Read Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love Online
Authors: Ariana Hawkes
Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love (11 page)
“Woah!” she said. She discovered that she was shaking badly, and she lay back on the bed.
“Raven, are you ok?” Timo said. He sat on the edge of the bed cautiously.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine in a moment,” she said weakly.
“Do you need me to leave you alone?” He looked so adorably worried.
“No, come here,” she whispered. He lay down next to her, propped on his arm, and she pulled him on top of her.
“I made a mess of that, didn’t I? I’ve never told anyone about my shifter nature before. I’ve never needed to.”
“No, you didn’t. It was always going to come as a shock, no matter how you spun it to me. But tell me everything, right from the beginning.”
He did. He explained how there had always been shifters living alongside humans, right from the dawn of time. How it had always been a closely-guarded secret. How shifters believed in fated mates, and would spend their lives looking for ‘the one’ if necessary. And how many shifters were finding that human females were actually their perfect match. He told her about Tamika, the creator of Shiftr, who’d fallen in love with an American werewolf when she was living in London, and how she’d come to live with him in Hope Valley and had decided to create a dating site to bring shape shifters and human females together. He said that he’d been on the app for a long time, but had never found a strong match for himself, and he’d started to wonder if fate intended for him to stay single. And then he saw her in the town hall, and he knew.
By the time he’d finished speaking, Raven had tears in her eyes again.
“That’s beautiful, Timo,” she whispered.
“I know I might not be what you expected, Raven. But shifters are very loyal mates. They form intense bonds, and the needs of their mate are more important than anything else in the world. I hope, in time, you can get used to my nature, and come to care for me.”
“I can’t deny that this is all a surprise to me, but I really don’t think it’s going to take me that long to get used to,” Raven said, curling her fingers into his.
“Really?”
“Really.” Timo grinned.
“We shifters make pretty cool partners, you know.”
“Is that so?”
“Uh huh.”
“So, our baby –” she placed a hand on her stomach and he covered it with his own. “It’s going to be part bear?”
“Yes.”
“And will it be able to shift?”
“I don’t know. There’s a good possibility, but apparently you never know for sure until they reach adolescence.”
“So I’m having a cub,” she murmured. “I never thought that was a sentence I’d be saying, but I kind of like it.”
Timo trailed his hand from her belly, all the way up to her breasts, and lightly stroked her cleavage. When the heel of his hand grazed her erect nipple, her body gave a little jolt.
“Kiss me,” she said, and he did, arched over her, gloriously naked, his cock hard and ready for her.
“This time I get to do the undressing,” he growled, as his fingers nimbly unfastened her shirt and eased it up, off her body. Her skirt followed, and he gave a rumble of pleasure at the sight of her in matching deep purple lingerie. He made a trail of kisses from her collarbones, along the tops of her breasts, meandering down the center of her body, and all around her belly button, until he reached her panties. Then he caught the waistband between his teeth and tugged. She helped him, easing them down at the sides, burning to be naked and have him inside her. He stripped them off and then he laid his hand on her mound. She groaned, her nerve endings already so sensitized that the slightest contact threatened to push her right over the edge. He caressed the dark, silky triangle of hair, before plunging two fingers inside her. She moaned and her muscles spasmed. As he slid his fingers in and out, slowly, gently, fucking her with his hand, her breathing became ragged.
“Timo – I want you – inside me, now!” she said in between gasps.
“All in good time,” he said, an undertone of mischief in his voice. She reached for his cock, but it was too far away, and instead, he caught her wrists in his hand and held them above her head while he continued to tease her.
“If you don’t stop doing that I’m going to come,” she protested, her hips jerking rhythmically. He responded by pumping his fingers harder and faster, and before long, she felt herself falling. She closed her eyes tight as a beautiful explosion ripped right through her body. She felt vulnerable and exposed, aware that he was watching her, but there was not much she could do about it. When she opened her eyes again, he was gazing down at her, his eyes liquid with desire.
“So beautiful,” he crooned in his rumbly voice. And then he slid his hands beneath her back and unfastened the clasp on her bra, before pulling it off completely. As his lips closed on her left nipple, the tip of his cock entered her. She sighed and wriggled her hips, wanting him to go all the way in. He seemed determined to tease her, only giving her an inch at a time, before withdrawing again, but suddenly, he pushed himself all the way inside her with a growl. He was so big and thick, and he began to fuck her immediately, thrusting in and out, the muscles in his shoulders and biceps bunched hugely.
“My mate, my beautiful mate,” he murmured. It was hot, the idea of being his mate, and Raven’s clit throbbed as this huge bear man mated with her, their baby a tiny seed deep in her womb.
Soon, he lifted one of her legs up high and maneuvered her onto her side, and he spooned her, holding her hips as he buried himself in her body. His teeth grazed her neck while his hand cupped her breast, chafing her nipple. As his breath became rougher, he turned her right onto her front and took her from behind, harder and harder, until it was almost too much for her, and then he came with a roar.
“My mate, my beautiful mate. You’re all mine. You and our little cub,” he murmured. Then he collapsed on top of her, and they lay like that for a long time, exhausted by their energetic mating. He was so tender and rough at the same time.
The perfect lover,
she thought drowsily.
“I can’t believe I got you pregnant that night,” Timo said the next morning, as Raven snuggled against his body after another mating session. He also couldn’t believe that she was his. She was so soft and lovely and sassy. And she had such a wild appetite for sex.
“I remember you trying not to,” she said with a grin.
“I was. As much as I felt like you were my mate, and I wanted you to have my cubs, I knew I had a responsibility to not take advantage of you. But it looks like it didn’t work.”
“And isn’t that great?” she said with a grin.
“It is. How long until it comes?”
“About eight months, unless shifter babies don’t take as long to come out?”
“I think they take eight months, actually, now I think about it. I’ll have to check with Lauren.”
“So, how are we going to keep ourselves occupied until the baby comes?” she asked, kissing his fingertips.
“Mmm, I’m sure we’ll think of something. And the first thing is for you to come and live here with me.”
“It is?” she asked playfully.
“Yes. I want to have you here with me all the time, so I can love and protect and adore you. You’re my mate, Raven, and that’s the strongest bond there is.” Her expression turned serious as she looked into his eyes, hers green and clear.
“Oh, Timo, you make me feel so happy,” she said, and his whole chest warmed with joy as he hugged her tight against him.
He was surrounding her, and her body was surrounding their unborn baby, and together, they were a complete family. Which was all he’d ever wanted.
THE END
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Hi, thank you so much for reading Timo and Raven’s story! I really hope you enjoyed it and if so please consider leaving a review; even if it’s only a line or two, it’ll make all the difference, and it will be greatly appreciated.
I’m already working on the next book in the series, which will be available for purchase very soon! If you haven’t read my three Winter Bear Shifter stories, I’ve included a free copy of the latest one, Bear My Perfect Gift, here. Make sure to check it out, readers are telling me it’s a perfect winter tale!
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Yours,
Ariana Hawkes
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
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The only thing missing from Aspen Richardson’s life is a man who will love her just the way she is. In the small town she calls home, bullies from the past remain, making her wonder if it's ever going to happen. But, things are about to change in a major way, as the secret Aspen’s parents have been keeping from her comes out…
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All was quiet on Stonybear Peak. Caleb Ridgeman gazed over the frozen world of his clan’s territory, all the way to the distant horizon, the line of pale yellow light glowing above the snow, and wondered again why he hadn’t slept right through the day. It was the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, when the sun barely rose from its bed before sinking back and plunging the land into blackness once more. Caleb’s clan semi-hibernated during the bitter winter months, sleeping up to 23 hours a day, and sleeping right through the solstice was a tradition for them. In fact, it was more than a tradition – it was a superstition. There was a story, which has been passed on for generations, that dark spirits awoke on the shortest day, and if you went outside, they could whisper in your ear and lure you into all kinds of mischief.
All the cabins of his clan members were in darkness, not a single light showing in any of the windows. Caleb sighed. He was outside because something had jolted him from his sleep like a thunderbolt hitting his cabin, and he’d leapt out of bed and stood in the middle of the room staring into the darkness in bewilderment. He’d decided to go outside and get some fresh air to see if he could figure out what it was.
As the sun sunk further beneath the horizon, draining the last yellowish tinge from the clouds and returning them to slate gray, he rubbed his head, thinking hard.
What was it?
It was like a half-formed idea, or one of those dreams that you remember for a second when you awake, but then they’re gone, like ghosts.
A night bird gave a long, throaty call, welcoming the darkness back, and Caleb shouted out in realization: he had to leave Stonybear Peak.
That was it!
A voice had spoken to him in his sleep, telling him that he had to leave his home to fulfil his destiny.
Wow. It’s not surprising that I jumped out of bed like someone had lit a fire underneath me
, he thought.
That’s about the craziest thought I’ve ever had
.
Then he shook himself. He’d never lived anywhere other than Stonybear Peak – hell, he’d barely visited any other town. The small community was the center of his world. How could he even
think
about leaving it?
But the truth was staring him right in the face. He hadn’t found his mate, and, with every winter that passed, he became more and more aware of it. More and more despondent, more certain that it wouldn’t happen. All the other members of his clan were either mated, or were several years younger than him. No-one could understand why he was still single. He was always hearing what a great guy he was, and how any lady bear would be lucky to have him, but he just hadn’t found the one. It was particularly hard on him as he was a sociable guy, and yearned to share his life with someone special. But he was beginning to resign himself to a life of solitude – and that was exactly why he knew that leaving town was the right thing to do. He opened his huge jaws and let out a roar that tore through the woods and across the snowy plains. Birds took flight from the trees, and, half a mile away, small mammals dashed back into their burrows. It was a sound of shock and joy and pain, all rolled into one. For the first time in he didn’t know how long he had a purpose. He didn’t have to wait for life to happen to him, as one year rolled into another. He didn’t have to hope that somebody new might move to Stonybear Peak and magically turn out to be his mate. He was going to go out and make it happen!
There was a loud creaking 100 feet away, and Caleb turned his head towards the sound. Three cabins along a door burst open, and a black, furry head poked out. His heart leapt at the sight of his best friend, Dominic. Dominic gave a questioning rumble, and Caleb rumbled back, reassuring him that everything was fine. He wasn’t being attacked by a pack of wolves. Dominic gave a rumble of annoyance, shook his head and retreated into his cabin, banging the door shut behind him. Caleb started after him. He needed to tell someone about his discovery, right now. But – he glanced down at his huge paws, buried in the deep snow – that was a conversation that would be a lot easier in his human form. He rushed back to his cabin to shift.
Dominic was a long time opening his door again, and Caleb rapped until his knuckles were sore. At last, the door was snatched open and a long black muzzle poked out, followed by two brown eyes, glazed with sleepiness. Caleb pushed past him and bounded into the cabin.
“I’ve had a revelation!” he announced, his voice louder than he’d intended. Dominic closed the door quickly. It was so cold up in these northern reaches that retaining warmth in the cabins was always a struggle. Dominic fidgeted and pawed at the ground, and Caleb could tell that he was reluctant to summon up the huge effort required to shift into his human form. “I’m leaving Stonybear Peak!” he continued. That did it. Dominic’s huge body folded in on itself, his bones snapped and crunched, his fur retreated, revealing tan skin, there was a violent jerk, and he was standing on two feet as a man. A man whose face wore an expression of absolute bewilderment, his eyes open wide enough to reveal the whites all the way around.
“What did you say?” he demanded.
“I was asleep just now. And I woke up, and – I can’t explain it but – I just knew it. I have to leave town and go somewhere where there are new women, women who might be my mate.” Dominic raised his hands and dropped them again. He looked like a man who’d just discovered that everything he thought he knew about the world was false.
“But – bro – you’re my best friend. You can’t leave!” he stuttered. Caleb met his gaze. Dominic was also single – which was probably part of the reason why they were so close. But he was six years younger than him. He’d had six fewer lonely winters rolling into fruitless springs.
“I have to, Dominic. I’m never going to find my mate here. I’ve tried so hard. I’ve been to every party, every gathering. I’ve forced myself to get over my beary gruffness and learned how to speak to women. But none of it has helped me. I’m still single. I just want to find my mate and have cubs. Like every bear does. Is that so much to ask?” Dominic’s hazel eyes narrowed as he turned Caleb’s words over in his mind.
“No, of course it’s not,” he said at last. “But what about us? The clan needs you.” Caleb nodded.
“I take my responsibility to my clan very seriously. You know that, Dominic. But I’m not leaving forever. I’m just leaving to find my mate. And hopefully I’ll be back soon, bringing her to live here with me.” Dominic broke into a grin.
“You mean it? You’ll bring your mate back here?” Caleb shrugged.
“Absolutely. As long as she’s happy to move here.” Dominic was quiet, thinking.
“That’s ok then,” he said at last. “I think the clan will be able to cope without you for a while, as long as you’ll be adding to our ranks.” Caleb grinned, touched by his friend’s straightforwardness and his generous spirit. He slapped him on the back.
“Of course, bro. We’ve all got a responsibility to keep our clan going up in these wilds.” Dominic nodded. The survival of the clan was something that was frequently under discussion. Their territory was one of the harshest and most remote of any of the bear clans in the country, and there were always fears that members would defect for warmer climes, and the old clan would cease to exist. The thought of being one of these defectors filled Caleb with guilt, but if he found a mate and brought her back here, he’d be building the clan, rather than destroying it, he reminded himself.
“When will you leave?” Dominic broke through his thoughts.
“In the next few weeks, I guess.”
“And where will you go?” Caleb laughed.
“I’ve only just realized that I need to leave. I haven’t had too much time to think about the logistics yet!”
“Oh, sure.” Dominic thought for a moment. “So you should probably go someplace where there’s a lot of shifters.”
“Yup. Makes sense.”
“Haven’t you got a cousin or something over at Green Fields?” Caleb frowned, thinking.
“Yes! Jake. He’s my second cousin – I think. He’s lived there all his life.”
“He could introduce you to some women?”
“He sure could. There’s a big, strong community of bears over there.” Dominic’s lips twisted, as if he was battling his emotions – caught between sadness that his friend was leaving and happiness that they were working out a solution together.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” Caleb said.
“Can you just promise me one thing?”
“Sure?”
“Will you just give it one more chance at the Christmas Eve party? There are bound to be some new girls in town. Maybe you’ll find your mate there.”
“Of course I will,” Caleb said with a laugh. “If I see my mate there, I’ll be over the moon. There’s no way I’d forget about her and haul my ass across the country on a wild goose chase!”
“Ok, good,” Dominic said, and the tension left his shoulders. Then he opened his mouth and yawned hugely.
“I get the message, big guy. Back to sleep. I’ll see you at the party?”
“Sure thing, bro.” Dominic stepped forward and pulled Caleb into a fierce hug. “I’ll be your wingman all night. Whatever it takes to keep you here.”
“Ok, deal,” Caleb replied, and he exited the cabin, laughing to himself.
Staying awake for a while had given him a fierce hunger, and he shifted again and went out into the woods for food, before coming back to his cabin and sleeping all the way through to Christmas Eve.