by Welsh, Hope
“Please?”
“Fine,” she said stiffly, putting a hand on her hip. If it had been under different circumstances, he might have found her stance amusing and completely female.
“Look,” he began once seated back in the car. “You have every reason to be angry with me.” He saw she was about to interrupt—with an agreement, he guessed—and headed it off. “Let me finish, will you?” She nodded. “I’ve been a shape-shifter for as long as I can remember. It’s become like breathing, and, while it’s not a great excuse, it’s also been that way about keeping it secret.
“I know it probably changes things for you, and that you probably see me in a different light now, but that can’t be helped.” He glanced over at her to see if he could guess her thoughts, but she sat, head tilted to the side, staring out of the window, and what little he could see of her face was unreadable. He wanted to sigh, but instead continued. “If you can tolerate what I am, at least temporarily, I’d like to finish what we’ve started regarding your mom and the break-ins. Even if you don’t want me around afterwards. I want to find out what’s going on.” She wanted honesty, so he’d give it to her. “I’ll investigate it on my own, behind your back if I have to, but I’d rather not go that route. Whether you like it or not, I’m in this to the finish, Lana. I hope you realize that.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her head turn in his direction and shifted his gaze to meet hers. Her shoulders relaxed a little, and he wondered if that meant she was less angry or willing to cooperate with him.
“Cole, honestly, I don’t know what to—”
“Don’t say anything. Just listen,” he interrupted, speaking quickly now. “We don’t know who’s after you. You’re in more danger now, and you know it.” He had to make her realize she still needed him around for protection, if nothing else. “Agree, Lana—because ultimately, you know you have no choice. I’m the best protection you have.”
“Will you stop interrupting me now?” she demanded. His gaze met hers for only an instant, but he saw the warning. “You’re not the one with semi-psychic abilities now, are you?” When he shook his head, she said, “Then stop trying to read my mind.”
She paused for so long that he began to think he had pushed his luck too far. “You think I’m afraid of you now, is that it?” she asked in a mild tone.
“Yes.” It was the logical assumption under the circumstances.
“You really are an idiot,” she snapped. “I’m not afraid of you, Cole. Now the wolf? The wolf scared me. You just pissed me off.”
Seeing a man turn into a tiger wasn’t an everyday occurrence, despite the current topic of conversation.
He felt a shimmer of hope. “But,” she continued, causing his shimmer to evaporate, “I don’t know how I can trust you, when you can’t trust me in return. This isn’t and can’t be a one-way process. This is my life on the line, Cole, as you’re constantly pointing out to me. How can I believe in you if you aren’t up front with me?”
“You’re really not afraid of me?” he asked.
“No, why should I be? Are you afraid of me?”
“Of course not. Why would I be afraid of you?”
“I’m not exactly Normal Nancy myself, you know. People don’t like psychics, or whatever I am.”
He stared at her in awe. How could she face the things she’d seen recently and be so brave? She’d had someone break into her house, chase her down, and she’d come face-to-face with two shape-shifters.
“Well?” she said impatiently.
“Well what?”
“I’m still waiting on a reason to be afraid of you.”
The question was so ridiculous, but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out why or a response.
He pulled into a parking space in front of her apartment a few minutes later and got out of the car. As she walked to his side of the car, he grabbed her and swung her around, bringing her body against the driver’s door. In the next instant, his mouth covered hers. He needed this, needed to feel her body against his.
He felt the instant her anger turn into urgency and deepened the kiss. A soft moan escaped her lips, and he pressed his body closer to hers.
Frantic, his mouth demanded a response from hers. He felt her hands go around his back, and he groaned against her mouth, his tongue plunging deep and his hands gripping her hips hard.
He lifted his head and, pleased, found he wasn’t the only one breathing raggedly.
She opened her eyes and stared into his, and he realized they had lost their icy edge. The crisis, it seemed, had passed—at least for now.
“You’re making a nasty habit of that,” she whispered, then nipped his lip lightly.
“We shouldn’t be doing this here,” he said on a growl.
Grabbing one of her hands, he started for her front door, his eyes inspecting their surroundings. He looked to his left and remembered his first encounter with the wolf. The one, he realized with an inward flinch, he’d never told her about. That wouldn’t go over too well, he knew, but it wasn’t the time or place for that particular conversation.
No way he was going to piss her off again tonight by telling her about it either, but they needed to get inside. The wolf—shifter—knew where she lived.
Lana’s grip on his hand turned almost painful. When he looked at her, he found her eyes wide. He hated that look of fear there, hated that he’d brought it on again. “I know you’re pissed, and I’m sorry,” he said before she had a chance to say anything. “I should have told you.”
She waved that off. “I’m not mad about that again.”
“Oh, that’s good.” Wasn’t it?
“But—it knows where I live?”
His grip tightened around her hand. “It’s okay. I’ll protect you, Lana. No matter what, I promise,” he said, his tone edged with steel, trying to make it impossible for her to disbelieve him. “But we should get inside,” he said as he took the keys from her hand and unlocked the door. When she didn’t move, he nudged her inside. “If I suggested you come to my house for the night, are you going to fight with me tooth and nail over it?”
She chewed on her bottom lip as she debated his suggestion. Just when he was sure she would say no, she said, “Do you have Internet access?”
“Yes. I may not be completely computer literate, but I do occasionally browse the web for fun. I even have an email address,” he replied.
She chuckled. “That’s something at least,” she said with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “I have to be able to work. I promised a client their website would be up and running within the week.”
“So that’s a yes?”
“Yes.” She walked over to her computer desk. “Where were you born, Cole?” she asked as she unplugged her laptop and slid it into the case. “Your accent isn’t that strong, but I can hear the southern in it occasionally.”
“Really? Most people don’t pick up on it,” he said with a shrug. “I was born and raised in Georgia. We lived there until I was eight, and then my folks decided they wanted to give California a shot.”
“What’s it like in Georgia? I was born and raised in Sunbay. I’ve been out of state a few times, but I’ve never made it that far east.”
“Lana,” he said, his tone quiet.
Her shoulders dropped. “Yes?”
“I know you’re not that curious about where I’m from and what it’s like.”
Her hand paused as she slipped CD’s into her laptop case. She turned to face him. “I am, but you’re right. There are just too many other things roaming in my mind right now, and I just—I don’t know where to start, if I even want to start somewhere.”
“You’ve got to start somewhere.”
“What’s it like?”
“What’s what like?” he asked as he sat on the edge of her couch.
“Being a shape-shifter?”
“It’s….” he paused while he tried to think of an explanation that would make sense. “I imagine it’s kind of like b
eing stuck in the middle of a tornado itself. Everything pushes and pulls at once, in all different directions.” He couldn’t help but laugh at the expression on her face. “I know it sounds it, but it’s really not painful.”
“I don’t know how you can describe it like that, then turn around and say it’s not.”
“Explain how your gift works, then. I bet it’s not as easy as it sounds.”
“Yes, it is. I just know things.” She smiled smugly.
“And when you know what someone else is feeling?”
“It feels like another part of me is feeling it.”
“Oh.” What was it that lawyers said? Never ask a question if you don’t know the answer already? Maybe he should have taken that advice this time. “Okay, well, everything feels mushy as it’s changing. And I get that goose bumps feeling as I’m growing fur.”
“Um, it sounds disturbing, actually.”
“Yeah, but I’m probably not explaining it well.”
“No, not at all,” she agreed. “My work things are ready. I just need to grab clothes and other…stuff. I shouldn’t be long.”
§§§
“Don’t expect much,” Cole warned later as he unlocked the door to his house. “I’m not here a lot.” He held the door open and moved out of the way to let her in.
Once inside, he set her bags down by the door and brushed her arm as he walked by. It caused a warm feeling inside she couldn’t quite explain. “If you have work you need to get done, I can show you to your room and stay out of your hair.”
“Work can wait for now.” She walked around the living room, noticed the sparse furniture, manly-sized television and…nothing else. “Nice couch,” she commented with a grin. A typical bachelor pad.
He ignored her comment, and she grinned. Obviously his ugly beige couch was a sensitive subject.
“Are you hungry? If you want to eat something, I’m afraid we’ll have to order in. I forgot to go grocery shopping, so if there’s something in particular you want, just let me know and I’ll add it to my list for tomorrow.” He glanced at her. “What?”
Lana looked at him innocently. “I didn’t say a word.”
“No, you didn’t, but you were thinking it. I saw it in your eyes,” he said as he walked up to her. He grazed a finger lightly over her cheek and smiled when she leaned into his hand. “So are you hungry?”
“Actually, yeah, a little. I had planned on asking you to stop for food before we left my mom’s, but that was before…” Before the tiger. She saw his jaw tighten and relax again.
“Then I’ll order something in. What sounds good? Chinese?”
“Um, no. I don’t like Chinese food, really. I wouldn’t argue if you ordered a pizza—extra cheese and pepperoni.”
“What? No anchovies?” he said, trying to look pain-stricken.
“Well, now that you mention it….”
“No. No anchovies. You know I was kidding.”
She kept her expression deadpan. “Did I? I thought you were serious.”
“Liar,” he said without heat behind the accusation.
“What? Little ole’ me?” she said.
He snorted as he picked up her bags. “C’mon, I’ll show you your room.”
A queen-sized bed covered in a dark blue comforter sat in the middle of the room. Nearby, a chair held carelessly thrown clothes and towels. The dresser in the corner was made of red-oak wood with a vase of fake flowers sitting on top.
Lana turned and gaped at him. “This looks suspiciously like your room, Cole.”
He shrugged. “It is. I’m going to bunk on the couch while you’re here. It’s no big deal.”
“When you invited me, I figured you had a spare room—not that I’d be taking your room. I’m not sleeping in your room while you sleep on the couch. I’ll sleep there or you can just take me back to my place.”
Narrowed eyes pierced hers as he took a step toward her. His tone when he spoke was harsh with finality. “You’re staying here, Lana. I don’t want you left alone.” He tugged on her hair gently. “Besides,” he added, his tone lighter, “I like the idea of you being close.”
She sighed. Being alone wasn’t big on her list of wants, and arguing was even lower. “Alright, I’ll stay.”
“And you’re not sleeping on the couch.”
§§§
Lana took a slice of pizza from the box and set it on her paper plate as she sat down on the couch next to Cole. The aroma of pepperoni and cheese filled the room. “This is so good,” she said with a mouthful of pizza. “Thanks. So, start talking.” She wiped her mouth with the napkin he’d handed her as she waited.
She watched his face. He looked as if he wanted to delay this talk a while longer. She thought he was going to refuse or simply ignore her request, but then he finally spoke. “Do you know anything about shape-shifters?”
“Not really, just what I’ve seen on television and in movies or books.”
He grabbed his bottle of water off the coffee table and took a sip. “Well, no one’s exactly sure where they—we—come from or how we came to be. At least, my dad isn’t sure, and he’s the one who taught me how to shift.”
“Your dad is a shifter, too?”
“Yes, he’s a cougar. Anyway, the story I’m going to tell you isn’t to be taken as fact. This is the story that’s been passed down the Thomas line for as long as anyone can remember. For all I know, it could be some bullshit excuse to explain to their kids where shape-shifters come from. Tooth fairy type stories.”
She chuckled. “Gotcha.”
Cole leaned back against the couch. “The story that my dad told me was that certain families were blessed by the Gods for their worship and offerings, by being able to shift into animals to better track their food, get advanced warning of enemy attacks, know when storms approached; that sort of thing. But, they placed limitations on it. The Gods, trying to be fair, made it so they could only shift into one other form. And because they didn’t want the world overrun with shifters, they made it so only every third generation born can shift.”
“So the only animal you can shift into is the tiger?”
“No.”
“But you just said—” She opened her mouth, closed it. “I’m missing something here, aren’t I?”
“I’m the first, as far as we know, who isn’t locked into one form.”
“Really? Why is that?”
He shrugged. “No one knows.”
“Have you met any others to see if it’s happened in their family lines?”
“I’ve only ever met a few personally, and they weren’t exactly ‘do you mind if I ask you a few questions regarding your lineage?’ conversations.” He paused for a long moment and shifted to get more comfortable on the couch.
“So you have no way of knowing if you’re just, say, evolving?”
He shook his head. “Nope. I’m not one to question it, either. I am what I am, and I’m okay with it.”
“That must be difficult. I mean, even among your kind—” she stopped at the indignant look on his face. “Sorry, I just meant that, even among shape-shifters, you’re different.”
“Yeah. Imagine my dad’s surprise when I shifted into a cat in his arms at three years old. He wasn’t expecting it.”
Lana leaned forward, frowned. “How are you one?”
He shrugged. “No one knows. It’s another one of those unanswerable questions.”
“That’s…got to suck, actually. And I know this is probably another naïve question, but how did you know the wolf was a shifter?”
He eyed her appreciatively. She was quick. He hadn’t expected her to remember or question that. “We can generally sense one another.”
“What? Like the guys from Highlander?”
He opened his mouth to laugh, but…. “Actually, yeah, that’s probably close to it.”
“And you can all do this? Except for changing into more forms, I mean.”
“As far as I know, yes. My father could, his great-g
reat-grandfather could.”
“What animals have you tried?”
“Only a few others that serve what I do. A bird, a dog, and you’ve seen the white tiger.” He felt a pang of guilt with that one still. “Lana, there’s something I need to tell you….”
“Uh oh, that’s never good. What did you do?”
“Last night, while I checked your apartment, I shifted into a dog. Which reminds me. I found no other scent besides your own when I searched.”
“I don’t understand.”
“There should have been another scent from whoever broke into your apartment.”
She stood up quickly. “There was someone else in my apartment, Cole. I’m not making it up.”
Cole grabbed her arm. “I don’t think you are. I believe there—I saw the person chasing you. Sit back down, Lana.”
“Oh. Well, do you think it could have been another shifter, then?” she asked as she sat back down.
“Honestly, I just don’t know—but I don’t think so. Like I said, I’ve only met a few others, and we didn’t really hit it off. The first one ran off before I could try to speak to him, and the second…the second left its mark. He clawed me,” he explained at her questioning gaze. “I have the scars down my ribcage.”
“Ouch.”
“To put it mildly.”
“Okay, so explain the vanishing act. How does that play into shape-shifting?”
“I would love to. Unfortunately, that’s new to me, too. I’ve never heard of that happening before. At least, it’s not something I’ve heard of in my family. I don’t think it’s been in any other, either.” He paused a moment. “Lana?”
“Yes?”
“Did you mean what you said at your mom’s? About not being afraid of me?”
She took a sip of her drink before answering. “Yes, I did.”
“Good,” he said and pulled her into his arms.
When his mouth came down on hers, teasing at first, then hard and hot, she moaned. He needed this. She took the initiative and opened her mouth for him, inviting him, coaxing him. He tangled his fingers in her hair and she responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, trying to get even closer.
