That Shifter Love

Chapter 6

Lucy had chosen a red dress that hugged every curve and showed off her thighs. She still followed her mother’s advice: If you show it low, keep it high up top. Her cleavage was encased by the halter top of the dress, but that halter was tight enough that not much was left to the imagination. Her sky-high heels matched perfectly, and her clutch added just the right amount of class to an almost slutty outfit. After looking in the mirror again and again, indecision warred within her. A text to Kayla was the answer. She sent her a full-body selfie and asked her if she looked too slutty. Kayla’s reply was Just slutty enough! HOT! Lucy smiled at her response and sent back a thank you.

As usual, she was ready way too early, so she spent some time on her laptop, looking at news stories. Her dream of being a journalist had been brought on by her love of information. She read the news daily, watching for stories that interested her. Nothing jumped out at her as important, although she did come across a funny story about a man who swore he’d seen Bigfoot in the park. Her eyebrows were at her hairline at first; she thought she’d been seen and mistaken for one of those nasty creatures who scavenge off others. But the sighting had been at a park across town, not the one by her apartment, so she allowed herself to relax.

I wonder if that’s the type of story the Guard is required to check out, she thought. Her interest in the Guard was piqued. She glanced at the clock on her laptop and decided she had a little time to do some research. She remembered that Chopper had told her all cities have something like the Guard, so there had to be some information out there. I doubt I’ll find much about a secret group of weres who protect other weres as well as keep them in check, she mused.

Lucy began at Google, searching the city’s name and the Guard. She had to sift through business names and such, but finally she found some conspiracy theories created by humans who didn’t seem to have a clue what the Guard actually was. The first one she read explained how the Guard was a US government agency that specialized in the paranormal. And that’s where the truth ended. It was a comic book filled with characters like the X-Men or Hellboy; not one word was mentioned about werewolves, werecats, werebears, or any other kind of were.

Another website proclaimed the Guard was comprised of witches and wizards. Harry Potter popped into her mind as she read the articles and she smiled. She loved those books and the movies. And, after all, witches and wizards were real, although as far as she knew they didn’t go to wizard schools in castles. That would draw way too much attention, and she was pretty sure they couldn’t create a hiding spell that powerful.

She clicked on the next website on the list. Still nothing she would call useful, just more theories about what the Guard might be. Humans had no clue, and apparently no were would put up a website calling them out. She wondered if she told someone about the Guard, and that someone talked, if she would be in danger. A question for Nathan, she decided.

The doorbell rang. She jerked in surprise; she hadn’t realized so much time had passed. She’d intended to check her makeup one more time before he got there. Too late now. She rose, adjusted her dress, and walked quickly to the door.

Nathan’s reaction was exactly what she’d hoped it would be. His jaw dropped, and a little drool may have dribbled down his chin. He was speechless.

“Hi,” Lucy purred at him.

“Wow. You look amazing, beautiful, stunning.” He stopped talking and shook his head. “I’m sorry, none of those words are good enough for the way you look.” Heat shot through Lucy’s body. She smiled at him, and he dramatically put a hand over his heart. “I am in awe of you right now.”

Lucy giggled prettily. “If you hadn’t already gotten into my pants, that line sure would have worked.”

He gaped at her frankness and laughed loudly. “I am digging the way you talk, sexy lady!”

“I’m glad, because I dig the way you talk, too.”

Nathan leaned in and clasped her hand in his. “Are you ready to go? I’m thinking dinner on a patio with a drink in hand, maybe some live music after. What do you think?”

“I think that sounds perfect,” she replied. “Let me grab my bag.”

She turned to walk back into her apartment. The door closed, and she turned around and ended up in Nathan’s arms. He crushed his mouth to hers. He licked her lips until she opened them and welcomed him. His tongue played softly against hers, and her knees went weak. She lifted her arms around his neck, and his hand held her against him.

Breathless, Lucy pulled away, placing a hand on his chest and pushing him back just a little. “If you keep that up, we won’t make it to dinner, handsome.”

“I have no problem with that. I want you more than I want food.” He reached for her again, but she shied away, smiling.

“I did not get all dressed up to have you ravish me before dinner,” she laughed, her hand once again on his chest. “But I’ll tell you something you’ll think about all through dinner.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m not wearing anything under this dress.”

His eyes bulged, and he pretended to faint. “You’re killing me here. I’ll order anything you want and have it delivered. Pizza, Chinese, a third world country. Anything, if we can stay here and get naked.”

“Damn, boy. You drive a hard bargain,” she teased. “But I want that drink and patio.”

“I’ll build one for you.”

Lucy laughed again and grabbed his hand. She pulled him to the door and handed him her key. “Lock my door on our way out, handsome. I’m hungry for food now. I’ll be hungry for you later.”

As Nathan locked the door, she slapped his ass. He looked down at her with a grin the size of the moon. “Do I at least get to cop a feel under the table?”

She turned and walked away from him, swinging her hips lasciviously. When she glanced over her shoulder at him, he was staring at her ass. She smiled and replied, “I would be so disappointed if you didn’t.”

*****

Dinner was perfect. The food was tasty and the drinks perfectly mixed. Lucy and Nathan laughed and talked about everything. Three hours after sitting down at the table, they were still sitting there, laughing at each other’s childhood stories and high school memories. The waiter appeared with their last round and the check.

“Thank you so much for a wonderful night.” Lucy leaned forward. “I hope it isn’t over when dinner is.”

He looked at her as he signed the check. Their eyes locked, and her meaning was clear. “It’s not over until you tell me to go home.” He lifted his face to hers and kissed her gently. The kiss became heated and would have grown more so if they hadn’t been interrupted.

“You bi*ch.”

Lucy and Nathan looked up simultaneously at Austin, who glared at Lucy as if he might kill her. Nathan sat back and said, “Excuse me?”

Austin’s gaze shifted briefly to Nathan. “I’m not talking to you, prick. I’m talking to the werewolf bi*ch here.”

Lucy’s eyes widened. She had thought Austin was too drunk to understand what had happened that night. His mind must have cleared after a few days of processing what he’d seen, and now he was calling her out in front of other humans. She looked around; luckily only a couple tables were occupied besides their own and no one was paying any attention to them.

“Austin, you need to leave,” Lucy muttered angrily. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’re a werewolf. I saw you,” Austin repeated. “You tried to kill me.”