling into the open parking spot, she glanced up into the rearview mirror. Her big, dark brown eyes flecked with gold stared back at her. Her mocha skin swept over high cheekbones and full, unpainted lips. Her features, which she was so used to seeing drawn and creased with worry and exhaustion were already softer, more relaxed. Tabitha smiled to herself in the mirror. This was going to be exactly what she needed.
She grabbed her suitcase and her old backpack and headed through the oversized pine framed double doors of the Lodge. The main lobby was empty save for an old, worn couch with a geometric print and a lovely looking middle aged women flipping through paperwork behind the massive wooden front counter.
“Hel…hello.” Tabitha gave a slight wave, still juggling her luggage and bags as she tried to get the woman’s attention. Bright blue eyes and a cheery smile looked up at her over small gold glasses pushed down to the tip of her nose.
“Oh! Hello! Are you checking in, dear?” The woman’s voice tripped some memory of when Tabitha had been there as a child. She stared closer into the woma
n’s features. The wide forehead, smooth cheeks, and full lips that were still curved into a welcoming smile all made it difficult to put any age to her.
“I’m so sorry,” Tabitha mumbled as she realized she had been staring for a solid minute, “you just seem so familiar to me. You didn’t happen to work here almost twenty years ago, did you? But no, that’s impossible.” Her hand fluttered, waving away her question, as she tried to pin down the sense of déjà vu that had hit her upon seeing, Tabitha squinted at her name tag, Bea. That’s all it said. Just Bea.
Bea looked at her uncomfortably for a moment before her happy grin replaced it, making Tabitha doubt she had seen it at all.
“Well, you probably mean my mother.” Bea chuckled, but it held an edge of nerves. “She worked here for years before buying the place, and now I take care of things.” She beamed again, and all Tabitha could see was sunshine.
“So, you’ve been to our lodge before?” Bea asked as she reached for another clipboard of papers. Tabitha smiled, remembering.
“Yes, when I was a little girl. I came here with my dad and grandpa when I was seven. It was the best Christmas I ever had.”
“Well, I’m so glad you are back to visit us again. Can I just have your name, sweetie?” Bea was looking at the papers as she asked, not a computer or even cell phone in sight on the big desk behind the counter.
“It’s Tabitha. Tabitha Jones.”
“Oh, Ms. Jones, of course! I hope the roads weren’t too bad getting up here. I know they were saying a doozy of a storm is on the way.”
“Nope, no problems. It seems like I got here just in time.” A different, softer type of smile lit Bea’s features.
“You know, I can’t tell you how many visitors at White Mountain Lodge say that same exact thing.” Her voice once again brisk, but kindly. She grabbed a set of keys from the wall of hooks, each with corresponding numbers.
She handed Tabitha number L14. You’ve got room number fourteen, dear. It’s really lovely, a great view of the pond, and the valley. I hope you enjoy your stay with us, and let me know if you need anything at all.”
“Thank you.” Tabitha smiled, and with another little wave, walked down the hall in the direction Bea had pointed. She took a deep breath, feeling energized, revitalized, and ready to dedicate the next week to doing nothing but relaxing. She couldn’t wait.
Tabitha set her bags down on the giant king sized bed that took up most of the south wall of her room. Looking around, she sighed in satisfaction. This really was exactly what she needed. The walls of the suite were painted a soft, muted rose that complimented the warmth of the hard wood floors. A small seating area by the door housed a loveseat with neutral geometric print and two wooden armchairs with quilted cushions.
A big, white, fluffy looking knit blanket was folded over the back of the loveseat just begging her to go over there and wrap up in it, but then she glanced towards the big arched window that dominated the entire west wall. Tabitha’s breath caught.
It was just so beautiful. The frozen pond sat surrounded by glittering pines and evergreen shrubs dusted with snow like confectioner’s sugar. She felt the prick of tears as she remembered that winter so many years ago. She had gone skating on that very pond with her father pulling her around as they played on the ice.
It had been just a few short years later when her father had died but the memory ached. Some of Tabitha’s most cherished memories of him had happened right here at the lodge. It was one of the reason’s she had decided to come, to feel closer to her past, who she used to be.
Shrugging off the melancholy thoughts, she moved toward her bag with renewed determination. Tabitha knew exactly what she was going to do first. She unzipped the bigger of the two suitcases, her long, dark fingers moving against the green and black checked fabric, and pulled out a box. Taking off the lid, she stared for a moment. Just looking at the ice skates as a familiar jolt of fear slid through her.
Ever since her accident eight months ago, she had been unable to get back on the ice and skate, overwhelmed by a sense of trepidation that made her whole body shake. The doctors all said it was a normal reaction, and she would eventually overcome it.
Tabitha swallowed, stiffening her shoulders and holding her long, elegant neck straight. Today was going to be that day. Grabbing the skates before any more second thoughts could creep in, she was out the door and headed towards the pond with quick strides.
She met no one in the lobby, not even Bea, so continued outside in the relaxing quiet of the resort. There was a sense of peace here so strong that even her newfound fear of skating couldn’t compete, and Tabitha was able to push it back with ease. To a woman used to being confident and sure of herself, that nagging disquiet was hard to countenance.
She marched up to the pond with resolve in every line of her curvy, yet muscular, frame. Spying a worn, wooden bench about twenty feet away, Tabitha strode over, kicking up clouds of powdering snow as she walked. She sat, taking her shoes off, and froze, her head whipping to the side making some of her dark ebony hair tousle loose from her high bun.
She swore she heard something. A foot step, a twig snap, she wasn’t exactly sure now, and as she watched and nothing happened she had to shrug it off. Maybe it was an animal or something. She was surrounded by acres and acres of forest after all. There was bound to be some wild life.
Tabitha finished lacing up her skates, their bright white leather a sharp contrast to the warm brown hue of her fingers as she smoothed her hands over the soft material. They were the last pair of custom boots she had bought before her accident, and they fit like a glove, perfectly molded to fit the arch of her feet.
Taking a deep breath, Tabitha inhaled the sweet, cold air, and without a single glance behind her, strode to the edge of the pond. On a giant exhale, she glided graceful as a swan onto the ice.
Sebastian held his breath. When he had accidentally stepped on that branch, the echo of its snapping ringing loudly in the peaceful stillness of the woods, he was sure he was caught. That beautiful creature had stared right at him, but concealed as he was by the branches of pine, drooping under the weight of the snow, she somehow hadn’t seen him.
Guiltily, he knew he should turn and continue on the short distance to his cabin, less than a quarter of a mile away. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t help himself, couldn’t look away if he wanted to, and he definitely didn’t.
Entranced, he watched with golden eyes ringed with amber so dark it was almost black. He drank her in like he had walked for days in the dessert, parched for the sight of her without even knowing it.
As she slid effortlessly along the ice, Sebastian’s eyes followed. They took in everything, from her thick, night black hair pulled carelessly into a bun; some tendrils had fallen out to tease the length of her neck, and he found himself ridiculously jealous that it wasn’t him.
He stalled at her features, a heart shaped face framed high cheekbones, a straight nose that curled up adorably at the end, making her look like she was always up to mischief, and a mouth that had his pulse raising. But her eyes. Framed by the longest, black lashes, her almond shaped eyes were the darkest, warmest shade of brown that he just wanted to drown in.
Her smooth, brown skin held a flush of pleasure as she twirled around on the frozen pond like she had been born to do just that. Sebastian had never seen anyone that natural or graceful on ice skates. Certainly, he would never take that chance.
He had come to White Mountain Lodge, like many other shifters, looking for a sanctuary. A respite from the pressure of keeping half of himself hidden away every day. Being surrounded by people who never really knew him, couldn’t know him. He could almost see his lion half shake his heavy mane in disdain of all the ice and snow and cold, but this was exactly what Sebastian needed.
His eyes were drawn back to the mystery woman still skating, now doing backwards figure eights, leaving lines in the ice in her wake. Every movement slid seamlessly into the next, more graceful, more elegant, th
an anything he had ever seen.
The predator in him went on point. Sebastian could feel the sudden tension running through his muscles as they bunched, preparing to spring into action. He had to hold himself back, shocked at the intense reaction of his body. For so long he had pushed down the animal side of himself that he had actually begun to lose that sacred connection within himself.
Desperate to regain some semblance of balance, he had headed to White Mountain in the hopes that being around other shifters, and in the peace of the wilderness would ease the ache that tormented him constantly. But one look at this beautiful, dark-skinned beauty had man and beast instantly ready to pounce.
His ears perked as an almost imperceptible sound reached him, but he couldn’t decipher it. There it was again. Sebastian took a half step towards her, instinct overruling his brain as the sound came once again, more clearly this time. He rushed forward reaching the ice just as another cracking noise, this time much louder filled the air.
The dark beauty looked over at him with surprise widened eyes, and for a moment Sebastian couldn’t breathe. The force of her gaze on his hit him with the force of a mallet to the head, and he suddenly couldn’t make sense of his thoughts.
Still rushing closer to her, only a few feet away now, he watched as her skate hit a crack forming in the surface of the lake, and stuck, causing her to tumble face forward onto the ice. He reached for her just as she made contact, bracing her from most of the blow, but he could see her right ankle twisted oddly by the skate still stuck in the ice.
She sucked in a breath, and let out a gasp of pain on the exhale as she tried to stand, but couldn’t. Sebastian took her arm, letting her rest most of her weight on his big, sharply muscled frame.
“Hey, take it easy. It’s okay. Let me help you.” Sebastian said quietly as she struggled to stand on her own.
