Chapter One

 

 

Present Day…

 

Jamie Dell sat nervously in the waiting room. Trying her best not to pick at her cuticles or tap her feet like she always did when nervous.

“Miss Dell?” The young woman sitting behind the desk asked.

“Yes?”

“Miss Wilder will see you now.”

“Thank you.”

She got up from her seat and walked across the tile floor. Her short heels clicking across the tiled floor as the sound echoed in the quiet waiting room.

Just as she was about to open the door, it swung open. “Jamie! Come on in.” Gerri greeted her with a smile.

“Thank you. I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally meet you.”

“Why thank you.”

Gerri’s gorgeous smile eased Jamie’s nervousness. The woman who was well known for her successful dating matches had a widely known reputation for not only being successful but also for her ability to soften even the roughest edges with her charm.

“So,” Gerri sat in her chair behind her desk and picked up a file. “It says here you’re specifically hoping to find a shifter.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Darling, don’t call me ma’am. I don’t even let toddlers call me ma’am. I’m not that old yet.” She laughed. “Let’s just go with Gerri. Okay?”

“Of course, Gerri it is.”

“And you’re looking for a shifter because…?”

“I’ve never dated one before.”

“And?”

“And… what?”

“Honey, I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve seen and heard it all.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Okay, you’ve never dated one before. But, there has to be more. Your profile questionnaire says that you only want to date shifters. Usually, mild curiosity would have you checking off either box, shifter or human. But, you specifically only want to date shifter. So… what else is there?”

Jamie blushed and looked down.

Don’t pick at your cuticles, Jamie. Don’t do it.

“Sweetie, there is nothing you could say that would shock me. I really have seen and heard it all. I mean, unless you’re into clowns or something. Because that’d just be fucking weird.”

Startled by the image, Jamie looked up to find Gerri smiling at her.

“It was just a joke, dear. I’m merely trying to loosen you up a bit. I mean, if you were into clowns, far be it for me to judge. To each his own, you know?”

“I guess. But, I’m not into clowns.” Jamie returned the smile. She was losing her nervousness and beginning to warm up to Gerri’s charisma.

“Okay, but you are into shifters. Tell me why.”

“Okay,” she took a deep breath, trying her best to push her embarrassment aside. “I mentioned I’ve never dated one. But, there’s more to it than that.”

“There usually is, dear.”

“Well, I guess… the idea of being with a shifter has always… excited me?”

“Look, sweetie. I can’t help you if you can’t help yourself. Don’t say it like you’re guessing the answer to an algebra problem. If the idea of a shifter mate excites you, then own that! Don’t sit across from me timidly and suggest that it excites you. Look me square in the eye and tell me it excites you!”

“Okay.” Jamie nodded. “I want to date a shifter. A cat shifter maybe. Like a tiger? I’ve always been… attracted to them. You might even say that I have a small obsession.”

“Might say?”

“Okay, not maybe. I definitely want to date a cat shifter. A big, strong and ferocious cat shifter. One that will make all of my fantasies come true!”

“Alright, now you have my attention.” Gerri grinned. “Go on.”

“I’ve never been with a shifter. I told you that. But, the few human men I’ve been with have been… well, boring. To say the least. But, it wasn’t until my last boyfriend that I thought maybe it wasn’t them, and it was partially me. I mean, every time we had sex I kept catching myself drifting off into my fantasies. I’d imagine what it would be like if I was with a shifter instead. Would I be more turned on? Would I be able to stop faking it? Would I… finally have an orgasm? I’d just wonder so many things.”

“All of those are pretty normal questions and curiosities to have. But, I have to ask. Are you looking for a mate, a happily ever after, so to speak? Or are you looking to scratch that itch?”

“I…”

“What I’m asking you, dear, is, whether or not you want a relationship, or whether you are just looking for answers to all of those questions that you have.”

“Honestly… I don’t think I know yet. All I do know is that I can’t continue to just date human men and not at least find out if my fantasies are just my wild imagination getting the better of me, or if it is really all I’m imagining them to be.”

Gerri grinned. “So, to be frank… you’re looking to have sex with a shifter. And preferably a big cat shifter?”

“Well, I guess so. Yeah.”

Opening her desk drawer, Gerri pulled out a folder and opened it. “You know, Jamie. I think I have just the guy for you.”

 

 

 

 

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