Southern Shifters: Stick Shifter (Kindle Worlds Novella) (8 page)

F
ollowing behind him
, Delaney wasn’t paying super close attention to where they were going. She was focused on the man in front of her and attempting to calm down her hormones. She was failing miserably at it. The ride was just giving her time to replay everything Will had said to her. He’d talked marriage and babies. Who did that with someone they just met? It didn’t fall under stalker tendencies since that usually at least took some time and effort to become obsessed with someone. It seemed he was obsessed with her already. Obsession at first sight? Was that even a thing?

Delaney was starting to believe it. She wished she had a girlfriend to chat with about it. Most of her sports girlfriends had moved away and the rest of her friends in school had been guys. The other girls thought she was running a long scam trying to steal their men by taking “boy” classes. Which was ridiculous since her options were limited in her small school.

She couldn’t talk to her dad about it. Ray pretty much figured she was still twelve and that she would perpetually be twelve for the rest of her life. Delaney was actually more than a little concerned how Ray was going to react to the fact she was hooking up with a random guy. More concerning was the fact that she was thinking this interaction with Will was already going to happen.

It was true; she wanted to see what this guy could do. There was so much potential in just the way he talked, the possibility that full physical contact would be better than his words were a given. She needed to know. Even if he did leave in a few days, it would be a night to remember.

Now she was following behind a man that basically was either taking her into the woods to make love to her or murder her. She doubted it was the latter. There had been plenty of chances to axe her if he wanted. No, his plan was much more complicated. Clearly he was going to confuse and befuddle her with his sexual prowess and keep her in an orgasmic coma, so she didn’t even know what she was agreeing to. Years from now she would wake up on a beach in Bora Bora and realize she’d been duped.

Wait, that was not a bad thing to imagine. What, she was too good for what Will was offering? Hot guy, pretty sure hot sex, rich life, new state, new city. Those were not bad things. Delaney just didn’t know if she wanted all those changes. Wasn’t she happy with her life?

She took a moment to contemplate that. Happy was too strong of a word for her life. She enjoyed working on cars. She liked the beauty of where she lived. She liked riding her motorcycle and driving the Dragon. But happy? She spent her nights alone. Occasionally with her dad but mostly alone. She didn’t socialize, didn’t belong to clubs or groups so she’d get time away from people that weren’t customers. No, her life wasn’t happy. She was pretty sure any time she spent with William Klein would be fun. Fun could easily lead to happy. If it didn’t work out, she was sure her job would be waiting for her when she got back. So why not throw caution to the wind and give this man a run?

Delaney saw Will put his blinker on and start to slow his bike. He pulled off into a trail that led back into the woods. The main road they were on used to be a Civil War toll road, so there were lots of little side trails to get lost on. He seemed to be looking for one in particular. She made the turn behind him, and they took it slow over the hard packed dirt path. When he finally stopped, they were so far off the road that she could barely even hear it in the distance.

He was off his bike and walking to her as she pulled off her helmet.

“Well, this looks like a perfect place to stash a body.” Delaney slid off the bike and stood knowing he was going to get into her space, which he did. Almost chest to chest so she had to tilt her head back to see him.

“Baby, I have no intention of harming that body. I have lots of plans for it, and none involve harm. This is where I made sure to put a few things we might need.”

“Very sure of yourself that I was coming with you.” Delaney was trying to put up a small front even though she wasn’t fooling herself or Will.

“Of course. You want me as much as I want you. A connection like ours is so rare that even if you try to deny it, the universe will keep making our paths cross. I’m a believer that we all have a destiny, a path that is laid out for us. We can stick to that path, or we can divert from it and choose something else. It all depends if you think you are on the right path currently. If you’re not sure, odds are you need to see what’s in front of you and take a chance.”

Delaney hadn’t questioned her life before today. There was no reason to because she didn’t feel like she really had any other options. Work, sleep, work, sleep until she died. Now there was a chance at something bigger, most definitely better, and the potential for true happiness.

“You think you’re my chance?”

Cupping her jaw Will kissed her hard, forcing her mouth to open under his. Not that there was a lot of resistance. He kissed her pulling her up his body until she was on her toes grasping at his biceps for balance.

He broke off and leaned his head against hers as they both caught their breath.

“You have it all wrong, baby. You’re
my
chance. My one shot at happiness, love, and a family. I know I’m asking a lot from you, but I need you to hear me out and not run screaming or try to hit me with a stick or anything.”

“Hit you with a stick? Why on earth would I do that?” she asked incredulously.

“Because, as I’ve said, we don’t know each other well, and you could easily be the type of person that would pick up a blunt object and wail on me with it if you felt threatened.” Will explained this like it was a serious possibility.

“Considering I came out here willingly, there would have to be something pretty big for me to want to hit you with a stick.”

Will gave her a hard look before grabbing her hand and pulling her away from her bike and then walking past his. He walked about fifty feet further into the woods, and there under a large tree was a large bag and a cardboard box with a plaid blanket laying over it.

“Let me set up first,” he said and let go of her hand.

Delaney watched as Will spread the blanket on the ground under the tree. From the bag, he pulled out another blanket that looked softer and was clearly not meant to be next to the dirt. The box held a number of take-out containers and a bottle of wine.

Figuring it was safe to come closer, Delaney knelt down on the corner of the blanket and unzipped her suit to give herself a little fresh air.

The sound of the zipper had Will’s eyes flashing to her, their golden yellow flaring with a brighter tinge around the outside. That was real yellow, reflecting even in the muted light under the canopy of the trees.

“You going to tell me about that?” Delaney asked, nodding towards his glowing eyes.

She waited as Will’s eyes settled down, and he pivoted so he was sitting across from her, his knees bent, and his arms draped over the tops.

“Come here,” he said, crooking his finger at her.

Delaney started to move towards him before she even thought about doing it. It was like a reflex she had no control over. It should bother her, but it felt natural like her body wanted to be closer to his.

Once she was close enough, Will had her sit between his legs with hers stretched out under his bent knees. His arms curled around her back and pulled her closer to him.

“This is cozy,” she murmured, her face a few inches from his.

“I want you to be able to see me as I tell you what I need to tell you. But the answers will cost you.”

“Cost me? How much?” she asked, playing along.

“Easy questions are a kiss. Harder questions are a touch. And
the
question will cost you a taste, and I don’t mean your mouth,” he said, his voice a low rumbling growl that sounded like a vibration that came from his chest.

“Well damn, Will. You don’t play fair, do you?”

“I can’t say I’ll ever not try some way to get a bit of you. I’m sure I can just ask, but it’s not as fun as sneaking a bit here and there.”

“Games don’t bother me as long as I know the rules.” Delaney’s expression gave the clear sign she was serious about this point.

“Agreed. So you are running this game, ask away,” Will said, knowing she wasn’t going to pick the big question first. That would make the game over too soon. He could smell that she was in a hurry and at the same time wanting to draw out her pleasure. It was something his instincts told him was true about her.

“Why vacation in the Smoky Mountains?”

Will gave her a sly smile. He knew she wasn’t going to go for the meaty question first. She wanted to kiss him.

“Pay me,” he said, his voice a low whisper that she could feel against her lips.

L
eaning in
, Delaney placed her mouth on his and felt his firm lips under hers. She waited for him to kiss and when she felt nothing, she figured she really was running this game. She softly opened her mouth and dipped her tongue over the seam of his lips. She felt a funny vibration from him and did it again. This time, his mouth opened under hers, and the kiss they shared was fierce.

When Delaney broke off the kiss, she looked at Will expectantly.

“I come out here because most people don’t know me, first of all. Enough people know me in Vegas that I have to always be on because odds are someone is watching. Out here I can do something I love, drive in a place that is dark enough at night I can see the stars. I don’t get that very often. There are weeks that have gone by that I’ve not left the hotel. The glitz of a casino can wear on you after a while.”

Delaney listened intently and could imagine how long someone could go without seeing real daylight in a casino. She’d seen TV shows about how they make the space so inviting that people forget the time and will spend more time gambling. She could see how Will running a place like that often didn’t get down time. And there was no better place to see the stars than the Appalachian range.

“I’m glad you came out this year,” she said to him, whispering against his lips, they were so close together.

“You can’t imagine how fucking lucky I feel that I didn’t cancel this trip. It tears me up inside to think I might have missed the chance to meet you.”

“That’s flattering.”

“It’s honest. I told you honesty is all you’ll ever get from me.”

“Do you like me?” she asked her next question.

“Pay me.” His mouth tipped up in a small grin.

Delaney happily paid her fee knowing what it would take to get him to respond.

“I like you. The minute our eyes met you became my most favorite person in the world.”

“How can you possibly say that? There is so much about me you don’t know. I could be a psycho killer. Or a backwoods moonshiner in my spare time.”

“If you are, I’d be happy to help you market that shit. Moonshine is big right now,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose.

“I’ll think about it. So next question, do you think I’m going to be okay with your explanations today, or do you think I’m not going to be able to handle it?”

He raised his eyebrow at her, and she paid the price.

“I think that the universe sent you to me. I think that if I’ve waited this long to find my one, that she is going to be able to handle anything I throw at her. I imagine that if there is anything that you find too much or too overwhelming, you’ll give me a chance to help you understand.”

Delaney figured that wasn’t a bad answer. She couldn’t imagine sitting so close to this amazing man that she felt so comfortable with and him saying anything that would freak her out enough to leave.

“So what about the eyes?” Delaney knew it was a jump, but she really wanted to know.

“That’s a pricier question,” Will told her, and he looked thrilled to do so.

Delaney took a moment then reached for the zipper on her suit and proceeded to pull it further down until it was at her waist. She watched as Will’s eyes dropped to the skull on her tank. She shrugged out of the sleeves and lifted the black tank top with the hot pink skull and crossbones on it over her head. His eyes didn’t move when she took it off. She was wearing a black lace trimmed bra underneath that had pink bow accents.

His gaze was still on her chest and now on her bra. Reaching up, she flipped that catch on the front, and her breasts spilled out. Delaney saw Will suck in a breath, and his eyes started to glow again.

Holding still as his hand came up to cup one heavy globe, it was her turn to suck in a breath at the heat from his hand on her soft flesh. He was gentle, but his hand moved over her, weighing and massaging her like he was getting a real feel of her. It felt great, and Delaney kept her eyes on his, enjoying the glow as it seemed to pulse through his irises.

“You gonna fondle those all day or answer my question?” Delaney was actually happy to let him continue but didn’t want to get derailed on the answers she needed.

Leaving his hands right where they were he said, “They’re not my eyes.” Will continued holding her breasts but was now sweeping his thumbs over her rigid rose colored nipples.

“Whose eyes are they?” she said with a gasp. His thumbs were tormenting her nipples, and it was shooting sizzling shocks straight to her already tingling clit. He was still touching her, so she decided she was still paying for the question.

“My animal’s,” he answered, leaning down to cover one sweet bud with his mouth. He sucked the nub into his mouth, rolling his tongue over the tip.

“Wah? Your animal? Like your spirit animal or something?” Delaney was hoping just a few brain cells could stay on track asking questions while the rest of her body was in pussy clenching ecstasy. Will’s tongue was doing wonderfully wicked things to her.

“No.” He paused to lick the other nipple before returning to the one that was wet and cherry red now. “My animal, my cougar. I’m a shifter. I have a cougar’s soul inside my body, and I can turn into my cat whenever I want.” This was followed by a hard tug on her abused nipple before he switched to the other side.

Delaney was running through his answer in her head. She’d heard the words, just didn’t actually absorb them. His animal? Was that some sort of euphemism for something? Like was he one of those guys that had t-shirts with cougars on them, or a painful but kind of lame tattoo on his back of a mountain lion?

Grabbing his hair in both hands, Delaney removed Will from her breast even though he fought her for a second. “What do you mean your cougar?” Delaney could see the glowing bright eyes, and she stared deeply into them. They seemed different, not human.

“I mean I can shift into an animal. I’m happy to show you. I’m a shifter like all of my family. We’re all cougars. For every generation as far back as we can remember. We have a pack in Nevada. My Grandfather is the Alpha, and we all work for companies owned by the family.”

Delaney watched him as he talked, and he was stating himself very clearly. He wasn’t hesitating and either he had practiced and rehearsed this speech, or he was telling the truth.

“So you turn into a…cat?”

“When I want to. Would you like to see him?”

Deciding on whether she was going to continue making out half naked in the woods with this man, Delaney decided a break was warranted. Grabbing her tank, she pulled it back over her head and stood in front of him.

She didn’t say anything, just took a few steps back like it was a dare.

He slowly stood and watched her for a moment to be sure she was truly asking to see his cougar. Will could see there was plenty of doubt in her eyes. He couldn’t blame her. It was fantastical to think such a thing could really exist in the world. He’d lived it his whole life, so he knew that the supernatural was just another part of nature. Humans had denied the truth for so long that people like him had become legend, stories told to little children.

He pulled off his jacket and kicked off his boots. Stripping down, he was proud to show his mate his body. It belonged to her now, and he wanted her to find him as attractive as he did her. Her body was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. When she’d freed her breasts, he knew without a doubt she was hands down perfect for him.

Shucking down his boxer briefs, he stood up and gave her a full view of his body. Her eyes had been on him from the moment he stood. The heat of her attention felt like fingers on his skin. His cougar was purring at the mental touch of their mate.