Lawman Lion: BBW Lion Shifter Paranormal Romance Read online

  “There’s something else,” Mason said. “Shifters have… some things about them that’re different from humans.”

  “Oh?” Charity had to admit her curiosity was piqued.

  “It’s something we only really talk about amongst ourselves. Even when some shifters decided to start being open about who they were, they still didn’t discuss this with the media or anyone else. We can get married to anyone we like, and live a happy life. But it’s the goal of every shifter to find their mate – the one person they have a special bond with.”

  “Their… mate?” Charity asked, tilting her head slightly. The word didn’t frighten her – it only made her more curious.

  “The person that’s meant for them,” Mason continued. “The one you can give yourself to completely, body and soul, and know it’s forever.”

  Charity felt her pulse speed up. Was Mason about to say that he liked her very much, but they just weren’t mates? Was he just trying to save her from heartbreak a little later, in case he ever did find his true mate?

  She stared at him, her mouth dry.

  Mason reached down to take her hand. His was so massive that it enveloped hers completely, holding it tight. “What I’m trying to say, Charity, is that you’re my mate. I knew from the second we touched – and in my heart I knew it as soon as I saw you. We’re meant for each other. There’s no doubt about it.”

  Charity was so expecting to hear the opposite that it took her a moment to process his words. She was Mason’s mate? She’d never considered herself anything too special – she was a backwoods girl who ran a diner, for God’s sake. But now, to hear a man – a shifter – like Mason Whittaker say that she was his destined mate, the person that was meant to be with him forever…

  “I understand it might be hard to get used to.” Mason’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “And I don’t make any claims on you that you’re not comfortable with. But it wouldn’t have been right for us to continue without telling you what it means to me – and to my lion.”

  “Your lion?” she asked, still feeling a little dazed.

  Mason nodded, before lifting her hand and pressing it to his chest. “In here. He knows it’s true. And so do I.”

  Mason’s chest was warm against her fingers and palm. She could feel his heart beating, strong and swift. In the end, there was nothing she could do but lean forward and kiss him again, sweeping her tongue into his mouth, his lips hot against hers.

  There was no other answer – no other way she could show him just how gladly she accepted everything he said. She’d felt the electricity between them, the way her skin tingled every time he was close. Now it all made sense. If being mates meant being with him forever, then she happily chose it.

  Mason’s hand came up once more to cup her jaw, the other sliding over her shoulder and down her arm. Charity shuddered at the feel of his skin against hers, his palms warm and slightly rough. Warmth gathered in the pit of her stomach – and between her legs. She couldn’t remember ever having wanted anyone so much before in her life.

  Their kisses became hungrier, and Charity felt the hard plane of Mason’s chest pressing into her breasts. She was desperate to feel him against her skin, and her fingers went to the buttons of the shirt she wore – one of the few she owned that was actually a women’s fit. Her fingers were trembling so hard that she fumbled, unable to fit the button through the hole.

  “Let me.” Mason’s voice was a deep rumble of desire.

  His hands came up to cover hers on her shirtfront, his fingers moving quickly and easily, with a nimbleness that belied their size. Charity’s heart hammered as his hands worked their way down, her shirt sliding from her shoulders as he opened it, revealing her breasts inside her plain cotton bra.

  She hadn’t known things would go the way they had, or else she would have worn something a little fancier – not that she had much. But by the way Mason seemed transfixed, she doubted he would have noticed anyway.

  “Beautiful,” Mason breathed when her shirt was at last off her shoulders and lying on the blanket behind her. “You’re absolutely beautiful.”

  A small smile wound its way over Charity’s lips, her eyes drifting down his body. She couldn’t wait to see him – his body had felt muscular and hard beneath her touch, and she could see the huge bulge between his legs, pressing against his jeans.

  “Your turn,” she said playfully, and Mason quickly obliged her, yanking his shirt up and over his head, obviously as eager to be rid of it as she was.

  Charity nearly gasped as his body was revealed to her – his chest was broad and flat, his abs sculpted against his tanned skin. The hair on his head was bleached yellow from what must have been hours in the sun, but the hairs that dusted his stomach and led down to his belt were darker.

  Charity knew she was staring, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. She felt wetness gathering between her thighs.

  Mason was clearly as hungry for her as she was for him. She threw her head back as his mouth went to her throat, kissing its way down over her collarbone, before reaching the swell of her breasts. Charity gasped as his lips and teeth teased her nipple through her bra, tongue flicking against it, as his hands came up to cup beneath them.

  There was so much desire in his touch that Charity couldn’t restrain the gasps and moans that left her throat as he teased her with his fingers and tongue. She ached to feel him inside her, but at the same time, she never wanted this to end. Electricity thrilled over her skin, making her jerk with every movement.

  Charity groaned when Mason at last rolled them over so she was lying on her back on the blanket, his body covering hers. She could feel the massive length of his erection against her thigh, hot even through the layers of their jeans.

  Arching her back, she pressed herself against it, wrapping her legs around his narrow waist. She was so wet that she thought he must be able to feel it against him, and know what she so desperately wanted.

  Her hands left his shoulders to fumble at his belt and zipper, undoing them quickly and sliding her hand inside. Mason was hot and achingly hard against her palm, and she felt his hips jerk as she worked her hand up and down his length, savoring the feel of it.

  “I want you,” she whispered when he raised his head from her breasts to look her in the eye. “Please…”

  Mason nodded. Charity could feel him trembling, his thigh muscles twitching with every movement of her hand.

  He had her out of her jeans and panties in record time, sitting up and pulling them down her legs and tossing them aside. Mason took a moment to stare down at her, his eyes lingering between her thighs, before he ran his hands up over her hips and stomach, settling himself back down over her body.

  He kissed her again, mouth pressed to hers as she felt his right hand slowly slide down her side, before pressing against her soaked pussy. She gasped into the kiss as the first of his fingers teased against her, sending small shocks of pleasure through her body.

  Charity felt all her muscles go taut when he slipped his finger inside her – she was so wet that it slid in easily, and was quickly joined by a second. She bucked her hips up, wanting more – and heard herself cry out as his thumb found her clit, rubbing her in slow circles. Charity dug her fingers into the muscles of his back, writhing against him as his thumb teased her, his fingers making small, shallow thrusts into her body. She wanted more, more, more…

  She whined a little as Mason withdrew his fingers from her, but she knew that it was only in preparation for something better. She opened her eyes, looking into Mason’s face as he sat back, sliding off his jeans and boxers. His cock was huge and heavy when it sprang free, sending a thrill of anticipation through her. He was this hard for her, she thought – this swollen with need and desire.

  He lay down over her again, positioning himself above her, his green eyes staring down into hers. Mason captured her lips in a kiss as he slid inside her, causing her toes to curl and her back to arch, a breathy moan slipping out around his
mouth.

  He filled her, perfectly and completely. His first movement inside her was gentle, a shallow thrust, and she moaned, pushing back up against him, wanting more. Mason seemed to get the message immediately, and his next thrust was hard, his hips snapping forward, sheathing himself inside her, up to the hilt. Charity cried out, her legs cinching around his waist as his hard abs grazed against her clit, sending a desperate wave of pleasure over her body.

  Charity saw stars the next time he moved into her, his cock stretching her open and moving deep inside her. Her hips moved in time with his, meeting his every thrust, pulling him even deeper into her body. She could hear his breath against her ear, before his mouth once again found hers, their tongues twining, fusing them together even more thoroughly.

  She could feel her orgasm building inside her like a wave. Charity broke their kiss so she could breathe, trying to pull in enough oxygen to fuel her body. Shocks of pleasure bloomed over her skin, her fingers clutching at Mason’s shoulders as she tried to urge him to go harder, faster…

  It was as if he read her mind. The next time he pushed into her she couldn’t hold back a cry, closing her eyes as ecstasy coursed through her every nerve. Stars bloomed behind her eyelids as she came, holding his hips between her thighs, her fingers digging into the hard muscle of his shoulders. A second later, Mason cried out too, his voice deep and throaty, before she felt him shudder, his cock pulsing inside her as he came.

  Charity lay senseless, her vision all but whited out by the intensity of her climax. She protested feebly as she felt Mason withdraw from her body, before laying down beside her. She wanted to hold him inside her forever, and never let him go. She had never experienced anything so perfect, so right before in her life. But feeling his solid warmth settled by her side, Charity decided that this was just as good.

  “Wow,” she murmured, once she’d gotten her breath back. “That was…”

  Mason laughed softly. “You don’t have to tell me,” he said, pressing his lips to her sweaty temple. “That was amazing.”

  Charity thought she was still seeing stars from the force of her climax, but, blinking, she realized that they were actual stars, twinkling against the dark expanse of the night sky. There was silence all around them, except for the soft whisper of the breeze through the dry grasses. It was as if the whole world was made for them – if someone had told Charity yesterday that she’d be here today, she would have laughed in their faces.

  She knew she ought to be getting back, but for the moment, she didn’t want to move an inch. Snuggling herself into the warmth of Mason’s side, she closed her eyes, determined to enjoy the peace, if only for a little while.

  “Don’t let me sleep too long,” she muttered against him, stroking her fingers down the length of his side.

  Mason’s only response was to drop a soft kiss against the top of her head, before sleep welled up and claimed her.

  Chapter Four

  Mason

  As it happened, Mason didn’t end up waking Charity until the first rosy streaks of dawn began crossing the sky. She seemed so peacefully asleep – all the worry that he’d seen in her face completely gone – that he simply didn’t have the heart to do it.

  Part of Mason’s shifter abilities was a reduced need for sleep, and so he stayed awake most of the night, dozing every now and then; but when he woke, he was stunned anew that something as perfect as Charity could be his. He stroked his fingers through her hair, listening to the contented rumble of his lion’s purr. Mine.

  Charity had accepted the idea of shifters and mated bonds far more easily than Mason had dared to hope she would. But something had told him that she would not turn away from him – she wasn’t like the small-minded folk who rejected things they didn’t understand. She had a beautiful soul and a generous heart.

  He could only hope that his uncle would see it too, and accept that his mate was a human. Things were already simmering between Mason and his uncle over his decision to become sheriff. Add to that a human mate, who would bring her own human life and human friends closer to the world of shifters… Mason wasn’t sure how keen his uncle would be.

  But it doesn’t matter, Mason thought as he rode. If he had to choose, he already knew he would choose Charity, no matter what the cost.

  He had dropped her off at the diner before the sun had fully risen, her hair in disarray from their night sleeping under the stars, her eyes still sleepy. They had shared a lingering kiss on the front porch, and she had whispered an apology that she couldn’t stay with him longer.

  He had told her that no apology was necessary. She was who she was, and she had her commitments. He wouldn’t have asked her to compromise on something that was so obviously important to her. And they could see each other again. Soon.

  Mason couldn’t help but feel a small shiver of anticipation run through him at the thought. At long last, he had found his mate, and she was everything he ever could have dreamed of.

  Feeling suddenly exuberant, Mason tapped his horse in the sides, and sent her into a gallop. He wanted to feel the wind in his hair as he raced along the road in time with the swift beating of his heart. He held Abby's reins in his hand, and she kept pace, galloping alongside him. As the horses tired, he slowed to a canter, but it wasn’t long until the tall green pines of Lincoln's ranch came into view. The sun wasn't long up, but after Mason had stabled the horses and approached the main house, it became clear that his uncle and cousins were already up.

  It didn't surprise him: his uncle had always been an early to bed, early to rise kind of guy – just like most ranchers. While most people still snoozed in bed, his uncle would be making the rounds, laying out feed for the animals, checking fences and doing the myriad chores that running a ranch entailed. His cousins, Joe and Casey, would be up as well to help their old man run the property. Joe lived here full-time and would take over the ranch when Lincoln retired, but Casey had only just got back after graduating from high school, and then going to stay with their Aunt Annie’s pride.

  Mason was met by the smell of frying bacon, fresh coffee, and hash browns when he opened the front door. His stomach rumbled. He’d always had an appetite, and the smell of the delicious food reminded him that he hadn't eaten yet. And after all his activity last night and the long ride this morning, he sure was hungry.

  Entering the dining room, he was greeted by the sight of his cousins and uncle all tucking into a hearty breakfast.

  “There enough for me there?” he asked as he sat down.

  He thought he saw Lincoln and his eldest cousin, Joe, exchange a quick glance, but then his uncle was filling up a mug of steaming coffee for him, and pushing it across the table with a smile.

  “Sure thing,” Lincoln said, tearing up a hunk of corn bread. “So… should I ask whether you’ve only just woken up or only just gotten in?”

  Next to him, Mason heard seventeen-year-old Casey conceal a snorted laugh in his coffee cup. Mason took his time over his answer, taking a sip of his coffee, before reaching for some bacon.

  “Funny you should ask, Uncle,” Mason said. “That's the very thing I wanted to talk about.”

  He looked up to find his uncle’s penetrating gray eyes trained on him from across the table. Lincoln seemed to understand him – that this was a discussion for them. Alone.

  “Joe, Casey – leave us alone for a moment, would you?”

  “But Dad, I haven't finished –” Casey began to protest, only to be cut off by a shake of his father's head.

  “You can take something with you, if you have to,” Lincoln said.

  Still grumbling, Casey piled his plate high with the remaining bacon and corn bread, before taking the massive stack of food and leaving the room, closely followed by Joe.

  “Now, Mason, what’s this all about?” his uncle asked.

  As his uncle spoke, Mason had the uncanny sensation that he already knew what he was going to say to him.

  “I don’t really know where to start,” Mason said
, looking down at the table.

  He felt suddenly lost for words – all his feelings for Charity seemed to suddenly well up in his chest, overwhelming him. When he looked up again, he found his uncle still looking at him levelly from across the table.

  “You found her,” he said. It wasn't a question.

  Mason nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

  He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised, really. Lincoln had always been a perceptive man.

  “There's something you're hesitating about,” Lincoln said.

  Mason swallowed. “She's human.”

  Lincoln shrugged. “That's not necessarily a problem,” he said. “If she knows, and she's willing to come across and live with us…” He trailed off as Mason shook his head.

  “She has a life of her own,” he said. “She owns a diner, and she wants to keep it. And I don't intend that our being mates should stop her from doing what she wants to do. She might choose to come live on the ranch, but she might not – I haven't spoken to her about it yet. But if she doesn't, that's just fine with me.”

  Lincoln let out a long, slow exhalation, conflicting emotions playing across his face. “Well, I already know better than to try to talk you out of something you’ve got your heart set on. You're grown now, and my brother had different ideas to me about how shifters should get along in the world. He’s passed them on to you. If you and this girl really are mates, then there's nothing I can say or do that will change your mind about anything.”

  Mason nodded. “You're right there.”

  He was about to say something more – thank his uncle for understanding his point of view – when they were interrupted by the creak of a floorboard outside the dining room door. Looking up, Lincoln briefly held his finger to his lips, before standing and making his way, light as a cat, to the door.

  Opening it, he found a rather shocked-looking Casey and Joe standing on the other side.

  “Heard enough?” their father asked, as they glanced guiltily at each other.