Shifters on Fire: A BBW Shifter Romance Boxed Set (49 page)

Chapter Fifteen

Winifred

“Come back to me,” he whispered.

His voice was a siren’s song I couldn’t ignore. My fur melted away to skin, my bones and muscles shifting, popping, and reformed. The human skin I knew so well and trusted filled out, replacing the new inexperienced body of my lynx. Collapsing in Quentin’s arms, I couldn’t get my mind to stop racing. I was glad to be back in his arms, safe. I thought to Terrance’s unseeing eyes and shuddered.

New world. New laws. I had to remind myself.

I had to remind myself he deserved it, but I didn’t dare think back on my time with him. Quentin held me close as he pulled over the extra clothing that Lucas had mentioned. His words had been warbled and drowned out by everything else I heard, but I had caught enough. Quentin pulled the sweatpants over my legs, and gently slipped the shirt over my head. The clothes fit, the pants a little too long and the shirt a little loose, but they worked for now. Much better than the slip I had been wearing.

Quentin put his arm under my knees and wrapped his arm securely behind my back and lifted. If I wasn’t so exhausted, I would have told him to put me down. I wasn’t tiny, and I couldn’t imagine carrying me like this was easy. He showed no signs of struggle as he took me out of the house and walked to Lucas’s car waiting in the driveway. Lucas got out and opened the back door for us.

Fluidly, Quentin bent so he could slide into the back with me still in his lap. Once the door shut, I took in the scent of my mate. I knew I was safe.

~~*~~

“The suede couch is coming.”

“It is
not
coming, Winifred.”

“It is
coming
, Quinn.”

He growled. He hated when I called him that, but it made me smile, getting a rise out of him. It had been two weeks since Terrance had bought me at the auction. I was quiet for the first few days, refusing to tell Quentin about what happened. He threw a fit, quite literally. I came out to find he had trashed his fancy, modern couch. He insisted he could just buy a new one, but I told him I had a better option.

After that I had told him about the auction, and the kidnapping. A compromise. My couch for the information. He didn’t fight me on it after that, just accepted my terms. I told Quentin how Terrance had beaten me, punishment for running from him in the first place. I had been so scared and overwhelmed that the shift took over me and I couldn’t stop it. Terrance got even more pissed when he saw what I shifted into and shifted himself. His goons apparently never told him the specifics on what animal I was. I managed to dodge most of his attacks in my animal form, but I grew tired, and he shifted back and locked me in a room. I managed to escape during the night, but he found me.

I left out the crude things Terrance said about my relationship with Quentin. What Terrance had planned on doing since he had me back. I never wanted to relive those moments again.

Quentin’s muscles started to shake and roll under his skin even with the parts of the story I revealed. I reassured him as best I could. And reminded him he had saved me. That night we lay in each other’s arms for a very long time.

Quentin refused to let me move back into my, as he put it, “shit apartment.” I hadn’t planned to fight him on it anyway. He was my mate and my animal liked him around. I hadn’t attempted to shift since that night, but Quentin told me he wanted to take me to his favorite swimming hole the next weekend, and I was excited to try to shift again.

For now, we were moving all my things into his penthouse. I told him I wanted to live it up, make it less museum-like. He scoffed at me, as if I was I joking. I wasn’t. The couch was coming. Quentin winced at the couch.

“You promised.”

“I did no such thing. You assumed.”

“It will make me happy.” I fluttered my lashes.

“It’s hideous.”

“It’s comfortable.”

“It smells.”

“Stop hurting its feelings!”

Quentin blinked slowly at me a couple of times. “It has feelings now?”

“Well ever since you started to insult it, yes.”

“I am going to regret this,” he muttered.

I squealed and ran toward him. He opened his arms, already softening to the idea. I skated around him and hugged the couch.

“You’re coming home with Mommy!”

A sharp smack to my butt had me looking over my shoulder.

“You’re going to be punished for that.”

I wiggled my butt at him, knowing it would rile him up. His eyes darkened with desire and he took a step forward so his already-hard member pressed against my backside.

“Tonight, I claim you.”

Warmth slipped through my body, and my legs twitched as my desire grew. He reached upward, his finger trailing over the exposed skin on my neck.

“Right here.” His other hand trailed much farther south and cupped me through my jeans. “And here.”

~~*~~

I was frustrated for the rest of the day. He had teased me back at my old apartment, and now that I was settled, the couch in its new home, I just wanted to attack my mate. He seemed fine, though, cool, detached… I gritted my teeth and thought of all the different ways I could sneak attack him, but he caught me every time.

“What are you thinking so hard about, Winifred?”

“Your promise earlier.”

He raised a brow.

“Oh, and what was that?”

“Don’t mock me, or you aren’t getting any,” I said from the kitchen where I had been plotting. He arrived there in seconds, pressing me against the counter.

“Don’t threaten me, Winifred. You won’t like the consequences.”

Quentin’s chest pressed against my back and I leaned forward, my backside pressed hard into him. He wanted me as much as I wanted him. I could feel it, and he felt so good.

He cupped my breast and tweaked the already-hardened nipple, my insides clenching. A sweet sigh rushing outward. He trailed his hand down, farther and farther. My breathing went ragged as his fingertips brushed the waistband of my leggings. I had changed when we got home, hoping he would think tighter the pants, the quicker they needed to be removed. It hadn’t worked until now.

His lips brushed the back of my neck and I quivered. My fingers shook as I tried to get a grip.

“Please…” I whispered, wetting my lips.

His hot breath was right where I wanted his lips, his teeth. He had told me how mates marked each other. I wanted that with him. No more questioning, no more worrying.

Quentin turned me and claimed my lips. He wrapped his fingers around mine and moved us backward. So lost in his kisses, I didn’t even feel his hand roaming under my shirt until he growled against my lips.

“No bra.”

“It’s a matching set.”

His eyes darkened. He pulled my shirt off, his mouth latched onto a waiting, aching nipple. I cried out with delight, throwing my head back. His swift hands took care of my pants, which I stepped out of, kicking them away. My backside hit our new addition to his penthouse. Our home.

Quentin’s fingers brushed at my opening and how ready I was for him. I would always be. He released his hold on my breast and returned to my wanting mouth. His tongue teased and played. He turned me away and I heard the soft rasp of his zipper. My insides fluttered and excitement filled me.

Quentin was going to make good on his promise, and I couldn’t wait.

First there was rustling then a quiet thud of his shirt hitting the floor. He bent me over the arm of the couch. He positioned himself. I could feel his skin against mine, every part of me wanting to be closer. I pressed my backside a little closer, my back curved. He grunted his approval. Slowly, he nudged my hair out of the way.

My eyes fluttered shut when I felt the tip of him teasing my entrance. My stomach emptied and ached for more. I could feel my insides already clenching ready to take him in. His teeth brushed the curve of my neck.

“Which first, Winifred?”

I couldn’t get the words out. I was panting too hard. He was so close to me. So hot. My mind turned to mush.

“Winifred.” He teased me with his lips, a small scrape, and his cock pushing in just a little then out before I could feel him.

“Both…” I whispered.

“What was that?”

“God,
both
.”

He complied.

Quentin’s teeth sank into the soft flesh of my neck while his cock filled me. He moved his hips, never releasing his hold on my neck. I was a puddle of nothing in seconds. My body had been so primed and ready for him, I started to ride the wave of an orgasm before he moved. I cried out again, this time only screaming his name.

He released his hold on my neck and leaned me farther into the couch. He slammed harder and harder. I urged him on with my delighted little squeals and moans.

Quentin moved faster and lifted me closer to his teeth again. He roared as he came and clamped his teeth down once again. I came with him and started to feel the twist and tug of our mating.

“I’m growing to like this couch.”

I stifled my laugh into his bare chest. He had moved us to the couch to rest. We had been snuggling together what felt like seconds but could have been hours. He traced his mating mark over and over. Pride shone in his eyes every time he did.

I grabbed his hand and pressed his fingertips to my lips.

“You’re not upset?”

“With what?”

“That I’m not some pure-breed, big-big cat?”

“Why would I care? You’re my mate. Every part of you. I love you.”

“You love me?” I questioned, my voice airy, unbelieving.

He tipped my head upward and pressed his lips against mine.

“More than anything else in this world.”

“I love you, too.”

Encounter in the Jungle

Shifter Survival Series

Lisbeth Frost

On tonight’s episode:

Intense humidity. Dangerous predators. Torrential downpours. And some serious
heat
… welcome to the Amazon Rainforest. Curvy tigress Bianca spent her childhood camping and her skill with plant identification will be a bonus for the team. Her partner Mason, a hobby survivalist, has the know-how, but the jungle is a far cry from this fox’s Northwest woodland home…

With nothing but the clothes on their backs – and a hidden camera crew in tow – they will attempt to spend fifteen days deep in the Amazon, relying on a partner they have never met before. As the full moon rises, their animal instincts and hormones will rage. Alone with each other for two weeks, these strangers may end up being more than just friends when it’s over. That is, if they have what it takes to beat:
Shifter Survival
.

Chapter One

Day One

She blinked rapidly as the blindfold slid off. Two people watched her eagerly, one with a camera and the other with a microphone. The windows of the helicopter were covered in dark curtains, giving her no clue to her whereabouts.

With a big smile, television host Alina Israa held the microphone toward her. “And your name is?”

She cleared her throat. “Bianca.”

“Tell us about yourself, Bianca. Where are you from? Any family?”

“Well, I’m from Florida. My mother lives nearby, but I’m afraid my father passed away a few years ago.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. What do you think he would say about you participating in Shifter Survival?”

Bianca grinned. “He’d be thrilled.”

“Do you have any prior survival experience?”

“Sort of. My father was one of those ‘back-to-the-wild’ type shifters. So, every summer we went camping with the bare minimum of supplies.”

“I’m sure he’d be very proud of you doing this then. And sweetheart, look at me, not the camera.”

Flushing, Bianca turned her attention back to Alina. “Sorry.”

“Is that why you want to do this challenge? Your father?”

“Well, him and...” Bianca paused. “I’m a big fan of your show, I’ve seen every episode.”

“Fantastic!”

“But, I’ve noticed that all of the women on here… how can I put this… they look like they’ve been eating nothing but leaves and berries
before
the challenge starts. If you know what I mean.”

Alina laughed. “Yes, yes. You are right. I’m afraid that uh… larger women aren’t a well-represented demographic on our show.”

Bianca couldn’t resist raising an eyebrow at the camera. “I’m the first one.”

“I’m sure you aren’t the
first
–”

“I’ve seen
every
episode,” Bianca repeated. “And that’s why I’m here. You’ve had contestants from all of these different races and sexual orientations, and they all say that they’re on the show to be role models for viewers like them. Well, I’m here because survival is about what’s up here.” Bianca tapped two fingers to her temple. “And not what you look like. I want to prove that you don’t have to be some fitness model to beat this. It doesn’t take a perfect waistline to build a fire. You know?”

“You’re absolutely right. I think this is going to be a must-see episode.” Alina said. The camera-man made a wrap-it-up gesture to her. “We’re almost there. Moving on, I see you’re a florist?”

“Yes, that’s right.” She flashed the camera a smile. “And I give discounts to shifters!”

Alina turned to the camera too. “Let’s get some shots of her arrangements queued up for the broadcast.” The cameraman gave her a thumbs up and she turned back to Bianca. “I’ve seen some of your bouquets, they’re beautiful. Now, does your knowledge of flowers extend to other plants? Anything that will help you during this challenge?”

Bianca nodded. “Absolutely. I actually have an M.S. in Botany. I know a fair amount about both edible and medicinal plants.”

“That’s sure to come in handy! And that concludes the interview. We’re there!” announced Alina. "Before I pull these curtains aside, I’m sure our audience wants to know, what kind of shifter are you?”

“I’m a tiger.”

“You should be right at home in these conditions then,” Alina said, as she opened a curtain.

Bianca shielded her eyes from the bright sunlight and waited for them to adjust. Then, she leaned against the window, peering out at the ground below. Trees. Thick, huge looking trees. And, far in the distance, a wide river.

“Welcome to the Amazon,” Alina said dramatically. “Your home for the next fifteen days.”

With a deep breath, Bianca leaned back in her seat as the helicopter began its descent into the jungle.

~~*~~

“Do you hear that, Mason?”

Mason tilted his head, listening. “Sounds like another helicopter.”

Shane Rigel nodded. “That’s your partner arriving.” He faced the camera with a grin. “In a few moments, we’ll get back in the chopper, leaving Mason here with nothing but a camera and the clothes on his back. For fifteen days, Mason and a person he has never met will have to rely on each other to survive.” He turned back to Mason. “Now, you and your partner will have to secure shelter, water, and food. You must survive on your own for all fifteen days. Our experts will assess your conditions to see if you could survive another fifteen days, based on what you’ve accomplished. If they decide you have what it takes, then you’ve won Shifter Survival. Any questions?”

Mason cracked his knuckles. “Let’s do this.”

“Good luck.” Shane shook his hand, then climbed into his own helicopter, followed by his cameraman. The door closed and the blades began to spin. Mason covered his face and backed away as a cloud of dirt and leaves kicked up around the aircraft. Raising his voice over the sound of the rotors, Shane turned once more to his camera. “There you have it! The jungle is full of our spies, equipped with small cameras, to follow Mason and his partner Bianca. They are instructed to not reveal themselves, or to interfere, unless it becomes apparent that our challengers are on the losing end of a life or death situation. Each survivor has been given a personal camera to record their days and their thoughts. In just two weeks, Alina Israa and I will arrive to let them know whether or not they have what it takes to conquer--” He leaned toward the camera, grinning. “--
Shifter Survival
!”

~~*~~

Mason squinted in the sunlight as he watched the helicopter take off. It quickly vanished from sight over the trees. He turned back to where the second helicopter had been, only to find it was gone too.

“Crap,” he muttered. Of course they wouldn’t drop his partner off near him, that would be too easy.

He stripped off his clothes and, with an ease born of years of practice, rolled them neatly into an easy to carry bundle, and set his personal camera down. When he was done, he flexed his shoulders and cracked his neck, before closing his eyes and calling up the image of a fox in his mind. The ground rushed up to meet him as he shrank. Fur rippled out from his skin, itching as it grew. He felt a strange, but familiar, sensation as his tail sprouted and his ears grew and slid up the sides of his head. His mouth elongated and his bones almost ached as they rearranged themselves.

It was over in seconds. He shook, then sat and scratched at his ears for a moment. With another shake, he stood and stretched. He slipped his head into the camera strap, grabbed his clothes, and started off in the direction of the second helicopter.

He could feel the fox’s animal instincts just below the surface. They were easy to control this time of month, so far from the full moon. As that phase drew closer, the instincts would become stronger and stronger. Unlike some shifters, Mason had never had any trouble maintaining his human side during the full moon, although he had come close to losing complete control on occasion when he was younger.

The full moon would rise during this adventure. Mason was sure the show scheduled it that way on purpose. He hoped that the shifter he was paired with wouldn’t get too feral as the moon waxed.

As he grew familiar with his surroundings, he increased his speed. He was no stranger to woods, but this rainforest was a different beast from the pine forests of home. His ears swiveled as he ran, listening for anything that might be a helicopter or another person.

He was just starting to think he should circle back, when a large shape bounded over a fallen tree. All Mason saw was a flash of orange and black stripes.

Tiger!

The unexpected threat knocked his human mind out of the driver’s seat. Acting on pure instinct he turned on a dime and raced away, hurrying to escape the larger predator. Had it seen him? Wait… Mason slowed, regaining control of himself. This was
South America
. There were no tigers here. It had to be the other shifter. He turned again and peered through the trees, looking for the large cat. The shift back to human was never as fun, but Mason focused on the image of his human form and quickly changed back.

“Hello?” he called.

A moment later a woman’s voice answered. “Hello?”

Mason headed toward the sound. A young woman broke through the trees into his line of sight. She stopped the instant she saw him. Instinct stiffened Mason’s spine and he froze and studied her, as she did the same.

She looked close to him in height, maybe a tad shorter. The way she was standing gave her curvy body all of the deadly, feline grace of the tiger she had just been. Even if he hadn’t seen her animal form, Mason was sure he would have guessed she was a cat. She didn’t look at all uncomfortable being naked in front of him. Not that he had expected her to, they were shifters after all. But he usually shifted around people he knew. Or at least friends of friends. He felt a little awkward being totally naked in front of a woman he had never met.

His eyes trailed up from her legs: poised to pounce, and politely skipped from her thighs to her ample waist… although he noticed the neatly groomed pubic hair. He tried not to let his gaze linger on her breasts and quickly focused on her face. Her eyes were large, and dark, and hard to look away from. Her hair fell neatly over her bare shoulders and made the perfect frame for her face. There were distinct tan lines on her upper arms and just above her knees, indicating that she spent quite a bit of time outdoors as a human.

She wasn’t at all what Mason had expected. And she was beautiful. Not to mention… his eyes drifted downward again. An erection would probably be a bad first impression, but her round, full breasts weren’t making that very easy. He gave a little more leash to his fox mind. It didn’t care about the human woman, just the lingering scent of
unfamiliar shifter
.

Once the fox took over, it initiated a typical meeting between shifters. Mason slowly began to stalk in a circle around her. She mirrored his steps as they sized each other up. Despite their weaker human noses, they still sniffed the air as they moved. The woman’s knuckles were white as she clenched her bundle of clothes, ready to pounce if Mason showed any sign of aggression.

At last, the silent ritual ended and the shifters were still.

“I’m Mason,” he said softly.

“Bianca.”

Slowly, slowly, they held out their hands and walked toward each other. They shook tentatively.

“You’re a tiger,” Mason said.

She nodded. “And you?”

“Fox.”

Bianca smiled at that. “Good, I like orange and black.”

Mason laughed at her joke and she joined him. The laughter snapped the tension instantly.

Much to Mason’s relief, Bianca shook out her clothing and started to dress. Mason did as well.

“Did they give you any supplies?” she asked, pulling on a pair of loose pants.

“Just this.” Mason pointed to his forehead, before realizing the little camera was still draped around his neck. “Shit.” He pulled it back into place and adjusted the elastic strap around his forehead. “I hope they won’t be upset that I’ve mostly been recording the ground.”

Bianca fixed her own camera around her head. “They’re editing fifteen days of footage down into a single hour. I’m sure they’ll get over it.” She put her hands on her hips and surveyed their surroundings. “I vote shelter first.”

“I agree. It’s late enough I think we should just find the best spot for now. After we get a feel for the jungle we can explore and find a more suitable long-term place.”

“Sounds good. Okay, I’ll go this way, you go that way. If you don’t see anything soon, come back. We’ll meet up here and see where we are.”

Mason nodded. They turned and started off into the jungle.