Page 2 of Secret Shifters Next Door

“Have a great night.” With that, he took my hand and pulled me toward the door.

I followed. His hand was warm and strong in mine. I felt like I was in a dream until the cool air outside hit me, and I realized what we were doing. Butterflies started fluttering in my stomach as he waved for a cab. If I’d rehearsed this a day ago, I wouldhave told myself to come to my senses, give a gracious apology, then head home alone. Instead, I found myself growing ever more excited.

Fifteen minutes later, I was walking down the hallway of his hotel, toward his room. As he bent over his lock and slid the key in, my gaze drifted over his broad, muscled back. The second the door swung inward, we were all over each other. To my shock and surprise, I was the aggressor. Pulling him in close, I locked my lips to his. Arms wrapped around me, hands cupped my ass, and lifted me. Our breaths came in sharp, desperate gasps as he laid me on the bed. I unbuttoned my blouse as he pulled my skirt and panties down my legs, then threw them across the room.

Without warning, he buried his tongue in my pussy. My mouth dropped open in a gasp as his tongue flicked back and forth, making the blood rush to my head. Already, I was on the verge of a climax. I wrapped my legs around his head, pulling him closer as I unhooked my bra and freed my breasts. His hand slid up and palmed my breast, gently pinching my nipple. An explosion of pleasure rocked me as the orgasm rippled through my body, stronger than any I could ever remember.

He rose from between my legs, quickly shed his own clothes, and then kneeled above me as I tried to catch my breath. I couldn’t even speak when he kissed me again. Slowly, I regained my composure as I ran my hands through his hair, my desire already building again.

Gaze intent on mine, he slid into me. My eyes rolled back as his massive length filled me, and I came again. I bit into his shoulder, trying not to scream. My hips involuntarily thrust up to meet him, desperate for him to keep going.

He rested his weight on his hands and ground himself into me. I ran my fingers over his muscled chest, my fingertips gliding through the sheen of sweat. This man was gorgeous, and he didn’t seem to be even close to finishing. The idea thrilled andterrified me at the same time. I wasn’t sure how much I could take, but I was ready to find out.

Nearing another orgasm, I hissed out a breath when he pulled out and flipped me over. He plunged into me, his heavy breath on my ear sending goosebumps along my shoulders. A hand snaked under me and clutched at my breast, another wound gently into my hair. He fucked me, and I loved every minute of it. All my sadness, depression, and shame evaporated beneath him.

Finally, he started moving faster, deeper, groaning into my hair. I went over the edge at the same moment he shuddered and gasped. We came together, and I collapsed on the bed, gasping—literally gasping—for air. It was like I’d run a marathon. The room was spinning, and a satisfied warmth filled me, almost like a thick heavy blanket covered me. I didn’t even remember falling asleep, but I did.

When I woke up in the morning, my head throbbed from the hangover. My body ached, in a not unpleasant way, from the activity of the previous night. I sat up and looked around the room. The stranger was gone. Christ, I didn’t even know his name. A quick search of the room showed he was truly gone. No luggage, toiletries, phone charger. Nothing.

I sat, naked, on the edge of the bed. The night before played back through my mind. Some of it was fuzzy; I’d been more drunk than I thought. One thing slammed home in my mind and sent a shock of distress through me. We hadn’t used a condom. A cold sweat sprang out over my body as I covered my face with my hands. How could I have been so stupid?

After freaking out for twenty minutes, I pulled out my phone. I found an STD clinic near my home and booked an appointment on their website. That done, I gathered up my clothes and went to the bathroom. There was a note stuck to the shower door.

Had a great time last night.Early flight. Stay as long as you want, but check out is at noon.

Still no name.I sighed and rubbed a hand over my face. At least he’d left a note, so he wasn’t a total dick. I glanced up at myself in the mirror and almost laughed. I looked like a strung-out hooker. My hair was a rat’s nest, my make-up smeared and faded, and my face was slightly puffy from drinking too much.

I gave my reflection a stern look. “You can’t do this again, Harley, you can’t be reckless. You have to think about your daughters.”

I made myself a promise to be more careful. The girls would probably be worried sick about me. Fuck, what a mother I was. Even though they weren’t little kids—Mariah was sixteen and Jordyn was fourteen—and could take care of themselves because they grew up in New York, they would be worried if they woke up and I still wasn’t home. With a shake of my head, I got dressed, then rushed out the door and hurried home.

Thankfully, it was Saturday morning, and I was relieved to find that my two teenagers lived up to the cliché. It was almost eleven a.m., and both were still asleep. For all they knew, I came home after they went to bed. Sighing in relief, I took a shower. By the time I was dressed, Mariah was awake.

She was eating a bagel and cream cheese in the living room when my phone rang, Luis’s name lighting up my screen. Shit. I was in no mood to answer, but it was best to get it over with. I went to my room, and closed the door before hitting the green button.

“Hello?”

“Harley? Where the hell were you last night? I texted you like ten times and called twice,” Luis snapped.

I sighed and rubbed my temple with my free hand. “Luis, I told you yesterday, we’re done. I don’t have to answer your calls or messages.”

“That’s bullshit. You know it is.”

Doing everything I could to control the volume of my voice, I hissed, “No, Luis. What’s bullshit is that you’ve been fucking every woman you can find, and I was too stupid to realize it.”

Luis barked out a laugh. “Harley, I’m the best thing that has ever happened to you. I pulled strings and got your girls into that private school you liked, and I paid off your credit card. I think that grants me a little leeway.”

I sucked in a breath and gritted my teeth. Luis had money––lots of money––even though he didn’t seem to have a steady job and was always cagey about what he did for work. I always felt guilty whenever he gave me anything. The police life insurance policy from Sam’s death and my salary as a web designer was enough, but he would offered and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Now he was holding it over my head? Rage boiled inside me.

“Luis, just because yougiftedme something doesn’t give you the right to cheat on me. You understand that, right?”

“Listen, Harley, you are mine. Nothing is going to change that.Youunderstandthat,right?”

I bit back a scream as I hung up on him and blocked his number. Fuck him and his money. I squeezed my eyelids shut and held back the tears threatening to escape. When they didn’t spill, I composed myself enough to go about the rest of my weekend with the girls. I managed to slip away for an hour for my STD test, which, thankfully, came out clean after an agonizing wait of a couple of days. Other than that, the weekend ended up being very plain and lazy.

All that ended Monday morning. When I walked the girls to their school, I saw Luis standing at the corner in front of the school gate. The look on his face was one of anger and petulance.

Jordyn pointed and said, “Hey, it’s Luis.”

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