by Lauren Wood
Well she thought, pulling out her cell phone and moving through the contacts, almost every one.
***
The ringing of his cell phone awoke Gregory from his rest. Turning into a bear sapped a lot of energy out of him then he ever would admit. Luckily for me, his urges usually arose when it was in the evening, so he would appear normal if he slept into the early afternoon. He turned to the clock, which read that it was eight thirty-seven in the morning. He turned to see who was calling. No surprise, it was Nicole. Gregory sighed and let the phone go to voice mail. When it did, it showed that she had tried to call him several times already. His phone lit up again, saying that Nicole was trying to call him. It must be important if she was willing to continue calling him over and over again.
“Hello?”
“Gregory! Thank goodness you picked up.”
“Yeah…I usually have to sleep after the transformation. It takes a lot of energy out of me.”
“Oh. Sorry about that. I just really needed to tell you something.”
“Tell me what?”
“You’re coming with me to dinner with my parents tonight.”
There were a few seconds of silence from Gregory’s side, “What did you say?”
“You’re coming with me to my parents for dinner-“
“Why?!”
“Gregory, I understand that you do not think that someone can love you in the world because of your thing, but I want you in my life. I want you to come with me and do things that couples do, like meeting the parents of your girlfriend.”
“But Nicole, what if I go into my urge-“
“We will work it out. I’m not asking you to divulge to my parents who you are. I just want to feel like you can belong and be with someone who you love. You do still love me, don’t you?”
Gregory gritted his teeth, “Of course I still love you. I just…I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Yes you can. I will be there right you, supporting you through all of this. You aren’t going to be alone in this. So, will you come?”
Gregory held the phone in between his hands, thinking about what he could possibly say to save both of them from this tragedy waiting to happen. Deep down, he knew she would not accept anything but him to say yes. She wasn’t the same timid woman he had met on that first date at the movie theater. She had found something to believe in, someone to believe in.
He brought the phone back up to his ear and took a deep breath.
“Gregory? Are you still there?”
“Yeah baby, I’m still here. I’ll come with you to your parents. I’ll pick you up from the apartment and we can head over to their place. How’s that sound?”
“That sounds lovely! Thank you so much! I’ll text you the details later. I love you. Bye.”
“I love you too.”
A small smile spread across his face as the phone clicked. She had sounded very happy that he was coming. Now, it was time to get back to bed so he’d be well-rested to meet the parents.
***
Gregory pulled up to the apartment around four –thirty in the afternoon. He looked down to inspect the purple dress shirt he had on, hoping that he was dressed appropriately for this. He got out of the car and walked up to the apartment. He knocked on the door and waited, thrusting his hands into his slacks and bouncing on the balls of his toes.
The door opened and there stood Nicole, dressed in a white cocktail dress with matching pumps. Gregory’s eyes widened as he looked her over.
“Wow.”
“Wow, yourself. You also shaved the stubble off.”
“Yeah, well,” Gregory said, averting his gaze when she stroked his chin, “This dinner means a lot to you, so I wanted to look my best.”
Nicole retracted her hand and kissed him on the lips, “Thank you.”
Gregory linked arms with hers and led her to the car. After helping her into her seat, he got in and they drove off. He could feel her hand rubbing his thigh seductively. He sensed a boner beginning to form as a result of that. One of Nicole’s fingers reached out and lightly brushed against it. Gregory tightened up slightly and looked at Nicole.
“You’re feeling very frisky aren’t you?”
“I just can’t wait to introduce you to my parents. We’re all really excited that I finally found a man I can be comfortable around.”
“Is this what you call comfortable?”
‘I’ll show you how comfortable I am when we have a moment alone.”
Gregory chuckled and turned his eyes back on the road. This was going to be an interesting trip to say the least.
***
Nicole’s parents lived in a cream colored two-story house with large, rectangular windows facing out of the front of the home. The lawn looked fresh and newly trimmed which, complete with the white picket fence, gave this place the look of someone who was quite well off.
Gregory looked at it all from the car, mouth agape. A tap on the window brought him to his sense. He looked to see Nicole waving at him from outside the window. He grinned and got out of the car. He followed her up the paved walkway up to the front door. As Gregory knocked on the door, Nicole planted long, passionate kiss on his face. They were caught in the moment as the door opened and a man with well-combed graying hair stood in the doorway.
He harrumphed, which brought the couple back to reality.
“Sorry daddy.”
“While I am very happy you found a man sweetie, there is such a thing as too much PDA.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you sir.” Gregory said, extending his hand, “I’m Gregory. “
The man shook his hand, “Carl. Now, there’s no sense for you to be kept waiting out here, please come in.”
Gregory and Nicole walked in, looking around at the scenery. There were a number of paintings, probably from the Renaissance period, up on the wall. What really caught the eye of Gregory though was the bear head hung up over the stone fireplace. He looked at Nicole, who saw it as well and turned white.
“I completely forgot about that.”
Carl appeared from down a hallway with a woman with light brown hair. Nicole ran to the woman, the two embracing tightly.
“Nicole. How nice to have you back. And with a man too. I hope he’s been treating you well.”
“Oh he is just a dream in every way possible.”
“Well, isn’t that nice?”
Gregory stepped forward and shook the hand of Nicole’s mother.
“I’m Nancy, Nicole’s mother. I’m afraid dinner is going to take a little bit longer than expected to be ready, so if you would like to tell us about ourselves.”
“Actually,” said Nicole, “Gregory needs to take some medication and I have to assist him with it.”
“I do?”
“He doesn’t want to admit it, but it’s really important he does. Do you mind if we excuse ourselves?”
Carl’s eyes narrowed, “Be quick about it.”
“Ok daddy. Come on baby.”
Nicole grabbed Gregory and dragged him away from her parents.
“Carl honey, What sort of medication do you think that boy needs to take?”
“I don’t know, and frankly I don’t care to know.” He said with a huff.
***
Nicole tossed Gregory into the bathroom before closing the door behind her.
“I need you to take me now.”
“What-?”
Nicole began kissing Gregory, biting his lips as she pushed him into the sink. She started to climb on him, bending him over. Gregory slipped off her dress straps and slid it to expose her breasts.
“You know that we can’t do too much or else I’ll be getting another urge.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Whatever. They’re expecting us back soon anyways. Now take me Gregory.”
Gregory dragged his hands down Nicole’s back, causing her to arch back and pant a little. She began to thrust herself on him over and over again. Gregory’s hands had made it down to her ass and he began
to squeeze firmly. Nicole gave an abrupt cry, doing her best to be quiet as soon as she could. She giggled a bit.
“Do that again.”
Gregory complied and she screamed in pleasure through gritted teeth. She went back to kissing him, her tongue teasing his. Gregory gagged a little, but soon had his moved moving around with hers. Nicole pulled her mouth away from him and guided one of his hands into her panties. She tilted her head back and began to gasp for breath as his hand was inserted into her vagina.
After several seconds of this, she grew still.
“Ok. I’m good to go.”
The two of them began straightening their clothes out.
“Where did that come from Nicole?”
“I don’t know. I just feel incredibly aroused by you right now.”
“But what will your parents think of me now? I think they knew what we just left to do. They’ll think we’re sex addicts.”
“Well at least they think you’ll be normal then.”
Gregory stopped and looked Nicole in the eye, “What?”
“Well if they think I found a man who I love to have sex with, that will just mean I got caught up with a bad boy. That’s normal.”
“Is that why you did this?”
“How’s it feel being just another guy?”
“Nicole, that won’t change who I am.”
“Then don’t think about that part of you. Please Gregory, I’m ready to commit. You, me and this child are going to be just fine. I’m not going to let you be ashamed by yourself. We’re in this together.”
“Why?” Gregory asked, tears rimming his eyes, “Why would you do all this for me?”
“Because I found someone who I want to live the rest of my life with and I am not going to let one massively different thing about you change how well we get together. If we run into problems, we’ll figure it out together. You being half-bear is no different than being a different religion than I am; it’s just new customs and traditions to observe. So please, I need you to walk out of this bathroom with me and go have a nice, normal dinner with my parents.”
Gregory wrapped Nicole in for a hug, holding her close to him. Tears flowed down his face as whispered the words, “Thank you.”
“Come on you big teddy bear, let’s go get some food.”
***
Carl and Nancy were just about done setting the table when Gregory and Nicole walked in with big smiles on their faces.
“You’re both pretty happy for some people just taking some medication.” said Carl, giving Gregory the stink eye.
“Oh, Gregory just needed a little encouragement that his illness is nothing to get so worked up about.”
“You’re a wonderful woman Nicole.” Nancy said, bringing a big pot of spaghetti to the table, “Now sit down everyone and let’s dig in.”
The four of them sat down. Carl was the first one to start getting food.
“You know Gregory, my daughter isn’t around solely to help you “take your medication”.” Gregory said, “She needs to be more than just that in your life.”
“Oh yes sir. She reminds me of that every day.”
Gregory grabbed Nicole’s hand from under the table and gave it a squeeze. She gave a reassuring squeeze in response.
“Now, as I imagine my daughter has told you, a number of men have already broken your heart. Now my Nicole is just trying to find someone to share her life with; someone to start a family with. Are you willing to commit to that, through the good and bad of it all?”
“You have my word on that. Your daughter is never going to be feeling like she made a bad choice for choosing me.”
“You sure talk a nice game,” Nancy said, “I sure hope you aren’t just talk.”
“He’s not like that mom. He actually has a big heart. He’s been the only one I’ve met who actually took an interest in me and wanted to help me find strength in being in who I am. I have been trying to return that favor recently, around the time I found out about Gregory’s condition, and I just want him to see himself in a more positive light.”
“Your daughter sure knows how to show love. I guess she was just waiting for the right person to share it with.”
“Well let’s hope that she can keep you an honest man.”
Gregory smiled and nodded. As it came his turn to serve his food, he caught Nicole looking his way subtly. She had been right. This was the most normal he had felt in a long time. His smile seemed to only grow stronger as he started serving the food to Nicole. Their gazes met for just a second, neither of them having the slightest desire to back out of this situation now. The two of them knew what awaited them.
“Thank you.” Nicole said as Gregory finished serving her.
“No Nicole, thank you.”
THE END
SEDUCED BY THE BILLIONAIRE BAD BOY
Selma fought to keep her tears back. The voice over the PA announced that all working personnel needed to report for flight 340, but she was frozen as she gripped the phone. “What are you saying?” she whispered.
“Babe, I feel like you’re not hearing me. We’re done. Sarah and I have been seeing each other for a few months now, and I’m happy with her. Can’t you be happy for us?”
“Happy for you? Greg, we’ve been together for two years. And Sarah is my friend. You’re not seriously telling me that you’ve been cheating on me,” she hissed. She felt her chest squeeze with anxiety. She’d been expecting Greg to propose, not break up with her.
“Cheating is such a harsh word babe. Sarah is my soul mate. If you loved me, you’d be happy for me.”
Narrowing her eyes, she finally let her anger take over. “You know what Greg? I do hope you and Sarah are happy together. I hope you’re happy that she’s ruined the best thing you’ve ever had,” she yelled before slamming the phone down.
Wiping the tears away, she turned to find an incredibly attractive man staring at her. Really? She just had to lose the man she thought she would marry, and the first man that she laid eyes on afterwards looked like be belonged on the cover of QC?
Probably another asshole. I’m sure he’s cheating on some unsuspecting and loving woman.
“What are you looking at?” she hissed before grabbing her luggage and stalking away. To make things worse, she now had a long flight ahead of her to London. Luckily, she’d be able to spend several days there before her flight back. She’d been looking forward to a small vacation. Now it was a necessity.
An older flight attendant met her on the plane and looked her over critically. “Your make-up is streaked,” she growled.
Flight attendants were supposed to look like perfection at all times.
“I’m so sorry. I can touch it up quickly.”
“Fine. You’ll be stationed in first class today. Fix you make-up and get to work. I’ve been told that we have a VIP on board today.”
First class? Selena’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh, can I please work coach? I don’t think I’m in my right mind to work first class.”
The woman surveyed her coldly. “I don’t make the manifesto. Get your make-up fixed and get to work.”
Great. First class meant a bunch of rich assholes that wanted to slap her ass and demand entertainment. It took inner strength to deal with first class, and she simply didn’t have it today. “Fine,” she muttered as she headed to fix her make-up. Her blond hair was still perfectly coiffed on top of her head, but her mascara was streaked. She made the necessary arrangements and went to start the pot of coffee. When they made the call for first class passengers, she positioned herself at the opening and tried to smile brightly.
As the passengers filed in, she directed them to their seats. Her heart dropped when she recognized one of the passengers.
“Ma’am.” The gorgeous man from the airport gave her a coy smile as he took his seat.
“Sir,” she swallowed hard. He could easily get her fired if he told anyone how rude she’d been to him. “I hope you enjoy your flight.”
“O
h, I intend to.” He stowed his bags above and took his seat. She groaned inwardly. It was going to be a long flight.
Hastily, she went back to greet the rest of the passengers. Taking her position at the front, she went through the motions of the safety speech. To her dismay, the man never took his eyes off her. Selena tried to focus on her motions, but she couldn’t help but feel like she knew him from somewhere.
The hours passed, and his eyes never left hers. She felt them when she went up and down the aisle to serve drinks. He asked for a glass of wine, and she was almost disgusted with the thrill of excitement that raced down her spine when his fingers brushed against hers. Jerking back, she narrowed her eyes in what she hoped was a stern look. She was not in the mood to flirt with someone who made more money in a day then she probably made all year.
Straightening her spine, she went to prepare the food. As she handed out their gourmet salmon dishes, he gave her a wicked smile. “Looks delicious.”
Rolling her eyes, she continued walking. He didn’t seriously think she was going to give him a pass to the mile high club simply because he appreciated the way she looked?
Then again, maybe he was simply talking about the salmon.
Safely behind the curtain, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. In her mind, she could see her boyfriend with his lips pressed to her friends.
Ex-boyfriend. Ex-friend.
When it was time to walk down the aisle with the trash bag, he took his time dropping his plate and cup in. His eyes lingered on hers. “Thank you. Everything was wonderful.”
Selena had expected something offensive to come out of his mouth. She almost smiled with relief. “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” she murmured.
“Selena, is it? You’re doing an excellent job making this flight entertaining for me.”
And there it was. She shook her head in disgust and walked away. The damn plane couldn’t land fast enough.
Finally, she got her wish. Wearied, she stood at the door with a smile. One by one, the passengers filed out. “Enjoy your time in London,” she muttered over and over again. She turned to do her final sweep through the cabin before she realized that there was one person left. Of course it was him.
