UnleashingtheAnimal (4 page)

He stood leaning against the kitchen counter, watching her
intently. He was making her nervous, those green eyes of his unwavering.

“So? Start talking, Shane. Because honestly I’m still pissed
off. Why the hell was I tied to your bed?” she threw at him. She was still mad
but now that her anger had cooled she was feeling more tired by the second.

He smirked at her. “Pissed off, huh? I just figured you
wouldn’t want to scar up your body like I did mine.”

Her mouth went dry and she stared at him slack-jawed. “What
are you saying, Shane?” She felt a strange shiver go down her spine when he
just stared at her.

“You know what I’m saying, Blair. You are a Shifter.”

She shook her head. “No, I can’t be.”

“You are.” His tone was firm, hard.

She didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t ready for this.

“Do you understand now, Blair?” he growled and she blinked
up at him. His eyes had gone dark and fierce but she didn’t understand why he
was angry with her.

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore, Shane.” He turned
away from her then and she suddenly understood—his anger was just a defense
mechanism. He had shared a secret with her and she had thrown it back in his
face. He may be a Shifter but he was wrong about her.

Heaving a sigh at him, she set her cup down and stood. He
was at her side in an instant.

“Are you all right?” he asked quietly.

She thought she was but as she stood for a second her knees
threatened to give out on her and she swayed. Lifting her into his arms, he
carried her to the couch and sat with her in his lap.

Blair knew she should protest him treating her like a child
but she liked his arms around her too much to complain. Setting herself more
comfortably in his lap, she rested her head on his shoulder and looked up at
his face.

He was staring off across the room with unseeing eyes.
“Shane?”

Shane glanced down at her and then released a large breath.

He realized too late he had broached the subject the wrong
way. She had been through a lot in one night and he could see in her eyes that
she wasn’t ready to believe him. She was ready to bolt and he was nowhere near
ready to let her out of his sight.

A flash of her in her skimpy pink bra and panties when she
was tied to his bed came to mind as her borrowed robe parted and he got another
glimpse.

He wished now he had waited to talk to her until after she
had gotten some rest. He should have realized after that amazing blowjob that
nothing about Blair was going to be simple. It was stupid of him to think he
could feel this burning heat with just anyone. He had tried that already.

But for her own safety he had to get her to understand she
was a Shifter.

“I need you to believe me, Blair.”

Suddenly she jumped from his lap and before he knew her
intent she was out the front door and running into the night.

Blair ran for all she was worth. She covered the yard and
field in no time at all and she thought for a moment that she might actually
get away. But as soon as she hit the woods she heard a deep howl. He wasn’t far
behind her.

Damn him anyway for interfering with her carefully
constructed plan to live a quiet life. Seeing Shane as a wolf hadn’t made her
frightened of him, it kind of made sense. But she was afraid of the reason why
he had told her. All she saw were her careful plans shattering before her eyes.
Everything was about to change.

It was so dark she didn’t know if she was even going the
right way. Her legs were starting to burn and her side ached but she pressed
on.

Her bare foot caught a root and she flopped to the forest
floor. She was eternally thankful for the layer of leaves that broke her fall.
Jumping back to her feet, she kept going until she could see the light from her
front porch through the trees.

She burst from the tree line just as she heard the pounding
of feet behind her. Pushing out her last ounce of speed to get across the yard,
her hair and the robe streaming out behind her, she flew up the steps of her
porch.

Grabbing the door handle, she screamed when she felt Shane’s
human body pounce on her from behind and pin her to the door.

He was breathing heavily. “Why did you do that, Blair? I
never meant to scare you. I just wanted you to see the truth. I know this
Shifting thing is hard to process. You know I won’t hurt you, right?” he said
as he turned her around to face him.

“I don’t know that, Shane!” But she did know that and she
worried he could see the lie in her eyes.

“I want you to trust me Blair. What can I do to help that?”

“I don’t know.” She was having a hard time stringing
thoughts together with his naked body pressed against hers.

He sighed and started to move away but she stopped him. “I
just need some time, Shane. Can you give me that?”

He smiled down at her. “I’ll try.” Then his grin got even
wider. “I have some ideas on how to clear your mind for a while.”

She sucked in a breath as his finger traced the cup of her
bra and then down her side. It left no doubt what he had in mind.

“We barely know each other.” She tried to hold on to her
sanity as he traced his fingers along her shoulder blade. But it felt so good
and her body seemed to have a mind of its own.

His body eased back and she felt the cool air rush between
them. His hands came to her shoulders and gently lifted her chin. He stared down
at her out of those haunting green eyes and she knew then whatever her reasons
for coming here had been, he was all she wanted in this moment.

“You’re right, we don’t know each other that well. But we
can start fixing that right now.”

His fingers came up to tangle in her curls and tugged gently
to pull her up against him. His mouth came down hard and heavy, demanding a
response. She kissed him back, her tongue coming out to meet his and all she
could think was,
Finally.

Reaching down, he gripped her hips and lifted her to lock
her legs around his naked waist. Turning the handle, Shane pushed the door open
behind her and carried her inside, kicking it closed behind them.

His mouth never left hers as he made his way to her bedroom.
Standing next to the bed, he held her to him tightly, cupping her ass in his
big hands.

Blair let her feet drop to the floor and he pushed the robe
off her shoulders, letting it fall forgotten somewhere behind them. He gave her
a little push and she tumbled backward onto the bed. Giving her a quick,
triumphant smile, he was on her before she could scoot back from the edge.

In nothing but her lacy pink bra and panties, she could feel
his warm skin all over her. Kissing her again, he coaxed her tongue out of her
mouth and sucked gently on it. Moaning, her hips rose to rub against his hard
cock.

This crazy swell of need was new to her but Shane kept her
focused on the moment.

His seeking fingers went to her back and, with a flick,
released her breasts from her bra. Pulling the straps down her arms, he tossed
it over his shoulder and out of the way.

Immediately he buried his face between her breasts, cupping
them with his hands and pressing them to the stubble on his face. Her nipples
immediately hardened and puckered. Moving back, he squeezed her breasts
together and sucked on her nipples, back and forth, one to the other, until she
was squirming and her panties were damp with want.

“Please, Shane,” she whispered.

“What, baby?” he asked, stopping to look at her flushed
face.

“I need…” She didn’t know how to tell him what she wanted.

“I know, baby, but I still owe you,” he said with a wicked
grin.

Hooking his thumbs in her panties, he pulled them down her
legs and tossed them away too. Going to his knees beside the bed, he started at
her toes and licked and nibbled his way up her leg.

Reaching the crease at the top of her thigh, he made her
jump when he gave it one long lick. He pushed his hands under her legs and bent
his arms to come around the top of her thighs, effectively holding her in
place.

Blair felt her nerves stretch tight through the haze of
desire for him. She didn’t know what to expect but Shane didn’t give her much
time to think about it before she felt him kissing the dark-red patch of hair
that hid her from him.

Working his way down, he was gentle, taking his time and
letting her get used to the feeling of his face between her legs. Gradually she
relaxed and her legs fell open.

But then he dove in, his open mouth covering her and his
tongue delving into her swollen pink folds. Her hips tried to buck but he
tightened his hold on her thighs, not letting her escape the intense feeling.

He licked and sucked, learning her and returning to the
places that made her groan loudly. He paid attention to what movements of his
tongue had her gasping for breath and promptly found her sweet spot.

Showing her no mercy, he flicked up and down until she was
straining against his arms. Her back bowed and her fingers clutched the blanket
under her.

Suddenly she exploded, her hips undulating against his
still-busy mouth, lapping up her juices. It was incredible, unlike anything she
had ever experienced before and she was lost in it.

Gradually the crashing waves inside her subsided and Shane
kissed his way over her stomach and hips, releasing her legs and joining her on
the bed.

Scooping her up, he moved her limp body up to the center of
the bed and hovered over her on his arms. Her eyes locked with his and he
licked his lips. “Baby, you taste great.”

She felt her face go pink at his words and he smiled before
leaning down to swirl his tongue with hers and she tasted herself on his lips.
Her hands reached out for his cock, hanging heavy and hard between them,
running her fingers over the smooth skin.

“Shit,” he said, pulling away and reaching over the side of
the bed to dig in his jeans. He came back to her with a condom in his hand,
slipping it on quickly.

“I can’t wait anymore, Blair, are you ready for me?”

She was more than ready and she showed him by reaching up
and pulling his head to hers so she could run her tongue along the sensitive
curve of his ear. He growled low in his throat, reminding her so much of her
black wolf.

His hands went under her back to cup her ass and lift her
hips to align with his. He laid his face in the curve of her neck and she could
feel the hot air of his breath blowing on her.

Tenderly he pushed in, going inch by inch, giving her body
time to open for him. She may not have much experience but she knew his size
must be above average. He filled her until she could feel everything stretching
and she worried for a moment he wouldn’t be able to fit all the way in.

He was so big that it hurt a little but he paused to kiss
her and she relaxed, letting him slide the rest of the way home. He groaned in
her ear and she lay still, savoring the intense feeling of being filled so
fully and being so deeply connected to someone else.

After several minutes the pain disappeared and she lifted
her legs to wrap them around his hips. She didn’t think it was possible but he
slid in just a little farther and unknowingly she sunk her nails into his back.

Letting go of her ass, he lifted himself onto his elbows and
gazed down at her with hooded eyes. Gently he pulled out halfway and then
surged back in. He went slowly at first, only going halfway in and out, but
gradually his strokes lengthened.

Before long Blair’s brain shut off and she was rocking her
hips to meet him.

“Oh fuck, Blair! Are you ready now? Please tell me you are,
I can’t hold back anymore!”

“Yes, Shane! Yes!” she moaned.

Lifting the rest of the way up on his arms, he strengthened
his strokes, plunging into her over and over. Gripping his biceps, she held on
for dear life as he rode her hard and fast.

The same tense feeling started building quickly and suddenly
threw her over the edge, ripping a scream from her throat. Her body convulsed
around him, clamping on his cock and driving him to his peak in an instant.

They were held suspended in time as their bodies came
crashing together. Little by little the pleasure subsided and Shane collapsed
heavily on top of her for a moment before rolling away and pulling her tightly
into his arms. Which was exactly where she wanted to be.

Shane lay awake for a long time. He was sprawled on his back
and trailing his fingers up and down Blair’s smooth back. She had been sleeping
within minutes of curling up next to his side. She had thrown her arm and leg
over him in her sleep and he couldn’t resist pulling her closer.

He realized now she could be his mate, but more than that he
wanted her to be his mate. The long wait for him could be over and she would be
with him, forever. All he needed now was for her to change so he would know for
sure.

He wasn’t an overly romantic guy but that didn’t mean he was
oblivious to the inevitable.

He was also starting to realize she had more baggage than
she let on. She didn’t share much of herself and he figured it was just because
of her uppity upbringing. Because there was no way she could hide the fact she
came from wealth. It was obvious in everything she did.

Her jeans might be paint-stained but they were still
designer and she wore little diamond studs in her ears that were probably worth
more than his truck.

But now he wasn’t so sure it had anything to do with the
money. It was more as if she was on guard all the time because she had to be.

Either way he wasn’t going to let her hide from this. He was
tired of living a solitary existence and he was determined that those days were
almost over. Fate wouldn’t be so cruel to dangle the possibility in front of
him and then snatch it away. Or would it?

What really worried him was the reason why she was here in
the middle of nowhere, living in a tiny, rustic cabin and fending for herself.
Was she planning on going back? What had happened to scare her all the way out
here?

His thoughts plagued him until the small hours of the
morning before he finally fell into a restless sleep.

Blair awoke with the birds, as usual. She remained still for
several minutes, enjoying the steady beat of Shane’s heart under her ear.
Tilting her head just a little, she stared up at his face.

The stubble on his cheeks and chin had darkened in the night
and his lashes seemed incredibly long resting on his face. She waited for those
green eyes of his to open and focus on her but he continued to sleep.

Smiling a little when he snored lightly, she detangled her
body from him and the sheets and got out of bed. Tossing on a robe, she went to
the kitchen for coffee.

Her brain was a muddled mess and she needed to think things
through. She hoped a jolt of caffeine would help clear her head.

She had never woken up with a naked man still in her bed and
she couldn’t fight the urge to peek in on him once or twice before she took her
coffee to the porch. Sitting in one of the two Adirondack chairs, she propped
her feet on the railing.

Her mind exploded with thoughts of last night before she
even took her first sip. Logically she realized it wasn’t possible for Shane to
be a Shifter, those sorts of things only happened in the movies. But she
certainly wasn’t going to deny what she had seen with her own eyes.

Sitting here with the lake sparkling and stretching out
before her and the warm breeze blowing her hair, it didn’t seem so strange
anymore. Mother Nature absolutely had her secrets and if Shane was one of them,
she could do nothing but accept it.

She liked him, a lot. He wasn’t like the other men she had
known. He didn’t care about the superficial stuff and he actually listened to
her when she talked. Besides the fact he was also the sexiest man she had ever
laid eyes on. He had awakened a part of her that she hadn’t even known existed.

She didn’t fear him as a man or a wolf and sex with him had
been beyond her wildest fantasies. Just thinking about it now had her clenching
her legs together in need.

Lost in her thoughts, she was caught off guard when Shane
stepped out the open door to join her on the porch. He wore nothing but a pair
of unbuttoned jeans and she soaked in the sight, never wanting to forget it.
Somehow the scars on his chest only made him hotter.

“Morning,” he said, leaning against the railing next to her
feet.

“Morning.” She was trying very hard not to feel awkward
around him but the image of his face between her legs refused to leave her
mind.

“Can I have some of that?” he asked, gesturing to her
coffee.

“Oh of course. Let me get you some.” Getting to her feet,
she tried to get past him but he caught her about the waist. Taking the cup
from her hand, he took a sip from the same spot she had. It caused butterflies
to erupt in her stomach.

“It’s good, thanks.” He handed her back her cup.

“You’re welcome.” He caught her eyes and she quickly lowered
hers.

“Look, Blair, we really do need to talk.”

Just then she heard her cell ringing sharply in the house
and she got up to go in and answer it without looking at the display.

“Hello?”

“Blair, I thought you were going to call me last night?” her
mother began without preamble. Blair sighed and plopped on the couch.

“I’m sorry, Mother, I was busy.” She smiled to herself as
she thought about what she had been busy doing. But she certainly couldn’t tell
her she spent half the night having mind-blowing sex with her sexy and
not-so-rude neighbor.

“Busy? Playing with your paints again?”

“No.”
Oh god!
she thought.
Why hadn’t I said yes?

Just then Shane came in and the screen door slammed behind
him. “Blair? Let’s go for a walk.”

Blair waved her hand at him, trying to get him to stop
talking. Praying her mother hadn’t heard him.

“Blair? Who was that?” she heard in her ear.

“It’s a friend. I have to go. I’ll call you later.” Quickly
Blair hung up with her mother before she could start in with the never-ending
questions, glancing over at Shane as he stood with his arms crossed over his
chest, looking back at her.

“Was that your mother again?” he asked.

“What do you mean, again?”

“I was here the other night as a wolf when she called.”

“Oh.” She did remember now but she hadn’t made the
connection.

“Why didn’t you just tell her about us?”

Blair had really hoped he wouldn’t ask her that.

“What am I supposed to say, Shane?”

“I don’t know, but I think we are a little more than
friends.”

“Maybe we are but my mother would never understand.”

He was quiet for a second, his brow drawn together. “I think
I see, you mean she would never understand you being with a simple boat builder.”

He was right and she didn’t have the heart to say it out
loud. Just thinking about how her parents would cut into him verbally made her
feel dirty. He took her silence as agreement and stalked back out on the porch.

Taking a deep breath, she knew they weren’t done. They still
had other things to discuss and it seemed her life had never been more
complicated. Getting up, she went out to join him on the porch.

“Okay, Shane. Let’s get it over with.” She would tell him
she was fine with him being a Shifter and then they wouldn’t have to discuss it
anymore.

“Let’s go for a walk,” he said as he pulled her into his
arms, holding her for a moment before releasing her.

She went inside and got dressed, meeting Shane on the porch
when she was ready to go.

He took her hand and laced their fingers as they strolled
across the yard and to the water’s edge. Finding a spot in the grass, he sat
and pulled her down to sit between his legs, pulling her back against him.

“Shane, I want you to know I’m sorry for running away from
you last night.” She kept her eyes on the water before them. “It frightened me
but I’m all right now.”

He was quiet for a second and then, “So, you accept the fact
that I’m a Shifter?”

“Yes.”

“Just like that?” he said in disbelief.

“Yes.”

She felt him release a big breath in relief. “What about
you?” he asked quietly.

“What about me?” She turned so she could look at him.

“What about you being a Shifter? How do you feel about
that?”

Blinking up at him, she said, “I’m not a Shifter.”

She watched his green eyes go hard and determined. “You
are.”

Pulling away from him, she jumped to her feet. “That’s
crazy! I am not!”

He stood and reached for her. “Take it easy.”

Slapping his hands away, she glared at him. She didn’t
understand why he couldn’t leave well enough alone.

“Blair, when I found you in the woods last night you were
well into the first phase of changing. I’m not sure why it’s hit you so late in
life but I know what I saw.”

He couldn’t be right. She couldn’t be what he said. She
backed away from him and she felt that familiar swell within her, her heart
starting to race and her hands shaking. She needed one of her pills, it was too
much, hitting her stronger and faster than ever before.

Turning, she took off running across the yard and into the cabin.
She knew Shane was right behind her but she ignored him, rummaging in drawers,
looking for her pill bottle. Finally she found it and struggled with the top
before it popped open and the little pills went flying across the kitchen
floor.

Dropping to her knees, she grabbed the nearest one and went
to put it in her mouth. A strong hand on her arm stopped her, taking the pill
from her clenched fingers.

“What the hell are these?” She didn’t understand why but
Shane was angry.

“Give it back please. I need them.”

“That’s not what I asked, Blair. What are they?”

“They’re to help with my anxiety, it’s just a mild
sedative.” She reached for another and again he stopped her.

“How long have you been taking these?” He grabbed the now
empty bottle and read the front.

“I don’t know, Shane!” The strange feeling was getting
stronger and she worried what would happen if she didn’t take one soon. There
had never been a delay before, her mother always ready with one in her hand.

“Holy shit,” he mumbled and scooped her off the kitchen
floor. Taking her to the living room, he sat on the couch and held her in place
on his lap with strong arms when she struggled to get free.

“Blair, calm down. I know what you are feeling and it will
pass soon,” he said gently.

“No one knows what it feels like!” She was holding onto a
fraying rope and she didn’t want to lose her grip. But her voice was choked
with tears.

“I know it seems that way but it’s not true. I do know what
it feels like. Your body is just getting ready for your first change. I went
through it alone. At least you have me.”

There was pain in his voice and she looked up at him,
sinking in the depth of his eyes. Suddenly she remembered the night before in
vivid detail. Going for a walk and the searing pain spreading in her body.
Green eyes and a wet nose nudging her. Then the cold forest floor and the
sensation of being carried in the rain.

“You found me last night as the wolf, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, then I carried you back to my place.” His finger
played with her hair, soothing her. “When I was eighteen I left home to travel
across the country. I didn’t know what was going on when I started going
through the change. I was camping alone in the desert when I changed that first
time. The pain was…well, you know what it’s like and I didn’t want you to be
alone and afraid.”

Blair laid her head on his chest and let him continue, “I
care about you, Blair, and I didn’t want you to live with the same scars I
have, and not all of them are on the outside. Well, that and the fact I like
your body just the way it is.”

It wasn’t what she had expected him to say and she felt a
great swell of gratitude toward him for not leaving her. Even though it had
obviously brought painful memories to the surface for him. She had feelings for
him, too, but it was all too confusing at the moment and she couldn’t bring
herself to say the words out loud. Catching him by surprise, she leaned up and
kissed him, quickly, but that didn’t make it less potent. She ran her fingers
down his cheek. “Thank you.”

He smiled down at her. “Sure, but I didn’t do it just for
you.”

Blair realized she was feeling fine and hadn’t taken one of
her pills.

“Shane, why didn’t you want me to take my medicine?”

“I think they are why you have never changed before. How
long have you been taking them?”

“I’m not sure. Years,” she answered.

“Shit.” Moving her off his lap, he got up to pace to the
window. “Somehow they suppressed your natural instincts to shift.” Coming back
to drop to his haunches before her, he said, “Promise me you won’t take them
again.”

“Shane, they are prescribed by a doctor.” And she really
didn’t want to contemplate too closely that he may be right.

“I don’t care! Screw what the doctor says. It’s important.
Promise me.”

If he was going to be around then maybe she didn’t really
need them. For the first time she had gotten through one of her attacks without
help from the chemical. “Okay, fine. I won’t.”

“Good. Come on, let’s make breakfast. I’m hungry.” He
grinned down at her and she was glad she had made him happy with her promise.
After all, she didn’t want to take them anyway. It was a new feeling for her.
She wasn’t used to caring for someone else. She loved her parents but they had
lived their own lives and she hers, together but separate.

They made breakfast together and Shane walked back to his
place, telling her he had a couple hours of work to do and he would be back.
Blair went immediately to her easel and was quickly absorbed in painting her
black wolf.

She spent the day finishing her painting and she didn’t take
a break until the shadows were long on the yard. Stepping back, she was pleased
with the results—it looked just like him.

Deciding she would cook dinner for both of them, she
rummaged around in the freezer and took out some steaks. Thawing them in the
microwave, she hummed to herself as she peeled potatoes.