by Reina Torres
And yet, there was this man. This man who her father had asked to protect her, but a man who treated her like she was the answer to everything he’s been looking for. And then held her at arm’s length. And that was still knocking her for a loop.
“Salvatore?”
His conversation ended, and the phone disappeared from his hand like a slight of hand trick. His eyes were dark, but not black as they'd been a few moments before, but they were dark enough to tell her what he was thinking. He was watching her the way her father watched Caprice to see if she would have a tantrum over the fabric choices, like there was a ticking time bomb in his hand and he was fairly sure it was primed and ready to blow.
“Natale.” His voice was a caress and she almost leaned into it, wondering if she would be able to feel it against her cheek. “Come.”
Natale didn't argue. One doesn't argue with a man who could rip open a man’s chest. She started to walk to him, her legs shaking with the aftermath of what she’d witnessed. Salvatore closed the distance between them and bent slightly at the waist. A moment later she was draped over his shoulder, his muscular arm holding her securely over the backs of her thighs.
And then they broke off at a run. Well, at least Salvatore did.
She tensed up, expecting her teeth to rattle and all kinds of jiggling would rob her of her breath, but instead, she felt oddly secure in his arms and managed to hold on to the back of his shirt as he dashed to safety.
A few steps before they reached the sidewalk, they came to an abrupt stop. With a gentle tug Natale slid down from his shoulder, coming in contact with every hard inch of his. She grabbed at his arms as adrenaline continued to course through her veins. “Salvatore, I-”
“Not yet,” his voice was tight, his muscles flexing under her hand, “I need to make sure you’re safe.”
“But,” she dug her fingers in and looked up at him, worried at the danger glittering in his dark eyes, “what about the body?” She looked back down the path. “When someone finds the body, won’t they figure out-” she stopped there unsure of what to say. “What if they find out that you killed him?”
His lips pulled back in a feral grin. “You care, Principessa?”
Her eyes watered and she tried to pull away. “You know I do. Don’t be an ass.”
His hands grabbed hold of her hips and pulled her closer until her body was pressed against his from her knees to her hips. She couldn’t ignore his rock-hard length pressed against her stomach. She wanted to, but she couldn’t control the way she felt and she couldn’t control him. She didn’t want to.
But, she also didn’t want to feel like this and be so damned helpless.
“Don’t tease me, Salvatore.” She looked up and met his eyes, her anger and self-loathing giving her a rush of strength. “Don’t make me hate you even more.”
She felt the moment of hesitation in him, the tremor of energy that rushed through his body and into hers.
“Hate me if you like, Natale, but you’re alive. Now, let’s get you upstairs and safe while my brothers take care of the mess.”
Relief and pain flooded through her body, emotions and physical strain warring for her last remaining bits of energy.
She took the arm that he offered. Holding it this way made them look like a couple strolling along the street, but she really needed a little help. Her body ached all over and with the rush of adrenaline waning, the pain in her arm went from a dull nagging ache to a searing pain. “That's a really good idea.”
In a matter of minutes, they entered her building. Giving the doorman a hesitant smile, she greeted him by name and nodded when he asked her if she would be in for the night.
All sorts of thoughts filled her head as they moved through the lobby together, like how glad she was that it was an older building with antiques rather than modern furniture in the lobby. The lighting fixtures were antique as well and it kept the lighting softer than other buildings. As they passed by a mirrored section of the wall, she winced at the drying streaks of blood on his forearm. Sometime between the attack and that moment, he’d rolled back the ruined ends of his sleeves.
When they stepped onto the elevator, Salvatore urging her on first and took his customary position smack dab in front of the doorway, blocking curious eyes and possible danger.
Natale was thankful that it was his habit. It gave her time to gather her thoughts, and right now, they were running around her head like chickens. The first one she managed to grab onto was the obvious. Salvatore wasn’t human.
Well, at least not completely human.
Her shoulders shook with a silent laugh. Duh.
She knew she shouldn’t be okay with this.
It was one thing to watch TV shows and movies where gorgeous guys turned into… other things, but having it happen in front of you. Having him literally impale someone on his arm… err, claws… was a completely new experience for her.
Another giggle shook through her body. Oh boy, she was losing it!
A memory rose up in the back of her mind, something colored like an old Fuji-film photo with all of its pastels and fuzzy edges, and scented like her Nonna’s minestrone soup. Her Nonno had told her so many stories from his childhood in the Pennine Alps.
He’d spoken off and on of a fairy tale connected to her family. Most times she’d likened it to Goldilocks when the memory passed through her thoughts, but staring at Salvatore’s broad back, the air in her nose tainted by the sharp pang of blood, she remembered more details.
And suddenly the world began to tilt.
“You’re one of them, aren’t you?”
Salvatore went still in the elevator car, turning to stone before her eyes.
“One of who, Natale?”
“My grandfather told me about his village and the bears that lived in the woods. The bears,” she repeated with a sigh of wonder in her tone, “that could look like men.”
“We don’t just look like men,” he growled and her skin began to tingle, “we are men.”
She nodded even though he couldn’t see her and when she spoke, she laid out each word one at a time. “But you’re also a bear.”
The elevator opened up on her floor. Salvatore leaned out and looked down both sides of the hall before he stepped outside. When he turned to look at her, she saw him raise his chin, just a hair, his eyes somewhere between black and brown. She recognized the challenge in his stare, she had the same look in hers from time to time.
“Yes, Natale. I’m also a bear. A shapeshifter.”
He waited, his hand braced on the doorframe to keep the automatic elevator door open.
He waited for the reality to set in and for her to lose her mind.
He waited.
And when she lifted her gaze again to look at him, he saw a glimmer of something he’d never seen before in a woman’s eyes. He didn’t want to name it, not when he was afraid she’d never be at ease with who he really was.
When she spoke, she laughed.
And if that wasn’t enough to make him think that he’d lost his mind.
“Oh, wow. That’s,” she covered her mouth with her hands, her voice managing to slip out between her fingers, “just amazing! I always wanted the stories to be real.”
He let out a breath, his bear pushing him forward, eager to touch their mate now that there wasn’t this fear of being discovered.
Stepping back into the elevator he saw her reach for him, lifting her hand toward his face, but before she could touch him, he snagged her wrist and turned her arm into the yellowish light. Her sleeve was ruined and her exposed skin was cut and bleeding.
“Is that what he did?” Her voice was soft, wavering a bit as she struggled to look at the wound. “I knew he cut me, but…”
The wicked slice that had cut through her perfect flesh had him seeing red in more ways than one. His bear wanted to turn back around, head back to the park, rip the man limb from limb for hurting her, but the man in him wanted to take her in his arms and take care of
her. He just wasn’t sure she’d let him.
A moment later, he had his wish.
“I had no idea it was so big-”
Her eyes closed as she collapsed. Salvatore easily swept her up in his arms and headed for her apartment.
Chapter Nine
Salvatore pointedly ignored his youngest brother as Uberto pulled on a new shirt. Cleaning up at the park had become a one man job after Salvatore demanded Valerio come to the apartment ahead of time. Finished with the disposal, their youngest brother had arrived a few minutes ago. Lifting his arm toward his nose, Uberto’s expression soured. “Dear God, is that smell still on me?”
Salvatore waved off his concern. “You can shower later.”
“Why don’t I just shower here?”
Salvatore bristled, his shoulders doubling in size as his breath blew from his nose, flaring his nostrils. “Stay away.”
“Calm down, Salvatore. I’m not trying to challenge you,” Uberto worked on his buttons, admiring the shirt he'd borrowed from his brother. “If I was, I’d start by asking why was I the one taking your left overs to a landfill in Jersey?”
Salvatore glared at him, his lips pulling back to bare his fangs as fur pushed free of his skin. “You did it because Valerio is the healer, and you don't get to question my decisions, ‘Berto. Unless you want to challenge me in all things.”
He saw the quick intake of breath and the way Uberto’s eyes bled black spoke volumes, but the discussion was shelved when the bedroom door opened.
Valerio left Natale’s bedroom and stopped just outside the door looking at both of his brothers. Salvatore tamped down on his bear, pushing him away from the surface. Before his brother could speak, Salvatore was already on his feet pacing toward him. Valerio held up his hand, but Salvatore nearly walked through his brother, forcing the younger man to take a hold of the back of his shirt. “Don’t make me rip it.”
Salvatore glared at him over his shoulder. “It’s already ruined. So let go, or rip it off, I don’t care. I’m going to see her.”
His brother didn’t flinch and he didn’t let go of the shirt either. “A word, brother.”
He heard the truth in Valerio’s tone, saw the warning in his eyes. Even though he was younger than Salvatore, he was wise beyond his years. “Make it quick. I need to see her for myself.”
“Fine.” Valerio released the shirt and leaned closer. “Are you sure this is the right thing to do?”
“This? Talking to her?” Salvatore shook his head. “If you’re worried about her learning we’re shifters, don’t.” He smiled, waiting to see his brother’s reaction. “She knows.”
“How does she know?” Uberto had been the next to speak, standing up from the couch and taking a few steps around the arm to join his brothers. “What happened?”
“You went to the park,” he answered, “you saw what I did to that piece of garbage who attacked her. So did she.”
“You let her see you?” Uberto’s voice held a cutting edge to it. “What were you thinking?”
“What option did I have?” Salvatore pushed Valerio aside and grabbed the front of Uberto’s shirt, lifting him up off the ground. “She’s my mate! She’s a part of me, the only part that matters!”
“And how does she feel about that?” Uberto grabbed at Salvatore’s hands. “Is she just going to accept that you’re not human?”
Salvatore’s hand slipped up higher on his shirt, tugging the collar tightly around his throat. “She was fine with it.”
Uberto swallowed, or rather, he tried to swallow, and gave Valerio a look as his face reddened. “A little help, brother?”
“Leave me out of it.” He held up his hands. “I’m the one that patched her up. But, if you two don’t mind getting whatever this is over, I’m pretty sure she’ll be waking up soon and she’ll probably be hungry.”
The anger bled slowly from Salvatore’s shoulders, lowering Uberto to the ground, and managing to loosen his hands from his brother’s shirtfront. “She’ll survive?”
Rolling his eyes, Valerio flopped onto the couch, and everyone ignored the answering groan from the aging piece of furniture. “If she was in danger, I wouldn’t have left the room. You know me better than that.” He gestured toward her bedroom. “She’s lost a bit of blood, quite a bit, actually, but she’s strong.” He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his legs, his eyes focused intently on his elder brother. “You were lucky, ‘Tore.”
Realization and reality gave Salvatore a swift kick in the gut. Pushing Uberto to the side, he moved toward the bedroom. “Set the alarms, get out. Make sure there’s no evidence of that man in the park.”
Uberto glared at him, even when Valerio pushed himself off of the couch and tried to walk him toward the door. “And you,” he scoffed, “where will you be?”
“Trying not to mess up the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
The world dawned on her one fuzzy inch at a time. The world outside her window was dark, but her bedside light was on. It wasn't enough light to make her blink or squint, but it was enough to see that someone was sitting beside her on the bed.
“How,” she swallowed, hoping that her mouth wouldn't be so dry, “how did I get-”
“I carried you, Principessa.”
She turned her head toward the side table, but couldn't quite see the face of the clock. “What time-”
He set his hand on her shoulder and rolled her onto her back. “You should be sleeping, Natale. Close your eyes.”
“No,” she lifted her arm, reaching for him, “I don't want to sleep. If I do,” she drew in a breath, “I'm not sure you’ll be here when I wake up.” Her hand came in contact with the hard length of his thigh.
She felt him tremble under her touch, and his voice repaid the favor. “I'm not going anywhere, Natale.”
He leaned toward her, his hand braced on the edge of the bed by her shoulder, raising her up until she was just a few inches from him.
There were a score of things she wanted to tell him. She didn't know where to start or what he even wanted to hear, but she had to say something.
“I don't want you to go anywhere,” she managed to meet his eyes with her own, “I was stupid tonight. I left the workroom because I wanted to prove that I didn't need your help. I’d hoped that you were wrong, and I left because I thought… because I embarrassed myself last night.”
“Natale,” she heard the entreaty in his tone, saw the gentle shake of his head, “I wanted to explain.”
“You don't need to, really.” She lifted her hand and tried to turn on her side and avoid the pity she knew would be in his eyes. “I’m a big girl,” she laughed a little, “in more ways than one. I knew that I was going to look desperate, but I couldn't help myself, Salvatore. For once,” she grabbed a handful of her blankets and pulled it up toward her chin, “I just wanted to tell someone how I felt. I thought you felt the same way,” her heart squeezed painfully in her chest, “or I wouldn't have said anything. I'm so-”
“Don't.”
She felt his hand on her shoulder and while she could have fought him, part of her really wanted to get this over with. Once she knew where he stood, she could get back to what she needed to do.
Natale turned toward him and felt his palm gently cup the side of her face. She sighed at the gentle touch.
“I stopped you,” he shook his head, “I stopped us last night because I couldn't let myself love you like that unless you knew who I really am. What I really am.”
He trailed the backs of his fingers down the length of her neck.
“You needed to know the truth. And I need to know that you wouldn't hate me when you found out that the man who loved you wasn't just a man.”
He took her hand in his, lifted it until he could brush a kiss over her knuckles.
“And to let you know that the bear inside me loved you just as much.”
She heard the words and wondered if it would ever sound more like reality than a fairy tale someday. Sh
e started to push herself up on the bed and Salvatore was right there, helping her ease up, placing a pillow behind her. She rarely had someone take care of her. Sure, Ericka did in some ways, dragging her out from time to time or shoving a carrot cake in front of her with a big spoon instead of a fork. But, not like this.
And, whatever this was, she wanted more of it.
“Salvatore?”
“Yes, Principessa?”
She almost groaned at him. “I'm no princess. I don't sit in my high turret and have people wait on me.”
“You are a woman to be admired and honored. My tesoro,” he offered, “my treasure.”
She blushed, embarrassed to even ask him the question that had been at the tip of her tongue since he'd saved her life.
“Will you,” she bit her lip, worried that he'd take offense.
“Natale, ask me.”
She nodded and struggled to find the courage she knew she had.
“Show me,” she asked him, her voice slightly breathless with curiosity, “can you show me your bear?”
She heard a growl and felt as if the sound itself was a physical touch skimming over her body. Instead of pulling away, she leaned into the sensation, reaching out a hand to touch him.
The air around them trembled and the skin under her hand shifted. As she watched, she couldn't quite tell if his skin pulled back or if the fur was pushing forward, but a moment later it didn't seem to matter.
Standing beside her bed, taking up every inch of space from her bed to the wall, her curtains bunching up over his back, was a bear. Big didn't even begin to describe the animal beside her, he was massive. Until that moment, the closest she'd ever been to a wild animal was the squirrels in the park that would take peanuts from her hand, but when the bear shifted his weight and set a paw down on the edge of her bed where Salvatore had just been she let out a long sigh.
The bear’s front leg looked like a tree trunk, and the claws made dark points against her white comforter without tearing the fabric.
“Salvatore?”
His head turned slowly and she saw the muscles of his jaw shift under his thick fur. At this distance, he could snap his jaws and break her neck, but she wasn't afraid, not when the dark eyes that looked back at her seemed hauntingly familiar.
