by Sophie Stern
But I’m also mad as fucking hell her stepfather was here.
“I came over to talk to you and I smelled your fear.” I point to the bedroom window, which is open. “Your front door was locked but the back was broken into.”
“I didn’t check it when I got home,” she sighs. “I should have, but I didn’t even walk by it. I just ate my dinner and then came up to bed.”
“He wanted to scare you.”
“You said you were going to marry me.”
“I am going to marry you.”
“What?” Anna looks confused. She looks beautiful, but she also looks confused. “I…what?”
“I’m a shifter,” I tell her. “I don’t believe in mates, Anna, but I think we have a connection. I think we could be good together. I think we could have an incredible time. Even if we only have twelve months together, I think it could be really, really good.”
“I don’t believe in mates, either,” she whispers. “Destiny is what you make it. Marriage is what you make it. Just because we have a connection doesn’t mean our relationship is going to last. There’s no guarantee. We’ll still have to work at it.”
“Does that mean you’ll marry me?”
“Well, I don’t know,” she pulls her legs up to her chest. “This was kind of a crazy fucking night.”
I can hear sirens in the distance and I know the police are almost here. I can’t believe how damn slow they are. I also know that once they arrive, the spell is going to be broken, and we’re going to have to get real with the police. I want Anna to agree to marry me before they come so I can introduce myself as her fiancé. It’ll make things simpler when it comes to dealing with her stepfather.
And it ensures she’ll get her trust fund.
It ensures she’ll get what she’s owed.
Anna Donovan is a good, kind person. She doesn’t deserve to be screwed over by someone who is supposed to love her. She doesn’t deserve to be tricked out of her inheritance because of someone else’s greed.
“The police are going to be here soon, baby,” I say, stepping close to her bed. She looks so tiny curled up against the headboard. She got as close to it as she possibly could when Carl was here. She looked frightened and weak, but she’s not weak. She’s strong and brave and courageous.
She’s incredible.
And everything is going to be okay.
“Please, tell me you’ll marry me. If we get to the end of the twelve months and you don’t want me anymore, that’s fine. I understand, but please let me do this for you, Anna.”
She looks at me and she reaches for me, rubbing her hand on my face. I lean into her touch and let her offer me this small comfort right now.
“Why are you doing this? You don’t even know me.”
“You have to marry someone, right?”
“Probably, yes.”
“It might as well be someone like me, Anna. It might as well be me. I’m not going to hurt you or be possessive or controlling. I’m not going to be mean to you. I’m going to take care of you and I’m going to treat you right. I’m going to treat you the way you deserve to be treated.”
The cops have arrived. I hear their cars pulling up in the driveway. Soon they’ll be knocking on the door and we’ll have to answer. We’re going to have to be on the same page because if Anna doesn’t accept my offer, I’m going to have a lot of explaining to do about why I came over to her house at night. It’s not exactly something most attorneys do for their clients.
“Yes,” she whispers so quietly I almost can’t hear her. “Yes, Oliver Lyon. Yes, I will marry you.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Yes,” she says again, and her eyes meet mine. Only this time, she doesn’t look afraid. This time, she looks fierce. This time, she looks like she’s not going to let anything get to her because my girl? My girl is a fucking badass.
“Aren’t we supposed to seal the promise with a kiss?”
“Sneaky tiger,” she says, but Anna scoots to the edge of the bed and places her legs on either side of mine so I’m standing between hers. She runs her hands up my chest and then she tilts her head and offers me her mouth.
This isn’t an offer I’m about to turn down.
I kiss her like my life depends on it, kiss her like there’s nothing else in the world I’d rather be doing than kissing her. I kiss her like she’s the sun and the stars because as far as I’m concerned, she is.
The knock at the door comes far too soon.
“We should get that,” she says. “I guess I have to file a police report now.”
“I’ll help you,” I tell her. “You don’t have to be scared about talking to the police. I’ll be right by your side the entire time.”
“Thank you,” Anna says. “You have no idea how much I appreciate that. People haven’t exactly been there for me most of my life. It’s nice to know you have my back.”
“We sealed our fate with a kiss, Anna. I will always be there for you. Always. You never have to be alone ever again. Not when it matters. Not when you have me.”
The knock comes again.
“Police,” a voice says. “Anyone home?”
“Coming!” I yell out and lift Anna from the bed, kissing her one more time before I set her on the floor. She reaches for her pants, and then she wiggles into them.
“Do I match?” She looks down at the pajama pants and faded tee shirt.
“You’ve never looked so beautiful,” I tell her.
Then we go to the front door.
I open it ahead of Anna. I’m trying, I suppose, to protect her in some way. I hate to think what would have happened if I hadn’t come over tonight. Would Carl have attacked her? Hurt her? My skin prickles as I consider it and my inner tiger threatens to break free.
“Sir, is everything all right?”
“My name is Oliver Lyon,” I take a deep breath as I look at the uniformed man in front of me. “This is Anna Donovan. This is her place of residence. I arrived about 10 minutes ago and noticed the back door was damaged. When I came inside, a man was in her bedroom. He had broken in.”
“Did you recognize the man?” The officer is writing everything down. I can see his partner walking around the house, checking things out as we talk.
“Yes,” Anna says. “His name is Carl Mortimer. He’s my stepfather.”
“And he broke into your house?”
“Yes.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“He was threatening me,” Anna says, and I squeeze her hand. She’s being so brave, so strong right now. Talking to the police is never easy. Even in my line of work, I find talking with law enforcement to be difficult sometimes. She takes a deep breath, and then she tells the officer, “I’d like to press charges.”
Chapter 11
Anna
I shouldn’t be so relieved to have Oliver. I shouldn’t be so relieved that he’s offered to marry me. I should have turned him down. I shouldn’t have told him I’d be his bride.
The offer was too enticing, though, and not because it means I’ll get what my father left me.
It was enticing because it means I’ll get Oliver.
I’ll get to be with him for an entire year.
I’ll get to be in his bed and in his arms. I’ll get to spend hours talking to him. I’ll get to fall asleep in his arms and wake up naked next to him. I’ll get to be his completely.
Even if is only for a year.
By the time the police leave my house, it’s well past midnight and I’m exhausted, but I’m terrified to go to sleep. The back door is completely destroyed. I’ll have to go get a new one tomorrow.
Oliver notices me eyeing the door warily and he wraps his arms around my waist.
“Come home with me,” he says.
“Tonight?”
“Every night, but especially tonight.”
“You don’t think we’re moving too quickly? We’ve only just met.”
“I think we’re moving at the appropri
ate pace for the situation.”
“You don’t think this is a mistake?”
“Do you?”
“No, but…”
“What is it, Anna?” He crooks his finger and lifts my chin so my eyes meet his. “Tell me what you’re worried about.”
“I’m worried this isn’t fair to you,” I tell him. “I’m getting a husband and my inheritance and you don’t get anything out of it.”
“I get to spend a year with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on,” he says. “And that’s worth everything to me. I don’t know if you’ve figured this out about me, Anna, but I don’t get close to people. Ever. I never, ever get close to people. I don’t feel comfortable with them and I like my privacy. I’ve had relationships before where I was used, and now I have a hard time trusting women.”
I swallow, hard.
“But I don’t have a hard time trusting you,” he says. “Somehow, and I don’t know why, sweetie, but somehow, I feel completely comfortable with you.”
“Me too,” I admit. “I feel like we’ve known each other our entire lives. Why is that, Oliver? It’s so weird. I never feel like this with people. I never feel comfortable like this.”
“I don’t know. I know you’re thinking we’re mates, Anna, and I don’t believe in that, so I can’t promise this is going to be some fairytale romance, but I will protect you with my life. I will take care of you. I will make sure everything is okay.”
“I believe you.”
“Why don’t we pack a couple of bags for you? You can come home with me tonight and then tomorrow, we’ll get your door fixed. Do you own your house?”
“No,” I shake my head. “I rent.”
“When’s your lease up?”
“Next month.”
“Don’t renew it. You can come live with me. I’ll help you move all of your stuff.”
“Are you sure we aren’t rushing things?”
“Anna, when it comes to you, I can’t get you back in my bed fast enough. Come on,” he takes my hand and leads me toward the stairs. “Let’s get you packed, baby.”
*
Over the weekend, the guys move Joyce into Landon’s old apartment unit and they move me into Oliver’s. It’s quite the task, but with a lot of beer and a lot of pizza, we make it happen. Somehow, the house doesn’t seem too full or packed. I think it helps that there are three separate apartment units on three separate floors.
It also helps that everyone is actually really nice and truly cares about each other.
We have a great time getting Joyce settled in her new apartment and then we get me settled, as well. I still can’t believe how much crap I have. Apparently, becoming a pack rat is easy when you have an extra bedroom for “stuff.” We make several trips to the thrift store to drop off various items I no longer want or need, including extra furniture and lots of clothes I held onto because I thought I might wear them “someday.”
Oliver keeps telling me, Your future is now.
The craziest part is that I actually believe him.
I feel so much less stressed, so much less worried. I finally feel like everything in my life is going to be just fine, and when I walk into work on Monday morning, the only thing I feel is happiness. I pour my coffee, chat with Rita, and fly through my classes. Somehow, my students all perform wonderfully, and I definitely believe they all did their homework.
The day is looking up.
Everything is looking up.
When I get home, Oliver and I talk about our days over dumplings and rice, and then he makes love to me in his bed over and over and over. He fucks me until I can’t think straight, until the only thing I’m thinking about is how long it’ll be until my next orgasm. He makes love to me deeply, passionately, sweetly, and I can’t help but wonder how I ever managed to live without him.
I’m quickly becoming addicted to him and that’s not necessarily a good thing. We aren’t even married yet and already, I can’t imagine life without him. The truth is that I don’t want to get divorced from Oliver after a year. I don’t want to split up after we’ve satisfied the requirements of the trust. I don’t want to do any of that stuff.
All I want is to be with him.
It doesn’t make sense that I’m becoming so attached to him. I’ve never felt this way about a man before. Then again, I’ve never had someone show me such kindness before. Am I reading too much into the situation? Am I hoping for something that’s impossible?
Oliver and I decide to have a small wedding ceremony on the first floor of the mansion. There’s a large sitting room that’s perfect for a sweet, informal wedding. The only friends we really want there are the other shifters who work at Casa, Fee, and Lyon. I don’t have any family members to invite, but Oliver’s parents will be there.
There are three weeks until the wedding. Three weeks and then we’ll be married. Three weeks and then I’ll be Mrs. Oliver Lyon.
The entire weeks flies by in a blur of hugs and sex and work. When the weekend arrives, Joyce and I go to wine club together, as usual. We missed the last class because we were both busy moving, so it feels good to get back into our usual routine again.
After class, the two of us go to a nearby sports bar and order a couple of beers.
“The time for being classy is over,” Joyce holds up her beer and I hold up mine. We toast to the night and to friendship, and then we start drinking.
“How are you doing?” I finally ask her. I know what happened between her and Logan and I know she’s completely overwhelmed with the situation. Anyone would be. It’s not fair what happened. It’s especially not fair that it happened to someone like Joyce.
“Meh,” she sips her beer. “I’ve been better.”
“Has he tried to contact you?”
“I blocked his number,” she says. “I’m too pissed. I don’t want to deal with him right now.”
“Probably for the best. You don’t want to threaten him and then have the cops questioning you about it.” Joyce doesn’t lose her temper often, but when she loses it, she really loses it.
“Exactly. Besides, what do I have to say to him? ‘You’re a dick’ or ‘fuck off’ hardly seem strong enough for what he did.”
“He’s an asshole,” I agree.
“Most men are,” the bartendress says as she walks by.
Joyce and I hold up our beers in unison, silently agreeing.
“I know there’s someone out there for me,” Joyce says. “I know you and Ollie don’t believe in mates, but I do, and I think that when you find that perfect person, you just know. I think you just…you get a feeling deep in your bones, and you just know. I never felt that way with Logan. I mean, he was sexy and fun and friendly. We had a lot of fun together, but I never questioned if he was my mate. I think if you aren’t questioning it, then they’re not the one. You know?”
“Maybe,” I say quietly, but I don’t really know.
“You and Ollie,” she says. “Now there’s a pair I wouldn’t have dreamed up.”
“Why’s that?”
“You’re bold. You’re outgoing. You’re passionate. He’s quiet. He’s not shy, but he’s always kept to himself. He’s not very outgoing. Honestly, he’s not really much of a people person at all, but he’s different around you. He’s more confident. He’s braver, in a way. You’re good for each other.” She sips her beer and shakes her head. “Such a silly lion.”
“He doesn’t like that.”
“What?”
“Don’t call him a lion,” I say, suddenly feeling protective. “He’s a tiger. You shouldn’t call him a lion.”
“Is that right?” Joyce looks a little surprised, but I don’t say anything else, I just nod, and she shrugs.
“I like him a lot,” I admit.
“I should hope so. You’re marrying him.”
“He feels obligated to marry me,” I point out.
“Oliver? Feel obligated? If there’s one thing he’s never felt, honey, it’s obligation. He might hav
e fed you that line so you wouldn’t feel bad, but if Oliver Lyon is asking to marry you, it’s because he fucking wants to.”
“Really?” I sip my beer. “But why would he want to do that? It doesn’t make any sense. We’re going to get divorced after a year and then he’ll be a divorcee. Wouldn’t it make more sense for him to just leave me on my own and hope for the best with a judge?”
“You’re still meeting with a judge?”
“Yeah,” I tell her. “Oliver totally got a meeting next week. Then, if the judge doesn’t say yes to altering the terms of the trust, we’ll go through with the wedding.”
“I’ve never seen Oliver like this,” Joyce tells me. “And I’ve known him for years. If you ask me, honey, he’s your mate, and you’re his. You’re so damn good together. You both make each other happy, and if the sounds you make at night are any indication, I’d say you’re sexually compatible, too.”
Fuck.
Joyce lives downstairs now, which means there isn’t an extra floor between us and the next inhabitants of the house.
So she hears everything we do at night, everything we say. Oliver and I aren’t exactly quiet lovers.
“I’m so sorry,” I quickly blurt out, but Joyce just starts laughing.
“Don’t be. Like I said, you’re good together. You should believe in him as much as he believes in you, honey, because if I know Oliver, he’s not going to quietly accept a divorce after a year. He’s going to want to keep you, and can you really blame him? You’re basically totally perfect for him, sweetie. You’re his match. Like it or not, you’re fated to be together.”
Chapter 12
Oliver
Anna comes home from her night out with Joyce and stumbles into the apartment we share now. It’s still strange to think of this place as “our” apartment. A little wave of happiness washes over me when I think about it. I still can’t believe she agreed to marry me. I still can’t believe how happy she makes me. I still can’t believe how damn lucky I am.
People spend their whole lives looking for someone to love and Anna basically fell into mine. Just over a week ago we were strangers. We had no idea who the other person was. We were just living our lives, not even knowing what we were missing.
