UnleashingtheAnimal (2 page)

Shane Rivers mentally kicked himself all the way to his
workshop in the barn. Not only could he look like an animal but apparently he
acted like one too. Whatever had possessed him to scare the shit out of a
beautiful woman and send her running off his property?

A great-smelling woman at that.

He had immediately wanted to lick the side of her neck so he
could get that taste in his mouth and not just in his nose. He didn’t think she
wore perfume but her soap was flowery. He liked it.

Having her catch him off guard in his wolf form while on his
afternoon run probably had something to do with it. That had never happened
before. He always knew someone was there way before they saw him. But she had
been so quiet walking through the woods he had just gotten a whiff of her
seconds before she was there.

If he didn’t know any better he would have thought she was a
cat slinking between the trees. He shook that thought off. There was no reason
to get his hopes up. He hadn’t seen another Shifter in years. They rarely congregated
in numbers unless there was some dire emergency, choosing to live in secret
among the ignorant human race.

Besides, she was way too old to be going through the change
and that special sixth sense telling him what she was had been missing. Any Shifter
could feel another within a ten-mile radius, territorial instincts taking over.

Shane hadn’t felt that from her. He wasn’t saying he hadn’t
felt anything at all because he sure had felt a swift punch of lust. But that
was probably because he didn’t go out much, preferring to stick to his own
company. He liked things uncomplicated. It was easier even if it left him
lonely.

Looking over the half-finished flat-bottom wooden boat he
was building for some hotshot in the city, he couldn’t shake the image of his
new neighbor’s face as she fled. He had to admit she was pretty fast for a
human.

Shit.
He knew he should go and apologize but he
wasn’t good at that and he had a feeling he would only make it worse.

He would check on her later when he could do it as a wolf
and then his big mouth couldn’t get him into trouble.

Blair refused to let her new, sexy neighbor get under her
skin. So he was a jerk. Nothing new there, she knew plenty.

She was quite proud of herself for not taking one of her
pills when she got back to the cabin. She really did hate relying on them. He
had upset her and she felt that familiar shaking feeling but a few deep breaths
of fresh air had done a world of good. But at least now she had a choice. Her
mother wasn’t here to force them on her.

Spending the rest of the day unpacking and cleaning up, she
was shocked to realize it was already after five.

It seemed a quick trip to the grocery store was out of the
question. It took her forty-five minutes just to find it. But she was happy
everything was all in one place and she got all the stuff she needed.

It was getting dark by the time she drove down the
tree-lined drive leading back to her cabin.
Damn.
She had forgotten to
leave the outside light on. Filling her arms full of grocery bags, she stuck
her keys in her mouth and headed for the front door.

It was very dark. The moon was hidden tonight behind large
black rain clouds.

She heard him before she saw him, the low bark stopping her
in her tracks. The delay on her headlights chose that moment to go dark. Her
arms were full and she couldn’t even tell the dang thing to go away without
dropping her keys.

But she couldn’t stand here all night either. Suddenly the
clouds floated away from the moon and provided her with enough light to see.

The wolf was sitting not three feet from her stairs. He was
watching her but she didn’t feel threatened.

Moving slowly, she passed by him and went up the stairs and
to the door. Using one bag of groceries to prop open the screen door, she
unlocked the other and shoved it open.

A blur of black went between her legs and she watched in
shock as the wolf dashed into her living room and sat in front of the
fireplace. She might have some deep connection to animals but this was
something else entirely.

Did she really want to lock herself in with a wolf? Deciding
that would be just stupid, she left the door propped open so he could get out
at any moment. She was thankful it wasn’t too cold outside.

Carrying her groceries to the table, she sat them down and
glared at the wolf.

“You are almost as rude as my new neighbor,” she mumbled.

She took her time taking care of things, glancing often at
the wolf, who was content to sit by the fire and stare back at her.

Contemplating him from the kitchen, she wondered how to get
him to leave. The only person near enough to help her was her grumpy neighbor
and she wasn’t going to bother him.

Heaving a sigh, she didn’t know what to do.

“All right, Wolf, what do you want?”

He cocked his head to the side at the sound of her voice.
Just then her cell rang and, looking down at the screen, dread fell upon her.
It was her mother.

She briefly considered not answering but her mother would
just keep calling.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Blair! What is the meaning of this?” she said, her
unhappiness coming over the line loud and clear.

“What do you mean?” Blair had learned to take her mother in
stride. She plopped down on the couch, resigned to listen to the lecture that
was certainly coming.

“You have been gone for two days and not a word from you! Is
it too much to ask that you let us know how you are?”

Guilt was always the first tack she tried.

“I’m fine. I’ve been busy unpacking.”
And avoiding this
call,
she silently added.

“This is ridiculous, you need to come home where you
belong.”

Blair closed her eyes briefly, seeking strength. She knew
what was coming.

“You are not well, Blair, and you need to be where we can
take care of you. Not living out in the middle of nowhere alone.”

“I’m fine, Mother.”

“Don’t use that tone with me! I am your mother and I know
what’s best for you.”

Yeah, not since she was ten. Blair remained silent, knowing
her mother wouldn’t listen to a word she said anyway.

“Blair? Are you still there? Blair!”

A stroke of genius struck Blair. Putting her fingers over
the speaker on her phone, she spoke while covering and uncovering it.

“Mom, I’m… I must have…reception.” Before her mother could
answer she hung up.

She knew it would take all of two minutes for her mother to
call back but when she did, Blair let it go to voicemail. She wasn’t changing
her mind and going back. This was her home now and she was staying.

Something warm and wet touched her bare arm and she jerked
in surprise. She looked down at the wolf, who was now sitting next to the
couch. He bumped his nose again against her arm and she slowly reached out to
pet him. His ears went back as her hand got close but she kept her movements
slow.

Her fingers brushed the top of his head and she was
surprised how soft he was. Starting with small strokes between his ears, she
then moved to scratch his chin. His mouth opened, his tongue lolled out and she
swore he was smiling.

“You like that don’t you, boy?” she whispered.

Suddenly he lay down at her feet. She had no doubt what he
wanted—a belly rub. Going to her knees next to him, she started at his neck and
worked her way down to the shorter hair on his chest and belly.

As she rubbed he lifted his back leg and she giggled. “I
knew you were a boy!”

She didn’t know much about wolves but this one seemed to be
well-endowed.

“Maybe I should name you if you are going to keep showing up
and thinking you own the place.” She gave it some thought as she sat there.

Forgetting all about the call from her mother, she scratched
and petted the big black wolf until her arms were tired. Even then she just sat
next to him on the floor, his big body keeping her warm. Soon her eyes got
heavy and she fell into an exhausted slumber.

Shane knew he was risking it but he couldn’t leave her
sleeping on the cold floor with the front door propped open.
Women!
Detangling from her gently, he padded out to the yard. It was still somewhat
painful to change back to his human body and he didn’t want to wake her if he
groaned.

A few minutes later he entered the cabin cautiously,
watching for any movement. He hadn’t brought any clothes with him so he was
creeping around in his birthday suit and he really didn’t want to find out how
she would react if she awoke to find a naked man in her house. He had a feeling
she was feisty.

She really was beautiful too. Her hair was a strange color,
kind of red but darker, and he had noticed earlier there were black streaks in
it. Pair that up with her amber-colored eyes and she was a looker. Her body was
enough to make any man drool—long legs and a perfectly rounded ass. Quietly he
called to her, “Blair?”

No response. Gently he lifted her in his arms. He had no
trouble because she weighed practically nothing. He carried her back to her
bedroom and laid her on her bed, removing her shoes and covering her up. She
never stirred.

Shane stoked the fire and closed the doors before he left,
sure she was okay for the night.

Changing back to the wolf, he wandered aimlessly through the
woods, not ready to go back to his quiet cabin. He was lonely, tired of
searching for the mate he knew was out there somewhere for him.

But he could only find his mate in Shifter form and since
they didn’t gather in large numbers it was easier said than done. So he
wandered among the trees alone, night after night, year after year.

It was the curse of a Shifter. They were meant to have mates.
Some were lucky enough to find them and others wasted their lives searching. He
was beginning to think it wasn’t in the stars for him.

He had felt something special when he had moved into his own
little cabin. It had made him think he was supposed to be here. No other place
in his travels had made him feel anything more than it was just another town,
another city.

But he had been here for three years now and even though the
feeling hadn’t faded he still hadn’t found his mate. Maybe it was time for him
to move on.

Throwing his head back, he howled at the moon and the
injustice of it all.

Blair woke with the sun, a little disoriented. She didn’t
remember getting into bed. Sitting up, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and
then she remembered—the wolf!

Jumping up and racing to the living room, she looked around
but he wasn’t there. But the front doors were closed and the fire still had
coals in it for once.
Hmmm.
She didn’t remember doing any of that but it
wouldn’t be the first time she didn’t remember doing something. The meds made
her loopy. But she hadn’t taken any yesterday. It was strange but she didn’t
dwell on it for too long.

It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining cheerfully in
the front window. She could resist no longer. The urge to put her big black
wolf on canvas had her unpacking her oil paints. She had her area set up the
way she liked it in no time.

Time ceased to exist once her brush hit the canvas. This is
what she loved about it—the bubble that surrounded her, where there was nothing
but the colors and what she chose to do with them.

No nagging parents, no doctors analyzing every stroke,
nothing but her and what she wanted. It was liberating.

It was easier than she remembered, the lack of distractions
adding to her artistic ability. The wolf came first, bold and beautiful on the
canvas. She added the trees around him but made them bare, not wanting the riot
of color to distract from his beauty.

The sun’s shadows grew long and then were gone altogether.
Dragging two lamps from other parts of the house, she continued to paint,
refusing to give a second thought to how ridiculous the living room looked now.

The sky was dark and the stars were showing when she heard a
knock on her door.

A brief moment of panic overcame her as she wondered who it
could be. Please not her mother, she silently prayed.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to find her
grumpy, rude, sexy neighbor.

“Yes?”

“Hey, I’m really sorry about yesterday. I’m Shane Rivers and
I think we got off on the wrong foot.” He held a covered dish of food up in
offering and she blinked at him in shock. It smelled good and she realized how
hungry she was.

He seemed sincere and the food was a welcome distraction.
Without saying a word, she opened the door and let him in. Suddenly she wished
she had cleaned herself up a little. She was wearing old, ripped jeans and a
skimpy white tank top that was now covered in paint stains. But that was what
he got when he showed up unannounced.

But he didn’t seem to mind. She caught his gaze quickly
roaming down over her breasts before jerking back up.

He immediately went to the table and set the casserole dish
down. The smell of the potatoes and meat filled the room.

Her little cabin felt even smaller with him in it. His size
dwarfed the little table and chairs that she had in the kitchen.

Still silent, she gathered plates, silverware and napkins,
setting them out and then taking a seat at one end of the table. She wasn’t
sure why but she was nervous, her tongue tied and her mind unable to focus.

If he thought her quietness odd he didn’t mention it and
dished up their plates. Setting a steaming pile of Shepherd’s Pie in front of
her, he took his own seat.

Abruptly his voice cut across the stillness. “So, I guess
I’m forgiven?” he said with a small smile.

Blair looked across the table at him. “Forgiven for what,
exactly?”

He shoveled a bit of food in his mouth and then took his
time answering.

“For being rude? For scaring you off my land? We are
neighbors, after all, and I really am sorry. You caught me at a bad time.”

“Well, I’ll be sure to avoid you at bad times from now on.”
Blair felt a little bad for obviously reprimanding him but she couldn’t help
it. She was flustered and her heart was racing. Sexy men just didn’t bring
dinner to her door every day and she was wise enough to realize that.

He was a puzzle and she couldn’t just fit him in the same
mold of man she was used to. He did something to her insides just by being near
and it made her excited.

He did chuckle, though, and she couldn’t help but smile
back.

“Where did you move from?” he asked between large mouthfuls
of food.

“New York City. I was ready to break out on my own.” She
answered as she ate at a much slower pace.

“From the city and you came here? Out in the middle of nowhere?”
He sounded surprised.

It wasn’t the first time she had heard that. “Yes, to the
middle of nowhere, on purpose. I like it here. I like the woods and the lake so
close and that people are few and far between. Plus there is a lot of
inspiration to be had around here.”

“Inspiration?” he asked.

“I am a landscape painter and the views here are amazing.”

“It is a pretty area,” he answered.

“What do you do for a living?” she asked as she picked at
her food.

“I build wooden boats. Small ones, mostly flat-bottom, and I
sell them online. It pays the bills and I enjoy it.”

He wandered away as she picked up dinner dishes and made
them both coffees. Blair came up behind him as he stood staring down at her
half-finished painting. She watched nervously as he leaned down to peer closely
at her work.

Several minutes went by before he straightened. “This is
really something,” he said as she handed him a steaming cup. Their fingers
brushed and Blair felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Heat pooled in
her belly and she felt wetness between her legs.

“How much?” he asked.

“Excuse me?”

“How much do you want for it?” he asked again impatiently.

Blair stared at him in shock. “It’s not even done yet!”

“I can see that but when it’s done I want to buy it.”

“Really?” She was surprised but pleased too. No one at home
put much stock in her paintings even though she had sold several to galleries
in the Big Apple.

“Is this the wolf you saw?” Suddenly she lost her train of
thought when he caught her eye. His deep gaze was the color of the dark-green
pine needles and she couldn’t look away until he blinked and looked back down
at the painting.

Blair glanced down at the canvas that had taken on a life of
its own. The wolf was standing broadside but he was looking right at them. It
was one of her best.

“Yeah, I’ve seen him a couple times now. Charming’s a bit
rude.”

“Charming?” He snorted with laughter and it put her back up.

“Yes, that’s what I call him.” But now that she thought
about it, she didn’t want to talk to Shane about him. She wanted to have the
wolf all to herself. She had begun to think of him as not a pet but a friend.
“You’re right, it’s silly.” He looked at her strangely when she didn’t go on.

“You are kind of shy, aren’t you?” he asked quietly.

She had never been put on the spot like that and she felt
her face heat. “So what if I am?”

“It was just an observation, no need to get defensive,” he
said as he held his hands up in surrender. “You are very beautiful too.”

Blair had heard that one before but as she lifted her eyes
to his she could tell he really meant it. That he really saw her as she wanted
to be seen. It felt amazing and the sexy woman inside her opened her eyes and
stretched, possibly for the first time ever.

“Thank you, Shane,” she said with a small smile.

“Do you have a boyfriend back home waiting for you?” he
asked.

“No, and I don’t plan on going back. This is my home now.”

“Did you leave anyone back there?” His voice was quiet as if
he knew there was more to the story.

“Yes, my parents. I may go back to visit them. Someday.”

He was silent for a moment and then, “Do you want to talk
about it?”

She debated for a second but talking about it only made her
depressed and she was enjoying her evening too much to bring it up.

“No, thanks anyway.”

“Okay, but I’m here if you ever do.” He suddenly reached out
and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Smiling up at him, she led
him to the couch where they both sat and Blair was very aware of the few inches
separating them.

They talked for a while and Blair found herself enjoying his
company enough to relax. But there was an underlying tension between every word
and every touch. She noticed he found little ways to touch her, even if it was
just to brush against her hand. By the time he was ready to go she was a quivering
mass and searching for courage.

Seeing him to the door, she stood still as he looked at her
for a long moment. She silently prayed he would kiss her. Her hand was on the
doorknob but she didn’t open it yet. He didn’t seem quite ready to go and she
realized she wasn’t ready for him to.

There was something about him that let her know it would be
like nothing else she had ever experienced.

He was so different from what she was used to—he had rough
work hands and faded clothing. A far cry from the business suits and ties that
were standard in the city. But there also weren’t any walls to try to peek over
either. He didn’t hide what he was thinking and he had been open and honest
with her.

She was tired of playing it safe, picking the men she dated
by judging what her parents would think. They had left her cold inside and she
wanted to experience more of the heat Shane sent her way with just a look.

Briefly she wondered if knowing her parents wouldn’t approve
only made him more attractive. But she refused to believe that was the only
reason.

His dark-green eyes held hers and she was swiftly lost in
them. He leaned in, her lips parting in anticipation. He stopped a hair’s
breadth away from her lips.

“I’m going to kiss you, Blair.” His low voice sent shivers
down her spine and she nodded. He smirked down at her and said, “No
objections?”

Blair shook her head no but couldn’t help taking a step back
when he stepped forward, effectively blocking her in behind the door. His
strong, tanned arms boxed her in, his hands flat on the wall on either side of
her head.

Gently he brushed his mouth against hers and she felt the
contact shoot straight between her legs. He pulled back and caught her gaze
again, looking a little surprised himself. She watched as his eyes closed and
his face descended again.

This time he really kissed her, his mouth coming down hard
and demanding. Blair moaned and he took advantage of her parted lips to slip
his tongue inside, swirling it along her teeth.

Her own eyes closed and she raised her hands to lay them on
his hard chest. His hands came down to cup her face, tilting it back for better
access. Deepening the depth his tongue could invade.

She couldn’t hold back and keep her emotions and the passion
in check like she had always done, but it had never felt like this before.
Rising up on her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him even
closer, her own tongue dueling with his. He growled when she slipped inside to
lick the roof of his mouth and she was instantly proud of herself for doing it.

Shane’s hands left her face and reached down to pull her
hips up against his. Blair groaned when she felt the hard ridge of his penis
straining against his jeans, rubbing on her belly.

She knew in that instant she wanted him more than any other
man and she was going to prove it. He had lit a fire in her veins, burning
brightly and settling deep between her legs. She had nothing to lose and a
feeling that with him there was a lot she could gain.

His mouth left hers to trail wetly along her neck. “Shit,
Blair, I want you,” he mumbled between open-mouthed kisses.

Smiling at him, she removed her arms from around his neck to
trail down his cotton-covered chest. Her nails scraped and she felt the muscles
underneath contract and her belly gave a slow roll in response.

His seeking fingers tried to pull her shirt up but she
batted his hands away and dropped to her knees in front of him. He looked down
at her in amazement as she popped the button open and unzipped his jeans.

Reaching into his boxers, she pulled his hard shaft free and
pushed his clothing down a little to get it out of the way. She had always
wanted to do this and had never had the opportunity. But Shane was a man’s man
and she knew he wouldn’t turn her down.

He was bigger around than she expected and the skin was
silky-smooth. Trailing her fingers over him gently, she glanced up at him as he
groaned and placed his hands back on the wall for support.

Blair watched in wonder as a drop of clear liquid leaked
from the head as she learned the warm, velvety skin with her fingers.

Angling her head for better access, her tongue darted out to
catch the drop. His cock jumped with the touch and she smiled, licking him
again.

“God, woman! Stop with the teasing, you’re killing me,”
Shane growled above her.

Blair paused and he looked down at her, seeing the
hesitation on her face. “Have you ever done this before, Blair?” he asked
gently.

She shook her head, afraid he would change his mind and walk
away from her. He stood still for a moment, regarding her, and then asked, “Do
you want me to teach you?”

Since he was offering… “Yes, show me what you like.”

He gave her a smirk and reached down to grab his cock in one
hand. “Come closer and open wide.”

She did as he said, her eyes glued to the tanned hand
wrapped around his cock as he pulled on it gently. Carefully he slid it in her
mouth an inch and then pulled it back out. “Swirl your tongue around the end.”

Blair decided she liked the taste of him and began to slide
her tongue up and down the length of him enthusiastically, going far enough to
get his fingers.

“I think you have that part down, put it back in your
mouth.” His voice was getting rougher by the second.

Her lips were wet and he went in easier than the first time,
and once he was in a little she swirled her tongue around the end again.