Things That Go Hump In The Night (57 page)

Chapter 9

Everything happened quickly. The deputies from the sheriff’s office had been in a nearby clearing overseeing the fireworks, so they arrived in minutes. By the time they did, Tucker was dressed like a normal person. Nobody but Mark and I even knew he’d been out of his clothes at all.

Mr. Henderson, the ranch hands, and I were crowded into the barn, watching as a young man in a Crisis Response Unit tee shirt waved a tube of smelling salts under Quentin’s nose. He snorted loudly and woke with a start.

“—bear!” he uttered, bolting upright.

“Excuse me?” Officer Parker, a no-nonsense type of man, scowled and bent his ear toward Quentin. “Did you just say ‘bear’?”

“There was a bear!” Quentin said, spit coming out with his words. “It almost killed me!” His eyes widened, and he finally found me in the crowd. He lifted a heavy finger, pointing it shakily in my direction. “She was there! She saw it, too!”

Officer Parker and the other deputies pivoted to look at me for an explanation. During our interviews, Tucker and I hadn’t said anything about a bear.

I shrugged. “There was no bear.”

“No bear at all,” Tucker added.

“They’re lying,” Quentin said firmly. “I saw the same bear about a month ago.” He gestured toward the general direction of the guest house.

Mark laughed loudly, drawing everybody’s attention. “The man is clearly crazy!” he said, glancing around for encouragement. “We haven’t had a bear in these parts, for…” He blew out his cheeks. “How long has it been?”

“My grandparents’ time,” Joe said. As the oldest man in the room, it was an effective sentiment.

“Yeah, nobody here has seen no bears,” Kyle said, his face a picture of angelic honesty.

“Officer Parker,” I said, drawing myself up. When he finally looked at me, I dropped my voice. “This is my ex-boyfriend. He’s mentally ill. He’s diagnosed with PTSD, and he gets obsessive thoughts. He tried to attack us. I think he was having some sort of psychotic break and thought Tucker and I were the bears. He needs help.”

Officer Parker opened his mouth to say something, but one of the other deputies emerged from behind a tractor, swinging the gun from his gloved finger.

“Look what I found, boss,” he said.

Officer Parker closed his eyes and sighed. He looked like he had a migraine. “You should come with us, young man.”

“No,” Quentin murmured. Several ranch hands came forward to help him to his feet, but he shook them off. His voice grew louder and more harried. “No! No! I’m not leaving without her! She’s
mine!
She belongs to me! She has no business—”

Officer Parker gave the crisis responder some sort of signal with his eyebrows, and the young man pulled a syringe seemingly out of thin air and jabbed Quentin in the neck. Within seconds, Quentin’s expression went slack, and his voice fell away to silence. He slumped in the ranch hands’ arms.

“We’ll take it from here,” Officer Parker said, motioning the deputies to take Quentin.

The barn slowly emptied as everyone followed them out.

I stood back as I watched Quentin being loaded up into the back of a cruiser. Tucker’s presence appeared at my side, and we watched together as the cars pulled away, painting the land in swinging red-and-blue lights.

“What a day,” Tucker said.

“Yeah,” I echoed weakly. I leaned my head onto his shoulder. “Take me home.”

Chapter 10

I was out like a light the moment my head hit the pillow. I slept the sleep of the dead, and I didn’t dream at all. When I finally rose, it felt like days had passed, but it had in fact been hours. Tucker was still inside of my house, sleeping on one of the wicker chairs with his head propped up in his hand.

I gazed at him from across the room and watched him stir, as if he could feel me looking at him. He blinked a few times and squinted at me. “Hailey? You awake?”

“Yeah.”

I sat up. Now that all the exciting stuff was done and gone, I had some questions that needed answering. The most pressing one floated to the surface of my mind, but somehow, something deep inside knew the answer to it already.

“You were the bear, weren’t you?” I said.

Tucker sat up straighter. He was fully awake now. “I am,” he said.

I shook my head. “How is that possible?”

Tucker stood up and crossed the room to sit on the edge of my bed. “I’m a bear shifter,” he said plainly. “I’ve been one all my life. Both of my parents were shifters.”

“Shifters are real?”

Tucker smiled wryly, and he fixed his gaze somewhere over my right shoulder. “The world has a lot more magic than you think, Hailey,” he said.

I drew my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. “Were you the same bear that left the tracks outside my door?”

“Yes.” Tucker’s gaze flickered down to the floor. “The ones who patrol at night, we…uh…have an easier time getting around the ranch in our animal forms. We’re not supposed to leave evidence, but it’s hard to be careful when you’re a bear.”

“Wait.” My mind was spinning. “There’s more of you? On this ranch?”

Tucker nodded.

“Who?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Are they bear shifters, too?”

“No. I’m the only bear.” Tucker sounded a little proud of himself for that. “Most are wolves. There are some other animals, too.”

“Like what? How many of you are there? Does Mr. Henderson know?”

Tucker screwed up his face, and he looked genuinely scared. “No, he doesn’t.
Nobody’s
supposed to know. I wish I hadn’t told you any of this—”

“Is Mark a shifter?” I recalled how passive he’d been when he met me and a naked Tucker just outside of the barn. “At least tell me if Mark is a shifter or not, and I’ll stop asking questions.”

Tucker considered it for a few moments. “Fine. Mark’s a shifter. I can’t tell you what his animal form is, though.” Then, he added, “But he can turn into something that can fly.”

“Wow,” I said breathlessly.

Tucker laughed. “Happy now?”

“Yeah. But wait. One more question.”

Tucker groaned.

“Why did you leave me in the barn?”

Tucker gazed at me, his face placidly serious. “I could sense that something was about to happen. I didn’t feel comfortable being a human when I know I have a stronger form, so I sneaked off to shift.” He reached for my hand and squeezed. “I never left you, Hailey.”

I had even more burning questions to ask, but at least everything made sense for the time being.

“Thank you for helping me,” I finally whispered. I pulled Tucker’s hand up to my mouth and kissed his knuckle. Then, I opened his hand and pressed his palm to my cheek. I closed my eyes and exhaled.

“Hailey.”

Tears formed at the edges of my eyelashes and dripped down.
It’s over. It’s finally over.
My shoulders trembled as I cried silently with relief, with mourning.
I’m finally free.

Wordlessly, Tucker pulled his hand from my face and urged me down onto my back. He rearranged the pillow so it was centered at the back of my head.

“Do you want me to leave?” he asked as he covered me with the soft quilt.

“Stay,” I said. “Stay with me.” I scooted over in the bed, making room for him. I sensed his hesitation. “I want you to,” I told him.

Tucker stood up and took off his shirt. Then, he opened up the covers and climbed beneath them. I closed my eyes as I curled into him. His skin was delightfully warm, and I tucked my cheek into his shoulder, feeling small and safe against his strong body.

I felt Tucker’s fingers brushing absently through my hair. I felt his breaths fluttering against my temple, his pulse beating comfortingly beneath his skin, and myself falling down, down, down into oblivion.

Chapter 11

This is a nice dream,
I thought as warmth pooled inside of my pelvis.
A very nice dream.

When my eyes fluttered open, I awoke with my cheek on Tucker’s bare chest. His arms were wrapped loosely around my shoulders, cradling me to his body. I blinked several times, letting myself enjoy the quiet, perfect moment.

I turned my face into his chest and pressed my lips to his skin. The smell of him, the heat, the pulse, it all did something to me. My heart was racing. I felt myself awaken even more than before. It was like my body recognized that Tucker was a man, that he was in my bed…

Tucker stiffened under me one exact second before he awoke. Then, his arms tightened around me, drawing me even closer than before. Energy surged through my body, and I bit my lip.

If only he knew what he was doing to me,
I thought.

“Good morning,” Tucker said. His just-woke-up voice was adorably hoarse and sleepy.

I looked into his eyes and smiled, but my mind raced with all sorts of
excited
thoughts. What was wrong with me? Two days ago, I had the libido of a nun, but now…

My smile widened when I realized what it was.
Now,
Quentin was gone. For good. I’d watched him being hauled away by the sheriff’s office myself. I didn’t have to be afraid anymore. I could let myself feel again.

I crawled up to Tucker’s face and kissed him. I let my lips linger against his mouth. My hand fluttered over his chest and across his stomach.
Holy hell.
His abs were tight. I tried to deepen our kiss when Tucker stopped me. He caught my wrist and pulled my hand away from his body.

“Oh, Hailey,” he said, his eyes still closed. When he opened them, I was startled by their blue intensity. “It’s early.”

“You’re right,” I said with a groan. I looked at the clock. It’d be time to serve breakfast soon. “I’m already running late.”

Tucker made a strange chortling noise. “Actually,” he drawled, “Mark wants you to take the day off today.”

“He
does
?”

“Anita’s fixing breakfast for the guys. Don’t ask me how he convinced her to do it, but he figured you needed a break after what happened last night. And I get the day off, too, so I can serve you.” He winked.

“I do need a break,” I thought aloud.

Tucker grinned. “All right. First thing’s first: sleeping in.”

“No.” When Tucker opened his eyes, I gave him my wickedest grin. My hands began roaming his body once again, skimming over his contoured muscles, conditioned from years of physical labor. “What if I don’t want to sleep?”

Tucker looked surprised. “Hailey…do you normally act like this?” he asked with genuine concern.

I laughed and gave him a reassuring kiss. “I’m just
really
happy,” I whispered huskily. My hands wandered lower toward the waistband of his jeans.

Even though he was pretending to be a chaste, respectful gentleman, I could tell that my touches had at least a small effect on him. The pupils of his eyes widened, and his breaths grew shorter. I kissed his chest and his stomach. My breasts hung low against his groin, and his stomach tightened as he stifled a gasp.

“I like you, you like me. We deserve to have a little fun, don’t we?” I knew I did, especially. After all I’d been through, I deserved to treat myself, and Tucker was my treat.

“I don’t think…I mean…” Tucker had trouble forming his words. His hands came to rest shakily on my shoulders as I unbuttoned his pants. “I don’t want to take advantage of you,” he finally said.

“That’s funny. I don’t mind taking advantage of you at all.”

Tucker put his hand under my chin and tilted my face up to look at him. He had a hard, serious look in his eyes. “Hailey, all I want to do right now is take you. But once I start, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop.”

My stomach clenched at his words. “I don’t care,” I said honestly. I curved my body into his in an unmistakable way. A knot formed in his groin and got bigger, filling up the space between my breasts. “I want this.”

Tucker closed his eyes. A low rumble formed in his stomach, which came out as a growl. Then, the next few seconds happened quickly. He grabbed me by the arms and flipped me onto my back, landing lithely on top of me at the same time. His hips sank down between my legs, and a tingle shot up my spine when his pelvis grazed gently over mine.

Tucker’s hands were clenched at the tops of my arms, holding me down. His lips came to hover over mine. I could feel his words brushing up against me as he spoke.

“I’m going to make you feel good, Hailey.”

I gasped. At that exact moment, Tucker kissed me. He pressed his body to mine, communicating every ounce of want he had. He finally released me so we could both get undressed. Then, we tossed our clothes to the floor and crashed back together like magnets.

I was drunk with desire as I felt myself touching him with every inch of my skin. This was all so foreign and new, so wild and exhilarating. I wanted to slow down and savor each second, but I just couldn’t. My hands seemed to cover every part of his body all at once. I couldn’t stop touching or kissing him.

Tucker’s hardness pressed into the inside of my thigh. He pulled away briefly. His stomach moved against mine as he caught his breath. There was a question in his eyes.

I nodded at him. I was ready.

Tucker kissed me one more time as he moved his hips into position. I opened my legs under him, waiting…waiting…

Then, finally, he slowly began to fill the ache between my legs.

I tore my mouth away from his and moaned. My voice shuddered with pleasure as Tucker moved inside of me.

“Is this okay? Does this feel good?” he asked.

I bit my lip and nodded.

Tucker began thrusting faster. I tilted my head back, exposing my neck, and Tucker moved to cover my throat with his mouth. I sighed as I felt his cool lips on my hot skin.

“God, Hailey, you feel so good,” he murmured against my neck.

I ran my fingers over his muscular back. He had his hands planted on the bed, using it to gain purchase as he slammed into me. He picked up one of my legs and slung it over his arm, folding me up and touching me at a different angle. I cried out as I felt that unexpected spark of ecstasy as he dove deeper into my heat.

“Look at me.”

I opened my eyes. Tucker was gazing back down at me, a dead, concentrated expression on his face. But there was something a little off. Something about his eyes…

I gasped as I watched them beginning to turn yellow. A gold ring formed around his irises and slowly began bleeding in, overtaking their natural blue color.

“Tucker!” I said. “You’re changing!”

Tucker released a growl that was somehow frightened and enraged at the same time. It wasn’t a growl that a human voice could make.

My hands tightened over his shoulders. His muscles were trembling beneath his skin, like they were about to explode.

“God, Hailey. I can’t hurt you—”

But he
was
hurting me. He moved at a quick, panicked pace. I screamed out as each thrust came harder than the last. Yes, it did hurt, but I…

I liked it.

“Don’t stop, Tucker!” I cried. I slid my hand up against the back of his neck. My fingers crept into the ends of his hair, and I pulled.

Tucker growled. He shook his head and bent forward. His lips grazed over my shoulder. A split second later, he bit down on me. I cried out as he began to pummel into me, bruising my thighs.

I let my voice rise, louder and louder. I felt myself letting go, losing control. I felt like I had a little animal inside of me, too, fighting to get out. Tucker moved both of my legs over his shoulders and bent me in half as he fucked me.

“Don’t stop, don’t stop,” I chanted. I screwed my eyes shut. I gave myself to the moment, to the slickness of his skin, the sting of his thrusts, the way the bed was shaking beneath me. I imagined a flower opening up inside of me, and I reached up for Tucker’s face. We kissed wildly, tongues swirling and dancing together.

I was close. I was
very
close. Tucker gave me one final stab that ignited my entire being, and I screamed as I came.

Tucker gasped, relieved to be able to slow down. Then, he released a final, anguished sigh before he suddenly pulled himself out and backed away. My burning legs flopped back onto the bed just as he came, seconds after I did, shuddering and panting. His fluids came to pool themselves in the hollow of my stomach.

“I’m so sorry, Hailey,” he said.

I laughed. “No! Don’t apologize. That was…” I paused to say a string of unladylike words. “That was the best loving I’ve ever had.”

Tucker smiled a little shyly, and I noticed that his eyes were back to normal. “I promise I’ll last longer next time.”

“We just need a little more practice,” I said.

The two of us were sticky from all the physical activity, so I suggested a shower. Tucker got up first to get the water running while I wiped myself off. Then, I walked into the bathroom and stepped behind him under the spray.

I’d bemoaned the tiny, phone booth sized shower when I first got here, but now I didn’t mind so much. Tucker and I had just enough room to be forced to squeeze together.

We spent the first few seconds of the shower holding each other.

“You know,” Tucker murmured, his mouth by my ear. “I could probably fall in love with you.”

My heart did a little flip inside of my chest. “Me too,” I said. Sure, it wasn’t “I love you,” yet, but it was something.

I pulled away from him to look him in the face. His smile was genuine, but there was a little fear in his eyes, the same fear I felt deep down inside of me. He was afraid of being hurt just as much as I was. But the difference between Tucker and me was that he still trusted me.

And I was finally beginning to trust him back.

“So, what shall we do today, Hailey?” he asked.

“Hm. Well, I haven’t had a mani-pedi in so long.”

He quirked an eyebrow at me. “A what?”

I laughed. “Manicure and pedicure.” I gave him an awkward, playful spank in the tight space of the shower. His rock-hard ass barely even jiggled, and feeling how solid it was against my palm turned me on so much I was almost ready for round two.

Tucker stared at me dumbly. “I’m not sure if we have those kinds of places around here.” Then, he added, as if to explain, “I’m a bear.”

I laughed. I was glad he could joke around about his secret with me. That made me remember one last thing I hadn’t told him. “I lied about being from Columbus. I’m actually from Philadelphia,” I admitted.

“Oh. A city girl,” Tucker said.

“And this city girl has
needs
,” I said. I kissed him hard and deep so he would know I wasn’t just talking about grooming.

We spent a little too much time in the shower than necessary, but somehow we finally got out and got dressed. I was looking forward to spending an entire day with Tucker.

Even though it was just one day, and even though I’d have to wake up early the next morning to get back to work, I couldn’t help but feel that I was about to start an adventure.