Corinne jumped back as the sauce splattered on the counter.

“Shit!”

She couldn’t afford to speckle her new white dress with red Bolognese spaghetti sauce. She was determined to make everything perfect. Tonight was the night she was going to fix her marriage.

Having averted near disaster, she wiped up the spill and turned off the burner. The clock on the microwave blinked 7:53, which gave her exactly seven minutes to put the finishing touches on the table. Her new heels clicked as she hurried to the apartment’s tiny dining room –just a square of the great room, delineated by the back of the sofa. The tiny table was set with the best plates she had and the tall silver candlesticks, one of the only things she had left of her mother, gleamed brightly and newly polished. She’d worked on this moment all day. For a week, really.

She had to do something. It had been almost five years since the wedding, a day she’d thought was the happiest in her life. But lately, Marcus barely paid attention to her. It was worse than when his hot temper flared and they argued for hours. That meant he was at least engaged, plus it usually ended in hot sex, and with a wolf-shifter like Marcus, it was worth the yelling.

But he hadn’t touched her in weeks.

She knew why, and she was ashamed. He wanted pups, and she was happy to give them to him. After all, she’d always dreamed of being a mother. But for some reason, her voluptuous body that looked perfect for bearing children seemed to be a dud. It wasn’t something she could argue either. If only she could show Marcus that it was as disappointing to her as it was to him.

Corinne brushed a tear from her cheek as she set the matches down on the table. The tiny flames seemed to blur. She checked her watch – two minutes!

Corinne rushed to the bathroom and checked the mirror for the fiftieth time. Marcus wouldn’t be happy about her blowing so much money on the designer dress, but he would appreciate the final look. Innocent, white, and flirty with tantalizingly sheer layers that billowed out as she moved, yet hugged her in all the right places. And she hadn’t worn anything beneath, anticipating it being ripped to shreds in seconds.

Thankfully, her momentary crying session hadn’t ruined her makeup either. The sound of Marcus’ key in the door prompted a last deep breath and she fluffed out her long blond hair one more time before scurrying back to the living area. He adored her long hair so much she never cut it, which meant a lot of maintenance, but she loved that he loved it so much.

This was it – the moment she’d been daydreaming about for days. He’d never be able to resist her.

“Welcome home,” she said in a breathy voice as he walked inside.

He froze; his dark eyes fell on the table and the candles and his expression was unreadable behind his rough, unshaven face and wild brown hair. She waited as his gaze slid from the table to her. He lifted his eyebrows, letting out a low whistle.

“You like?” she asked, twirling. “I know you’ll like dinner. It’s your favorite. I thought we could open a bottle of that nice red we got as a gift from your boss last year and—”

“Babe. I told you, we’re saving that for a special occasion. What’s all this about?” He asked, his gravelly voice that usually sent shivers of anticipation over her made her heart skitter with nerves instead.

“What’s all this about?” she echoed. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Babe, you are crazy. Nice dress though. Where’s this dinner you spoke of?” Marcus’ lopsided grin wasn’t going to smooth things over this time.

Corinne seethed as the legs of his chair scraped against the beat-up hardwood. He sat at the table and pulled out his phone.

Don’t blow this. Breathe. Just breathe and move on to phase two.

Some part of her anticipated things not going the way she dreamed, so she’d taken additional steps. Corinne smirked as she retrieved her special dinner. But when she rejoined him at the table, the candles were nothing more than wisps of smoke and the overhead light glared down.

She nearly dropped the pasta.

“I thought,” she said, trying to control the bite in her words, “that it would be more romantic with the lights out.”

Marcus didn’t glance up from his phone. In fact, he grinned at something he was reading. “What? Yeah, I couldn’t see, babe.”

Corinne plopped some spaghetti on his plate. He reached over automatically and started twirling some noodles with his face still in the phone.

“What are you doing?” she asked, words slightly clipped.

“Huh? Oh, just business stuff.”

Business stuff? He was in construction. How much business stuff could there be after hours on a cell phone?

Corinne cleared her throat and tried again. “I tried something new today. I was reading up on the Internet about fertility treatments, and I found this acupuncture place. It was a little freaky at first, but it really didn’t hurt when they stuck the needles in. Anyway, the lady said I’m primed and ready to receive your sperm within the next few days.”

She waited, biting her lip.

Slowly, Marcus looked up from his phone. “And how much money did you spend on this quack?”

Heat flooded Corinne’s face. “Not as much as I spent on this dress,” she snapped.

Marcus growled and his eyes glowed yellow. “What the fuck, Corinne? You know we’re saving up.”

“For what? For pups? Because newsflash – if I don’t try something like this, it’s never going to happen.”

“That’s not my fault. It certainly doesn’t run on my side of the family.” Marcus gave her his full attention now, slamming his phone down on the table and making the whole thing shake.

Low blow. Corinne sniffed. Her mother had died having her and as far as she knew, there wasn’t a great track record otherwise.

“You know what else might increase our odds?” she asked, smiling. “If you actually fucked me once in a while.”

She couldn’t believe she’d said that.

“Funny, I don’t feel like fucking you when you’re being a bitch.” Marcus flipped the table so suddenly Corinne barely had time to jump back. The sauce she’d been so worried about an hour ago splattered the floor, the wall, the back of the couch and her dress.

“Where are you going?” she demanded as Marcus grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

“To get some dinner where I won’t be nagged,” he growled. “And clean that shit up.”

Corrine’s mouth hung open as he slammed the door behind him. Staring around her at the impossible mess, she sunk to the ground and finally let the tears flow free.

“Wanker,” Corinne muttered as she wiped the last bit of sauce off the hardwood. She’d been calling Marcus every horrible name she could think of and had moved on to English terms she’d learned on cable.

She smiled, sitting back on the floor. She liked the sound of that one. That’s when she noticed it. Marcus’ damn phone must have skittered all the way into the corner beside the bookshelf. Sighing, she stood and stooped to retrieve it.

About to start playing How Hard Do I Have to Throw The Phone to Break It, it buzzed against her palm.

Who was texting the wanker?

It wasn’t a text though, it was an alert from some app. Corinne narrowed her gaze and read the name: ComeShift. Something inside of her went a little numb as she typed in Marcus’ password. He’d never given it to her, but he was idiot enough to use his birthday. 0428.

It was some kind of shifter dating site. Corinne’s vision went red as she examined his profile. The first thing she noticed was his profile pic – the asswipe (time to go back to some tried and true American names) had actually used a cropped version of their wedding photo!

Her eyes trailed down the screen. Status: Single and searching. Corinne barely noticed the breath coming faster through her nose as she continued on. His inbox was full, but it seemed he’d been having a conversation with someone over the in-app messenger before he left.

Corinne hurriedly scrolled back to the beginning.

I so want to meet you! *hearts and flowers*. Corinne gagged but kept going.

Why are you so interested? Marcus wanted to know, followed by a winky face.

Because wolves are so cute and cuddly. I’d love to make you thump your leg.

Idiot. That was a dog not a wolf. And Marcus was far from cuddly.

Well, then you’ll have to scratch in all the right places, he replied.

Don’t tease me. When and where?

The Tiki Club. 9 PM.

Corinne glanced at the time. It was almost ten. Had he actually met this skank? Did it matter? He’d gone so far as to download the app and put up a profile. Hell, he’d had a ton of messages. Who knew how often he did this?

Corinne marched to the kitchen and dumped his phone down the garbage disposal, turned on the water, and let her rip. Pieces flew out, making her duck, but when she’d finally turned off the power, she was feeling slightly better.

Now the question was, what did she do?

As sick and betrayed as she felt inside, she knew she’d never be able to trust him again. He was an alpha male, after all – at least that’s what he was always saying. “Babe, I’d be the head of the pack if I decided to run wild. But I’d rather run wild with you in the bedroom.” Then he’d growl for her.

That always sent shivers down all the right places.

Creep. Dog. Fuckwad.

Corinne repeated as many names as she could think of as she ripped her stained dress off and dug through her closet to find her sluttiest outfit. It had to be the little red skirt that landed mid-thigh and crop top that dipped so low it made her nervous her breasts would simply pop right out of the tight halter.

Corinne fluffed her hair out long and loose, then applied some bright red lipstick to match before slipping on her tallest fuck-me pumps.

Two could play at this game.

Corrine pulled up a seat to the old computer, ignoring what remained of the overturned table and spaghetti. He could lick it up as a midnight snack if he wanted to. She wouldn’t be cleaning up after him anymore.

She downloaded some free divorce forms from the Internet. It wasn’t like they had money or kids to fight over. She wanted to make it as simple and clean as possible. While those were printing, she started her own profile on the Shifter App.

Single and ready to mingle, she wrote as her status, trying to keep her fingers from shaking as she typed. She took a quick selfie with pouty lips and lots of cleavage and popped it in the picture space, then she hit the button to make it live before she could second guess it.

Corinne put her phone aside and retrieved the bottle of wine from the liquor cabinet. If this wasn’t a special occasion, then what was? She popped it open and poured a large glass to sip while filling out the divorce paperwork.

It didn’t take long to fill out, which made her feel kind of sad inside. Was that really all there was to her marriage of five years? A couple of sheets of paperwork? She gulped down the rest of the glass and poured another as her phone started beeping with messages from the new app.

The first guy was a skeezer (she wasn’t sure what it meant but she liked the sound of it). He was a wolf like Marcus, but with sandy blond hair and she didn’t trust that he wasn’t cheating on someone who was just like her.

She swiped left and his leering picture disappeared.

Next was a lion – intriguing, but clearly too into his own body from all his weight lifting pics. He was even kissing his own bicep in one of them.

Corinne was about to put the phone aside when she got one more ding.

The picture that popped up was a guy with dark skin and a warm smile. She couldn’t help but smile back at her phone and the way the skin near his bright green eyes crinkled up. It made him seem more… real.

She flicked the screen so she could read more about him.

Confirmed Bachelor. Hmmm.

Looking for fun and friendship. Is he for real?

Firefighter. That could be fun!

Corinne hiccupped and slurped up the rest of her wine as she swiped right and sent a quick message to meet her at the same place her no-good husband went to get lucky.

Her heart skipped a little when he messaged back right away that he’d be there in half an hour.

Just enough time to write a Dear John note to dear Marcus.

Corinne paused, hand lightly brushing the door handle to the bar. Her heart beat along with the faint drumbeat coming from inside. She felt ill. This was the place she and Marcus had gone for their last anniversary – quiet, dark and filled with the sounds of actual tropical birds and island music.

But now all she could picture was Marcus – the old Marcus who used to devour her with his eyes – looking like that at another woman. What if they were still in there? What the hell was she doing?

Corinne took a ragged breath and spun around, nearly banging into the broad chest of a tall man.

“Oh!”

“Are you okay?” Strong arms steadied her as she craned her neck back enough to look up into bright green eyes.

“It’s you,” she said, unable to form any other words.

“Corinne, right?” He smiled broadly, flashing bright white teeth against the smooth dark skin of his face.

Corinne’s heart sped up faster than the drums as she nodded. “And you’re—” She stopped just short of saying ‘hotter than your picture.’

“Gordon.” Keeping his strong hands on her arms, he guided her gently out of the way when the door opened behind her, almost knocking her aside.

“Um, thanks.”

“No problem.” Gordon tore his eyes off her for a moment and surveyed the scene through the door before it swung closed. It was pretty dark, but his expression darkened slightly like he saw something more.

“Everything okay?” she asked, missing the warmth of his hands after he realized he was still holding her and let go.

“I’m sorry. Yes, of course. I’m just not used to places like this, I guess. I’m a bit of a homebody to be honest. But if this is where you’re comfortable…”

“Actually,” Corinne admitted, “I was having second thoughts myself.”

“I have an idea.” Gordon’s smile broadened – still nowhere near as wide as his chest – and he offered her an elbow before steering her around a pothole and to a black luxury sedan where he opened the passenger door for her and waited for her to get in.

“How do I know you’re not some serial killer?” Corinne asked, half-jokingly when he took the driver’s side.

“I guess you don’t. But then again, I know nothing about you either.” He started the engine and was backing up when Corinne caught site of Marcus’ silver mustang on the side of the building. It was only about five seconds, but it felt like an eternity as she watched the naked figure of the bimbo straddling him in the front seat, his face buried in her fake boobs.

Corinne squeezed her eyes shut, unable to get the vision out of her head as Gordon took off down the street, oblivious to the situation.

“So… It’s been a while since I’ve done this sort of thing,” Gordon said, staring out the windshield. “To be honest, I only did it to get the guys at the firehouse off my back.”

“Oh. But you sent me a message,” Corrine said, mind still mostly on what she’d just witnessed.

“Well, yeah. Your picture was so beautiful. My buddy, Blake, was making me pick someone to message and well… I’m really glad your picture was real. I mean, you look amazing.” Gordon cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly while still focused on the road.

Corrine couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks.”

“So… what made you post on a shifter app? Wait. Don’t tell me. Let me guess.” Gordon turned into an older neighborhood with tall brick duplexes lining one side of the street and shops, cafés and other small businesses lining the other. He pulled into a spot on the commercial side of the street and finally turned to survey her.

“You’re a tigress,” he said, narrowing his green eyes in thought. “Felines are among the most dangerous shifters. People don’t realize the power they possess.”

Corinne giggled. “Nope. Sorry to disappoint, but I’m actually not a shifter at all.” A thought suddenly occurred to her. What if he wasn’t a shifter either? What if they both went on looking for one?

“You can’t be one of those women who are obsessed with shifters, you know, for the animal part, right?” Gordon grimaced, looking worried for the first time.

“What? Oh.” Bestiality wasn’t part of it. She and Marcus had human sex, just wild. “No, I’m not a groupie. I…” Oh what the hell? The worst-case scenario she’d have to use an app to call for a ride. “I was married to a shifter for five years.”

Gordon’s eyebrows rose in the air. “I wasn’t expecting that. Okay. Recently divorced then? I can deal with that.” He nodded.

Corinne didn’t bother to correct him. As soon as Marcus signed the papers, she’d be recently divorced.

“What type of shifter are you?” she asked, tossing her hair back over her shoulder. If he was 100% human she wanted to know. Though she doubted it. Not with those eyes.

Please don’t be a wolf.

A grin spread over Gordon’s face. “I don’t want to scare you.” 

Corinne shrugged. “My ex is a wolf. Alpha male. I doubt you could be worse than that. Besides I didn’t ask you to shift.”

Gordon chuckled. “Alpha male, eh? Is that what he calls himself?”

“Why?” Corinne asked, a little offended until she remembered she was angry at Marcus.

“Sorry. It’s just that I’ve met a few wolves in my day. The ones who brag about their standing are usually the ones who couldn’t make it as a pack leader – at least in my experience.”

Corinne snorted. “Yeah, that’s probably about right.”

“Dragon,” Gordon said, opening his car door.

It took a moment for what he said to register. Dragon? Those were the most powerful and rare shifters around. Corinne snapped out of it when he opened her door from the other side.

“Ready?” he asked, offering a hand.

Corinne remembered the warmth and strength of his grip on her arms from earlier and eagerly slipped her hand in his.

“So where are you taking me?” she asked, noting that most of the stores and even cafés were closed at this hour.

“Nadine’s,” Gordon said, leading her down the sidewalk. “It’s kind of a diner-dump, but it’s great food and they’re open 24 hours.”

Corinne realized she was hungry when he mentioned food, though she hoped this Nadine’s offered some kind of alcohol.

The place was deserted, but the waitress, an older woman with a bun and a pen tucked behind her ear, recognized Gordon and came over right away.

“Do you like omelets?” Gordon asked, capturing her with those emerald eyes of his.

“Yes,” Corinne said, surprised. She loved breakfast food. She could eat it morning, noon and night, but Marcus hated it. He skipped breakfast most days.

“They serve breakfast all day here and it’s amazing,” Gordon raved. “I’ll have the works in mine, Loretta. And a beer.”

Loretta winked. “Hash browns and wheat toast. Extra butter. I know. But how about your lady friend?”

“I’d love a veggie omelet,” Corinne said. “And a beer, too, please.”

Gordon turned out to be as charming as he looked as they chatted and laughed over omelets. She watched, fascinated, as he poured hot sauce over all his food and even in his beer.

When he caught her staring, he winked. “Dragon thing,” he said. “We like it hot.”

Corinne felt the heat work its way through her insides until her nether regions burned with desire. She wondered how hot he liked it exactly.

By the time they finished, it was after midnight and the table was filled with empty dishes and beer bottles.

“Cherry pie?” Gordon offered, leaning across the table until she could feel the heat roiling off him.

“No thanks,” Corinne said, voice throaty from desire. “That’s not what I’m hungry for right now.”

Did she say that out loud?

She could swear she heard a low growl emanating from somewhere deep in his chest. His green eyes were smoldering, but also not quite clear – probably from all the beer and Corinne was feeling pretty uninhibited, too.

“You can’t drive like that,” she said when he laid some money down on the table for Loretta.

“My place is right across the street,” he said, offering a hand again when it was time to rise from the booth. “But don’t feel pressured. I can call you a cab and I’ll be happy to pay.”

“I’d love to see your place,” Corinne said, ignoring his chivalry. This was one princess who didn’t want to be saved from the dragon.

They grinned silently at each other as he slung an arm around her shoulder and walked her across the way. She at once felt both comfortable and familiar as she drunk in his spicy scent. He led her across the way to one of the red brick buildings she found so charming and helped her navigate the steps up to the door.

“You live in a duplex?” Corinne asked as the world spun around her. But as long as Gordon kept one arm securely around her as he fished for his key, she wasn’t worried.

“Yes. Well, the other unit is vacant. The other owners and I have been talking about maybe going in together to rent it and turn it into kind of a clubhouse for the kids around here. A lot of them are out on the streets with nowhere to go during the day.”

The door clicked open and Gordon helped her inside and to an overstuffed sofa. Comfy.

“Can I get you something? A beer?” Gordon asked, rubbing his palms on his jeans. He looked as nervous as Corinne felt. When Corinne got anxious though, she had a habit of saying things she’d later regret.

“I’m good on beer,” Corinne said, leaning back into the cushions. “Why don’t you come over here and show me how hot your dragon breath is.”

Like that.

Gordon sat beside her, making the couch sink in a bit. “Look, I don’t want you to do anything you aren’t ready—”

Corinne threw her arms around his neck and pressed her mouth over his. It was hot. Hell, everything about him was hot, she decided, as she yanked his shirt free of his pants and slid her hands up over the smooth, taut skin of his back, enjoying the heat and the feel of his rippling muscles.

To her delight, he kissed her back with abandon, sucking on her bottom lip and drawing his teeth back lightly over it, which sent shivers down to the bottom of her belly. His mouth moved down over the curve of her chin to her bare neck where he sucked at the tender skin, also lightly teasing it with his teeth as his hand slid up her side, cupping her breast through the halter and running his thumb over the bare top poking out of her low neckline. Her skin seared from the contact, prickles of desire awakening beneath his touch.

Corinne closed her eyes and laid back on the cloud-like cushions as Gordon pulled her shoes off and began working his way up her body with his mouth – starting with her toes. By the time he reached her inner thighs, she was dripping with desire and her hips arched in the air, legs opening to welcome him.

Slowly, he drew the bottom of her dress up toward her waist, lightly rubbing her skin with his thumbs until she moaned with delicious frustration. He chuckled softly as he tugged the thin strap of material that made up her thong to the side, revealing her swollen sex, waiting for him.

His tongue flicked against her clit, and she sucked in air like she was drowning. Whatever he was doing, it wasn’t anything she’d felt before, and it was amazing.

“What is that?” she gasped as he seemed to taste multiple parts of her at once.

“Forked tongue,” he said, rising up from between her knees.

“Oh lord,” she said, falling back into the cushions again.

Gordon stood and dropped his pants, revealing a cock about two inches longer and at least an inch thicker than Marcus’ pathetic junk. She could almost feel the heat roll off it as he positioned himself between her legs.

Now naked, he leaned down over her, body against body, hot and sweaty and hard as he tugged her breasts loose from their prison. She could actually see his long forked tongue this time as he controlled the tips of it individually to surround her hard nipple and tug.

But he didn’t enter her. What was he waiting for?

“Fuck me,” she cried when she couldn’t take it anymore. “For the love of God, please fuck me.”

Gordon grinned his gorgeous grin above her as he found her entrance, wet and hot and so ready. Bursts of pleasure exploded within her as he worked himself inside, farther than she thought possible.

“Is it okay?” he panted, fully inside.

“Yesssss,” she hissed, hips in the air.

Slowly he drew out almost all the way and then faster this time, plunged back inside, making her moan with pleasure. Encouraged, or maybe unable to hold back anymore, Gordon pumped his cock deep inside of her in a hard, fast rhythm as she adjusted the angle of her hips so that he struck gold with each thrust.

Corinne lost track of where she began and he ended. They were a single, perfect organism, in sync with the universe. Wave after wave of intense pleasure flowed through her until a final rush of ultimate bliss tore through them and he collapsed to her side, breathing heavy.

Corinne was a melted lump of jelly. Just lifting her leg a little sent shivers through her body. “Wow,” was all she could say.

“Was it okay?” Gordon asked, brushing some of her hair from her face.

“Okay?” she repeated, blinking. “No.”

His face fell.

“I would never describe what just happened as ‘okay’. Maybe earth shattering. But not okay.”

Gordon’s beautiful grin returned. “You’re good for my ego.”

“You’re good for my everything,” Corinne countered.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Gordon said, carefully navigating over her and up off the couch. “I’m going to go get us some water and draw a nice bath for you. Or maybe us, if you feel like more company.”

Corinne’s heart skittered, wondering if he’d make the water boil with his body heat. “Thanks, sounds good.”

She watched him go and slowly stood, still dizzy, but completely relaxed in every way. She worked her way out of her dress, which was now mostly around her waist and kicked off her panties.

She heard the rush of water through the pipes and smiled, about to go join in, when her purse, discarded on the ground, began to buzz.

Corinne hesitated, but finally snatched it up to check it out. It was Marcus. Apparently, his parking lot hook up was over.

WTF CORINNE?

All caps. He was yelling.

DIVORCE? And you couldn’t even clean up your fucking mess?

My mess? Corinne fumed as she punched the glass of her phone with her fingers.

Yes. Divorce. And you can clean your own goddamn mess from now on. Or ask Little Red Riding Hood to do it for you. She’d probably think it was adorable. At least for about five minutes till she meets the real you.

Corinne pressed send and held her breath for a second. She was extra dizzy, heart pounding, but she was also invigorated. She waited for two full minutes for a response and then…

You are fucking nuts. I’m not cheating.

Corinne laughed out loud.

She opened the Shifter app and took a screen shot of his page. Then she sent it along with another message.

Don’t bother denying. I saw you in the parking lot tonight at the Tiki Bar. Sign the papers.

She could almost hear him howl miles away.

Where are you? We can’t afford a hotel.

With a friend.

Bullshit.

Corinne couldn’t resist. She took a picture of the messed-up couch, along with both of their clothes – clearly both hers and a guy’s – messed up on the floor and sent it.

You’re right. More than a friend now.

Corinne powered her phone off and tossed it on the sofa before letting the sound of the bath guide her toward Gordon, who stood waiting with a glass of water, nude and glistening with the heat of their encounter.

The tub was oversized, and he’d set tea lights along the edge so that they flickered in the dark bathroom. A few rose petals floated on the surface of the now-filled tub and she smiled.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Best I could do on short notice. I didn’t exactly anticipate this. But I can’t tell you how happy I am it happened.”

Corinne pushed the picture of Marcus out of her head and slipped into the warm water, beckoning him in with her.

She’d planned on pleasuring him, the way Marcus always wanted, but instead he guided her forward so he could sit behind her, pulling her back against him, and working out the strain in her shoulders she didn’t even realize existed until that moment.

After a bit, she tried to turn around, but he held her firmly by the shoulders and buried his face in the soft spot between her shoulder and neck, his lips sending now familiar tingles up and down her body. She rolled her head back against his hard chest and moaned softly as his mouth worked up and over her ear.

“You make me crazy with desire with those sounds you make.” His hot breath covered the side of her face as his hands reached around, cupping her breasts from behind and running his fingers over her nipples.

“You’re not the only one,” she said as one of his hands slipped down her stomach between her legs.

“I want to make you come like this,” he breathed again as he slid a finger inside of her and massaged her clit with his thumb at the same time.

“What about you?” she asked, already building toward climax.

“This turns me on like you wouldn’t believe,” he said, sliding a second finger inside and pushing farther in as he tugged at her nipple, rolling it between his fingers.

Corinne’s breath sped up as he pleasured her, guiding her over him backwards and seated just as she was about to peak, his enormous cock sending her immediately over the edge as she cried out in ecstasy.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he said over her ear again as he held her hips firmly with his hands and thrust up inside of her, making the water slosh up and over the sides of the tub, extinguishing all but one of the tiny candles.

Corinne had never experienced multiple orgasms before. It was incredible how one explosion of pleasure after another coursed through her, radiating out over her entire body as she bounced on his lap.

When he finally finished, she was glad – not because she was uncomfortable – but because she was sure she had to be close to passing out from the intense rapture that coursed through her again and again.

“How was that?” he asked, helping her from the tub.

“I’m speechless,” she said. “You have a magical cock.”

Gordon laughed, catching her as she slipped a little on the spilled water on the tile. He scooped her into his arms and carried her to his bedroom, laying her gently on the queen-sized bed.

“I don’t know if I can take another one right now,” she admitted, slightly embarrassed.

“Good. Because I need to recuperate, too. Get some rest and we can pick up again in the morning, if you want. I make a mean omelet.”

Corinne was too tired to mention that they’d already had omelets that night. Instead she drifted off with a huge smile on her face as he tucked a warm blanket around her.

Screw Marcus. She’d just had the fuck of her life.

The morning sun streamed through the window across from the bed and Corinne groaned. She hadn’t even opened her eyes yet and her head was pounding. Maybe with any luck Marcus had grabbed breakfast on the way in to work and she wouldn’t have to…

The smell of fresh coffee forced her eyes open and she gasped, sitting up a little too fast. The events of the night before came rushing in like a tidal wave and she threw a hand over her mouth to prevent the inevitable as she rushed for the little bathroom to her right.

But heaving until she was empty didn’t make her feel any better as she realized she was completely naked. Marcus cheating was one thing. He was a grade-A asshat. But she should have had more self-control. How many times had they done it last night? It was a bit of a blur, but the image of Gordon’s smooth dark skin, shimmering with sweat, made her squirm even sick in the bathroom.

That only made her feel worse. Gordon was a nice guy. A firefighter. A hero. Hell, hadn’t he said something about helping the neighborhood kids? Well, at least he’d had a good time. She hoped.

She splashed some water on her face and rinsed her mouth out before snagging Gordon’s enormous bathrobe from a hook on the back of the door. It felt like a warm hug, all soft and full of Gordon’s spicy scent.

She instantly felt better as she made her way to the main living area. It wasn’t going to get easier to confront him. But the coffee did smell good…

To her immense relief, when she stepped out of the bedroom, he was nowhere to be found. But on the small kitchen table was a note propped up in front of a plate, covered in aluminum foil.

Gingerly, she picked it up.

I wanted to be here to greet you, but you were sound asleep and I didn’t want to wake you. I made breakfast as promised. I’m so sorry I had to go, but I got called in for a fire on the west side. I had an amazing time last night and hope you did, too. Help yourself to coffee and whatever else you’d like. If you need a ride, go ahead and use my app. I have money on there. I left my tablet on the counter for you. 

Gordon

The words began to blur in front of her and she realized she was crying. This stranger had shown her more kindness than her husband had in five years.

That’s when she remembered turning off her phone after drunk texting him.

Shit.

Corinne snatched her phone and clothes off the couch, where they’d been laid out so as not to wrinkle. She wiped at her eyes and pulled on her clothes, carefully replacing the robe in the bathroom.

Helping herself to coffee from the pot on the counter, Corinne shook as she powered on the cell.

Ten messages. All from Marcus.

Most of them were a string of swear words. Apparently, he also liked to play the let’s-see-how-many-bad-words-I-can-use-to-describe-my-spouse game. There was even a dick pic. Who knew how many diseases he’d picked up? Corinne may have dodged a bullet with him not sleeping with her for so long.

Then again, what did she really know about this Gordon guy?

A one-night stand. She’d never in her life done that before.

The last text from Marcus was recent and she almost didn’t open the pics attached. When she did click on them though, she saw the divorce papers she’d printed out with his signature scrawled across them.

He’d done it.

Just like that. It was over. Five years ended.

Corinne set the phone down and sat at the table. She peeled the foil back off the plate Gordon had left her. It was a perfect omelet with hash browns on the side. She glanced at the sink. No dirty dishes. He’d even cleaned up after himself.

She picked up the fork and snagged a bite.

It was delicious and suddenly she was famished. She must have expended quite a few calories the night before.

Corinne cleaned the plate and washed up after herself after having one more cup of coffee for the road.

But before she left the little duplex, she turned Gordon’s note over and wrote him one on the back.

Gordon,

Thank you for the night of my life. Yes, it was fun for me, too. Take care.

Corinne

She fished in her purse for her red lipstick, smoothed it on and pressed her lips to the paper, leaving a kiss behind.

Corinne slipped out the door and felt like a strange layer of protection had been peeled off. Drawing a deep breath, she held her head as high as she could and strode down the street, high heels and slutty dress at ten in the morning, trying to ignore the looks she got from passersby – ogling from the guys and daggers from the ladies.

It didn’t matter. She knew she wore her situation for the world to see. Maybe it was better this way. That’s what she got for losing all sense of morals.

It was a long march back to the club for her car, and only when she opened the door to the apartment did she suddenly consider what would happen when she saw Marcus in person. But once again, no one was there. The table still lay on its side, nothing touched since she’d discovered Marcus’ phone and stopped cleaning.

It already seemed ages ago.

With a deep sigh, Corinne set to packing her meager belongings. She could’ve kicked him out, and she didn’t know if it was her shame at the night of abandon she’d had or the feeling of nausea whenever she thought about staying in a place with so many memories, but she wanted a fresh start.

Time to fill in her friend, Eileen. She’d have to crash at her place until she found a job and an apartment. Maybe she should’ve thought through the divorce thing a bit longer or hired a lawyer. Then he’d owe her money. Maybe that’s why he signed them so fast.

Dickface.

Corinne laid her mother’s candlesticks gently on the top of the clothing in her suitcase and zipped it up. It had been slow going with Eileen texting her the entire time, but she felt better explaining everything to a friend. Besides, if anyone understood, it was Eileen. She’d had her share of shifter relationships, too. Even a vampire once, though she didn’t like to talk about it much.

Corinne tugged on her favorite skinny jeans – a little tighter than she remembered. Salt in the wound. All she needed was to gain a ton of weight and have Marcus thank his lucky stars for dodging a bullet when he saw her again.

Gordon hadn’t seemed to notice or care the night before though. The way he’d treated her, she felt like she had the body of a goddess.

Lugging her large suitcase out on the curb, she heard a honk. Eileen’s pickup was pulled up to the curb, music blaring out of the rolled-down windows. Her friend’s smiling face leaned out the side.

“Like attention much?” Corinne said as Eileen hopped down to the sidewalk, took her bag and swung it into the bed of the truck like it weighed nothing.

If Corinne wanted to feel tiny then Eileen was the right person to hang out with. The woman was practically an Amazon. Nearly six feet tall and built with a curvy, but solid body, Eileen had no problem with body image and if anyone dared make a comment, they’d be sorry anyway.

“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Corinne said, buckling up in the passenger seat. Eileen drove like she did everything else – like she didn’t care what anyone thought.

“I always knew he was an asshole,” Eileen said, whipping around a corner.

“Please don’t say I told you so,” Corinne whined, sinking lower in her seat. Eileen’s driving was making her car sick.

“Hangover?” Eileen asked at a light, sizing her up with a glance. “So, tell me more about Mr. Rebound Sex.

“His name is Gordon and I’ll probably never see him again, but yeah, the sex was amazing.”

“Why not see him again then?” Eileen asked, zooming off the second it turned green.

“Seriously? What? Start a relationship – with another shifter, mind you – the very night I get divorced?”

Eileen shrugged. “Good sex is good sex, honey. But take your time. No rush. Try not to puke in the car though.”

Corinne curled up in the corner and closed her eyes until she heard Eileen cut the motor. The second she got out of the car, she felt better. In fact…

“Got any food?” Corinne asked slyly as Eileen welcomed her inside. “I’m starving.”

Eileen turned and furrowed her heavy brows, drinking in a long look at Corinne.

“You were just sick two minutes ago,” Eileen finally said.

Corinne shrugged. “I must’ve been car sick.”

“You’ve never been car sick before.” Eileen stalked closer, her height making Corinne suddenly uncomfortable.

“What?” Corinne asked, shrinking back.

Eileen stopped, her expression softening. “What type of shifter did you say he was?”

“I don’t think I did. Dragon. Why?”

Eileen shook her head, her expression unreadable. “I could be totally wrong, but honey, you’re pregnant.”

It took a minute for the words to sink through Corinne’s brain. “What? No. You’re wrong. Marcus and I have tried for ages. I’m infertile. Besides, we haven’t had sex in forever.”

Eileen continued to stare at her with a pitying look.

Corinne thought back to her alternative acupuncture session the day before. But that was ridiculous. “People don’t get pregnant and start having symptoms within twenty-four hours. Hell – more like twelve.”

Eileen nodded slowly. “Shifters do. Didn’t Marcus tell you that? Haven’t you had any shifter friends who were pregnant?”

“You certainly aren’t,” Corinne snapped.

“Damn right.”

Eileen was really her only shifter friend. Okay, her only friend who had stuck around since she married Marcus, come to think of it. It would be just like him not to tell her some important detail like that.

“So, you think I’m pregnant from a one-night stand?” Corinne asked in a much less defensive voice. She searched for the edge of Eileen’s sofa and sat down right on top of a bunched-up blanket thrown over the seat.

“You should take a test,” Eileen said, retrieving a beer and a bottle of water from the fridge and handing Corinne the water.

“I drank last night. I was sick from a hangover.” The second the words came out, her stomach grumbled loudly, and she remembered the omelet she’d eaten that would’ve filled her up for the rest of the day normally.

“Yeah? And did your stomach pooch yesterday?” Eileen asked, hand on hip.

“What? No. I know I’ve gotten a little soft around the edges but—” Corinne stopped when she felt her own stomach. Somehow it had expanded since she’d checked the mirror in a matter of hours.

“I’m pretty sure it was Marcus the Ass whose boys didn’t work and not your equipment that was the problem,” Eileen said, plopping down next to her and taking a swig of her beer.

“Of course, it was,” was all Corinne could say, feeling the start of another headache.

“Hang on.” Eileen patted her knee and disappeared into the bedroom for a minute then reappeared with a small box.

“A pregnancy test?” Corinne asked, eyes wide.

Eileen shrugged. “When one has a healthy sex life, one can never be too prepared.”

Corinne took it and locked herself in the bathroom, where she pulled off her clothes and studied her body while waiting to look at the results.

Sure enough, her stomach stretched out in a bulb-like shape. Not huge, but noticeable without clothing. And it was firm, not soft like belly fat.

Corinne swallowed, hand shaking as she picked up the little pink stick. Two dark lines filled the tiny windows and she gasped, throwing her other hand over her mouth.

After twenty minutes of alternating between crying, laughing, and feeling every emotion known to man, Corinne emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed, eyes rimmed in red.

Eileen glanced over from the sofa where she was watching a Mexican soap opera. “I know a good OB. He’s a Shifter, so he’ll know how to take care of you. It’s a three-month cycle,” she said, all without Corinne saying a word.

“I’m having a baby dragon?” Corinne asked in a small voice as she sat back on the couch, holding her stomach.

“You should confirm with – Gordon, was it? – to make sure it’s not a litter. If it was Marcus…”

Corinne swallowed down the bitterness. Yet one more detail her husband had never shared with her. “I’ll ask the doctor,” she said out loud. “Gordon isn’t in the picture.”

Eileen sat up straight. “Don’t you think he deserves to know? I mean, I know you and you’re not even thinking about getting rid of it. Them. Whatever.”

Corinne’s grip on her stomach tightened. It didn’t matter if there was no father. She’d wanted nothing more than to be a mother for years. She was going to be there for her kids, unlike her own mother, who wasn’t able to be there for her.

Did Gordon deserve to know? Technically, he was the father, that she didn’t doubt. But she didn’t really know him. He was kind and thoughtful on their date, but would he always be? What if he was angry about the pregnancy? Could he be dangerous? He was a dragon after all.

“The tougher the animal, usually the gentler the soul,” Eileen said, breaking her out of her reverie like she knew what she was thinking.

“But Marcus was tough.” Corinne felt the tears well behind her eyes again. Was it hormones or real feelings or both?

Eileen snorted. “Marcus is a wolf, but not exactly a big one. Remember you showed me that picture of him shifted that you snapped on your phone? And how he didn’t want you to do that so you deleted it later?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s because he knows. He’s a runt. He’d be tossed out of the pack or maybe he already was and that’s why he’s on his own.”

Corinne sunk back into the cushions, feeling like she might disappear. She remembered what Gordon had said the night before. The ones who brag about their standing are usually the ones who couldn’t make it as a pack leader – at least in my experience.

“I can’t believe I fell for it for five years. I’m so naïve.”

Eileen put an arm around her. “Don’t worry. It isn’t you. How would you know he was lying?”

That was exactly what she was afraid of with Gordon. How did she know what he was really like?

“I’m going to go down to the fire station where he works. He told me yesterday.” Corinne stood up. He did deserve to know, but whether she’d want him as part of the child’s life would have to remain uncertain until she knew him better. If he even wanted to. Besides, if he was angry, he couldn’t do anything to her in front of the other firemen, right?

“Good luck, hon,” Eileen said, raising her bottle in a cheers motion.

Corinne smiled warily. She might need it.

Corinne swallowed her last bite of the greasy hamburger she’d bought at the diner while trying to come up with just the right words to tell Gordon what she was sure he didn’t want to hear. She’d taken the food to go and sat on a park bench across from the fire station, staring at the building like it was suddenly going to take flight or disappear into another dimension. At least that was what she was hoping for. It seemed about as likely as the idea that she was pregnant from a one-night stand with a dragon when just yesterday she’d been married and unable to get pregnant at all.

“You can do this, Corinne,” she said out loud, standing and tossing her trash before heading across the street to the fire station door, painted bright red. With each step, she felt more and more nervous and her stomach churned with the food she’d been so hungry for just minutes ago.

“Hang in there,” she whispered, rubbing her stomach. She was already getting used to the idea that there was a little person inside of her.

Somehow that gave her courage. If, by some miracle, Gordon was actually half as good of a guy as he seemed the night before, well, then he’d be a good dad whether he’d planned on the kid or not. And didn’t her baby deserve that chance?

Unsure whether she was supposed to just walk in or knock first, since she’d never been to a fire station before, Corinne hesitated.

She didn’t have to think too hard though because the door swung open and she was left with a fist raised in the air like an idiot. It wasn’t Gordon at the door though. It was another buff-looking guy, but older – maybe late forties – with a mustache and eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Welcome!” he said in a low, but friendly voice. “Corinne, isn’t it? Come on in. We’ve been hearing a lot about you and I must say, you are every bit as beautiful as Gordon said.” He took her raised wrist and led her gently inside, where four other guys sat around a table, finishing lunch. But they were all quiet and focused on her.

“Um,” she said, unable to get more out and wishing Gordon were one of the ones at the table or at least around so she wouldn’t feel quite so awkward. What had he told his buddies about last night anyway? She felt color rise to her face as another guy stood up and pulled his chair out for her.

“Truth is, some of the guys can exaggerate a bit when it comes to stories about women,” the mustached man continued as he guided her into the seat. “But clearly Gordon didn’t exaggerate.”

“I’m twice the man Gordon is,” the guy next to her said, leaning over and casting a large shadow over her.

His arms were lean muscle and covered in sleeves of tattoos, but Corinne didn’t like what she saw in his eyes and she squirmed in her chair.

“That’s enough of that.”

Relief washed over her as Gordon’s booming voice carried across the room, seeming to rein the tattooed man in.

Corinne glanced up to find a narrow winding stairway in the corner with Gordon leaning over the edge of the banister, dark skin gleaming over taut muscles on his shirtless chest. He was just as glorious as she remembered, which brought a smile to her face. Maybe it wasn’t the alcohol. Maybe he really was too good to be true.

“Hi,” she said, rising from the chair.

Gordon beamed at her, and leapt the banister easily, skipping the rest of the stairs. His tight black pants hugged him just right and she blushed harder, remembering what was inside.

“Hi,” he said, voice husky as he strode toward her.

The other men seemed to fall away as he did and it occurred to Corinne how Gordon’s very presence was awe-inspiring. He stopped inches from her and she could once again feel the heat roiling off his body.

“I’m glad you came to visit,” he said, in the same low, husky voice. The spicy scent of cinnamon and something more exotic soothed her churning insides somehow as he pulled her toward him with one strong arm.

“You are?” she asked, dumbly. It was like every thought she’d had planned out had flown from her head.

“Well, yeah. I felt bad leaving like that. I’d much rather have hung out with you today.”

Something in her belly fluttered, like tiny butterfly wings, and she wasn’t sure if it was something real or just a sensation caused by being this close to him again. Either way, it reminded her why she was there.

“Can we go somewhere private?” she asked, glancing back at the men still gawking at them with lascivious smiles on their faces. “To talk,” she added loudly so they wouldn’t get the wrong idea.

“Take the rest of the day off,” mustache guy said. “You earned it, Gordon. You practically extinguished that fire this morning all by yourself and I was sure it would burn for days.”

“Thanks, Chief. I think I’ll take you up on that.”

Corinne let Gordon take her hand in his and guide her out back to his sedan where he opened the door for her and shut it before going around to the driver’s side, like a real gentleman.

“Where to?” he asked, starting the engine.

“Wait,” Corinne said, laying a hand over his to get his full attention. “I need to tell you something and I think it can’t wait.”

“Sounds serious,” Gordon said, turning to face her with undivided attention. “Don’t tell me my omelet made you sick?”

“No. It was delicious. But the thing is…” Now that he was staring at her with those bright green eyes and his scent was so overpoweringly intoxicating, it was that much harder to deal him what might be such a devastating blow.

“Just spit it out,” Gordon said, looking somewhat concerned. “I find it’s easier to confront a problem head on.”

“Okay.” Corinne took a deep breath and twisted her fingers together in her lap. “I didn’t think it could happen or I honestly would have been more careful, Gordon. I swear I didn’t mean for it to happen – I thought I couldn’t.”

“Couldn’t what?” Gordon pressed gently.

Tears fought their way out and down her cheeks without Corinne’s consent, but she forced herself forward.

“I’m pregnant.”

Gordon’s mouth dropped open in a giant O shape while the information sunk in.

“I know it’s superfast, but I guess that’s how it is with shifters? You’re the only one I’ve been with in quite a while and I know it’s yours. But don’t feel like you have to do anything. I mean, I’m keeping it, I just thought you might want to know. I’m not scamming you or anything. I can walk out of this car and out of your life and never—”

Gordon’s mouth reshaped itself into a giant grin and he started laughing. So low and loud from his own belly that his body shook, and Corinne stopped babbling to watch. Was he losing it?

“I’ll just go—” Corinne reached for the door handle and the lock snapped shut, making her jump.

“Don’t go,” Gordon said. “Please. It’s okay. It’s more than okay. I can’t believe this! I’m going to be a dad? I’m going to be a dad.”

“You… you mean you’re happy?” Corinne asked, incredulous.

“Of course, I’m happy! Are you kidding? I’ve always wanted kids. And, well, I was hoping you’d keep seeing me. I haven’t been able to think about anything else since last night.” Gordon cleared his throat and stared straight out the windshield. Was he being shy?

“It’s so fast,” Corinne said, leaning back into the seat, relieved now that she knew Gordon was happy about it. It would definitely be easier with someone else around – someone who wanted to share the responsibility. And though she never would have imagined jumping into a relationship so quickly from a five-year marriage, she couldn’t deny the way she felt when she was near him and how her pulse sped up when he focused his emerald eyes on her. She felt comfortable with him. Safe. Even special.

“Let’s celebrate,” Gordon was saying. “I’ll take you to lunch anywhere you want. You name it.”

“Let’s just go back to your place, if you don’t mind,” Corinne said, shutting her eyes. “I’m tired. And we have a lot to talk about.”

“Fair enough.”

Gordon drove while Corinne kept her eyes shut. His warm hand closed around hers and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She’d have to make a doctor’s appointment. Maybe Gordon would come with her. She pictured him there when she had her first ultrasound, grinning with his bright white smile when they saw the baby for the first time.

When she felt the car come to a stop and heard Gordon cut the engine, Corinne opened her eyes, suddenly refreshed and full of hope for the future she may just have been lucky enough to stumble into.

Following Gordon up the steps to the little brick building, she noticed a stroller outside on a neighbor’s porch and a few toys and tricycles up and down the cracked sidewalks. She was so intrigued by all these new discoveries that it caught her off guard when Gordon swept her into his arms.

“I know it sounds cheesy,” he said, when she turned to him, hands automatically thrown around his neck. “And I know we have a ways to go, but I want you to know that what’s mine is yours. You’re the mother of my future child and well, I want to carry to you over the threshold.”

Corinne’s eyes teared up. She didn’t know how to respond. It was so sweet and touching. Marcus had never done that even when they really did come home as a married couple for the first time.

Together, they stepped inside of the little duplex and he kicked the door shut behind him with his foot. Gordon headed for the sofa, where memories of where he’d first showed her what he could do with his forked tongue sent hot tingles between her legs. But before he could set her down, she pressed her mouth to his.

Kissing Gordon was as easy as breathing. Their mouths moved together, stirring more passion inside of her as she laced her fingers together behind his neck and pressed closer.

“I don’t you want you to feel like you have to do anything you don’t want to do,” Gordon said through heavy breath as she took a break from his mouth to work on his throat.

“Oh, I want to do this,” she murmured as he sank to his knees, letting her rest on the couch.

She sat up on her knees, matching his height and yanked off his jacket, revealing his still bare chest beneath. She ran her hands down over the curves of his muscles, exploring every ridge and crevice until she reached his tight black pants, now even more constrictive over his hard cock, just waiting to be released.

And she was ready to let it out. So, she yanked those down, too, as he stood before her like a god. He sat beside her, reaching for her clothing, but she shook her head. This time, she was going to have her way with him. She slipped onto the floor and licked the tip of his enormous cock, teasing him. She ran her tongue up and down the sides, cupping his balls in her hand and massaging them lightly.

“Oh, Corinne,” he muttered, letting his head sink back into the cushions.

Encouraged, she opened her mouth and slid it up and down over his burning shaft as far as she could, moving faster with each plunge. Gordon’s hands tangled in her hair, gently caressing her head as she worked him into a frenzy.

“Wait,” he panted, and she paused, glancing up at his sweaty face. “I want us both to feel pleasure.”

She was about to continue anyway, when he scooped her up and laid her on the sofa, tugging her own pants down and off onto the floor. Her legs spread readily as he lowered his head between them and she felt his two-pronged tongue hit the bullseye.

“Mmmm,” she groaned as he gently spread her open with his fingers, darting his tongue in and out while pressing his thumb against her clit in tiny circles. He didn’t stop until she came, but before she could protest, he slid his hands up beneath her shirt and in moments she was naked as well and it was clear he wasn’t done with her yet.

“That’s just an appetizer,” he said, eyes dancing with mischief.

“Sit,” she commanded, pointing back at the couch, and he obeyed. Thrilled, she climbed over his lap, straddling him so they were face to face. He was hard as rock and she was hungry for him as she adjusted her position to work herself down over his cock, taking him inside of her like a missing piece she’d never been able to find until just now.

They stared into each other’s eyes as she lowered herself down, moving her hips in a rhythmic dance, letting him slowly fill her completely. His hands found her breasts as she tossed her hair back over her shoulder, moving faster now. His lips, swollen from kissing, parted and his eyes glazed as she pushed down with her pelvis. Stars filled her own vision as sensation after sensation of pure pleasure spread from their connection through her whole body.

“Corinne,” he murmured, squeezing her breasts and throwing his head back in an almost painful expression.

The way he lightly rolled the r’s was so incredibly hot it was like the deep tone of his voice reverberated down her body, heightening the experience as he thrust upward, rising off the seat. She bounced over him with just as much abandon, growing nearer and nearer the ecstasy that danced so close.

“Oh, oh, oh, Gordon,” she screamed when she finally soared over the edge, body trembling with rapture. She could feel him throbbing as he filled her with his own release.

She collapsed on top of him, head against his chest, rising and falling with his breath as he embraced her, holding her close and stroking her hair.

“Your body runs so hot,” she said after a bit.

“That’s part of my nature,” he said, his voice rumbling beneath her ear, still pressed against him. “It’s great for firefighters, because I’m also immune to being burned.”

“Wow, really?” Corrine finally lifted her head. “So, I won’t have to worry about you not coming home?”

“I will always come home to you, baby.” Gordon brushed the hair from her face and she pressed her cheek against his palm. “The way you did that? I might never make it into work again.”

Corinne felt herself blush. It had been more than amazing for her as well. And she thought Marcus had been good. Ha!

“I probably should tell you everything about me,” she said, realizing he deserved to know the truth.

“Shoot,” Gordon said as she sat beside him on the sofa, twisting her fingers together with renewed anxiety.

“It’s about my recent divorce. See, it’s extremely recent.”

“How recent are we talking?” Gordon asked.

“Like about ten hours.”

Corinne proceeded to tell him the whole sordid story, peeking at his face only occasionally to gauge his reaction as he stayed quiet the whole time. When she got to the part about Marcus overturning the table, his expression hardened and she flinched, staring back down at her hands.

When she’d finished, she waited, unable to even look. I can’t blame him if he throws me out. Finally, unable to wait any more, she said, “Well?”

“Baby, I don’t want you going back there even to pick up your things. Not alone. I don’t trust this cocksucker. You deserve so much better. I’m so sorry that you put up with his crap for so long. I promise I will never treat you like that.”

“You mean you aren’t mad?” Corinne asked, finally meeting his eyes. There was a frightening amount of anger in them, but she knew it wasn’t directed at her.

“Not at you. Never at you or the baby. Not like that.  I swear. And if I do, you leave me right then and there. Got it?”

Corinne nodded dumbly. “About the baby…”

“May I?” Gordon asked, reaching toward her.

She nodded and smiled as he placed a hand over her protruding stomach. A tiny flutter answered his touch, and she was sure this time it wasn’t her imagination.

“Did you feel that?” she asked with wonder.

“Not yet,” he said. “But I’m sure I will soon enough. Baby dragons develop fast.”

“You’re telling me!” she said. “But he moved when you touched me. I think he knows you’re his daddy.”

“Or she,” Gordon said.

Corinne giggled, but she had a feeling it was a boy.

“So, this isn’t like a whole litter or something, is it?” she blurted.

“What? No! I’m not a wolf. One at a time for dragons. The babies are pretty much like humans until they’re four or five, then we have to make sure we have some fire extinguishers lying around until she gets the hang of controlling the shift.”

Corinne’s eyes widened.

“Who’s your doctor?” Gordon asked.

“I don’t know his name.” Corinne immediately realized how that sounded and told him her friend had recommended someone but she hadn’t gone yet.

“Well, let me know the minute you get an appointment. I want to be there.”

It was everything she’d hoped for. Corrine threw her arms around him and kissed him again. But her stomach interrupted with a loud grumble.

“How embarrassing!” she said, backing off.

“Don’t be silly,” Gordon said, standing. “It’s totally normal. When my sister was pregnant, she couldn’t walk two steps without her stomach growling. Baby dragons take a lot of energy because they grow so fast. You relax, I’m going to fix some dinner.”

Corinne excused herself to take a shower while Gordon set to work. His sister had a baby? How big was his family? Her chest tingled with excitement when she entertained the possibility of having an extended family. It was something she’d always dreamed of but never thought she’d have with Marcus being estranged from his and her own sad situation. Suddenly pictures of Christmas dinner and cousins chasing each other around the tree danced through her head. They had to be wonderful if they raised a man like Gordon.

If they did end up married, maybe this time she could do a real wedding and not the Chapel of Love drive thru in Vegas.

When Corinne came out of the bedroom, big white towels wrapped around her body and head, the delicious aroma of seasoned beef filled her nostrils and her stomach grumbled in response.

“Ooh, what is that?” she asked, noticing the tiny table, set and glimmering with the light of two tea candles.

“I wish I had something fancier,” Gordon said, pulling out a chair for her. “This place needs a woman’s touch. But for now, I hope you enjoy my beef stroganoff. It’s one of my specialties.”

Turned out, Gordon was something of a gourmet, cooking for the guys at the fire house all the time. He was totally at ease in the kitchen and really good at it too.

“This is amazing,” Corinne commented more than once as she went through three helpings, while he encouraged her all the time, insisting that her calorie intake had to be 3000 a day to keep up with the baby’s growth.

“I made you some ginger tea also,” he said when she’d had her fill. “It will help with any nausea.”

“Thank you,” she said, standing with a stretch to start on the dishes.

“Where are you going?” Gordon asked.

“To help clean up,” she said, perplexed. “You did the cooking, it’s the least I can do.”

“Sit down and relax,” he insisted. “It’ll just take a minute. I burn them clean.”

Corinne watched from the sofa, amazed as Gordon held the dishes up one by one, opened his mouth and shot blue flames over the dish and his hand. When the flames died, his hand was unscathed and the dish was sparkling clean.

“It’s the same principle as self-cleaning ovens,” he explained, sitting beside her and letting her cuddle into him. “If the fire is hot enough, it kills any germs or anything else in its path. You just have to use the right dishes so they don’t get destroyed, too.”

“You’re amazing,” Corinne said.

“So,” Gordon said, turning so she had to sit back and look at him. “I know this is kind of sudden, but considering your situation, I was thinking and – would you like to move in? It doesn’t have to be permanent unless you want it to. I just think it would be convenient, and I could help take care of you and the baby. You know, if you’re comfortable with that.”

“I’d love to!” Corinne threw herself into his arms, the towel on her body finally falling to the side as he lifted her into his strong embrace and carried her to the bedroom, kissing her the entire way.

This time, they made it to the bed and kept kissing as they explored each other’s bodies. She curled her leg up over his shoulder as he prodded her sex with his fingers, awakening her desire. When she was slick with need, he thrust inside of her, tangling his fingers with hers by her head and mirroring his thrust with his tongue in her mouth. 

He moved slowly, body flat against hers as she wrapped her legs around him, binding him to her, silently begging for more as they continued to kiss.

He filled her over and over, harder and harder as the bed creaked below them, finally bringing her to her peak, her cries muffled below his continual kiss.

When they finished, her mouth was as sore as the rest of her. It had been so long since she’d been taken so many times in such a short span of time. But she was already eager for the next one.

“You are incredible,” she said.

“It’s all you, baby.”

Corinne typed a quick message to Eileen, letting her know she was with Gordon and that she’d be sleeping there. When she was done, she lay back on a soft pillow, on her side while Gordon curled his warm body around her from behind like an electric blanket.

“Sweet dreams,” he breathed over her ear, sending tingles down to her toes.

Before she knew it, she was dreaming of cooing babies and Thanksgiving dinner with big loving families.

The next morning, Eileen came over with Corinne’s things to help her get set up. She didn’t say a word of judgement, which was one of the reasons Corinne loved her. She just acted supportively and helped her find a place for all her things.

“So, do you think he has a fireman friend he can hook me up with?” Eileen asked after meeting Gordon briefly on his way in to work. “Even half as hot?”

“He’s mine,” Corinne answered. “But, yeah, there were quite a few guys at the firehouse when I showed up yesterday. Did I mention he can cook?” At that, her stomach grumbled once again. She’d just eaten a full plate of Gordon’s delicious French toast like an hour ago.

“Let’s go to the diner across the street,” she suggested when they’d put away her meager belongings, being sure to place her mother’s candlesticks in the center of the table. It was her plan to surprise Gordon that night with a cooked meal of her own. Lasagna and garlic bread.

“Let’s go,” Corinne said, leading the way outside, like she knew where she was going.

They were halfway through their lemon meringue pie when their laughter was cut short. Marcus walked through the door with a buddy from work. Corinne froze as their eyes met.

She swallowed hard and set her fork on the table as he excused himself and sauntered over to her.

“Well, if it isn’t Eileen. You the one who talked her into leaving me?” he asked, growling a bit as he set his hands down hard on the table. His eyes glowed yellow for a moment as he attempted to intimidate her.

Eileen hissed in response. “It’s not the best neighborhood, is it?” she asked Corinne.

“Leave us alone,” Corinne said, flatly. “You signed the papers. It’s over.”

“I signed your stupid papers because I’m not an idiot. But it’s over when I say it’s over, babe.”

“I’m with someone else now,” Corinne said, glaring right at him.

“Already?” Marcus laughed. “Hooking up isn’t the same thing as being ‘with’ someone. That’s what you need to understand, babe. You’re my wife. Wolves mate for life.”

Corinne doubted that, but it didn’t really matter. “Well, this one didn’t. Get out.”

“This is a public place, babe. You think you own it?”

Corinne glanced around the restaurant, crowed with people enjoying lunch and paying no attention to her predicament. It wouldn’t take a lot to attract some stares though if need be.

“I didn’t hook up; Gordon and I are together.”

Marcus growled, pounding his hands down on the table again and making her water shake. “Does he know you’re married?”

“He knows we were married, Marcus. I have signed papers, remember?”

“Fuck the papers, Corinne.”

Marcus worked his way into the booth next to her, forcing her to move farther in and trapping her inside. “Gaining a little weight already?” he asked, poking at her stomach.

She held her hands protectively over her and glanced at Eileen.

Eileen hissed again. Louder this time, before saying, “She’s pregnant, you idiot. You were shooting blanks. How do you like that? Make you feel like a big bad wolf?”

“What the fuck?” Marcus turned back toward Corinne, who was glaring at Eileen, steaming that she’d said that. He didn’t need to know.

“None of your business.”

“Is it mine?” he asked, staring hard at her stomach like he could X-ray it.

“No. We haven’t had sex in ages and shifter pregnancies take effect almost immediately,” Corinne said, enjoying her new knowledge. “So, get. The. Fuck. Out.”

Marcus’ nostrils flared in anger, but Corinne’s anger flared, too, as she silently dared him to try and knock this table over. She’d press charges. He’d be lucky if he survived after Gordon found out.

“Fine,” he said, glancing around at the people who were finally starting take notice. Beneath the table, he set a hand on her thigh, squeezing hard. “But don’t think this is over. You can’t embarrass me like this, Corinne. I’ll fuck up your man to start.”

Eileen let out a loud snort. “Go ahead and try, idiot. I’d love to see him chew you up and spit you out.”

“Bitch,” Marcus muttered as he backed out of the booth.

“Everything okay over here, sweetie?” the kind waitress – Loretta, same as the night she’d come with Gordon – asked, appearing out of seemingly nowhere. She looked straight at Corinne, ignoring Marcus.

“We’re fine, thanks. Delicious pie,” Marcus said in an overly fake voice.

“You sure, hon?” the waitress asked Corinne.

“I’ll talk to you later, babe.” Marcus took the hint but not before grabbing Corinne’s fork and cramming the last of her pie in his mouth before walking away.

“Let’s get out of here,” Corinne said, trying to stop from shaking. She didn’t need his threats.

When Gordon came home that night, he saw right away something was wrong and wiped away her tears as she told him the story. His stone-cold expression sent shivers through her even though she knew it was aimed at Marcus.

“I can take care of this,” he said.

“No!” Corinne shouted. “No. I don’t want you getting hurt or in trouble with the police or anything. Just let it go. He’s a coward and an asshole.”

When he started to protest, she stopped him with her kisses and spent the next few hours discovering new positions around the duplex, her favorite being the bathroom counter, back against the cool smooth glass of the mirror and legs wrapped around his waist.

When she drifted off that night, it wasn’t sweet dreams that greeted her though. It was Marcus, pinning her in the same booth and forcing himself on her while everyone else kept chatting and eating, oblivious.

She woke up crying with Gordon at her side, comforting her. But she wouldn’t tell him the dream. She couldn’t. Not if it meant he was going to go after Marcus.

“Hormones,” she said when she got herself under control. Marcus smiled, spooning her again and kissing her neck from behind.

The next morning, she asked to come to work with him. She didn’t want to be alone in the house. What if Marcus found out where she was?

Gordon was proud to bring her back to the fire station and show her off. And when they got a call to a fire raging in her old neighborhood, he kissed her deeply before jumping on the back of the giant red truck.

“Be back soon,” he said, as they sped off, sirens flashing red shadows over him.

“I’ll take good care of her,” his friend and fellow fireman, Steve, said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Corinne didn’t like being apart from Gordon, but she appreciated having at least one big strong guy around as a bodyguard.

“You hungry?” he asked after playing a game of Monopoly.

“Starving,” she agreed.

“I’m no Gordon in the kitchen. How about I run out and grab us a pizza?” he offered.

“Sounds great. Thanks.” Corinne watched from the window as he darted across the way to the strip mall and disappeared. She was just turning away when she caught a glimpse of something in the corner of her eye.

She swung back around, pressing her palms against the window and narrowing her eyes. In the alley, just across from her, feet from where Steve had disappeared, she saw Marcus, hair messy, beard longer than ever.

She quickly backed away, letting the blinds fall closed and ran to the kitchen where she found the biggest butcher knife she could and held it ready, behind the counter, as she stared at the back of the door, waiting.

It was the longest twenty minutes of her life until the door handle moved and her heart raced. But the moment Steve stepped through the door with the pizza, she relaxed and set the knife on the counter before he could see.

“Sorry it took so long,” he said, setting it on the table and flipping the box top open to release the incredible smell into the air. “There was this guy who kept asking about the station. That happens sometimes. People get all weird around us like we’re super heroes or something. He especially wanted to know about Gordon, but that’s not unusual. Your new man is something of a real local hero, you know. No one puts out fires faster or easier.”

“You’re a hero, too,” Corinne agreed, sitting down and taking a piece of gooey cheese pizza. “What you do is amazing – risking your life for innocent victims.” But she suspected it wasn’t a fan who’d been asking for information. Why couldn’t Marcus just leave her alone?

Maybe she should confront him. Find out what it was he wanted from her. She’d never have any peace unless she did and she didn’t want Gordon ruining his life because of her shithead ex.

“I’m going to take a walk,” she said after her third piece of pizza. You don’t mind, do you?”

Steve looked nervous. “I said I’d watch out for you, but I can’t leave the fire house. I have to stay in case there’s another emergency.”

“That’s okay.” Corinne smiled, putting on her flirt. “What could happen? I’ll only be gone like ten minutes.” Then, when he still looked uncertain, “I’m feeling kind of nauseous, I need fresh air.” Corinne rubbed her stomach for effect. Her jeans had already grown tight so she was wearing a flowing dress and pressed the material down around her to show off the bulbous shape.

“Oh. Okay. But if you need anything just text.” Steve grabbed her phone and punched in his number before handing it back.

“Thanks,” she said and tried not to rush out the door.

Corinne glanced both ways before dashing across the street. She glanced in the alley first, but saw no sign of Marcus. She checked the pizza place and a couple of other stores, but there was no sign of him.

Not ready to give up, Corrine texted him quickly. Where are you?

The answer came a minute later. With a mutual friend.

Corinne froze. What did that mean?

A picture appeared and she stared, waiting for it to download all the way. When it did, she nearly dropped her phone.

It was Eileen, naked on her bed, seemingly unconscious.

WTF? She typed.

No answer.

She texted Eileen, hoping it was some photoshopped gag.

Nothing.

Corinne hurried back across the street, feeling ill. She called the police on the way and waited impatiently for an hour until she received a call back, trying to pretend for Steve that everything was fine. She was relieved when he finally went off to the kitchen to work on chopping veggies for dinner and the others eventual return.

When the police called back, she pressed the phone to her ear and listened, walking to the far corner of the station house so he couldn’t hear.

“Nothing?” she asked. “You’re sure?”

All the police found was a drunk naked woman in her own bed who chased them away when they woke her. No reason to suspect any foul play.

“Someone had to teach that cocky bitch a lesson,” Marcus said from behind her.

Corinne spun around to face him right there in the fire station.

“Steve!” she yelled.

“The normal?” Marcus asked with a chuckle and gestured toward the small kitchen with a nod of his head.

Corinne whizzed past him and approached the small space with a sense of dread as Marcus plopped down at the table and took a piece of pizza. Steve’s feet came into view first, followed by the rest of him. He was out cold. She dropped to his side, fear pounding in her head and chest.

“He’s alive. He didn’t even see what hit him,” Marcus said around a mouthful of pizza. “I’m not stupid. I know how to cover my tracks.”

“What do you want from me?” Corinne asked, standing up. Anger took over and infused her with courage.

“I want you to be a good little wife and come back to me where you belong. I’ll even accept your bastard kid as my own.”

Corinne hugged her stomach again. “What the fuck did you do to Eileen?”

“I gave her what she needed. A good fuck to put her in her place. She’s still just a bitch no matter how big she is. Now she knows I’m not shooting blanks.”

“You raped her?” Corinne’s voice rose an entire octave.

Marcus shrugged and tossed his half-eaten piece of pizza back in the box. “She begged for it in the end.”

Corinne’s hands shook with rage as she clenched them into fists at her side. “Bullshit.”

“Jealous?” he asked, standing up.

Corinne stopped in her tracks. Marcus was fucking insane. Criminally insane. She knew he was a loose cannon, but not like this. He’d hurt – almost killed two people just to get to her. “I’m never going back to you,” she said, as calmly as possible. “I can’t stand you – the real you. I was a blind idiot not to see it before.”

“That so?” Marcus asked, stalking forward and backing her into the counter. “Because either you’re coming back to me,” he whispered, curling a lock of her hair around his finger and laying his other hand on the swell of her stomach. “Or you and baby aren’t going to be long for this world. And believe me, no one will ever bother looking into your death.”

Corinne shoved at his wrist, but he yanked her by the hair and slid his other hand up to her breast, which he squeezed so hard she cried out in pain. “I remember how you liked it rough,” Marcus said, nipping at her neck. “I bet he doesn’t make you scream like I used to.”

Corinne let out a sob as his hand wandered from her breast to her skirt, which he gathered up so he could reach beneath. “Does he know how you like to be stroked?” Marcus asked, shoving his hand in her panties.

“Get. Off.” Corinne groped behind her and grabbed the nearest thing possible, smashing it down on his head.

The cup shattered, glass splintering around them and sprinkling the ground. Marcus grabbed at his forehead and stumbled backward.

“Bitch,” he growled, muscles straining and swelling beneath his shirt, eyes burning yellow. His teeth began to grow, long fangs protruding from his mouth as he shifted before her eyes.

But before he could morph completely into the wolf and no doubt rip out her throat, the sound of sirens sang outside the walls. The roar of a giant engine stopped and masculine voices wound their way into the station house.

Marcus howled and darted out the front door.

Corinne was still frozen in place when the men came in, sooty and worn out, but in good spirits until they saw Steve on the ground and Corinne shaking and clutching the edge of the counter.

“Corinne!” Gordon ran to her side and pulled her into his arms, alternating between holding her and examining her at arm’s-length to make sure she was okay.

“What the hell happened?” the chief with the mustache asked. “Steve? Are you okay?” He helped his man unsteadily to his feet.

“I don’t know,” Steve said, “I must’ve just blacked out. Corinne. Is she okay?”

“I’m okay,” Corinne said, finally finding her voice. “I was scared. For Steve. I… I didn’t know what to do.”

Marcus was unhinged. That was certain. And he’d already hurt her friend she thought was invincible. What if he did something to Gordon? Or worse, to the baby? She couldn’t let him near the baby. She had to get away.

“It was Marcus, wasn’t it?” Gordon asked in a low voice, narrowing his eyes like he could see right through to her thoughts.

“No,” she protested, looking straight back into his face. “Lord, no. I think Steve fell or something. I went out for a walk and when I came in, I found him like that.”

“Well, as long as everyone is okay,” Chief said, still looking puzzled. “Why don’t you take the lady home, Gordon? She’s pretty shaken and in her condition…”

“Of course. Thanks, Chief.” Gordon led Corinne out by the hand, guiding her to the car.

“I know it was him, Corinne. He’s got you scared out of your wits. What did he do?”

“Don’t be paranoid,” Corinne said, leaning back into the seat. “Let’s talk about happy things, okay? Tomorrow morning is our appointment with Dr. Fontaine.”

Gordon sighed deeply, but placed his hand over hers. “That is exciting.”

“Have you thought about names?” Corinne asked, already planning what she had to do about the situation in her head.

“I like Emilia if it’s a girl,” Gordon said.

“That’s pretty,” Corinne agreed, “But I have a feeling it’s a boy.”

“Really?” Gordon sounded truly excited. “Well, something strong like… Charlie, maybe?”

“Charlie,” Corinne repeated. “I like that.”

She hated how much it was going to hurt him when she had to leave. But he couldn’t know and it was for his own good. She couldn’t live with herself if she selfishly stayed and he was hurt by Marcus. It wasn’t fair to Charlie to take him from his father, but he was in danger, too. Even if she went back to Marcus to calm him down now, who’s to say what would happen in the future?

No. She had to leave. To disappear. And no one else could know. She’d start over somewhere else where Marcus couldn’t get to her or Charlie. And she’d do it as soon as Gordon went to work tomorrow. Right after the doctor appointment.

The appointment the next morning was bittersweet. Gordon doted on her as always and the doctor surprised them with a private sonogram, saying that in the case of dragon shifters, the babies were so large and grew so rapidly, they should be able to see it already.

Sure enough, with her belly bare and cold jelly on top, when he pressed the instrument down over her stomach, the image formed on the small black and white screen before them, revealing a tiny peanut-shaped baby with the smallest arms and curled-up legs she could imagine. He wiggled there, the umbilical cord safely tying him to her, and when he stretched a little, both she and Gordon teared up.

Every time she saw Gordon’s face, so full of happiness and love, she had a harder time imagining going through with her plan. But she had to, she reminded herself, not just for him, but for that tiny innocent child inside of her.

“Can you tell what it is?” Gordon asked the doctor.

“Not yet,” he said with a smile.

“It’s a boy,” Corinne insisted. “Charlie.”

Gordon squeezed her hand as the doctor admitted that many times mothers seem to have a strong sixth sense about these things. “But just in case, don’t go painting the bedroom pink just yet,” he warned.

When they got back in the car, Corrine’s stomach sank. It was almost time.

“Let’s go look at baby furniture. We can grab lunch after and talk about redoing the duplex,” Gordon said.

“Don’t you have to go in to work?” she asked, panicking slightly. It sounded like a dream day, but she couldn’t get sucked into the false illusion any further. Her possibility of a beautiful future with Gordon and Charlie disappeared the night she agreed to marry Marcus.

Reflexively, she checked her phone again. Eileen refused to answer her texts, which made it all the worse.

“They can manage without me,” Gordon said. “If there’s a big fire, they’ll call. I already cleared it with Chief.”

“Oh. Wow.” Corinne didn’t know what to say. Could it really hurt to have fun for one more day? Sadly, the answer was yes. She knew it the minute they stepped in the baby furniture store with all the cribs and blankets and toys.

“I’m buying this,” Gordon said, picking the tiniest little outfit off a rack. It was a onesie that looked like a little fireman’s outfit.

Corinne sucked in a breath and tugged him along toward the back wall where a set of dark maple furniture was decorated with a castle theme. She touched the mobile above the crib and a tune played as a tiny knight, princess and dragon spun slowly around.

“Sold,” Gordon said with a chuckle.

He picked out a stuffed dragon with a long green tail and snout and bought that and the outfit before they left.

They were in the middle of lunch, laughing as Gordon told her stories about his parents and sister, when he got the call from the station.

“Fire in your old neck of the woods,” Gordon said, checking his cell. “Looks like some careless shit with a cigarette. I’m so sorry, baby.”

“It’s okay,” Corinne said, checking her own cell. It was one in the afternoon. Plenty of time to go back, pack, and get on the four o’clock bus. “I’ll use a ride app and go back to the duplex.”

“All right. I’ll be there soon. I promise.”

Corinne grabbed hold of him when he reached down to give her a peck. She pulled him close, inhaling his spicy scent and melting into a passionate kiss, right in the middle of the restaurant.

“Wow,” he said, when she finally let him up for air.

“Go get that fire,” she said with a smile. She had to steal that goodbye kiss even if he didn’t know what it really was yet. It broke her heart to leave him. Damn Marcus.

She watched him go after throwing some money on the table and she ordered a ride home. She’d take the fireman outfit and dragon with her. It would be something she could give to Charlie someday from his daddy.

Tears flowed freely down her face as she rode home, sure the driver thought she was crazy. It didn’t matter though, who cared what he thought? When they got there, she leapt out of the car, typing in a tip on the app and rushed up the steps to the door, the small package on her arm.

Next door, the stroller kept on the porch felt empty and sad and she hurried to open the door and get inside where she wasted no time throwing open her small suitcase and stuffing in the few clothes that still fit her. Then she threw in the rest of her meager belongings, except her mother’s candlesticks. Her heart ached with the idea of leaving them behind, but not only would she be tempted to sell them, she wanted to leave something important of her own behind as a gift to Gordon.

“Daddy can’t know why we’re leaving,” she told her stomach. “Or he’ll do something dumb like the big macho man he is.” Talk about real alpha male…

Corinne wiped at her tear-streaked face as her phone buzzed in her pocket. Hopeful that Eileen was finally answering her, she pulled it out. But when she saw it was from Marcus, her hand began to tremble.

Packing up to come home?

Corinne dropped the phone and spun around, half expecting him to be in the room. When she saw nothing out of the ordinary, she ran to the door and locked the deadbolt. Then she rushed to the window overlooking the street below and peered out, searching the sidewalk and street.

Nothing. Not even any passersby. It was oddly deserted for the time of day – or maybe Corinne just never paid attention before. She couldn’t let herself get paranoid. That’s what Marcus wanted. To throw her off and get into her head.

“Just keep with the plan,” she told herself.

But when she approached the suitcase on the bed, once again the phone buzzed. This time it was an actual phone call.

Corinne stared at the phone like it was a grenade ready to detonate.

It didn’t say Marcus. And it wasn’t a blocked number.

Corinne snatched it up and answered in a shaky voice. “Hello?”

“Hang up and your boyfriend’s dead.”

Marcus.

“Don’t touch him,” Corinne said through the thickness in her throat. “This isn’t his fault. It’s between you and me, Marcus.”

She sat heavily on the edge of the bed, feeling lightheaded. But she had to keep her wits about her.

“Aren’t you the heroic little slut,” Marcus said with a laugh. “Just do as I say and no one gets hurt.”

“What do you want?” Corinne grasped the blanket hard to try to stop the trembling.

“You’re packing, so that’s a good sign. But then why didn’t you answer your text?”

“How… how do you know what I’m doing?”

Silence.

“Answer the question, Corinne. Are you coming back to me or not?”

“What if I say no?” she countered, pressing her eyes shut and squeezing yet more tears from her lids that slid down her cheeks.

“Then no one gets you. You are mine, and you’ve been very bad.”

“You had no problem fucking other women before I found someone else!” Corinne screamed at the phone.

“Baby, I’m an alpha male. We’ve been over this. I have needs that you just weren’t satisfying.”

“Fuck you, Marcus. You’re no alpha male. You’re a runt of the litter. Your family probably threw you out for being a parasite.” Now Corinne trembled with rage instead of fear.

Marcus hung up.

“Ahhhhh!” Corinne screamed in frustration and threw the phone at the wall. After a few moments of heavy breathing, she gathered her wits and closed her suitcase. It was time to leave. If she left Gordon, then Marcus wouldn’t have any reason to bother hurting him.

He had to be okay.

“I figured you’d be stupid enough to choose this,” Marcus said.

Corinne spun around to find him standing in the doorway.

“How’d you get in here?” she asked, dropping her bag and backing toward the bedroom window. She was two stories up though, so she wasn’t sure what good it would do.

“I took an impression of your key when I visited the firehouse. I’ve been watching you for a while, Corinne. I learned quite a bit about this neighborhood, for example. Like the fact that the duplex next to you is vacant.”

“The neighborhood is going to buy it to make into a youth hangout,” Corinne said, knowing Marcus could probably care less.

“That’s a shame.”

“Why?”

Marcus edged closer inside the room. “You ruined that for these people, Corinne. You’re such a heartless whore.”

“What are you talking about, Marcus?” she demanded.

Marcus inhaled deeply. “Don’t you smell it yet? Oh, wait. You’re human, you won’t be able to until it’s too late. Last chance, Corinne. I’m going to have you one last time either way.”

Corinne’s mind was spinning, trying to work out what insane ramblings he was going on about. She glanced out the window behind her, hoping to see something that could inspire a way to escape. But instead her heart caught in her chest. Black smoke coiled from the edges of the window to the duplex next door.

“What did you do?” she whispered, staring at the window as flames leapt against the glass from inside.

“I started a fire,” Marcus whispered in her ear, sliding her hair off her neck and sending chills down her spine.

Corinne whipped around to find him pressed against her, pinning her to the window and wall, one hand splayed on either side of her head and a lascivious grin on his face.

“Why would you do that?” she asked, still in shock.

“I already told you, if I can’t have you…” Marcus let his words trail off and licked his lips, pointed fangs protruding just enough to show off what he was.

“You have to do something. I’m not the only person who could get hurt.”

“You mean the bastard?” he asked, pressing his body into her, against her stomach.

“I mean other residents. People in the shops around us. There are children who live in these buildings, Marcus!”

“You should have thought of that before you rejected me,” he shouted in her face, making her flinch.

“I’ll come with you, okay?” she begged. “You win. Just do something.”

“Too late. I need a mate who obeys me, and you’re just too much trouble, Corinne.”

“It can’t be too late,” Corinne cried. “Look. My suitcase is packed. I… I just didn’t know for sure until now.” Maybe if she fed into his delusion, she could find a way to get away later when no one was in danger.

Marcus yanked the window open and a burst of smoky air swirled inside the room, making her cough.

“I couldn’t stop it now if I wanted to, Corinne. No one could.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to stare outside, eyes watering from the ash-filled air. “It’s in the walls, Corinne. It’s in the roof and around all the exits. There is no getting out.”

“But you’re in here, too,” she said when he tossed her on her knees to the ground.

“I can make the jump from the window in wolf form,” he said easily. “After I’m done with you and I watch you struggle to take your last breath.”

Corinne collapsed to the floor, crying.

“Oh, babe, don’t worry. I promise I’ll rock your world one last time first.”

Fluttering inside of her stomach wakened something inside. She had to fight to protect the life inside of her. She had to try.

Corinne began crawling toward the door as fast as she could, but Marcus leapt on top of her, pressing her face down to the floor.

“Come on, babe. Don’t end like this. Let’s both enjoy it.”

Marcus stood and she rolled over, grabbing her phone where it had fallen after hitting the wall. But it was shattered and wouldn’t light up. Marcus stood by, laughing at her.

“Come on,” he said, yanking her up by the arm and shoving her back on the bed. “Nice little sundress. Hides your fat stomach well.”

Marcus yanked hard and the spaghetti straps holding the flowered dress together tore, letting it fall from her exposed chest. She turned and tried to crawl off the other side of the bed, but he grabbed her legs and yanked her back toward him, her dress nothing more than material gathered around her waist as he tugged on her panties until they ripped, leaving her exposed and vulnerable.

“Gordon will be home any minute!” she lied, grasping for anything that could stop this from happening.

“That’s why I started that fire on the other side of town first. He’s going to be busy for a while, babe.” Marcus licked his hand and rubbed it between her legs. “You’re so dry, babe. Here you go.”

Corinne sobbed in response when she heard his zipper.  

“At least Eileen was a challenge even drunk,” he said, holding her down by the waist and positioning himself over her.

Corinne braced herself best she could, but instead of Marcus’ intended violation came an enormous roar, louder than any wolf she’d ever heard. The very foundation of the building shook as Marcus was ripped away from her.

Corinne scooted toward the headboard and grabbed a blanket to cover herself with. The room was thick with smoke and her eyes watered as she coughed, trying to gulp in air. But there was no mistaking the hulking form taking up the entire doorway. The dragon had shining red scales that glowed even through the smoke and an enormous snout with razor sharp white teeth protruding from inside. It seemed to smile as it’s bright green eyes honed in on Marcus’ cowering form.

“Gordon!” Corinne’s heart leapt. He was okay.

The dragon peered at her with kindness and said in Gordon’s deep, human voice, “Get low to the floor where the air is clearer.”

Corinne nodded and scampered off the bed to lie on the floor where it really was a bit easier to breathe. She watched as Gordon crept forward on four heavily muscled legs, towering over Marcus, who was transforming into a wolf before them.

“Don’t bother us again,” Gordon boomed over him. “Out.”

Marcus bounded toward the open bedroom window, but at the last moment, Corinne realized he was aiming for her. She watched in what felt like slow motion as the wolf soared through the air toward her, fangs barred and ready to rip into her tender flesh.

She wasn’t ready to die.

Corinne rolled beneath the bed just in time as the wolf landed, face snapping at her inches away from the side of the bed. She yelped, searching the floor for a weapon of some sort, but then she saw the great jaws of the dragon come down over the body of the wolf, completely engulfing him. Blood sprayed the ground as he rose from her sight with a horrible whimper and cry then the sound of what might have been bones crunching.

Corinne lost her lunch beneath the bed before crawling out the other side.

“He… he… he’s dead?” she stammered between coughs, confronting the enormous dragon, who’d broken a large portion of the doorframe when he’d burst into the room in his entire form. His tail curled around the entire room and his head had to duck to avoid hitting the ceiling and making fiery chunks of plaster rain down.

“Not very tasty,” Gordon said with a wink. “Can you climb on my back?”

Corinne nodded through a longer coughing fit. She glanced toward the doorway and saw actual flames lapping at the ceiling and walls.

“We’re trapped,” she said, using Gordon’s iridescent scales as handholds to climb onto his back.

“No. We will be fine. I am immune to fire.”

“I’m not,” Corinne said, taking firm hold of the base of his neck.

“You are when you’re with me,” Gordon said and reared back so that she had to grab even tighter.

Enormous bat-like wings sprung from his sides, smashing through the walls. Corinne screamed, but he opened his snout, releasing a storm of blue fire that burst through the other room, somehow canceling out the one that Marcus set ablaze.

“Hold your breath,” Gordon instructed and she ducked low to his body, clamping her mouth and nose firmly shut.

With a powerful whoosh, he beat his wings once, and the rest of the building came crashing down around them as he rose through the ceiling, shielding her by twisting around his massive head.

Corinne’s heart pounded, making her whole body feel like it was throbbing as they burst up into the sky. She peered over Gordon’s side and saw the ruined building below and the flames still consuming everything around it.

Gordon reared back again, drawing a deep breath and releasing a stream of flame that put out the rest of the fires, leaving the neighboring buildings unscathed, but a pile of smoldering ruins and shafts of white smoke where their little home and the vacant side had been.

“You’re my hero,” she whispered in his large ear, which he twitched in response.

“Are you sure she shouldn’t stay for a while longer?” Gordon asked the nurse for the seventh time.

The woman smiled and patted his arm. “I promise she’s okay. The baby, too. Apparently, thanks to your genes, he was immune to the smoke inhalation they both suffered.”

“Wait,” Corinne interrupted from her hospital bed. “Did you just say ‘he’?”

The nurse glanced worriedly at Doctor Fontaine, who was signing the release papers on her other side. They’d done a million tests, mostly to appease Gordon’s worry. Maybe one had revealed something?

“It’s okay, nurse. You’ve been under heavy questioning. I’m surprised you didn’t slip sooner.” The doctor winked. “You were wondering the sex, weren’t you?”

“Well, doubting Gordon over there was,” Corinne said, hand splayed over her stomach, which had grown even larger in the two days she’d been in the hospital since the fire.

“It’s a boy,” Doctor Fontaine confirmed.

“Charlie,” Corinne said, smiling up at her fiancé.

The ring he’d given her had belonged in his family for four generations and it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. Besides his smile. It had an enormous blue diamond in the center and was surrounded by tiny perfect rubies. Apparently, the whole dragons love treasure thing was true and they kept this within the family.

Speaking of family, they were supposed to stay with Gordon’s parents until the renovations were done on the duplex. Between the fire insurance and Marcus’ life insurance—since no one had ever seen the divorce papers because Corinne had been too preoccupied to file them—they had enough to redesign to include a room for the baby, one for a possible future addition, and an awesome area for the teen hangout everyone wanted.

It was going to be some time though until it was all ready.

“I’m nervous about meeting your parents,” Corinne said as Gordon helped her into the car.

“Don’t be. They already love you.”

“Are we going there now?” she asked as he headed into the city. She’d imagined they lived more toward the country somewhere, or at least the suburbs.

“Actually, I have a surprise for you,” he said, continuing to concentrate on the road. But he slipped one hand over hers.

“Surprise, huh?” she said. “I think I’ve had enough of those to last a lifetime.”

“I want to replace those memories with happy ones,” Gordon said.

“You already are,” Corinne agreed, scooting to the side to rest her head on his shoulder.

“Baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Gordon drove toward the waterfront and pulled into the valet entrance of the biggest, fanciest hotel she’d ever seen.

“What are you doing?” Corinne asked as the valet opened the door and offered her a hand out.

Gordon just smiled as he tipped the driver and took her hand to lead her inside. A huge lobby with marble floors and a gigantic crystal chandelier greeted them. They walked right past the front desk where a bellman nodded at Gordon.

“We can’t afford this,” Corinne whispered as they entered the glass-enclosed elevator.

“Remember that whole treasure hoarding thing we discussed when I gave you the ring?” Gordon asked with a smirk.

“Well, yeah, but…”

“We have plenty. So, don’t worry. Just enjoy the penthouse suite while we have it.”

Corinne couldn’t speak, which was rare as they rode all the way to the top floor and the doors opened with the swipe of Gordon’s keycard onto a gorgeous room filled with roses and chocolate of every color and kind.

“Oh my…” She stepped forward onto the lush white carpet and took in the view.

Behind the flowers and chocolates was a wall of windows that overlooked the city, now twinkling with lights like a million jewels.

“There’s more,” Gordon said, opening the tall double doors onto a master suite with the biggest, comfiest-looking bed she’d ever seen. All around were sprinkled rose petals and tiny burning candles.

“Oh, Gordon!” Corinne clapped her hands together, truly taken aback by the romance he’d gone to so much trouble to orchestrate.

He pressed a button on his phone and speakers came to life, filling the air with soft jazz music.

“You sure know how to create a mood,” she said, feeling less than beautiful in her old clothes that still smelled of fire.

“I have a bath already drawn for you,” Gordon said, pulling close. “Go relax and take all the time you need.”

She had no words so left him with a lingering kiss that she hoped said it all. The “bath” was more like a swimming pool with jets of water and more fragrant rose petals floating on top. There was a smorgasbord of beauty products and shampoos to choose from, along with an entire vanity of makeup and luxurious creams and perfumes. And on the counter, was a large gift box marked open when ready.

Corinne sank back into the soothing warm bath and took her time washing away as much as she could of her past. She sniffed and selected her favorite shampoo and conditioner and took her time drying off and doing her makeup and hair in a cascade of blond curls. She rubbed some of the moisturizing cream into her skin and pulled the giant red ribbon on the box, unable to hold off a minute longer.

A white negligee made of delicate lace with satin trim lay on a black velvet backdrop. Corinne gasped at the beauty of it and the tiny diamonds that adorned the pattern of lace, which twinkled in the lights.

She slipped it on and spun around as the fabric, so light it was like air, fluttered out behind her, rising just enough to cover the very tops of her thighs in a tantalizing way. She could see everything through the lace and bedazzled sparkle, but it cast enough of a shadow to leave some allure behind.

She felt like a princess when she finally opened the bathroom door.

Gordon glanced up from the bed where he was resting and whistled. “Wow.”

Corinne spun around for him, giggling. “I love it. Thank you.”

“No. Thank you.” Gordon rose and walked toward her, wearing only a pair of satin boxers.

He held out his arms, and she gladly fell into them, enjoying the feeling of the thin and silky material pressed between their bodies, the only barrier. His lips were soft yet firm as they worked against hers, and there was nothing but the two of them in the whole world.

Gordon lifted her about the waist and she curled her arms around his neck, throwing her own back for him to kiss as he laid her back on the soft bed.

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” he asked, crawling over her.

Hell, yes.

She yanked him down, shoving her tongue in his mouth in answer. Her body responded as always to his touch, primed and ready for more with sensations awakening in places she wasn’t usually even aware of.

“I love you, Corinne,” Gordon said, gazing down at her with his bright green eyes.

“I love you, too.” Corinne caressed his face with her hand and he turned into it to tenderly kiss her palm.

“I’m going to make you forget everything,” he promised. And slid out of sight.

Corinne felt his mouth on her toes, sucking at each one until she moaned with pleasure. He rubbed her feet as he kissed and licked his way up the inside of her legs and thighs, stopping at the sensitive skin just beneath her skirt.

Willing him forward, she spread herself wider and Gordon’s hands worked at the flesh inside her thighs, circling slowly upward. But then he appeared again, above her with a sly smile as he slid his hand below her nightgown and up over her stomach to her breast where he circled her nipple with his thumb.

She writhed a little, working her hips in a state of frenzied anticipation. When she moaned in complaint, he finally slid his hand back down and between her legs, rubbing down hard over her sex.

“I love the sounds you make,” he said as he slipped two fingers inside of her and drew them slowly in and out while playing with her clit. “You’re so hot and wet for me, baby.”

“It’s been two whole days,” she blurted out.

Gordon laughed, shaking both of their bodies with it. She joined in until he pressed harder and farther inside of her, making her draw in a sharp breath with the shot of pleasure that resulted. He knew just how to manipulate her to build her arousal.

“I love you, baby,” he murmured, kissing her neck then sucking at her breast as he continued his finger-work.

“Love… you…” she panted, reaching for his silk boxers so she could tug them off and bring out the big gun.

“There’s no rush, baby,” he said, as she stroked him back. “We have the rest of our lives.”

She liked the sound of that.

Corinne sank into his kisses as they rolled over and over, back and forth on the top of the enormous bed, legs twisted together, him kneading her breasts and tugging at her nipples until they stood out hard.

“I want you inside of me,” she said as he kissed his way down to her stomach.

“Not yet,” he said. “I told you, I’m going to make you forget everything.”

Before she could ask what he meant, he buried his face between her legs and his forked tongue darted half wriggling inside of her, half flicking against her clit in quick hard motions.

“Ooohhh,” she said, losing herself in the sensations washing over her.

His hands worked beneath her and his fingers slipped slowly inside her, replacing his tongue. He switched back and forth, building her to a maddening crescendo.

Her fingers dug into the blankets at her sides as she came hard and loud to the motion of his flicking tongue.

The next thing she knew, he’d flopped on the bed beside her and laid a hand over her stomach.

“Did it work?” he asked.

“Who are you again?” she replied then laughed.

He rolled her to her side and spooned her, lifting her outside leg with his hand and entering her from behind in one quick motion that sent fireworks through her.

“Not done yet,” he said, squeezing her breast as he thrust over and over up inside of her already slick sex.

Nirvana. Every fiber of her body sang with pleasure as he worked them both toward orgasm. But before they came, he slipped out and repositioned them, guiding her onto her knees on the bed where she protested lightly, shaking with desire.

“It’ll be worth it,” he breathed, settling in behind her. He held her with one hand over her breast, the other down between the front of her legs as he entered her again from behind. His cock filled her again as he rubbed at her clit with his fingers in the same rhythm as he plunged deeper and deeper inside, actually lifting her from the bed each time.

She let her head fall back on his shoulder as he thrust and pressed, bringing her to the most explosive orgasm of her life.

When he finally released her, she fell onto the bed, spent and feeling like a pool of melted butter, him beside her.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he panted.

“Can we do it again?” she answered, too weak to actually move again yet.

Instead, they lay there together, talking and caressing each other into the night.

“Gordon?” she said, after they’d both been lost in thought for a while.

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry. I got you wrapped up in a bad situation and I never should have put you in danger.”

“Baby,” he said, tilting her face so she’d look at him. “You have nothing to apologize for. It was all him. And I was never in danger. He wanted you to think I was I’m sure. But between a dragon and wolf there’s no contest.”

“I see that now,” Corinne admitted. “I should have trusted you to begin with. I thought you’d either get hurt or do something you might regret in the heat of the moment.”

“I told you. I’m fireproof,” Gordon quipped.

Corinne slapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Yeah, yeah.”

“Seriously though, I consider myself an intelligent man. I’m not going to let some fool egg me on into risking anything important. I only wanted to watch out for you.”

Corinne smiled as he splayed his hand over her stomach again. “I know that now. I promise I will trust you from now on.”

“And I promise to always be there for you.”

“How did you know to find me when I needed you?” she blurted. It had been on her mind since the fire. “Marcus set that fire on purpose to lure you away.”

“He didn’t know how fast I work. Or that Loretta had seen him follow you inside the building from Nadine’s window that day. She remembered the little scene he’d caused with you the other night and called me.”

That explained a lot. She’d have to thank Loretta when she had the chance.

Gordon kissed her lightly on the lips, lingering for a moment and sending tingles through Corinne’s limbs.

“I will protect you no matter what. You and Charlie. I swear that. You’re my treasure, and dragons always protect their most important treasure.”

Gordon ran his fingers over the tiny diamonds on her outfit, sending shivers of delight through her skin.

“I bet no treasure ever got you off like I do,” she said, reaching for his shaft. She was ready to go at it again.

“That’s for sure,” Gordon said. “You’re insatiable, woman.”

“Yup.”

And she pulled him closer for a longer kiss and a lifetime of pleasure.

The End.

BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDE

CHAPTER 1

Tessa Henderson never grew tired of the way the morning sunlight streamed in through the windows of her cabin on Bear Mountain. Even after a year, when she and her husband Lucas decided to finally leave the city behind and spend the rest of their lives in peaceful seclusion, she still loved waking up to the gentle dappling of sunlight at the end of her and Lucas’s bed. First, it would play through the leaves of the trees that shaded their cozy cabin, the light shifting as the wind poured over the branches. As the morning went on and the sun rose above the tree line, the sun would flood in on brilliant golden beams.

Tossing the earth-toned blanket from her body, Tessa rose from the bed to open a window and let the pleasant, warm air fill the room. The subtle scent of lavender mixed with the clean, fresh morning breeze. This was her favorite time of year, when the last frost of winter became a distant memory and the sunlight grew warmer by the day, the plants and trees coming out of their long hibernation- spring was almost here. She pulled at the hem of a thin, white t-shirt that showed off her full breasts and barely covered her pair of black lace panties. This was her favorite outfit to sleep in.

Tessa looked at the bed with longing, wishing that Lucas was still in it. Something about these warm, sunny mornings made her want to waste the hours away in bed with her husband, but he rose even earlier than she did. More and more, Tessa found herself waking up alone in bed, her arm moving longingly over the sheets where Lucas would lay.

A thud sounded through the cabin, snapping Tessa out of her morning daydream and alerting her that Lucas was home. Checking her phone on the nightstand, she saw that it wasn’t even eight yet.

“Baby, is that you?” asked Tessa, calling through the open bedroom door.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Lucas said, his gruff, manly voice carrying through the home.

Tessa smiled, happy that he was back. She moved with slinky steps towards the living room, her long chocolate-colored hair mussed from sleep. Entering the kitchen, she saw Lucas, his large, muscular body bare from the waist up, and his tanned, sculpted torso glistening with sweat from his morning’s work. His sandy blond hair hit his strong, defined jaw and his light blue jeans hung from his hips, showing off the full span of his strong, tight abs.

Upon seeing Tessa, his green eyes widened slightly and Tessa watched as his gaze tracked along the curves of her body.

“Where were you?” Tessa asked, crossing one slim ankle over the other as she leaned against the door frame.

“Nowhere,” he said, as he poured himself a tall glass of water at the sink, his tone suggesting that he didn’t want to discuss the matter.

But Tessa did. She knew that Lucas had always been an early riser, but throughout their marriage, there was a reason. He used to rise early to work on one of his wrought-iron sculptures. But since they moved, he was becoming more and more cagey about where he had been and what he had been doing.

“Nowhere?”

“Just into town to get some supplies- nothing you need to worry about.”

He took a long draw from the glass of water, the soft-pointed triangle of his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down with each swallow.

“I just don’t know why you need to go so early.”

“To get it done, that’s why.”

Lucas set the glass in the basin of the stainless-steel sink.

“What difference does it even make?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” said Tessa, winding a delicate finger through her hair and coiling it, a playful smile spreading across her face. “I thought we could spend the morning together.”

Lucas leaned against the counter, taking another look at Tessa.

“Oh yeah?” he asked, getting the hint. “What’d you have in mind?”

“I think you know.”

With that, Tessa turned around and slinked back into the bedroom, pulling her shirt off and tossing it out into the living room, her nipples hard and taut. As she sat down on the bed, she heard Lucas’s heavy footfalls follow her into the bedroom, and within seconds, his tall, broad-shouldered frame was darkening the doorway.

Even after a decade-and-a-half of marriage, Tessa still found Lucas to be the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. His sandy hair was wild and unruly, his green eyes were brilliant and always seemed to be narrowed in mischief, his nose was strong and slim, and his jaw was wide and square, set just below a set of sensual, full lips. A passionate, talented artist, he always had his pick of bohemian girls who invariably fell under his spell, and Tessa still couldn’t believe that she was the one he actually chose to wed.

She looked at him with ravenous eyes as he stepped out of his heavy, brown boots.

“Come here,” said Tessa, curling a finger towards him, her face half-obscured by a thick tress of hair.

Lucas stepped towards her, nothing on his body but his jeans. When he closed the distance, Tessa placed her hands on his tight skin smooth and taut over his muscles. She began kissing his stomach, taking sweet pleasure in the feeling of his abs against her soft lips. Moving down, she paid special attention to his hip bones; she’d always loved the way they jutted out. Tessa inhaled while kissing him, taking in his rich, manly musk. As she continued, she moved her hands down and around, slipping her fingers underneath the waistband of his jeans and dragging the backs of her nails against his skin. She looked up at him with smiling eyes, building the anticipation for what was to come next.

He moved one hand to the back of her head, running his fingers through her hair, the backs of his nails dragging against her skin, sending shivers along the length of her back. Tessa worked open the brushed gold button of his jeans, unfastening  it and exposing the skin just above Lucas’s cock. She moved her lips down, kissing this newly visible skin as she pulled his jeans by the waist, moving her head back and away from his cock as it sprang free.

Tessa couldn’t help but smile every time she saw Lucas’s cock. It was long and thick, smooth and delicious. She found herself often thinking of the first time they fucked that night long ago in the back of his car, a black Porsche Roadster that he inherited from an uncle and still drove to this day. She still remembered the feeling of him sliding into her after what seemed like hours of foreplay, the length of his cock entering her fully, forcing a long sigh from her lungs. And what she remembers most was thinking how perfectly he fit into her, as though his cock was made just for her.

She never grew bored of it and now was no exception.

Taking a long, hungry look at Lucas’s prick, Tessa began by stroking him along the base of his shaft with her fingertips. She wanted to take all of him into her mouth right then, to let his length slide down her tongue and into her throat, but Tessa had long ago learned the value of making a man wait. Wrapping her fingers around his shaft, she tightened her grip, gently squeezing his balls as she stared up at him. Watching his face tighten, Tessa knew that he was ready for her to begin. And as she felt her mouth water as she looked down the length of his organ, she knew that she was ready, too.

She began by kissing the head of his prick with gentle presses, her lips glossy and wet. Tessa focused on just his head at first, kissing along the ridge of his prick, paying special attention to his most sensitive areas as she continued to squeeze his balls. A quick grunt emerged from Lucas’s throat, and Tessa took this as a sign that she was on the right track. After years of learning just how to make this particular cock cum, she knew that she’d better be.

Tessa kissed him along his substantial length, now moving her hand up to the head of his organ, caressing him as she kissed the taut skin of his erection, stopping only at his balls to suck and lick them before moving back up. After repeating this a few times, she knew that she was ready to taste him- to really taste him.

Moving her lips back up to the tip, she opened wide, the corners of her lips pulled upwards in a smile of anticipation, and took him into her warm, wet mouth.

Lucas groaned with pleasure as his cock slid into her, Tessa flicking his length with her tongue as she took him deeper and deeper into her mouth. She stopped before she took his length fully down her throat, wrapping her lips into a tight seal around his shaft. Then, she began sliding her lips along his cock, gently lashing him with her tongue as she sucked, flashing her big, blue eyes up at him with a sensual gaze as she worked.

Gradually, her pace quickened, the soft sounds of her sucking and licking mingling with the birdsong that floated in through the open window. Tessa made sure to lick his head hard when she was about to slide her mouth along his length, pressing her soft, wet tongue against the head of his cock and the skin just below. Moving one hand along his side, she could feel his body shudder with pleasure and as she sucked, his breath quickened.

Then, she relaxed her throat, allowing his entire length to slide into her. She moved slowly, savoring every inch of his perfect cock, her lips creeping down him, stretched over his girth. When Tessa reached the base of his cock she let it simply rest in her throat and brought her gaze up to his eyes once again, letting him look down with his narrowed, green eyes at the sight of his woman taking him as deeply as she could. Then, his hands still kitted into her hair, he gently moved her head back; she could tell that he was on the verge of cumming. His cock dropped out of her mouth as he moved her back, bouncing slightly as the massive, thick member dipped down from gravity. She knew now that it was time to fuck him.

Lucas stepped out of his jeans, and Tessa moved onto the bed, pulling her panties down to her ankles and kicking them off. Now, other than a small strip of trimmed black her above her sex, she was completely bare. Lucas then moved over her, propping himself up with his thick, ropy arms. The span of his broad, strong shoulders casted a shadow over Tessa as she crossed her legs coquettishly, eagerly anticipating him to spread them and enter her.

He held himself above her for a moment and as he did, Tessa felt something off, something different. She watched Lucas move his hands along her body, over the flat, creamy skin of her stomach and down between her legs, slipping his fingers between her thighs and gently spreading her legs apart. And again, as he did, Tessa sensed something strange. She looked up at Lucas and saw that he was looking at the wall above their bed, rather than down at her.

Lucas had always been a stoic sort, his calm and strong masculinity was a trait of his that Tessa was both attracted to and frustrated by, so tender kisses and outpourings of emotion during sex were never something that she expected from him. But at this moment he seemed different, as though his mind were someplace else, and he was preparing himself to simply go through the motions of making love. But she couldn’t say for sure what was going through his mind.

Before she had a chance to consider it further, Lucas slid his cock into her and Tessa’s mind was instantly flooded with the blissful oblivion of pure pleasure, her limbs becoming warm and goosebumps breaking out across her skin. Lucas moved slowly, moving his prick into her, first just with his head, then sheathing himself halfway down his shaft before finally sinking himself deeply and fully into her, enveloping the entire length of his cock with deep, full plunges.

Tessa sighed as he fucked her, dragging her nails along his back, spreading her legs open as fully as she could in order to accommodate his large, burly body. But as soon as the initial wave of pleasure rolled through her body, she couldn’t help but notice once again the way Lucas seemed distant. He appeared to be enjoying himself, she could see that clearly, but it was as though his mind were someplace else. She found her own thoughts drifting back to her concern for where he had been this morning, and why he was out so late. And not simply out late the previous night, but so many other nights.

Pushing these thoughts out of her head, she shifted her focus to Lucas as he moved on top of her, his face in a tight expression of manly pleasure. She spotted the first trickles of perspiration on his brow, and as she looked down at the curves of her own body, she saw that her own skin was beginning to glisten with sweat from the heat of their lovemaking. He lowered his body down until his skin was pressed against hers; Tessa responded by wrapping her arms around his back, feeling his muscles flex against her touch as he thrust into her over and over. She began to feel the orgasm well inside of her, though she still couldn’t shake the idea that there was something simply off about Lucas.

But before she could consider the question further, Lucas lifted himself off her, and grabbing the soft flesh of her hips with his rough, strong hands, he flipped her over, and with a pull on her thighs, moved Tessa into the doggy position. Placing one hand on her shoulder, he slid himself into her once more and began pounding her with powerful thrusts of his hips.

The force of his cock moving in and out of her brought Tessa’s orgasm closer- tantalizingly close. She loved the feel of his hands on her body and savored how rough he could be with her.

And as if he could sense her thoughts, Lucas brought his hand against Tessa’s ass, slapping his open palm against the ample flesh of her ass and producing a loud, cracking impact that sounded through the room, cutting through the couple’s low moans. The sweet mixture of pain and pleasure rushed through Tessa, pushing her even closer to orgasm.

But again, the invading thoughts returned and she found herself wondering if Lucas was fucking her in this position so that he didn’t have to look at her face, so that he could pretend that she was someone else. Right in the middle of their lovemaking she found these anxious thoughts racing through her, taking her out of the passion she so desperately wanted to enjoy. She cursed herself for her paranoia, but as much as she wanted to simply focus on the feeling of her husband inside of her, she found it harder and harder.

“Slap my ass again, baby,” she said, needing to feel the throb of pain, needing to have these thoughts blotted out.

She was beyond thankful when Lucas’s hand cracked against her ass again. Not only did it fill her with a feeling of sensual delight, it served to jostle the invasive thoughts out of her mind, the physical pain bringing her back to the moment. He continued to fuck her, his cock sliding in and out of her, each thrust and slap of his hand upon her ass bringing her closer and closer to the orgasm that she craved.

Then, finally, it came. Pleasure ripped through her body, her limbs going soft as the overwhelmingly intense feeling of the sort of ecstasy that only her lover could bring forth cascaded through her. The orgasm was so strong that she felt as though her body was almost going to come apart at the joints. Lucas, now in a steady pace of deep, full thrusts, came hard, shooting his cum deep inside of her. His pace slowed and as Tessa’s orgasm faded, her face now pressed into the soft pillow in front of her, her moans muffled as she felt her own hot breath against her face.

After a time, Lucas finished, and so did she. Tessa allowed her body to collapse onto the bed, her limbs hot and weak from orgasm. Lucas slid out of her and she took sweet pleasure at the feeling of his hot cum inside of her. They both stayed in these positions for a moment, Tessa flat against the bed, Lucas on his knees, leaning against the wall next to the bed, both of them regaining their breath.

Then Tessa rolled over, her eyes on the magnificent body of her husband, his burly torso slick with sweat, his skin darkened slightly from the rush of blood through his body. A sly smile crept across her face, and at that moment, she wanted nothing more than for him to collapse beside her and to wrap her arms around his body.

But instead, he stepped off of the bed, and without saying a word, left the room, snatching his pants from the floor with a quick swipe as he departed.

Not knowing what to do, or to say, Tessa curled up onto the bed, pulling a pillow close to her body, the glimmer of her wedding ring on the nightstand as it caught the morning sunlight visible in the corner of her eye.

Tessa left the bed soon after, making her way to the bathroom and turning on the shower. She looked out the window into the thick forest that lay beyond their stretch of property, the gentle upward curve of Bear Mountain leading to a rising sun that shined brightly in a cloudless, azure sky. She watched as a bird she recognized as a black-capped chickadee perched on a nearby branch, the branch dipping slightly under the weight of the animal. Opening the window as the bathroom filled with hot steam, she listened to the bird chirping out a chiming, pleasant melody.

The bathroom was small and cozy, like every other room in the cabin, with thick walls of dark, rich wood, facilities of sleek, modern stainless-steel. There was a large basin tub where Tessa loved to spend lazy evenings with a book and glass of cabernet, letting the evening breeze and steady pulsing of cicadas lull her into a state of tranquility.

But there was no such calm to be found today. As she put her hand in front of the stream of water to confirm it was hot enough before stepping inside, the events of the last half hour ran through Tessa’s mind. She knew that something was going on with Lucas. For as long as she had been pretending otherwise, Tessa knew that the time had come for her to accept the fact that Lucas was doing things out late at night that he was keeping from her.

He always told her that he was simply out with friends that he met in the nearby town of Branlen, a cheerful, quaint hamlet where they purchased groceries and went out for drinks whenever they felt the need to be around civilization, but that didn’t make her feel any better. Lucas had brought a few of these friends to the house one evening and the two men that he introduced her to were both sleazy men wearing ratty denim clothes and the smirks of troublemakers; they were men that anyone with the slightest bit of intuition could sense were up to no good, and Tessa worried that they were getting Lucas involved their shady goings-on, whatever they were.

As she let the hot water wash the sweat and scent of sex from her body, she decided that the time for turning a blind eye was over, and that as soon as she got dressed, she’d speak to Lucas. She would demand that he tell her what was going on, what was new in his life that was causing him to act so distant towards her. And as she considered what he might be hiding, the thought of cheating, causing a sick, tight feeling to take hold in the root of her stomach and spread throughout her body. It made her heart race and skin go cold, despite the heat of the water.

They got married when they were only 22 and since then, they’d been each other’s everything. Tessa wondered if he could possibly be cheating after all this time. She tried to dismiss the idea, but it stuck in her head like a splinter, radiating with psychic pain every time she poked at it.

Soaping up the curves of her body, she considered what to do. She knew that she had to ask him to explain what was going on- there was no getting around that. But what if he denied it? What if he wasn’t up to anything? Tessa tossed these thoughts out of her mind; there was simply no way that Lucas’s change in behavior was in her imagination.

Tessa finished washing up and stepped out of the shower. She grabbed one of the fluffy white towels from the brushed-metal hook on the door and, after drying herself off, stepped out of the bathroom. The towel wrapped around her body just above her breasts, she stepped in front of the mirror, wiped away the thin patina of steam that had accumulated on the surface, and looked at the reflection that stared back at her.

Even now, getting on into her late thirties, Tessa knew that she was still a beautiful woman. She had thick, dark brown hair that fell to her shoulders in full tresses, shimmering blue eyes that sparkled like frozen water catching the setting sun, and perfect Cupid's bow lips. Her skin was fair and clear, and her neck was long and graceful.

But as the years went on, the sense that her looks were fading by the day was a feeling she couldn’t shake. Crow’s feet were forming in the corners of her eyes, her bright complexion seemed to be fading, and, looking down, she noted ruefully that her breasts weren’t exactly those of a 22 year old. But she took good care of herself, eating right and exercising, and her body was still more than capable of turning heads, even if it was not as many as when she was fresh out of art school.

There was only one head she was interested in turning, however, and he was growing more distant by the day.

Shucking off the towel and tossing it onto the back of the vanity mirror, Tessa let the morning air wick away the last bits of water on her body. Listening to Lucas rummage through the kitchen, Tessa pulled a pair of matching black underwear out of her drawer and put them on before finishing her outfit with a simple, form-fitting white V-neck t-shirt and a pair of tight, black jeans. Stepping into a pair of black low-top sneakers, she took one last breath before heading into the kitchen.

Lucas’s back was towards her as she entered, a box of sugary cereal in his hand that he was eating straight out of the package. This struck Tessa as strange- junky food like that was something the two of them never typically kept in the home.

“Hey, baby?” asked Tessa, as she stepped through the sunny living room and towards where Lucas stood through the doorway to the kitchen.

“Yeah?” he grunted, not turning around, his bare back still sheened with sweat.

“Can we talk?”

He shoved down another handful of cereal.

“About what?” he asked, through loud crunching.

Tessa finished walking into the kitchen, made her way to the clean, white counter that Lucas stood in front of, and leaned against it.

“I need to know where you’ve been going at night. And where you’ve been leaving to so early,” she said, having trouble forming the words, fearing the conflict that might arise as a result of them.

“I told you,” he said, still not looking up. “I’m out with friends.”

“I know that, but what are you out doing?”

Lucas shoved down one more handful of cereal, chewed it, and set the box on the countertop, the cartoon bear on the front of it giving Tessa a broad smile that almost appeared to be mocking her. He  placed his hands on the edge of the countertop, his jaw grinding as Tessa watched the muscles and bones work through the skin of his face.

“Why do you need to know my business?” he asked.

“Because you’re staying out later and later, you’re going out in the mornings without telling me where, and you’re hanging out with this these…these weirdos that you’d never normally be around?”

He turned to her, his face tight and his green eyes narrow.

“Again, what business is it of yours?”

“What business is it of mine?” she asked, feeling more indignant by the second at his stonewalling. “How about that I’m your wife?”

“That doesn’t mean you need to know where I am at every exact second of the day,” he said, his voice shifting from dispassionate to angered.

“I don’t need to know where you are every second of the day, but when you’re staying out late, not telling me where you are, I start to wonder, you know? And, on top of everything, you’re acting…I don’t know, different.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded.

“And look at that,” she said, pointing at the lawn beyond the kitchen window  to Lucas’s latest sculpture- a tall, human-shaped figure of bent and shaped wrought-iron. “You haven’t touched your work in months. I thought that the whole point of getting out of the city was so we could have time and peace to focus on our art.”

“Don’t worry about how I spent my time,” he said, his voice rising.

Tessa stepped back and extended her hand as if gesturing to something on display.

“And this!” she said. “You’re angry and impatient all the time. You barely talk to me anymore and when we make love, it’s like you’re not even there!”

“It’s all in your head,” he said.

“Don’t tell me I’m imagining it or that I’m crazy or something. I know what I see.”

Tessa watched as the red flush of anger spread across Lucas’s face.

“You don’t know a goddamn thing,” he said, his voice rising as he stepped towards Tessa.

He shook his head and Tessa noticed with shock that he was clenching and unclenching his right fist.

“You’ve got some fucking nerve to accuse me of whatever the hell you’re accusing me of, telling me my friends are ‘weirdos,’ that I’m acting ‘different,’ that I have to check in with you like you’re my goddamn mother!”

He closed the distance between himself and Tessa, until his six-three frame was looming over her.

“This is the end of this conversation,” he said. “And I don’t want to hear another goddamn word about the subject.”

Then, at that moment, Tessa felt something that she’d never before felt in the presence of her husband: fear.

Tessa stood her ground, trying to appear calm and undisturbed, but inside she felt as scared as a child.

Lucas looked her over one last time, glowering at her with hot, angry eyes. Then, he turned and began stomping out of the kitchen, his bare feet slapping against the linoleum floor. Part of Tessa wanted to let the conversation end there, to not risk having it blow up into something more. But another part of her, one that was desperate for answers, one that wanted to know more than anything what had gotten into her husband, began to well in her.

“No!” she exclaimed, her voice high and shrill, stopping Lucas in his tracks.

“What?” he asked, not turning around.

“I said ‘no,’” she said, her voice quivering slightly. “I’m your wife. And you don’t get to dismiss this conversation just because you don’t feel like it. That’s not how this works.”

Lucas said nothing as he turned around to face her, his expression red with anger, with impatience, with frustration. Tessa didn’t know how he was going to react; for the first time in the 15 years of her marriage, she felt scared and unsafe around her own husband. Then, with slow, measured steps, he walked towards the small, two-seat wooden table near the bay windows that looked out onto the front yard. He picked up the glass vase that held two purple flowers, tossed it in his hand as if measuring it for heft, and with a quick jutting of his arm, threw it against the wall on the far side of the room, the vase exploding in a crash of glass, water, and flowers.

Tessa watched this unfolding in horror, shocked that her husband would do such a thing. Any feeling of protestation was now gone; she couldn’t think of a word to say.

Lucas, feeling that his point was made, strode out of the kitchen and into the bedroom. Noisily rummaging through the room, he emerged seconds later, now wearing a black t-shirt with his jeans and a pair of heavy boots, his stomping sounding through the home. He then stormed out the front door, followed soon after by the revving of his motorcycle. Tessa watched him as he peeled off down the winding road in front of their home, leaving her in stunned silence.

Tessa picked up the broken pieces of glass with careful fingers, tossing the shards into a plastic grocery bag from their recycling. She had felt a strange mixture of emotions swirl through her since Lucas sped off. She was fearful, certainly but above all, she wanted to get to the bottom of what was happening with her husband. Months of slow, building tension in the household had finally exploded; it was as if him throwing the vase in a fit of anger was just the thing she needed to see to be able to accept that things might never be the same between her and Lucas. But, either way, she needed to know what was going on with the man she loved, the man she thought she knew so well.

Once the kitchen was finally clean, she considered what her next step would be. After some deliberation, she decided that the only course of action was to find out just what Lucas was doing, and just who he’d been doing it with. Tessa decided that she’d wait until the evening arrived before setting out on her new mission, and she decided to spend the rest of the daylight working on her latest art project.

Taking one last look over the kitchen to make certain that no stray shards remained, Tessa set off for the small studio reserved for work. The room was as sunny and cheerful as always, the many windows of the room looking out onto the long, green stretch of the backyard, the trees beyond swaying in the gentle morning breeze.

Tessa stepped in front of her latest piece, a still-life done in the hyperrealism style that she had been perfecting over the last decade. The painting of the bowl of wax fruit on the table beyond was starting to come together in a way that she was mostly happy with, the fruit on the canvas drawn with such clarity and detail that it almost seemed to be real, and that was exactly what she was hoping for.

Her photorealistic style had found many admirers over the last few years, with buyers  everywhere from the Upper East Side to Shibuya who were eager to pay hand-over-fist for her latest work. As she looked over the painting, paying special attention to a draping pineapple leaf, she couldn’t help but wonder if Lucas’s relative lack of success was factoring into his change in behavior. He still had patrons, but his drive had seemed to peter out over the last few years, and the sales of his work reflected it. He just didn’t seem to have the same hungry ambition that she fell in love with so many years ago.

Tessa was still shaken up from her fight with Lucas, but she needed to pass the time somehow, and she knew that art was the best way for her to burn off any built-up energy or tension. Besides, it was either that or pace around the house until the sun set. Getting her equipment together, she set to work.

And just as she intended, the hours flew by, with the morning shifting into afternoon, then finally into evening. Tessa only took breaks for a quick snack or to use the restroom. Eventually, after nearly a day’s worth of work, she felt a little less stressed out about the fight with Lucas, her fear being replaced more and more by a desire to get to the bottom of what was going on with her husband. And as she predicted, Lucas hadn’t come back home.

Setting her painting tools on the long, L-shaped desk in the workroom, she took one last look at her painting and a feeling of satisfaction spread through her. She cleaned up in the wash basin, put her things back in order, and shut the lights off in the workroom.

As soon as she flicked the switch, a feeling of determination took hold; she was ready to get to the bottom of things. Grabbing her keys, she stepped out into the cool evening air, the lights along their front walkway were small pools of illumination against the pitch black of the forest that surrounded them. Tessa was happy that they decided to move out into the woods because-she could focus on her work here in a way that she never could with the constant noise of the city streets outside of their old apartment in Brooklyn.  The darkness, however, was something she never grew used to. She always relied on Lucas to feel safe, but now that things between them were strained,  standing in the still, quiet air of the woods, the silver sliver of moon above bright that only source of light beyond those of her home, she had an acute sense of just how dark the woods were.

Her keys in hand, she made a fist around them, letting one stick out from between her middle and ring finger. She knew how silly it was to think this would provide a defense against whoever, or whatever, was lurking in the darkness beyond the property lights, but it made her feel a little bit better.

She walked along the path towards the gravel driveway where the car was parked. But just as she approached the black Roadster, a rustling sounded from the woods on the other side of the driveway.

Tessa stopped in her tracks, standing stone still next to the car as she listened to the noise. It was a gentle noise at first, like a small critter running through foliage, but over the course of the next few seconds, it grew in volume and intensity. Tessa realized quickly that it wasn’t just one animal causing the sound, but many. And they were all growing closer by the second.

Then, the stomping of heavy footfalls could be heard. These, too, grew closer and louder by the second. She caught the glint of a pair of yellow eyes in the darkness, then another, then another. The snorting of breath cut through the air, hot puffs of exhalation forming and dissipating in the night.

Tessa’s heart raced as the animals moved closer, and as they stepped out of the darkness and into the small pools of light, she saw that these weren’t just any animals- they were a large pack of black bears, their eyes all on Tessa as she stood frozen.

Her body locked up as the animals stared at her impassively, looking her over as if they didn’t know what to make of her…or if they hadn’t yet decided what to do with her. As they all emerged from the shadows, Tessa saw that there were six in total, the two largest in the middle and flanked at both sides by the smaller members of the pack, their fur nearly as dark and black as the shadowed night behind them. 

Tessa’s fight-or-flight instinct seemed to have short-circuited and all she could do was stare at the animals as they stood in a row on the other side of the car. Though she was gripped with fear, she knew that there was nothing she could do. If she ran, they’d chase her down; if she fought, she’d be dead in seconds. So, instead, she chose to stay still, hoping that they’d see she wasn’t a threat.

After a moment, the largest bear broke from the pack, and moved on all four paws around the car, its muscles shifting as it walked, its smooth, coal-black fur catching the moonlight as it approached Tessa. It closed the distance between them quickly, coming to a stop only a few feet from her. Tessa looked into the deep, brown eyes of the animal, which was close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from its massive body. She knew that if it wanted to kill her, it could do so in a split-second. Tessa’s body was perfectly still, aside from her right hand, which shook rapidly, the keys jingling as they dangled from her fist.

The bear looked at her hand before turning his gaze back to her. Then, it walked around Tessa in a slow, lazy circle, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as it moved directly behind her. It completed its loop around her, the gravel crunching under its massive paws. It took one last, appraising look at Tessa before, to her surprise, it turned and walked back to the rest of the pack. Lifting his head up in a quick, nodding motion, it gestured to the other bears before walking back into the woods, disappearing into the shadowed foliage. The other bears followed, and in seconds, Tessa was once again alone, rustling branches the only evidence of the bear’s former presence.

Tessa, finally able to move, stumbled over to the car, her heart pounding in her chest. She leaned forward against the car, catching her breath and letting the adrenaline finish rushing through her body.

The experience left her shaken, but what she considered most disturbing of all, was when the bear looked at her, something about its eyes didn’t seem like the cold, empty eyes of a beast. It seemed…human.

Tessa sped down the narrow, gravel road that led to Branlen, the encounter with the bear pack still racing through her mind. She knew that she should’ve been dead; any other pack of bears would’ve attacked her within seconds if she had approached them that closely. But this pack was different. She couldn’t shake the face of the bear that approached her from her thoughts. It was just a bear, but the way it looked at her, it was almost as if it was taking a closer look out of its own sense of curiosity, to see what she looked like up close.

She did her best to shake these thoughts from her mind as she made her way towards the town. Not knowing exactly how to begin her mission of finding out where Lucas was, or what he was doing, she figured Hannagan’s, the dive bar where they most often went for drinks, was the best place to start. The small town appeared down the road, a dome of light in the distance marking it as a beacon of civilization in the woods. She felt the road change from gravel to paved asphalt, a sure sign that she was nearly there.

After a time, she arrived at Hannagan’s, which was a squat, gray building decorated with neon signs, motorcycles and cars parked haphazardly out front. She scanned the vehicles for Lucas’s bike, but couldn’t spot it. Figuring that he likely was here at some point, she pulled into a spot and got out of the car.

Throwing open the door to the bar, she was greeted with rock music playing loudly over the speakers and the sort of raucous commotion that’d she’d grown to expect from the small-town clientele that was currently packed into the place. Sidling through the crowd, she slipped into an empty barstool. Within seconds, the owner Henry, a tall, heavy-set man with a head of silver hair and a beard tied in a small braid at his chin, came over to Tessa with a smile on his face.

“Hey, Tess,” he said, leaning against the bar with both hands.

“Hey, Henry,” she replied.

“No Lukey tonight?” he asked, looking around Tessa, as though he might find Lucas hiding behind her.

“No,” said Tessa, disappointed that Henry evidently hadn’t seen Lucas. “I was actually hoping that you’d seen him.”

“Nope, I haven’t seen him in a few days, actually. What can I get ya?”

“Just a Bud,” she said.

Within seconds, he produced an ice-cold bottle of beer and set it on the bar in front of her, popping the top open with a hiss. Tessa took a slow drink, the cool beer was delicious and just the thing for her frazzled nerves.

“Boy’s nowhere to be found?” asked Henry.

“He, uh, left on his bike earlier today,” she said, not wanting to share the exact details of her situation. “I hadn’t heard from him and saw he left his damn phone at home.”

Henry shook his head.

“Dumbass,” he said.

“No kidding,” said Tessa. “I figured he probably stopped by here at some point.”

“That’s a safe bet,” said Henry. “You know what, I did just get here; Julianne’s been here all day. Let me see if she’s seen hide or hair of that young man.”

“Thanks, Henry,” Tessa said, taking another sip of her beer.

Henry nodded and stepped away and within seconds he was replaced by Julianne, a skinny, black-haired girl with arms covered in colorful, elaborate tattoos. She wore a skin-tight t-shirt that showed off her taut, toned stomach.

“Hey, baby!” she said, her gaunt, yet pretty face breaking out into a wide smile as she leaned across the bar to give Tessa a hug.

“Hey, Jules!” said Tessa.

A sly smile crossed Julianne’s face as she slipped two shot glasses out from behind the bar and filled them with Goldschlager, the golden flakes of the liquor catching the dim light of the bar as they fluttered in the liquid. She pushed a glass over to Tessa and with a cheer, the two threw back their shots, the sweet, cinnamon drink burning Tessa’s throat as she swallowed it.

“So, you’re looking for your man?” asked Julianne, her hands on her hips.

“Yeah,” she said, before filling Julianne in on the rest of the fabricated details.

“Oh, shoot, I’m always leaving my phone at home,” she said before furrowing her brow in thought. “Well, he was in here, but that was hours ago. He met with…umm, Kevin and Mike.”

Tessa let out an involuntary shudder at hearing the names of two of Lucas’s newest, and scuzziest, friends.

“They were here? Where’d they go after that?”

“Hmm, let me think,” said Julianne, cocking her hips to the side. “They got good and tore up here, then they said they were...hmm, oh, that’s right- they said they were going to Dusty’s place down on Whitehall Lane. You know, the big farm?”

Tessa knew what she was talking about- she and Lucas had been to a few parties there over the years. And from that experience, she knew the shindigs there could get pretty out of hand.

“I’m surprised he didn’t come back to get you if that’s where he went. I’d never let my man run off to a party like that without me watching him like a damn hawk; too many drugs, and too much temptation, if you know what I mean.”

Tessa knew exactly what she meant. She finished her beer, determined to go find Lucas and get things settled between them before they got out of hand.

“You want another?” asked Julianne, pointing towards the beer with a finger looped with a gaudy, silver ring.

“Nah, I’m gonna go find Luke and make sure he doesn’t get up to anything he shouldn’t,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, good idea. Later, Tess.”

Tessa pushed herself away from the bar and rose to leave, but before she left, a question popped into her mind.

“Hey, Jules,” said Tessa.

“Yeah?”

“This is kind of a weird question, but have you ever seen any bears around this area? Like, big black bears?”

“Black bears?” asked Julianne, her face in a quizzical expression. “Not that I know of.”

Henry, overhearing the conversation, stepped in.

“There used to be bears around these parts, but since civilization moved in, we haven’t seen them for, oh, decades. Not since I was a kid. Why?”

“Oh, just had some critter go through my trash the other day,” said Tessa. “Though it might’ve been a bear.”

“Nah,” said Henry. “If it were a bear, you’d know it.”

Tessa said her goodbyes and headed out, ready to settle things with Lucas.

Tessa could hear the house long before she saw it. Driving the Roadster down the winding road out of town towards to Dusty’s farm, a steady thumping of bass vibrating the windows and windshield of the car. Moments later, Tessa made the final turn, revealing a massive, white farmhouse on a seemingly endless stretch of land, a lake shimmering with moonlight visible in the distance. In front of the house were dozens of cars parked at erratic angles, throngs of people around them and packed onto the front lawn. Rolling down the window, the sounds of electronic music filled the car, the raucous noise of the party-goers as they whooped and hollered was audible through the music.

Pulling into a spot near the road, Tessa exited the car and walked towards the party, the music growing to a nearly deafening volume the closer she drew to the house. The partiers, all with drinks in their hands from beers in red plastic to handles of cheap whiskey, stared at her with narrowed eyes as she approached, as though she were an unwelcome guest. And as she scanned the crowd, she recognized not a single face- a fact that struck her as odd, considering the town of Branlen was only a few thousand people.

Something else struck Tessa’s attention: most of the crowd seemed to have the same weary, worn face, as if they’d been up for days partying. But before she could ponder the curiosity, the nearby flicking of a lighter provided the answer to her question. Looking at the direction of the flame, she saw a group of four especially trashy-looking men and women gathered into a small circle, all passing around a small pipe. Tessa figured that it was pot, but as she smelled the air, she detected a strange, astringent scent.

Soon after, she realized what it was- meth.

Ignoring the eyes of the reed-limbed men in oversized jeans and dirty, white undershirts, she made her way into the house, the music now loud enough to drown out her thoughts. She didn’t know where she was heading exactly, or what she was going to do if she was able to find Lucas; she only knew that she needed to see him, to get closure on their fight.

“Hey, baby,” said a man wearing expensive, gaudy clothing, and beady black eyes that peered out at Tessa from behind matted, red hair. “You want a smoke?”

Tessa’s first reaction was to tell the man to fuck off, but as she looked over his outfit and saw that he had money, she realized that he might know who was who around here.

“Sure,” she said, moving next to the man, the scent of overabundant body spray filling her nose.

“That’s what I like to hear, missy,” he said, his voice an urban drawl. “What’s your name?”

“T-, uh, Charlene,” she said, forcing a coy smile onto her lips.

“Charleeene,” he said, drawing out the vowels as if trying the name on for size. “I’m Reynaldo.”

“Nice to meet you, Renaldo,” said Tessa, taking his boney hand and shaking it, a thin sheen of sweat on his palm.

“No, no, no,” he said, slipping his hand out of Tessa’s and waving it back and forth while shaking his head. “Not ‘Renaldo,’ ‘Rey-naldo.’ Big difference.”

“Sure, uh, Ray-naldo,” said Tessa, taking the cigarette Reynaldo offered and slipping it between her lips.

“Now, pretty lady,” he said, lighting her cigarette, the sickly-sweet taste of menthol rushing into Tessa’s lungs as she took the lighting drag. “I gotta say, you don’t exactly look like you fit in here.”

“And why is that?” she asked, taking another drag and trying to mask her disgust at the taste of the cigarette.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “But you’re a little older than the, ah, usual types we get around here.”

Tessa was mildly offended but thought better of indulging the urge to slap this young man across his face. Instead, she looked around the packed, dimly-lit house, and sure enough, he was right- nearly everyone there looked no older than 25.

“I love older ladies, personally,” he said. “So that ain’t even a thing for me.”

“Great to hear,” said Tessa, taking another drag.

“And the other, well, let’s just said you got some really clear skin.”

Tessa was confused at first, but scanned the party once more. With Reynaldo’s comment in mind, she looked over the faces of the party-goers; they all seemed to have the same blotchy, red skin, with complexions so bad she could barely make out their features through their sores. If she hadn’t already figured out that this was some kind of meth party, she would’ve known now.

Then, the question rushed into her mind: Why would Lucas be here?

She decided to take a stab in the dark.

“You don’t happen to know anyone named Lucas Henderson, would you?”

Reynaldo’s mouse-like eyes widened, his youthful features lighting up with recognition.

“You mean Mister Henderson? Why you asking about him?”

Tessa was taken aback by this question. Namely, that he seemed to know right away who Lucas was. And also, that this kid didn’t seem to be the type to typically use formalities like “mister.”

“I have important business with him,” said Tessa, unsure of what else to say, and not wanting to give Reynaldo the real reason for wanting to talk to Lucas.

“Are you dealing?” he asked, now seemingly unsure of how to talk to Tessa. “No, wait- you’re not a fucking cop, are you?”

“No, not a cop. I promise.”