SECRETLY CRAVED BONUS SHORT. Lily Cahill

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2 SECRETLY CRAVED BONUS SHORT Lily Cahill

3 This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, are entirely coincidental. Copyright 2016 Nameless Shameless Women, LLC. All rights reserved.

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5 Bonus Short HOW OLD WERE YOU THE.irst time you shifted? Marcus lowered his paper to look at Skye, who was holding their ten-month-old son. It still gave him a charge to see his wife, holding his child. You ve asked me that question half a dozen times. And you still haven t answered, Skye protested, setting baby Jayson in his bouncy seat so he could play with his favorite blocks. I told you, I m not sure. Most shifters change for the.irst time when they are still babies. She gnawed her lip. That s the problem. Jayson is nearly a toddler, and he hasn t shifted yet. Marcus tugged her hand until she tumbled into his lap. It s not a big deal. Easy for you to say, Skye huffed. What if there s something wrong with him? It s not like they cover bear shifters in the baby books. Marcus laughed. He ll change when he s ready. We all do. And aren t you supposed to be researching your next story? She waved that off. How am I supposed to 1

6 Secretly Craved Bonus Short concentrate on the latest political scandal when there might be something wrong with our child? He kissed her, long and slow, until he felt the tension leave her shoulders. Even if he never shifts, he ll still be perfect, Marcus said, cupping her face in his hands. She sighed and snuggled into her husband. Together, they watched Jayson bounce and clap. The boy had Marcus eyes and Skye s dusky skin. Marcus hoped Jayson would inherit Skye s intelligence and humor but perhaps not her tendency to.ixate on a question. Then again, it had been her determination to get answers that had brought them together in the.irst place. He looked around the small apartment in Bronzeville they still shared. Eventually they would need something bigger, but for the moment he loved the homey coziness of the space. It had taken some getting used to he still missed his waterfall shower but sharing his days and nights with Skye made up for it. Thinking of those nights, he nuzzled into her neck and let his hand travel beneath the hem of her skirt. What are you doing? she said slyly. Nothing, he said innocently as he traced a.inger over her sensitive inner thigh. She bit her lip even as she spread her legs. The baby is watching. His crib is in our room. He s seen a lot more than this, he said, nipping at her ear. She shuddered. Your father will be here any minute. If there was ever a phrase to kill his ardor, that was it. Regretfully, he moved his hand back to her knee. 2

7 Lily Cahill Call him and cancel. She shook her head. He loved the way her curls bounced. I know things have been rocky between you. But I want you to make an effort to reconcile. And Jayson loves his grandfather. He wanted to get up and pace, but that would mean pushing Skye away. Jayson loves putting things up his nose. I don t think his opinion counts. He s the only family either of us has, she reminded him gently. Isn t that worth something? I don t know. Things were starting to get better between us until Jayson came along. Now I love my son so much. I can t imagine ever neglecting him the way my father did to me. He was in mourning, Skye pointed out. Wouldn t you be devastated if something happened to me? Don t even say it, Marcus said, his arms tightening convulsively around her. I would be destroyed. But that wouldn t keep me from loving our son. Just then, they heard a knock on the door. Jayson, who was always eager for company, began to babble excitedly. With a look that was half-sympathetic, halfpleading, Skye untangled herself and went to answer the door. Marcus sighed and got up to join her. Marcus s father was beaming when Skye opened the door. He was carrying a bouquet of.lowers and a huge teddy bear. That thing is bigger than Jayson, Skye laughed, hugging Peter and gesturing him inside. He ll grow in to it, Peter said. He turned to Marcus, who grudgingly shook his father s hand. Good to see you, son. Marcus nodded. He could see that his father was hurt by the lack-luster greeting, but the older man 3

8 Secretly Craved Bonus Short rallied. And where is that handsome little cub? Building skyscrapers, just like his dada Skye said warmly. Skyscrapers? I thought you were working on an apartment building. Marcus raised an eyebrow. He hadn t realized his father was keeping up with his current projects. I am. But once I.inish, B3 has asked me to design a new of.ice complex for them. Marcus half-expected that Peter would be upset at the mention of B3, but instead he smiled. Congratulations, son. I m proud of you. The words made something warm rise up inside him. He didn t need his father s approval, he reminded himself. It doesn t bother you that I m working with the Brotherhood? No. Last time that was a mistake, Marcus. But I ll keep paying for it as long as you need me to. Marcus brow drew together. His father had always been combative and unapologetic. Marcus knew that Peter s business was struggling without B3 contracts. Furthermore, he was cut off from the support system of the Brotherhood. It must be lonely, being a shifter with no mate and no one who understood his bear side. Skye, seeing the awkwardness between them, pulled Peter nto the living room. Jayson, look who s here! It s your grandpa. Jayson gurgled and bounced happily. Look what I ve got for you, Peter said, placing the huge bear in the playpen. Jayson was more interested in his grandfather than the bear. He held his hands up to be lifted and, after a moment s hesitation, Peter complied. Jayson 4

9 Lily Cahill immediately cuddled into him, patting Peter s cheeks with his chubby little hands. Peter turned, laughing softly. I remember when you were this size, he said to Marcus. The naked emotion on his face struck Marcus. Peter clearly missed those happy days. Marcus had been holding onto his resentments for so long, he had almost forgotten how heavy they were. Now, watching his son laughing with Peter while Skye tickled the baby s belly, he felt a weight slide off his shoulders. He couldn t hate this man. He could only try to do better for his son. Has this little fellow started shifting yet? Not yet, Skye answered, a worried frown on her face. Are there any cases where sons of shifters don t become shifters themselves? It can happen, Peter allowed. But it s rare. And he s got a cub in there, just waiting to come out. Don t you, little man? He growled, baring his teeth playfully. Jayson howled with laughter, then attempted to replicate the expression. Peter growled again in encouragement. Jayson concentrated on imitating the sound. I m worried that it ll happen when we re out in public, or around non-shifters. I m beginning to understand why you all keep to yourselves. Do you think oh! Jayson was suddenly a baby bear. How did you do that? Skye squealed. Oh, he s adorable! I knew he would be, but oh, Marcus. Look at our baby. Jayson seemed confused by the change in his own body, but true to his nature he was delighted by his 5

10 Secretly Craved Bonus Short new furry arms. He wiggled until Peter put him down in his crib, where he eagerly attacked the big stuffed bear. Marcus noticed that his father was dashing tears from his eyes. That s how I got Marcus to shift the.irst time, he said, his voice thick. You used to let me climb all over you, Marcus said. I remember you used to shift and roll around with me. I remember that too, Peter said. Those were the happiest days of my life. He turned to watch Jayson in his playpen until his emotions were under control. You ll want to take him out to the woods for a while. Until the novelty wears off, he ll be shifting back and forth all the time. You can take advantage of the B3 retreat you built. I will, Marcus said. But not to the retreat. I ll.ind another place where we can shift in private. All three of us. Peter s head came up. All three of us? Marcus glanced at Skye. There were happy tears glistening in her eyes. All of three of us, Marcus con.irmed. Jayson ought to learn from you, the same way I did. Peter could only nod. Thank you, son. Marcus nodded, thinking about the years before his mother had died. Peter had been a good father, before he let grief tear him apart. No, Dad. Thank you. 6