The Mistress of Black Grove Manor (55 page)

Chapter Six

She gazed at him, and he looked at her with sad eyes.

“So…how?” she asked.

“Well, it’s a bit of a long story.  I’m sorry for never telling you,” he replied.

“It’s fine.  You didn’t know how to explain it.  I mean, I knew that you were hiding something.  I never thought it was this though,” she admitted.

“Yeah, I’ve never been comfortable with showing this side of myself to anyone before.  When you started to get closer to me, I thought about telling you, but I was scared.  That’s why I showed myself in my wolf form to you that night.  I am still nervous about it all, but I’m glad that you haven’t headed for the hills yet,” he told her.

She nodded.  “Why would I?  You saved me.  But I do think what you did to that other creature was a bit much,” she replied.

She looked over at the dead animal, and Darren blushed.

“That’s because you don’t know what that creature was really doing,” he said.

“What do you mean?” she asked him.  What was that creature doing that was so wrong?

“Well, that creature wanted to kill you.  It’s been one that’s been hunting around these parts, and I was sent to get rid of it.  I wanted to help keep the peace in town, and this was what I was supposed to do.  Sorry for not really explaining it all before, but it’s a bit hard.  Usually those mountain lions are problematic, but it’s my job as a wolf watcher to make sure that the animal doesn’t do anything else to hurt people.  I’m supposed to get rid of any creature that hurts anyone that’s a human,” he said.

“Wow.  So you watch over humans?” she asked.

“Yeah.  It’s strange, but I’ll explain it all.  We should head back to my place.  I don’t want to talk about it out here.  I don’t feel comfortable knowing there might be prying ears,” he said.

She nodded, feeling unsure of what to say about all of this.  A part of her wanted to head for the hills, terrified by the notion of him saying all of this to her.  But then, there was that other part that waited to take a chance with this.  She knew how she felt about him, and a part of her wanted to continue to see him.  She knew deep down that the feelings she harbored for him weren’t going to go away anytime soon, so she should just live with it. 

They went back to his place, which was nearby.  He opened the door, and when she walked in, she saw a lot of military memorabilia.

“Wow, there’s a lot here,” she said.

“Yeah.  Back when I was in the navy, I actually led a lot of successful operations.  I would’ve continued, had my true form not shown up at the worst possible time,” he said.

She looked at him, sadness present on his face.  She felt bad that he was admitting all of this to her, and she wondered what had happened to make everything pan out like this.

“What happened?  If you don’t mind me asking,” she said.

“Well, let’s have a seat.  I’ll make some tea, and I’ll explain it all.  You deserve an explanation, especially after the way I’ve treated you,” he said mournfully.

She nodded, not saying anything about the last sentence.  She followed him to the living room, sitting down on the couch and watching him as he grabbed and prepare everything.  She was fascinated by it all.

He came back with two hot cups of tea, giving her one and drinking the other.  The two of them drank in silence, both of them unsure of what to say to one another.  After they finished, he stared at her, trying to determine what to say next.

“So I think it’s time I gave you the explanation,” he said.

“Okay.  It’s fine if you need time,” she replied.  In truth, she didn’t know what he was going to say, and a part of her felt nervous about this.

“Well, to start I actually have been a wolf shifter since I was a kid.  I was born this way, with my father running away when I was young.  My mother thought I was a freak, but she kept silent about it, and her father seemed to understand what I was going through.  He was a shifter as well, so it was passed through her bloodline, but it skipped her generation.  My grandfather taught me all about my power, but he told me to never show other humans, because they don’t understand.  Every night on the full moon I would go see him, my wolf form present and uncontrollable.  I wasn’t able to harness the power until later on, and now I can mostly control my shifting.  However, whenever I feel really nervous, I can’t control it.  That’s why, that night at the bar when you were asking questions, I told you that I didn’t want to see you.  I almost shifted in front of the people at work, and I would’ve been fired if I did that.  People don’t understand, and I’m sorry that I gave you the wrong idea,” he admitted.

“It’s fine.  I’m glad you don’t hate me though,” she replied.

“I don’t.  In fact, I feel the opposite about you, but I’ll get to that later.  Anyways, after I mainly controlled my powers, I went into the navy.  I was strong, able to get the job done, and I was a leader.  But then, one night when I was in an argument with a subordinate, I shifted, and I scared him.  My senior noticed it, and he told me that I would either have to leave, or get court marshaled.  The last thing I wanted was the latter, because I loved being in the navy, so I left on decent terms.  I moved here and started a new life, and I work together with other wolves to keep the peace of this town.  Normally everything is good, and I’m glad that I have wolf brothers, but it’s been very hard for me recently.  When I met you, I wanted to tell you all about it.  I don’t even know why, but I felt like you of all people would understand all of the bullshit that I was going through.  I mean, to be honest, I still feel nervous telling you, but I’m happy that you haven’t ran away yet.  I really am,” he replied.

“I won’t.  Trust me on that,” she said.

“Thank you.  But now that we’re here, there is something else that I’ve wanted to admit to you.  It’s something I’ve been afraid of telling you simply because I don’t know what to think.  I was also terrified of how you would react,” he told her.

“What is it?” she asked him.

He blushed, staring at me with a serious glance.  He then moved closer, and before Alex could say anything else, a pair of lips were against her own.

A part of her freaked out about this, unsure of what to say. She couldn’t believe how easy it was to kiss him, but at the same time, she wasn’t sure of how to react to everything.  She continued to kiss him though, and after a moment, he pulled away, blushing madly.

“Sorry, I got carried away.  I’ve just wanted to give that to you for a while.  The thing I, I think I love you Alex.  I’ve never felt this way about a human before, but I’ve wanted to protect you, to show you who I am, and when I first met you I really connected with you.  I’ve never done this sort of thing before, but I do want to take a chance.  I want to be with you, and I want more than anything else to make you the happiest person alive,” he admitted.

She looked at him with a glance, trying to determine how to feel about this.  This was the first time a guy had ever told her that they loved her.  Most of the time, she was ignored by most dudes because she was rarely girly, and most of the time the men around here wanted some woman who caked her face in makeup and always wore dresses and skirts.

“Are you sure?  Why me though?” she asked.

‘Because you’re the first person I’ve met that makes me happy.  I’ve met someone who understands me, who loves me, and who wants to really help me.  I’ve never really felt this way about a human before, mainly because I felt like if I’ve ever shown my true form to one, that they would hate me and want to get away from me.  But you, you seem fine with it for the most part, and I love that about you.  I wanted to tell you about that sooner, but I wanted to wait for the right moment,” he admitted.

She listened to this, nodding in assent as she took it all in.

“Wow.  I still can’t believe this,” she said.  She didn’t know what to think, other than the fact that she was very happy with the words uttered.

“Well, I hope you don’t hate me,” he replied.

She didn’t.  In fact, she felt the complete opposite of that.  She was happy to have finally seen his true side, and she felt happy that she could give him the love and adoration that she wanted to.  She’s felt strongly for him for a long time, and the fact that she could still love this man despite it all made her happy.

“Well remember, that despite everything that’s happened, I still love you,” she replied.

He smiled, and soon the two of them locked lips with one another once again, both of them feeling the passion course through them as they continued to lip lock with one another passionately. 

Chapter Seven

The two of them continued to kiss, both of them not wanting to stop.  The passions of the flesh grew even stronger with every moment, and Alex moaned in wanton need and excitement as she felt him continue to take over her mouth.  At first, it started out as chaste kissing, but soon it became more impassioned, and soon their tongues started to mingle with one another, both of them moaning each other’s name in excitement and need.  He started to push her down on the couch, hovering over her and kissing her in a needy, hungry way.  Alex let him take the lead, since she had never done this before.  He continued to kiss her hard, both of them loving the way the other person felt as they let their passions overflow, and their desires run wild.

He moved his lips away, kissing down her body and loving the small sounds that came out of her mouth.  He started with a couple of small nibbles and kisses, but then he got down to her neck, and soon he started to let little kisses and touches pepper over her skin.  She moaned bucking her hips in excitement and need as he continued this.  He started to nibble on the sensitive part of her neck, and when he did that she let out a small, guttural sound as she bucked her hips up in excitement.  She wanted this, and he was giving it to her just like she fanaticized.  His kisses were soft, but they were also very passionate as well, and she felt like she was getting lost in the touches and feelings that she got from this man.

He started to bite down on her collarbone, lightly nibbling and sucking on the flesh there.  She moaned bucking her hips in need as he continued the onslaught down her body to where the tips of her breast were.  He kissed against the exposed area, taking off her shirt without any second thoughts.  She gasped feeling her body soon become exposed in front of him, but she enjoyed it as well.  He then started to kiss and nibble down her breast, lightly cupping them as he did this.

Alex was already getting lost in his erotic touches.  He moved his hands to her bra, taking it off in a swift motion.  She moaned feeling her body become exposed almost immediately because of this.  It was a bit embarrassing, but she didn’t mind it at the end of the day.  He then started to take the nipple into his mouth, lightly licking and sucking on the flesh while his tongue started to flick over the area around the nipple.  He licked the puckered area erotically, making Alex hiss in pleasure as he did this.  It felt so good, the pleasure so perfect and her body going crazy with uncontrollable lust.

He then started to move his hands against the other one, his palm rubbing against the tip of the budding nipple and his lips hungrily sucking and teasing the other erect bud.  She gasped, feeling her body go crazy with need.  She didn’t know how much more of this she could take.

He could already sense that she was close, and Darren wanted her now more than ever.  He moved his lips down to her stomach, kissing the smooth area with his lips in a slow, erotic fashion.  He then moved towards her pants, slipping his fingers to the sides of her jeans and taking them off with one move.  He then grasped her panties, taking them off in a slow, erotic fashion.  Her shaven pussy was soon exposed, and soon his hands danced over the tips of it, making Alex moan.

“Fuck,” she said.

“Do you like that?” he breathed out.

She nodded, feeling the ecstasy of the moment.  He started to move his hand slowly against the tip of her clit, touching the edge of it before he pushed his digit against it.  She moaned, feeling her body buck with excitement and need, her hips rolling against his own.  She moaned feeling her pussy wetten with each touch.  He then started to move down her folds towards her entrance, pushing his fingers deep into her.  He plunged within, filling her up with small, delicate strokes.  She moaned, bucking her hips and enjoying the way he was filling her with his soft and delicate digits.

He pushed another finger in, using the two fingers to scissor against the areas.  She moaned and was practically going crazy against him.  He moved his fingers up against her sweet spot, scraping lightly against the flesh.  That’s when she nearly lost it, and that’s when he pulled his fingers away, licking them.

“I hope you like this,” he said.  In truth, Alex was still a virgin, but he didn’t mind it at all.  He spread her legs, undoing his pants as he pulled out his straining cock, one that was throbbing with need.  He pushed it into her, and soon she was screaming out in both pain and pleasure at the sudden push against her hymen.

Her virginity was broken within moments and soon she felt him deep inside of her.  It felt so good, and she then felt him thrust deep into her, his cock filling her up completely.  She gripped the couch, screaming out as he started to penetrate her with his aching member.  His cock moved in and out in a fluid motion, causing her breasts to bounce and her moans to echo through the area.  She felt like she was being taken to another world, a world that only they knew, and one that they would only continue to know.

He continued this in a relentless manner, thrusting deep into her and loving the way that it felt.  He then groaned, and when he felt him twitch within her, Alex screamed out, her pussy tightening as she came hard against him.

She felt her vision go white with shock as her body started to practically go insane with the orgasm she had.  She screamed out, and suddenly, she felt bliss.  At that exact same moment, Darren let out a moan as well, his cock throbbing as it came hard within her.  She could feel him filling her up inside, and she loved the way that it felt.

The two of them looked at one another, and when he pulled out, he smiled at her.

“Did you like that?” he asked.

“I sure did.  But I’m worried.  I might be pregnant,” she said.

“It’s fine.  If it’s your child, I’ll take care of it,” he replied.

She smiled at him, feeling happy that he seemed to care a lot about her.  “Thank you Darren.  For everything,” she replied.

“You’re very welcome princess.  I’ll always take care of you,” he replied.

The two of them kissed, and Alex realized that she had fallen for this man.  She didn’t care what had happened next, for she knew deep down that this was the right choice to make.  There were so many changes to her life in just that moment, and soon she felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest as she looked at him.

A couple of weeks later, she started to feel strange.  She was getting sick a lot, and she had a craving for the weirdest of foods. She immediately ran to the store, and soon she realized the truth.  She was pregnant, and the child was Darren’s.

She called him right away, and when they met up, Darren looked at her with shock.

“What’s wrong” he asked.

“Well, I found out I’m pregnant.  It’s yours.  It happened,” she said.  She didn’t know what to do, especially since she never thought that she would be in this situation.  Sure they were together now, but would he stay.

He then kissed her on the lips, looking at her with a smile present on his face.

“Well, I hope you know that I’m not going to leave you.  I know that we make mistakes, and that things happen, but just remember that I love you, and I’ll always take care of you,” he replied.

“I love you too Darren.  We will take care of this child,” she replied.

The two of them kissed one another hard, both of them happy and satisfied.  It was the start of a great future, and although she never thought that this would happen to her, she was glad that it was with Darren, her love and the man that cared about her more than life itself.  To Alex, that’s what really mattered at the end of the day, and she knew that no matter what the odds, they would make it through, for they knew that their love was stronger than ever before.

The two of them had a beautiful baby girl named Anna, and they lived together in a house after the two of them got married.  Alex knew that a shotgun wedding wasn’t what she really wanted, but Darren told her that he wanted to marry her right away.  He told her that she was worth it, and that she was the princess that he had been looking for.

He continued to associate with his wolf brothers, protecting the town from any creatures that were out there.  Alex learned that Anna was a shifter as well, and she welcomed it with open arms.  Alex was shocked when she saw her daughter change, but at the end of the day, Darren helped her, and soon the two of them started to learn more about one another.  Alex learned a lot about Darren through her daughter, and when Alex looked back, she didn’t regret anything whatsoever.  She fell for the wolf shifter, the man who came in on a fluke that one day at the store, and hasn’t looked back since. 

*** THE END ***

The Highlander’s English Princess

By: Stephanie Hunt

It was a gloomy fall afternoon.  It was remarkable that there was nothing positive about this afternoon, save for the person that she was about to meet.  The woman in question, was Elizabeth Brown, a beautiful young girl of the age of twenty-three.  There were many things going through her mind as she strolled along by herself.  She noticed that the weather was pretty bleak, but she liked it that way.  Ever since she was a young girl she enjoyed going for a stroll in inclement weather.  This afternoon, she was by herself looking at the lovely trees which seemed to be part of an orchard.  Succulent red apples were dangling from many of the tree branches.  She went up to a low-hanging branch and picked one of the apples.  She took a few bites and was transported back to her childhood when she and her mother went apple-picking together.  Then, out of nowhere, there was a man’s voice behind her.

“Need a hand, lass?” said the man’s voice, in a Scottish accent.  She forgot that she had strolled close to the Scottish border and really should not have been surprised at all at the presence of a Scot.

“No, uh, that’s okay.  I am fine.  I was just tempted by this delicious-looking fruit.”

“I have never seen you about these parts.  Do you live nearby?”

“I live in the big house up the hill, about three or four miles from here.”

“And you have yet to answer my question about your name.  You do have one, don’t you?”

“Forgive me, I am just not used to making acquaintance with strange men.  I am Elizabeth.”

“Charmed,” said the Scot, holding out his hand.  “I am Hamish McAndrews.”

Elizabeth took a moment to size up Hamish.  He was tall, attractive, dark hair, and well-built.  It looked as though he spent time exercising or lived off the lands.  But his attire gave the impression that he was from a well-to-do family.  Perhaps even nobility.

“May I walk you back to your house?” asked Hamish politely.

“Well, I do have to be back within an hour or so.  My mother is expecting me for dinner.”

“Perfect! It will give us the chance to get to know each other better,” said Hamish happily.

The two of them walked for about an hour up the hill until they were within sight of Elizabeth’s home.  They talked about everything from local politics, to the military conflict between Scotland and England, to what they each did for a living.  They also discussed friendships and family.  It turned out that Hamish had lost his family at a very young age but decided to join the military.  He was now a high-ranking non-commissioned officer and was in charge of an entire platoon.  The military and political climate in recent years have been escalating.  It was expected that the Scottish army would see battle in the very near future.

“Well, I am sorry to leave you,” said Elizabeth.  “But this is where I live.  As I said, I am expected for dinner.  But it was nice chatting with you, Hamish!”

Hamish did not want to leave Elizabeth without arranging another meeting.  He was quite stricken with her.  “Can I come by tomorrow night for another walk?”

“I don’t think that’s best.  If my father knew that I was consorting with a Scottish infantryman I’d get into a world of trouble.  Sorry.”

Hamish had no choice but to accept the fact that another meeting could not be arranged with Elizabeth.  So he dejectedly left her at her door and set about the long walk back to base camp.

When he arrived at his camp he entered his tent and walked over to his cot amongst the other senior non-commissioned officers.  He lay down and tried to get some rest.  But nothing could shake the pleasant memory of his encounter with Elizabeth.  Everything about her resonated with him.  She had the most beautiful, supple white skin.  Her body was beautifully curvaceous but not at all self-indulgent.  And she dressed as befit an English lady.  He realized at this point that he forgot to ask her for her age.  But he guessed that she was in her early twenties.  Perhaps twenty-three or twenty-four.  It made no matter.  As a soldier who had not yet reached mid-life he would not be considered to be too old for her.

Back at Elizabeth’s estate, she too could not shake the memory of their enc0unter from her mind.  Over dinner with her parents she was noticeably distracted.  Her appetite was also not what it usually was.  She ate very little, and talked even less.  She wondered if she would ever see Hamish again, but recognized also that it was sort of a pipe dream.  She was English, and he was Scottish.  And their two countries were pretty much at war with one another.