Shifter Romance: BODHI (LOST CREEK SHIFTERS NOVELLAS Book 4) Page 8

  He answered on the third ring and he sounded tired and worn out.

  “Hello?” he said gruffly.

  “Arlo?” she said cautiously. “It’s me, Natalie… I was wondering if we could meet down at the empty store on Main Street.”

  He stayed silent for a moment, as if he were thinking on whether it was still a good idea and then he sighed and mumbled.

  “Okay, Natalie, as long as you’re sure?”

  She didn’t know if she was, but there was only one way to find out. And now, after hearing his voice, she knew he had already spoken to Bodhi. It was time to face them both, and her fears. And it was also time to find out what the hell was going on in her town. Bodhi, Kodhi and Arlo, they were different, and if she was going to be entering into any kind of contract or business arrangement with them, she wanted to know everything…

  No matter what the cost…

  “I’m sure,” she said defiantly. “And I can be there in half an hour.”

  “Well, okay then,” Arlo said. “See you there.”

  The line went dead and she gave a sigh of relief. She had done the right thing. It was time to make steps toward her future.

  The roads into Main Street were quieter than she had seen them since she had returned. In fact, it reminded her of the sleepy little town she had left behind all those months before. It was nice to feel as if she was finally back in her hometown, rather than as if she had stepped into somewhere familiar but almost as an alternate reality. Lost Creek would always be home, but since she had been down in the center of the town and seeing how much it had changed, she couldn’t help but feel as if she had missed out on a lot of its history. Even in such a short space of time.

  She swung her purse over her shoulder and pulled the belt on the waist of her coat tighter so it nipped her in and gave her a perfect hourglass figure. She wasn’t feeling nervous anymore, not now that she had made the decision to go ahead. The only thing that was concerning her was the possibility of Bodhi turning up and not entertaining what she had to say to him too.

  She turned a corner and saw the long stretch of Main Street spread out in front of her. Her skin was tingling in anticipation, and she couldn’t help the smile spreading across her face. She crossed the intersection and tried not to think about what had happened only hours before. She shuddered as she remembered how frightening the group of men had been, and then at Bodhi’s animalistic reaction. He had been so wild, and so aggressive. She closed her eyes and told herself not to think about it. She had to concentrate on the matter at hand. She was about to do something huge for her future, and she had to be in top form.

  She lowered her head and continued walking, looking down at the pavement in front of her and concentrating on the click of her heels as she made her way across the icy ground. She wasn’t far from the store and when she saw it, she felt alive. If she continued to live at home with her parents, this would be the route she continued to take every day. She could stop at The Hideout on her way in to work, grab herself a latte and a pastry and say good morning to the people of Lost Creek as she went. The idea was super exciting, and it made her even more determined to succeed.

  She could see there was a little light shining out from inside the store and she was relieved that she wouldn’t have to hang about on the street waiting for Arlo to show up. She was five minutes early, but she decided to get straight there and when she knocked on the door, she could already see him inside, standing exactly where he had been the night before.

  “Morning,” he said as she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

  “Morning, Arlo,” Natalie smiled.

  He ruffled his hair and crossed his arms over his chest, and he didn’t have to say a word for Natalie to know instantly that he wasn’t alone. She could just feel it. She could feel him… Whenever they were in the same room, his energy found her and left her trembling.

  “And morning, Bodhi,” she said with a wry smile.

  He stepped out of the side room and smiled back at her with a knowing nod. When she saw him again, her heart began to race inside her chest. Every time she looked into those big, brown eyes, something changed within her. He excited her and made her whole body react, and it was impossible for her to ignore. She wanted to run over to him and wrap her arms around him, but she had to play it cool. He had been the one who had acted so strangely. She hadn’t been the one to growl and snarl and change without explanation.

  “So,” Arlo said, breaking her train of thought. “Did you think about our offer?”

  Natalie looked from one of them to the other and nodded slowly.

  “I did,” she said. “And although I think you’re being overly generous, I would like to accept…. On one condition…”

  Bodhi smiled, but as she said the last few words, his smile turned into a frown.

  “Condition?” Bodhi asked as he stepped forward.

  “I wouldn’t feel right taking the space for free,” she said genuinely. “It just isn’t in my nature to accept such generous handouts.”

  “It’s not a handout,” Bodhi interjected. “You would also be doing us a favor.”

  Natalie looked at them both for a few seconds longer.

  “I just don’t feel as if I know what I’m getting myself into,” she said. “You’re not telling me anything, Bodhi…”

  Now her attention was firmly on him and she could see Arlo making a move toward the door.

  “Listen,” Arlo said. “I’m going to head back down to the bar and I’ll be there if you need me, okay?”

  Bodhi nodded, but Natalie couldn’t look away from him, her eyes were already filling with tears. How was it possible for her to feel so much for someone she had known for such a short time? But she had to remind herself that in that short time, a lot had happened. He had saved her life for God’s sake, and now they were discussing business on the back of the perfect date that ended terribly.

  The door closed behind Arlo and Bodhi took a step toward her.

  “I know you’re mad,” he said. “But you’ve got to let me explain.”

  Natalie folded her arms over her chest protectively and shrugged. She wanted to know, but she was also afraid of what she may find out.

  “Those guys, who were they?” she asked sternly. “And why would I be doing you a favor if I took over this store?”

  Bodhi smiled and took another step closer.

  “Those guys are pieces of shit from a rival gang,” he said with a sigh. “There are two groups here in town and we’ve run it for generations.”

  “What?” Natalie asked with a laugh. “Well, this is the first I’ve heard of it and I’ve lived here for pretty much my entire life!”

  “I know,” he said gently. “Not many people do. Only a select few…”

  Natalie rolled her eyes.

  “A gang? Do you realize how stupid that sounds? Two gangs that run Lost Creek? What do you think you are, the Mafia?” She popped her hip out to the side and hoped he would understand the fact that she was playing, but also that she was hurt.

  “I know it probably sounds crazy to you,” he said. “Especially when this is your town and you’ve never known anything about it. But in recent times, a lot has changed, and you’ve come back to a different dynamic. And you’ve met me… And with me, you see into that world whether you’re ready for it or not.”

  He stood tall and proud, and Natalie was reminded of how sexy and powerful he was. What he was saying to her did make sense, she could see him being part of some sort of gang, but the way he had behaved and the way his body had changed, was all still too confusing. And the pull they had to each other… it was beyond comprehension. It was as if he had made his mark on her, and she was never going to be able to pull away. Not that she would ever want to…

  “And what’s in that world, Bodhi?” she asked. “What are you hiding?”

  He took hold of her by the shoulders and pulled her close to him, she could smell the woody scent of his cologne and it made her heart f
lutter. It took her right back to the night before when he had held her tight by the wrists and pinned them behind her as he kissed her fiercely in the tavern.

  “We are different,” he said. “And we are at war. The other guys you saw last night, they’re trying to claim all of our businesses and property here in Lost Creek. Our families, Arlo and mine, they were the original settlers of the town, and then the others, well they came along and caused chaos and it’s rippled down through the generations ever since.”

  “Okay,” she said, trying to get her head around things.

  “If you took this space, it would mean one less premises for them to have their eyes on. They’ve already managed to take over the entire side of town from the intersection downward, with the exception of Arlo’s. And now they’re working their way up here too. But it won’t happen, we won’t let it happen. Our families built these goddam buildings, there’s no way we’re letting the wolves get them.”

  Wolves.

  There was that word again. Natalie frowned and looked into his eyes.

  “The wolves?” she asked pointedly. “What does that even mean?”

  Bodhi sighed and brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.

  “I care about you, Natalie. And I know I’m not the only one who feels what I’m feeling. I see it in your eyes too, every time I look in them. From the second I bumped into you and pushed you out of the way of those cars, something changed in me. It was as if something had clicked into place.”

  She did know exactly what he meant, but she still couldn’t let him know it yet.

  “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you or put you in a tricky position. Honestly, Arlo and I are just trying to help you get started, but in turn, it would be doing us a favor too. There’s no catch, I swear to you.”

  She could see he was being genuine, and she had already made up her mind about what she wanted to do, she just needed to know as much as possible before she let him know the same.

  “Last night,” he continued. “I know you were shocked by what happened… And I can explain that too, but only when the time is right.”

  “But I don’t feel safe around you now,” she blurted it out before she even knew she was going to say the words.

  Bodhi looked wounded and she couldn’t blame him. Her words had been venomous and full of barbs.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just so confused.”

  “I know,” he said as he pulled her close to his chest and ran his hands through her hair. “But I promise you, if you can just hold on, it’ll all be worth it.”

  “I want to know everything,” she whispered.

  “And you will,” he said. “Come to my house tonight.”

  Her heart picked up pace as soon as he said it. He was inviting her over to his home, and with all of the secrets that were circling around them, it felt like a terrifying thing to comprehend.

  “Okay,” she said. “But only if you promise me you’re not going to kill me?” She said it with a smirk and Bodhi laughed.

  “I can promise you that with great certainty,” he said. “Now come on and sign those papers. I want us to get started on making this place incredible for you to open your new venture.”

  Natalie smiled and looked up at him as he tilted her head in to kiss her. Even though she still didn’t have the answers she was looking for, she couldn’t help but be sucked in. He was just too incredible for words, and each second they spent together, something even more exciting and powerful was being forged between them.

  He pulled away for a moment to lean back where he grabbed an envelope from the desk and opened it up.

  “You could have had it without all of this,” he said. “But I know you want to do things properly.”

  Natalie took them from him.

  “Don’t read them now,” he said. “Take your time before you come over to see me later.”

  “Okay,” she agreed.

  “Coffee?” he asked. “Maybe we could get some breakfast too, I’m starving.”

  Natalie pretended to think about it for a moment before she said, “Sounds good to me.”

  On Main Street, Bodhi made no secret of their newfound romance. He held her hand tightly and walked with her through the town as if he was the proudest man alive. Women’s heads turned to look at him as he strode through the crowds and made his way toward The Hideout, and Natalie almost felt like she was famous. He was so tall and good looking, it was impossible for people not to notice him. And she felt tiny in his arms when he held her close. To look at, they were almost total opposites. Natalie was petite and ice white blonde with blue eyes, and Bodhi was tall, muscular and tanned with shaggy brown hair and deep brown eyes. But they worked. And when she caught sight of their reflection in one of the store windows, she could tell why people would find themselves staring. They looked like a true power couple. They looked as if they could take on the world.

  In The Hideout, Bodhi sat Natalie down at a table and wandered over to the counter. She loved the way he took charge the most, it was so masculine and sexy, it was making her hotter by the minute. She could only imagine what he would be like in the bedroom. She imagined him dominating her in every way imaginable and her pussy twinged with delight.

  He walked back over with two large coffee cups clutched in his hands and he set them down before pulling up a chair and smiling at her.

  “What is it with us?” she asked. “I feel like I’ve known you forever…”

  “Maybe we have,” he said. “Maybe we met when we were kids.”

  “Don’t you think we’d remember?” she asked.

  Bodhi shrugged.

  “Most people in town have always known Kodhi and me on account of us being twins. So the fact that you don’t remember us would suggest that we’d never crossed paths.”

  “But this town is a goldfish bowl, it’s tiny.”

  “Doesn’t mean we’re all in each other’s pockets, though,” he said with a superior air.

  “I guess,” she said as she sipped her drink. “All I know is I’m glad I found you… Even considering all that has happened since.”

  “I can explain all of that, and I will…” he said as he reached across the table and took hold of her hand.

  “Well, I look forward to hearing your explanation,” she smiled cheekily.

  Bodhi bit his bottom lip and pulled her chair closer to his so their legs wrapped in together. Feeling his thighs between hers only gave her a taste of what she hoped was to come and it made her quake with desire.

  “I like it when you speak to me like that,” he whispered. “All smart and witty. It’s a turn on,” his voice was a low growl again, but this time, she didn’t find it frightening, it was about to send her over the edge. Her nipples were hardening and her pussy was slick with need.

  “Come home with me now,” he grunted.

  “No,” she gasped, even though it was killing her to say it. “Tonight.”

  Bodhi pulled her closer again and breathed hot and heavy on her neck. The two of them together were about to start a fire that she didn’t ever think could be extinguished, but she couldn’t stop it from happening. They were both so hot for each other, it was getting out of control.

  “You’re special, Natalie,” he whispered. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for a girl like you to walk in and turn everything upside down.”

  He ran his hands through her hair and Natalie was no longer aware of anyone else in the room. The entire planet could have been exterminated, and she wouldn’t care. All she would be able to focus on was this moment, and this incredible man in front of her.

  “I’ve been waiting for someone like you too,” she said. “I didn’t know how in need I was until you walked into my life.”

  Bodhi smiled and he pulled her forehead against his with a gentle bump.

  “I better go, before I can’t stop myself and rip all of your clothes off right here and now…” he said.

  His words made Natalie’s lips quiver.


  “I’ll go to Arlo, and I’ll tell him what we’ve talked about. Everything I tell you about us, you must understand it is highly confidential?” he whispered.

  “Of course,” Natalie said.

  “I’ll come and pick you up later,” he said. “I know where you live, seeing as I followed you home last night.” He winked.

  “In most circumstances, you would be classified as a stalker for that, you know?” she said cheekily.

  “There you go again,” he said as he bent down and kissed her on the lips. “See you tonight, babe, I’ll be at your front door at seven.”

  He turned and walked away and Natalie couldn’t take her eyes off him until he was fully out of sight, and even then, she didn’t want to tear herself away.

  Her heart was racing and her skin was prickling with heat.

  She wanted him so badly, she knew she wouldn’t be able to control her urges for much longer. She yearned for the touch of a strong, confident man… and Bodhi was all that and more.

  She finished her coffee and opened the envelope. There was only one condition written on the blank sheet of paper and when she saw it, her face lit up in a beaming smile…

  Conditions of tenancy: That Natalie can stay as long as she wants, free of charge, as long as she uses the premises to run her beauty business. And she agrees to date Bodhi… Just kidding. That’s an optional extra… ;)

  “Well, I’ll certainly not have any problems signing that,” she laughed to herself as she slipped it back into the envelope.

  Now she had to concentrate on the most important thing of all. What the hell was she going to wear for her date with Bodhi? She drained her coffee cup and jumped to her feet. She was excited and ready for action.

  10.

  She wore black because it made her feel sexiest. The dress was tight and low cut at the front, and even though she hadn’t worn anything like it in a very long time, it made her feel like a strong, confident woman. One that could stand next to Bodhi and really feel like his woman.

  Natalie was enjoying this newfound confidence in herself. She had spent so long doubting everything she had chosen to do with her life, and now, finally, things seemed to be slotting into place.