8. Ben

8

BEN

T he glass of water felt cool in my hand. It was a gesture I hadn’t asked for but appreciated more than I expected. Sienna moved to the other side of the kitchen, keeping distance between us. I could feel the tension radiating off her. Hell, I wasn’t exactly calm either. My mind was stuck on one thing—she was a fox.

A shifter.

It didn’t feel as though any of this could be real. It all felt like something out of a novel or that would be seen in a movie. I knew it was real, though.

I’d seen it with my own eyes.

Sienna crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes dipped to the glass of water in my hand before lifting to meet mine.

“I owe you an explanation,” she said finally, her voice softer than usual. “I know that.”

I nodded, unsure what to say.

Was there a right thing to say in a moment like this?

“So… I’m a fox shifter,” she began, her eyes locked on mine, as if bracing for my reaction. “And the world you think you know —it’s just the surface. There’s so much more beneath it, things that would sound impossible but aren’t.”

The glass of water in my hand suddenly felt heavy. I set it on the counter and then met her stare again.

“A fox shifter,” I repeated. The words felt foreign, yet oddly fitting, as they rolled off my tongue. My mind reeled as I tried to merge the version of Sienna I thought I knew to the reality of what she was. “You can turn into a fox.” It wasn’t a question, but more of a statement.

Basically, I was thinking out loud.

She nodded, tension entering her stare. “Yes.”

“At will?”

She nodded again, but didn’t speak this time.

I exhaled a slow breath. “Okay,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “And this is just normal for you? Turning into a fox and what, living a double life?”

Her lips twitched, not quite a smile, but close. “Something like that. It’s normal for shifters, but I don’t exactly advertise it.”

“No kidding,” I muttered, a chuckle slipping free.

“It’s not exactly something I can explain in a coffee shop conversation or through a text.”

I nodded, even though my world felt like it had tilted, and I was now scrambling to find my footing again.

“I can understand that,” I said. “What about that raven? Xander, right?”

Her expression darkened. “Xander is complicated, but yeah, he’s a shifter, too. A raven shifter. He’s also something more.” She pinched the bridge of her nose as though struggling to word her next few sentences. “This is going to sound batshit crazy, but Xander is possessed by an evil spirit of another shifter who was alive not too long ago. He’s not fully in control of his raven or himself anymore.”

Okay, so, apparently possession was real.

Damn, this night just kept getting stranger.

“The spirit possessing him—Lucius—controlled a group of shifters here in town using his power to manipulate a shifter’s mind,” she said, her tone dripping with disgust. “I was one of those shifters. My whole crew was. We were able to get out from under his thumb when he was killed by another shifter tribe, but that was short-lived. His spirit took up residence inside Xander shortly after.”

“Wow. That’s a lot to unpack,” I insisted, doing my best to soak everything in. “And you’re what, trying to stop him for good now?”

“We are.” Her gaze hardened. “He’s dangerous, not only to me, but to every shifter in town. If we don’t deal with him, he’ll hurt more people.”

She stared at me, as though waiting for me to say something. I crammed my hands into the front pockets of my jeans and locked eyes with her. “Shifters, dark spirits, possession.” The words rolled off my tongue, sounding nonchalant, but they felt like anything but. “I don’t even know where to start, honestly.”

“I get it. Trust me.”

“I’m not saying I’m running for the hills,” I said quickly, the vulnerability in her tone and expression catching me off guard. “I’m only trying to wrap my head around it all.”

Her lips curved into a faint smile. “Good luck with that.”

A thought came to me then. “Have I ever treated one of you? Like, a shifter pretending to be a regular animal?”

Her lips twitched, and for the first time since our conversation started, I thought I saw a hint of her usual smirk. “It’s unlikely. Shifters heal fast. We rarely need outside help. Sorry, Doc.”

“I don’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.”

Her smirk softened as her gaze drifted to a nearby window. I could see the weight of everything settling back onto her shoulders.

My mind should still be reeling. Unease should be twisting through me with everything I’d just learned, but it wasn’t.

Instead, all I felt was fascination.

“Thanks for telling me,” I said, meaning it wholeheartedly. She was trusting me with this secret. That meant something to me. “I always knew you were?—”

“Trouble?” she interrupted, the corner of her mouth lifting into a teasing smile. “It’s the red hair. I get it all the time.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I wasn’t going to say that.”

Her grin widened, and all I could do was stare. She was trouble, sure, but the kind I couldn’t walk away from. The kind I didn’t want to walk away from.

“Seriously,” I said, my gaze never wavering from hers as I stepped closer. “Thank you for trusting me with this. I’m honored.”

Her breath hitched at the gesture, and I became acutely aware of the subtle rise and fall of her chest.

“Not like you gave me much of a choice. You followed me and saw what I am,” she whispered. “But I’m glad it was you who saw and not anyone else. I’m glad you know now.”

“I don’t know what it was, or why I followed you. I can’t explain it.” The area between my brows drew together. “All I know is there was a pull in me unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I had to make sure you were safe.”

Something in her expression changed, and suddenly the kitchen, the world, the weight of what I’d learned faded away. It was just us. Nothing else remained.

“The pull you felt,” she said, her voice laced with something deeper. “I feel it too. It’s real.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, leaning closer without realizing it.

Our breath mingled in the practically nonexistent space between us.

“My fox,” she whispered. “She chose you. What you feel—that’s the mate bond.”

I didn’t fully understand what she was saying, but I didn’t need to. She’d just confirmed what I felt for her was something she felt, too. The pull, the connection, the certainty about her—she felt all of it.

I closed the miniscule gap between us, cupping her face, and brushed my lips over hers, testing the waters. Her hand lifted to grip the back of my neck as her mouth moved beneath mine. The kiss deepened into something raw, needy, and passionate like a wildfire flamed by high winds.

Utterly unstoppable.

My hands glided from her face down the curves of her body, desperate to feel every inch of her. When I reached her hips, I lifted her onto the kitchen counter, knocking over a utensils container and spilling its contents to the floor.

The noise didn’t jar either of us.

Sienna wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling me even closer. Heat built to a near scorching level where we touched. She ground against me, rolling her hips in a rhythmic motion that had me straining against my zipper. I trailed hungry kisses down her neck as her fingers began working on the buttons of my shirt. Once she had them all undone the fabric fell away and she raked her nails down my chest, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I groaned against her collarbone, my length nearly throbbing with want.

“I need you,” she breathed against my ear, untangling herself from me. “Now.”

In one swift motion, she unbuttoned my jeans and reached in to grip my rock-hard shaft. A groan escaped me as she pumped her hand. My head fell back as my eyes rolled into my head at the feel of her touch.

“Fuck, Sienna,” I muttered, my voice thick.

She slid off the counter and lowered herself onto her knees in front of me, tugging my jeans and boxers down to my ankles before taking me into her mouth. My breath hissed out between my teeth as I felt her warm, soft tongue swirl around my tip before she took me deep into her throat. The suction was mind-blowing as she bobbed up and down my length. I buried my fingers in her silky red hair as my hips rocked forward of their own accord to meet her hungry mouth.

“God, your mouth feels incredible,” I breathed, barely able to form words.

She hummed in response, the vibration sending tingles racing through my core and up my spine. Her tempo picked up, and my knees weakened. I knew I wouldn’t last long, so I gently tugged her hair, urging her back to her feet. Claiming her mouth in a searing kiss, I made quick work of the button on her jeans. She slipped out of them, kicking them to the side. I tugged at the hem of her sweater next, pulling it over her head. It joined the growing pile of clothes on her kitchen floor. Unclasping her bra, she slid herself free and dropped it to the floor next. I drank in the sight of her bare breasts. They were perfect. Bending my head, I captured one of her pebbled nipples between my lips and swirled my tongue around it before grazing it with my teeth. A soft moan tore from her throat.

It was the most tantalizing sound I’d ever heard a woman make.

I lifted her back onto the counter, my mouth never leaving her breast. My hands slid down her body to hook into the waistband of her lacy panties. I dragged them slowly down her silky thighs, torturing myself with the feel of her smooth skin. She kicked them off eagerly once they reached her ankles and pulled my mouth to hers. Her lips crashed against mine in a feverish kiss. My fingers trailed along the inside of her thigh while our tongues danced, and I nudged her knees wider. Finding her slick center, I circled her sensitive bud with my thumb. Another soft moan escaped her, but it turned to a gasp the instant I slid a finger past her folds. I pumped in and out, adding a second finger to stretch her further. The soft sounds that emanated from her then were the sexiest thing I’d ever heard.

“Ben,” she whimpered, writhing against my hand.

I knew what she needed, but I knew what I needed too. Dropping to my knees, I dipped my head to taste her. She cried out at the first featherlight flick of my tongue, hips lifting off the counter.

“Oh god, yes.” She dug her fingers into my shoulders.

I set a slow, leisurely pace, teasing her with my tongue. Groaning, she moved restlessly against me. I pumped my fingers in and out of her while sucking and lapping at her swollen clit. Her head tipped back as she released a sharp cry and her walls tightened around my fingers. I lapped up every drop of her pleasure as she melted, boneless, against me.

“Ben,” she panted.

I kissed her inner thigh before standing, and then aligned myself with her entrance. With a slow, deliberate thrust, I entered her. We both groaned at the sensation. I stilled for a moment, savoring the feeling of being joined with her so intimately, but then a primal need took over. I plunged into her while she clung to me, her nails digging into my back as her hips rose to meet each powerful thrust of mine.

“Harder,” she demanded, and I was helpless to deny her.

Gripping her hips, I drove into her harder and deeper, just like she wanted. The kitchen filled with the erotic sounds of skin slapping against skin, ragged breaths, and soft moans. Her legs wrapped tightly around my waist, changing the angle so I could go even deeper.

“You feel so fucking good,” I groaned out. “I’m not going to last.”

“Then don’t.”

Her nails raked down my back as I pounded into her. I leaned forward, burying my face into the crook of her neck and nipped at her skin. She tightened around me, and I knew she was close. Reaching between us, I found her sensitive bud and stroked it in small circles, sending her over the edge. Her body shuddered against mine, and the feel of her clenching rhythmically around my shaft was my undoing.

I followed her into oblivion.

My head fell to her shoulder as I struggled to catch my breath, my heart hammering against my rib cage. We stayed like that for several minutes, holding each other close as we drifted down from our incredible high. Finally, I lifted my head to meet her gaze. A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips and I couldn’t help thinking how beautiful she was—cheeks flushed, hair wild, skin slick with sweat.

“I love you,” I said, without meaning to.

Her eyes widened briefly at my unexpected declaration, but then her smile softened her expression. “I love you too.” She skimmed her teeth along her bottom lip, her gaze never wavering from mine. “I think I have for a while now, but my fox realized it before I did.”

Leaning in, I captured her lips in a slow, tender kiss. When we broke apart, I reluctantly stepped back and helped her off the counter. We gathered our scattered clothes, and redressed.

Once we were both decent again, Sienna surveyed the mess we’d made in the kitchen. Utensils were strewn across the floor, a dish towel had fallen from the counter, and somehow, we’d shifted a coffee maker into the sink.

“Looks like we made quite the mess.” Sienna laughed.

I grinned sheepishly, running my fingers through my hair. “Sorry about that. I guess we got a little carried away.”

“Don’t apologize. It was definitely worth it.”

Chuckling, I pulled her into my arms again, unable to resist. “Agreed. Though next time maybe we should aim for the bedroom instead of the kitchen counter.”

“Next time, huh?” She shifted to look at me, arching a brow playfully. “Awfully presumptuous of you.”

“Well, you did profess your love for me,” I teased back. “I figured that entitled me to at least a second round...and a third...and a fourth…” I punctuated each number with a quick peck on her lips.

“Mmm, I suppose I can’t argue with that logic,” she murmured against my mouth. Her fingers toyed with the hair at the nape of my neck, sending pleasant shivers down my spine.

“So, what now?” I asked. “Want to watch a movie? Go out to dinner? Or should I head home?”

“You can’t leave tonight,” she said. “My fox won’t allow it. Not after what happened in the woods with Xander. He might know who you are, and he might come after you, which isn’t a risk either of us feel comfortable taking.”

“I don’t have an issue staying with you tonight,” I said. A smirk twisted across my face half a second later. “But let it be known I’m not scared of a raven—shifter or not. I’ll put him to sleep again if I have to.”

“You’re impossible,” she said with a slight laugh and an eye roll.

Warmth spread through me at the sound of her laughter.

She took a step back and reached for her phone. “Actually, I need to let my crew know I got the feather,” she explained, her fingers flying over the screen.

“What’s your crew like?” I asked. “Shouldn’t they be called a skulk?”

I knew that was what a group of foxes was called, but maybe the terminology was different in the shifter world.

“They aren’t fox shifters. We’re a mixed breed,” she said. “We call ourselves the Misfit Shifters.”

There was pride in her tone. It was clear she was glad to be a part of the specific crew.

“Nice,” I said with a slight nod. “So, what are they? Their animals, I mean.”

“There’s a wolf who’s basically our alpha, his mate is a raven who happens to be Xander’s sister, an eagle who’s mated to an owl, and a bobcat who’s mated to basically a shaman. Then, there’s me.”

“Mated to a human,” I deadpanned.

She lifted to the tips of her toes and brushed her lips against mine. “A sexy human.”

Need for this woman slid through me again.

“So, do I get to meet them?” I asked.

She pocketed her cell. “Of course.”

“Should I be nervous?”

Amusement glinted in her eyes. “Depends. Do you do well under judgmental stares and with sarcastic comments?”

“Practically built for it.” I grinned, earning a soft laugh from her.

Her cell chimed repeatedly with text messages.

“Good. I’m meeting them at Last Drop,” she said, slipping her phone back into her pocket. “You’re coming with me, aren’t you?”

“Absolutely. I’ll drive,” I offered without hesitation. “So, what are the odds it’s karaoke night again? I still owe you that duet.”

She snorted while we exited her place and walked to my truck. “One crisis at a time, Ben.”

I laughed and popped open the passenger door for her. As we settled into my truck, I cranked the engine to life and a spark of excitement flickered through me. Meeting her crew felt like a big step—like diving deeper into her world—and I was more than ready for it.