Page 17 of Shifter Mates for the Single Mom

This was what I wanted, what I needed. This tender ferocity, this combination of protectiveness and primal need. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the strength I had.

The room seemed to spin slowly around us as his fingers slid under the curve of my ass and gripped each globe snugly, making me squirm with delight. I wanted to pull him down onto the mattress with me, spend the next hour just discovering each other. I wanted his body on mine, and the cock I could feel throbbing against me through his jeans buried in me.

But before any of that could happen, before I could even break the kiss to suggest it, I heard a tiny tapping at the door.

"Mom? You okay?"

Nathan let me go, and I backed off, gasping for air, disappointed and suddenly cold. But duty called, and I could hardly blame Aidan for coming running after I'd screamed like that.

“I’m okay,” I called and then went over to open the door. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I had a bad nightmare.”

He hugged me, and it snapped me back from the haze Nathan’s kiss had left me in. Then he looked up at me. “I didn’t know grownups had nightmares.”

“Oh yeah, we do. I just usually hide it because I don’t want to worry you.” I petted his hair and smiled down at him reassuringly while my heartbeat dropped back down to normal.

“It’s because of your old boyfriend, isn’t it? The mean one who’s bothering us.” He frowned as hard as he could. “I really want a sword, Mom.”

“You’ll have to settle for a knife, and only if you handle it very carefully.” I kissed the top of his head and he let me go. “But you have to promise.”

“I promise. How soon will you make it?”

“I’ll start working on it tomorrow, sweetie. Meanwhile, we have Nathan and his pack to protect us.” He pouted and I smiled down at him. “These things take time. I’m still designing it.”

Once Aidan had gone back downstairs to play Legos in the living room, I turned to Nathan, but he was already heading for the door. He shot me a smoldering look on his way out.

I bit my lip. I wanted more, but I couldn’t ask for it right now. I still felt the leftover guilt from all those years we had wanted each other but done nothing because it would have hurt Ben. I wonder if Ben knew, I thought as I turned to change out of my sleeping clothes. I wonder if he worried that we would end up in bed anyway.

We never had. Sometimes I’d wanted it so badly it hurt. But I’d behaved, and Nate had behaved, for Ben’s sake. I’d gone and taken it out on Ben in bed instead and never once spoken of my desires. But the guilt was still there despite that, standing between us even now.

I have to find a way to get past this. Ben wouldn’t want me agonizing over it now that he’s gone. He’d probably prefer I be with someone he knows will be good for me.

He’d have hated Matthias. Yet another thing for me to feel guilty about. But there was nothing to do about that now. All I could do was move on–as soon as Matthias was dead.

EIGHT

MADELYNE

The next day dawned bright and dry, without even the slightest breeze. I could tell it was going to be a scorcher. I got myself cleaned up and dressed, then helped Aidan with the same, cooked everyone breakfast, and sat through a briefing while everyone sorted out what they were doing that day.

Ulf was keeping watch and keeping an eye on his new buddy Aidan, who was excited by the prospect, while Jamie installed the rest of the security measures. Nathan, Bela, and I were going to visit my best buddy Nelly at the artists’ colony to try and pry any information we could get about Matthias and his possible whereabouts from the now rather paranoid colony members.

Nathan drove one of their SUVs and I rode shotgun to give directions and talk to the gate guards. Bela sprawled in back, the only one of the three of us who seemed really relaxed.

“You know, we should pick up steaks for a barbecue when we come back through town,” he said cheerfully, his accent adding a little spice to every word. “You got a good meat place in town?”

“The grocery store has a butcher’s shop inside. Small, but unless you want a whole side of beef it should be good enough.” I stifled a yawn. I hadn’t had any more nightmares last night, but Nathan’s kiss had left me… restless. I’d kept waking up, and my frustrated desire had even crept into my brief and muddled dreams.

“I’ll have to move the grill.” It was in the side yard. I knew it was a little ridiculous, but the idea of standing maybe a dozen feet away from the site of Matthias’ carnage cooking steaks made me nauseous.

“I’ll handle it when we get back.” Nathan shot me a reassuring smile.

“So, what do you know about Tiger shifters besides what you’ve told me?” I asked them as Nathan drove us.

“Bela knows the most,” Nathan indicated. I looked back at Bela, who winked flirtatiously.

Ooh boy. I have definitely gone from famine to feast here. Not sure what exactly to do about it all, but it’s sure good for my self-esteem after the mess Matthias made of me.

Bela squinted. “Russian Wolves have had to deal with some of them, mostly in Siberia. You’d think the damn Tigers would have the sense to stay in the south, but some of them are even crazier than usual. I had to track two of them for my old boss. Just me, my rifle, some silver bullets, and a map hunting them down on the grounds of a decommissioned Gulag.

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