Against All Odds (Shifters)(8)

John was teaching him some techniques to control his tiger. At the moment, his other self was ashamed of hurting their mate.

“Did you have a good breakfast?” he asked, breaking the silence. He wanted to hear her voice again.

“Yeah.”

“What did you have?”

Heather turned to him, frowning. “I ate some toast. It just had butter on.”

Ben smiled. “I love peanut butter and jelly on my toast.”

“I do as well.”

Progress. Clearing his throat, Ben tried to think of something more to say.

“Do you like a lot of food?” Heather asked.

“I do. I eat everything and anything I can get my hands on. I’m surprised Kathleen hasn’t complained. I’ve got a big appetite.”

“She loves feeding people. She’ll never complain.”

“Do you like cooking?” Had Dana ever talked about Heather’s likes and dislikes? He really couldn’t remember, and he wished he’d listened to the other woman more.

“I love cooking. Everything I know Kathleen has taught me. She truly is amazing, and I wish I can look after my family in the same way.”

He heard the yearning inside her.

“You want a family?”

She nodded. “Yeah, lots of kids and family around. My parents have always been closed off. They would never dream of having a barbeque and inviting people around. I loved going around to Dana’s. Her family always cared.”

Heather paused. Her hands tightened until her knuckles were white. He wanted to reach over and touch her hands.

Remembering the way she’d flinched away from him that morning stopped him from reaching out to her.

They sat there for many more minutes.

“Do you want a family?” she asked, drawing him back into a conversation.

“I don’t know. There was a time when I didn’t want anything, but now I’m reconsidering my thoughts.” He’d never anticipated having a mate at all. After what his father had done, Ben hadn’t wanted to put someone at risk. He’d hurt Heather already. What if he truly hurt her to the point of killing her?

Shaking the gloomy thoughts from his mind, he listened to her speak.

“When I first met Dana I thought she was weird. Her family were so open, and they always hugged. My parents rarely hugged, so affection was something foreign. The more I got to know her, the more I wished my family was like hers.” She tucked some hair behind her ear, and he noticed she did this a lot. Was it a nervous gesture?

“I’ve noticed leopards are more cuddly than the rest of us.” He’d gladly have her in his arms and spend every waking moment holding her.

“When I first found out about Dana being a leopard, I was scared. I’d only ever heard of shifters in books. Then, I didn’t care. She was still my friend, and her family were still the same people. Then I started to wish I had something special going on. I’m just a boring human.”

“You’re special, Heather.”

“How can I be? I don’t turn into anything different. I’m the same old me.”

Turning toward her, Ben grabbed her hands. “You’re my mate. Please, don’t argue with me. You’re special to me. I hope to one day show you how special you are to me.”

She didn’t pull away. Her hands shook a little. “This is too soon.” Heather pulled her hands away from him.

Ben nodded. “I’m not going anywhere. You’ll need time, and I’ll give you time.”

“Thank you for sitting with me,” she said.

“I’d be happy to sit with you whenever you need it.”

She frowned at him. “Don’t you guys ever have to work?”

He laughed. “Some of us do. We all try to keep to our own kind, so no one gets hurt. I own a couple of security companies in the city. I keep in touch via the internet. I think John dabbles with the stock markets. We all have our own ways.”

“It figures.” She stood up and took several steps.

Ben wished he could keep her by his side.

When she stopped, he tensed waiting. She turned toward him. “I’ll be happy to sit with you tomorrow if you don’t mind being outside?”

“Consider me there.”

Heather smiled and then walked away.

He wanted to jump with joy. Getting up from his seat, he headed back inside the house. John was waiting in the kitchen.

“She was smiling when she walked in,” John said.

“We talked a little.”

“Good. It will do you both good to talk.”

Nodding, Ben left him to go to his room. It was talking, but it was more than he ever thought she’d accept from him.





Chapter Six



The following day Heather felt a little tinge of excitement. She hadn’t asked John to get rid of Ben. A part of her was looking forward to seeing him. Was she making a mistake? She didn’t know the answer, and for now she was happy to have breakfast and maybe go sit with him.

Heading downstairs she saw him sat next to the only empty chair. The entire table paused as she stood near the kitchen entryway. Felix was sat next to Dana with their parents on either side of the table.

Taking a deep breath she took the available chair and reached for some toast. Ben pushed the jar of peanut butter and jelly toward her. She saw his toast was covered in the stuff.

Opening the jar, she started spreading plenty of it over her toast. Within minutes conversation started up again. Their hands touched where they rested on top of the table. Heather withdrew her hand first. She heard a sigh come from Ben.

Ignoring his disappointment, she took a bite of her toast, moaning as the flavours melded into one.

Every now and then she sensed others’ eyes on them. Blanking them out, Heather concentrated on eating her food. She was conscious of Ben by her side. It was like heat was radiating off him. She tried to ignore him, but she felt an invisible pull toward him. Taking a deep breath, Heather ate her food, listening to the banter of everyone around them.

When Kathleen started to clear away the breakfast dishes, she helped, aware of Ben’s gaze on her at all times.

Heat started to pool in her groin at his attention. She knew the rest of the family would smell her arousal.

Without looking back, she headed toward the front door. Closing the door behind her, she started toward her bench. Staring at the bench, she heard the door open and close.

Deciding not to stick around the bench, she headed toward the vast trees. Dana had told her about this cabin, secluded by trees. There was a small town off the beaten track where they got many of supplies. This was the home they came to when they wanted privacy and a chance to run wild through the forests.

She wasn’t surprised. Living near the city could be too open and exposed. She’d always wanted the chance to get away from it all.

In no time at all, Ben caught up with her. He stayed by her side without saying a word. They kept walking, and she circled one tree and then another. All the time he was following her.

“What’s it like to be a tiger?” she asked, turning around with her back against a tree and staring at him.

“It’s scary sometimes and dangerous. I feel him close to the surface.”

“Do you have to turn at the full moon? Dana and her family don’t. I know some wolves are contained to the full moon.”

“No, I’m not bound by the full moon. I can turn whenever the hell I want to.”

One hand rested above her head against the tree.

“Why aren’t I afraid of you?” she asked.

Staring up at him, she was aware of her lack of fear, and she didn’t understand it. He’d attacked, hurt her, and now she was thriving off his attention.

“I don’t know. Maybe if I do this?” He stroked her cheek, and she flinched. “You’re still afraid of my touch, but I think you like my company.”

“Thank you for giving me your blood,” she said.

He frowned.

“Malcolm explained about you giving me your blood. I want to say thank you. After everything that happened you still wanted to make me better.”

When she was with Ben she didn’t feel conscious of her scars. He always looked into her eyes instead of looking anywhere else.

“You’re beautiful,” he said.

Her cheeks had to be bright red from the compliment. “Please, don’t say stuff you don’t mean.”

“I mean it. In your world I’d be doing jail time, and if you want to turn me over to the law then I’d gladly go. I never want to be the cause of your fear or pain.”

She’d never even considered reporting him to the law.

“Dana told me you don’t make a habit of hurting women. Is that true?”

He nodded. “I would never hurt you again. My tiger was too close, and when I should have backed away from you, I didn’t. I’ll do everything to make it up to you.”

Heather stared at him, aware he spoke the truth. “Cherry brown,” she said, making a quick decision.

“Sorry?”

“My hair colour is cherry brown. My roots are growing back, and I like this colour. I’m not ready to wander into town yet.” She caressed a finger down her scar. “Would you go and get the hair dye and do it for me?”

He stared at her for several seconds. “You’re not reporting me to the law?”

“No, I’m not. How can you make it up to me if you’re rotting in a jail cell? I’m going to trust my friend with this.”