by R. E. Butler
“What do you mean?”
Her sweet smile slipped to a sexy one as she looked up at him. “I mean that maybe I’d like to blindfold you sometime.”
“Anytime, sweet thing.”
He folded the napkin until it was as thin as he could make it, and then he stepped behind her, settled it over her eyes, and tied it behind her head. She adjusted it a little, and then said, “How ridiculous do I look?”
He kissed her nose. “Not at all.”
Walking slowly, he took her to the security door that led to the shifters’ underground areas. He entered his code and opened the door, guiding her safely inside the stairwell.
“We’re going down some stairs, so I’m going to carry you,” he said, a moment before he lifted her into his arms. She squeaked in surprise and then laughed as she leaned into him.
“That’s very chivalrous of you.”
“Well, I just met you. I don’t want to break you.”
“Thanks,” she said with a laugh.
He carried her down the stairs, held her close with one hand and unlocked the final security door, and then set her down inside the hallway that led to the private areas. Each group had their own area, and none of the groups shared their personal security codes with each other. The only areas that were shared between the groups were the meeting hall and the market, which was a large, open area where meals were served.
“Just a little walk and then you can take off the blindfold.”
She smiled up at him and said, “Okay. I have to say this is the strangest thing I’ve ever done with a guy.”
“Before I forget, do you want to go on a date with me?”
She laughed so hard she started coughing. “Yes,” she said when she got her giggling fit under control. “But you have to ask me again when I can actually see you.”
“You got it.”
He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close, shortening his stride so she didn’t have to jog to keep up with him. The door to the meeting hall was open, and he stepped inside with her. The table and chairs had been moved to the far wall. Inside, Win, Lexy, Caesar, and Marcus waited.
Justus shut the door and turned Trina to face him. He untied the makeshift blindfold and tucked it into his back pocket. She squinted in the bright overhead light and then looked around.
“Lex?” she asked when she saw her cousin.
“Hey, babe,” Lexy said.
Trina turned her curious gaze in Justus’s direction. “What’s going on?”
He put his hands on her shoulders and took a deep breath. “I brought you here to show you what I really am. When I said it was a secret, I meant it. There are only three humans who know about what I’m going to show you, which should tell you how much I trust you.”
“Did you just say humans?”
“Yeah. I’m not like you, Trina. It’s easier to show you than to try to explain it. No matter what, don’t be afraid, okay? I swear you won’t be harmed in any way.”
She frowned, her brows drawing down. “What on earth are you talking about?”
He kissed her swiftly and then took a big step away from her. “You said you trusted me.”
“I do.”
“Then trust that everything will be clear in a minute.”
Without another word, he pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor. Trina’s eyes widened and she let out a nervous chuckle. “This isn’t at all how I thought the first time I saw you naked would go. And why do all these people have to be here?”
Lexy, who was now facing away from Justus so she didn’t see him naked, said, “Just watch, babe. It’ll be okay.”
He undid the laces of his boots, toed them off, and then straightened, resting his hands on the waistband of his jeans. He was suddenly more nervous than he’d ever been in his life. What if she passed out from fear? What if, after he revealed himself to her, she decided she couldn’t accept him? He’d never really thought further than this point because in his heart he believed she would not be so freaked out by what she saw that she wouldn’t want to be with him.
He swallowed the lump of fear in his throat, glanced at Marcus who nodded his head in encouragement, and undid his jeans.
* * *
Trina had never been in such a weird position in her life. She was in a big room with two men she’d never met before in her life, plus Lexy, Win, and Justus. She wanted to ask why she’d needed to be blindfolded if it was just to bring her to a room, but she knew that there had to be a good reason for it.
Justus’s shirt hit the floor and her mind went blank. Damn, he was ripped. Muscles on top of muscles, and a ridiculously delicious set of abs that she wanted to get to know personally. His fingers rested on the button of his jeans, and she snapped her gaze up to meet his. His eyes, which were a pretty chocolate color, were now so dark they seemed entirely black. She inhaled silently and caught the scent of something wild, like the way the woods smelled in the fall when the heat of summer was gone and the chill was coming soon.
Her skin goosebumped and her heart began to pound. Not from fear, but because she was excited. Which was an entirely strange thing to feel in a room with strangers. And her cousin. Her mouth went dry as her gaze snapped back to his hands as he undid his jeans. The denim was tight, encasing his thick thighs like a second skin. He pushed them roughly down his legs, and the question on her mind – why the hell was he stripping for her with witnesses – fled in the wake of the biggest cock she’d ever seen in her life. Ever.
Thick.
Long.
She gasped as her body flooded with heat. How could she be so affected by a man she’d met just that morning? But help her, she wanted him. Wanted every inch of him against her. In her. Hot and hard.
A growling sound reached her ears and she blinked, shaking her head to clear the erotic images. Justus’s skin looked darker. His mouth was parted, and she could see that his teeth were changing, growing sharper and longer. The growl was coming from him. She rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands, unsure if she was imagining things.
When she opened her eyes, his skin was darker still, and his body was changing. Fur sprouted from his skin. He bent over with a soft groan that rumbled into a growl, and then his bones started to snap. The change happened rapidly, as dark claws emerged from his fingers and toes, and dark brown fur flowed over his skin. In moments she was standing in front of a huge bear.
She opened her mouth to say something, but all that came out was a strange squeak. Had she seriously just seen that? Had Justus turned into a bear?
“Trin? Are you okay?” Lexy asked. Her cousin moved closer and held her hand.
Trina didn’t take her eyes away from the bear. He sat down, his claws scratching against the hardwood floor.
“I’m…damn,” Trina said. “This doesn’t seem possible.”
“You’re not seeing things. Justus just turned into a bear,” Lexy said. “You don’t have to be afraid. He’s still himself in there. He can understand you and would never hurt you.”
Her racing heart slowed a little
“I know he wouldn’t hurt me. I just can’t wrap my head around what I saw.”
“It’s because your brain is telling you that it’s not possible for a man to become an animal. But it’s very real, and it absolutely did happen,” Lexy said. She squeezed Trina’s hand a little tighter. “You can go to him. He’s waiting for you to make the first move.”
“Why?” she darted a glance at her cousin.
She shrugged. “So you don’t pass out.” Win coughed to cover up a laugh and Lexy whispered to him, “Shut. Up.”
As Trina held the bear’s gaze, something snapped into place inside her. It was a connection that rooted in her heart and filled her mind. Justus said they were soulmates as if she was the one person in the world for him. And now she understood just how true that was. From one heartbeat to the next, she knew she was in the presence of the guy meant to be hers. Justus was a bear. How that worked, ho
w that was even possible, was a mystery, but it didn’t matter. Whatever fear she’d harbored evaporated as a sense of relief filled her. She’d finally found her man.
She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his thick neck with a laugh as tears sprang into her eyes.
“I knew you were special, Justus,” she whispered.
* * *
Justus couldn’t believe that Trina was holding onto him. He scented her but didn’t find a trace of fear in her. Only the sweet scent of her arousal. He nuzzled her and she giggled. She went to her knees in front of him and cupped his face. Her fingers traced his snout, scratching at his cheeks lightly, and then rubbing his ears. If he could purr, he would have sounded like a contented cat.
She looked toward her cousin. “Is Win a bear?”
“I’m a gorilla shifter,” Win answered. “Marcus is the bear alpha, and Caesar is the lion alpha.”
Marcus said, “It’s nice to meet you, Trina. I have to say, you’re handling things really well.”
She looked at Justus. “I couldn’t really explain why I felt so drawn to him, but when I saw him change it clicked with me. Like I could feel why we were meant to be together. After I got over my initial shock, of course.”
“We call it shifting,” Win said.
“It’s a secret from humans. It’s why you wanted to bring me someplace private to show me, right?”
Justus nodded. Then he pressed his nose into her throat and licked her skin. She giggled again and scratched the top of his head.
“It’s imperative that no one knows our secret,” Caesar said. “You’re unable to tell anyone, even your family. If humans were to find out about us, it would be devastating. We live here, in the park, to keep our identities secret.”
“I understand. It’s why you moved here to live at the park, right Lex?”
“Yeah. I live with Win in the gorillas’ private area. Mom and Dad think I live in the apartments above ground in the park, but that’s just a ruse. I don’t like lying to them, but it’s too important a secret to tell. You feel connected to Justus, so keeping his secret will become your secret. When you have kids, you’ll want them to be safe.”
Justus let out a soft rumble and Trina looked at him. “Kids? If we have kids they’ll have the ability to shift?”
“There’s a good chance,” Marcus said. “Mixed children usually can shift since our genes are dominant. Sometimes they don’t, though, but that doesn’t make them any less important to our people.”
Trina blew out a breath and said, “Can you change back? I want to talk to you.”
Justus nodded.
Marcus said, “We’ll leave you two alone.”
Lexy stopped next to Trina and smiled down at her. Her eyes were glistening with tears. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to be able to share this world with you.”
“Me too,” Trina said.
The room quickly emptied. Justus let go of his shift and returned to his human form.
“That is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen,” Trina said.
He chuckled as he offered her his hand and helped her stand. “Yeah? It’s pretty normal for me.”
“I’ll bet,” she said with a chuckle. “Does it hurt to change?”
He picked his jeans off the floor and tugged them on. “When I was young and first shifting, it hurt until I got used to it. Now, I’m not even aware of it, except just now was kind of painful because I was trying not to shift too quickly so I didn’t scare you.”
“You shouldn’t have hurt yourself for me.”
“It was worth it to not freak you out unless you’re actually really terrified and you’re just a very good actress.”
She shook her head. “I’m not freaked out.”
He picked up his boots and shirt and offered her his hand. She took it and smiled up at him. “I’d like to show you my place.”
“Okay.”
He led her out of the meeting room, taking a left and heading down the hall. They passed through the marketplace, and he explained that the bears also handled the food service there as well as in the employee cafeteria aboveground and in the various stalls in the park.
“How big is your group?” she asked.
“Twenty.”
“And Marcus is the leader?”
“We call him the alpha, but yes.”
“Was he elected?”
He snorted inwardly at the question but didn’t let her know he found her question adorable. “No. Bears have a hereditary alpha. Marcus’s family has been in control of this sleuth for several generations. His son, Seneca, is his only child and he’ll take over when Marcus is ready to step down.”
“Are all the shifters like your group?”
“Not necessarily. They all have their own rules. Even within the same groups, there will be differences. Like a bear sleuth in another city might have different laws.”
“Do you know where other bears live? Like do you guys get together to hang out?”
He stopped in front of the security door for the bears’ private area. After quickly entering the code, he held the door open for her. He didn’t answer her while she stared in surprise around the large room. The floor was dark hardwood, and the walls and ceiling were painted to look like a forest. There were a dozen small cabins, each with a long front porch and a sidewalk that connected one home to the next.
“Holy crap,” she murmured.
“My mom’s sleuth isn’t like this. They all live in a complex above ground in the zoo. So to answer your earlier question, we do know where other sleuths are, and sometimes unmated males and females will visit other groups looking for their mate, but generally speaking we keep to our own groups.”
“Unmated means single?” she turned to face him.
He nodded.
“Are you…unmated?” she spoke slowly as if she were measuring each word.
He looped his arm around her waist and drew her flush to him. He could hear her heart rate spike and the sweet scent of her arousal saturated the air between them. “Technically, I’m unmated until I mark my soulmate. But in my heart,” he said, lowering his voice, “I’m definitely one hundred percent claimed by you.”
“Which house is yours?” she whispered.
He scooped her into his arms, transferring his shirt and boots to the other hand, and carried her to his cabin. Dropping his things inside the door, he carried her inside, kicking the door shut behind them. He attempted to set her on her feet, but she kept one arm around his neck and cupped his face with her free hand.
“Save the tour for later,” she said with a husky tone.
“Whatever my sweet thing wants,” he promised.
Chapter 6
Trina kissed Justus, running her thumb along his jaw. She was more turned on than she’d ever been in her entire life. It wasn’t just that he was sexy, it was that she felt connected to him on a cellular level. He was special, and he looked at her as if she was the only woman in the world.
He lifted from her lips with a soft growl and began to walk. They passed through the family room and down a short hall. He shouldered open the second door on the right. She glanced around, but the room was dark and she couldn’t see much past the spill of light in the doorway.
Setting her down on the bed, he left her in the darkness and she heard a drawer open, some objects moving around, and then the drawer shutting. The scent of sulfur reached her as he struck a match and touched the flame to a candle. He set the candle on a small bedside table and straightened. He moved to her, stepping into the space between her spread legs and cupped her face with both hands.
“I want to bite you,” he said gruffly.
“What?”
He smiled. “When we make love this first time, my bear will want to bite you right here,” he said, letting his fingers span one side of her throat.
“That sounds painful. Humans usually just buy rings for each other and get married.”
“You can misplace a piece of jewelry, bu
t a mating mark lasts forever. It will connect us even more, and it will also let anyone who sees it know that you’re mine.” He bent down and kissed her tenderly, and then he whispered in her ear, “I’ll make sure you’re very, very happy before I mark you.”
Her stomach clenched at the sultry tone in his voice.
“Justus,” she said, resting her hands on his waist. His skin was warm and smooth, and she ran her palms up and down his sides.
“I’m here, sweet thing.”
“I’m ready to be yours.”
“I’m already yours,” he promised.
He turned her face to his and their lips met and parted as he swept his tongue into her mouth and claimed her. He reached for the hem of her shirt and lifted it up, breaking the kiss only long enough to pull it over her head and toss it aside. She scooted back on the bed as they kissed again and he followed her, climbing onto the bed and settling to her side. He ran one hand over her shoulder and down her back, his rough fingertips giving her goosebumps. Her bra came undone with a twist of his fingers, and he gazed down at her.
“You’re the most beautiful female I’ve ever known. I feel like I was walking through life missing a part of myself and not even realizing it.”
“I’m so glad I came to the zoo today.”
He chuckled and hooked his finger in the center of her bra and tugged, and she wiggled her arms through the straps. He tossed it behind him and slid his gaze down her body. He cupped one breast, rubbing his thumb in a slow circle around her nipple. Then he lowered his head and sucked it into his mouth. She closed her eyes, her body coming alive under his touch as he licked and sucked her nipple until it was throbbing. He turned his attention to the other one, tending it in the same way. Then he slowly kissed down the center of her body, stopping at her navel and running his tongue around it.
He undid her skirt and drew it down her legs, pushing it off and onto the floor. She toed off her shoes and reached for her panties, but he pushed her hands away. Rising on one arm, he rubbed his fingers over the satin material, stroking her with a feather light touch. He slid the tips of his fingers along the edge, teasing her.
