“This place is so amazing. I can’t wait to cook in here.”
“You’d like to cook here?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind. I love cooking.”
“Ray, my home is your home. Your always welcome here to cook, sleep, and live if it’s something you want one day.”
“I may take you up on that.” I wink at him as I continue to wander around the kitchen.
“Let me show you the rest of the house.”
I follow him out and up the steps.
“How many bedrooms are there?”
“Five bedrooms, two and half baths. The half bath is downstairs. The master bath has a walk-in shower and a large clawfoot tub. It also has his and hers sinks as well as a vanity. The second bath is a standard shower and bath.”
“Wow.”
“It’s not much, but it’s home. The clubhouse is bigger than this. I’ll take you there in a couple days. Ridge wanted me to tell you to take the next couple of days before starting work.”
“Wait, what? Why?”
“Well for starters, you were attacked just eighteen hours ago within minutes of your death, so trying to explain no marks or scars would mean having to expose you as a shifter now. And because we want you to have time to fully adjust.”
Stopping, realizing what he just said, I ask, “We? So you’re on board with this decision?”
He chuckles. “Now listen, before you get all upset, I can tell you’re Miss Independent but you’re a part of a family now, a pride. We look out for our own. Plus in order for our plan to work, we need to keep you hidden. Maybe we should get your stuff and the pets and bring them here?”
Fidgeting, I look down at my feet, asking, “Stay here? Jax and Raven can come too? Are you sure?”
He grabs my hands and pulls my attention to his handsome face. “I want this to be your home too. I can fix up one of the guest rooms for me and you can sleep in the master bedroom.”
“No, nonsense, I’ll sleep in one of the guest rooms and you can keep your bedroom. I may just want to soak in your giant tub. Can I see it?”
“So you’ll stay here instead? Of course, you can see it. Follow me.”
I follow him through a set of large French double doors into a room you could fit my whole condo in. The master bed is larger than a California king with four post corners and covered with a black comforter and sheets.
Slowly turning counterclockwise, I take in the view. Walls of grey with red accents, a large wood burning fireplace covered with a brick mantle. A wall of glass doors exits onto a balcony and overlooks the enormous backyard that's breathtaking at first glance.
Standing completely in awe I hear him holler, “Here’s the master bath,” from the doorway.
I walk in to find the giant claw foot tub he mentioned. “This place is absolutely breathtaking Jude. You live here all alone?”
“Yea, sometimes some of the brothers crash here but typically I’m here alone.”
“You have a lot of land. Must be nice to have all this privacy and not hear the city all night.”
“It’s very relaxing.”
“Well I love it. I’d love to stay here with you until this is all sorted out. As long as I’m no imposition.”
“Not at all. I’ll have the prospect come by and get your keys then send him over to get the pets and some clothes if you want. Come on downstairs, I’ll make ya some lunch.”
“Okay, yeah, sounds good.”
I walk out, whispering, “I’ll be back for you, later,” to the tub as I pull the door closed behind me.
We head back down to the kitchen and Jude gets on the phone to have someone come get my keys. Have mercy, this is a phenomenal house.
And it’s ours.
What? No, it’s Jude’s.
Didn’t you hear him, he wants us to live here.
Is that what he meant?
Yes, silly girl.
Wow.
You say that a lot.
I’m astonished. This is all happening so fast.
That’s how it works in the shifter world. It can happen in a matter of hours, but once we’ve imprinted on our mate, it’s forever.
Forever?
Forever.
Holy shit, forever. What a crazy eighteen hours it's been. I went from a single bartender to the mate of a shifter and am now also a shifter. Definitely a lot to take in.
“Hope you like bacon cheeseburgers. They’re my specialty.”
He pours me a glass of Coke and slides it to me.
“Sounds good to me. I’m starving.”
“Yeah, sorry. I know you wanted to stop for coffee and food but I thought it was safer to come straight here.”
“It’s okay, I understand, or at least I’m beginning to.”
“Ray, we move at your pace. I know it’s all a little overwhelming, but I promise I'll never let anyone harm you again. And we won't fully mate until you’re ready, if you’re ever ready.”
“Fully mate?”
“Yes, it's a mark we leave on each other. During sex.”
Spewing my Coke all over the place, I stutter out, “During sex?”
“Yes, in order to complete the mating ceremony, we have to mark each other with a bite, using our panthers teeth during sex.”
“Holy fuck. Well okay then, I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Like I said, it’s a lot to take in. And all at your pace.”
“Well okay then.” Setting my glass down, I go to reach for a fork to try the potato salad he sat out and sparks fly from my fingers, scaring the absolute shit out of me.
“Whoa. What was that?”
Chuckling nervously, I state, “Your guess is as good as mine. All I did was reach for the fork, and sparks shot out from my fingers.”
“Try it again.”
So, I repeat the motion and this time full strands of electricity shoot from my fingers.
“It seems your abilities are starting to fully form. Let’s get you fed so we can go out into the backyard and play with those bolts. I think your special gift is electricity, electrokinesis to be exact.”
“Seriously? That’s. So.
