20 Shades of Shifters: A Paranormal Romance Collection

by Demelza Carlton

  A shiver of disbelief skittered over Star. Her lower jaw dropped. With trembling hands she took them from the elderly woman.

  “I can arrange for Effie to have yer medical records emailed to a doctor who handles such issues. His name is Dr. Brebner. Well thought of. A sterling reputation.” She pulled her shoulders back. “America is nae the only place that can test and treat yer condition. Once Dr. Brebner has yer first mammogram to examine, he’ll ken how ta help ya. Plus, some of yer Protectors are here. We will watch over ye.” She nodded. “Have nae fear.”

  Star glanced over the forms. “Ora, how did you get these? You weren’t holding them when we walked in here.” Damn, this place could get creepy. Yet she loved the surprise of the land’s beauty and the size of the people’s hearts. They seemed to truly care about others, even a stranger like her.

  Ora’s eyes returned to their normal milky color and she smiled. “Magic, me girl. Sign them and return them ta me. Then lead me home, child. I need me nap.”

  Chapter 14

  Star couldn’t help glancing up ar the heavens sparkling with so many stars and the nearly full moon that made for an enjoyable trek up the ridge to the log cabin they were sharing. Imagine, living here all the time. Relishing the beauty of nature—much of it untouched by man.

  Gunner couldn’t hide his euphoria as he and Star walked up the hill after their visit. Star was happy his mood change had more to do with his conversation with the men than those three young women who’d all but begged him to screw them. The hussies.

  “I really think I could make this work, Star. Bear is excited about staying here instead of being cooped up in the big city. I found out Dunn Mountain is jointly owned by the members of the sleuth. The original ones and their heirs. I canna tell ye how excited I am over the sleuth’s agreement on having telescopes, electric, and the Internet placed on their ridge—as long as the costs would be borne by the Royal Astronomers’ Society. Scots like ta keep their money wherever they hide it. Spending is against their nature unless it’s fer their families.”

  He bent a small limb of a pine and sniffed it. “Here, inhale its rich fragrance.” The smell reminded her of him—natural, strong, eternal.

  “Having electricity brought to the mountain was a good selling point. Some of the men are eager fer television ta watch sports. Women long fer electric stoves instead of wood-burning. They want to stop worrying about having enough petrol for their generators. As they age, they yearn fer an easier life. The younger shifters are hoping for Internet service, too.”

  “Will you go to the Sniffing Ceremony tomorrow?” Star did her best to keep the sound of her question neutral.

  “Aye. I will. Bear’s insisting on it and for the first time in two days he’s nae moaning in pain or beating on me for being a failure where yer concerned. I have nae appetite. Have been in constant agony, so I’ll do what I can ta please the spoiled beast.”

  Well, it sure as hell didn’t take him long to think about moving onto someone else—just like Jefferson, Shane, and Keith. Her dad, especially. She’d thought Gunner was different. Inhaling a deep breath of frigid air, she had to admit he was. This Scot cared about her; it was she who had ruined their developing relationship. She’d given him no chance at happiness and a family unless he found someone else.

  Her stomach dropped and pain raced through her veins like a fast-moving train. She’d screwed up. Royally. At the time, pushing him away was for his benefit. She didn’t want him saddled with a sick wife. But what if she didn’t have cancer? Her lump could be a cyst just like Gunner had suggested earlier.

  And I could be a nut case who has no clue what I want. I’m so damn scared of being hurt again that I won’t allow myself to feel anything positive. Only the negative. Now she would lose both the man and the bear she loved.

  “I don’t understand how Bear chose me when there was no Sniffy Ceremony going on.”

  His full lips she loved to kiss and nibble rose into a smile. “Sniffy, ՚tis it?” He snorted and shook his head. “Yer right. Not all shifters use a ceremony, especially if they’re away from a sleuth the way Bear and I were. I dinna ken why he chose ye. I imagine he saw yer good and spunky spirit. The way ye care for others at yer own expense.”

  She didn’t feel so good about the way she’d treated Gunner.

  They walked on. Both quiet. Gunner no doubt thinking about tomorrow night and Star thinking about shoving him off the side of the mountain. Not that she was jealous; she just wanted to break his sniffer. The whole thing sounded like dogs smelling each other’s ass upon meeting.

  “The whole idea of this sniffing ceremony sounds gross. So totally gross.” She titled her head to the side. “Gee, ah, would ye do me the honor of marrying me? I like the odors of yer pussy and yer arse dinna smell so bad either.” She socked her fists on her hips. “Puh-lease. Give me a freakin’ break. This isn’t how you chose a wife or husband.”

  That night Gunner slept on the sofa again while she tossed and turned on the lonely bed. Even Mistletoe had abandoned her for Gunner who kept moaning to Bear in his sleep.

  By the time she woke up, he was in science mode hunched over his laptop he’d plugged into their only receptacle. The cat was curled around the back of his neck, watching his fingers move and purring away. “There’s coffee made.”

  “Thanks. do you want a fresh cup?” Star padded toward the kitchen.

  “Nae. I had a slice of toast and was happy to keep that down. I dinna think I’ll jinx it with coffee. I’m making rough notes for my proposal to the astronomer’s society.”

  “Oh, well good luck with that.” Writing a powerful grant proposal was never easy. One had to approach it from the right angle with plenty of strong data to back up why you were asking for funds.

  “Aye. I’ve been short on luck lately.”

  Her steps faltered. “I’m sorry, Gunner. I know I’ve hurt you. The last thing a good man like you deserves is any of my crazy, mixed-up emotions.” Or my leftover fears and pain from previous relationships…and Dad’s absence.

  His only response was that annoying male grunt men gave.

  She pulled the left-over baked chicken from the refrigerator and cut it into small pieces. Her grandma had always sworn by homemade chicken soup to cure what ailed a person. With any luck it would help his tummy. He’d been naked outside a few times after they’d jumped from the plane. Maybe he’d just worn his resistance down and picked up a bug from someone or something. She’d do her best to make him feel better.

  Would Bear really make his human half sick on purpose? He’d always been so gentle with her. She couldn’t imagine he’d turn on Gunner just because of her insecurities.

  While the soup slowly cooked on the grate in the fireplace, she washed two loads of laundry. She also cleaned the kitchen and bathroom. Her nerves were getting jumpy from all the silence so she began to sing. The cat stalked into the bathroom, jumped onto the edge of the tub Star was scrubbing, and placed a paw over her mouth.

  “Oh, come on, my singing can’t be that bad.”

  The feline arched his back and hissed before stalking out of the small room.

  Star ladled soup into bowls while Gunner showered in preparation for the sniffing ceremony. She had a notion to lace the food with garlic. One whiff and the young simpletons would run from her man. And, yes, after watching the younger women make over him she couldn’t deny her jealousy or her feelings any longer.

  She did love him…and Bear…and this cabin.

  He ate maybe seven or eight bites before his hand clasped his stomach. His long fingers pushed the bowl away. “I think I’ll stop. It’s good, but me stomach isna.”

  After he took off for the ceremony, she showered with no soap or shampoo. She plugged her hairdryer into the lone receptacle and dried her hair. In a flurry, she barreled out the door, flashlight in hand, and headed for where the ceremony was to take place.

  The lively fiddle and bagpipe music led her to the right spot. She hid behind a large
tree on a rise and watched. Gunner danced around the bonfire along with the unattached males and females of the sleuth. As he’d explained before he started getting ready, no one wore perfume nor deodorant to interfere with the sniffing of each others’ phonemes. Everyone’s hormones were supposed to be alert as the dancers moved from fast dancing to slow where everyone held their partners close.

  Which female smelled the best to Bear? If the animal half of Gunner had been in the forefront, she’d have charged into the bonfire circle and kicked Bear in the ass. How dare he torture the other half of his persona so badly these last couple days? He should have aimed his disappointment at her.

  Instead he’d practically forced Gunner into finding another mate. After all the loving words he’d uttered about her being his mate, it sure as hell didn’t take him long to go sniffing after another one, even if Bear had driven him to it.

  The bagpipe players took a break and everyone went for some drinks. She lost sight of Gunner in the crowd getting a cup of warmed whisky. Snow crunched behind her. She whipped around, but no one was there. A shiver of unease slithered up her spine. Ignoring it, she gazed once more for Gunner amid the crowd. Darn all the men were so tall, it was hard to pick him out.

  Two more footfalls and before she could look behind her, a hood was jerked over her head. She panicked! Her heart raced. She trembled. Who would do this to her? “Let me go, you bastard! I’m not here to be smelled and sought after.”

  She fought and the man’s hands held her arms in place. His body covered hers and his erection rubbed against her slit. “Get away from me!” She struck at him with her fists, sometimes making contact, sometimes beating air. Strong knees pushed her legs apart as he sniffed her crotch. He flipped her over onto her stomach and his nose ran along the crack of her jean-clad ass.

  “I smelled ye as soon as ye snuck into the area. Ye above all others appeal to me.”

  “Gunner?”

  She didn’t know whether to be relieved or hellacious pissed. He’d scared her.

  He flipped her over. “Aye, me love, Gunner.” He removed the hood and she met his glowing golden eyes. “I canna let ye go. Ye are mine.”

  “And you’re the man I love.” There, she’d finally admitted it.

  “Och, at last the words I’ve been waiting for.” He stood and pulled her to her feet, shoving her against the trunk of the tree. “Say them again,” he ordered.

  “I love you, Gunner.”

  “Ye mean it? Me heart and Bear’s canna take another disappointment.” He encircled her with his arms and kissed her hard as if he were her master and she his cherished mate. His tongue rubbed over hers before touching every part of her mouth.

  “Pull yer jeans and thong down to yer ankles. I’m fooking ye here. Now. An official shifters’ mating. He pulled a condom from his sporran before tossing aside the leather pouch. “Lift me kilt and put this on me. Sleeping without ye the last few nights was pure hell. I’m in terrible need of ye.”

  He trembled with desire and lifted her one leg around his hip. Just the head of his cock entered her and he stilled, a large hand cupped her ass. “We will settle this now—once and forever. Are ye me woman?”

  “Yes.” Passion was heating every part of her.

  He slid all the way in and slowly pumped as her abdominal muscles tensed. “Will ye stay with me until me dying breath? I’ll nae put up with more dilly-dallying. What we pledge tonight is the real deal.”

  “Yes, love.” His expression was so fierce, it turned her on even more. “Ora said I could have the same tests done at the hospital at Wick. I’m staying here.”

  “Aye.” He pumped harder and she began to shatter in his arms. “Will ye sleep in me arms every night and bear me bairns?”

  “Yes, Gunner. Yes.”

  He kept sliding in and out, increasing the power of his strokes. She was near the edge, ready to topple into sexual oblivion. The walls of her cervix spasmed and her world flew apart to settle like snowflakes around him. Gunner’s head reared back and he shouted as he came. “Star! Me midnight Star!”

  As they straightened their clothes, a warmth spread through Gunner. His Bear was a happy, contented beast; he had his Star back. Nae, a sniffing ceremony was nae fer him. He’d chosen his human’s mate and that was that. But if a little trickery would straighten the confused thinking sweet Star was having, then he wasna above compelling Gunner into attending the ceremony. Bear’s idea worked. Star couldna stay away while his human half pretended to choose another. Aye, he ken how much she loved his Gunner and how deeply his human cherished her.

  The stress holding Gunner prisoner the last few days was finally gone. As he held Star in his arms, he was almost overjoyed with hope for the future. “Let’s walk down to the ceremony and announce our engagement. I ken ye dinna have a ring yet, but ye will.”

  “I suppose the young ladies will be disappointed you’ve been removed from the ceremony. They’ll probably be all kinds of jealous.”

  They slowly approached the bonfire, arm-in-arm and everyone clapped. His intended glanced at him in question. Time fer him to confess. “I told them I’d join in the dancing because I like it, but I wasna ready to find a replacement fer ye yet. Me heart wasna in it. The only woman I wanted was ye fer ye have become me whole world.”

  Star stopped walking. “But Ora said Bear was dying and you would soon die, too.”

  He trailed the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “And what kind of life would I have had without ye? I’d truly be a dead man walking.” He shifted to face the small crowd. “It is with great happiness I announce me engagement to Star Delaney. Wedding to take place verra soon. While the date and place have yet to be decided, yer all invited fer ye are our family now.”

  Everyone cheered and began talking at once. Star elbowed his side. “A hurried wedding?” she whispered. “I never agreed to that.”

  “Och, I think ye did. Up on the hill, against that tree, with me buried deep inside ye”—his head nodded as he laughed—“aye, I think ye did.”

  He kissed her soundly before he turned his attention to Ora, wrapped tightly in blankets and occupying a chair close to the fire. “Ora, tell me about Wick’s hospital. Catherine’s ′tis it? How modern is their equipment? What about the quality of their staff?”

  “Our staff is small, but skilled. Women in this area get lumps in their breasts, too. Catherine General has the equipment and a fine doctor who takes care of many ladies’ ailments. Your mate will be in good hands, plus the Protectors, those who help folks too weak or small to care for themselves will cast their healing spells to help Star through this.”

  After a few celebratory drinks and several pats on the back, Gunner and Star bade everyone goodnight and headed over the ridge to their cabin. “We’ve got a ride to Wick tomorrow. We’ll leave at seven.” She’d been talking to Isla and Faydra when he’d made plans with Alastair. “The main roads have been ploughed open. The men have shoveled the narrow lane to meet them.

  Star hugged him. “Are you serious? Whose taking us? Oh, it doesn’t matter as long as I can call Moonie and hear how she’s doing.”

  “I hope living here with me won’t give ye a bad case of homesickness.” She might come to resent him eventually, hating every tree on this beautiful mountain ridge. The longer he stayed here and explored the area on his walks, the more he liked the raw allure of Dunn Mountain.

  “No. This will be my home. Next to you. Will we have to get a marriage license while we’re in Wick?”

  “Nae. Take yer passport and birth certificate. We’ll shop for rings and find a place to have the ceremony. A kirk, perhaps. Havena ye always wanted to be married in a church?”

  “Yes, but it isn’t a requirement. The right man is.” She leaned her head on his shoulder and he wanted to explode with happiness. This being in love was a new emotion fer him. He ken he acted a tad overboard at times. Just like he did when he discovered a new star or black hole or other intergalactic activity.

  On
ce they reached the cabin, Gunner built the fire for the night while Star made them hot chocolate. He contacted his parents on the two-way radio, asking them to meet him and his mate at Wick. They would stay at the Cliff Hotel near the Mathesons.

  As they snuggled in front of the flames, Star explained her fears about being abandoned by another man. She shared all her thoughts that made her keep him at bay. Why she’d been too afraid to tell him how she really felt. Gunner pulled her back to his chest, swept her long hair aside, and kissed her neck several times.

  “A bear shifter mates fer life, ye ken. That’s why the bear half chooses the person he or she instinctly kens is right for the human half they ken so well. Besides, what would possess me ta walk away from ye? Are ye nae perfect in me eyes?”

  “What about my lump?”

  He squeezed her closer. “Lump, cancer, or a benign cyst makes nae difference ta me, except fer what ye may suffer. I’d like fer the wedding ta take place before all the tests as a sign to ye I love ye totally. But we’re talk more about that after ye see Dr. Brebner. Ye need ta stop protecting me and allow me ta take care of ye. If that makes me a wee bit of a chauvinist, then ye’ll just have ta deal with it.” He picked her up and carried her to their bed.

  Their love making that night was slow and intense. Both shared words of love. Promises of forever. Laughed about names for their future bairns. They slept soundly in each other’s arms; their windup alarm clock rudely waking them before dawn.

  Both had decided to spend a few days in Wick. She needed to speak with Dr. Matheson and Gunner had invited his parents to join them over the two-way radio before he went to bed last night. While there, Star could call Moonie, and Gunner could speak to his superiors about his idea. He also wanted to visit the hospital and sit in on her appointment with Dr. Brebner. If neither wasna up to his standards, both of them were flying back to Druid Hills for her scheduled appointment.