Chapter Three
1249 Words
Chapter Three
Foxy
I came awake slowly, second by second. By the time I was totally conscious I was beginning to wish I wasn’t. My whole body hurt. Like really really hurt.
It felt like I had been hit by a truck or had done ten rounds with a bear.
Bear.
The scent of bear was all around me. Like it was a blanket I was wrapped in. Which wasn’t surprising seeing as a bear, or more specifically a man who turned into a bear was curled up at my side. His body against mine and his heat warming my skin.
Ben.
Shifting my weight, I fought the urge to cry out in pain. Why was I naked in bed with my boss?
“You’re awake.” The bristles of his beard rubbed against my shoulder. It was such a distracted thing for him to do that I was almost sure he didn’t even realise he was doing it. “How are you feeling?”
“Naked. Why am I naked Ben?”
His sigh was loud. “You were attacked.”
“I remember that I remember you licking the blood from me.” I remembered that part very clearly. Even injured I had loved the feeling of his tongue against my skin. “But that doesn’t answer my question. Why am I naked?”
“I didn’t touch you, Foxy. I would never against your will.” Ben’s voice was almost a purr. “I had to strip you off to tend your injuries and then…” he suddenly looked sheepish. “Well then my bear wanted to make sure you were safe. We wanted to be close to you.”
“Why?” I already had a feeling I knew why though. Even if it was crazy to me.
“Why?” I already had a feeling I knew why though. Even if it was crazy to me.
Ben didn’t answer me. “Why didn’t I know you were a shifter Foxy?” His rough fingers slid up and down my arm.
“No one knows. Well Wyatt does and maybe one or two other people but it’s not something I tell people.”
“Because you are a fox?”
I nodded. And pain split my head like lightening. “Because I am a fox. You know how secretive we are, and I didn’t want to be found by my family. I wanted to live my life and be free.”
Fox shifters were rare, but we did exist. In secret. We mated our own kind; we didn’t mix and very few ever left the towns they were born into.
Being that locked down had always frightened me. Ever since I was a child, I had wanted freedom and adventure. I didn’t want to be nothing but a breeding machine who churned our cubs and …. Bens fingers moved from my arm to my hand. His fingers sliding between mine.
“I think they may have found you anyway.”
For a second, I closed my eyes. “I guess so.”
“I will protect you Foxy. If you will let me.” Ben’s voice was barely a whisper and with effort I turned on the mattress to face him. Searching his face with my eyes.
“Why would you want to do that?” My heart thudded against my ribcage as I met his warm brown eyes.
He didn’t blink. “You know why Foxy. You’re my mate.”
I knew what he was going to say but it still came as a shock. “I am not your mate Ben. We have known each other for years. We would have known before this.”
A tiny line appeared between his eyebrows. “I don’t know why I didn’t know before. Maybe because you were hiding your animal. But I know now. You are my mate. And will be the mother to my children.”
It was my worst nightmare. I shifted away from him. “I don’t want to be a Mother Ben. And I don’t want to be a mate. I want to be….” I fell silent as his lips slid over mine. My reaction was instant. My mouth opened and the tip of my tongue sneaked out to meet his.
Need flooded my body. It was a violent reaction. Moaning I arched my breasts into his chest.
Ben groaned. His hands encircling my hips gently to keep me in place as he plundered my mouth with his tongue.
“Would being my mate be such a bad thing?” He finally asked. “I can make you happy.”
And part of me knew he would. He would be an amazing provider, a fierce protector. Any woman would be happy to mate with him. But I wasn’t most women.
“No Ben of course not. I like you and my fox does as well. But….”
“But what?”
“How will we ever be compatible in the bedroom…?”
He looked troubled. “Do you not think I can please you?”
I already knew he would be a skilled lover. I didn’t even question that, but I was a dominant and Ben had never shown any interested in being a sub.
“I can please you Foxy.” His lips hovered over mine. “If you weren’t healing right now, I would show you just how good we could be together.”
“Could you give up control to me Ben?”
My words took him by surprise. He blinked down at me. “I….”
I didn’t let him finish. “Exactly. This is doomed from the start. It won’t matter if we are fated for each other or not, we will make each other miserable.” I shook my head. “It’s best we just stay friends and….”
“Friends?” He sounded bitter. “I don’t think we have ever been friends Foxy. Is that even your name?”
I smiled sadly. He was angry and I could understand that. I was rejecting him. And no one would take that well. “No, it’s not my name. But you are right we have never really been friends. You have always looked down on people like me. So, let’s go back to employer and employee and forget….”
“I can’t just forget you are my mate Foxy. Not now I have found you.”
Brushing my fingers through his hair I smiled sadly. “You want a mate who will be a good wife and mother. Someone who is soft and feminine right?”
He nodded.
“I will never be that person, Ben. It just isn’t who I am. I should get home and….”
“You are what I want. What my bear wants.”
I groaned. “Ben stops and actually think with your brain.”
“I am using my brain Foxy or what ever your real name is. I’ve spent my whole life searching for you. So, I am not about to lose you now.” He seemed to read my mind. “I am not going to keep you prisoner Foxy don’t worry but I am going to win you over. Now lay down and go to sleep. Heal my love and will take you home in the morning.”
- Writer
