Once Upon a Shifter by Anne Conley, Lily Marie, Kim Fox, Zoe Chant, Ariana Hawkes, Terra Wolf, K.S. Haigwood, Shelley Shifter, Nora Eli, Alyse Zaftig, Mackenzie Black, Roxie Noir Page B

done!” Angie said. “A natural Michael Flops.”
    Sidney grimaced and doggy paddled back to the rock.
    Edwin grabbed the rope to jump next. Grace slid off her t-shirt and leaned back on the sand in her bikini.
    The rope vibrated in Edwin’s hand as he stared at Grace from across the river. He wouldn’t take his eyes off her.
    “Is he having a seizure?” Rebecca asked, lowering her sunglasses, trying to see better. His body was curling in on itself and his arms were shaking. Connor slapped him on the back of the head and was saying something in his ear.
    “What?” Rebecca gasped under her breath as she swear she saw a flash of brown fur spring out of his skin. It was gone as fast as it came. It must’ve been a trick of the light.
    The seizure stopped and Edwin pulled back on the rope. He jumped off the rock and did a perfect dive into the water.
    Rebecca’s heart beat faster as Connor grabbed the rope. He reached up to get a high grip and his abs flexed. His stomach was perfect with deep ridges and zero body fat. His triceps were big and full and he had a perfect line down the middle of his pecs. It sure wasn’t like Mark’s body.
    He glanced at her with a shy smile before jumping off the rock. He flew up higher than the others, tucked his body in and did a flip and landed in a splash-less dive. It could’ve won him a gold medal in the Olympics.
    Rebecca tried to hide her smile but she couldn’t. She grinned. She could feel Grace and Angie’s eyes on her.
    This was ridiculous. She had a life back in New York City. What was she thinking that she was going to date some guy in the middle of nowhere and see him once a month if she was lucky? She was better off trying to repair things with Mark. That was the safe thing to do.
    Sidney and Edwin swam over to the kayaks and began pulling the food and stove out to make lunch.
    Rebecca gasped as Connor swam towards their beach. He stepped out of the water and Rebecca felt every nerve ending in her body tingle. The lucky water cascaded down every inch of his hard body. His hair stuck to his head, except for one clump that stuck straight out. His bathing suit was plastered against his body showing the ridges of his muscular legs and the impressive size of his package.
    “Are hamburgers okay for lunch?” he asked.
    The three girls nodded. For the first time this trip they were all speechless.
    He smiled, flashing his dimples, and Rebecca felt flooded with warmth. And it wasn’t from the sun.
    “It won’t be long,” he said.
    “Thanks Connor,” Grace said. “Becca really likes you.”
    Rebecca could’ve slapped her. “What is this high school?” she asked, feeling her cheeks on fire. “I have a boyfriend.”
    Connor’s face looked like he just found out that his puppy died.
    “No she doesn’t,” Grace said.
    “She definitely doesn’t,” Angie added.
    Connor nodded with a sullen expression on his face. He looked to Rebecca for confirmation. “It’s complicated,” Rebecca said, shifting on her towel.
    “No it’s not,” Grace said.
    “It’s definitely not,” Angie added.
    “Okay then,” Connor said, turning towards the grill. “I’ll get those burgers.”
    He walked away with his shoulders slumped. His step lacked the skip that it had a minute ago.
    “What is wrong with you?” Angie asked.
    “He is so hot,” Grace said. “You’re an idiot.”
    Angie was shaking her head. “Well you can force a horse to water but you can’t make her fuck the hot waterboy.”
    “What’s the point?” Rebecca said, feeling cornered. “What if I get back together with Mark and then I have to tell him about this. How would that make him feel?”
    “Probably the way that he made you feel when he cheated on you,” Angie said.
    “Mark is a piece of shit, Becca,” Grace said. “Do us all a favor and forget that he ever existed.”
    Maybe they were right but she still didn’t want to close the door on the possibility of getting back together with