2#Unlikely Mates: BBW Shifter/Vampire Romance by Charlene Hartnady

door opened.
    Her
scent hit him deep in the snout as it would’ve done to Sawyer as well. Rushe
snarled. Becky’s eyes widened and she sprang back, gasping loudly.
    “Stay.”
He glanced at Sawyer before he moved through the door and closed it behind him.
    “You
scared the living shit out of me.” Becky put a hand to her heaving chest. Her
heart raced so hard that he was sure it might jump right out of her chest. She
wore a cute cotton nighty. It had a pink ribbon on the collar and a bunny on
the front. Her feet were in hot pink, fluffy slippers and her hair was mussed.
There was a crease on her left cheek.
    He
took in another nose full of her scent, trying hard to rein in his emotions.
Rushe was sure she wasn’t wearing panties. The cloying scent of vampire
accosted him. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, unable to stop himself.
Somewhere, far in the distance, almost gone, was his own scent. Rushe tried
hard to focus on that.
    “Come
in.” Becky said while walking in the direction of her living room. “I guess we
have some things to discuss.”
    “You
fucked a vampire,” Rushe blurted.
    Becky
turned back, her lip between her teeth. She took a deep breath. “It wasn’t
planned or anything.”
    “You
knew I was coming back.” He tried to keep his breathing even, to keep the growl
from his voice.
    She
shook her head. “Ward told me that you weren’t going to come anymore. He said
that you would go and find your mate…I thought…”
    Rushe
nodded. “That is correct and here I am.”
    She
held up her hands. “Wait a minute…you think that I’m her…your mate that is?”
    Although
Ward had told him to take it slow, not to scare her away, things had changed.
“Yes, Becky. You are my mate and here I am.” His eyes dropped to her thighs as
vampire scent drifted to him.
    “Oh
god. How the hell did this happen?” She ran a hand through her hair. “Okay,
well as you can see…smell…whatever…I fucked a vampire last night so I’m not
your girl. Just for the record, I don’t normally go around falling into bed
with guys. I’m sorry if I hurt you”—she let out a shaky sigh—“go, Rushe. Go and
find the right woman. Someone that will make you happy. Someone who will love
you forever…look after you…”
    “Stop.”
He couldn’t help but to growl the word. The thought of any other female was
unacceptable to him. “I have no claim over you. You were very clear about where
we stood with one another. I hate that you rutted that male, but I do not blame
you for doing it. I need to know…” He clenched his jaw for a few beats, putting
a firm leash on his wolf. He had to be fully prepared for the worst. “Do you
plan on taking that bloodsucker as your mate?”
    She
rolled her eyes. “No way.” A look crossed her face and her scent changed
subtly.
    Fuck.
    His
female may deny it but she had feelings for the vampire. “I am a grown male. I
can take it. I need to know, Becky, you must be honest with me. Do you plan on
mating him?”
    “No
way.” She folded her arms. “He is insistent that he is my mate. Ross is nuts if
you ask me…come to think of it, you are both freaking nuts…how can he claim to
be my future mate when we don’t even really know one another.”
    Triple
cluster fuck.
    He
squeezed his eyes shut. His heart slowed…it felt like the world slowed for a
few seconds. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. He opened his eyes, taking
in his female. Her concerned face. The beautiful blue depths of her eyes.
“Rushe, are you okay?” She asked, putting a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. It was
never my intention to hurt you. You’re such a sweet guy…”
    He
pulled himself to his full height. “I’m not a guy…or a tiger…or even a
wolfie…I’m a strong male and I’m claiming you as my mate.”
    Her
eyes widened in shock and she shook her head.
    “I
know you want me, even if you don’t fully know or understand it yet. It’s
something we will work on. Right now I need to