Figure of Speech (Halle Shifters) by Dana Marie Bell

descended and fur began to sprout on his arms. He was going to shift, and nothing Jim could do would stop it.
    “Sit. Stay. Good woof-woof.” Julian patted his shoulder, and Jim’s Wolf once more calmed under the Bear’s touch. His fangs receded and the fur disappeared.
    “Whoa.” He was beginning to understand why so many people called Julian Super Bear.
    “Stick around. For my next trick I’m going to make a Cheetah eat its own anus.”
    Jim had no doubt Julian would do just that.

Chapter Eight
    Chloe glanced at Jim, surprised to find him so calm and cool. She could have sworn she’d heard his Wolf growling so deeply she’d been certain he was about to change. Either that or take her down and claim her like a wild man.
    Instead, he was chatting with Julian as if nothing at all was wrong.
    “He’s close, but Super Bear got his ass to calm down.” Cyn put her phone away. “Barney’s on his way.”
    “So is Ryan.” Chloe had called her brother the moment she and Cyn were apart from Jim and Julian. It wasn’t that she doubted that the three of them could keep watch over one Cheetah. It was more her brother deserved to be there when they questioned him. “I wish I blew why this was happening to we.” Chloe rubbed her arms, chilled to the bone. She couldn’t seem to get warm now that the threat was gone.
    Cyn took one look at her chattering teeth and bellowed for her mate. “Jules, get your furry ass over here!”
    Jim moved so quickly he left Julian in the dust. “Shh.” He took her into his arms, wrapping her up tight. “I’ve got you.” Jim pointed his chin back toward where he’d been standing. “Cyn?”
    “I’ve got it.” Cyn sauntered back toward the entrance of the apartment building. “If he so much as twitches I’m gutting the cabròn .”
    “I’m glad she’s on our side,” Jim whispered.
    “Me blue.” Chloe was shivering so hard she could barely stand. “I’m sowwy, but I need to spit.”
    Jim didn’t hesitate. He picked her up like she weighed less than air and took her straight back into the building. He settled on the stairs with her on his lap, her head tucked on his shoulder.
    God, he was so warm, and smelled so good. She’d marked him, but the claiming wasn’t complete until they made love and he marked her back. Even so, just his scent helped settle her shattered nerves and the soothing heat of his touch made her feel safe in a way not even her family could.
    She’d needed this, far more than she’d wanted anyone to know.
    They sat quietly, not speaking, just holding one another. She could hear Cyn and Julian talking softly to one another, but she had no desire to leave the comforting embrace of her mate to find out what the two were chatting about. The more Jim held her, the more her shivers disappeared until she felt toasty from head to toe.
    “Tank you.”
    He kissed the top of her head. “You’re welcome. Feel better?”
    “Mm-hm.” She snuggled closer, surprising herself with a wide-jawed yawn.
    “It’s normal. You’re no longer running on adrenaline, and now your body wants to sleep.” Jim stroked his hand down her back. “Do you want to try and nap while Cyn and Julian talk to the others?”
    “Are day here?” She didn’t glance toward the parking lot. She didn’t want to move at all.
    “Not yet. You’ve got time.” He rubbed his chin against the top of her head. “I’ll make sure of it.”
    She smiled. “You’re scent-marking me.”
    He stilled. “I am?”
    Chloe giggled. “I like it.” She wanted to bathe in his scent, have every shifter who came across her know that Jim was hers.
    “Will you scent-mark me as well?” Jim sounded…intrigued.
    “All over.”
    “Oh?” His voice went husky. He squirmed a bit, making her laugh again. “Tell me more about this all-over-marking thing.”
    She bit her lip and glanced toward Cyn and Julian.
    Oh hell. From the thumbs-up they both shot her, they’d heard every word of what she’d said