ROMANCE: BAD BOY ROMANCE: Love Fight (Bad Boy College Alpha Male Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Romance Short Stories)

by Aubrey Moyes

  She wandered around for the store for a bit before she made her way to customer service. A young pretty brunette smiled at her. “Can I help you?” she asked in that fake customer service tone.

  “I hope so. I was told that you offer zip lining packages through the Woodland?”

  “You enjoy zip lining?”

  The familiar voice curled around her, and for a moment, Stacey forgot to breathe.

  It couldn’t be.

  As she turned her head, her heart started to pound furiously. The patient from the hospital leaned against the counter with a crooked smile on his face.

  She swallowed hard. She was no clothing connoisseur, but she knew money when she saw it. The grey suit alone that cut so close to his figure would probably have cost her several month’s worth of paychecks.

  “Mr. Gordon,” she said as she struggled to regain her composure.

  “Stacey,” he acknowledged. Her name on his lips sent her heart fluttering.

  “How’s the hand?” she asked quickly. Her eyes flitted down to the injury, and she frowned. There was no dressing on it. There was no sign of the injury whatsoever.

  “Good as new,” he said with a smile as he flexed his hand.

  Astonished, she grabbed his hand and studied it. “That’s not possible,” she murmured. His skin was warm under hers, but she ignored it. “The stiches shouldn’t have dissolved for at least another three days.” Her eyes rounded when she realized the implications. “You’re a shifter.”

  He cocked his head when she quickly dropped his hand. “Does that bother you?”

  “Of course not,” she said hastily. “I just don’t know much about shifters, that’s all. I’d heard the rumors that you heal quickly. Apparently very quickly. But I’ve never seen it in action.”

  Should she ask what kind of shifter he was? Is that rude?

  Micah read her thoughts. “I’m a bear shifter. And yes, we do heal rather quickly. But sometimes, we need a little bit of help. Like the stitches, for example.”

  He stared at her thoughtfully for a moment before looking at the girl behind the counter. She was staring at him with stars in her eyes. “Katya, why don’t you take a break? I’ll finish Ms. Bronson’s transaction.”

  “Of course, Mr. Gordon. Thank you,” she said before batting her eyes and scampering away. Stacey watched as he walked around the counter and smiled.

  “G&S Industries,” she murmured. “Gordon and… ?”

  “Steward.”

  Stacey did a mental check in her head. Dangerously sexy. Shifter. Billionaire. Of course he was all these things. There was only one other way he could possibly top that list.

  Unless…

  “Alpha?” she asked jokingly.

  “Yes. Bear clan.”

  A burst of laugher escaped her. “Of course. And you’re going to book my friend for her zip lining trip.”

  He cocked his head. “Is that funny to you?”

  “You don’t exactly look comfortable behind the counter, Mr. Gordon.”

  “Call me Micah. And there was a time when I worked behind the counter,” he said, clearly amused. “You did your job to help me. Now I’ll do mine to help you. Your friend wants to go zip lining?”

  “For her birthday. I was hoping I could buy a package without setting up a date. It’s a surprise, and I’m not sure about her availability.”

  He nodded and bent down to peer at the computer. “That’s not a problem. We can do a voucher that she can cash in whenever she’d like. What’s her name?”

  “Elizabeth Morris.”

  He entered her name and printed out a piece of paper. She immediately reached for her wallet and checked the receipt for the total. It had a zero balance.

  “Oh, I’d actually like to go ahead and pay for it today,” she said as she pushed the sheet of paper back. “It’s a birthday present for her.”

  “It’s already taken care of,” he said in a neutral voice.

  For a moment, she was confused. “What do you mean it’s already taken care of?”

  “You stitched up my hand. I’m providing you with a service,” he said easily.

  Irritation built up inside her. “Dr. Littleston stitched up your hand. I helped because it’s my job. I get paid to do it. You don’t owe me any favors. Don’t think that because I’m not rich like you, I can’t afford to take my friend on a trip. I didn’t come here to get a free trip. I didn’t even know I would find you here.”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “That’s not what I mean,” he started quickly.

  “Forget,” Stacey snapped. “I’ll find something else to get Elizabeth. Thank you for your time.”

  Seething in rage, she turned and stalked down the aisles. He didn’t know her. How dare he think that she needed something for free!

  As she pushed open the double doors, a hand pressed against her waist and whirled her around. She shrieked as she stumbled against the wall. He caught her and pushed her gently to the side. Micah loomed over her with anger in his eyes. Her breath caught, but it wasn’t fear that she felt.

  She was turned on.

  “I didn’t do it because I think you’re a charity case,” he said in a low voice. “I think you’ve misread the situation. And I certainly don’t appreciate you walking out on me like that.”

  “I didn’t misread anything. You failed to explain yourself clearly, and I’m not part of your pack. I can go wherever I please,” Stacey said. She winced when she heard the attitude in her voice. It was probably not helping the situation.

  Fascinated, she watched as the muscle in his jaw clenched. Clearly she had said something that really pissed him off. “Are you dating the doctor?” he demanded.

  “What?” she asked, trying to keep up with the new turn in the conversation.

  “The damn doctor who couldn’t keep his eyes off you. Are you dating him?” he asked succinctly.

  “Dr. Littleston? No,” she said as she grimaced.

  “I’m not treating you like a charity case. I just wanted to get you attention,” he said as he backed up to give her more space. She glanced quickly around to make sure no one was watching. She cleared her throat.

  “You definitely have my attention.”

  “Have dinner with me tomorrow night,” he said quietly.

  “Okay,” she said automatically. “Wait, I can’t. I have to work. I’m working the next four days, but afterwards—“

  “Have dinner with me tonight,” he interrupted.

  Tonight? Tonight was so soon. She needed to shave. And do something with her hair. Buy a new outfit. Lose ten pounds. “Okay,” she whispered.

  He nodded. Satisfaction was written all over his face. “I’ll pick you up at six.” He leaned in close, and for a moment, Stacey thought he was going to kiss her. Instead, he straightened and turned to walk back in the store.

  “You don’t know where I live,” she called out to him.

  He turned and smiled wickedly. “Actually, I do.”

  Her jaw dropped as he entered the store. It should have been creepy, but to know that he’d checked up on her was hot. She felt safe around him.

  Chapter Five

  “What’s it like being a shifter?”

  Micah sat back in his chair and looked thoughtfully at Stacey. They were nearing the end of their meal, and he could tell she’d been dying to ask all night. “I’ve always been a shifter, so I can’t really explain what it’s like to not be a shifter. I do straddle two different societies. My pack has its own set of rules to govern themselves, and the city recognizes that, but at the same time, we have to adhere to the rules set aside by the government. We shift during the full moon, but my humanity still remains. I’m human the rest of the month, but my bear still remains. We’re always one.”

  He watched as she hid behind her wine while she contemplated his words. The date was going well. They were both obviously restrained and polite. He knew that he was doing something wrong, but he couldn’t help himself. There was an energy aro
und that woman that he simply couldn’t deny.

  Micah also knew that Stacey had never met a shifter. She regarded him carefully. It was clear that she was attracted to him, but she’d already put up a wall. He wasn’t sure which part of him she was keeping out.

  He’d told both Jackson and Brent about the date. They’d both told him to put his feelings aside to focus on Bridgette instead. He’d picked up the phone several times to cancel the date, but he simply couldn’t do it. There was something about Stacey, and he needed to discover more.

  “I’m not dangerous,” he said softly as he placed his card in the check presenter. The waiter was silent as he came around to pick it up.

  She scoffed. “Not dangerous? Clearly you haven’t seen you from an outsider’s perspective. First of all, you just look dangerous. You’ve got that dark brooding look about you. Second of all, you’re beyond wealthy. That much money is already dangerous. And finally, everyone knows that the alliance between shifters and vampires are uneasy at best. You being the leader of one of those clans is downright dangerous.”

  He considered her words. She wasn’t wrong of course, but once again, she had misjudged what he meant. “My bear isn’t dangerous. If I shifted in front of your, I wouldn’t hurt you,” he explained.

  She reddened. “Sorry,” she muttered.

  The waiter brought the check presenter back with a smile, and Micah signed the slip and returned the credit card to his wallet. He didn’t want the evening to end, but they had already been at the restaurant for two hours. And as much as he wanted to continue their date elsewhere, he knew it wasn’t fair for her.

  It’s not like this can turn into anything. You can’t keep her.

  “Are you ready?” he asked softly.

  She nodded and stood. He waited for her to pass before putting his hand lightly around her waist to guide her out the restaurant. He felt the spark fly when he touched her, and she shuddered. But she wasn’t the only one who reacted. His own desire was curling in his belly.

  All night, she had looked out of place. She wore a gorgeous black dress that clung in all the right places and set his imagination on fire. He’d picked an impressive restaurant, and it was clear that she felt like she didn’t belong there. Even though she kept a straight face, he could see her discomfort. He wanted nothing more than to lean over and kiss her. She belonged there because she belonged with him.

  But of course, she didn’t belong with him. And so he didn’t kiss her, and the ride back to her place was silent. He waged a war with himself. Maybe, if he just had one night with her, he could purge his system. He’d put her out of his mind and that would be that.

  Of course, that was no way to treat a lady. He was raised better than that, and he could never treat Stacey that way. She deserved so much more.

  So much more than he was allowed to offer her.

  * * *

  “You don’t have to walk me to the door,” she said quietly. The closer he got to the house, the more of a chance there was that she’d invite him in. And she didn’t know him. This was there first date. She didn’t invite strange men into her house on the first date.

  “I do,” he said as he held the car door open for her.

  Of course he did. Everything he did made it that much harder for her to resist him. Her legs were shaky as she stood. He put a hand on the small of her back as he guided her up the path, but it did nothing to support her. She wanted to melt into him.

  When they reached the faded brown door, she took a deep breath and faced him. Here is where she told him that no matter what her body was telling her, he was not invited inside. She wasn’t that kind of girl.

  “I shouldn’t see you anymore,” he said thickly.

  Her eyes flew up to meet his. One date and she was already rejected? Here she was concerned about what looking like a slut, and he’d already written her off.

  “I see,” she said coldly. “Well, thank you for dinner.” She turned to slip the key in the slot, and his hand immediately circled her wrist.

  “You don’t see,” he said softly. “I want very much to see you again. But I have to adhere to a different set of rules. You’re not an alpha. You’re not even a shifter. This can’t go anywhere.”

  Her whole body reacted at his touch, and she struggled to comprehend what he was saying. “If you can’t be with me, then why did you ask me out?”

  Micah bent his head down to hers. “I can’t seem to resist you,” he muttered before capture her mouth. At the first touch of his lips, her knees buckled. She dropped her keys and circled her arms around his neck for support. His kiss was hard, dizzying, and intense. As she eagerly opened her mouth to invite more, someone groaned. Was that her? Him? She couldn’t even tell. As she pressed her body against him, she realized that she’d never felt more at home than she did in his arms. This was right. This was where she was supposed to be.

  His hands traveled down to cup her bottom, and he lifted her up to press her against the door. Her legs circled him, and the heat flared between them. Liquid heat pooled between her legs, and she immediately pressed herself against him. Even through their clothes, she could feel his erection. He was ready. She was ready. All they had to do was rid themselves of their clothes.

  “Stacey,” he moaned as he slipped a hand under her shirt. She gasped as he touched bare skin. His lips trailed down her throat, and she rolled her head to the side. Every touch was electrified.

  As she reached down to undo his belt, her hands pressed against something in his pocket. The horn sounded on the car, and it startled both of them out of their daze. He leaned back and stared at her.

  “Good grief,” she said, laughing awkwardly. “We’re about to give my neighbors a show.” He eased her down, and she struggled to find her footing. If she slid boneless to the ground right now, it would be more than embarrassing. “If this can’t happen, then you should probably go.”

  She watched the struggle in his eyes before he finally stepped away. “Stacey,” he said softly.

  But she couldn’t stand here and listen to him apologize or make excuses. It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t her fault. It just wasn’t meant to be, but that didn’t mean she had to stand here and endure the torturous goodbye.

  “See you around, Micah,” she said lightly. Her hands shook as she bent down and picked up the keys. He stood on her porch and watched her fumble with them. When she finally unlocked the door, she practically flew into the safety of her house. Leaning against the door, she felt grateful for the barrier.

  It was a long time before she moved again. She didn’t understand the anguish that twisted inside of her. She didn’t even know him, and yet, she felt like she’d lost something incredibly important.

  Chapter Six

  Two weeks had passed. He didn’t call her. Of course he didn’t call her. Hadn’t he already told her that he couldn’t see her? But that didn’t keep Stacey from checking her phone at least twenty times a day to make sure she hadn’t missed a call. Or a text. Or even a newsletter from his company.

  When none of those things happened, she threw herself into work. It wasn’t hard to do. The third night of the visible moon had just passed, and things were also crazier in the hospital then. Kitchen accidents. Work accidents. Car crashes. Weird sex accidents. At this point, she figured she’d seen it all.

  So when she pulled up to her house that night, she was exhausted. There were only two shining moments from her fourteen-hour shift. The first was that Dr. Littleston hadn’t worked. The second was that she hadn’t had time to think of Micah.

  Later, when she looked back on it, she would claim exhaustion as the reason she didn’t see the shadows moving up her walk. They blended in with the night, and when they were upon her, she barely had time to scream.

  Strong hands grasped her and threw her to the sidewalk. She heard the crack of her ankle as she fell, and as her head connected with the concrete, pain seared through her body.

  Her attackers never said a word. As she opene
d her eyes to make sense of what was happening, she saw the flash of the blade. Her vision flashed white as it sunk into her stomach. Searing hot. That was all that she could think. The blade that looked wickedly cold was actually hot.

  She clutched her wound and rolled over. Already, the shadows were melting into the dark. She was alone. Logic set it.

  Move. If you don’t move, you’ll die. Ignore the pain. Ignore the shock. Get help.

  She needed to get to her phone.

  Grasping in the dark for her purse, she finally snagged the strap and pulled it towards her, but the contents had been dumped out in the ground. As she searched for it, she wondered if her neighbors had heard her scream. Had she screamed? She couldn’t remember.

  There was no phone. All she pulled out were grass clippings and make-up. The darkness was closing, and finally, she let it take her.

  * * *

  Micah sat at the end of the endless conference table. The heads of each family surrounded him, and although the room was meant for calm and peaceful discussions, recent events had sent the pack in turmoil. He watched the arguments dispassionately as he calculated his next move.

  Next to him, his mother sat stiffly next to him. He could see that she was watching him carefully. He hadn’t had a chance to talk with her yet, but he knew that no matter what the outcome of this meeting, his mother had his back.

  On the other side of him, Jackson and Brent also surveyed the pack in stonily silence. Like his mother, he knew that they would support him as well. And that was a good sign. An alpha’s most loyal members should also be the ones closest to him.

  Next to his mother, Bridgette stared at him. Tall, cold, and beautiful, Bridgette commanded attention. She had long dark hair and beautiful creamy skin, but here eyes were dark and calculating. For a second, he thought briefly back to Stacey’s own warm brown eyes. Even as they light faded from them, there was no malice in them. Bridgette was a different creature entirely.