A Shifter Christmas Read online

  A SHIFTER CHRISTMAS

  A Short Story, Book 0, A Prequel

  The Pepper Valley Shifters Series

  by

  C.A. Tibbitts

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright © 2014 C.A. Tibbitts

  Cover artwork by C.A. Tibbitts

  Thank you for downloading this ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to your favorite ebook retailer to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support!

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and all actions and storylines are the product of the author’s imagination.

  *NOTE: This short story was originally published in the Mystical Xmas Box Set in November 2014.

  Dedications

  To my husband: 18 years and counting! I am so glad that I met you! Someday, I'll have a computer nerd in a story and that'll be all you, baby!

  To my readers: From those that have read my stories from the beginning, to those that are new to my writing, I feel so blessed to have you! I am happy to call you my friends! Without you, my stories mean nothing. Thank you for reading, from the bottom of my heart!

  Sincerely, C.A. Tibbitts

  PEPPER VALLEY SHIFTERS

  A Shifter Christmas ~ Pepper Valley Shifters #0

  Shifted For Love ~ Pepper Valley Shifters #1

  Healing A Shifter ~Pepper Valley Shifters #2

  Twice Fated Shifter ~ Pepper Valley Shifters #2.5

  Shifter Under Cover ~ Pepper Valley Shifters #3

  Star Crossed Shifters ~ Pepper Valley Shifters #4

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Epilogue

  A Special Thank You

  About The Author

  Author Links

  Other Books By C.A. Tibbitts

  Book Excerpts

  Chapter One

  Shifting into a beautiful bay-colored horse, she galloped over the dusting of snow to enjoy her last opportunity of the season to run. The summer had been way too short for Pepper Valley, Colorado, and the weatherman had forecasted heavy snow that would begin that very night. August was too early for heavy snow! She slowed down to a trot at her property line and circled at the corner to go east.

  She went faster until she ran at full speed, then skidded to a stop as she heard a very loud roar. She turned her head right, then left, and from her peripheral vision, she caught something rustling the tall grass. Since there wasn't a way to hide herself as a horse, she folded her legs and gracefully dropped to the ground before shifting to her human form.

  Remaining on all fours, trying not to pant too hard since her fogged breath would give her location away, she remained silent to listen.

  Jaxson shook out his lion's mane as he crept closer to the last place he'd seen the horse. Dinner was served! A sudden blow to his head caused him to sprawl onto his side, caught completely off guard. He shifted back to his human form without meaning to.

  "Who are you and what are you doing on my property?"

  "Jaxson," he answered quickly as he looked up to see a beautiful Asian goddess. She stood over him and frowned down at him. He cursed her long dark hair as it covered what he suspected were a lovely set of breasts.

  "You do realize you are trespassing?" she cocked those tiny hips to the side.

  If she just cocked that hip a bit further…

  "Eyes up here, buddy."

  His eyes snapped up, and he then stood, enjoying his height advantage over her. He noticed how her chocolate brown eyes lingered, if only for a second, on his chest. "I thought this was part of the Preserve."

  "The fence should have clued you in. Where are you from?"

  "England. May I know your name, love?"

  "No. Stay off my property." She turned away, deciding she would just walk home in her human form. It wasn't that far, and the temperature was not quite cold enough to give her a chill, but it would be soon. She heard footsteps closing in and knew Jaxson was following her.

  "Do you have some tea, love?"

  She turned toward him and promptly pushed her hair behind her shoulders. "Look your fill, and then leave. I don't like company."

  Jaxson's eyes caressed her form as though he'd touched her, and she felt a shiver run up her spine.

  A few flurries whipped around in the air, causing his shoulder-length blonde hair to blow forward framing his face, while her own hair remained billowing behind her. She turned away from him once more, and walked to the house. He continued to follow her.

  The snow was peppering down now, and the temperature was steadily dropping. Her nipples pebbled as a brisk cold wind blew across her body.

  Walking up the porch stairs, she pulled the key from under the mat and unlocked the door. "Kate," she grumbled.

  "What's that, love?"

  She pushed the door open and turned to face him. "I said my name is Kate. Get your naked ass inside. I'll get you some clothes." She knew how to handle herself in a fight in case he tried anything. Then again, he was so clumsy as an animal, he surely wasn't that nimble on his human feet either.

  Kate walked to her bedroom and pulled on her soft blue terrycloth robe, cinching it at the waist, before she went across the hall to the spare bedroom. Opening the closet door, she paused at the sight of Charlie's old clothes. Her human husband had died almost twenty years ago, and she still had not been able to get rid of his belongings. Instead, she took her role as a widow seriously and remained a hermit, only driving into town when absolutely necessary. She could have most things delivered. In the summer, she grew vegetables and hunted animals, non-shifters of course, for meat.

  She pulled out a red flannel shirt that she could not remember her husband wearing, and a pair of gray sweatpants. She had not looked at Jaxson's feet, so she had no idea if the size eleven boots would be too big, too small, or just right.

  She turned at a loud clunk and walked out to the living room. The naked man was making himself at home. He'd put a large log in the fireplace and had it lit. "You realize it's going to be a hundred degrees in here in less than an hour," she grumbled. She would have to open a window or two to keep from sweltering.

  "I was trying to help." He took the offered clothes from her hands, careful not to touch her. He tossed the shirt aside and pulled on the pants.

  It would actually be a shame if he covered up those delectable abs. She frowned, angry at herself for even having the thought. "I have lavender tea, mint tea, or I can make coffee. Pick your poison."

  "Mint. Thank you, Katherine." He gave her a small grin as he remained in front of the fire, rubbing his hands together.

  "My given name, if you must know, is Kaitlyn. Nobody has called me that for fifty years, and neither will you." She turned and walked into the kitchen. After setting a kettle of water on the stove to boil, she heard him at the entrance to the kitchen. She remained with her back to him. "For a lion shifter, you are not quiet on your feet."

  "Do you have a set of cards?"

  Kate rolled her eyes, turning to face him. "Please do not tell me you plan on showing me card tricks over tea."

  "I was rather hoping we could play strip poker." Jaxon's smile lit up his face, his blue eyes sparkling.

  "If you are trying to be charming, you are not succeeding." She turned away and pulled the box of tea from the cabinet. Okay, he is a little charming, especially with that accent, but I will never admit it aloud.

  After she poured the tea, she place
d both cups on the round wooden table that sat inside the bay-window niche at the far end of the kitchen. It was already getting too warm, so she opened one of the windows, enjoying the cold breeze. The snow was coming down hard now, accumulating quickly. Jaxson sat down across from her and she took a moment to study his handsome face. He had tucked his blonde hair behind his ears. He had faint laugh lines at the corners of his eyes, and a hint of lines where he probably furrowed his brow often. His blue eyes were dark, framed with the longest dark blonde lashes she'd ever seen. And his lips, they were full and silently promised they could and would do wicked things. She remained staring at his face instead of looking down at his bare chest. "How did you wind up in Colorado?"

  He dunked his tea bag a few times before laying it on the delicate pink flowered saucer. "I wanted to explore the states. The world really, before I choose a new place to live."

  "Where is your next stop?" She had always been a sucker for an accent, so she assumed that was the reason she kept asking questions, so she could hear his voice.

  "Australia, next week."

  Her eyes casually swept down his smooth muscled chest to look at his hands. She hoped she wasn't too obvious.

  "Would you like to come?"

  Her eyes snapped up to his face. "Excuse me?"

  "To Australia?" he added, that teasing twinkle back in his eyes.

  "Why would you want a stranger to travel with you?" Kate frowned, looking down to dunk her own teabag before picking up the spoon to add sugar from the small sugar bowl.

  "We don't have to be strangers by next week, Kaitlyn."

  Oh, but her full name sounded so good with his accent that she could not bring herself to scold him for using it. "What are you offering?" Did those words just come out of my mouth? Her eyes remained downcast as she repeatedly stirred her tea. His hand slid over her free hand and she felt a spark of desire of which she hadn't felt in twenty years.

  "The snow is coming down, and the night is young. We should curl up by the fire and do whatever comes to mind. Talk, eat…touch."

  I should slap him for suggesting such things, then kick his perfect ass out of my home and off my property. So why did I turn my hand over and let his fingertips caress my palm? But the promise of a no-strings-attached affair before he left to never return had her heartbeat racing. I haven't been touched by a man, desired by a man, for so long.

  Jaxson abruptly stood and pulled her up. He slid his hands down the sleeves of her robe, then untied the belt at her waist. His fingertips slid beneath the material to push it off her shoulders, and the robe fell in a heap around her feet. Her eyes looked at him with such longing as she ran her hands over his chest before pushing his borrowed sweatpants down. He leaned in, but she put her finger to his lips.

  "One rule, no kissing," she murmured.

  He nodded once and nibbled at her fingertip, hearing her moan. She took him by the hand and led him into the living room, taking a blanket that was folded and laying on the arm of the couch, to spread it over a rug in front of the fireplace. She sat down and stared at the fire as it crackled and hissed. He sat down beside her and slid his arm around her, running his fingertips along her arm.

  Kate shivered and her hand gripped his knee before slowly running up his leg to settle over his cock. Her gentle touches tightened his groin, and he leaned in to slide his lips along her neck.

  "Lay back, Kaitlyn." She did as instructed, parting her legs. He slid over her, kissing his way over her chest, his tongue flicking at the dark peaks of her small breasts. She moaned and slid her fingers into his hair, gripping a bit tighter each time he hit a spot that made her writhe beneath him. He moved further down, breathing over the small mound of dark curls at the apex of her thighs.

  Her legs opened wider as he settled his wide shoulders just under her thighs, his hands holding her knees apart as her heels settled against his back. His eyes rolled up in pure pleasure at his first taste of her, the sweetest taste of honeysuckle with just a hint of vanilla. His tongue laved at her opening, feasting on the meal her body provided as she undulated and cried out in pleasure multiple times.

  His body was too insistent to wait any longer. He sat back on his knees, her legs now wrapped around his waist, as he guided the head of himself to her opening. He drove in balls deep and moaned as her body clenched his. Her eyes opened, dark with passion, and they regarded each other as he leaned in, sharing her breath, his weight held off her as he kept his forearms down against the floor on either side of her.

  "Jaxson!" Kate gripped at his back, her hips rolling beneath him.

  He felt her nails pierce the skin on his back as she let out a final cry and her sex pulsed around him. He strained, his entire body taut, as he groaned and sent his seed deep within her core.

  He met her eyes once more as they continued to share their breaths. He saw no hint of regret in her eyes as he rolled over, keeping his hold on her hips so that he remained inside her.

  Kate placed her cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat as it finally slowed to a normal rhythm. Why don't I feel guilty? His arms held her securely, possessively. It did feel nice to be the object of such sexual passion again.

  They made love twice more before they slept.

  Chapter Two

  Morning came and it was freezing on the living room floor. Kate woke alone, wondering if it was all a dream, until she heard the water running in the bathroom. She stood, wrapping her arms around her stomach to keep from shivering, and she found the shower curtain closed as steam wafted around the room.

  Not waiting for an invitation, she slid into the back of the tub, and he whirled around to face her. His strong arms grabbed her before she could fall.

  "Bloody hell, Kaitlyn, you're freezing." He slid his arms around her and pulled her into the flow of hot water. She shivered against him before finally warming.

  "Fire's out," she wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the hard muscles that held her.

  "And yet, you've started another," he murmured against her ear, his hands trailing down her back. He lifted her by the ass and pressed her against the tile wall. "What if I never get enough of you, Kaitlyn?"

  She ignored his words, too caught up in the pleasure as his head teased at her entrance. She wrapped her legs around his waist, but found no traction on his wet backside. He kept a firm hold on her ass, her arms wrapped around his neck, and she trusted him not to drop her. Why do I trust him? was a fleeting thought as he pushed his way inside her folds, eliciting a moan from both their lips.

  ~*~*~*~

  When Kate finished her shower, she pulled on a robe she'd left hanging on the bathroom door and walked into the living room. Several small logs were now blazing in the fireplace and she smelled bacon cooking. She pulled the curtains open and gasped at the amount of snow that blanketed the ground. It was as deep as the second porch step, and still falling. They were, for all intents and purposes, snowed in. Why is that not a scary thought?

  She jumped as his now familiar arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back into his chest. "I see you are working on your stealth skills," she grinned as she said it.

  "How do you like your eggs?" He shifted her wet hair to fall in front of her right shoulder as his mouth slid along the left side of her neck.

  She could not help the shiver that tickled her spine. "Scrambled is fine. Where did you learn to cook?" Her hands cupped his over her stomach, and she realized how tiny her hands were in comparison to his.

  "I learned out of necessity. I am by no means a chef." He gave her one last kiss on the neck before pulling away.

  She heard what she assumed was the whisking of eggs in a bowl as she set about readying the table for breakfast. She poured their wasted tea from the night before down the sink, and pulled out glasses, silverware, and napkins, before setting two plates beside the stove. He was wearing the barely-used sweatpants again, and she appreciated him leaving his delicious chest bare. As she leaned against the kitchen doorjamb, giving him
plenty of space to move around, she noticed a few faint scars on his back.

  "How were you hurt, Jaxson?" He visibly stiffened at her question and she wondered if he was angry with her for asking. It did not seem as though the question was too personal to ask after they shared so many intimate moments the previous night, and again less than an hour ago. "You don't have to answer," she finally said as he remained silent. "I have orange juice, or I can make coffee."

  "Juice." His response seemed clipped.

  She was surprised when he suddenly began to answer her question.

  "Twelve years ago, I was a Bobbie. Or rather, a police officer as they are called here. I…I was shot several times when I stopped to check on my partner. That was the end of my career."

  His eyes were looking at the eggs but she doubted he actually saw them, he was too caught up in old memories. He jumped when she gently gripped his hand to help stir the eggs before they burnt on the bottom. He looked down at her and smiled, kissing her forehead.

  "A very noble profession." Kate walked to the other side of the kitchen, retrieved the juice from the refrigerator, and carried it to the table before pouring it in the glasses. "I doubt you will believe me, but as a teenager, I did a high-wire act in a traveling circus."

  "Why would I not believe that, Kaitlyn?" Jaxson plated the eggs and bacon, putting the plates on the table before sitting down across from her.

  "Most people think I am making it up," she conceded with a shrug.

  "Can you still fit in that tiny outfit?" His eyes had taken on the mischievous twinkle he got when he was teasing.

  She giggled, feeling her face flush.

  "You're beautiful, Kaitlyn."

  She watched his face, trying to see signs of teasing. He appeared to be serious. "Ehm…what shall we do today?"