Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love (Melissa) BBW Werewolf Romance (Hope Valley BBW online dating app romances Book 3) (8 page)

“Anytime, Melissa,” he said in a low voice. “I’m always here to protect you. I hope you know that.”

“I do,” she said.  His face was close, and her gaze fluttered down to his lips. They were so full and kissable. He must have had the same idea, as he inched closer to her. Just then, the waitress came over with a menu. They jerked away from each other.

“I’ll have another mochaccino,” Melissa said, flustered.

“Make that two,” Harley said. The waitress took the menu back and walked away.

“I thought you were so pretty in high school, but you’ve grown up even more beautiful,” he said, running his eyes over her face as if he was trying to memorize every tiny detail of her features. “Your eyes are so big, and as blue as cornflowers, and you’ve got this amazing porcelain skin.”

“Oh, it goes really freckly in summer,” she said, unused to receiving compliments from guys.

“I love freckles!” he said with a laugh. “I remember passing you in the hallway at school one day, and noticing that you had a scatter of them across your nose.” Melissa laughed too.

“I would have been mortified if I’d known you’d seen them. I usually put cover-up on them.”

“You should never do that. They’re part of your beauty.”

Two steaming cups arrived on the table. As they leaned forward to blow on the hot liquid, their knees brushed, and Melissa felt a surge of heat that turned into a swarm of butterflies in her stomach. He was so attractive, and she was already getting to like him a lot. He had this strong, but gentle way about him. It was like he knew who he was, so he didn’t need to act all macho. He was so different from her initial impressions of him at high school.

“At school you were like this cool, bad boy,” she blurted out. “It never would’ve occurred to me that we’d have anything in common.” He laughed.

“You mean because I used to ride a motorbike and I smoked roll-ups?” he said.

“And the leather jacket, and the hair. And the fact that you didn’t try to ingratiate yourself with the popular kids.” 

“I think it was just a werewolf thing. I guess I didn’t really stand out among my peers. But I got a really big shock when I started at the school, I can tell you!”

“I can imagine. There were some nice kids there, but plenty whose families went way back, and it was all about fitting in to that whole farmer’s kid ideal.”

“And what do your parents do?” he asked, with a playful smile.

“They’re farmers too. But not that kind. They’re pretty small league. They get on with the powerful families for the sake of keeping the peace, but it’s not their thing.”

“Did you leave the town because of what happened?” he asked.

“Yes. I never really got over it. I wanted to move on, and live among people who didn’t know that something had happened to me. I was also really sick of knowing that someone, or several people, knew exactly what had happened, and I didn’t.”

“And then you moved to Hope Valley and met your ex-husband?” She nodded.

“But that wasn’t to be. For many reasons. I think I’m only just beginning to understand how incompatible we were. I thought it was enough to like your partner, and think that they’re a decent person. But now I know that’s only the beginning.”

“You’re absolutely right,” he said with a smile. “And having a mate is so, so much more than having a partner or a husband.”

“It is?” she breathed, intrigued.

“It’s the most intense connection that can exist between two beings. It means eternal love and protection, and having your every need catered for. It also means an intense physical bond, and endless passion.” As he spoke the last words, threads of amber flooded his irises. Melissa concealed a shiver as her nipples hardened beneath the lace of her bra. She suddenly felt like she’d do anything, go anywhere, just to be with him. She wanted to be his mate. It was something she knew, deep in her soul.

“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” he asked.

“I have no plans at all,” she said.

“I was really hoping you’d say that. I’d like to take you out on a date, if you’d let me?” She broke into a grin.

“I would love that,” she said. His face became a picture of delight.

“How do you feel about ice skating? I’ve heard that they’ve just opened the outdoor rink at the edge of town,” he asked.

“I haven’t been for years,” she said. “And I’m really not very good, but I’d love to try it!”

“Great. And don’t worry – I’m pretty experienced, so I’ll be able to hold you up.”

“Ok, that works,” she said, her calm tone concealing the mixture of excitement and nerves that was bubbling up inside her.

They lingered over their drinks, chatting about their lives – about their friends and jobs. Melissa felt so drawn to Harley that even the air between them seemed to be charged with anticipation and desire.

When they’d reached the final dregs of their mochaccinos, they were ready to go. They left the café and crossed the square, heading in the opposite direction from Melissa’s car. It was a perfect winter’s day. The thermometer was down low, but the air was still, so it didn’t feel cold. Their breath became white clouds in the air, mingling together.

Chapter Five

A ten-minute walk brought them to the lake on the edge of town that froze solid in winter and became an ice rink for a couple of months every year. It was a beautiful location out in nature, surrounded by fir trees. There was a little wood cabin that hired out the skates, and a stall selling hot drinks and snacks, and nothing else. The ice was full of happy-looking people, their cheeks glowing from exertion.

“Your feet are tiny!” Harley said, as Melissa told the cashier her size.

“Is that weird?” she asked.

“No, it’s very cute,” he replied, squeezing her shoulder. Even through her thick coat and sweater, his fingers had an electrifying effect on her skin.

As they headed out onto the ice, she realized that it had been a
very
long time since she’d skated, and there was no rail to cling onto, like in the municipal rink in her hometown. Harley saw her staggering and held out his hand.

“Here,” he said, and she took it gratefully. They began to move slowly, at the edge of the rink, away from the 12 year-olds who were zipping around fearlessly.

“Things were a lot easier when we had no sense of danger, weren’t they?” Harley said, as a young kid pulled a crazy manoeuver that almost sent him speeding right off the rink and into the bushes.

“They were,” Melissa replied with a laugh.

“Are you getting warm yet?” he said.

“I am actually. I think I need to undo my coat.” Harley eased them to a stop at the edge of the rink, and she took her left glove off to undo the buttons and zipper on her coat. When she reached for his hand again, she discovered that he’d removed his right glove too, and she was now touching his bare skin. Tingles ran from her fingers, along her arm, and all the way to her heart.

They moved off again, and it felt incredible to be skating hand in hand with this insanely handsome man, who’d wanted to be with her from so long ago. She was becoming more confident on the ice with every lap they made. After a while, Harley let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist instead. He was so much taller than she was, but somehow, they fit together. Her head was level with the crook of his arm, and she wondered how it would feel to rest her head on his chest. She felt so safe and protected by him.

They skated for a long time, dreamily, just happy being in each other’s company, savoring the moment that could have so easily been denied them. The sky darkened a little, the sun already preparing to set on a mid-winter afternoon. A question had been playing on Melissa’s mind from time to time, and eventually she voiced it.

“Would you have spoken to me one day if that thing hadn’t happened, and you’d got to stay in school?” she said. Harley exhaled a long breath of white fog. For a moment there was no sound apart from the swish of their skates on the ice.

“I’m not sure,” he said at last. “My parents warned me that human girls were strictly off limits, and that fraternizing with them would result in the destruction of our species. If word ever got out about our true nature, that would be it. I probably would have preserved you in my memory, like a diamond in a glass case. Remembered forever as the one that got away.”

“Well, thank goodness for Shiftr,” Melissa said.

“Thank goodness, indeed,” Harley said. They came to a natural stop beneath the overhanging branch of a fir tree. Melissa looked up at him. His eyes were soft, but carried a hint of suppressed need. He took both her hands in his, bent down until his head was level with hers, and drew her into a long, tender kiss. His lips were cold on the outside, but wonderfully warm on the inside. She parted her lips, wanting to feel more of that warmth, and the tip of his tongue slid into her mouth, dancing around hers. He wrapped his arms around her as he began to kiss her more and more deeply. Waves of euphoria ran through her body, and then something else – a heat that sparked between her thighs, and spread slowly into her belly. Harley drew back from their kiss, and touched her jaw with an icy-cold fingertip.

“Melissa,” he whispered. “You can’t imagine how many times I’ve dreamed of this moment. Ever since I was 15. And being out here in the snow only makes it more romantic.”

“It’s really special for me too, Harley,” Melissa breathed. As if on cue, it began to snow. Snowflakes landed on their hair and on their eyelashes, and they looked up at the pale gray sky, watching one snowflake after another appear from nowhere and come quickly into focus. “Are they coming faster, or am I just getting dizzy?” she said.

“No, they’re definitely getting closer together,” Harley said. Within a minute, their shoulders were covered with snow. “Actually, maybe we should go. I wouldn’t be surprised if this turned into a snow storm.”

“Yes, let’s go,” Melissa said, noting that the sky was now dark gray.

They skated back to the hut, and lined up to return their skates. Harley took off his coat and held it over their heads. Melissa protested, but he refused to put it back on. It took a long time to get their shoes back, because everyone else on the ice had had the same idea. By the time they were walking back into town, the snow had become sleet – wet and freezing, and the wind was starting to whip up.

“I was thinking we should go out for dinner tonight?” Harley said, speaking close to her ear to be heard above the sound of the wind.

“I would love that,” she replied, with a grin. “I’ll just need to go home and change first though.”

“Of course. Where’s your car? I’ll walk you to it.”

“Thank you,” she said, too cold and wet to think of refusing. “It’s over this way.”

They stood by the driver’s door, and kissed once more, cocooned under Harley’s coat.

“You could come to my place and wait while I change. That’s if you don’t need to get changed?” she offered. Harley shrugged.

“Hey, I’m a guy. I wear pretty much the same stuff all the time. I’d love to come back with you.”

“You can put your stuff on the heater too. It gets really hot, so it’ll probably dry in minutes anyway.”

“Sounds great,” he said, sounding like he didn’t much care whether he was walking around in wet clothes. They got into the car and shivered until the heater made the car warm and toasty.

The drive didn’t take long, and Melissa was soon showing Harley into her apartment.

“Nice place,” he said, looking around appreciatively.

“It’s not much,” she said. “But it’s home.”

“No, it’s really cozy. I can see you’ve put your personal stamp on it,” he said, gazing at the artistically-shot photos of friends and family that adorned the walls.

“Well thanks for saying so,” she replied, suddenly feeling shy. There was always something surreal about having someone you were just getting to know in your personal space, and Harley was such a large presence in the room. It had also been a really long time since she’d had a guy in her place.

As she lit the gas fire in the living room, her eyes slid around the room, checking that she hadn’t left anything embarrassing lying around.

“I think I’ve got something you can wear while your clothes are drying,” she said. Before he had a chance to reply, she ran to the bathroom and did a quick sweep in there too, and the same with the kitchen. There was a plus-size clothing catalog on the counter, which she hid in the back of a drawer.

Then she went into the bedroom to look for something for Harley to wear. There was nothing man-sized. At all. Eventually, she picked out a sheet. When she handed it to him, they both burst out laughing.

“The last time I wore a sheet, I was going to a toga party in college!” he said.

“Oh God, we had a couple of those too,” she said. “They were chaos! Ok, you can put your clothes on the heater back there. I’ll try to be quick, but I just need to dry my hair, or it’ll stay wet all night.”

“Take your time, please,” Harley said.

Melissa got ready as quickly as she could. She dried her hair and touched up her make-up, then she hesitated over her clothes for the second time that day. Looking through her closet, she lingered on a cherry-red jersey dress. It had cost a fortune, but it had featured in several style blogs as
the most
flattering option for short, curvy girls. And it had been an amazing investment. It clung to her curves just right, while floating over the bits she didn’t like. It always felt a little racy with its low neckline, but she felt like she wanted to look sexy tonight. The things Harley had said to her had given her a huge confidence boost, and she wanted to show herself at her best. She swapped her cotton underwear for a matching black lace set, put on pantyhose, then slipped the dress over her head, stepped into a pair of black patent heels and surveyed her reflection in the mirror. She actually looked pretty good. And it was very rare that she thought that about herself. She also put on a necklace made of black glass beads, and she was ready to go. Wobbling a little from nerves, she walked back into the living room.

Harley was standing by the window, looking out at the snow. He’d knotted the white sheet around his waist, and his muscular back was bare. Melissa stopped dead and stood, drinking in the sight of him.

“You look like a Greek statue,” she said, the words out of her mouth before she had time to wonder if that was a weird thing to say. He turned around laughing, and she stifled a gasp as his bare torso was revealed to her.

“And you – look absolutely stunning,” he said. With a shy, pleased smile, she walked over to him, immediately feeling the cold coming from the window. The snow wasn’t showing any sign of letting up. If anything, it had become heavier, and the wind howled, blowing it in one direction and then another.

“It’s not very nice out there, is it?” she said.

“Not at all,” he replied. They looked at each other, and, in another second they were kissing passionately. Harley’s firm, muscular body was pressed against hers. His skin was like silk. She laid her hands on his lower back and ran her fingers over his taut muscles. His warm, masculine scent filled her nostrils, and his lips pressed against hers with such intensity. If they carried on like this, they wouldn’t be going anywhere. She pulled away from him.

“We have to stop,” she said with a laugh. “I have no food in the fridge, so we have to go out and get dinner.”

“Of course,” Harley said, running a fingertip across her cheek. “As much as I’d like to stay here all night kissing you, it’d be a waste to stay in when you look so beautiful in that dress.” He went over to the heater and picked up his shirt and pants. He put the shirt on, and Melissa semi-averted her eyes while he unfastened the sheet and pulled his pants back on. She caught a flash of black undershorts, and felt a little tingle in her clit. She’d never desired a man like she desired Harley. It was all she could do not to throw herself on his gorgeous body. From the smoldering glance he gave her, he was thinking the same thing about her.

They picked a rustic restaurant downtown, which specialized in charbroiling. The drive there was a little scary, as the visibility was so poor, but they managed to park right beside the restaurant door. Once they opened it and were greeted by the cozy interior and welcoming servers, they were glad they’d made the effort. The room had dark wood panels, and stuffed animal heads and random knick-knacks on the walls. The lighting was soft, with candles on the tables. There was something festive and magical about it. Harley took Melissa’s hand in his and led her to their table. It was in a secluded corner, which made it feel like they had their own private dining room. They ordered red wine, which warmed Melissa’s insides after the blast of cold air they’d endured between leaving the car and entering the restaurant. Harley held her hand across the table, and didn’t let it go while they looked over the menus. She soon became warm all over, as if the rich, spicy red wine was running in her veins. They picked a meat platter to share, with baked potatoes and melted cheese, and they had olives and bread to start.

Harley looked so handsome in the candlelight that Melissa could hardly look at him.
Does he really want to be with me?
she kept asking herself.
He could have absolutely anyone
.

“How do you feel about being a werewolf’s mate, Melissa?” he asked her suddenly. She blinked.

“Intrigued, excited, and a little bit scared,” she answered, startled into being completely honest. “I mean, the girls told me about shape shifters having lifelong mates when they first showed me the app, and it sounded really cool. I love that concept.” Harley’s lips curled into that sexy, playful grin that seemed to light his face whenever he was entertained by something she’d said.

“I’m not talking about concepts,” he said. “I’m asking how you feel about being my mate. About having my pups.” His eyes glowed amber and his face seemed to become leaner and elongated.

“Oh.” She blushed, stared down at the olives, took a large gulp of her wine.
Wow.
They hadn’t even had sex yet. He hadn’t seen her naked. Maybe he’d realize he wasn’t attracted to her when he saw her body. “I don’t have much idea of – I mean, is it much different – ?” she stuttered.

“On the surface, it’s not much different, maybe. But I am half-wolf. And every month, on the full moon, my wolf side becomes impossible to contain.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that I run and hunt a lot. And my sex drive becomes insatiable,” he said. Melissa could feel her cheeks flaming. Then she pressed her thighs together; it wasn’t just her face that was hot. The thought of him being in a sexual frenzy was a ridiculously hot idea.