The Last Shifter’s Baby

Rebecca felt like she couldn’t breathe. Suddenly having him so close to her, touching her, was overwhelming. All the easy conversations that they had together while they were building their friendship, working together, all seemed like an impossible memory as she sat there beside him, tense and silent. He was starting to sense her discomfort and loosened his grip on her waist. She could feel the silence turning awkward between them but didn’t have any idea what to say. This is why the relationship never worked out, she always went quiet when she got nervous.

“I think Henry is going to do really well with the rest of the wolves.” Luke said suddenly.

“How will we know they don’t end up killing him? I’d hate to be out there and find a body.” She said, going into work mode.

“I put a chip in the back of his neck. We’ll know if he wanders off too far from the pack or stops moving.” Luke said and just like that the easy conversation that Rebecca was used to was flowing back and forth between them. They ordered their food, Rebecca knowing this time not to trust Luke’s choices lest she end up with a small mountain of food. They started asking each other questions as they waited for their food to cook. “Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?” Luke asked.

Rebecca gasped. “That is next week, isn’t it? I was just going to drive up to my sisters like usual. Do you have plans?”

“I’m actually spending the holiday with Maggie. Her husband is in Ireland visiting his mother, she’s very ill, and her children all have families of their own now. So she invited me, said she had never spent Thanksgiving alone. I don’t have any family myself, so I agreed.”

“Lucky,” Rebecca said. “Have you tried that coffee cake she brings in? I can’t believe you get to try the rest of her food.”

Luke laughed. “Are you going to spend the whole weekend with your sister?”

“Oh God no, I mean, no. I’m driving down Wednesday and coming back that Friday.” she said quickly.

“I suppose I might get to see you that weekend then?” He smiled. “I’ve got a dog that’s been dying to meet you. I could even attempt to cook dinner.”

“That sounds wonderful, Luke.” She said and couldn’t hold back the squeak of surprise when their waitress brought their food out. Apparently no matter what you ordered, you’d be receiving a small mountain of food with your order. “I thought I only ordered a grilled chicken breast,” she murmured. “Not the whole chicken.”

After they finished eating, Luke led her out of the diner and back to his truck, arm snug around her waist. He helped her back into his truck, tugging his coat into place around her shoulders. “You know, I forgot you had this. I thought I had lost it until I saw you walking around in it. It looks good on you.”

“It’s like at least three sizes too big on me.” She replied.

“Well, it’s mine so it looks good on you.” He said and leaned over her to buckle her in. She could feel his warm breath against her throat and couldn’t help the shiver that passed through her.

“You don’t have to do that.” she said softly. “I could have gotten it.”

“I know that. I just like taking care of you.”

The drive back to her house seemed to drag on forever. Especially with the charged, tense energy that was filling the cab of Luke’s truck, bouncing between the two of them. They didn’t speak much but it wasn’t the awkward silence from before. Both of them seemed to be thinking the same thing as Luke pulled into her driveway, neither of them saying a word. Finally, Rebecca broke the silence, reaching out to place her hand on his thigh. “Would you like to come in?” she asked, thumb scratching along the fabric of his jeans. “I could make you some coffee or tea.”

He caught her hand in his own, squeezing it lightly. “Coffee sounds great.” He said and with a flick of his wrist killed the engine on the truck, rushing around to help her out of the passenger side. The hand against her back as they walked to her front door burned through the flannel and against her skin. She dug around in her purse for her keys, inhaling sharply as she felt his warm breath against her neck, the faint touch of his lips following after. It had never been harder to get her keys out and open her front door than it was now, with Luke pressed up against her back, lips trailing a path up and down the side of her neck. Somehow, she managed to get them both inside and instantly put some distance between herself and Luke.

“You said you wanted coffee?” she asked as she slipped Luke’s flannel off, hanging it on a peg beside the door. She walked into her kitchen, beckoning him to follow. “I only have dark roast. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine.” He said softly and came up behind her, placing his hands on her waist as she filled the pot with water. Her hands shook a little as she set the pot down, snapping it into the coffee machine, and flicking the on button. The whole time she tried to ignore Luke’s hands on her waist, thumbs digging patterns into her skin through the fabric. Am I really going to do this?