20 Shades of Shifters: A Paranormal Romance Collection

by Demelza Carlton

  “I’ve lost count of that number, sir.”

  Gideon kept his smirk under control. Every time he got Royce or Tucker to slip and call him by his given name he gave them a hundred dollars. At first they wouldn’t accept it. So he started adding it to their pay separately when he paid his bill to KSI. Now they accepted it with a nod and Gideon would ponder what they did with it. Knowing the men as he did, they were probably stacking it up in a little box somewhere and not spending it.

  “I’m thinking we need to go out tonight. Pretty soon it’s going to be event after event. It would be nice to relax and let our hair down.”

  Royce was standing with his hands crossed in front of him, his black suit crisp and perfectly cut for his enormous frame.

  “Are you thinking drinks and female company? Or are you thinking something more… wild?”

  Gideon knew that Royce knew he didn’t date. Hadn’t in years. It was complicated; there were too many Kindred groupies hovering around anyway. Woman that wanted nothing less than a Kindred mate. Even better that he was rich. They didn’t understand that mates didn’t happen that way. They also didn’t understand that trapping a Kindred by getting pregnant with their child never happened anymore. Back in his youthful days he always kept Kindred-designed condoms with him. Nothing was getting through it and nothing was ever going to break it.

  It had been years since he even felt like indulging those needs. The desire wasn’t there, so he put his efforts into his work instead.

  “I’m thinking I need to stretch my legs, what about you?”

  Royce gave a rumbling grunt that only a bear would do. “I could run.”

  Gideon nodded and Royce returned the nod before he left. Royce would make the arrangements and confirm that they could both privately shift, and let their animal sides have an evening of running and hunting without anyone following or watching them.

  The last thing he needed was the paparazzi catching photos of him naked or mid-shift.

  Tabloids and websites paid the highest bounty on shifter celebrity photos, and they loved to take pictures of him. Gideon had worked hard to avoid becoming a regular feature on the evening news.

  Running tonight was going to be a much needed break.

  Chapter 3

  Gideon’s office, how may I assist you?”

  “Who’s this?”

  “You’ve called the office of Gideon of Clan Othala, how may I assist you.”

  “I know who I called, you think it was an accident I picked up the phone and dialed these exact numbers? I know who I called, I don’t know you.”

  “This is Gideon’s Executive Assistant, Sabrina.”

  “Well, why didn’t you say so?”

  “Ma’am, may I help you?”

  “I don’t know, young lady, that all depends on you.”

  “Can you please tell me who you are so I can help you better?”

  “It’s Betty.”

  “Betty, Crone Betty?”

  “Yes, I need to talk to you.”

  “To me? You mean to Gideon, don’t you?”

  “If I meant him I would have said him. I’m calling you. I need your help.”

  “Okay?”

  “Here’s the situation. I need you to facilitate something for me.”

  “Anything for a Crone.”

  “That’s better. Listen, there’s a girl that works in the building you’re in. She needs to have opportunities with Gideon.”

  “I’m sorry, opportunities?”

  “Op-por-tun-ities. I need her to be around him. It’s important.”

  “Who is she?”

  “Human, dowdy, but pretty. Quiet, a little timid.”

  “A human? Is this Gideon’s mate?”

  “Well, that’s not really up to me, is it? I’m here to interpret the signs and arrange the circumstances as the Great Mother requests.”

  “Of course, I’m just surprised.”

  “It’s always a surprise, that’s why it’s so fun. But they can’t know. It causes problems when they are expecting things. Nature has to take its course or it won’t flow right. The flow is very important!”

  “Okay, am I’m supposed to guess who this person is?”

  “It’s someone he should have had daily contact with, but for some reason it hasn’t happened. Figure out who she is. She’s pretty, but unnoticed, she’s brave, but doesn’t know it. Next time you see her you’ll know, Sabrina. Trust your instincts.”

  “You know I’m happy to help. My Clan comes first.”

  “Of course it does, my dear. I’ll be checking in.”

  Chapter 4

  Gideon was looking forward to the long weekend. It had been a busy week, but he would end it with Thanksgiving dinner with his mother at their favorite steakhouse. His father was out of the country on a business trip for the Clan. His little sister Evaline was off jet-setting somewhere, probably Monaco this time of year. Evaline relished being a Thayr ambassador at their hotel, and she had really thrown herself into her work. It helped that ‘work’ in this case meant partying and being seen, two things Evaline loved as much as Gideon hated them. Theirs was a great partnership.

  Today was the day to wish all of his staff a happy Thanksgiving in the form of a nicely worded memo and a turkey or ham of their choice. Gideon always gave his staff two days off. He knew that family had to come first during the holidays. Thanksgiving was one of the holidays Kindred celebrated once they were mated to a human. Gideon’s father was human, so his mother had adopted the tradition of spending time with family over a delicious meal.

  “Sabrina?”

  Gideon was sitting at his desk. His mother, Allegra, had been in earlier in the week and had scheduled all of his free time. She loved to go shopping for the local charities. Not that Thayr didn’t have multiple charities it supported, it also had an entire department devoted to philanthropy. Allegra liked to visit local places that had gift trees and buy everything on the tree. It made her happy, and there were hundreds of happy children all over Portland because of her so Gideon never said anything.

  “Yes?”

  “What are your plans this weekend?”

  “Aruba.”

  Gideon looked over from his computer that he really wasn’t focusing on. “Aruba?”

  “Yes, my family is all meeting there. The children like to play in the sand.”

  “That’s right, your nieces and nephews?”

  “All seven of them. You think my parents would have enough grandchildren, but it doesn’t stop them from harassing me.”

  Gideon gave a chuckle. “I hear you, like we have any control over that.”

  “My mother has suggested a sperm bank,” Sabrina said with a snort.

  Kindred sperm banks were solely for the use of heart-bound Kindred, those that found their mates in other Kindred but couldn’t reproduce. Two shifters canceled each other out biologically speaking, their DNA both too dominant for children to be conceived. They often adopted or on rare occasions used the banks.

  “Is she serious?”

  “I’m not really sure. I just drink enough to ignore her. I get a great tan though. Plus, they serve a nice meal. Are you on mom duty?”

  “Yes, the usual. So do you think we need to wait until closing today?”

  “You ask, yet you always do,” she reminded him.

  “I know. I can’t leave before them. It wouldn’t seem right.”

  “You do run the company. By the way, I have had a few hint at me about their bonuses for Christmas already.”

  “Newbies,” Gideon said.

  “Always. Maybe they should just read the handbook.”

  “Let’s put their minds at ease and send out a memo. Standard bonuses unless they are informed by their managers they are getting additional merit.”

  “Done. You need lunch today?”

  “You pick, I’ll eat anything.”

  Sabrina harrumphed, “Of course.”

  Leaving the office, Sabrina walked out, leaving the do
or open. Gideon didn’t notice and didn’t pay any attention, going back to his computer.

  Sabrina placed an order for sushi and got back to her work. After the food arrived, she brought it in for Gideon and left the door halfway open.

  It had been two days since the Crone had called. Sabrina had taken a few walks around the office trying to figure out who it might have been that the Crone saw, but nobody stood out to her. She’d examined those that were possibilities when they weren’t aware. Single, unassuming, quiet. There were a number in an office of this size, but nobody seemed right.

  She wasn’t going to give up. The Crone trusted her and the Crones of the Kindred Clans were links to the world outside the physical. They got their signs and communications directly from the Great Mother. You trusted and celebrated them and made sure they received the Clan’s appreciation gifts each Summer Solstice.

  Sabrina looked up when she heard the telltale squeak. Faye turned the corner, her head down while sorting through her cart. Her hair was tied into a thick bun at the back of her head, neat enough, but looking a little worse for wear at this time of the day. She would tuck a stray strand back over her ear as she walked along, her hands gripping the handle of the cart.

  She was wearing a terrible tan-colored sweater that was two sizes too big for her. She had a long black skirt that brushed her flat ballet slipper shoes. She was covered head to toe, but her curves couldn’t be hidden by yards of fabric.

  Faye was a few desks away as she came forward and Sabrina watched her nod at those that said something to her. Those that didn’t, she saw a distinct look of relief wash over Faye’s face.

  Sabrina watched as she came closer. She’d never really taken the time to look at her. She was very pretty. There was the slightest smudge of eyeliner circling her brown eyes. Her lashes were dark black and curled up without the aid of any obvious mascara. Her lips were shiny like she’d put on a gloss with a slight tint.

  It was all very subtle, delicate. As Faye got closer, those eyes shot up to Sabrina’s then back down as she picked up a stack of mail.

  “Faye,” Sabrina greeted her. She watched her stop short in shock. Sabrina didn’t dislike her; she just never really put a lot of thought into her. She was one of many in the office. Now she was looking at her in a different light.

  “Sabrina,” Faye said in return, her voice holding a note of surprise. “Do you have anything for me?” she asked, holding out a stack of mail.

  Sabrina looked at the stack then up to Faye. “I’m really busy today, why don’t you drop those on his desk for me?”

  The hand holding the mail started to tremble. “I’m sorry?”

  “I’d appreciate it. I know everyone wants to get out early for the holidays. It would be a big help.”

  Sabrina watched her hesitate, her throat moving as she swallowed. Her eyes darted to the half-open door and back to Sabrina. There was a smell of fear coming off her. Not terror, just a nervousness that was coming off her in waves.

  “But,” she stammered. “Nobody goes in there.”

  Sabrina offered her a smile that she hoped was friendly. “I go in there all the time. Just drop it on his desk. I have a meeting with him later, I’ll go through the mail with him then.” Sabrina could pick up the faintest sweet smell coming off her, mixing with her emotions.

  Faye’s eyes went back and forth between the mail in her hands and Gideon’s office door a few times, her nervousness warring with her determination to do what Sabrina had asked. Sabrina was proud of her when Faye squared her shoulders and abandoned her cart with the little stack of mail to walk to the door.

  Chapter 5

  Putting her hand on the door, Faye gave it a gentle shove, opening it up enough for her to slip through. Stepping in she took in the wall of windows in the large rectangle-shaped room. A dark wood desk was set on the end of the room. It was the desk that she would often catch glimpses of him sitting at as she peeked through the door at him, his dark head bent over his work. There were times that he would be looking at his laptop, those were the moments she could catch the metallic reflection of his eyes.

  She would have never believed that there would come a day where she would get to enter his office. If he caught her in there, would she be fired? Did it matter that Sabrina had told her to go in? Maybe Sabrina was trying to get her fired. That wasn’t a nice thing to think about, but then why all of a sudden was she giving Faye any attention at all?

  As she stepped through the door, she made a straight shot to the desk. She just needed to set the mail down and hightail it back out of the hallowed space of Gideon of Clan Othala. Someday, if she ever had children she could tell them the tale of how she braved it and survived.

  Faye was just inches from the desk, her flats making no noise on the plush cream carpeting. Just as the mail was about to drop out of her hand, she heard the clink of ice hitting a glass.

  The split second happened in slow motion as the mail slid out of her hand, twisting in the air as it fanned out and hit the floor in a jumble that would be replayed over and over in her head. Dropping to the floor as she tried to catch the last pieces in the air, she clutched them to her chest. With a quick glance she saw Gideon standing behind a dark leather couch with a small tumbler full of ice in his hand. He was dressed in a dark navy suit with the thinnest of pinstripes covering the expensive wool fabric and a dark silver tie against a brilliant white shirt. She would remember every detail forever.

  He was just as handsome as she had seen from afar. Those glimpses in the hallways, through half-closed doors didn’t do him justice. Those eyes flashed silver at her before returning to their normal green.

  “I-I’m so, ss-sorry,” she stammered. She really couldn’t afford to lose her job. Not that anyone could, but she had no savings, her money put into her schooling. Faye didn’t have anything to fall back on.

  “It’s just the mail, I’ll be right out of here,” she said, standing and dropping the scooped mail on to the desk.

  Faye was about to bolt out of the room. She didn’t even care what she looked like if she ran out. She just knew that the handsome Kindred held more power than she could ever imagine. His business, her job, and the fact he could turn into something that was probably incredibly dangerous.

  “Wait.”

  Faye froze, mid-step like some kind of mime, afraid to move. Her eyes, not her body, went to Gideon and she knew she was holding her breath. “Yes?” The sound came out in a hushed voice that didn’t have enough air behind it.

  “Who are you?” Gideon was frowning.

  Faye couldn’t look away from his eyes. She was completely enthralled.

  “F-Faye?”

  “Is that a question?” he asked.

  Faye had to think for a moment. No, that was her name, she could confirm that. “No.”

  “Faye. You deliver the mail?”

  “Y-Yes. I normally give it to Sabrina. She asked me to put it in here. I’ll be gone in a second.”

  “Give it to me,” he said holding out his hand.

  Faye swallowed. She had to get closer to him? She didn’t want to look like she was crazy but her feet really didn’t want to move.

  “Faye, I’ll take the mail,” he said again, his voice so deep and rough it made her skin tingle.

  Darn it, she was a grown woman. She could talk to Gideon, hand him a simple stack of mail. It was her job after all. He’d also said her name. It sounded really, really good coming from him.

  Gripping the mail tightly in her hand, she took the steps toward him, unconsciously counting them off.

  It took six steps to get to him. She willed her hand to be steady as she held out the mail. She saw him breathe in as she got close. Faye had to tip her head back to look up at him. He was at least ten inches taller than her.

  “Here you go,” she said, her voice shockingly steady.

  “Thank you,” he replied, taking the stack. “Do you have plans with your family this weekend?”

  He wanted to kn
ow her holiday plans? Why was he dragging out their interaction? She’d heard he was a decent man. That he never yelled at anyone, his business was always on the up and up. There was nothing to be afraid of.

  “Oh, um, no. I’m volunteering,” she answered truthfully. Let him decide what that meant. She had a special meal planned, her favorite movies to watch, and then she picked up the shifts at the shelter so that others could spend time with their families.

  “That’s nice. It’s good to help out the community,” he said, setting down the glass.

  Fay didn’t think it was her place to ask him about his holiday plans. She could imagine some fancy dinner, tons of people and lots of laughter.

  “I’m sorry about intruding. Sabrina must be really busy. Um, have a nice weekend, Mr… Gideon.” Darn it, that sounded lame she realized.

  “Just Gideon. You have a nice break, Faye.”

  “Thanks,” she said and turned as fast as her little human feet could take her. She bolted for the door and was halfway down the hallway before she realized she forgot her cart. Rushing back, she grabbed it and started pushing it as fast as its squeaky wheels would go.

  She saw Sabrina stand like she was about to say something, but didn’t wait to hear what it was.

  The space between her and Gideon didn’t feel like it was increasing fast enough. Faye’s mind was running as fast as her feet. She had been so close to him. Touching distance. She didn’t touch him, of course, that was probably a fireable offense. Just because it wasn’t in the handbook didn’t mean it was allowed.

  He was what she thought of when she saw the word power. It was everything that he was.

  She may not have had big plans for the weekend. But now those plans would include her going over every single detail of their encounter. Gideon probably thought she was a stupid human that couldn’t even deliver the mail properly. Or he was asking Sabrina who the heck she was so he could fire her.

  He hadn’t seemed mad. He told her to have a good weekend, or was it a nice one? She couldn’t remember. That was one of the details she was going to obsess over, she was sure of it. Whoever his girlfriend was, if he had one, she was one lucky woman.