Heartland Shifters Box Set

by V. Vaughn

  I take a sip of wine as I try to figure out exactly how much of my need to knit I should share with Alec. “I knitted so many blankets that Mandy suggested I sell the extra ones online.”

  “How’s that going?”

  “Pretty well. People buy them.”

  “That’s fantastic,” he says. “Can I see one?”

  “Sure.” I get up and dig in the stack for one I’m especially proud of. The yarn is soft in my fingers as I hold it up to show him the yellow blanket with little roses knitted in. I hand it to him so he can inspect it closer.

  “It’s really pretty.” He holds it, running his fingers over the roses as if he’s really admiring it, and pride swells in me. I flash to a vision of him holding a baby wrapped up in the blanket, and a deep longing to be a mother fills me in an almost painful way.

  “Thanks.” I take it back from him and set it on the pile again before settling back onto the sofa with him.

  “You’re so creative, I bet you could make anything,” he says. “I remember you sewed your dress for the winter formal.”

  “I can’t believe you remember that.”

  “I remember lots of things, especially from that night.”

  I tuck my feet under myself as I blush, because he’s referring to when we lost our virginity to each other. It was a special night. Not at all awkward the way so many people describe it. But then, we were in love.

  I take another sip of wine and then set the glass down on the table next to his. When I lean back, he rubs his thumb up and down on my shoulder while he gazes at my mouth. Self-consciously I lick my lips, and he shuffles a little closer to me, his hand moving up to my neck. His palm presses against my skin, and he slowly pulls my face to his until we are nose to nose.

  “Can I kiss you?” he says.

  I nod, and he covers my mouth with his. The smoldering kiss warms my body from the top to the bottom, and all the parts in between. Tingles of heat radiate from my core until my whole body is feverish with need.

  He growls into my mouth as I move my hands over his hard chest, wishing the cotton between our skin was gone. He nibbles on my lips before sweeping his tongue in to taste and tease.

  Currents of pleasure ripple over my body as he wraps one of his hands in my hair and the other at the small of my back. I twist my fingers into his shirt while he peppers kisses on my neck and finally to my ear, to the soft spot just below my lobe. He knows exactly where to lick to send me into fits of pleasure.

  I may not be ready to surrender my heart to him, but I’m all kinds of ready to surrender my body. I want him in my bed and have every intention of leading us there.

  Chapter 25

  HILLARY

  Oh my God, my entire body is burning up. Alec can make me feel things I’d forgotten I could feel. As he licks and suckles on my throat, I thread my fingers through his hair and scrape my nails along his scalp the way I remember he likes it.

  While his hand is slowly sliding up my torso, I think Alec is afraid I’m going to reject him like I did at the hot springs, and that’s the last thing I want. I want my man to be ready to devour me, so I give him free reign.

  I push him away and stand up, grabbing his hand to tug him along with me. “My bedroom. Now.”

  He stops us and turns me by the shoulders so he can look me in the eyes. “Are you sure? I don’t want—"

  I drop my hand down to cup his straining erection through his jeans, and his mouth opens in surprise. “I’m all kinds of sure.”

  He grins at me before his eyelids become heavy with his desire. I laugh and take off running so he’ll chase me. I swear my bunny makes me do it. She even makes me jump up on the bed. But I take over as soon as I’m there.

  Standing up on the bed, I’m tall enough that I can place my hands on Alec’s shoulders and look down at him. “Hmmm, I kind of like this position of power.”

  “Power, huh?” He steps back and holds up his hands. “If that’s all you need then tell me what to do, baby. I’m at your command.”

  I bite my lower lip as my mind goes to something Alec taught me to love. When we first started fooling around, I was shy about things like oral sex, so the first time he went down on me, I made him stop. He did stop, of course, but I’m really glad he didn’t give up on me and suggested it occasionally until I was ready. Once I was more comfortable with losing control, I couldn’t get enough of his tongue on my pussy.

  “First you should take off your shirt for me and go ahead and flex if you must.” I wink. “I kind of like it.”

  He laughs as he reaches behind his head and grabs his T-shirt with one hand to yank it off.

  “Sweet Jesus,” I blow out a long breath when he flexes his abs for me. The man is physical perfection. “Pants.”

  Alec slides his thumb under the waistband of his jeans and gyrates his hips as if he’s going to give me a show. I sigh, and he says, “You like that.” He gets a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he rolls his stomach and moves closer to me. “My girl wants to see my moves.”

  I giggle. “I most certainly do.”

  “Careful what you ask for.” He steps forward and tugs my legs out from under me so my butt lands on the mattress and I bounce.

  I let out a little squeal when he pushes me back on the bed and places himself over my body with his arms extended. He rolls his belly again and thrusts his groin against mine.

  “This is hot,” I say, “But why do I feel like I’m at an all-male revue?”

  Alec pauses as a low rumble comes from his chest. “You’ve been to one of those?”

  I haven’t, but my bunny loves that he’s jealous, and I say, “Maybe. You were gone an awfully long time.”

  My smile must give me away because he lets out a small noise from the back of his throat and says, “None of them could compare to me.”

  I shake my head and drag a finger down his chest. “No man ever can.”

  He leans down and kisses me with a fierceness that tells me he intends to make sure, and I kiss him back with the same hunger. As for control? We both take it, and clothes come off as we both work at getting ourselves naked as quickly as we can.

  But once we’re undressed, Alec slows things down. He moves down my neck with his kisses and lingers on my breasts, making me moan with pleasure before he continues down my belly. He pauses when he moves between my legs and smiles up at me. “I haven’t forgotten how to make you scream, Hillary.”

  I answer him with a little mewl, and my hips jerk up when he begins to lap at me. I haven’t forgotten how to enjoy his ministrations, and the cotton of my comforter wads up in my hands as I clench at it. When my orgasm explodes from me, I have no doubt Alec is smirking.

  I pant as I catch my breath, and he rises up over me. When he slides his dick along my sensitive folds, I lift up my hips. “Yes,” I say, wanting him deep inside of me before I come down from my high.

  Alec enters slowly, savoring me, and when he settles in, he lets out a sigh. He looks deep into my eyes. “I’ve missed you,” he says.

  “I’ve missed you, too.” I’m trembling around him, and my body wants more friction, so I dig my nails into his ass. “Now show me more of those moves you’ve got.”

  He chuckles and begins to pump his hips. I wrap my legs around his waist and rock with him as we move with a rhythm all our own. Still super sensitive from my previous orgasm, my climax rushes forward.

  Alec rides it out with me and stills when I come. When I crash back to earth, I smile up at him. “Nice move.”

  He grins and squeezes one of my butt cheeks. It reminds me of how much he likes my ass and I push at his chest to roll him off of me. “I’ve got a move I think you’re going to like.”

  I turn around and straddle his waist in a reverse-cowgirl position, so he can watch my ass bounce as I ride him. It was a good call because he lets out a groan. “Oh, yeah, baby.”

  I lift up on my arms and do the best version of twerking I can, considering it’s not something I’ve done before,
and Alec’s cries let me know it’s working. It’s not long before he grabs my hips and pulls me down so he can sink deep with his release.

  Even after he’s climaxed, I roll my hips to keep the pleasure going until every little aftershock has been milked out of him. When I climb off, he pulls me on top of his chest and holds me tight. I lift up to gaze down at him and see the sexiest smile of part pleasure, part satisfaction, and pure cockiness cover his face. He says, “We’re damn good at that, baby.”

  “You sure you’re not really saying you’re damn good at that?”

  He squeezes my butt cheeks with both hands. “No way. You were the MVP tonight.”

  I chuckle. “I better be getting a trophy or a ring—” Oh god, why the hell did I go there?

  My bunny taunts me. Because deep down, girly, you want Alec to marry you.

  Alec handles things like a pro. “I usually only hand out rings for a championship win, but we can make an exception. You were that good.”

  “Thank you.” I say as I snuggle into his side, both for saving me from an awkward conversation and because it’s nice to know he thinks sex with me is amazing.

  I slide a hand over the firm ridges of his finely tuned pectorals, marveling at how he’s always so warm, and even though he’s pure muscle, he still manages to be a cuddly bear too.

  I imagine I could lie like this with him every night for the rest of my life. Even though I still think I need to protect my heart, I’m willing to keep trying with him because I do know this is what I want.

  His breathing has slowed, and I gaze down at his face. His eyes are closed, but even in his slumber his lips are curled up in a satisfied smile.

  I roll off his chest to snuggle into the crook of his arm while grabbing the blanket and pulling it up over our bodies. My bunny lets out a sigh of contentment, and so do I. And as I fall asleep, I let myself believe one of my dreams is finally coming true.

  Chapter 26

  ALEC

  Sunlight peeks in through the cracks of Hillary’s blinds, and I blink my eyes open with a smile on my face, remembering why I’m here. Not that I could forget considering the room is full of the odor of our combined scents and sex. Lots of sex. After I fell asleep the first time, I had a dream about tasting my little bunny again, and I woke her up with my tongue. Her cries told me she didn’t mind. And a few hours later she woke me up to return the favor.

  I gaze at my sweet little rabbit as she sleeps, hands tucked under her chin, her knees almost to her chest. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, and I want to wrap myself around her, but considering I didn’t let her sleep much and she has to work today, I decide not to wake her.

  As I watch her, happiness fills me. It occurs to me that while I can no longer play professional football my life is far from over. In fact, it might just be beginning again. I am finally able to believe I can have a second chance at love with Hillary.

  I could stay in bed with her forever, but my stomach growls. I roll off the mattress carefully to keep from shaking it too much and pad out of the bedroom and into the kitchen to make breakfast.

  As coffee brews, I whip up some eggs and make a scramble with bacon, and then I mix up pancake batter and turn on the griddle. I know Hillary loves pancakes, and she might even like maple syrup as much as my bear does.

  I find a tray and put everything together to carry it into the bedroom to surprise her. The moment I enter the room, her little nose twitches at the delectable aromas before her eyes open and she smiles sleepily at me.

  I set the tray down on the bed as she pushes herself up against the pillows. “I can’t believe you made me breakfast in bed.” She sticks her finger in the syrup then licks it clean.

  “I figured you needed the energy.” I wink at her and snag a piece of bacon from her plate to pop into my mouth before she can snatch it back.

  As we eat, she’s quieter than usual, and I see her steal glances at me. It makes me wonder if she regrets last night. “Everything okay?” I ask.

  She nods and eats until her plate is clean. She runs a finger over it to collect the rest of the syrup, then sticks it in her mouth. I grab her hand to help her out, remembering how licking ice cream from her finger the other day made her melt in my hands.

  She moans, “Oh, god, Alec.”

  “I know.” I lift the tray off the bed and set it on the dresser then climb over her to begin kissing my way down her body.

  When I get to her breasts she asks, “Did you have a chance to talk to the football coach at the high school, yet?”

  I lift up to look at her. “Busy here, but it’s on my list of things to do.”

  She smiles, and when I twirl my tongue around her nipple, she lets out a small noise of pleasure.

  But as I concentrate on making her feel good, I think about how much she wants me to stay here in Heartland. I think she asked me about the coaching job because she wants me to seal the deal.

  I need to get that job.

  But first I have a more pressing need. One that’s currently digging into her thigh. I dip my tongue into her belly button, making her squirm before I grab her hips and roll her over onto her stomach.

  I lift her hips up so she’s on her knees, and I lean down to nip at her ass before I slide a finger between her folds to find her silky channel slick and ready. Guiding my cock into her with one hand, I wrap my arm around her waist so I can sink deep.

  She lets out a moan as she presses back against me. The soft globes of her butt cheeks are soft and pliable against my groin and add to my pleasure. I grab her hips as I quicken the pace of my thrusting.

  Something about this position works for Hillary, and she comes like a freight train, her inner muscles flexing around my dick as if they’re squeezing my orgasm out of me. It works, and the contractions send me over the edge, and I let out a groan before sweet release shoots into my mate.

  Moving slowly to work out the aftershocks for both of us, I whisper, “My sweet, Hillary. My sweet, darling, Hillary.” I flutter kisses along her shoulders and back before slowly, gently collapsing on top of her as if I’m a blanket covering a precious treasure.

  And I am. I roll off of her, and she repositions herself to face me. I gaze into her eyes as love overflows from my heart. I don’t dare to say it out loud for fear she won’t believe I’m being genuine, so I whisper to myself, I love you, Hillary, and kiss her to show her what I can’t say.

  Chapter 27

  HILLARY

  I linger in bed with Alec a few minutes longer than I should, and I barely have enough time to jump in the shower and get dressed before I’m out the door for work.

  When I rush in through the door five minutes late, Mandy’s jaw drops in surprise. “You have never been late to work a day in your life.” She squints her eyes at me. “Did you have a hot date last night?”

  I waggle my eyebrows at her. “You could say that.”

  Her eyes widen, and she calls after me as I go to clock in. “I need details!”

  When I return, I walk over to the waitress station to begin brewing coffee. “No. You don’t need details, but I will tell you it was with Alec.”

  Her smile becomes strained. “Oh.”

  “See? That’s the look I was worried about. I took your advice after all, so don’t get all judgy. I’m going slow.”

  “You’re right. Sorry. I’m glad you had a good date.” She grabs the tray of salt and pepper shakers, and they thump on a table as she sets a pair down. “But you need to be cautious, hon, until Alec puts down some kind of roots in town.”

  “He has a house, and his brother—”

  “He had those things when he left to play football the first time around. He needs something more.” She sets the tray back then grabs the sugar packets. “He’s needs a job, friends, a reason to stay.”

  My spine straightens as annoyance builds in me. “He has me.”

  “He had you last time too.”

  Her words sting, but I know she’s not trying to hurt me. Sh
e just wants to protect me. I reach for the bin that holds the coffee grounds and tug it out before the pot is done brewing. Scalding water splashes on my hand. “Ouch!”

  Mandy rushes over, turns on the water, and shoves my hand under the cold liquid. “I’m sorry, Hill. That was a crappy thing for me to say.” She grabs a rag to wipe up my mess. “I’m probably just projecting my own issues onto your relationship.”

  “What did happen with Daniel’s father?” I ask.

  She lets out a sigh. “It’s a long story.”

  “I really don’t mean to pry, but if you’re going to be free with your advice, I’m going to be free with mine. You need to talk about this and find some resolution, because you are clearly not over the guy.”

  She studies me for a moment and nods. “Yeah. I do. But it’s seriously a long freaking story. It might need more than a couple bottles of wine to tell.”

  I chuckle as she grabs the tray of ketchup bottles and walks over to the dispenser to fill them.

  “Does Daniel’s dad ever come around to see him?”

  Her brow knits, but she doesn’t look at me. “Daniel’s dad doesn’t even know he exists.”

  “What? Why? He must not be from Heartland then. I mean it’s a small town.”

  She pumps the ketchup dispenser hard and says, “Our breakup was a disaster. I didn’t even know I was pregnant until after he left town.” She gazes at me. “The thing is, I want to tell him. I mean, I know I have to, but I’m afraid of how he’s going to react.” She bites her lip, making me wonder if her fear is of violence. She quickly pushes that thought out of my mind when she says, “I’m afraid he won’t want anything to do with Daniel, and that would break my heart.”

  I reach out and touch her arm, glad she was able to open up a bit to me. “Relationships are hard enough,” I say. “Relationships with exes? Super hard.”