ROMANCE: SHIFTER: Shifter to the Max Collection (Dragon, Bear, Wolf and Panther Shifter Romances) (Paranormal Fantasy Romance Collection) (14 page)

Sabrina's eyes fluttered under her lids. Jakob watched them, searching her face for a sign of discomfort. Her nightmare had been violent, enough to call him to here, and he was glad of it, but Jakob didn't want her feeling that frightened ever again. She turned onto her side and her eyes slowly opened. She smiled at Jakob.

"Hi," she cooed.

"Hi."

The sun was just coming in and Sabrina looked at the clock on her nightstand. She still had an hour before she had to get ready for work.

"Breakfast?" Jakob asked, reading her mind. "Latte and eggs? You never truly know someone till you've watched them eat eggs."

Sabrina giggled. She felt like a school girl. Her body was a little sore from last night, but in a good way. Like the burn you feel after a good workout. She was eager to try it all again, but her stomach grumbled under the covers.

Fifteen minutes later Jakob handed her a plate with bacon, eggs, and his special homemade latte. "I didn't even know I had all this food in my fridge," she said. "And since when do you cook?" She sipped the latte and her taste buds exploded. Sugar licked her lips and something like lavender slid over her taste buds.

"What is this?" she asked, astonished at the complexity of flavors in a coffee drink.

"The first recipe that popped up on Google," he teased.

Her stomach growled louder and she put the latte down and picked up her fork. "How am I doing?" she asked between mouthfuls of egg. "Do I pass the test?"

Jakob nodded, entranced at the way her mouth moved as she chewed. Her whole face was like an enchantment. Her skin like satin, her hair like silk. He was so lucky.

"Marry me," he asked again.

Sabrina's fork paused halfway to her mouth.

"Eat your food," she said.

"Damn it Sabrina," he said, slapping his hand on the counter. She put her fork down and stared at him with angry eyes.

"I love you," she said, "and I'll never leave you again. But marriage ruins everything."

Jakob sighed. What was he going to do with this woman?

She hesitated before speaking again. "You'll still come with me to my parents' anniversary party, right?"

"Of course."

She smiled and picked her fork back up. Jakob picked at his food a moment before devouring it. Arguing with Sabrina made him hungry.

***

Blake was waiting for Jakob and Sabrina when they stepped outside. Blake could smell their sex on them. He tried to keep the acid from rising out of his stomach. The sun was just beginning to peak when he stepped from the shadows, hands outstretched.

Jakob's ears perked up, alarm registering on his face.

"What is it?" Sabrina asked. Jakob pushed her behind him. He hadn't sensed Blake's presence, and that was more alarming than his actually being there.

"May I speak?" Blake asked before Jakob could say anything.

"What are you doing here Blake?"

"Did Remy accept the offer?"

"Of course." Sabrina tried to step around him but Jakob held her back. Something about the man looked familiar.

"What do you want?" Jakob's lips curled back, his wolf senses kicking in. He may have been having trouble reading Blake, but Jakob could smell the danger coming from him. His instincts as alpha took over and he let a low warning growl escape his throat. "I told you thirty days Blake. It hasn't even been five."

"I want to apologize," Blake said. "And beg forgiveness. I should never have crossed you." He hoped he sounded sincere. The woman was staring at him. He thought she would look much better without those lips. And her flesh was ample enough to sink his teeth into and still have leftovers.

"Fine, you've said your apologies. Now go. It's inappropriate for you to be here."

"Is it inappropriate to deliver a gift?"

"What gift?"

"For the lovely lady. Sabrina, isn't it?"

Sabrina had stood back, uncertain of the danger that lay with this man Jakob seemed intent on protecting her from. Now, at the sound of her name, she looked at him with interest. It was the man who'd stood next to Jakob in the online tabloid Walter had shown her. He'd looked so severe in the photo. The difference was striking. Now, he looked rather sickly. His skin was too pale, his eyes too orange. The hair he had was long and should have been lustrous, but screamed for a good shampooing and some conditioner. If this was one of Jakob's pack members, he must have been living out in the woods.

Blake stretched his arm out, something gold and delicate dangling from it. "A necklace?" Sabrina asked, hidden behind Jakob's massive shoulders.

"For you," Blake stepped forward. Jakob looked at the necklace, then let out a loud growl before springing forward and snatching it from him. He glared at the necklace as if it had spoken something offensive, then threw it so far into the sky it melded with the clouds and Sabrina lost sight of it. She wondered at Jakob's reaction. It had looked pretty to her.

People walked past them in scattered droves, eyeing Blake more than her or Jakob. To him they gave a wide berth. He smelled rancid.

"You are not to return to the pack. You are gone. Out."

"Am I?" Blake asked. "Pity," then left them alone to their rotting selves.

"Who the hell was that?
What
was that?" Sabrina asked.

"An ex-pack member. He's angry with me. Thinks I turned my back on my brothers for you." He saw her eyes widen. "I didn't. I just added you to our circle. I can't believe he..." Jakob realized Sabrina was going to be a part of all this soon. He might as well explain as best he could. "The necklace he offered to you was the
mu'qaD jInaq
, a cursed stone. It brings bad luck. I can't believe he thought I wouldn't notice something like that."

"Oh," Sabrina said, a little freaked out that someone she didn't even know might want to curse her.

"It's fine," Jakob said. "He won't be back."

Sabrina did not fail to notice, however, that Jakob walked her to work and would not leave until he saw her safely inside.

***

Blake walked away, his heart light. Out of the pack. For good. He felt the last of Jakob's control leave him like melted ice. Now he could do whatever he wanted, and Jakob could not stop him.

Sabrina's parents opened the door and failed to hide their shock. Her mother started to bow, thought better of it, and switched to a handshake. Halfway through the handshake she changed her mind again and threw her arms around Jakob.

"Mom," Sabrina said, her cheeks going red. She pulled her mother off Jakob and her father introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you both," Jakob said. "I've heard a lot about you."

Her mother burst into a fit of giggles and grabbed champagne off a tray as a waiter scooted by. She handed it to Jakob, who handed it to Sabrina. "Thank you," Jakob said, "but ladies first."

Sabrina's mother nearly swooned. Sabrina threw Jakob a look that she hoped translated to
I'm so sorry
, then grabbed her mother's arm and led her away from Jakob. "Come on Mom. Party guests are waiting."

Her mother turned her head back towards Jakob and reluctantly walked backwards to greet her other guests. Sabrina's father smiled at Jakob and shrugged. "Women get crazy when you marry them," he said, and shuffled off after his wife.

The house was large, a mid-size mansion, and Sabrina's parents had decorated it with museum quality taste. Their furniture was richly colored and expensive artwork hung on the walls. For the event, they had hired the best caterers and florists in the city. A table, spread with foie gras, Beluga caviar, and a variety of French cheeses, stood against a backdrop of golden lights and a live orchestra set up on stage in the backyard.

Jakob wandered through the house to the yard. The crowd was made up mostly of rich men and women. Jakob knew a few of them, or at least, was acquainted with them. He said hello at the right times, then found a spot by a tree and hunkered down with a drink in his hand.

Sabrina came up to him a few minutes later.

"There you are!" she shouted, kissing him. Jakob saw Sabrina's mother watching them and decided to put on a little show for her. He pulled Sabrina into him, so close she felt his arousal under his pants. His breath was fire on her skin. Then he touched his lips to hers. It was the opposite of a church kiss, this was raw and raged with lust. His hands ran over Sabrina's curves, the fullness of her hips rounding out to give him a nice handful that he grabbed onto before delivering one last flick of his tongue over the delicate pink of her lips.

When he looked back at Sabrina's mom, her jaw was hanging open. Jakob smiled.

A microphone rang out with a loud squeal and Sabrina's father jumped on stage.

"I'd just like to thank you all for coming to help celebrate this very special day with us. I met my wife thirty years ago at a bar. A friend of mine poked me in the ribs and pointed to her and asked, 'What do you think of her? She's kind of cute. Maybe I should go talk to her.' I told my friend she was the ugliest woman I'd ever seen, then when he went for another beer I went and talked to her myself."

The crowd chuckled and Sabrina thought her mother actually looked happy. Sabrina knew better though. She'd grown up with her parents fighting and hating each other. The root cause was almost always money. It made this whole party seem that much phonier.

She missed something else her father said, but now Sabrina's mom was on stage with him. She took the microphone and said. "I've always hated this guy." Sabrina's heart thumped in her chest.
Oh God, she's drunk. She's gonna ruin Dad's toast
. "Which is probably why our marriage has lasted so long. He challenges me. He won't just tell me what I want to hear. And sometimes, I hate him so much I want to punch his lights out." The crowd was laughing. "Then it passes, and I remember I love him. The
next
time I hate him, I remember the hate is the reason I love him in the first place."

She put the mic down and kissed Sabrina's father. The crowd clapped, Jakob along with them, but Sabrina stood confused. What kind of toast was that? Sabrina unwrapped Jakob's arms from around her waist, pained the slightest bit at having to withdraw from his warmth, and told him she'd be right back.

She wove her way through the crowd towards her mom. "Hi," she said. Her mom grabbed her and pulled her close.

"Oh God honey, he's
gorgeous
. Even better looking than his pictures. And boy is he into you."

"Mom, you act like you're more excited about Jakob than about your anniversary."

Her mom's brows furrowed. "Don't misunderstand. You know I love your father, but seeing you happy for a change is the best anniversary present a parent could get."

Now it was Sabrina's turn to furrow her brow. "Do you really love Dad as much as you made it sound like?"

Sabrina's mom cocked her head and looked at her with quizzical eyes. "Of course. How can you even ask that?" Her mom sounded offended.

"It's just... growing up, you guys were always fighting and..." but she couldn't finish her thought. Her mom was watching her with wonder.

"Because he doesn't take all the shit from me that other people do. He never has. That's one of the reasons I fell in love with him. But that doesn't mean it doesn't piss me off when he's doing it."

Sabrina's knees shook. Was it possible she'd been wrong all these years? That her parents really did love each other? That she'd misunderstood?

Sabrina looked across the yard where Jakob stood, watching her. She smiled back at him, and felt the slightest tingle shoot through her ring finger.

***

Jakob walked Sabrina to her door and kissed her good night. "Thank you for going with me tonight. I know my family can be a bit much to take."

"I want to come in," Jakob said, kissing her hand, "but if I do, I won't leave. And there's something I need to take care of." Jakob was thinking of Blake. Tonight was the full moon, and Jakob had a bad feeling. He wanted to check on his pack. He knew Blake was nowhere near Sabrina's— he would have sensed him in an instant—and the pack house was the only other point of concern for him.

Sabrina was oblivious to Jakob's worry. If she'd tried, she could have pried it from his mind easily. They were too connected now not to know each other's feelings. His mouth tantalized her and she licked her lips before kissing him hard. Her hand swung behind his neck, and Jakob gently pulled it off and slipped something onto her finger. She looked down and saw a small square cut diamond on a tarnished silver band. It looked old.

For once, Sabrina didn't have to fight dizziness and hyperventilation. "It's perfect," Sabrina said, her pink lips turning up to meet his. Jakob smiled back. Finally, he had gotten something right. He'd had to push aside his natural inclination to go to Tiffany's, and instead had gone to a small antique store that could never compete with the likes of The Silver Vaults in Chancery Lane, London. This was an old mom and pop shop that had been passed down from one generation to another. Nothing was specifically organized, and nothing was specifically expensive. There, in a corner, he'd found this ring. He knew she'd love it.

"So you'll think about it?" Jakob nudged.

Sabrina shook her head. "No. I don't need to think anymore. The answer is yes." Her heart went wild in her chest, her face flushing, her thighs burning. Jakob sensed all these things and didn't think he could leave her. It was too difficult.

"I'll come back later," he said.

"Good." She pressed her core against him, sliding her hand along the bulging muscles of his back. He let his hands trail up her waist and stop at the voluptuous curve of her breasts. His breath was fast and almost as hard as the bulge that rubbed against Sabrina's lower half.

"Go," she said, pushing him away. "But hurry back."

He shook himself, grunting, and hurried home. The faster he took care of this, the faster he could return.

Sabrina stepped inside and closed the door. She leaned against it and let her eyes close. She didn't hear anything until it was too late. Blake's hand was already over her mouth, and his claws were already ripping her flesh.