by Vonnie Davis
Her gaze snapped back to his large thighs, where her fingertips stroked and pressed into muscles and tendons. She leaned to bestow a kiss on both legs. Creighton groaned and sucked air when she kissed an upward trail along his thighs and her hair brushed his erection and balls.
If she were more adventurous, more desirable as a woman, she’d unleash her inner vixen and show him a good time. She rebelled against the demeaning words Alex had stamped across her feminine psyche. He was no longer in her life. Who the hell cared what he’d so often said? Meanwhile, this very virile, handsome Scot had willingly come to her bed and was obviously very aroused by her. She smiled against his thigh. Time to forget about her ex-fiancé and get her vixen on. She wrapped her thumb and index finger around the base of his cock and very slowly licked her way to the top.
“Sweetheart. Me beloved. Me woman.” His tortured whispers filled the room and seeped into every nook and cranny of her heart, their sensual miasma encasing her in a world of need and desire. She took him in her mouth, her tongue licking a slow pirouette around its head.
Words of Gaelic tumbled swift and soft in a passionate chant meant for her ears alone. They spurred her on and sparked the flame of her own passions and actions.
She slowly took him in, and when the tip of him bumped the back of her throat, he grabbed a fistful of her hair. “Sweet Jesus.” He pulled her head back and rolled over, tucking her beneath him. His eyes were wild with need. “Do ye seek to torture me to death before we marry?” His lips covered hers and took possession.
Masculine lips, tongue, and hands drove her to the brink of irresponsibility. For an instant, she calculated her fertile period but deemed it too close to risk an unwanted pregnancy. Besides, she would never have unprotected sex. Would she?
The doorknob jiggled. “Sweet pea, unlock the door so I can say good morning.”
Both Creighton and Paisley stilled. He turned his head, his lips against her ear. “Thank God she didn’t come a minute ago when yer sweet mouth was too full to talk.”
She slapped his shoulder. “You … you go on down to breakfast, Gram. I’ll be there as soon as I shower and dress.”
“Have you been exercising? You sound out of breath.”
Creighton buried his face in a pillow, his body shaking with laughter.
Gram knocked on the door. “Do you have a man in there with you?”
“No, Gram …”
He pushed himself off the pillow and sat, his large hands sweeping dark hair away from his face. “Aye, she bloody well does.”
Clapping sounded from the other side of the door followed by Gram’s bellowing “Born to be Wild.”
“Why did you tell her that?” Paisley rolled out of bed and stood with her hands on her hips. What would Gram think? Sure, she talked a good game, but how would she really feel about the two of them making love?
“I told her so she’d understand ye’ll be sleeping in my room from now on.”
“I will not!”
“Aye, lassie, ye will.”
She whirled toward the dresser behind her, opened a drawer and yanked out clean jeans and a navy turtleneck. “I am not sleeping in your room. Everyone will know.” She jerked open another drawer and grabbed a black bra and matching bikini briefs. “I refuse to be ordered about. That’s why I broke up with Alex. He was forever telling me what to do.” She turned around and yelped.
A giant bear stood directly behind her, its eyes glowing.
Creighton?
Aye.
Her heart pounded so hard in her ears, she could barely compose a coherent sentence. Are … are you going to hurt me? She skirted around the dresser, her gaze flicking toward the locked door. She was trapped.
The gigantic beast shook its head and sat on its haunches. She jerked and winced when it slowly rested a paw on her shoulder. Nay, bear or man, we would never hurt ye, no matter how mad we get. Canna ye understand? Yer ours. We adore ye.
One swipe of his paw with those long claws and she would be marked forever. You could kill me so easily.
Ye have nothing to fear.
You’re scaring me. Please shift back to a man.
I will after ye get yer sweet ass back in that bed and snuggle with me so I can sleep.
She drew her shoulders back. By golly, she’d had enough. You can’t tell me what to do. I don’t care if you’re laird of your clan. She extended her arms in a wide gesture. And the big, bad bear, on top of it all. I’m not some brainless ninny who jumps when a man or a bear bellows.
Calm down, lassie. Ye canna deny how we feel about each other. I’m going to me room to grab some clothes and condoms. I’m asking ye to be in yer bed waiting for me when I get back.
What if someone sees you?
The bear lumbered for the door on its hind legs and turned the key. I’ll simply erase their memory. He dropped to all fours and padded into the sitting room.
Chapter Eighteen
Stop right there, you overgrown galoot! Paisley barreled out of her bedroom before he reached the sitting room’s door to the hallway. Her eyes were narrowed and her fists clenched.
What was she upset about now?
I want you to shift and I want it done now. I’ve got some questions for you.
You canna order me about, luv. Time to lay down some rules. He was laird of his clan, after all, and alpha bear of his sleuth. Respect was his due.
She rammed her fists on her hips. “Oh, but you can order me around?” Paisley’s voice rose to an angry screech and the bear winced. “If there’s going to be a relationship between us, I won’t defer to you. Don’t expect me to kowtow.” Her chin jutted and her stormy-blue eyes flashed defiance.
Not used to dealing with an angry female, the bear half of his soul panicked. Shift. You tame her.
“You know, I couldn’t understand my memory loss of the hours following Angus’s funeral.” She paced the length of the sofa. “We’re not talking about a few minutes here. By my estimation, it’s, like, eighteen hours of my life. Poof! Gone. I’d never experienced a mental block before. I kept trying to recall tiny pieces. You know, snippets of conversations, or something I ate, or what someone wore. I couldn’t dredge up a thing.” Her hands rose in frustration and then dropped. “Nothing!
“Ever since, I’ve wondered if I’ve lost my damn mind. My parents told me on more than one occasion I had. They used to ask counselors and psychologists if my claiming to hear animals’ thoughts was a precursor to insanity.” She exhaled a harsh bark of laughter. “Parents are supposed to show pride in their child’s abilities, not shame.”
She ceased her pacing and glared at him. “Earlier, in the bedroom, you said you’d erase the memory of anyone who saw you in bear form.” Her jaw clenched. “Suddenly, the last piece of the puzzle slipped into place, and I knew.” She approached the bear and grabbed its ears. “That’s what you did to me, isn’t it? You messed with my mind. My parents rejected me because of my brain’s capabilities. Alex wanted to profit from it. And you? You want to pick and choose what it contains.” A sob escaped her tortured soul and almost laid waste to his machismo. She turned her back to him and wrapped her arms around her waist. “Why aren’t I ever good enough the way I am?”
He reached out to touch her. He yearned to take her in his arms, to soothe her and convey through word and deed how special she was. She wasn’t different. Nay, she was exceptional, endearing, and precious. Protecting the woman he loved from pain was his job. Yet, in his desire to ease her mind, he’d inflicted an offense she might never be able to forgive.
She wiped tears from her cheeks as she glared over her shoulder at him. “Either you shift so we can talk human to human about this, or everything between us ends.”
It never ends between us. Never! Creighton prepared to morph from animal to man, no matter the cost to him physically and mentally. He had to appease the hurting woman who was the sunshine of his soul. If he hadn’t been so tired, his bear couldn’t have exposed himself—and he never would have
been so careless with his words. The dejection in her eyes and the misery in her voice tore him apart while glistening tears coursed down her cheeks.
He had to do something and do it quickly. Taking a deep breath, Creighton summoned transposing swirls of impenetrable nebulae so he could shift once more into human form. The change would deplete his residual energy levels and submerge him into a precariously weakened state. Yet what choice did he have? He couldn’t risk losing Paisley, and his heart couldn’t stand seeing her in this emotional agony.
The air in the sitting room crackled with mystical energy, a low buzzing intermingled with the popping of matter. Tingles pinpricked the surface of his body while internal tremors tore at him like scavengers ripping apart flesh. He shuddered as the change commenced. Triangular prisms of kaleidoscopic dust bisected and contorted. Bones shifted, muscles and tendons snapped and twisted. In his fatigued state, the process delivered shards of pain he rarely experienced when he shifted. He gasped as systems within his body began functioning as human life support. Sweat poured from his forehead and convulsions wracked his body. This was the most brutal shifting he’d ever experienced. His vision greyed and narrowed to a dimly lit tunnel, and he collapsed onto all fours.
“Creighton? My God, is it always like this?” Paisley knelt in front of him, placing her palms on his shoulders. “You’re trembling. Stay here. I’ll get a blanket.”
“Need food.” Honey! Salmon! Mention rations and his frightened bear suddenly grew brave again.
“What do you need? I’ll run downstairs and get you a plate.”
“Eggs, salmon … biscuits slathered in honey. Orange juice.” He groped and slid his hand up her calf. “Put yer clothes on first.” He didn’t want anyone seeing her in her sleep shirt.
“I’ll grab my robe. Stay here.”
As if he could go anywhere. Hell, he could barely see and he was too weak to stand. Last night’s long battle with Duncan and then dragging the unconscious bear out of the cave had worn him out more than he’d expected. Creighton’s brothers suspected Duncan’s cocaine use increased his strength, and made overpowering him more difficult. Shifting twice within a matter of minutes today had further drained him. He’d never experienced anything like this.
The pinpoint of a red robe’s hem and bare feet came into view and a warm comforter settled over his back. “I won’t be long.” The door to the hallway opened and closed. He rolled onto his side, snuggling beneath the cover’s warmth, his eyes drifted shut and he sighed …
“Creighton? Lift your head.”
“What?” He forced his eyelids open. Paisley was on her knees next to him. She cupped her hand behind his neck and lifted his head to slide a pillow beneath. Aromas of baked salmon and honey made his bear smile. Glad she’s not angry. She’s like a swarm of bees when she’s pissed.
He coiled his fingers around her thin wrist. “I’m sorry, luv. I’m verra sorry ye’re upset.”
She jerked her hand from his grasp. “I’m not in the mood to be touched right now. Lie still. I’ll feed you.” She spooned a mound of scrambled eggs into his mouth.
“Salmon, please.”
She fed him a bite of salmon. “At least now I understand your fondness for salmon and honey.” She scooped another bite of fish and stilled it in front of his lips. “Shifters really exist. They’re not just fictional fodder for movies and books.” She shook her head once and sighed.
“Aye. They exist. We exist.” He opened his mouth and accepted the morsel. His vision was clearing, thank God.
“I’m still trying to come to grips with it all. I mean, it was totally bizarre. Yet how different are your abilities from my being able to communicate with animals? They’re both otherworldly.” She fed him more salmon. “I saw it with my own eyes.” She stared at the wall behind him as if experiencing his transformation again. “Part of me wanted to freak, while the other was fascinated by what I observed.” She held a honey-laden biscuit to his lips and he wolfed it down.
“Waves of energy shimmered around you … er … the bear. For a few seconds, I couldn’t distinguish everything. It was like seeing the world through opaque rainbow glasses. Red, blue, purple.” She exhaled a shaky breath. “I watched fur retract into your skin.” Her fingertips fluttered over her face and arm. “Then the shape of your head changed. Dear God, I saw it all.” Her hand shook when she gave him another bite of eggs. “You know, I thought I heard bones cracking. It was the scariest and yet the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.” Her blue eyes focused on him. “Does it hurt when you change?”
“Sometimes there is discomfort. Today I’m exhausted, and that escalated the pain.” He reached for a biscuit, shoved it into his mouth and licked the honey off his fingers. His bear moaned in delight.
“According to all I learned in college, this is impossible. Holy shit, I just watched the laws of nature write their own decrees. I know, I’m babbling. I’m sorry. I can’t seem to get beyond what just happened.” She forked some eggs into her own mouth, seemingly forgetting his hunger. “I can’t wait to see you shift back to a bear.”
“Let’s reserve that fer another day.” He reached for another biscuit.
“If you can feed yourself, I’m going to shower, get dressed, and try to calm my nerves. Holy shit! You shifted right in front of me.” She stood and tugged on the ties of her robe. “Look, I might be in awe of what just happened, but I’m still pissed you messed with my mind.”
“I only did it because ye fainted after seeing the ghosts. Ye were tired from the long trip, so much had happened, and I wanted to ease yer mind.”
“Ghosts? Ainsley and Broden? You mean I saw them and fainted?”
He nodded and reached for the glass of juice. “Aye, although it seemed to be Great-Grandma’s mention of the curse that pushed ye over the edge.”
“Oh yes, your family’s curse is another obstacle hanging between us. What else happened that made you decide to alter my mind?”
Her annoyed tone made him wince. “Ye also saw me shift.”
“Where?”
“Here in this room.”
She twirled the velour ties over two fingers as if hesitant to ask. “What other memories did you erase?”
He glanced away. God, she was going to be fukin’ mad. “Our first kiss.” And more, so much more.
She released the ties and her hands fisted again. “Our first kiss? The first kiss is always the sweetest, the most memorable. Damn you! You had no right to take that memory from me.” She whirled, stalked into the bedroom, and slammed the door.
She’s mad again. I didn’t do nothin’. “Nay, bear, I own her anger. I’m afraid I made a hell of a mistake, but I was only trying to protect the woman I love.” Go to her. Kiss. “Nay, she needs space. I need sleep. I’ll do me groveling later.” Now that his stomach was full, he tugged the blanket over his shoulder and drifted to sleep.
A pinch of cool air skittered across his arse, and he snatched the quilt back in place. Need more slumber.
“Why is he naked? My God, what a delightful ass he’s got. Couldn’t you just bite it?”
“Gram, stop peeking! What’s wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with him? If he’s naked, why isn’t he in your bed and why aren’t you wrapped around him? Surely you didn’t toss him out.”
“Shush!”
The feminine whispers had Creighton wide awake. The shuffle of baffies stepped around him and the toe of a pink pelican slowly lifted the blanket off his pecker. “Bet he’s heavy hung, just like my Morris.”
“Yer pelican has a big nose.” He snatched the cover and slid it under his hip, groaning at the auld lecher. “Canna a man be left to sleep in peace?”
“Oops. I didn’t mean to waken you.”
“Nay, ye just meant to examine all me manly bits.” His gaze swept across her bony ankles and up her red slacks to a yellow sweatshirt that read Senior citizens need sex, not donut holes. What the hell did that mean? Some bat
ty American expression, no doubt.
With his grip firm on the blanket, he stood, and his gaze settled on Paisley. “Do ye feel better after yer shower?”
She glared and turned her back. If they were alone, he’d have gone to her, but he refused to have this discussion in front of anyone else.
Effie tugged on the hem of her yellow sweatshirt. “Sweet pea, the naked gentleman asked you a question. Anger is no excuse for rudeness. I’m concerned about the color of your aura right now.”
“My aura is my own damn business.” Paisley crossed her arms.
“Don’t put pressure on her, Effie. She has a right to her annoyance. I made a bad choice in judgment and stole something from her.”
Paisley turned, tears pooling in her eyes. “Go away.”
Her tears and trembling chin settled in his stomach like a burning log. “I’ll do as ye ask … fer now.” He turned his gaze on Effie. “Tonight is the cèilidh. I think Mum has a light supper planned since there will be refreshments there. I’m honored ye and Paisley will be attending with me. ’Twill be a chance fer ye to experience Scottish customs and meet more people.”
Her wrinkled hand fluttered to her throat and she beamed a smile. “I’m looking forward to it. Will men wear kilts?” The auld broad had the audacity to wink at him. “I do love a man in a kilt.”
For all his concern over Paisley, Effie’s bawdy spirit made him smile. “Aye. People will be wearing their clan’s tartan.”
Effie’s glance flitted to her granddaughter. “What should we wear?”
“I’ve taken the liberty of ordering proper clothing fer ye and Paisley to wear to the cèilidh, although many of the younger generation prefer to come in jeans.”
Paisley turned, her face set in stone. “You take a lot of liberties with people.”
She was no doubt referring to his erasing her thoughts. He wouldn’t rise to her bait. “Aye, I am laird. It’s me duty to protect and provide. Which reminds me, I have an important meeting to attend later this afternoon. I won’t see ye ladies until dinner.” He stepped to Paisley, his grasp still tight on the quilt. “Give me a kiss before I go.”
