Against All Odds (Shifters) (13 page)

Chapter Fifteen

“Do we have to go?” Heather asked, pulling Ben down to the bed. After a perfect Saturday she didn’t want to ruin that with
going to see her parents. No matter what she tried to say to distract him, Ben wasn’t having any of it.

“We’re going to your parents’ house for dinner. I’m not taking no for an answer. This is my chance to prove what a gentleman I am,” he said.

“My pussy knows the answer to that. There’s nothing gentle about you.”

He growled, which only made her want him more.
Climbing on top of him, Heather straddled him, feeling the evidence of his arousal.

His hands went to her ass. She was wearing one of his shirts that covered her body. Heather started to unbutton his shirt. He caught her hand in his. “No, not today. We’re going to your parents
’, and that’s final.”

“You’re not playing fair,” she said.

Ben lifted her up and onto her feet. He took her hand, leading her through to their wardrobe. They’d moved their clothes into the main bedroom yesterday.

She was so happy
, and going to her parents was going to suck. Her scars no longer affected her. She was mated, and against all the odds she was in love with him as well.

“We get this out of the way
, and I’ll make it up to you all next week,” he said.

“Seriously?” she asked, giggling.

“Yes.”

Heather put hands on her hips and stared around her at the clothes. “You’ve got yourself a deal. I’m warning you
, though, my parents are hard nuts to crack. You’ll be disappointed with their response.”

He slammed his lips down on hers, silencing any protest she might have.

“Get dressed.”

Ben left her alone to change. She tried her hardest to dawdle. He soon ushered her downstairs for breakfast. Before she could blink he’d seated her in the car
, and they were on their way toward her parents’ house.

The journey was silent. Ben worked his way through the streets like a pro. She stayed silent, running her hands over the jeans she wore. Her hands were sweaty with nerves. It had been months since she’d last seen her parents. It was not a problem. She’d gone months before she’d last
seen them. Heather wasn’t desperate to see them now.

This was the first time she’d be seeing them with a man in
tow.

“Are you okay?” he asked, pulling up outside their home.

“Me? I’m fine. It’s not every day you get take your shifter mate home to Mom and Dad.” She tapped a hand on her knee, trying to gain some control over her actions. Nothing would stop what she was thinking.

He parked the car and climbed out. She stared up at the house that had felt more like a prison than a home.

“Come on, Heather, you can do this,” Ben said, helping her out of the car.

When she got close to the door she didn’t know whether to go inside or knock. She settled for knocking.

“Dinner smells good,” Ben said, placing a hand on her hip.

“Do me a favour
, and don’t go disappearing on me today.”

“I won’
t, and don’t mention your scars.”

Before she could question him about his last comment h
er father opened the door. His smile was a welcoming relief. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting, but a smile wasn’t it.

“Hi
, Dad,” she said. They stared at each other, and nothing happened. In the Ashton family she’d have been hugged by now. Not with her family, they were always stand-offish. “Okay, Dad, I’d like you to meet Benjamin Bryce, my boyfriend. Ben, this is my dad, David Howard.”

The introductions were made
, and she was thankful David let them inside.

“It’s nice to see our Heather with such a nice young man.”

As they were removing their coats her mother came out of the kitchen wearing an apron and holding a wooden spoon. “Heather.”

“Mom.”

She stared at her mother, and again there was no hug.
Okay, moving on.

“Mom, this is Benjamin Bryce
, my boyfriend. Ben, this is my mom, Susan Howard.”

Ben gave her an odd look, which she ignored.
The time they spent with her parents was tense. Heather noted Susan sitting on David’s lap. Had her parents always been that close?

Like so many times before Heather felt out of place. She finally got away from it all and phoned Dana from her cell phone.

“I thought you were supposed to be eating dinner with the boyfriend and the parents,” Dana said, picking up on the third ring.

“I am. It’s embarrassing. They’re asking him all
sorts of questions, and I’m freaking out. This is not normal.”

“Has dinner started yet?”

“No. I don’t know if I can last ‘til dinner.”

“You’ll last. Ben is probably handling it like the pro he is. Give him some cre
dit.”

“I left him alone with them.”

She imagined Dana rolling her eyes.

“I’m hanging up now.”

When she got back to the sitting room it was only Ben sat waiting. “Dinner will be served soon.”

“I’m really sorry about this,” she said, tucking some hair behind her ear.

“Come here.”

She went to him. Ben reached out, tugging her onto his lap. “What if we get caught?” she asked, looking toward the door.

“I think David and Susan would understand this a lot more than us being apart,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

Ben let out a sigh. “Your parents love you. They love you and care about you and want to see you cared for.”

“You’ve clearly got the wrong message from them.”

He wouldn’t let her move. “But they’re into each other. They’re so totally in love with each other that they can’t let anyone else in. There are times they feel guilty about their feelings because they do want time alone, away from you.”

“I don’t believe you. They’re like stone.”

“When we were knocking on the door, your dad was fucking your mom, Heather.”

“What? Eww, gross. There are some things a daughter should never know.”

Ben was laughing. “They’re totally into each other, which sometimes makes them act like their one and only daughter doesn’t exist.”

****

The look of total disgust made Ben laugh. He’d not wanted to tell her, but the way she was treating her family was wrong. They were not the best people when it came to others, he’d admit. He scented the truth on their skin and in their looks. David and Susan Howard were like a rich mated couple. Nothing and no-one existed outside of the realm of their feelings for one another. In all honesty he was a little jealous of their feelings for one another. They were so much in love that at times they forgot about their own daughter. It wasn’t right, but was it so wrong?

He’d never forget about his child
ren. When they all grew up he’d still have his woman by his side.

Susan came back to the room with her hair ruffled. He’d heard them kissing as he’d been talking with Heather.

Dinner was interesting. Susan and David were good cooks but nothing like Kathleen Ashton. He knew where Heather learned her skills from. The couple did try their best to bring more of a conversation out of Heather. His woman was having a hard time.

Every now and then she’d rub her nose where the scars started. Her parents didn’t mention them at all
, and it was clearly bugging her. Ben saw the evidence clear on her face. She wanted them to notice her enough to mention the scars.

Taking her hand in his, he ate his food while listening and answering questions. Their time at David and Susan’s house was not bad even if it wasn’t great. He understood why Heather gravitated toward the shifters. She was a natural, cuddly person.
Her personality couldn’t allow her to be closed off. It made perfect sense to him as to why she was his mate.

He was thankful when it was time for them to leave. Heather said her goodbyes without giving them a hug or anything. Ben scented their relief at getting through the dinner without grossing out their daughter.

Seated in the car, Ben pulled out of the lot.

“They’re that into each other they didn’t see my scars? That’s
bullshit, and even I know that.” Heather turned on him. “What are you not telling me?”

“Your parents and any non-mated human can’t see the marks on your face. When you walk down the street you’ll look exactly the same as you did before you met me.” He gripped the steering wheel tightly.

“What? No, that’s nonsense. I can see the scars as plain as you can.”

“Your parents are not mated to a shifter. They cannot see your scars and do not know they’re there. You’re mated to me and can see the scars, which is known as the shifter’s possession in my family line.”

She was silent for a long time. During the silence he sped on home. He wanted to hold her and be able to look her in the eye when he told her the truth.

Heather didn’t wait for him to
open the door. He followed behind her and watched as she slammed into the house.

Ben found her stood at the mirror inside their bathroom. She’d left all the mirrors downstairs to come to this mirror in the bathroom. Folding his arms over his chest, he waited to gain her attention.

“This does not make any sense,” she said. “I can see it.”

“You’re mated to me. Of course you can see it.”

“No humans can see it?” she asked, looking at him.

He nodded.

“All along you knew?”

“After the first attack we didn’t know if you were going to make it. Most humans die from an attack like that. When you didn’t die and you grew stronger and were not pushing me away, I knew without a doubt you were my mate.” He took a step toward her.

“Do all mates have this mark?” she asked.

“Some mates have worse marks. It’s easier the more you’re around shifters to no longer see the scars. Over time, you’ll eventually no longer see it.” Ben reached out, pressing a finger down to where the line ended on her neck. “This was my mark. It’s vicious
, and every shifter will know I lost control. When they first look at you, they’ll see my loss of control but admire you.”

“Why?”

“Because not only did you survive such a strike but you’re still with me. You’re a warrior, Heather. My warrior.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about this? I could h
ave seen my parents before now.”

How did he answer that question?

With the truth!

“I thought if I told you the truth you’d leave me without giving me a chance.”

“You thought I’d leave you?”

He cupped her face in his palms. “I’d hurt you badly, Heather. This gives you a chance to have a life away from me. Only you and mated shifters will ever be able to see the truth. Over time you’d forget about them and me.”

“So you kept the truth from me.”

“Being without you terrified me.
I was selfish, and I shouldn’t have done it. I just wanted the chance to prove to you that I’m a good guy and how much I love you.”

“I could walk away?” she asked.

“Yeah, you could walk away.” His throat felt incredibly dry.

“And you couldn’t stop me?”

“No, I can’t stop you. All I ever want is your happiness. If you can’t find happiness with me then I’ll let you find it elsewhere.” Tears were blurring his vision.

“Okay.” She walked out of the bathroom
, and Ben broke apart.

Let her go. She deserves better than you.

His heart pounded against his chest. He had to let her go.

I can’t. I need her. I love her. I can make her happy.

Before he could talk himself out of it, Ben charged out of the bathroom and jumped over the staircase landing on the floor. Heather was sat with her back against the door. Her knees were up against her chest, and she stood up as he stared at her.

“It’s about time. I was giving you another couple of minutes
, and then you were going to get your tiger ass kicked.”

“What?” Tears fell from his eyes. He took several steps, stopping in front of her.

“I’m in love with you, Ben. I could leave and pretend to love someone else, but I’d only be kidding myself and hurting someone else. I love you, and I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. Tiger shifter or not, you’re mine, and I’m not going anywhere.”

He silenced her with his lips. “I love you. God, I don’t know what I’d have done if you left.”

“Before we move on, I need to see you in your tiger form,” Heather said.

“What? No, you’d be scared.”

She pressed a finger to his lips. “Show me your true self. I’m not afraid. I want you to be yourself.”

“How did I get so lucky?” he asked.

“Show me.”