A Shifter Christmas Read online

  "A snowball fight?"

  Okay, now he was teasing again. How odd was it that she could read him so well after one day? "I was thinking board games. I play a mean game of Monopoly."

  "I am terrible with money," he said. "I will play your game, but I believe we should have higher stakes than play money."

  She raised a brow. "Such as?"

  "When I win, I want a kiss," he said with a smirk.

  "And since I will win, I want a back rub," she replied.

  "You have a deal." Jaxson picked up a piece of bacon and ate it.

  "And I am not talking about five seconds either, a minimum of ten minutes." Kate picked up her fork.

  "Agreed."

  Why do I have a feeling I am being played?

  ~*~*~*~

  Three hours later, after a very hard fought battle of wills, Kate had to concede he was the victor at Monopoly, this time. Bad with money…my ass!

  "I do believe I got played. You're a Monopoly ringer," she grumbled.

  "I did not cheat, if that's what you are implying." Jaxson helped her sort the fake money and put the game back into the box.

  "I'm not suggesting you cheated, but I am suggesting this isn't your first time playing the game."

  "I never said I didn't play it before."

  That twinkle was back in his eyes and she smacked his hand. "You are terrible."

  "No. I am a man that wants a kiss, so I was determined to win." He swept up her hand and kissed it.

  "Wouldn't you rather have oral sex?" She was unsure why she was wary to kiss him. How could a kiss be too personal when we have touched and caressed every other part of each other?

  "I am a man, I would never turn that down. But I won a kiss, and that is what I want."

  "You're impossible," she said with a roll of her eyes.

  "I prefer determined, or…how about irresistible?"

  "Really?" She raised a brow.

  "Seems to describe me quite well, don't you think?" Jaxson stood and pulled her out of her chair. "Would you rather I be inside you when this kiss takes place?"

  "No, I most certainly would not!" She realized he was teasing when his eyes sparkled. She slapped him on the bicep, and then once more. Damn him! How did I lose? "On second thought, yes."

  "I'm taking you up on that." He picked her up in his arms and carried her toward a messy bed he'd spotted earlier. She squealed but held on to him. Since the other bedroom looked as though it was never touched, he had to assume she slept in this one. He put her down on the floor and she shrugged out of the robe while he ditched the sweatpants.

  She pulled the covers to the foot of the bed and climbed in. He quickly settled his hips between her legs, kissing her breasts before nibbling her taut nipples as they moved against each other.

  It only took a few minutes before he hardened to the point of pain, and he slid his erection against her slick folds, readying them both for their joining. On an upward stroke he entered her, hearing her cry out. He remained buried deep, unmoving, as he surprised her by sliding his tongue inside her open mouth.

  When their tongues met, tasting each other, the underlying attraction was suddenly clear. He was fifty-seven years old, and he'd finally found his mate. A shifter knew his intended mate from first taste. Kaitlyn was his, and he was hers.

  She moaned and angled her face, her hands gripping his hair as the kiss turned frenzied. Their bodies writhed and thrusted, melding together in one cataclysmic orgasm that echoed between them.

  Jaxson felt a sudden piercing of his skin just above his ass, and he roared in completion before sinking his teeth into her right shoulder. He did not have long to bask in the moment when she smacked him upside the back of his head.

  "You marked me!"

  "You marked me first," he replied, confusion causing his forehead to wrinkle.

  "Still! Get off me!" she demanded.

  "I don't understand," he muttered, rolling off her to the side. "What is the matter, Kaitlyn?"

  "Don't call me Kaitlyn!" she snapped. "You're probably getting blood on my sheets." She rolled off the other side of the bed and stood with her hands on her hips.

  The sight of her shoulder where he'd marked her caused an instant erection. So that was why mates routinely had a dozen children. Wow. "You are gorgeous." He reached for her, and she evaded his hand.

  "And you are delusional!" Kate promptly stomped out of the bedroom.

  At least she was still naked. He climbed off the bed and stretched. He could not help but check his back out in the mirrored closet door. Her marks, plural, were two half-moons from the back of her hooves biting into his skin. He smiled. It was perfect…she was perfect, even if she was a little grumpy.

  He found her making a bunch of noise in the kitchen as she tossed their breakfast silverware and dishes into the sink. It surprised him that nothing broke. He slid in behind her, his erection pressed against the middle of her back. She stiffened. "Why are you so upset, Kaitlyn? We've finally found each other. You're my mate, love."

  "I'm married."

  His hands dropped in surprise and he took a step back. "Where is he?" She had no ring on her hand, and there were no pictures of a man anywhere.

  "He's buried in the back field." She turned on the hot water and poured in soap to make the water sudsy.

  "You're a widow," he muttered in sudden understanding. "Would you like to talk about it?"

  "Do I look like I want to talk about it?" She turned toward him and tears were filling her eyes.

  "Shh." He wrapped her in his arms and held her as she cried into his chest.

  When she finally quieted, she peered up at him and took a step back. "You should leave."

  "No," he replied simply. "You are mine, and I am yours."

  "It takes two to tango, and you just lost your dance partner, buddy."

  She ran out of the room and he heard a door slam in the distance. "Are all mates this troublesome?" he muttered to himself as he turned off the water in the sink.

  ~*~*~*~

  About mid-afternoon, tired of staring at the fire and the snow falling, he finally stood up and went to the kitchen. He was starving. He knew his mate had to be as well, though he hadn't heard a peep as she remained hidden in the bedroom in which they'd marked each other earlier.

  He made two sandwiches, ate his, and then ventured to the closed bedroom door. He knocked softly and knew she heard him when she yelled 'go away.' He tried the knob and the door swung inward. "I thought you might be hungry, love." She was in the bed, the covers pulled up to her neck, her back turned to him. He placed the plate on the nightstand and sat down beside her.

  He dared to place his hand over her covered hip and felt like he'd made progress when she didn't snap and shrug out of his touch. "I was married once."

  She peered over her shoulder at him before turning her face away again. "Uh huh."

  "Her name was Barbara. Everyone called her Babs."

  "Is she dead?"

  "I…you know, I don't know. That was decades ago. She was human and apparently the idea of me shifting was nicer than the reality. We divorced," he admitted.

  "Not the same thing," she huffed, covering her head with the blanket.

  "Well that is hardly fair. It broke my heart. Tell me how long you were married," he suggested, pulling back the covers on the empty side of the bed. He slid into the bed with her and hoped she had bad aim if she tried to hit him in the midsection.

  "Fifteen years."

  He heard a sniff and gently slid his hand over her waist. She jumped but did not attempt to hit him or pull away from him. "How did he die?"

  "Brain tumor. We didn't know he had it. He was mowing the lawn and just dropped to the ground. The doctor said it was instantaneous."

  Jaxson kissed the soft skin on her back and tightened his hold on her, figuring no words were needed.

  After a while, he heard her stomach growl and he chuckled. "Would you like that sandwich now?"

  "Maybe." She sat up an
d he handed over the plate. For such a tiny woman, she had quite an appetite.

  "You realize I'm not leaving," he said. The way her mouth dropped open in surprise, it did not seem as though she realized that. "If you would like to live somewhere else, we can move. If not, we'll live here. Whatever makes you comfortable, love."

  "Great! What makes me comfortable is living alone and you going away." Kate crossed her arms over her chest.

  Jaxson laughed. "I don't need you to be that comfortable."

  "You are impossible!" she exclaimed.

  "You've said that before," he reminded her. "And you, dear Kaitlyn, are not the easiest to get along with either. I believe we match quite well."

  She rolled her eyes. "That's debatable."

  "And we have the rest of our long shifters lives for that debate. I look forward to it, especially if you're starkers,"

  "Is that all you are interested in?" She sighed in exasperation.

  "Not everything," he said while grinning. "I want to know everything about you, love. Your hopes, your dreams, your past. I want to shift and run with you. And, of course, we'll have children. Lots of children."

  "Lots of children?" her voice squeaked.

  "Definitely. I can't wait for you to carry my little cub!"

  "Foal, you mean," she corrected with a frown.

  "The boys will be lions, and you can teach our little girls to be horses."

  "Our children will choose what they want to shift into!" she growled.

  "I suppose our children can choose their shifts," he relented with that all too familiar twinkle in his eyes.

  "Oh, you!" Kate smacked his arm.

  "At what point can I claim mate abuse?" He chuckled and tackled her, kissing away any retorts.

  ~*~*~*~

  The rest of the weekend was spent in mated bliss. Mostly. Kate still refused to admit the relationship was anything more than a long weekend affair, though Jaxson swore it was for life.

  Chapter Three

  Monday saw their first attempt to leave the house. Kate worked for hours preparing the snowmobile to ride around the property. It did not take her long to figure out Jaxson was not mechanically inclined, as he instead offered useless advice and kept distracting her with sex.

  A ride to the end of the property wound up being a trek to Pepper Valley where they decided to get a meal at Great Scotts Bar & Grill.

  "Kate!"

  She turned toward the voice as a body enveloped her and she realized it was Fiona by the voice and red hair. "Hi, Fi."

  Fiona pulled back with a deep inhale, keeping her hands firmly on the arms of Kate's coat. "You're mated!"

  From beside her, Kate could see Jaxson's proud smirk. "Temporarily," she grumbled under her breath.

  "What?" Fiona asked.

  "Nothing. This is Jaxson Barnes," Kate said while haphazardly waving toward her…toward the man that had been sharing her bed, and temporarily wore her mark. "This is Fiona Scott. Her dad owns the place."

  "Hello." He grinned at the young woman, who was even smaller than his mate. He oomphed as the girl wrapped him in a fierce hug.

  "It's so nice to meet you!" Fiona exclaimed. "Isn't Kate just wonderful?"

  "Better than bangers and mash!" Jaxson agreed, taking his mate's hand.

  Fiona looked to Kate.

  "Who knows? He's English," Kate said with a shrug.

  "Sausage and mashed potatoes? It's my favorite."

  "Okay." Kate felt a grin settle on her face.

  "He's hot, and that accent is hotter," Fi whispered into Kate's ear, pulling back with a giggle.

  "True," Kate found herself squeezing his hand as Fiona led them to a booth, then supplied them with menus and silverware.

  "Do I have something on my face?" Jaxson unrolled the silverware pack and picked up the cloth napkin to wipe around his mouth.

  "No. Why?" Kate had to admit he was acting even stranger than usual.

  "Because a lot of people are staring at me." He nodded to a few and put the napkin in his lap, then tucked his hair back behind his ears.

  "It's not you specifically. Most of the people here belong to my clan, and I do not go on dates."

  "Is that what all the fuss is about?" Jaxson took her hands over the table. "Shall I stand and announce our mating?"

  "No! Don't you dare!" Kate exclaimed in horror.

  Jaxson's eyes twinkled and he brought her hands up and kissed each in turn.

  Kate melted at the sweet gesture, trying to ignore the pointed stares of her clan members. Besides, with Sarah the clan gossip in the room, everyone would be told of their mating, whether they wanted to hear it or not.

  ~*~*~*~

  They made a quick stop at the small motel where Jaxson had stayed before meeting her to retrieve his things. When they returned home, they made love in front of the fireplace twice before climbing in the actual bed to sleep.

  Kate had to admit that it was nice to be held again after all those lonely years. Jaxson was always so warm, and he always hugged her close, making her feel protected. I don't need protecting, but still… He did snore though, but she had been used to that with her husband. For months and months after Charlie died, she had to sleep with a radio on because it had been far too quiet.

  Jaxson moved and cupped her breast, giving it a tight squeeze. "I know you're awake, love. Is something the matter?"

  She turned in his arms to face him. The moonlight streaming in was made even brighter by reflecting off the snow and it lit up almost every angle of his face. "Are you going to Australia?"

  He paused at the question. "Not unless you plan to go with me."

  "No thank you." She nibbled nervously at her bottom lip.

  "Obviously my trip around the world has been canceled. I've found my home. It's wherever you are, Kaitlyn." He leaned in and slid his mouth over hers, and they were lost for long minutes, enjoying the addictive taste that mates craved.

  He pulled away from the kiss and trailed his lips down to her chest. "I will have to leave for a little bit, in order to settle my affairs in London. Will you come with me?"

  He suckled on her nipple and she squirmed. "No. I don't fly…on airplanes."

  "Do you take flight?" Jaxson peered up at her and waited for a nod before he went back to his kisses and nibbles.

  "Yes, as a hawk."

  "I've never flown, you must teach me." He kissed her breast once more. "Tell me of your family, Kaitlyn."

  "I have no family. I ran away from home at twelve and wound up in the circus. I fell when a fireworks display went off prematurely. There was a net, so I was safe, but I could not make myself get up there to try again. The circus went on to their next gig, and I stayed in Pepper Valley. I met my Charlie here. We were both young and impulsive. We married before either of us were twenty. Of course, by the time he died, he was beginning to look as though he could have been my father, while I looked the same as the day we met."

  He nodded, sliding his hand along her side. "I am glad shifters age slower."

  "What about you? Do you have children?" she asked.

  "No. But maybe you are up the pole now." He placed a few kisses over her flat stomach.

  "I don't want to have children. I'm too old, the time has passed."

  "How old are you?" She looked in her early thirties, but of course, you could never tell a shifter's age by looks alone.

  "Fifty-four."

  "I'm fifty-seven. We are not too old to have children, love. In fact, we have lived long enough that we're ready to settle down with young ones. Let's do it, Kaitlyn. Let's have a baby."

  "No thank you." She pulled away and turned on her side, her back to him.

  Jaxson laughed. "You do realize we have been trying, if not consciously." They'd had sex multiple times without protection. And now that they were mated, the likelihood went up exponentially.

  "You are impossible!" She tugged the covers closer to her face, fisting the material.

  "And you are the sexiest woman I have ev
er laid eyes upon," he purred, kissing along her back. He managed get his knee between her legs and pulled her top leg back over his waist. "I want you," he whispered, sliding his erection along her folds.

  She gasped and her hand went behind her to grip his thigh.

  He slowly stretched her as he pushed inside. His hand gripped at her breast. "I want you all day, every day, Kaitlyn." When he was fully seated, her sex gripped him tight.

  "Take me, Jaxson!" she murmured, rolling her hips to take him deeper.

  "Mmm." He flipped her on her stomach, drawing her hips up, and thrust into her repeatedly.

  She writhed and slammed back against him, her hands fisting a pillow as he rode her. She cried out as an orgasm struck her hard and fast. Then she was on her back, and he was thrusting into her as if possessed.

  "Come for me, Kaitlyn. Say my name. Swear you are my mate for life!" he demanded. He wrenched her legs up and out, his body covered in perspiration as he drove into her repeatedly.

  "Jaxson," she repeated his name, over and over, getting louder and louder as he held her orgasm just out of her reach.

  "Say you're my mate and I'll give you what you need. I'll give you all of me, everything."

  "I belong to you," she relented. He changed the angle of his thrusts, his hard cock rubbing against her clit with every strong thrust. She came apart with a scream of his name.

  "You own my heart and soul, Kaitlyn." He growled as he came, his release coming in spurts until he thought it would never end. He finally collapsed down on top of her, staying within her, hoping their child would take root this very night.

  Chapter Four

  Kate woke up with a grin on her face. She was sore everywhere, in the best way possible. Finding herself alone, she knew he was either cooking breakfast, or in the shower. Since she did not hear the water running, she decided it was breakfast time. She walked through the house, noting a chill was in the air from the fire going out. She walked in to the kitchen, but it was empty and nothing was cooking on the stove.

  With a frown, she pulled on her robe and walked out onto the porch. She saw footsteps leading to the short circular driveway, where the footprints disappeared into tire marks. Hmm, what would he go into town for without waking her? She looked over to the open shed where her truck and snowmobile were still parked, untouched. Someone had to come to pick him up, but who? He knew nobody here but her, right?