by Erin Havoc
Did I think Hunter would do any of that? No. But that day, it caught me so off guard. I wasn’t willing to try. Fear choked me. Blinded me to everything else. The thought of having a shifter above me when I was so exposed brought me shivers of panic. Any day now, Hunter could get mad I refused him. He could very well put my door down and get in here. Force me. Punish me.
Two days after I ran from him, I settled. My brain took control once more. As I searched for another job, I let myself take a breath and analyze everything that had transpired. I couldn’t even reach out for Meghan. I knew what she would say. That I was generalizing. That not all shifters were bad, as well as not all humans were. That I could be losing my one chance at love because of this fear...
Deciding to find the truth in this matter, I opened the app store on my phone and searched for the Shifter Dating App. Meghan had found her mate through it when it was still in beta mode. I got my account as soon as it was released. But after my shifter incident, I had it deleted from my phone…
As soon as I open the app, the shower of pink and orange confetti I had always hoped for takes the screen. They’ve found my mate.
And it’s Hunter.
On Wednesday, an envelop slid beneath my door. Swallowing thick, I got to my feet and pressed my ear to the wood, only to hear the echo of disappearing footfalls. Now I knew he was my mate, I had to choose what to do with such information. Picking the envelope, I flipped it to read “Robin” on one side. Folded inside was a note from him, explaining he’d give me my space and all the time I desired. He also apologized for being so eager. I couldn’t help but laugh. With the note, he had folded some dollar bills relating to the days I worked for him.
If he had wanted, he could have put my door down. But he didn’t. Once more, he respected my time, my needs.
Today, I can’t find it in myself to look for a job. I got today’s newspaper, only to see a picture of the All-Shifters Fire Station again. It’s a small note about the calendar being out for sale. This time, I recognize the man in the back. Tall, broad shoulders and the sweetest smile I’ve ever seen. It’s him. His truth has been in front of me the entire time. And my brain has reached a conclusion. A painful one, and rather late.
I want Hunter. And I don’t care he’s a shifter or not. I miss him so much it hurts. My heart aches for his presence. For the little routine I created with Brianna and waiting for him to get home and having dinner together. My body misses his touches, his kisses. The way he adored my curves. How, not even for a moment, I felt inadequate. Not enough.
Hunter makes me feel like the one girl in the world. Am I going to be the fool who throws this chance away? Because he’s a shifter?
A shifter hurt me. He scarred me for the rest of my life with a kind of fear I don’t think I’ll ever be rid of. But that’s not a problem inherent to shifters, and I would be a damn idiot to keep judging them all like this.
Sulking on my couch, still on my pajamas, I grip a pillow closer and sigh into it. After these agonizing days missing him, all I can think of is his warmth. His laugh. The way he listens to me and pays attention to every word that comes out of my mouth. Is it too late? Am I never going to have another shot with him?
Knowing he is my mate changes nothing. He still is the best man I’ve ever met. And I still ran from him.
As I sink a little further into the couch, I hear someone rapping at my door. Peering from over the pillow, I squint at it, wondering if it hasn’t been my imagination. But a minute later, the knock sounds again, and I jump to my feet, striding to look through the peephole.
It’s Hunter.
My heart jerks up, climbing my throat, so I gasp. Grinding my teeth, I step away from the door. My chance! I have a chance! Looking down at myself, I grunt at my pajamas—loose pants and a large t-shirt. Totally unsexy. I could change. But it will take some time. Well, I can’t see him like this. Not in huge pajamas that don’t even delineate my curves...
Shaking my head, I release a tiny laugh. Silly. I’m being silly, and I know it. Hunter wants me. Entirely. He said he doesn’t care about anything other than my happiness.
Patting my hair in place, I grip the doorknob, taking deep breaths. Is he still going to want me after he sees me so disheveled? After the way I despaired and screamed at him?
Only one way to find out.
I open the door in a swift motion before I give up. Hunter meets my eyes for a moment, before his gaze rakes down my form, and I wait, bated breath, for whatever he’s going to say. For any change in his expression.
Surely, it does change. A fire ignites on his pupils. He’s holding a bouquet and a pizza but my attention’s now riveted on a growing bulge in his pants. It twitches to my attention, hardening.
“Hey,” I greet, my mouth dry, fighting to pry my eyes from his dick.
“Hey,” he says in that hoarse voice that I’ve come to know designates his lust. Hunter doesn’t conceal his hard-on, doesn’t hide how he feels about me and my pajamas. He stares at me, and I stare at him, and for a moment I’m afraid we might ignite.
“I got your envelop,” I say, feeling my nipples slowly hardening under his perusal.
He grunts an agreement. Finally, our eyes lock. “Robin,” he says in a softer tone. “I swear this is the last time I’m bothering you. I just needed to say... That you’re my mate, so I can’t get my mind out of you. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. I know I said I’m giving you your time and space, and I am.” He releases a sigh between gritted teeth. “But I need to say this. At least once. I’m in love with you. My heart begs for you. My bear can’t endure your absence. I need you. More than anything.”
My heart skitters.
My second chance. It’s come to me. And I’m not letting it go.
8
HUNTER
Robin looks delectable in a pair of loose pants and a shirt. They’re loose as if she tries to conceal her juicy curves from me, but it’s useless. Her heavy breasts heave with her breathing, and I watch her nipples hardening, a telltale of her braless state.
My cock hardens in her presence. My bear roars to her smell. She’s the most perfect creature I’ve ever seen, and I can’t take another week parted from her. These last few days have been hell. But she’s been hurt, terribly hurt, and I don’t want to be the sucker who forces her into a relationship because we’re mates.
She’s going to be mine. The right way.
And as I wait for her answer, my bear pacing, my balls heavy, I watch her approach me in slow motion. It’s like a dream. She presses her body to mine, and I feel every curve of hers against me. Her arms sling around my neck. Her warm breath caresses my throat.
A gasp escapes me as I do my best to fold my arms around her. The pizza collides with the bouquet. I let the latter drop, the soft thud of its fall ignored by both of us. Still holding the pizza, I use my free hand to curl around her waist, bringing her even closer.
Distancing a little, I dip her. Robin’s eyes sparkle, a smile on her face as my restraints slowly drop. Grinning back, I stamp my mouth to hers, ceasing the space between in the chastest kiss I manage with an iron rod in my pants.
Robin giggles into my mouth, opening hers so our tongues connect. “I was just thinking of you,” she breathes, burying her fingers in my hair.
“I’m always thinking of you,” I brush our lips together, pulling her back up. She tugs me inside her place, and I rescue the bouquet before I tremple over it. The apartment is simple, and there are several cardboard boxes still closed from when she moved. Stuff I hadn’t noticed the first time around. I had been too busy. “I couldn’t take another day parted from you. So I got a day off.” I motion with the bouquet. “Thought I could convince you with either flowers,” then I raise the pizza, “or food.”
She chuckles, the best sound in the world. Taking both from me, she plops them down on her dining table. “I like both. But I like you more.”
Finally, my hands are free to hug her closer and roam down her shape. �
��Tell me you’re giving me a chance, sweet.”
Her eyes are so full of affection I know I’ll never give up on this woman. “I am. I missed you like crazy this week. Both you and Brianna... For different reasons.” She moves against my erection, eliciting a groan from me. She knows how to drive me crazy. “I thought this over and... I realized I’d be a fool to judge you because of what you are. You can’t change it. And it isn’t the only part of your personality.”
I nod, smiling like a fool. “I know you’ve been hurt, baby. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through. But let me show you how we’re made for one another.”
She smiles and I press my lips to hers, kissing her once more. This time, it’s not chaste. No, it’s hungry, and I make it stark clear how much I’ve missed her. Skimming my hands down her sides, I take her hips between my fingers and press my erection against her, my mind going hazy with lust.
My bear growls inside me, and I know he won’t take my bullshit any longer. I need to mate her. These days... Having her and losing her? A nightmare. Nothing had ever hurt so much.
And now I have her between my hands. But I also know she won’t accept the mate mark so soon. So early. She barely gave me the chance to prove her wrong.
With all my control, I push my bear to the very back of my mind. With deep breaths, I pretend I’m human. I pretend there’s not a beast inside me dying to ravage this curvy, delicious woman, mark her as mine, claim her. Fill her womb with my seed until she’s round with my cubs.
All of that will have to wait.
Walking her backward to the couch, I flip us so I sit down. Robin immediately parts her legs and climbs on top of my thighs, straddling me and making me wish there were no clothes between us. Brushing my fingers up and down her thighs, I part the kiss to take a good look at her.
“Are those clothes supposed to tease me? Because it’s working.”
She presses her arms to the sides of her chest and jiggles her perfect tits. My jaw almost drops to the floor. “It wasn’t my intention, but I’m not complaining,” she says with a grin.
“Damn, you’re so fucking hot...”
I finger her shirt, starting to pull it off when she stops me with a hand. “Just to be sure.” She cocks a pretty brow. “Brianna?”
I smile, loving how worried she is about my niece. “With a nanny, of course.”
Robin’s shoulders relax, and she lets my hand go, jutting her breasts out. I grin like a predator, and she rubs herself against my hardness, loving it.
Without another word, I grip the hem of her shirt and pull it all the way up in a swift motion. I need to see her. I need to taste her skin on my tongue, or I might as well have a stroke.
These glorious tits. I cup them, licking and sucking on her nipples until she’s slowly circling her hips over my erection. Releasing a breast, I seek her center, fingering her cunt over her pants. I can feel the heat of her against me, an oven between her legs, begging me to take her.
Nibbling on her neck, I soak on the sounds of her moans as I strip the two of us. In moments, I sink into her core, her folds parting to receive me, her inner walls stretching to my girth. I watch Robin’s eyes rolling to the back of her head in pleasure as I flick her clit, and I guide her motions so she rides me. Harder and harder, until the two of us find our bliss. Joined, we reach our climaxes, over and over. I fill her and she creams my cock, and we start all over again.
And even if I’m not marking her today or tomorrow, I know we’re eventually doing that. We’re meant to be, and we’ll take this road together. I’ll make her feel safe, protected. Nothing will ever hurt her again. She won’t ever feel anything less than utter joy. It’s my personal goal.
We have pizza, and we discuss the next steps. And before the night has fallen, I’m helping her pack some stuff so she can come back home with me. Brianna has missed her terribly, and I’m sure she’ll be happy with the addition to the family.
A family. The word hits me hard every time. Something I thought I would never have. Now it gets bigger by the day. It makes me happier with every passing moment. There’s true bliss in life, and it’s having them. My girls.
And soon enough, I know the number will grow. We’ll be a happy pack. My dreams coming true.
And it’s all thanks to her. My beautiful mate. My sweet Robin.
EPILOGUE
ROBIN
Six Months Later
Pressing my hands to my hips, I release a huge sigh. I don’t know what it is, but I can never get rid of cardboard boxes.
My scaredy self accepted to give Hunter a chance after I basically developed depression for not having him. I missed him and Brianna too hard for my pride to win. I had to swallow it. Give the man a chance to prove that not all shifters are the same.
He’s proving me wrong every day. Hunter’s special. I mean, of course he is. He’s my mate, after all. But he’s sweet, attentive, respectful. He always has my needs in mind. My happiness and Brianna’s are the priorities of his existence.
On that first day of our official relationship, he helped me pack a weekend bag so I could spend some days with him. And that’s how our new routine began. I wasn’t ready to jump headfirst just yet. I wanted him, but not the full package after knowing him for a fortnight.
Hunter, obviously, accepted it. I spent a week in his place, then a couple of days in mine. I missed him like hell on those two days, so when I went back, it was for fifteen days, then two back home. When I was with him, I’d spend my day with Brianna. He still paid me, though I didn’t think it was right.
Today, we’re finally settling everything.
A ring on my finger, we’re finally moving in together. For real. In a new apartment, big enough for the three of us (and a stray dog Brianna and I found one day). The place is covered in boxes again, but this time, I’m not apprehensive about opening them. Not afraid of beginning this new life.
In fact, nothing makes me happier.
“So, can we have a break already?” Hunter hugs me from behind, pressing a kiss to my neck.
The spot he told me he’ll one day put his mating mark. He explained he hadn’t done it out of respect for me. Since it’s a forever thing, he wants me to be sure.
The man can pretty much read my thoughts. Of course I’m sure.
Intertwining our fingers, I walk us to the bedroom, where our bed is ready to use. Brianna’s spending the day with a classmate, both her and her dog, so we have the house to ourselves. She knew she would escape moving duty if she visited her friend, but we’re also using this to our advantage.
Once we’re inside the bedroom, Hunter makes quick work of our clothes. He’s always hasty to have me naked, spread for his taking. But this time, I resist when he makes to lie me down.
Looking over my shoulder, batting my lashes, I climb on the bed on all fours, shimming my hips for him. His eyes darken with hunger, his cock twitching, proudly.
“Let’s do it like this, baby,” I purr.
He grunts, wordless, and I love it that I can make him feel this way. His fingers come around my hips and grip my flesh, and in moments he’s hilt-deep inside me. Spreading me. Making me arch my back, seeking more, more.
We find a rhythm, moving against one another, bringing each other pleasure. I circle my hips, and he pinches my nipple, and we cry in unison as we approach an orgasm. One of the big ones. A powerful climax that I’ll forever remember.
“Hunter,” I breathe, and he stiffens.
“Yes, baby?” He’s always so careful with me. Always paying attention not to hurt me.
“Bite me.”
He moves once more, fucking me hard, then sinks his teeth to my shoulder, eliciting a cry from between my lips. But that’s that. None of the sharp pain followed by bliss Meghan said I’d feel.
“Hunter,” I call again and he grunts in response, the sound rumbling through his chest, where it’s pressed to my back. “Bite me for real. Mark me.”
He stops completely. Reaching out, he cups my c
hin and turns me so our eyes meet. “Are you sure?”
I move against his thick cock, burying himself deeper. “Yes,” the response leaves me in a filthy moan. “Yes. I love you. I love you so much. I want to be yours forever.”
Hunter says something that sounds like a prayer, and this time, I feel it. His teeth bite me hard, a sharp pain blinding me for a moment. Then euphoria washes over me. It blazes my heart with sudden pleasure, too much pleasure, more than I’ve ever felt.
When we come together, it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt. Powerful. Fierce. White lights explode to the back of my eyelids, and fireworks within my veins. I cry out, and the scream echoes up and down the walls. His pounds grow fiercer and I feel every jet of his come inside me, yet another orgasm crashing over my body.
My heart threatens to melt. There’s so much love combined with this pure lust, and a word echoes in my brain.
Mine mine mine
I release a whimper and a tear streaks down my cheek. And I’ve never been happier.
He’s mine, and I’m his. Forever.
EPILOGUE
HUNTER
Three Years Later
Quietly, I guide Brianna into the hospital room. She’s all smiles, her long hair pulled back in a complex kind of ponytail. She’s growing fast, and I still remember the toothless grin she used to give me. This girl has grown into a daughter to me, and this moment right now will forever be ingrained in my memory.
Happiest day ever.
Robin lies on the bed, propped up by several pillows. Her face is still flushed, her inky hair pulled away from her face in tight braids. Meghan, her friend, gets to her feet when she sees me. Pressing a kiss to my wife’s cheek, she leaves with a wave to us.
Brianna strides into the room and presses her hands to the mattress next to Robin. Her eyes are riveted on the small bundle in my wife’s arms.
“He’s so tiny!” She says in a clipped voice.
