Against All Odds (Shifters)(2)

Dana grabbed a steak and bun from the plate. “He’s nearly sixty but doesn’t look a day over forty. Why?”

“He talked about my child-bearing hips.” Heather giggled.

Ben stared into her green eyes. He was struck dumb on what to say. She smiled shyly at him.

Where Dana was surrounded with arousal, Heather had unease coating her skin. He doubted she was even attracted to him.

“You know about shifters?” Ben asked.

“Yeah, I found out a long time ago. Don’t worry about it. Your secret is safe with me.” She smiled and moved on.

“Where’s she going?” Ben followed her movements unable to tear his gaze away from her.

“Dad sends her off to mingle with the rest of the crowd. He would like to see her settled down with a man,” Dana said.

“Isn’t that a bit strange? He’s not even her father,” Ben said. He didn’t look away from her even when Felix hit his shoulder trying to warn him.

“No. Her parents are not like ours. They barely know her, and they’re too busy with work to give her the time of day,” Dana said, supplying him with information.

Now he thought back over his time with the little leopard, she’d always talked about her young friend. He couldn’t believe he’d rarely paid attention to her.

“Dad’s calling me. Save me a dance, Ben.”

She was gone, leaving him alone with her brother.

“You’ve got to tell Dana.”

“Heather doesn’t even want me. You’re a leopard, Felix, but you can scent need as good as any wolf or tiger. She doesn’t want me, does she?” His hand tightened around the glass, shattering the bottle as he watched a guy touch her hand.

“She’s human. Her reactions could be entirely different from ours.”

“Humans still feel attraction. Heather doesn’t think anything of me.”

He heard Felix let out a sigh. “You’ve not known Heather like I have. She’s different from other human women. You’ve told me about many of the women you’ve taken. Heather believes in forever and not sleeping around.”

“She’s a virgin?” Ben asked. He was a rough lover, and going slow for a virgin would be a nightmare.

“No, a bastard took care of that for you in college,” Felix said.

“What do you mean?”

Ben listened to the other man talk about Heather being taken advantage of. “I heard him tell her he was in love with her. Heather can’t give herself without love. She’s never had another man, and I’ve never scented another man on her skin.” Together they watched as Heather and Dana walked onto the dance floor. The sun was setting, and the lights that had been set up glowed brightly.

“She’s beautiful.”

“And she would never betray Dana. They’re like sisters, Ben, and my sister has already laid claim to you.”

“I can’t touch your sister. Heather is the woman for me.”

“How do you know? I thought tigers were more complex than we are?” Felix asked.

Their shifter part was nothing like the natural animal. Tigers would mate for life, but what made the tiger more complex was their dominating need. He’d seen the reaction with other tigers. The male was always in control, and they fought off other competitors.

His own story was a sorry one. Ben’s parents had both been tiger shifters with his father being the jealous type. His mother couldn’t do anything without his father. They were all stuck together. If another man spoke to his mother then there would be fighting. His father got so jealous that he’d start to hit out.

Ben remembered the danger and remorse lurking in his father’s eyes. One day his mother had been talking to another man, and his father lost it. Ben had walked in home to find his mother dead on the floor with claw marks all over her body. His father had shot himself in the head. The jealousy had consumed his parents to the point of killing.

Shaking his head, Ben brought himself out of his thoughts.

“We’re not complex creatures, Felix. We’re just more dangerous than your kind.” Leopards were dangerous but rather tame compared to the tiger.

What the hell was he going to do? His mate was human, and he was cursed with being a tiger shifter. He didn’t know what to do because the only thing he knew was, he couldn’t not have Heather. She was his woman, and he wasn’t ever going to let her go.





Chapter Two



“So what do you think?” Dana asked.

Heather stared at her friend wondering what she should say. They were stood on the dance floor like they’d done many times before. Their arms were around each other, and there was nothing sexual about it. Leaning forward Heather rested her head on her friend’s shoulder while Dana did the same. “If he makes you happy then I’m happy.”

“That’s not a real answer, and you know it.”

Letting out a sigh, Heather glanced toward where Ben stood with Felix. “He looks moody and dangerous.”

“Danger is always good.”

“Not if it hurts you,” Heather said, voicing her concerns.

“Ben would never hurt a woman. He cares too much,” Dana said.

“He’s tall and hard.”

Her friend laughed. “Last time I checked there was nothing wrong with being tall.”

“I know. He just makes me nervous. I want what’s best for you. If you like him, then I will like him.”

“Thank you.”

They stood dancing for several minutes without either of them speaking.

“Can I cut in?” Ben asked.

Heather smiled at her friend and pulled away. “I’ll take this dance,” Felix said, grabbing her hand.

Before Heather knew what was happening she was in Felix’s arms. “Were those your leopard reflexes at work?”

“I’m always trying to impress you, honey.”

“Good, I like being impressed.” Heather liked Felix. Once she’d gotten over her crush she’d found his company appealing. What also helped was how supportive he’d been after Mark used and left her. She’d given her virginity and a part of herself to a man who’d not even cared about her.

“What’s the matter? You look sad,” Felix said.

“Sorry, I was thinking about Mark again.” She shrugged. When was she ever going to get over him?

“Mark’s not worth your time.”

“You’re right.”

They were silent as the music drifted over them. There were several couples on the dance floor now. The barbeque was still sizzling chicken and steaks. She really did love coming here. Dana’s family always made her feel welcome.

“So, what do you think of Benjamin Bryce?” Felix asked.

“I don’t know. He looks moody and dangerous. If he makes Dana happy then I’m happy.”

“Come on, you’ve not got a crush on him or something?”

Shaking her head, Heather laughed. “He’s nice to look at, but I’m not interested. I’m happy, and I don’t want to connect with anyone else.”

“You can’t let Mark ruin you for other men, Heather.”

“I’m not. I’m actually thinking of taking up a visa in England and looking for work. I really liked it over there.”

“What? With the stiff-upper-lip types?”

Slapping his shoulder, Heather couldn’t believe his words at times. “They’re not all like that. I think I need a change of scene. Dana’s happy.”

“And you’re not?” he asked, cutting through her thoughts.

“I’m not happy anymore. I love Dana and you. You’re my family and always will be. I’ll miss these get-togethers, but I don’t think this is my future anymore. My parents hate having me around. I’m tired of being somewhere I’m not wanted.”

“Then stay with us.”

“I can’t. This will be something I do for me, Felix.”

They were quiet for a few seconds. “You’ve not told Dana your thoughts, have you?”

“No, I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet.”

“Please don’t make any rash decisions.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

The song came to an end. A shadow fell over her. Looking up, she saw Ben with Dana stood beside them.

“Swap partners,” Ben said.

Heather tightened her hold on Felix. “Sure, I could have a word with my sister.”

Within a second, Heather was in Ben’s arms, and Felix was moving away with his sister.

She tensed as Ben’s arm went behind her back, pulling her closer.

“You’re close to Felix and Dana?” he asked, starting up a conversation.

“They’re my real family.” Glancing up, she saw his dark brown, almost black, gaze on her. She felt his gaze deep down as if he could see into her heart.

“They are good people. They make you feel part of their world,” he said.

“Yes, they do.”

Relaxing in his arms took time. When he made no move to let her go, Heather took a deep breath and relaxed in his grip.

“Thank you.”

“What’s going on with Dana? Are you using her, or are you going to make an honest woman out of her?” The words blurted out of her mouth before she could contain herself.

“You’re looking out for your friend?”

“She deserves a good man. A man who won’t use her until he tires of her,” she said.