Shiftr_Swipe Left for Love_Frankie

by Ariana Hawkes

  “Night, Selma,” he said .

  “Night,” she replied and turned on her side away from him .

  She lay awake for a while, incredibly aware of his nearness, listening for him, wondering if he was sleeping yet. And trying to ignore that ache between her thighs .

  At some point, she drifted off, but not much later, she was awake again. Frankie was tossing and turning, making the bed shake. “Are you okay?’ she whispered .

  “Yeah. It’s just—” He didn’t finish the sentence .

  “Just what ?”

  “I’m not used to sharing a bed…with a woman,” he said .

  She blinked into the darkness. Did he really mean that? “You mean any woman or me?” she murmured .

  “Well, right now, you .”

  She bit down on her bottom lip. “I’m sorry. Do you hate it ?”

  “No. I mean the opposite .”

  The pitter-pattering of her heart started up again. She turned onto her side so she was facing him. He was lying on his back, his handsome profile barely visible in the darkness. “Yesterday, when you kissed me—it felt—I mean—it felt like you meant it,” she said haltingly, her cheeks hot .

  He turned his head toward her, his whites glowing. “I did mean it,” he said, his voice very husky. “I was determined to play my part as well as I could, but you looked so beautiful and you felt so good in my arms, I couldn’t help myself.” His head edged along the pillow in her direction, and she shuffled toward him too, and suddenly they were kissing again. His mouth was hot and hungry as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, her breasts pressing against his chest. Desire blossomed between her thighs, immediately growing into a deep, throbbing ache. She was shy to touch him at first, but as their kiss deepened and his tongue plunged into her mouth, she couldn’t hold back, and she ran her hands all over his gloriously silky skin, delighting in the undulations of his biceps and back muscles .

  She moved down to his hard waist, lower and lower, and, oh shit, he is actually naked. Definitely no boxers .

  He broke the kiss for a second to murmur her name and then slid his hand beneath her tank top, over the curve of her belly and onto her bra. When he cupped her breast, the heat of his hand came through the fabric. As his fingertips chafed her nipple, she let out a soft moan. He edged closer still, and the hard rod of his cock pressed against her upper thigh. She reached for it. It was thick and long, and at her touch, he let off a growl, deep in his throat .

  “Selma, if you do that, I’m not going to be able to control myself,” he said through gritted teeth .

  She didn’t want him to control himself. She wanted him inside her like she’d never wanted a man before. Instead of replying, she wrapped her hand around his cock and slid it up and down. She felt it surging, becoming even harder, and he groaned. His hand slipped up her back and he grasped her bra clasp before unfastening it deftly. Then he began to caress her bare breasts. Her nipples were so erect they hurt, and when he pushed her shirt and bra up higher, she helped him, lifting the shirt right over her head and pulling the bra off completely .

  Frankie scooted down the bed until his lips were level with her breasts, then he turned her onto her back, climbed on top of her, and took them into his mouth one at a time, his tongue swirling around her sensitive areolas, flicking back and forth across the stiff peaks .

  It was intense, crazy intense. Her thighs were spread wide, and his torso was pressed down on her, sending sparks of pleasure through her clit. When his hands reached for her panties, she let him. He stripped them off fast, and she held her breath in anticipation, waiting for him to climb up her body and plunge his cock into her aching wetness .

  Instead, he slid further down, his tongue tracing a burning path over the soft mound of her belly, her neatly trimmed pubic patch, and the next thing she felt was a lick right on her clit. She gasped then clapped her hand over her mouth. Her ex-boyfriend had never gone down there before. She thought men hated it, actually. But from the sounds Frankie was making, he was enjoying himself. She trembled as his tongue ran the length of her labia and slipped a little way into her entrance. She tangled her hands in his hair, pulling him closer, wanting more and more of that incredible thing he was doing to her. When one of his fingers slipped inside her, and then another, she grabbed his pillow and pulled it over her face, desperate to muffle her moans. She wasn’t far from coming, but her pussy muscles clenched around his fingers, impatient for more. He seemed to know it was time. His tongue left her clit, and she cast the pillow aside in time for him to rise up to her face and kiss her hungrily .

  “You taste so good, Selma,” he growled. “As sweet as honey .”

  She shivered as she felt his cock rubbing along her inner thigh and then at her entrance. She knew it would be a lot to take, but she wanted it with a wild, primal need .

  Holding her gently in his arms, he began to enter her, slow and smooth, but she could feel how much he was holding back, trying not to hurt her. It was a lot to take, but it felt so good, her muscles yielding, insides singing with pleasure. As he hit home, another growl escaped his lips. “Mate,” he murmured .

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” He gazed down at her in the darkness, that complex expression in his eyes again .

  “Take me, Frankie,” she whispered .

  He arched over her and eased out before driving deep into her again, the base of his cock bumping up against her clit in long, skillful strokes, every movement setting her nerve endings on fire .

  W hen she could accommodate him more easily, she wrapped her legs around his hips and her arms around his broad back, wanting him closer. He gave a deep purr and she abandoned herself to him, this man she’d lusted after through her kitchen window, as flawless and unattainable as a movie star, never dreaming he’d be interested in her .

  He started to move faster and faster, and his rhythm perfectly matched her own, sending her right over the edge. His mouth clung to hers, and she clasped the damp hair at the nape of his neck. She was falling, falling until multicolored stars exploded into the darkness and a powerful climax ripped right through her. Frankie growled in appreciation as she clenched him tight, coming around his cock .

  His hips jerked fast and hard, and he buried his face in the pillow beside her face as he gave one final powerful thrust and orgasmed deep inside her .

  They didn’t move for a long time. She loved his weight on top of her, stroking his damp back, while he pressed little kisses into the crook of her neck .

  When at last he lifted off her, there was an instant chill as the perspiration cooled on her body .

  “That was—unreal,” he whispered, snuggling in beside her .

  “It was ?”

  He pushed his nose into her hair, taking a deep sniff. “Totally. Do you think we made a lot of noise ?”

  “No. I think we were pretty restrained considering .”

  “At least the bed springs didn’t creak .”

  They both giggled .

  “I’ve been wanting to do that ever since I first laid eyes on you,” he breathed .

  She turned her head so she could see his face. “Not true .”

  “Totally true .”

  “You thought I was silly and flaky .”

  “But hot .”

  “Hey!” She swatted him. “Same here, just so you know. It hasn’t been easy watching you stripped to the waist, working on my garden every day .”

  He gave a little rumble. “Sorry. Not sorry.” He continued to stroke and caress her, telling her how beautiful and sexy she was. She felt cared for and safe in his embrace, and she didn’t want the night to end, but at last her eyes became heavy .

  S elma didn’t know who fell asleep first, but the next thing she was aware of was an insistent tapping on the door and her mom’s voice calling, “Yoo-hoo! Are you love birds decent ?”

  Opening her eyes, she discovered to her horror that the comforter had slipped down during the night, and both of th
em were bare to the waist. “Mom, for Christsakes, give us a little privacy! I’ll come knock when we’re ready!” she exclaimed as the door began to open. Her mom mumbled something, then trudged back upstairs .

  Frankie leapt out of bed and picked up the clothes he’d left piled on the armchair. She watched him idly as he got dressed, desire flaring in her again .

  He walked over to the window and opened the curtains a crack. “Rain’s stopped. I think I’ll head home for a while, sort a couple of things out .”

  She laughed. “Escape this crazy house, you mean? I don’t blame you .”

  He came over to her, bent and kissed her lingeringly on the lips. “I’m not escaping you ,” he said with a tender smile .

  “It’s okay, I get it.” She turned onto her side. “Last night wasn’t part of your job description, you know?” she said jokingly .

  “I know. I clocked off way before that .”

  She grinned widely. “You saying you slept with me for fun ?”

  “More than fun.” He took her hand and raised it to her lips. “It was very special to me,” he said. “See you later, Selma .”

  She watched him go, wishing so bad they had the house to themselves today. She would’ve made breakfast in bed and made him stay between her sheets all day .

  7

  F rankie whistled as he drove back to the national park. Selma’s scent clung to his skin and filled the air. She smelled like honeysuckle. It had felt so incredible waking up with her in his arms, her head laid on his chest. He liked her mom, she was a real firecracker, but he sure wished she hadn’t decided to make such an early appearance. If they’d been in the house alone, he would’ve enticed Selma into spending the whole day in bed. Making love, ordering pizza, then making more love .

  Last night had been totally unexpected. For several reasons. But ever since they’d kissed at the party, he’d been on fire with desire for her and hadn’t been able to think of anything else. He hadn’t expected anything to come of it though, until the skies had opened like the hand of fate and presented him with an opportunity .

  He kept replaying scenes from the night before—the softness of her mouth, the fierce way she kissed him, her nipples, hard and pebbled on his tongue, the incredible, salty sweet taste of her, the way she’d reached for his cock so eagerly, and finally, the feel of her, gripping him so tight, encouraging him to plunge deeper and deeper inside her .

  Mate , his bear purred. He’d called her that last night before he’d been able to stop himself. Luckily, she hadn’t heard. His past had cast a dark shadow over his life, and he’d never expected to mate anyone—especially not a flaky girl who seemed to be incapable of separating the truth from bullshit if her life depended on it .

  But now he’d met her mom and seen how much Selma had to deal with, everything made a lot more sense. He was sure no one had taught her that doing stuff like taking photos of people without their permission was bad—it wasn’t something she’d learned at home, that much was clear .

  Y es, those white lies and omissions were something he was going to have to fix. He’d be the one to do that. To show her that honesty was the best policy. And it would be worth it. Because she had a good heart, and every time he thought about her, there was an intense warmth in his chest, like drinking a hot mug of cocoa on a freezing cold day, but a hundred times better. She was his. He knew it deep in his bones .

  A couple of the guys and their mates and kids were out on their porches having breakfast. He got out of his car, announcing his presence with the usual creak and clunk of the door, and waved to Ryzard and Marilyn and their three kids, and then Connor and Lauren and Willow .

  “Back so early, Frankie. Wanna join us?” Lauren called .

  “Sure do!” he replied. “I’ll be out in ten. Just need to get changed .”

  He went into his place and debated showering. Wearing yesterday’s clothes made him feel grubby, but he didn’t want to lose the scent of Selma from his skin. In the end, he changed into a fresh white T-shirt and jeans, then headed over for one of Lauren and Connor’s legendary breakfasts .

  By the time he arrived, there was a pot of coffee on the table and a heaped plate of pancakes, bacon, and maple syrup in his usual spot .

  “You’re too good to me, Lauren,” he said as he sat down .

  She smiled. “It’s nothing. Anyway, I have to look after you single boys—” She broke off and looked at him shrewdly. “Or not so single ?”

  He suppressed a grin. Nothing got past that woman .

  “How did the fake boyfriend gig go?” she probed when he didn’t say anything .

  He exhaled a long breath. “It went well. I successfully convinced not only Selma’s work colleagues, but her sister, future brother-in-law, and both parents that I’m her boyfriend. And in case anyone wants to know, my name is now Bert .”

  Lauren hooted with laughter. “That’s hysterical !”

  “I think you really earned your money there, Frankie-bear,” Connor said .

  Frankie snorted. “Tell me about it. I think I missed my vocation as an actor .”

  “Did you get caught out by the storm last night?” Lauren said. “Oo-ee, that was something. The wind was ripping through here. We had to bring most of the furniture inside .”

  “Yup. Had to spend the night at Selma’s,” he said .

  Lauren wiggled her eyebrows .

  “No, not like that—” He broke off .

  Connor looked at him strangely. “Are you sure it was nothing like that? From the expression on your face, I’d say it was a lot like that .”

  He shook his head. “I slept on the sofa .”

  “O-kay,” Connor said, eyes twinkling .

  H e’d just told a straight up lie, and a lie of omission, Frankie reflected as he went back to his cabin after he and Connor had cleaned up the kitchen. Was this the Selma effect? Whatever it was, the sky hadn’t fallen in and he hadn’t been forced to discuss the confusing feelings that were hurtling around in his mind right now .

  What he needed was to let his bear out for a while, allow its pent-up energy to uncoil. He stripped off his clothes, threw them in the washing machine, then let his bear take possession of him .

  He loped aimlessly for an hour or so, his instinct for hunting dulled by his full belly. He enjoyed the feeling of his boundless strength, the agility of his huge, heavy body .

  When he ran through the dense pine forest at the northern tip of the park—the part where humans never ventured—his sensitive hearing picked up the sound of splashing at the lake. He went to investigate and found Dalton, Logan, and Olsen there. They rumbled in excitement at the sight of him, and he hung out with them, swimming and lounging around, enjoying their rough and tumble company. He loved his work, and building Selma’s gazebo was fun, especially since she’d quit freaking him out by snapping photos of him all the time, but he got lonely working solo jobs, and it was really nice being in the other bears’ company .

  When he got back to his cabin three hours later, he showered and laid on his bed. He hadn’t slept much the night before, too wired by his proximity to Selma at first, then lost in the pleasures of her body afterward. As he started to doze, his phone vibrated with a text message. He picked it up from the nightstand. It was from Selma. It was a long message, and each sentence was punctuated with a rolling-eye emoticon :

  So I finally got rid of mom and dad. And would you believe it, but their car broke down when they were only a half hour from here!!! Turns out it’ll take 2 days to fix. I suggested they share their company with Emily for those days, but they’re not having it. Something about wanting to get to know you better. Sooo I was wondering if you’d happen to be free again tonight for drinks and dinner in town. Please say yes ???

  Selma

  He held the phone against his chest and laughed. There was something very comical about her exasperation with her parents. She was totally adorable the way she got annoyed but managed to keep it in check. In fact, just about ever
ything about her was adorable, from those big, round eyes, to her curvy little hips, to her old-school fashion taste, which he couldn’t understand but appreciated anyway, to her silly flakiness… Wait , did he just entertain the idea that her flakiness was cute? “You’re losing your grip, Whitlock,” he muttered, but his bear let off a long purr, telling him it didn’t care about her flakiness. It just wanted to claim her .

  He picked up his phone .

  Yes, he typed. I’ll come hang with your family again. And you don’t have to pay me .

  But maybe he’d force her to come sleep in the cabin tonight because restraining his natural mating sounds last night had cost him every ounce of his self-control .

  He closed his eyes again, immediately falling into a light dream, but another text alert vibrated on the middle of his chest. He jolted awake. Dammit. It was from Shiftr :

  Hey Frankie! We haven’t seen you around here for a while. Looks like you’ve got an exciting new match. Log into the app to check her out !

  Frankie snorted. “I’ve got my match already,” he muttered. He jerked upright in bed. “I’ve got my match,” he repeated twice more. His bear let off a roar, and his chest tingled with excitement .

  He could get rid of that pesky Shiftr profile at last. He was only on it because Connor had forced all the bears to sign up to it. Planning to deactivate his profile, he located the orange paw-print app on his home screen and tapped it. When it opened, he looked for the settings button. He couldn’t find it right away so he automatically scanned the line of thumbnails as he’d done a thousand times before, never finding a match better than seventy-five percent. The top match was eighty-five percent. So that was why the app had gotten so excited it saw fit to send him an automatic message. Still, eighty-five percent was nothing to roar in the woods about. Some of his clan had ninety-eight or even one-hundred-percent matches with their mates .