Happy Howlidays: Shifters in Love Romance Collection (Shifter in Love Book 1)

by V. Vaughn

  Luke’s cock shrinks inside me, and he nips at my earlobe before he whispers, “First time with a werebear?”

  “A werebear?”

  My cat arches her back and hisses. I’ve never met a werebear before. They don’t tend to come where we are, and I never expected that’s what Luke was. While he’s not exactly a predator, my kind shouldn’t want anything to do with a werebear. I squirm underneath him as panic floods my veins with ice.

  Luke releases me, and I stand to yank my skirt back down. I’m such an idiot. Mixed mates are not a good thing in my clan, and I just let a bear fill me with his seed. My thighs are sticky with our juices, and I grimace.

  Luke rubs my arms and asks, “Shower or bath?”

  Oh god. He wants to do the wet-sex thing, and I can’t get him out of here fast enough. How can he not care? I glance at him to see he’s not the least bit concerned about what we just did. He’s actually grinning, and I think he believes my shocked look is due to his sexual prowess.

  I pull up my stockings and ask, “Do you know what I am?”

  “I recognized your scent because I work with a couple werecougars.”

  I glare at him. “You could have told me you weren’t a cat.”

  Now he frowns. “Why should it matter? We’re mates.”

  I shake my head in disbelief. “No.” I don’t care how hot a bear Luke Robichaux is, I am not going to be mated to him. “We’re not.” I turn and make my way to the door.

  The lock clicks open before Luke’s hand slaps on the wood above my head. He growls. “You’re kicking me out?”

  Tears burn in my eyes because I should have known. My dream for the perfect mate is just a fantasy. “You don’t get it, do you? Ask your friends at work what would happen if you were with a werecougar, Luke. Now go home.” So I can be alone. Forever.

  4

  On my way to work the next morning, I decide to drown my sorrows in the sugary goodness of donuts, and when I walk in the door, Opal smiles like the Cheshire cat.

  I say, “I know it’s been a while, but they’re not that good.”

  She asks, “How did it go?”

  I roll my eyes. “Fine.” The last thing I want to do is get into this with her right now.

  “Holly! Opal!” Gigi calls out as she bursts through the door behind me.

  I’m grateful for the distraction and notice her blue eyes sparkle with excitement. A bag rustles as she drops it in her chair, and Opal comes out from behind the counter to see what my friend has.

  Gigi says, “I found us the perfect shirts for our team.”

  Gigi is on the hunt for a man too, and she decided our next ploy to land one is to take up bowling. League night is for both men and women, and she’s convinced we’re missing out on an untapped market. So Turning Heads now has a bowling team.

  Gigi pulls out red shirts with our names embroidered in green on the front.

  I reach out and take mine from her. The thread is smooth under my finger as I trace the script. I flash to the way Luke’s hair felt in my hands before I shove the memory out of my mind. “Nice.”

  “I picked Christmas colors because I know you’d leave the tree up all year if we’d let you.”

  Opal lifts hers up and frowns. No doubt she’s trying to sort out how to make it sexier. Before Gigi notices Opal’s reaction, the phone rings, and Opal answers it. Gigi and I walk to our stations so we can talk.

  “Wait until you see the back,” says Gigi. She lifts her shirt and flips it around. The scissors logo of our salon covers it. “Don’t you love it?”

  Her joy is contagious. Even though my heart is shattered after discovering my mate is a werebear, I find a smile. Everyone in town who wants a haircut has to come to us, and we don’t need to advertise, but I like the way the shirts turned out. “I do. And we’re going to look so much better than the nail girls in pink.”

  My fake enthusiasm doesn’t fool my friend. Gigi frowns. “Want to talk about it?”

  I glance over at Opal to see she’s busy in conversation, and I nod my head toward the back room.

  When we get there, Gigi says, “I take it your date last night didn’t go so well.”

  I sigh. “No. He’s a werebear.”

  “What?”

  “I know. What’s a bear doing around here?”

  Gigi’s eyes fill with concern. “But you’re attracted to him, aren’t you?”

  I sigh. “Worse. I slept with him.”

  “Oh my god. Was it—?”

  “Completely and utterly the best sex I’ve ever had.” I shake my head as tears burn in my eyes. “It’s just not fair.”

  “Oh, Holly. I’m so sorry.” Gigi knows how I feel about interbreeding, but she can’t help herself. “Maybe you could just have a fling and get him out of your system?”

  I shake my head. “Can you imagine how that would go over with Opal? And the rest of this town?”

  Gigi offers me a sympathetic smile as she touches my arm. Opal is old school and would be furious if I decided to be with Luke. She’d also have a hard time keeping it under wraps with her busybody ways. “This is just a minor setback. You’ll see.” She holds her shirt up and says, “I know Mr. Right is out there for us. And I’m not going to stop until we find them.”

  Opal calls for Gigi, and she gives me a quick kiss before she leaves me.

  Luke’s statement that we’re true mates rolls around in my head. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s right, because I’ve never felt such a strong connection. But unfortunately, I think my Mr. Right is also Mr. Wrong. My cat doesn’t though. Luke’s purrrrfect. I want to play more smoky pokey. A twinge of desire defies me.

  My problem with Luke isn’t that I think a werebear is any less than a werecougar, but the alpha of my clan would never let us be mates. Our children would be a mixed breed and not welcome. I’d never be able to remain here. I’ve never lived anywhere else, and I can’t imagine leaving my friends, the mountains, and everything I know.

  I cringe thinking about how I reacted last night when I found out Luke was a werebear. Throwing him out wasn’t the most rational decision, considering that as a newcomer to this town, he probably doesn’t understand the impact of us being together. I walk over to the window to gaze out and watch my town bustle with activity.

  Holiday shoppers walk with bags hanging from their arms and a girl squeals as a boy tosses a snowball at her playfully. He chases her and she lets him catch her for a kiss. It’s the kind of romantic scene that usually makes me smile, but I can’t one. I scratch at my arm as if my skin is too tight. I finally find my mate, and he’s a werebear. This town really doesn’t fit me these days.

  I sigh and turn back to discover Opal put her shirt on over her clothes and has two sections below her breasts pinched between her fingers. She looks at me. “I’m going to put in some darts. I can do it for you and Gigi too.” Opal winks at me. “No need to look boxy.”

  I smile at her. “Thanks.”

  I know Opal means well and her intentions are to keep Gigi and me from ending up alone the way she is.

  She says, “You should be thanking me. I know your date didn’t go well last night.” I open my mouth to protest, and Opal says, “You haven’t mentioned him once.” I frown as she says, “Just wait until you hear about your three o’clock.”

  She’s unbelievable. “No.” I want Luke. “You are not setting me up again.”

  “Holly, the only failure in love is giving up.”

  “I’m not giving up.”

  “Well, then. There’s no problem.”

  I sigh. I suppose getting back on the horse by flirting with a cute client wouldn’t be so hard to do. I say, “Fine. Tell me all about him.”

  “He’s an old friend.”

  I don’t need three guesses to know she means my ex-boyfriend. Now my sadness is replaced with the burn of anger as I say, “Oh no. Please tell me you didn’t book Zander for me.”

  Opal points her finger at me. “That man is in love with you, and
he wouldn’t let me give him Gigi. So if you know what’s good for business, you’ll be nice.”

  I shake my head, because I’m not going to get anywhere with arguing. Opal has been pushing Zander on me since we went to prom and he took my virginity. I mumble as I walk away, “I will.”

  When three rolls around, Zander arrives. He strides over to me with an alley cat strut that leaves little doubt he’s a werecougar. He takes off his coat immediately. In his low-slung jeans and T-shirt that’s tight across his chest, he’s working what he’s got, and a glance over at Gigi tells me it’s effective. I have to admit, my ex-boyfriend is hot.

  Zander winks at me through bangs that swoop sexily over his forehead, and I roll my eyes at him as I wave toward my chair. “Have a seat, and let’s figure out what you need.”

  His chest rumbles, and he says, “I’m pretty sure it’s you.”

  Great. Here we go again. He sits, and I begin to comb my fingers through his hair. His silky locks are smooth on my skin, and I recall how I’ve tugged them many times. Sex was never a problem for us. I ask, “Do you want a new style or a trim?”

  “Just a trim will do.”

  I snap out the vinyl cape I removed earlier and try for a civil conversation. “How’s your job?” Zander works for a tree cutting business as the guy that climbs up high.

  “It’s not bad.” He glances over at Gigi and winks at her.

  Is he trying to make me jealous? I say, “Maybe you should have let Opal give you Gigi after all.”

  “She’s not what I want.” He stares at me in the mirror. “I heard your date last night didn’t go well. But I could have guessed that.” He glares at me as he asks, “A bear? Really, Holly, I never thought you’d be that desperate.”

  Hisss. I lead Zander to the sink as I control my cat, and when I lift the footrest, I ask, “Is that what you came here for? To insult me?”

  “No. I really do need a haircut.”

  I flip on the water, and before it’s warm, I wet his hair. He flinches from the cold, and I say, “I’m not sure what you hope to accomplish by living downtown. I thought I made myself quite clear. We’re done.”

  “Are we? Because you’ve said that before and...” He smirks at me in reference to how many times in the past we’ve tumbled into bed together and picked up where we left off.

  Damn it if the memory of sex with Zander doesn’t make my insides flutter a bit. But I shove the hint of desire away before he can detect it, and I massage shampoo into his hair.

  Zander groans as he shifts his weight in the chair. “God, your touch is like magic, Holly.”

  I flash to Luke saying something similar, and now desire for the werebear burns in my belly. I make the mistake of glancing down Zander’s body to notice the cape doesn’t disguise the growing bulge in his pants. I work quickly to finish the wash, because no matter how easy it would be to just hook up with my ex and take out my frustrations with sex, I’d be right back where I started. Although that’s beginning to look like the only alternative to being alone.

  I watch Zander walk over to the cutting station and wonder if I could be happy with him. He’s a good man, and he does know how to please me physically. But now that I’ve been with my mate, I’m sure my ex-boyfriend would never be enough. The metal of my scissors is cold in my hand when I lift them and let the familiar snip snip of cutting hair take my mind off my predicament. I’ve already sent the bear away, and I might as well find a way to get over my disappointment and move on, because I refuse to believe that’s all destiny has in store for me.

  5

  Turning Heads is closing early to go over to the bowling alley, and it made sense for the three of us to get ready at the salon. I glance at us in the mirror.

  Gigi says, “Thanks for tailoring our shirts, Opal. They look great.”

  “You’re welcome.” She glances at me. “Josie is meeting us there?”

  Josie is Opal’s best friend and our fourth team member. “She is,” says Gigi as she takes a final look in the mirror and smacks her freshly painted lips. “Are we ready?”

  I smooth out my shirt over my curves and appreciate Opal’s tailoring as I answer, “We are.”

  Our town is small, and the bowling alley is close enough to walk. Our breath turns to vapor as we breath in the icy night air that wraps around us, and the sensation for me is usually like a frosty embrace I crave. But tonight, it feels like an itchy sweater. It makes me want to brush it off. I recall how nice the same coldness felt yesterday when Luke and I walked to the diner.

  I shake off the oddness and ask, “Do any of us know how to bowl?”

  Gigi says, “I went a few times as a kid. Haven’t you ever gone?”

  “About as much as you have. Opal?”

  “I have, and I used to be pretty good.”

  “Really?” asks Gigi. “What about Josie?”

  “She’s good too,” says Opal. “But I thought this was about meeting men.”

  “It is,” says Gigi. When I groan, she bumps against me. “Have hope, Holly. Our mates are out there.”

  I know. And mine’s in the form of one sexy bear I can’t get out of my mind.

  When we get to the lanes, the aroma of fried food greets us, and we make our way to the desk to get shoes.

  Josie sees us and comes over to say, “Oh goodness, those shirts are cute.”

  Josie is a slender woman with the cat-like grace of Audrey Hepburn. She’d have managed to look stunning in the unaltered version of our team shirts.

  Opal hands Josie her top. “Here you go. Gigi got our names embroidered on them.” Opal then put her hands on her hips as she strikes a pose and says, “And I gave them a little style.”

  Josie grins as she takes her top. “Thanks. I’ll be back in a jiff.”

  When we’re all situated, Gigi leaves to find the organizer. I glance at the array of brightly colored shirts of the bowling teams as the players warm up. The crash of pins and clacking of balls is the background to conversation and laughter.

  “Finding any prospects?” Opal asks.

  I forgot to look. “Not yet. But the night is young.”

  A guy walks by us, and Opal leans out to watch him a little longer. “So it is.”

  I roll my eyes as Gigi approaches.

  She says, “We’re in lane ten.” She waggles her eyebrows at us. “And tonight is coed night. We’re playing a bunch of guys who work at Mad Mountain.”

  My stomach clenches, because Mad Mountain is where Luke works, but it’s a big mountain and I push my trepidation away.

  Josie has joined us and says, “Great.” She points toward the right. “It’s over there.”

  As we approach the lane, I try not to groan when I discover Luke is definitely on the team we’re playing with. His broad shoulders fill out a bright-green shirt with purple lettering, and even though his back is toward me, I’d recognize his musk anywhere. Me-ow. Guilt about the way I acted is heavy on my mind, but because the majority of people here are human, this is hardly the place to straighten things out between us. I hope our game isn’t going to be too awkward.

  He must detect my scent too, because as we approach, Luke’s shoulders stiffen before he turns around.

  Gigi whispers, “Uh-oh.”

  Opal hits my arm as though I haven’t noticed Luke. She must still have hope something could blossom between us.

  Luke smiles sweetly as if nothing’s wrong. “Ladies, it’s nice to see you again.” He glances at Josie, and I jump in to follow his lead.

  I say, “Hi, Luke. This is Josie.”

  Luke nods at her, and an attractive man next to him says, “Good evening, ladies. I’m Jim. This here’s Ted and Mitch.”

  They both have the fit look of men who work physical jobs too, and I detect that Mitch and Jim are werecougars.

  Gigi pours on a little charm as she says, “I hope you guys don’t mind, but this our first week, and I’m afraid Holly and I aren’t very good.”

  Mitch winks at her. “We wo
n’t mind. We’re just happy to have such beautiful company tonight.”

  “Oh good.” She practically bats her eyelashes at him as I glance at Luke.

  He’s staring at me, but I can’t read his expression. What I can read is the way my body has begun to hum in his vicinity. Lord help me, I don’t give a damn what kind of shifter he is. I want him.

  I shrug my shoulders and offer him an apologetic smile. I hope he’ll take the hint that I want to talk to him when I say to the group, “Excuse me for a moment, I’ll be right back.”

  I make my way to the bathrooms and turn back to see if Luke is following. He hasn’t moved, but he’s watching, and I use my hand to indicate I want him to come too. The moment he begins to stalk toward me, my heartbeat quickens with a mix of fear and excitement.

  I turn and walk down the hallway. Past the two bathrooms is an employees-only door, and it’s hard on my back as I lean against it for strength. Luke steps in front of me with his arms crossed. His biceps bulge, and my fingers long to hold on.

  “Hey,” I say. “I’m really sorry about how I acted last night.”

  Luke frowns. “You’ve got a problem with what I am.”

  “No. I mean—” I sigh. “It’s just not something that’s done in my clan.” He’s looking at me as if I don’t make sense. “You have to understand—”

  “Oh, I get it.” He scans my body with his eyes, and his voice is cold when he says, “I never thought I’d end up with a cougar.”

  Touché. I reach out and touch his chest. The moment I do, electricity zings through me, and I wobble a bit.

  Luke lets out a low growl and presses against me as his hands cage me in. “I want to be mad at you for making me leave last night, but I can’t be. Not when all I can think about is fucking you against this door.”

  My hips move involuntarily toward him to press harder against his erection, and I whisper, “We can’t.”

  “We could. And I have half a mind to show you.” He growls again as he grinds his cock against me. “You’re mine, and when this game is over, you better be ready to tell me whose place we’re going to tonight.”