“Why don’t you tell me now,” she said, wanting to know everything about him.
“Usually I wouldn’t talk about this, but you already know that I’m a bear. I lead the area’s volunteer search and rescue crew and I run this lodge. Several of the men I served in the military with now work with me here at the lodge and the rest work on the rescue crew. One of them has impulse control problems and another one, who just came back to town, has a serious temper. I made the mistake of hiring him right before the wedding. Now he’s in charge of my kitchen.”
“I heard that Shane Keenan was running the kitchen. Is that true?”
“That would be him. But of course, everyone already knows he’s a bear shifter.”
“He was the most well-known chef in the country six years ago. He even had his own cooking show, cookbooks, all of that stuff. What happened to him?”
“Being outed forced him to join the military. The war was hard on everyone. Shane’s been hiding out in a cave for the last year.”
“That’s terrible. It’s been so unfair for shifters since you came out to the public.”
“Things are changing, but things also stay the same,” he said thoughtfully.
Juliet looked up into his green eyes, wondering what he was thinking. She could not imagine going through life experiencing the kinds of things that shifters did. Juliet had grown up a Latina in Oregon, which had its own challenges. But she had a close family and plenty of community support to get through college and start her career.
In the last twenty years, shifters had experienced killings, police targeting, and what amounted to a forced draft into the military six years ago. It wasn’t until the shifters came back from the war and were heralded as heroes that the culture had changed from persecuting them to idealizing them in the media. Even that seemed a little cheap to Juliet.
“Things are changing enough for there to be a site like Mate.com,” Juliet said hopefully.
She liked Levi already. With what he was doing to her body with his mere presence, she definitely wanted to see where this could go. Just a few years ago, a relationship between them would have been impossible. But now, the morning TV news shows seem to always have a new story about hot and hunky male shifters.
Unlike how those news articles were presented, Juliet saw Levi as a real person. He wasn’t just an animal, a shifter, he was also a human being. He deserved as much consideration and acknowledgment as anyone else.
“What did you think of Mate.com?”
“A friend of mine developed it. I wanted to check it out. Finding a mate is important to me. Especially now. I’m ready to settle down. I’m building a legacy for my cubs.”
“Cubs?”
“My children will be shifters, like me.”
“Right. But they’re born…human, right?”
“Completely human. Shifter babies don’t have their first shift until they’re about two. It’s a milestone.”
“Raising a shifter baby must have its own challenges,” she said, thinking about whether or not she could actually handle being the mother of such a child.
“It takes a special kind of woman to be the mother of a shifter child, or so I’ve been told,” Levi said, moving closer.
Juliet longed to have him reach out and pull her against his chest again, but he was being infuriatingly gentleman-like. She had expected the shifter to be all over her from the first moment, but he had only given her an affectionate greeting and had since given her a respectable amount of space.
She sucked her bottom lip and reached up to straighten the lapel of his fleece jacket. He looked down at her with surprise in his green eyes. He caught her hand in his and brought the palm to his mouth, kissing the pulse point on her wrist with his full, gorgeous lips.
An electric thrill shot up her spine and curled over her shoulders, making her breasts prick. Inside, the party was winding down and people were disappearing from the dining room, but all Juliet noticed was the look on Levi’s handsome face.
“Can I walk you back to your room?” he said in a low, gravelly voice.
“Yes,” she whispered.
He held her hand and led her through the French doors and into the dining room. The kitchen staff were bussing the tables and removing the white tablecloths as Levi and Juliet walked through the lobby and turned down the hallway.
Levi’s big hand cupped hers with his masculine warmth. She felt shy and tingly all over, stealing glances at him as they made their way to the elevator. On the way up, he turned to her and pushed a stray lock of straight black hair behind her ear.
“I’m really glad I met you,” he said as the elevator door dinged and opened.
They walked down the hall to her door and stood there awkwardly for a moment. The smell of him, the size of him, the very presence of him. He leaned in, enfolding her in his arms, and pressed his lips to hers. She sucked in a moan and gripped his upper arms. The feel of his muscles under her hands made her wet and weak in the knees.
His tongue only flicked out and caressed the line between her lips, but he didn’t push further. After a single deep, swooning kiss, he pulled back and smiled at her.
“I’ll pick you at noon for our date,” he said softly.
“Uh-huh,” she said, nodding.
He turned to go, and she stared after him for a moment before fumbling with her key card in the door. When she made it inside, she leaned against the inside of the door. Her whole body was alive with sparking need.
“Holy shit,” she said breathlessly to herself in the quiet room.
Chapter 8
Levi had to tear himself away from Juliet. From the moment he’d first scented her, he had known she was his mate. It was perfectly clear that they were fated to be together. Somehow, Codey’s algorithm really could predict and match mates with each other. Whatever kind of crazy geek magic Corey had going on behind the scenes, it had brought Juliet to Levi. He was definitely a believer now.
When he arrived back at his room without her, he couldn’t settle down. Levi paced back and forth in front of the big window that looked out over the lake. Silver moonlight danced on the rippling water. His body sang with a sense of awareness he had never experienced before. It was as if a part of him was finally coming home. Juliet wouldn’t have the same reaction to coming in contact with him. She would be hesitant, like a human.
He had to approach her with her human sensibilities in mind. The woman was sweet and maybe a little shy. But he could see the fire glowing in the depths of her hazel eyes. He had to handle this carefully. She may not understand what was happening to her physically or emotionally. The instant attraction that was evident between them could come back to hurt her in the end. She had to know that she really did desire him both in the bedroom and out of it. He didn’t want her to believe she was being impulsive when it was really just instinct.
Finally sitting on his leather couch, he thought about what he could do for her tomorrow on their date. There were many beautiful places around the lodge and in the mountains. But the most romantic spot he could think of was on an island out in the lake. When he had become the owner of the property, he’d had Angus build a gazebo out there. Angus was a carpenter who made mostly custom cabinetry and high-end furniture, but he could construct a one-of-a-kind structure, with a small crew, that was as breathtaking as his cabinetry.
The gazebo was glassed in and had a wood burning stove and running water. It was a perfect place for a date. In the morning, Levi called down to the kitchen and ordered a picnic lunch be prepared for him and Juliet. When he arrived at her door at noon, he was blown away by the scent of her body and the passionate look in her eyes.
“I see you dressed warmly,” he said.
“It seemed a safe bet,” she said.
“I hope your friends don’t miss you too much,” he said.
“Charlotte has been ‘encouraging’ me to go out with you,” she admitted.
Having met her friends, he could tell that Juliet was the sensi
tive one of the bunch. It made a sharp sense of protectiveness slice through his heart. He never wanted anything or anyone to hurt her. That sweet vulnerability that he saw in her core was so beautiful and perfect. All he wanted was to hold her gently and stroke out the most luxurious pleasure she could imagine. Just the thought of it made him aroused.
She’d worn a pair of thick leggings, a lavender parka, and a pair of fur-lined boots. He had dressed similarly warm and they would be protected from the cool spring air as they flew across the lake in the motorboat.
“I think you’re going to like what I have to show you,” he said, taking her hand in his as they walked down the hall.
They stopped briefly at the kitchen before walking through the side entrance of the main lodge building and taking a stone path down the hill to the lakeshore. There was a dock built out into the water where several boats were moored. The sailboat could be fun to take out on a windy day, but today, he was opting for the motorboat. It would be quicker and more direct.
Her little hand in his made him feel like he’d found a missing piece of the puzzle of his life. Her slender fingers threaded through his and warmth radiated from her palm. Every so often, she squeezed gently and looked up into his eyes with a smile. The bear inside him wanted to pat her head and kiss her affectionately over and over again as he pulled her on his lap. Images of kissing and stroking her filled his mind as the inner grizzly growled for his mate.
Levi cleared his throat, pushing away the visions as they approached the motorboat he’d chosen for today’s journey. He set the picnic basket on the dock and helped Juliet lower herself into the boat. He handed her the basket then climbed in himself. Once she was seated comfortably, he untied the boat from the dock and sat in front of the motor. Juliet’s eyes were wide with delight as she looked around at the landscape.
Levi pushed them away from the dock before starting the motor. Lake Fate was the largest lake in the Fate Mountain territory. His lodge covered a large portion of the southern shore.
“This place is gorgeous,” Juliet said over the sound of the motor. “It’s so inspiring.”
She was sitting in the middle bench with the wind whipping her dark hair around her face. She wore a blissful smile on her kissable, pink lips and in her almond shaped, hazel eyes. The sunlight glowed on her high cheekbones and the third eye point on her forehead.
She was the loveliest thing he had ever seen. Everything about her seemed goddess-like, though he knew by the way she carried herself that she didn’t see it. He was determined to show her a mirror of herself so that she could see what he did. She deserved nothing but the best. Juliet needed know her own magnificence, and he was just the bear to bring it out of her.
They made it to the island a few moments later, and he jumped out to pull the boat up on the shore. Juliet carried the picnic basket as she reached for his hand from the boat. He grasped it, meeting her gaze. They smiled at each other for a split second before she hopped down onto the gray sand.
He could sense her heart beating, quicker than at rest and with the lively lilt of excitement. With her hand still in his, he turned to the gazebo and led her to the door. He pulled the keys from his pocket and unlocked it before pushing the door open.
Inside, it smelled of cedar and wood smoke. She followed him and closed the door behind them. He let go of her hand and approached the fireplace. The three hundred sixty degree view of the lake was insulated by glass, but it was still quite cold inside the small, octagonal building.
Juliet set the picnic basket on one of Angus’s custom tables and marveled at the handiwork of the tabletop. Angus was known for his craftsmanship. He used single pieces of wood for his table tops and brought out the details of the grain to a lustrous sheen.
This one was carved out of Oregon black walnut, and had turned out to be one of Angus’s nicest tables to date. When Levi had seen the table, he’d asked Angus if he really wanted to put it in the gazebo in the middle of the lake. Maybe it should be in the lobby of the lodge to be shown off. But Angus argued that the gazebo was the perfect place to show off its deepest beauty. Even though he didn’t understand at the time, Levi now completely agreed with him.
Levi threw some logs in the fireplace and had a fire roaring within a few minutes. Because of the construction of the building, the fire warmed the place quickly. Levi and Juliet were soon toasty and comfortable in the rural outpost in the middle of the lake.
Levi pulled white linen placemats out of the picnic basket and set two places for him and Juliet, facing each other on either side of the long, walnut table. He opened a bottle of Oregon Pinot Gris and poured them both a glass.
Next, he pulled out the dishes the cooks had prepared for him. He’d asked for hearty foods so as to combat the chill of spring mountain air. They had plates of steaming hot chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans with biscuits. It was a perfect mountain meal.
Juliet sat down at her place and lifted her silver fork, slicing a piece of meat with her knife. She raised a bite to her mouth and popped it inside. Levi watched her mouth and throat as she chewed and noted the hint of pleasure in her eyes.
“This is so good. I have to admit, this is the most romantic date I’ve ever been on,” she said, taking in the view of the lake all around her.
“I have to agree with you, it is for me too,” he said.
“But you live out here. Surely you’ve brought other women out to the gazebo,” she said with a small laugh.
“I haven’t dated in a long time,” he admitted.
“Oh. Why not?”
He could tell she hesitated to ask him that, but now it was out in the air and he had to answer.
“There was an incident when I was in the military. I dated a human woman. I haven’t dated since.”
“Not even other shifters?”
“Shifter ladies are in short supply.”
“Would you prefer a shifter?”
The bear inside him roared. The grizzly couldn’t even fathom preferring anyone but her. She was it. The one. The only. She was who he’d searched for all these years. She was the one who occupied the deepest, truest place in his heart.
“No.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier? You’d both be from the same culture. You’d both understand the difficulties shifters face.”
“It wouldn’t be easier,” he said, taking a bite of mashed potatoes.
“Why not?” she asked, before sipping her wine.
“Because I only have one mate, and she’s not a shifter. So you see, it wouldn’t be easier to mate with a shifter.”
“Oh…” Juliet said, her voice quivering.
She took another gulp of wine. Levi could smell her anxiety mixed with her arousal. She was confused, exactly what he didn’t want. As much as he wanted to tell her that she was his mate, he didn’t want to scare her off.
“How do you know?” she whispered.
He had to tell her. He couldn’t just sit here being vague and beating around the bush. He definitely couldn’t lie to her. She was asking him direct questions. Questions he knew deserved direct answers. But how could he say it? How would she react? Would she be terrified and reject him?
No matter how she felt, he couldn’t begin their relationship on vagaries and lies. He couldn’t sit here and not tell her the truth when she was asking him for it. He squeezed his eyes closed for a split second then opened them again, exhaling a long breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
“I’ve known since last night when I first scented you.”
“I’m your mate? You are sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure. As sure as I’ve ever been about anything.”
“What does that mean? What do we do now?”
“I believe it is important to go at your pace since you are a human and do not understand shifter ways. We will only do whatever you are comfortable with. I will not push you any further or faster than you desire,” he said, feeling heat rise from his stomach to his heart.
/> The bear inside him pushed against his mind. The grizzly wanted nothing more than to claim his mate, mark her, and put a baby inside her as swiftly as possible. That approach was not going to work with his sweet, sensitive little human female. He had to be gentle. He had to go slow.
“Do you feel different now that you met me?” she asked hesitantly.
“Yes. All of my instincts urge me to claim you. It is as if I am drawn to you like a magnet.”
“Am I supposed to feel something?”
“It depends. Some humans do feel the bond of fate and some take longer. I have even heard tales that some human fated mates never feel the bond, leaving their shifter mate alone forever.”
“That’s terrible.”
“I should not have said so much. I don’t wish you to feel pressured to do anything,” he said.
“I don’t feel pressured by you. Not at all. I do feel… something. I feel different, attached to you somehow. I also feel something else…”
She giggled and Levi could scent a wave of arousal wash between them. The grizzly bear growled inside him, and a hint of it escaped through Levi’s own lips. When they were done with dinner, Levi asked if Juliet would like to join him on the couch that faced the fireplace.
He took her hand and led her to sit beside him on the plush red couch. There was a black throw blanket over the back of the couch, and he pulled it over their laps for additional warmth.
He put his arm over the back of the couch, and she leaned into his chest so that he was holding her as they sat side-by-side.
“Tell me about your dreams, Juliet,” he whispered into her ear.
She looked up at him as if no one had asked her such a question before. She blinked twice and looked back at the fire.
“I want to do satisfying work. A home, children, a family. Mostly, I want to feel at peace. I imagine living with beauty all around me, so I can suck up the inspiration every moment of my life.”
“You amaze me,” he said. “You’re an inspiration.”
“I’m not inspiring,” she said, dismissing herself.
He leaned forward and gently rubbed his knuckles over her cheek, looking deep into the pools of her eyes. Her expression was questioning as he gazed at her. She needed to know what she really was.