ROMANCE: BIKER ROMANCE: Werewolf Rider (MC Shifter Pregnancy Romance) (New Adult Paranormal Romance Short Stories) (33 page)

There was a slight stab of pain as his flesh tore at her virginity, but this was quickly replaced by a feeling of pure passion as she felt him throbbing inside her. He moved gently at first, but soon his thrusts became more urgent and she was lost in the rhythm of their lovemaking, her eyes closed. A wave of ecstasy pulsed through her as Thomas’s shouts and moans reached a crescendo and he came with a loud shudder.

Deep in her bliss Beatrice did not at first notice the changes in Thomas. His sexual moans had turned to a deep growling sound, his arms gripping her against the bed.  Half opening her eyes she looked into his face, his eyes were different, now amber and burning with a deep, animal fire. Backing away from her, Thomas stood, naked and magnificent in the moonlight. His body was changing, a dark hair now covering his skin and his face changing, morphing, the nose more dominant, the arms filling out, the fingers no more but replaced by paws and claws. The full moon rose high above their heads and Beatrice could see quite clearly that Lord Thomas Selkirk had turned into a bear.

Her body shook with fear, suddenly the air had become cold, but she remembered what he said

“Never be afraid of me that is all I ask, whatever happens. I will never hurt you, ever.”

Beatrice looked at the bear hardly believing her eyes, yet this was Thomas, the man that was Thomas was somewhere deep inside. She looked at the eyes, now changed, but she trusted the creature, trusted him.

The bear waved its great paws at the orb of the moon through the window, growling at the clear sky. Its grunts became louder, sharper as if the animal were in some sort of pain and calling out into the night for help. Then all was still again.

Beatrice watched in amazement as the beast began to wither before her eyes until Thomas was finally restored to her once more, falling onto the floor once the transformation was complete.

Running towards him she hugged the limp form of Thomas to her chest, he looked dazed, as if coming out of a deep sleep.

“You saw?”

Beatrice nodded, “But I still don’t understand”.

Thomas sat up, recovering, finding his voice once more.

“It is said that my family were once cursed by the forest witches for taking their lands and the legend has it that every first born son will be cursed with the blood of the bear. Whatever the truth about my ancestors there is some dark magic at play that turns me into a bear on the onset of the full moon, especially when I am in a state of heightened emotion”

Beatrice breathed deeply, trying to take in the details of the strange story, she only half believed him even though she had seen the transformation happen right in front of her very eyes.

“Is there no cure?”

Thomas smiled at her, shrugging his shoulders. “I have learned to control my inner bear to ensure that the beast doesn’t take over completely, that some of the man, some of the essence of who I truly am remains inside to control the animal within. Gertrude knew about this and tried to help me with her potions. Unfortunately it seems she wanted to control me too”.

He stroked her face softly with his fingers, the tips barely brushing her soft skin.

“Can you still love me after all you have seen tonight?”

She could scarcely believe the events of the evening. It all seemed unreal now in the peace and quiet. She was sorry for Gertrude, but if Thomas hadn’t stepped in, then it would be her body now lying beneath that sheet.

She didn’t need to answer; her eyes were shining brightly as she wrapped her arms around him.

The couple stood close together and looked out at the moon. It had been a long night and their future stretched out before them; unfettered by the past.

Tomorrow would be a new dawn on an old world.

*****

THE END

BIKER BEARS BABY

“Dixie!  Can we get another round down here, doll?” Harlan Simmons called out from the table where he sat with his fellow bikers. 

“Sure.  On the way,” she called back, turning to grab a tray and start pouring their drinks.  It was a typical Saturday night in As the Crow Flies, a dive bar she had just started working in for the summer.  The Crow, as the locals called it, was usually full of bikers and truckers that called her pet names and touched her inappropriately.  It wasn’t exactly her dream job, but it would net her some extra cash over the summer before she returned to college in the fall.

“Thanks, cutie,” Harlan told her as she balanced her tray on the table and passed out the drinks. 

Her large breasts brushed the arm of one of the bikers sitting by Harlan and he smiled at her, but said nothing.  She was used to it.  Different men reacted differently to her due to her size.  She wasn’t slender, athletic, like many of the girls that worked here.  Unlike their more stickish figures, she had curves that flowed wickedly in a true hourglass fashion.  She was more Anna Nicole Smith than Kate Moss, not everyone’s cup of tea.  She could never be sure if the smiles like his were interest or a nonverbal declination.  It didn’t really matter much either way to her.

In her high school years, she had been sensitive about her size, but college had opened up a new world to her.  College guys seemed to take much more interest in her than high school boys ever had.  Of course, she had quickly learned that many of them were more interested in a physical relationship than anything more meaningful.  It had led to a general disinterest in dating after a couple of years.  Now, entering her junior year, she was fairly impervious to the advances of the opposite sex.  Her disdain was only accented by Harlan’s usual slap on her backside as she walked away.

“Harlan, cool it,” she heard one of the guys tell him.  It was the same one she had inadvertently brushed against as she had served their drinks.

“What?  You can’t just ignore an ass like that, man,” Harlan replied with a laugh.

“If she had wanted your hands on her ass, she would have asked you to put them there.  Did she see her flirting with you?  No.  She is just doing her job and has to put up with jerks like you touching her.  Keep your hands to yourself when you are out with me,” the other man growled at him.

“Alright, man.  Fine,” Harlan said sullenly.

“Glad we got that straight,” the other man replied, taking a drink of his beer.

Dixie pretended she hadn’t overheard, continuing her walk toward the bar as if nothing had happened.  The next several rounds of beer served during her shift went by without further manhandling, at least not from that table.  She was vaguely aware of the reputation of the men that sat there, members of a local motorcycle gang known as the Thunder Bears.  She assumed it was a nod to the loud sound of their Harleys and the overabundance of bears in this neck of the woods. 

“Dixie?” a man said from behind her, disrupting her thoughts as she cleaned the bar back in preparation to leave for the night.  She turned around to find herself looking at the man who had called Harlan out for touching her inappropriately.

“What can I get for you?  Another beer?” she asked.

“No.  I’m good.  I just need to take care of our tab and we’re going to get going,” he replied.

“Okay.  Let me get that for you,” she replied, taking in his deep brown eyes and dark lashes for what was probably a few seconds too long. 

It had been hard to see him well in the dimly lit corner where he and his guys had been sitting, but standing here by the bar shed new light on him.  He was tall and muscular, easily six four.  She guessed he was in his late twenties, no more than seven or eight years older than her.  His jet black hair hung in loose curls to his shoulders.  A chiseled jawline set off high cheekbones and full lips.  He was insanely attractive and rugged looking.

“Thanks,” he replied, pulling some cash from his pocket and waiting for her to bring him a total.  She could see his friends already filing out of the bar behind him.

“Here you go,” she said, laying the check down in front of him and waiting while he shelled out several hundreds to cover their bar tab.

“That should do it,” he told her with a smile.

“I’ll get your change,” she replied, noting the large amount of overage.

“No.  The rest is yours,” he replied.

“I appreciate it, but that is too much,” she replied, unsure of accepting an almost eighty dollar tip from the likes of him.

“Consider it an apology for Harlan’s poor behavior, not just for tonight, but for whatever other nights he has been a jackass,” he told her.

“That is not necessary.  I’m used to it,” she replied.

“You shouldn’t be.  Just because you work in a bar doesn’t make you the property of a bunch of miscreants.  If you have any trouble from anyone here, you just let me know.  The name is Luke Roberts,” he said.

Dixie knew the name.  He wasn’t just a member of the Thunder Bears, he was the leader, and well known in the community as the best mechanic for miles.  She had heard of him, but they had never met before now.  If his reputation was true, he was a real badass.  He might be pretty, but definitely someone she should steer clear of if even half of what she heard was true.

“I really appreciate it, but still, it is too much.  Let me get you some change,” she repeated.

“How about you keep it and give me your number instead,” he replied.

“I rather give you your change,” she replied with a polite smile, feeling uncomfortable with the way his eyes drew her in and made her want to do unmentionable things with him.

“Playing hard to get.  Okay.  Just know that I don’t give up that easily,” he replied, walking out of the bar.

“Wait.  Your change . . . .” she called after him, but he only laughed and tossed up a hand in a backwards wave as he disappeared out the door.  She heard the roar of motorcycles cranking up as she made change and tucked it in her tip stash.  Finishing her work cleaning up the bar, she cashed out and left work, digging in her purse for her keys.

“I knew you would come out eventually,” a voice said as she stepped out the front door and began walking toward her car.  She jumped, startled, as she found herself looking up at Luke Roberts towering over her.  Looking around, she saw that the parking lot was empty except for the two of them.  Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she stood facing him in the near darkness outside the bar.

“What do you want?” she asked, fiddling with the keys in her hand so that several of them protruded from between her fingers in case she needed to defend herself with what she had at hand.

“You aren’t going to have to stab me with your car keys,” he laughed.

“That’s what all the stalkers say,” she said, trying to make light of it, despite her continued nervousness.

“Listen, we’re going for a ride down Bayou Bluffs tomorrow.  How would you like to ride with me?” he asked.

“Me?  On a motorcycle?  I don’t think so,” she replied.

“Come on.  I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he said.

“I appreciate the offer, but I really just don’t know you that well,” she replied.

“Isn’t that the whole idea behind going out somewhere with someone?  Getting to know them?” he asked.

“I hardly think I’m going to be able to get to know you roaring down some winding highway on the back of your bike,” she replied.

“Well, you’ve got me there.  It is a bit difficult to carry on a conversation.  I tell you what.  How about I meet you at Mabel’s Diner for a nice breakfast for starters.  We can talk a bit, get to know one another and then, if you feel comfortable with it, you can ride with me down to the bluffs.  The boys are going to be grilling up some food and tossing back a few beers, maybe kick up a bonfire later.  You’ll have fun,” he said.

“Okay.  I will agree to breakfast and we’ll see how that goes first,” she replied.

“Good enough.  You drive a hard bargain, Dixie Andrews,” he replied.

“I don’t recall giving you my last name,” she quizzically said.

“You didn’t have to,” he replied with a wink before slipping a black half helmet on his head.  “I’ll see you in the morning, say about seven?”

“I’ll see you at seven,” she replied.

“You bet that sweet ass of yours you will,” he replied.

Dixie watched as he cranked his bike and roared out of the parking lot.  He was a striking figure, even more foreboding in the near darkness of the parking lot where the little lighting that existed cast his shadow across her shorter frame.  She wasn’t sure why she had agreed to go to breakfast with him.  He and his sort were the last thing she needed in her life.  She was the only girl in her family to make it to college rather than getting knocked up by some local nobody and she wasn’t about to give it up for a small town mentality now.

Heading home, she still found herself thinking about him.  His good looks and chiseled physique were hard to resist.  It wasn’t like she was a virgin, though she would be the first to admit her experience with men was limited.  She was a smart girl who knew how to take care of herself.  Why couldn’t she have a little fun with a local while she was home for the summer?  No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than so did the answer.  He was bad news and somehow, she knew that it would end with more chaos than fun.