“Hello, this is Dr. Pearson, from the fertility clinic. Kaeden, we’ve found your match. The one you’ve been looking for all this time, we finally found her! Give me a call, she is due back in two days for the procedure. Call me back.”

“…Kaeden, This is Dr. Pearson again. I know we are supposed to confirm with you before going ahead, but we’ll never find a better match, and she more than meets all of your criteria. She’s coming in today for the operation. Please…call me back immediately.”

Kaeden cursed as he pressed the red button to skip to the next message and held the phone to his ear, straining to hear the words over the pounding of his heart. Finally, after all these years, a true match! He couldn't wrap his mind around it. And it had already happened…he checked the date of the first two messages…almost ten days ago, and he hadn’t been there!

He cursed again, this time directed at the Sanctuary Ranch, and its lack of cell phone reception, where he had been for the past two weeks trying to diffuse the ever-worsening situation between Rafe and Luca. His brothers were going to be the death of him.

Sanctuary was an oasis for down-on-their-luck Shifters from all over the Great Plains. He should know, he had shown up with two younger brothers, still just cubs, and a giant chip on his shoulder, and they had taken them in, no questions asked. So when Mama Jones called telling him his idiot brothers were causing problems at the ranch, he had dropped everything and immediately headed there to straighten them out. He loved his brothers, but really, they were going to kill him.

“Hi, Dr. Pearson here. Kaeden, call me back as soon as possible. She’s coming in this afternoon for the follow-up. We will see if the procedure worked…Just…call me back!”

Kaeden looked at the time of the message, then up at the clock flashing red from the dash of his truck. The last message was from just under an hour ago. The clinic was about a three hour drive from the ranch, if he hurried he might just get there in time to catch her. He grinned at the thought, threw the old pick-up into gear, and slammed his boot into the gas pedal. Disbelief and doubt warred with excitement as he made his way toward the Doc, this mystery woman, and he dared hope, his future child.

Amelia Price stared at the mint green clock ticking annoyingly, aggravatingly on the equally mint green wall of the waiting room. Normally, she found the soft grey and light green color scheme of the Jackson Fertility Clinic soothing, but not today. No, especially not today. Today was not just any day. Today was the day she would find out if the procedure had worked, and if she was really, truly pregnant.

Her stomach rolled, and it felt as if her heart was trying to beat itself straight out of her chest and onto the cream and grey checked linoleum floor. For about two seconds, she had tried to read one of the family planning magazines, but all the happy, shiny couples holding perfect little babies was just altogether more than her nerves could handle.

What if it hadn’t worked? What if the results came back negative? It had been almost an hour since Dr. Pearson had taken the pregnancy tests, and she was told to have a seat in the waiting room. It shouldn’t be taking this long, right? She pressed clammy hands to her jittery stomach, trying to soothe the nerves that were threatening to overwhelm her.

Amelia had wanted children her whole life. When other girls had grown out of playing with dolls, she had clung to the dream of having a baby of her own, to love and cherish. Well, actually a houseful of children. As she got older, went through High School and then College for her degree in elementary education, she had just been waiting for that right guy to fall in love with, and help make her dream a reality.

But, as it turned out, she was incredibly unlucky in love. Like, abnormally unlucky. First there had been John. Sweet John, charming John, cheating John. The second year of college, she had met Nathaniel in her Intro to Children’s Literature class, and was sure that he shared the same dreams that she did. They had dated almost a year and half before she discovered the reason he would never move past second base probably had something to do with the stash of men-on-men porn she found in his closet.

At the time, she had been heartbroken…again, but now she could chuckle at the irony of Nate hiding gay porn in the closet. They were still friends, even after she broke off the relationship, and had spent years encouraging him to be honest, at least with himself, about his sexual preferences.

After that had followed an even sadder parade of guys just looking for a one-night stand, or if they were interested in more, Amelia just didn’t feel the spark that she was looking for. As much as she wanted a slew of children, she had dreamed of those children being a result of a warm, loving relationship with a man she could spend the rest of her life with.

Now, at 29, she had an amazing job that she loved teaching kindergarteners at one of the best k-12 charter schools in the area, and a quaint home of her own, which she had signed the last check for six months ago.

But for years she had felt the empty ache in her life continue to grow, until she found herself reading an article about a woman who had gotten pregnant using donor fertilization at the Jackson Fertility Clinic.

For the next three years Amelia had worked hard, saved her money, and delved into research, learning more about the donor fertilization process, all the while hoping for the right guy to come along. Well, she was tired of waiting for Mr. Right to happen by and make her dreams come true. She was ready to take her life into her own hands.

Amelia was about to get up and ask the nurse at the reception desk how much longer it would be, when the chime of the door opening chirped loudly. She turned to look at the new comer, desperate for a distraction, and froze.

The sexiest man she had ever seen stood just in the doorway, looking concerned, not slightly perturbed, and his dark brows slashing over unusual gold eyes. Her gaze swept up and over jet black hair that curled just slightly where it brushed the tops of his broad shoulders, lending him an unkempt, wild look. Her eyes took in the chiseled pecks and the hint of a six pack under his tight white t-shirt. Oh my! This was one handsome beast.

Caught up in enjoying the sight of this fabulous man candy, it took her a moment to realize that those amazing golden eyes had settled on her with a razor sharp stare. Amelia jumped at the visceral response, like a physical touch as he returned her thorough perusal. She didn't think it possible, but his gaze sharpened, brows lowering even further as his nostrils flared, almost as if he could smell the delicate lemon verbena perfume she had donned earlier that morning.

“Ms. Price, the doctor will see you now.” The receptionist nasal voice broke whatever spell Mr. Tall, dark, and dangerously handsome had thrown over her, and she jerked around just as a pink flush rose, tinting her normally pale cheeks. Get a grip, she mentally scolded herself as she grabbed her bag from the seat next to her, and walked down the hall toward Dr. Pearson’s office.

Kaeden exhaled roughly, finally able to breathe as the dark haired beauty disappeared through the frosted glass door that he knew led down a hall to a set of offices, including Dr. Pearson’s. He started toward the front desk but couldn’t shake the image of the wide, grey eyes staring at him from across the room, and wavy auburn hair reflecting the cool fluorescent light. He mentally traced each and every delicious curve accentuated by the white lace dress she had been wearing. She had looked like a sexpot dressed up as a pre-school teacher.

His mouth salivated at the juxtaposition of unbelievably sweet and undeniably sexy, remembering her ripe, pouty mouth glistening slightly pink, and her scent. Something light and citrus-y, but underneath, all woman.

“I need to speak with Dr. Pearson.” His voice came out as more of a growl, husky still from the thoughts of the tempting woman who had just stood where he was now, her perfume filling his senses, distracting him anew.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Pearson is busy. He’s seeing a patient right now. You can take a seat if you would like to wait.”

“Well, this is an emergency! I need to talk to him right nnn….” His words trailed off as his brain made the belated connection that she was the perfect match the Doc had been referring too. That angel was going to have his child? Pregnant with his seed? He was instantly hard at the thought, and took a deep breath to get his body back under control. He took off toward the glass door that separated the waiting room and the back offices, throwing the door open and striding through. It closed violently, muffling the receptionist’s admonition to wait.

He stood still a moment, concentrating on breathing normally, but the spike of excitement and adrenaline was still wreaking havoc with his body. He fought to keep his thoughts clean, trying to calm himself before he walked into Dr. Pearson’s office. The last thing Kaeden wanted to do was to scare the future mother of his child, even if she was only a surrogate.

Amelia walked into the Doctor’s office more nervous than she could ever remember being. Even more than when she had to give the Valedictorian’s speech in front of her entire fellow graduating class, and she had thrown up twice right before taking her place in front of the podium. Dr. Pearson looked up from a stack of charts as she entered, and gestured for her to take one of the two charcoal grey leather seats in front of his oversized cherry wood desk.

He raised his horn-rimmed reading glasses as his eyes focused on her face, pale as a ghost now that the flush of seeing that magnificent specimen out in the waiting room had fled, leaving her complexion almost porcelain and making her dark grey eyes stand out starkly. Amelia felt every second crawl by like an hour as he re-positioned his glasses on his beak of a nose, and finished reading through the paper in front of him. She couldn’t take the silence any longer.

“Well…” Her voice cracked through the silence, startling her and her quickly deteriorating nerves. “What are the test results? Am I…am I pregnant?” She stumbled over the words. After so many years of hoping and wishing and dreaming she could hardly let herself believe that it might be actually be happening. She desperately wanted it to be true, but she was afraid if she got her expectations up just to have them dashed, it would be that much harder to continue on, to start the process over from scratch.

“Ok, Ms. Price, I have just been looking over the results of your test. Let me start off by telling you that your lab tests came back perfect, you are in great shape, and everything is at healthy levels.” Amelia sighed in impatience, as she mentally urged the doctor to get the news she urgently needed to hear.

“With that being said, on to the results of the pregnancy test. Amelia, you are…” The sound of the door banging open interrupted him, and the doctor jumped and looked up at the sudden intruder. Amelia was on the edge of her chair, her purse twisted in a white-knuckled death grip as she was waiting to hear the verdict. If she didn’t get the answer soon, she was pretty sure she was going to have a heart attack. Her nerves were completely shot as she turned to see what was so incredibly important the someone had to barge in right at the very second her entire life might have changed.

She sucked in a breath as she turned around, struck again by blindingly handsome stranger who had stopped her dead in her tracks in the waiting room. Just as she opened her mouth to demand to know what the hell he was thinking just barging in like a Neanderthal, Dr. Pearson spoke.

“Kaeden! You…you’re here….finally.” He cast a guilty look toward her, probably because of the unconscionably rude interruption. “Um…uh, why don’t you wait in the office next door, so we can…uh, talk. Yes, talk. We definitely need to do that.” Dr. Pearson nervously fiddled with his glasses, directing his words in the he-man’s general direction, but refusing to meet his burning golden gaze.

“No.” His deep rumbling voice sent an involuntary shiver running down her spine. What was it about his guy that affected her so much? His windswept black hair, disgustingly broad shoulders, and the fact that he would tower over her own five feet seven by about eight inches probably had something to do with it. As well as that incredibly potent gaze of his that made her feel like he could see everything under her clothes. Yep, exactly like the look he was giving her right now.

“Um, this is a private meeting.” Damn, she was trying to sound stern but all that had come out was a breathy whisper. Get. A. Grip! She had important, life altering business to get back to. “You really need to go.” She frowned, that still wasn’t right. “Now!” There, that was better. She started to turn back toward Dr. Pearson, who was still standing behind his desk looking strangely guilty, when his deep voice stopped her.

“No, I’m not leaving. This has as much to do with me as it does with you,” He took several steps into the room, “…more really, when you think about it.” He didn't notice the sudden widening of her grey eyes as he continued until he reached the other chair, and started to sit.

“Excuse me? You have no idea…”

“Wait, Kaeden, I really need to talk to you in…”

Amelia and Dr. Pearson spoke over each other, making an unintelligible jumble that seemed to have no effect on Kaeden as he sat, stretching out his legs and crossing them at the ankles, crowding Amelia and unintentionally brushing her bare calf with the denim of his black jeans.

Kaeden sucked in a breath at the contact as goosebumps erupted, traveling outward from the point of contact. He tried to remain casual as a wave of arousal followed, trying to distract him from the matter at hand. The very gorgeous, and obviously confused, matter.

“Listen, that is my child you are carrying,” He nodded at her midsection, his eyes wandering over her ample curves of their own volition, otherwise he would have noticed the battle light suddenly firing in her eyes, making them deepen to the color of steel. He also would have seen her tense, pull back the hand still holding her purse, and swing it towards him.

“Are you kidding me? Who the hell do you think you are?” Each question was punctuated by another swing of her purse, and he raised his hands up to shield himself from the sudden and unexpected onslaught. “You can’t do that! Just walk into some random Doctor’s office and say ‘that one’s mine’ like some sick, demented caveman!” Another smack as the bag made contact with his forearm, Kaeden still trying to wrap his mind around the situation. “I don’t even know if I am pregnant yet, but if I am this baby is sure as hell not yours! What is your problem! I’m calling the cops! If you don’t leave, I am calling the cops. Right. Now!”

He grabbed hold of her wrists and held them gently but firmly, preventing her from continuing her attack. She wasn’t making any sense, this was the woman who had met all of his criteria? She seemed a little unstable to him, but he racked his brain for some explanation for her reaction. He was obviously missing something. Still holding her wrists, he directed his gaze towards the doctor, who had taken his seat and was rubbing the bridge of his nose underneath his glasses.

“Doc, care to explain?” His voice was deceptively calm.

“Not really,” Dr. Pearson sighed and leaned forward, supporting himself on his elbows, and looking suddenly a lot older than he had at the beginning of the meeting. “First, Amelia…you are pregnant. The tests came back positive.”

“Oh my God…” The words whispered passed her lips on a puff of released breath that she didn't even realize she was holding. “Oh, oh my…” All her thoughts were suddenly wiped from her as the words she had so long hoped to hear were finally a reality. She didn’t even notice the strong fingers that had at first restrained her wrists were now rubbing gentle, soothing circles on the backs of her hands.

Dr. Pearson cleared his throat.

“Yes, well…that’s the good news.” He looked at her, and she could see the sincerity in his eyes. “Congratulations, Amelia. I know you’ve wanted this for a long, long time.” His softly spoken words had sudden tears burning threateningly at the corners of each eye. His next words jarred her back to reality. “Kaeden…is the father.” The words sounded as if they were dragged out him with a crow bar. “He is the donor, and he had very specific instructions and criteria that we…had thought you met one hundred percent.”

Kaeden jerked forward at the last part. “What do you mean, you thought?” The words rumbled out of him in a soft growl. “You said you found a perfect match, the perfect surrogate I’ve been waiting for.” A gasp had him looking over, and he was instantly captured by the big, charcoal eyes that stared at him, clouded with too many emotions to decipher.

“Surrogate? No. No, no, no.” She shook her head in time to each ‘no’ for emphasis. “Nope. Listen,” Amelia pulled her hands from his, making him aware that he had unconsciously been holding them the whole time, and placed them protectively over her stomach. “This is my baby. My child. I didn’t sign up for some sort of surrogacy program. I decided to go through this process so I could have a child. To raise, and love. Not to carry for nine months and then give away.”

Kaeden felt his heart pound heavily as he suddenly realized the severity of the situation. Years ago he had contacted Dr. Pearson to help him find a surrogate who would be capable of not only being impregnated by a shapeshifter’s semen, but also carry the baby to term. It was incredibly rare to find a woman physically, chemically, and emotionally able to do both, which was why their population had dwindled so drastically, and why he had searched out the doctor in the first place.

But somewhere, someone had made a terrible mistake. It was obvious to him that Amelia would never consider giving the baby up to be adopted by someone else. But she had no idea what she was in for. A headache started pounding behind his right eye and his mind raced as he examined and summarily discarded several possible solutions to this suddenly complicated and fraught situation.

Kaeden turned in the chair to face Amelia but without any thought as to how to begin explaining everything. “Listen, this is a really complicated situation. But, like the doctor said, that is also my child and…” He was stopped short as she jumped out of her chair, and he unconsciously flinched as she grabbed her purse from where it had slid to the floor.

“No, I really don’t have to listen. This is my baby. My baby. I don’t care what kind of scam or sick plan you have, and I don’t care. I am leaving. Now.” And with that, she stalked from the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Kaeden sat in silence for a brief but heavy moment before turning to the doctor. “I need her address.”

Amelia sat in her living room, huddled under the softly knitted blanket her grandmother had made, and tried to stem the flood of tears that hadn’t stopped since she walked through the front door of her home. This should have been one of the happiest days of her life, and yet, it was marred by not only the bizarre events of the afternoon, but also her intense fascination with that man, Kaeden.

Kaeden. She said his name in her mind again, instantly conjuring his image. Tall, broad chested, his muscles tense and flexing under the sleeves of his white t-shirt, but his hands had been so incredibly gentle as they had held hers. Long legs encased in black denim, and tipped with black leather boots that looked worn in with use and time.

She shook her head, knowing she was being ridiculous. Underneath the anxiety caused by the scene at Dr. Pearson’s office earlier, she could feel the warmth of happiness and awe at the thought that she was going to have a baby. After all the years of hoping and dreaming, it was finally happening. She hugged the blanket tighter, wishing she could have had the chance to tell her grandmother the good news.

After her mother’s accident when Amelia was eight, her grandmother had taken her in and raised her. Amelia smoothed a hand over the elaborate multi-color pattern. Bettie had battled cancer for six years before passing away the year before, taking with her the last relative that Amelia knew. Loneliness had reigned in her life, but she had a new focus now. A new little somebody to give all her love.

The sudden pounding at her front door made her jump, and she set the blanket aside as she went to see who it was, standing on her tip toes to reach the spy hole. Her heart lurched, then started racing in what she told herself was panic. Not desire, certainly. Definitely not that. Get a grip, Amelia. She peeked through the small lens again, drinking in the masculine, if slightly distorted, image of him on her doorstep. Kaeden.

She took a deep breath, a moment to compose what she hoped was an appropriately steely expression, and grabbed the brass door knob opening it just enough to see him, his arm raised to knock again.

Kaeden paused as the door slowly opened inward, revealing the same angel that had stormed out of the doc’s office this afternoon. The flash of need was instantaneous, but he quickly banked it as he admitted to himself that the situation required a delicate touch for everyone to come through unscathed. He mentally groaned, scratching ‘touch’ off of the acceptable words list when dealing with this woman that turned him into an inexperienced, hormone-driven cub every time he was around her.

“What are you doing here?” Her soft voice pulled him back to the matter at hand.

“I… I am…” He tried. “Can I come in?” He tried to look as non-threatening as possible, which was hard for him. As a lion shifter he was could be more beast than man, but the need to protect her and put her at ease rose up, dominating his baser instincts.

“Please?” He pleaded, surprised at the word that came so easily to his lips, when any other time he would have made it a demand, confident that it would be met. “Just, give me a chance to explain? To tell you everything?” Inwardly, he cringed, knowing that ‘everything’ was actually a serious understatement, knowing he would have to tell her the truth about his species and their hidden existence. Most humans don’t react well to that sort of news.

She hesitantly opened the door the rest of the way allowing him an uninterrupted view of every luscious curve. His gaze swept over her taking in her glossy auburn hair, now pulled up into a careless bun that left wisps to tease the nape of her neck. She was still wearing the same prim lace sundress that somehow seemed that much more provocative hugging the curve of her ample breasts, sweeping down over her waist, and flaring at the womanly swell of her hips.

His gut clenched sharply as he noticed the smudge of tear stained tracks on her flushed checks, knowing and hating the fact that he had helped put them there. He stepped inside as she backed up, allowing him room to get through then closed the door quietly behind him. He took a brief moment to look around her house, noting the cozy decor and sunny yellow paint on the walls making it feel like he had just walked into a ray of sunshine on a summer afternoon.

He followed her through an open archway into the kitchen, this time a softer blue but still just as happy as the rest of her house that he had seen. He briefly wondered what her bedroom would look like before banishing the thought. He had to stay focused. She turned the heat on a lady bug shaped kettle filled with water on the stove top and grabbed two mugs from an overhead cabinet before turning back to him and leaning a hip against the edge of the granite counter top.

The grey of her eyes deepened from a soft dove grey to a richer shade of charcoal as she looked at him from across the room, but he felt it like a punch to the chest. Or a caress. Either way, he needed to break the tense silence before he did something stupid, like go over there, wrap his arms around her incredible body, and kiss her until neither of them could walk straight. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

“We didn’t exactly start off on the right foot.” He uncrossed his arms, stepped the few feet forward to close the distance between them, and held out one tan hand, palm forward.

“I’m Kaeden Everett.” He couldn't help the gravel that had entered his voice as he was standing so close that her clean, lemony perfume enveloped him until his head was filled with the scent of her. He braced against her touch, anticipating the smooth slide of her skin against his. Nothing could have prepared him for the spark that shot from the tips of his fingers in a tingling wave as she tentatively placed her delicate hand in his. Her eyes widened impossibly, making him feel like he could drown if she let him. She gave one quick shake, then dragged her hand away, holding it behind her back as if burned.

“Um, Amelia…I’m, I am Amelia. Price…Amelia Price, that’s my name.” Oh my god, get a fricken grip! Amelia berated herself, feeling her cheeks heat as she slammed her lips shut, forcibly cutting off her rambling. She took a deep breath, and started again.

“Listen, I gave a lot of thought to what happened at Dr. Pearson’s office today, and I realized you are as much a victim of this misunderstanding as I am, but I can’t just give you…”

“No, wait. Just let me explain, before you say anything…Let me try at least?” He took her brief nod as assent to continue. “Yes, I had a contract with Dr. Pearson to help me look for a surrogate for my child. Obviously, there was a mistake made at the clinic. I have very…specific criteria the carrier would have to meet. Only a…very special person with the exact physical and chemical elements could carry my baby, or even get pregnant with my sperm.” Her face bloomed an even brighter pink, and he found himself momentarily distracted by the sudden flush of her pale skin.

“You see, I’ve been trying for years to find someone who was a match for my…er, me.” He stumbled over his words, trying to find a way to explain that wouldn’t completely freak her out. “To even find you was incredibly rare, you are an incredibly rare person,” He continued to speak, ignoring her head shake of disagreement, “I am so lucky to have found you, and regardless of the…the less than ideal circumstances, I want the chance to get to know you, and for you to know me. I want to be a part of this child’s life,” he knew he had taken it too far as Amelia wrapped both arms around her torso and unconsciously leaned away from him even though her back was still pressed against the counter.

“But let’s just focus on the getting to know each other part.” Why did that sound so dirty to him? He could easily picture all the different ways he would like to know her. Again, he found himself battling his libido.

“Wait, why would you even need someone so specific anyways? I mean, it sounds like you’ve been searching for years without finding someone suitable, so what’s the deal?” Her face suddenly dropped in an expression of dread, “do you have a disease or something? Did you pass it on to my baby?”

“No! Just, calm down,” He could already see the panicked thoughts flying wildly through her head. “I am perfectly healthy, don’t worry. Dr. Pearson would never go forward with something like this if it put the baby or the mother at risk, and neither would I.” He braced himself against what he knew was coming. The last, and only person he had told the truth about himself had thrown an entire set of dishes at him before threatening to call the cops if she ever saw him again.

“I am not diseased, but I am...Different.” Amelia just cocked a brow as she waited for him to continue. God, there really was no easy way to say it. He squared his shoulders, and looked deep into her sweet grey eyes.

“I am a were-lion.”

Amelia stared dumbly, sure she had mis-heard.

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“I’m a were-lion. Half human, half lion.”

“Oh my god, you’re nuts.” she felt frozen as she tried to take in what he was saying. “I think you need to leave.”

“Give me chance to prove it, ok? Then you’ll have to believe me.” The side of his mouth kicked up in a half grin. How did being clinically insane not lessen how incredibly handsome he was, or have any effect on her reaction to him. He’s crazy, she told herself. So stop drooling.

“Just watch…and try to keep an open mind.” His golden eyes peered deeply into hers, trying to judge how she would react, but he could only show her the truth and hope for the best. He took a few steps back until he was standing in the middle of the kitchen, and then stopped looking at her bashfully. “Actually, I should go into the other room to transform. I wouldn’t want to rip my clothes.” Amelia’s brain stalled at the image that statement conjured, but in her mind it was her who was doing the ripping. She cleared her through hoarsely, hoping her blush wasn’t giving her away.

“Sure, the bathroom is just down that hall on the left. Go do…whatever it is that you need to do.” She said dubiously, gesturing with her hand in the right direction. What did she expect, that he was going to pop out of her pink tiled bathroom in a lion suit or something?

She waited, bemused at the entire situation and hoping that she hadn't made a terrible mistake by letting a crazy person in her home. Even though she couldn’t really bring herself to regret it. She would have risked a lot to get a second look at him. Or third. Or fourth. Really, it wasn't fair. He was so incredibly gorgeous, and she was…she looked down at her figure. She used to hate it when her grandmother called her ‘big boned’ when she was younger, but eventually she grew into her curves and learned to appreciate the beauty of her body even if it didn’t match the stick skinny fashion model ideal she saw in every magazine. Amelia had a true hourglass frame that made it hard to find clothes that fit, which had led to her eventually finding and falling in love with vintage clothes. They just seemed to fit her better, and she especially loved that they were unique, not factory made or generic.

Amelia heard the door creak open, snapping her out of her musings, and she glanced up barely holding back a terrified shriek at the sight of a giant gold and tawny lion padding calmly into her kitchen.

“Oh my god!” She grasped the edge of the counter at her back to keep herself from bolting as adrenaline spiked like a drug through her veins, demanding she flee. She inhaled deeply, trying to slow her wildly racing pulse. Mentally, she knew this must be Kaeden, as impossible as it seemed, but her body was still kicking into overdrive at the sight of the massive beast that had taken a seat on its back paws not three feet away from her. He looked terribly out of place in her robin’s egg blue kitchen with racks of copper pots and a sweet smelling lavender plant in the middle of her small table.

Amelia cocked her head, trying to see him, to see Kaeden behind the fur, and the teeth. The really big teeth.

“It’s really you. You’re a…Were-cat?” A grumbling whine echoed out of his mouth, conveying his annoyance at the diminutive title. It made her giggle, and a little of her initial panic drained away as a sense of awe rose in its place. He really was incredible. “Can I…can I touch you?” A different growl, almost like a purr, made her think it was more than okay, and he stood and slowly sauntered closer until she could feel the surprisingly soft fur of his mane under her fingertips.

“This is amazing. More than amazing, really. Who are you? I mean, are you human or a different species entirely? Do you have the same physiology as a human when you are in your, what do you call it, man shape?” She rambled off the questions, a million more filling her head and demanding to be answered. He rolled his eyes, and his long pink tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth in an expression she could only call humorous. He nudged her hand one final time before turning around and pacing back to the bathroom.

A few minutes later he came back out, and Amelia was still frozen in the same spot she had been in throughout the entire surreal ordeal.

“Hey, are you okay?” He was suddenly standing so close, it was hard for her to draw a full breath, like he was using up all of her oxygen.

“I’m…I don’t know.” Amelia stared back at him, unable to tear her gaze away from his. She flicked her tongue across her suddenly dry lips, and his eyes followed like a hawk, narrowing as they focused on her mouth. She really did lose all the breath in her lungs as he drew even closer, yet still not touching her. The look on his face left no doubt what he was thinking, and all the reasons she shouldn’t let him fled in the wake of the waves of desire that were rolling over her, dragging her under. She could feel her arousal pool between her thighs, and she watched him watching her, the gold in his eyes catching the last of the day’s light and turning molten.

She just had time to catch her breath before his lips were on hers, demanding, aggressive. Not a typical first kiss, there were no tentative forays or teasing pecks. He plundered her mouth, pressing his tongue against her lips and she opened, intuitively leaning towards him, asking for more. His leg slid between hers, the denim rough against the overly sensitive skin of her inner thighs. She moved forward unabashedly, overcome by the passion welling from deep within her body unlike anything she had felt before.

Granted, she hadn’t had many lovers, but she had never felt the keen edge of hunger and desire that was clawing at her body, making her feel wild and wanton. His leg eased hers further apart, the hem of her dress riding up on her pale thigh, and his big callused hand followed. Slowly, he inched the lacy material higher and higher until her revealed the edge of her satin panties. His mouth still dominated hers, his other hand caught in her auburn hair tilting her head to allow better access. She felt delirious. Like a bubble just waiting to burst.

Her focus was captured by his hand, so hot it felt like a brand as his long fingers inched under the satin material, separating it from her skin, and following it down until they reached her center, his knuckles just barely brushing her warmth. It made her breath catch as she felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting, desperately wanting him to touch her. His fingers brushed over her folds teasingly, making her press her hips deeper into him trying to get closer to his hand.

With his lips still against hers, he thrust two fingers deep inside her, his mouth taking in her gasp at the feeling of being deliciously filled. Like his kiss, his fingers moved without hesitation, like he already knew her body, exactly what she needed. Amelia arched deeper onto his fingers as they moved rhythmically inside her, building the tension in her as she leaned her head back, eyes closed. Kaeden moved his lips down until they reached that spot right below her ear, his teeth sending more tingling waves that added to storm that was building inside her.

He increased his pace, his fingers working magic in her body, the thumb of his other hand dipping below the top edge of her panties to land on her clit. Once, twice, Amelia exploded as the pressure built to a pounding crescendo. Her muscles tensed as she let out a husky groan, glad for the support of the counter and Kaeden’s body as she went boneless as he wrung the last ripple of pleasure from her. He reluctantly removed his hand, righting her underwear and pulling her dress back down with a look of resigned displeasure at covering her back up.

“Wow.” Amelia said breathlessly, then blushed at how ridiculous it sounded to her still ringing ears. “I mean…I guess I just…”

“Hush.” Kaeden pressed his lips, now softly, almost reverently, against her kiss- swollen ones. “Thank you.” His voice was deep and hoarse, a hint of a growl held within.

“I should be the one thanking you!” Amelia was surprised at how comfortable she was with him, not the least bit embarrassed by her completely out of character response. Overwhelmed and a little confused, maybe, but it felt like the most natural thing in the world for him to touch her. She glanced down at his obvious arousal. Her voice became even huskier, “I could do something that you could really thank me for.”

She started to reach for the worn silver buckle of his belt, but he backed away.

“If you start that, I…” He shook his head, making his long, jet black hair swing in front of his face, momentarily blocking her view of his gorgeous eyes, and the expression of intense desire that had turned them to golden flame at her offer. His arm swept up, smoothing the hair back as he had looked at her, for the first time uncertain.

“How about tomorrow, I’ll take you to get coffee?” He was already backing towards the door, “Let’s meet at Lutticia’s on Madison, you know the place?” She nodded slowly that she did, and was opening her mouth to speak just as he reached the door knob. “Gotta go, I…I’ll see you tomorrow! At eleven!” And with that he was outside, closing the door before she had a chance to respond.

Kaeden was at the cute, local coffee shop before Amelia. It was one of his favorites, and funny enough the co-owner, Roxanne, was a Shifter as well, although she was a part of a family of bear shifters that ran the coffee shop, and a bar a few blocks away as well. They had met years ago, and she always treated him like a little brother, even though she was four years younger than his twenty nine. He had been sitting for just a few minutes when he looked up and saw Amelia walking towards him. The world seemed to tilt as he watched her, her body so much smaller, so much softer than his.

She was curvy, exactly what he liked. Her breasts more than a handful, and his mouth watered at the thought. He checked himself, hoping he wasn’t drooling all over the countertop. Her torso nipped in at the waist creating the sexiest curve as her hips flared perfectly before sweeping down lush thighs and the delicate turn of her calf. He remembered the day before, the image of her coming on his hand branded indelibly on his memory.

He wondered at the twist of fate that had allowed him to meet her. Not only was he incredibly, unfathomably attracted to her in a way that had never happened before, especially so fast, but Amelia was also able to have his child. In fact, was already pregnant with his child. He was so hard at the thought he had to shift in his chair, trying to easy the ache. All night his thoughts had circled around and around, alternating with thoughts of making love to her, seeing her grow and ripen with their child, of a future with this woman he barely knew.

There were myths his people told of Star mates, True mates, but they were stories that most of his kind ignored. His species was incredibly sexual, and the idea of spending an entire life with just one partner was enough to make many grateful that it was just a myth.

But Kaeden felt something when they were together that he couldn’t explain. It was explosive, and instantaneous, and he couldn’t deny it.

“Hi.” Amelia’s shy hello had him reaching out his hands toward her, the need to touch her too much to even try and resist. He pulled her down to the chair beside him rather than let her sit all the way across the table from him. Looking into her big, grey eyes made him want to believe in the story of true mates.

“I was thinking we should go buy some things for the baby.” His large hand swept possessively over her stomach, and a fresh wave of desire threatened to sweep her under. Amelia felt like her body was out of control, especially after the sleepless night she had spent twisting and turning to thoughts of Kaeden and his magic hands.

She looked up at him through her lashes, wishing she could read the thoughts swirling behind his golden eyes.

“Okay. I have a crib already, it was mine when I was a baby. I have a bunch of other stuff too, that I’ve been collection over the past couple of months. But I need a stroller. Wanna help me pick one out?”

“Uhh…sure, yes.” She tried not to laugh at his look. It was obvious he wanted to help, but even more obvious he didn’t really have a clue about what to get.

“Don't’ worry, I’ve been researching for years about what to buy for a baby. But I would like it if you came with?” Amelia left it as a question, uncertain with how much he wanted to be involved, and hating that uncertainty. But he grinned, beaming his pleasure at her, and she felt an unfamiliar warmth. She had been living a lonely existence for so long, she hardly knew what it felt like to be around another person who cared about her, and she realized that’s what it was when he looked at her like that. Like she was the only person to exist to him in the whole world. A girl could get used to those looks.

They waited for their coffee, then spent the rest of the afternoon searching through one baby store after another looking for the perfect this or the best that. It felt so natural that when the sales assistant at one of the stores asked how long they had been married, and Kaeden had slid his arms around her and placidly said “they weren’t yet” she didn't even blink an eye.

After about the fifteenth store, Amelia pleaded for a rest. She found it remarkably adorable the way Kaeden looked over every option, compared every tag to make sure they were getting the best, but she was exhausted and starving, and her feet were killing her by the time they returned to her home with her car stuffed full of new things.

Amelia unlocked the door, and headed straight for the couch as Kaeden carried in the biggest item they had picked out, which was the new stroller. In swirls of reds, blues, and yellows it made a bright, happy statement sitting there in the living room. She felt tears prick her eyes as she thought for the millionth time how incredibly lucky she was to finally be bringing a child into the world, and into her life. This baby was a miracle in every way.

“Hey,” Kaeden said softly, suddenly beside her, his thumb brushing away the lone teardrop that had escaped. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. For the first time in…Oh, I can’t even remember, nothing is wrong. Everything feels right. Perfect.” He placed his other hand on her cheek, framing her face as his eyes met hers.

“You’re right. This does feel perfect.” His hand moved to play with the curling wisps that had escaped the messy bun piled on top of her head. Oh so softly, he touched his lips to hers, breathing her in. Her scent, all woman, exploded in his mind, driving every thought from his head except to possess her. This woman that had barreled into his life like a whirlwind and now felt like an integral part of it. The need to claim her for his own drove his body forward, but he held himself back, his desire to satisfy her even greater.

Torturously slow, he lifted the hem of her fluttery blouse, the slippery material shifting over his skin. He looked at her questioningly, waiting to see any signs of reluctance and sighed in relief when all he saw was complete surrender. He almost tore her shirt as he hurried to finish removing it. Knowing she wanted this as much as he did nearly undid him as he tried to maintain a grasp on his patience.

His gaze drifted over the sweet swell of her breast curving seductively above the black lace of her bra. The sight of all that black against the pale white of her skin had him drooling, he ached for a taste. Unable to deny himself, he lowered his mouth to the tops of her curves, first the right, then the left. All the while his hands were working on the clasp in the back, which finally came undone allowing him an unobstructed view of pale pink nipples that tightened under his gaze.

He turned, taking off his own black t-shirt and throwing it heedlessly on the carpet. He was completely captivated as Amelia slowly eased herself back until she was laying full out on the couch, her chest completely bare, and the skirt that fit snug around her waist, then flared out, had slid down baring her matching black lace thong as she bent her knee.

He growled deep in his throat, his restraint decimated by her unique combination of honest sweetness and unbearable sexiness. He pounced. That was the only word that Amelia could think of as he leapt onto her, her trembling body bracketed by his legs on either side of her thighs and his arms, supporting himself just inches above her.

His mouth descended on hers, his tongue sparring with hers as her heart pounded wildly in her ears. His hands were suddenly everywhere, sliding over every curve until they reached the hem of her skirt, and he made a sound of annoyance in the back of his throat at the obstacle. His lips followed the path of his hands, pausing to suck at her nipple, sending shockwaves through her system. She shifted, unable to keep her body still under the attentions of his devastating mouth, feeling her dampness as she rubbed her thighs together, aching to be filled.

Kaeden continued his journey south laying an achingly tender kiss over each rib until his lips met the dip of her hipbone, his tongue explored the curve leading to the spot at her center that was melting for him. Where she desperately wanted him to be. He pushed himself up, impatiently finding the buttons that held the skirt together, trying to undo them but ended up popping them off instead.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered, his voice like gravel

“It’s fine, just don’t….don’t stop.” She helped him pull away the offending material. “Please.”

He groaned, spreading her thighs, reveling in the contrast of how soft she was compared to him, and the idea of all that softness wrapped around him as he pushed into her over and over again. The scent of her arousal drove him over the edge as he lowered his hungry mouth to her core.

Amelia gasped, then moaned as his hot tongue flicked over her. She could feel herself tensing, the pressure building as he licked her up like he was starving.

“Wait.” She grabbed his shoulders trying to pull him. He didn’t budge but to look up at her from under a dark slash of brows. “I want…I want to come with you inside me.” His eyes flashed. “Please.”

His natural dominance rose up at the sound of her sweet begging, and he lifted himself over her, his erection now straining against the fabric of his jeans. He quickly kicked off his shoes, and his pants soon followed adding to the pile strewn across the floor. He looked at her, spread out like a feast, her pussy wet and ready for him. He reached for her, the fingers of his hand stretching her, but only for a moment as the need to be inside her filled him, urging him on.

He paused, the tip of his thick erection at her entrance. In one slow thrust he was seated all the way inside her. Amelia cried out at the incredible feeling of being filled, the friction as he slowly slid almost all the way out and then in one motion drove all the way back in. Again and again he continued the rhythmic motion that was slowly driving her insane.

Kaeden's breath hitched on a low groan as he began to thrust faster, amazed at the incredible feel of her wrapped so tightly around him. Wanting it to never end. He reached his hand down, easing his thumb over her most sensitive spot and she exploded around him. Feeling her climax sent him over the edge, and he slid into her one final time as his body tensed. With his release came an overwhelming sense of happiness as Kaeden stared down into her heavy lidded eyes, shining with emotion.

Even though they had just met, somehow, this woman had wound her way around his heart. The thought of Amelia, already pregnant with their child, warmed his heart in a way he never thought any one could. For this chance at happiness, he was willing to break all his rules, and maybe, just maybe take a chance that sometimes the heart really does find its true mate.

12 Months Later

“Listen, Rafe. I gotta go.”

“C’mon Kaeden, me and Luca are gonna hit up Banner’s new bar. You know, Roxanne is working there now.”

“Yeah, I’m not really not interested, good to see my two little brothers are finally getting along though.”

“Getting along? Hah! We are going to see who can get that pretty little bear into bed first. Winner takes all. Literally.” Kaeden could practically hear Rafe’s characteristically sardonic grin through the phone. Kaeden just shook his head. He was convinced his brothers would never grow up.

“Good luck with that…You know she has five older brothers, right? And they’re big guys. Really big.” Kaeden chuckled evilly, “and they don’t like randy boys sniffing around their little sister.”

“Hey, who are you calling ‘boy’?” Rafe’s overly indignant reply made Kaeden smile as he opened the front door and walked into the sunny yellow living room. It was cut off as he heard a piercing shriek coming from the bedroom. Heedlessly dropping his phone and the bag of groceries he had returned with, he ran down the hallway, his heart pounding like mad in his chest.

Another high pitched scream met him just as he pushed open the bedroom door and froze. His golden eyes widened at the sight of Amelia, her long brown hair caught up in a messy bun the way she often wore it, half of it coming loose as she mercilessly tickled the four month old baby, the source of all the noise that had just about given him a heart attack.

He made a sound deep in his throat, making Amelia turn guiltily.

“He was asking for it.” A sweet smile tugged the corner of her rosy mouth up, happiness shining from the depths of her dove grey eyes. “I mean it. He really was.”

She looked down at their child, just as he lifted his arms toward Kaeden and opened his mouth.

“Tgghhhiiii” He demanded. Kaeden swept forward, catching up his son, so small in his arms. He looked down into his own golden amber eyes, already half covered with drooping lids as he emitted one giant yawn and then they were hidden completely as he drifted to sleep. He stood, drinking in his features, still so amazed that this child was a reality. The sound of a soft breath catching had him looking up.

Amelia stood, never taking her eyes off of them as she walked closer.

“Hey.” She whispered, her voice sounding so soft after the raucous laughter of their child. “The little guy’s asleep.” She glanced up at him, her eyes jokingly accusatory. “How do you always do that?”

Kaeden just shrugged, careful not to disturb the slumbering baby still clutched in his arms.

“Why don’t you go lay him down in his crib?” Her still quiet voice took on a husky quality. She grinned up at him playfully as he turned quickly to do just that, but was stopped short at her next whispered words. “I think it’s about time we started working on baby number two, don’t you?” Waves of joy and contentment washed through him as he turned back to look at this amazing woman that fate had dropped in his lap, and his chest tightened at the combination of love and desire he saw glowing in her expression. He knew she had spent her life dreaming of having a houseful of children, and he could think of nothing sweeter.

A thought stopped him as he looked around the small room, and then back at Amelia.

“We’re gonna need a bigger house.”