Once Upon a Shifter (34 page)

“Corey?” He nodded, clear brown eyes wide, and dark with fear. “I’m Jenna, a friend of your Uncle Roman. I’m also a doctor. Come on,” She held out her hand. “Let me take a look at your cheek.”

“I won’t leave him,” he whispered.

Jenna looked at the clearing for the first time—and her heart lodged in her throat. She recognized the bear, tall and magnificent. What he faced was a monster. Half man, half wolf, his opponent kept ducking under Roman’s fast claws, leaving shallow cuts on his chest with a bloody knife.

“Oh, God.” She sank to her knees, her body shaking.

Corey gripped her hand. “Uncle Roman will win. He always wins.”

Jenna pressed her free hand to her mouth and watched the battle, helpless. She had just found the man she wanted to grow old with, have children with—and there was a damn good chance she was about to watch him die in front of her.

***

Roman roared as Paul scraped him with that damn knife. Again. The cuts barely registered, but the fact that he managed to get in past Roman’s guard infuriated him. Paul hadn’t lied—he was a better fighter. Good enough that what Roman had planned as a fast defeat was turning into a battle that didn’t have a certain outcome.

“I warned you, Roman.” Paul darted in again—and this time the knife slid in. Pain erupted in Roman’s left side and he staggered. “I’ll be happy to kill you by inches. In fact,” Paul slashed at him, and sliced across the pad of his right paw. “I’d prefer it.”

Roman retreated, blood pouring out of his paw. The sensitive pad throbbed, telling him the cut went deep. He needed another plan of attack, and fast. Paul was getting bolder with each wound he inflicted…

An idea flashed in his mind. One that would probably cost him in pain. But it would draw Paul in, and give Roman the opening he needed.

Jenna’s scent hit his nose. God—he didn’t expect her to catch up before this was done. He circled Paul, scanning the edge of the clearing. There—she knelt next to Corey, tending his cheek. She looked up at him, tears bright in her blue eyes, despair on her face. She expected him to lose.

Like hell. He had too damn much to live for.

Braced for the pain he was about to inflict on himself, he let out a roar and lowered himself to all fours, charging at Paul. He aimed his left side at the waiting knife, grunting when the blade sank into his shoulder.

He kept going, his heavy body trapping Paul as he collapsed.

Jenna screamed, and a second, deep roar echoed through the trees. Jed. Roman saw him, standing at the edge of the trees, vibrating with fury. He wouldn’t interfere, unless Roman invited him into the battle.

Paul struggled under him, and managed to free his right arm. He whipped up, his claws tearing at the left side of Roman’s snout.

“Get off me!” With a desperate shout he sank his claws into Roman’s left shoulder, just under the knife. “Get off—”

Roman growled and swiped his throbbing paw across Paul’s cheek. The man screamed as Roman’s claws raked his face, then finally passed out.

After making sure Paul was really unconscious, Roman staggered to all fours, turning toward Jenna. She pushed to her feet and moved forward, crouching in front of his left side.

“Oh, Roman. What did you do, you brave, foolish man?”

Jed joined her, back in human form. “Fast or slow, little brother?”

She looked at him. “What are you—oh. Not at all, not until I get him back—”

“He didn’t tell you, did he?”

She raised one eyebrow, and Roman knew she was annoyed. God, his shoulder felt like it was on fire, never mind his paw. He couldn’t even touch it to the ground.

“Tell me what, Jedidiah?”

“We shouldn’t shift with pointy objects sticking out of us.” His gaze swung to Roman. “Or bits of metal stuck inside us.”

Jenna gasped, and reached for Roman, right before Jed yanked the knife out of his shoulder.

Relief was immediate, followed by a different kind of pain. His body wanting to shift, to be held by her.

No—I need to heal—

His bear had other ideas.

He shifted in front of Jenna—again—and collapsed.

“Roman—”

“Gather up the kids, Jenna. We’ll head back to your truck.”

“But he’s—”

“Too stubborn to die from a simple knife wound. You can play doctor once we get him out of here. Go on—it’s time to get them back to their parents.”

“Right.”

Roman opened his eyes, saw her head across the clearing, where the cubs and human kids were huddled in the cave opening. Damn—they’d probably watched the fight.

“They did, little brother.” Jed’s voice shifted his gaze. “What you did was stupid—”

“I had—”

“And it worked. I’m going to make sure our newest prisoner doesn’t go anywhere while we take care of business. Don’t die while I’m gone.”

“Okay,” he whispered. He hurt too damn much to think of a sarcastic comeback.

Jed picked up Paul and tossed him over one shoulder, heading past Jenna and the kids, into the cave. Roman didn’t want to know just how Jed was restraining him. Paul built his own prison the second he threatened a group of innocents.

“Stay here,” Jenna said. She managed to touch every shoulder or cheek before she left them, and knelt next to Roman, opening her kit. “I’m going to at least slap a bandage on your shoulder and your side before Jed manhandles you.” She dug out the familiar supplies, then lowered her head, her hands shaking against her thighs. “You scared the hell out of me, Roman. When you charged him like that, I thought—”

“I know,” he whispered. He swallowed, his throat raw. “Sorry—”

“That I had to see it? Or that you were forced to do it? What exactly are you sorry for, Roman Black?”

“That—” He felt himself fading, and forced what little strength he had into his voice. “That I claimed you before you—understood what you were walking into. You’re—free, Jenna.”

He closed his eyes before he could see her reaction. The pain from all his wounds, the exhaustion of fighting through that pain, finally dragged him under.

Seven

Jenna watched Roman sleep, his fever finally broken, after three days of fighting to keep it down.

She was beyond exhausted, which made dealing with him easier. What he’d said to her before he passed out still hurt, a deep ache that not even sleep would let her escape.

Being rejected by Darrel had hurt, wounding her pride more than anything. But Roman’s rejection struck her deep, and made her realize just how hard she had fallen for him.

Stupid move, Jen. Now you’ll have to leave again—

“How is he?” Lindy stepped to her side, her remarkably young face drawn with exhaustion and worry. It was hard to believe she had six grown sons, a stepson, and grandchildren on top of that.

“Sleeping. The fever broke a couple hours ago.”

“Thank God. Foolish boy, running straight into a knife. I’m assuming he didn’t have much choice at the time.”

“He didn’t.” Jenna lowered her head, blocking out that horrifying moment. Again.

Lindy wrapped one arm around her waist. “I’m so sorry you had such a violent introduction to us, my dear. I hope it doesn’t scare you off. We need your talents here, as you can see.” Jenna did. Now. A vet with a medical degree would be invaluable to shifters. “Why don’t you get some sleep? I saved the bedroom next to this one for you. I’ll wake you if there’s any change, I promise.”

“Okay.”

Lindy’s arm tightened on her waist when she started to move away. “Jed told me what Roman said to you.” Jenna closed her eyes, heat flushing her cheeks. “He loves you, my sweet girl. Don’t let him give you up.”

Tears lodged in her throat, and she nodded, afraid she’d break down if she tried to talk. Sleep wouldn’t be on the agenda, but she could hide from everyone crammed into Lindy’s house, if only for a few hours.

Then she would plan her own escape, before she became more attached to them than she already was.

Eight

Roman cursed himself all the way to Grey’s—Jenna’s—homestead. Mama had told him, with more than a few derogatory terms—exactly what she thought of him letting Jenna go.

He thought it was the best thing, at the time. Good God—she’d just witnessed his bear take down a man, not even a day after finding out he was a shifter. Now, with the sharp ache in his heart growing every hour they were apart, he had to convince her to stay.

It had been the longest month of his life.

His heart nearly stopped when he pulled into her little valley, and her truck wasn’t there.

He raced to the back of the house and slammed on the brake, out of the SUV before it finished stopping. One glance through the window of her clinic started his heart again.

All her equipment was there, supplies neatly stacked in the glass front cabinets. She must be out on a call…

He heard her truck before he saw it, the familiar rumble echoing across the valley. And he knew the second she spotted him; her truck jerked to a halt, and he half expected her to turn around and drive away.

Instead, she started moving forward, and parked next to him, her face unreadable when she slid out of the truck. His first glimpse of her shot need, lust, and possession straight to his cock.

Mine.

His bear said it first, and he agreed. All he had to do was find his way back into her heart. Hell, he’d grovel if he had to. He deserved any humbling demand, after pushing her away.

“Roman.” Her waist length hair was in a thick braid, draped over one shoulder. The simple blue plaid shirt, jeans and worn hiking boots left him weak. God help him, she was so damn beautiful, the faded denim hugging her curves, her strong, shapely legs. He wanted those legs wrapped around his waist, wanted to fill himself with her, love her until they couldn’t see straight. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to—” Apologize, beg, plead, lick her feet. He wasn’t sure which to say first. “How are you?”

Idiot.

“Busy.” She pulled a big canvas bag out of the back of the truck. “So spit out whatever you came to say, so I can—”

“I’m sorry, Jenna.”

She halted, the pain in her eyes driving right into his heart.

“Thank you. Goodbye, Roman.”

He grabbed her arm when she walked past him, braced for violence. She didn’t disappoint.

The canvas bag smacked his right arm, the sharp edges of whatever she had in there digging into him.

“Get your hand off me.”

“Jenna—”

“You told me you didn’t want me. I’m okay with that.” Her shaky voice told him different, and he hated himself for it. “But I can’t see you. I can’t see any of you. I’m leaving.”

Panic shot through him. “No—”

“I have another job waiting for me in Colorado. It’ll be for the best.” She gave him a sad smile. “I made sure it was shifter free territory. Good luck, with everything.”

She walked past him, and he saw his life going with her.

“Jenna.” She halted, her hand gripping the door knob. “Can I say one last thing?”

He heard her curse under his breath. “Fine.”

“Can you look at me while I say it?”

“Fine.” She dropped the bag, and he watched her take a deep breath, her fists clenched, before she turned around. “What.”

He moved so fast she barely had time to gasp against his lips before he claimed them.

She tasted like heaven. Her body fit against his like she was made for him. Roman kept the kiss soft, let her respond, or reject. After endless seconds, she let out a choked sob and opened her mouth under his.

Relief crashed through him. He hiked her up and pinned her against the wall, those strong legs wrapping around his waist as the kiss turned wild. She rode his cock, moaning against his lips as she pulled him in tighter.

He needed to be inside her. Now.

“Jenna—”

“Yes,” she gasped.

He leaned back enough to pop the buttons on his jeans, release his aching cock. Jenna had her jeans open, her fingers pushing aside the lace panties she wore. She wrapped her fingers around him and guided him forward, squeezing his length before she let him go. He growled, his cock pulsing, and drove himself in, until he filled her completely.

“Shit,” he whispered. She was so wet, so tight around him. He didn’t plan this—he brought flowers and food for a slow, sensual apology, before he took her to bed and loved her like she deserved. Instead he was taking her against the wall of her own house. “Jenna, I—”

“If that’s an apology for what we’re doing, swallow it.” She rocked against him, and he groaned. “I want to hate you, Roman Black, for even thinking that I’d leave just because you defended your family.” She cradled his left cheek, the faded scars left from Paul’s assault a permanent reminder of the battle he came close to losing. “I love you more because you’re that kind of man.”

He kissed her, his love, his need, translating into movement. He thrust into her, his tongue sliding over hers at the same rough, fast pace. She met every stroke, her breathing ragged, her body arching into him. He gripped her round, gorgeous ass and drove himself in deeper, faster.

His climax shook him, and he pumped into her as he spilled himself deep inside her, felt her clamp around him as she found her own release. She held him, with her strong arms, her body, until his final, shuddering stroke.

“Jenna.” He brushed sweat damp strands of hair off her flushed cheek, wanting her again. “Have dinner with me.”

She burst out laughing, the movement making his cock twitch. “I haven’t done any shopping, since I was planning to leave.”

Panic threatened to choke him. “You’re not—”

She cut him off with her lips, and arched against him when he started to grow hard inside her.

“I’ll call them as soon as I can get to the phone. I’m assuming dinner was your original plan to seduce me into staying.”

“It was.” He grinned. “But I decided to use a more direct approach.”

“Good choice.” She let out a sigh, relaxing against him for the first time since she drove up. “I didn’t want to leave,” she whispered. “But I couldn’t stay, knowing you were here, that you didn’t want me—”