UnleashingtheAnimal by J L Taft

and sex with him had
been beyond her wildest fantasies. Just thinking about it now had her clenching
her legs together in need.
    Lost in her thoughts, she was caught off guard when Shane
stepped out the open door to join her on the porch. He wore nothing but a pair
of unbuttoned jeans and she soaked in the sight, never wanting to forget it.
Somehow the scars on his chest only made him hotter.
    “Morning,” he said, leaning against the railing next to her
feet.
    “Morning.” She was trying very hard not to feel awkward
around him but the image of his face between her legs refused to leave her
mind.
    “Can I have some of that?” he asked, gesturing to her
coffee.
    “Oh of course. Let me get you some.” Getting to her feet,
she tried to get past him but he caught her about the waist. Taking the cup
from her hand, he took a sip from the same spot she had. It caused butterflies
to erupt in her stomach.
    “It’s good, thanks.” He handed her back her cup.
    “You’re welcome.” He caught her eyes and she quickly lowered
hers.
    “Look, Blair, we really do need to talk.”
    Just then she heard her cell ringing sharply in the house
and she got up to go in and answer it without looking at the display.
    “Hello?”
    “Blair, I thought you were going to call me last night?” her
mother began without preamble. Blair sighed and plopped on the couch.
    “I’m sorry, Mother, I was busy.” She smiled to herself as
she thought about what she had been busy doing. But she certainly couldn’t tell
her she spent half the night having mind-blowing sex with her sexy and
not-so-rude neighbor.
    “Busy? Playing with your paints again?”
    “No.” Oh god! she thought. Why hadn’t I said yes?
    Just then Shane came in and the screen door slammed behind
him. “Blair? Let’s go for a walk.”
    Blair waved her hand at him, trying to get him to stop
talking. Praying her mother hadn’t heard him.
    “Blair? Who was that?” she heard in her ear.
    “It’s a friend. I have to go. I’ll call you later.” Quickly
Blair hung up with her mother before she could start in with the never-ending
questions, glancing over at Shane as he stood with his arms crossed over his
chest, looking back at her.
    “Was that your mother again?” he asked.
    “What do you mean, again?”
    “I was here the other night as a wolf when she called.”
    “Oh.” She did remember now but she hadn’t made the
connection.
    “Why didn’t you just tell her about us?”
    Blair had really hoped he wouldn’t ask her that.
    “What am I supposed to say, Shane?”
    “I don’t know, but I think we are a little more than
friends.”
    “Maybe we are but my mother would never understand.”
    He was quiet for a second, his brow drawn together. “I think
I see, you mean she would never understand you being with a simple boat builder.”
    He was right and she didn’t have the heart to say it out
loud. Just thinking about how her parents would cut into him verbally made her
feel dirty. He took her silence as agreement and stalked back out on the porch.
    Taking a deep breath, she knew they weren’t done. They still
had other things to discuss and it seemed her life had never been more
complicated. Getting up, she went out to join him on the porch.
    “Okay, Shane. Let’s get it over with.” She would tell him
she was fine with him being a Shifter and then they wouldn’t have to discuss it
anymore.
    “Let’s go for a walk,” he said as he pulled her into his
arms, holding her for a moment before releasing her.
    She went inside and got dressed, meeting Shane on the porch
when she was ready to go.
    He took her hand and laced their fingers as they strolled
across the yard and to the water’s edge. Finding a spot in the grass, he sat
and pulled her down to sit between his legs, pulling her back against him.
    “Shane, I want you to know I’m sorry for running away from
you last night.” She kept her eyes on the water before them. “It frightened me
but I’m all