ROMANCE: SHAPESHIFTER ROMANCE: Dragon Baller's Bride (Dragon Shifter Alpha Male Romance) (Paranormal Romantic Suspense) (41 page)

I
t had been
a few weeks since Jack had asked to Rainn move in with him. Rainn had tried to ignore the subject, but he somehow kept bringing it up in a conversation. She was waiting on him to show up and make her dinner that day in her apartment so she sat on the living room sofa reading a book. She wasn’t really concentrating on it; her mind kept thinking about Jack and when he would show up. She pressed the audio clock that was in the living room and listened keenly to it.

“The time now is 8:45pm,” the automated voice rang through the empty apartment and Rainn smiled when she thought of how she had made it ring exactly two minutes before.

Jack was only fifteen minutes away and her insides began to churn at the thought of him. She could already picture his lovely woody scent and the rugged beard that was carelessly distributed on his face. She thought of his warm embrace and the feel of his masculinity on her body. She thought of the way he always played with her tongue whenever they made out and the way he would let her head rest on his chest every time they were done making love and fulfilling each other’s desires. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the distant footsteps approach her door and Jack turning the door knob. She listened keenly to him as he took off his shoes and walked on bare feet to the living room.

“Hello beautiful,” he announced. Rainn could hear him carrying a handful of bags and guessed they were groceries. She listened as he walked over to her and placed a light peck on her left cheek.

“Hello,” she answered “You’re early” she added, as she listened to him walk over to the kitchen counter.

“I decided to show up early. God knows I have other plans with you later in the night,” Jack answered and Rainn could detect the innuendo behind those words. She let out a slight giggle and placed her book aside as she listened to what Jack was doing in the kitchen.

“What are you looking for?” she asked.

“The chopping board.”

“Top shelf to your right,” Rainn answered and listened as Jack opened the cabinet door and pulled out what he needed. Rainn’s kitchen was always organized and immaculately arranged, that was the only way that she could go about it without bumping into things and hurting herself.

“What are you making?” she went on to ask as the whiff of red pepper got to her nostrils.

“Stuffed peppers,” Jack answered “Wine?”

“Yes please.”

Jack walked over to where Rainn was comfortably seated with a glass of wine in hand. He gave it to Rainn who was waiting patiently for him and watched as she took a sip from it.

“Smooth, right?” he asked as he saw how her face lit up from the taste of the wine.

“Yes it is,” she smiled, after letting the wine caress her tongue and glide down her throat. Jack leaned in and placed a kiss on her lips and Rainn detected the scent of gin on his breath.

He waited for him to walk back to the kitchen counter before mastering the courage to ask him about it.

“How much have you had to drink today?” she asked bluntly.

“Not much.”

Rainn was not in the mood for a fight and decided to change the angle of the conversation to something else as soon as she got the defensive response from Jack.

“Tell me about your first encounter with alcohol,” Rainn asked. From the way he laughed at the question she knew that it must be a hilarious story.

“Well, I was a young man trying to experiment with everything,” Jack started “You name it! Pot, cocaine, cigarettes, ecstasy, speed, liquor, heroin; I think I tried out all the drugs that are known to mankind”.

“Meth?” Rainn asked curiously.

“Of course”

Jack let out a nostalgic but half amused chuckle when he said these words.

“But liquor became your poison?” Rainn concluded.

“Unfortunately it did.”

“So how did you not get hooked on the rest of it?” Rainn asked. She had now sat up, her back was still rested on the sofa.

“Various reasons actually,” Jack admitted “For most of the drugs, I was a peddler and could not mix business with pleasure.”

Rainn placed a hand on her mouth to cover her shock but it was a bit too late, Jack had noticed and only let out another laugh.

“Relax sweetie, I retired from that business a long time ago.”

“Thank heavens,” Rainn replied “So tell me the other reasons.”

“Well, I watched a very close friend of mine waste away on meth and decided not to go that way. Cocaine would make my head reel and heroin made me throw up a lot.” Jack explained

“From that, it sounds like you love yourself too much to let yourself waste away on drugs.”

“You could say that.” Jack answered.

He was now done chopping a few onions and Rainn could tell that he was turning on the stove and placing a frying pan on it. She listened as the cooking oil slid around the pan and sniffed as the smell of garlic and onions filled the room.

“So why do you think you are hooked on liquor?” she asked after a few seconds “I think you could always quit if you wanted, it sounds like you’re strong willed enough”.

Jack took a minute to respond, Rainn could hear him play around with the spatula and a few other kitchen utensils.

“Well,” he said before going silent again. He looked in Rainn’s direction and wondered what to say to her. Rainn could tell that he was struggling to tell her something and took a sip from her glass of wine.

“I am not that hooked on it” he said defensively.

“What was the longest time you went without indulging?” Rainn asked.

“Two years.” Jack replied “Not continuously though, I had a few occasional drinks”.

“Really?” Rainn was both impressed and shocked at this revelation.

“What triggered it?” she asked. Rainn was all of a sudden very interested in what Jack had to say and was overcome with curiosity.

“I don’t know precisely but I can guess,” he answered.

Rainn by now knew Jack well enough to know that he never liked being pushed, especially whenever he wanted to say was on his mind. She chose to remain silent and took another sip from her glass; she concluded that the contents of it were almost empty from its light weight.

“More wine?” Jack asked and was swiftly at her side refilling her glass.

“What intentions do you have with me today, Mr?” Rainn asked and let out a naughty smile.

“Only heavenly intentions my dear,” Jack answered before walking back to the kitchen. He placed the wine on the kitchen counter and went about the cooking.

“I don’t hear you having wine like me,” she commented after Jack placed down the bottle. Rainn was trying to get back to the liquor topic without sounding persistent.

“I know what you’re trying to do! Relax, I’m going to tell you the reason I drink a lot!” Jack snapped and immediately wished he hadn’t.

“Ok,” was all Rainn could say. She took another sip of her wine and was slowly beginning to feel light headed. She had taken an early lunch and the wine had started having effects on her. She thought of the night ahead with Jack and grew excited at the idea of it.

Jack was almost done making dinner and began setting plates for both of them. He threw a quick glance at the sofa and loved how beautiful Rainn looked. She was effortlessly beautiful in anything she wore. She had her legs propped up on the sofa and her hair fell back on her shoulders in a tangled mess. Jack guessed that she had not left the house that day from her comfortable lounge wear. The glass of wine that she kept swinging from her hand to mouth was the icing on the cake. She did it with such elegance that all Jack could think of was how he would draw her closer to him and make sweet love to her.

“I have a dark past,” he said out of the blue and loved how Rainn leaned in closer and more attentive to what he had just said. She did not respond to him and he did not expect her to.

“My parents abandoned me when I was a child and I find my solace in liquor,” Jack confessed.

“Have you ever tried going for therapy?”

“Gin is my therapy, Rainn” he said and walked over to where she was comfortably seated, carrying the two plates in his hands.

Rainn wondered and struggled with the right words to say and Jack noticed.

“Go right ahead, tell me what it is that you’re thinking,” Jack said and walked back to the kitchen to get cutlery.

“I think that you need therapy, gin won’t really work for you at the end of the day”, Rainn said and went on to sip from her wine glass. She could feel the whiff of food play on her nostrils and her stomach made a growling noise.

“I think so too,” Jack agreed but he was only doing it to try and end the conversation.

“So how would you describe your relationship with your parents?” Rainn asked. She had already picked up her fork and was only being loyal to her hunger at that time.

“Distant”

“With both parents?”

“I don’t blame my mother for her mistakes,” Jack replied. Rainn could tell that he too had started eating from the way he was talking between mouthfuls. The food was delicious and she liked how the different flavors all exploded in her mouth.

“Who
do
you blame for her mistakes?” Rainn asked curiously. She never believed in the shifting of burden and thought that every human being should be able to take their own responsibilities when need arose.

“My father.”

“How so?”

“He drove her insane and she was never really stable to be the good parent that she ought to have been,” Jack explained. Rainn detected a hint of deep and intense emotion in his words.

“You sound like you hate him?”

What followed after shocked Rainn; for a moment, fear overwhelmed her and she held her breath.

Jack slammed down his fist on the table hard. All she could hear was the cutlery clutter around the table.

“I don’t hate him”, he said after his fist had landed on the glass coffee table “I loathe him and maybe dislike him slightly”.

Rainn remained still, her nostrils caught the metallic whiff of blood and she knew that Jack must have cut himself in his rage.

“You should disinfect that.” she advised.

“I don’t think this food is safe to eat now,” he sighed and got the two plates from the table. “Let me order some pizza right after I clean this”.

He walked to the kitchen then headed over to the bathroom to look for disinfectant and a bandage. Rainn was left by herself guessing and confirming the usual sounds of water running and the scent of disinfectant. She was slightly disappointed about the meal but was nevertheless happy about that revelation. She knew that it was a breakthrough for him and it was something she could work on with him to help his healing process.

“This talk just made me have a grand idea!” Jack exclaimed after walking into the living room and swiftly sitting next to Rainn.

“Let’s hear it.” Rainn answered. She felt a comfortable feeling sweep over her when he approached him and sat next to her.

“I would like you to meet my mother,” he announced.

Rainn could feel her blood freeze at the mention of this and hugged herself in a tight embrace.

“Are you sure about that?” Rainn asked shocked and nearly dumbfounded.

“I am.” Jack replied “I want her to meet the woman who makes me happy and smile.”

“This is a huge step you know?”

“Yes I know that and I want to take it with you, nobody else”, Jack replied.

Rainn loved how he placed an assuring hand over hers and she didn’t worry anymore.

“Ok” she said before melting into his embrace and letting him have his way with her. She felt all her doubts melt away and her fears dissolved. She wondered what Jack’s mother would be like; in her mind she painted a picture of an elderly woman who was as tall as Jack. Rainn pictured her stylish and fashionable with a pleasant personality.

“It will all be alright”, she said to herself a few times. The words soothed her and made her hopeful.

R
ainn sat
in the restaurant with Jack by her side, her palms intertwined. She could feel a nervous sweat break on her forehead. Jack had reserved a booth for them so they could have privacy with his mother. He placed a reassuring arm around Rainn and felt her letting out nervous gasps from time to time.

“It’s all going to be fine.” Jack said comfortingly.

“Easy for you to say, she is after all your mother” Rainn answered. Her senses were much more alert and she listened to the various sounds that were going on around her.

“Relax!” Jack said again for the millionth time that day.

“What if she doesn’t like me?”

“She will love you that I am sure of.” Jack answered and placed a reassuring arm around her.

“How do I look?”

“Dazzling, nothing short of amazing,” Jack answered as he went on to throw a look at Rainn’s outfit. He had picked out the outfit for her and loved that he was spot on with the color that he had chosen.

Rainn had on a royal purple chiffon dress that was strapless and looked very stylish. She had a light shade of make up on that Jack had asked a makeup and hair stylist to take care of, with her hair up in a tight bun. She had a platinum low heel shoe to match, with an equally platinum purse to complement the entire outfit. He was also equally nervous about Rainn meeting his mother. Jack was all nerves but hid it very well. The waiter walked in and Rainn could tell from the distant footsteps and from the low heel manly shoe that it was not Jack’s mother.

“Can I take your order now?” he asked. He had his hands to his chest and humbly waited for the couple’s response.

“We are still waiting on someone but you can have the duck breast prepared, she should not be long”, Jack said.

“Any wine? Champagne perhaps?” the waiter went on to ask.

“Yes please.” Jack nodded “Champagne should be a wonderful fit for the occasion”.

Rainn heard the waiter walk out of the private booth slowly and held her breath. She was still nervous and felt her throat go dry, she was just about to suggest to Jack to order some stilled water before she heard them; strong feminine steps walking towards the door. From the short strides that she was taking, Rainn could tell that she commanded attention from the room. She could hear Jack freeze once the steps halted on the doorway. The attitude in the room suddenly changed and so did Jack’s demeanor.

“Good afternoon, mother.” Jack said and walked towards the door. For the first time in their relationship, Jack thanked God that Rainn was blind and could not see the dirty look that his mother threw her way.

“Good afternoon, son” she said. Rainn could tell that they had exchanged warm greetings and a slight peck was planted on her cheek. She automatically scrambled to her feet and waited for the introduction. She could feel her looking her way and was not so sure if she liked her.

“Good afternoon, ma’am.” Rainn politely greeted and was sure that she had let out her most dazzling smile. She was so humble that she had to stop herself from curtseying.

She heard Jack’s mother walk over to her and accepted the handshake that she had offered.

“Good afternoon.” she replied and pulled back the seat that had strategically been placed opposite them.

Jack was by her side in a minute and helped her to take her seat as well.

“Jack has told me so much about you.” Rainn began “I was really looking forward to meeting you ma’am”.

“Funny, Jack has mentioned nothing about you to me.” she answered “And you can call me Selina, all this ma’am business is making me feel old”.

“Ok.” Rainn answered meekly and placed her sweaty hand on her knee under the table.

“I am mentioning it now, mother.” Jack retorted. He did not like how his mother was on Rainn’s case and wished that she could stop badgering her.

“Is that what we have come to Jack? We don’t tell each other anything anymore?”

Jack was saved by the waiter who walked in at the right time and he decided to evade his question.

“Should I bring out the meal now, sir?” he asked politely.

“Yes please.”

Jack then turned to his mother as he watched the waiter leave the room. “I ordered your favorite, mother. The duck breast.”

“I am not hungry, Jack.” she answered curtly and watched as the waiter walked in with a bucket of ice and a champagne bottle in the middle of it.

“But I will certainly have a drink,” she answered once she spotted the champagne and smiled up to the waiter who was pouring her a glass.

Rainn had by now gotten the message from the mood in the room all too clear now. She knew that Selina did not like her and Jack was trying all in his power to neutralize her words and her nasty demeanor.

Selina all of a sudden turned her attention to Rainn and this caught her unawares.

“So Rainn, what do you want from my son?” she asked after downing a flute of champagne and offering the waiter a smile.

“I beg your pardon?” Rainn answered timidly.

“I thought blind people listen better than everyone else.” she said rudely.

“Mother!” Jack shouted, obviously appalled by his mother’s harsh words “Why are you so harsh to Rainn, you’ve only just met her”.

“Son, you will thank me I did this one day,” she said as she pointed to Rainn outwardly “This woman does not love you, she is only taking advantage of your success”

“Mother, please”, Jack was about to confess his undying love for Rainn before his mother cut him short.

“Do not ‘mother please’ me!” Selina barked, before turning to Rainn’s direction one more time. “I gotta hand it to you, Rainn. You are an actress who never hit the screen. Hollywood is surely missing out on a gem here.”

Selina was on her feet before Jack could come up with a defense. She clapped her hands together as a sign of applause in Rainn’s direction before saying “You deserve an award, dearie. Even I could never think of such a con.”

“Mother, for crying out loud!” Jack said angrily. He was ashamed by her mother’s behavior and the rudeness that she was displaying at the lunch.

“Jack, I will tell you this and I will only say it once.” she said as he fixed her glance at Jack “This, whatever you think that you have going on here, is not good for your career”.

“I decide what is best for my career, not you!” Jack roared, slamming down his fist on the table. “As a matter of fact, I had planned to do this the right way. I only thought that you would be happy for me, but I was gravely wrong”.

“Do what, Jack?”

In response, Jack took out a small box from his jacket pocket and walked over to where Rainn was silently seated, listening to the mother son feud.

“Rainn my love, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

He was now on bended knee. He held out the ring in his hand as he stretched it out to Rainn.

“Oh my God! Jack, is that a ring you have in your hand?” Rain asked with both a feeling of confusion and excitement in her voice.

“Yes my love it is, what say you?”

“Of course I will marry you”.

The two huddled together in a tight embrace and both could feel Selina’s gaze on them as they shared their happy moment together.

“I can’t stand this!” Selina said disgustedly and stormed out of the room in a fiery rage.

“Wait, I need to know, are you being serious or were you just doing it to get back at your mother?” Rainn asked, curious and slightly shaken by the drama that was unfolding.

“I bought the ring about two months ago,” Jack started and from the smile that formed on Rainn’s face, he was glad that he had answered her question.

“Does that mean that you’ll move in with me now?” he asked.

“Do I have a choice?”

The two locked each other in a tight embrace and Rainn could feel tears of joy swell up in her eyes. She had never for once thought that she could be that happy in life. The warm feeling that caressed her heart sent more tears down her cheeks. Rainn however, did not ignore the fact that the media would have a field day with that information and knew that they were about to hit a very huge storm in their relationship.