Free Wild Things (BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance): Shifter Lovers Romance by Catherine Vale

the tray of food on the table. The
bathroom smelled of rosemary and orange, the tub filled with steaming water.
Dropping her clothes on the floor, she smiled. Anacelia had worked her magic
again, with impeccable timing. She wondered if she had spies in the palace,
telling her where Senna was, when she was out of her room, when she was back.
However she did it, Senna was glad.
    The
bath was magical, the water silky, like a lover’s caress. Blushing, she thought
she knew now what that felt like. She sank down, the water lapping against her
body. For a moment she let her hands slide over her stomach. Anacelia had asked
if she’d missed her moon cycle. She’d been careless keeping track; there had
never been any reason. Until Gabriel. And then she’d been too swept away with
the whole experience to pay attention. And then the hurried confusion of the
visit to the Ottway, the announcement of the marriage. Details like her moon
cycle had slipped out of her grasp.
    Maybe
there was a baby there, waiting. It would be Gabriel’s. And if she were, then
she would have something of his, no matter what happened. She would always have
that. And that was a secret she would never, ever share.
    When
the room had grown dark, she climbed out of the water. There were decisions to
be made, which robe to wear, or even if to wear one. She was almost giddy as
she went through the few garments she’d told Anacelia to leave unpacked, things
to sleep in, robes and shifts. He’d seen the blue robe the last time, and
before that, she’d been wearing a white silk gown. But it had been dark, and
he’d taken it off so quickly. Maybe tonight, their last night, she’d wear red.
For the new confidence he’d given her, for the way she felt about him. The
intensity of her love. For passion.
    The
silk clung to her body, skimming over her curves, hugging her breasts. She felt
like a woman, not a girl.
    She
went to the door of her room and turned the key in the lock. Someone was coming
for her at dawn, to take her things to the train, and then take her. The last
thing she and Gabriel could have, was someone coming in unexpectedly. She
turned back, looking at the chaos that was her room. But all that really
mattered was the bed. Grabbing the few boxes and parcels left on the covers,
she dropped them on the floor.
    The
food was still there, the capons cooled now on their covered dish. She wasn’t
hungry, but she nibbled on a fig, and a piece of cheese. She poured half a
glass of wine, drank it slowly. It was dark outside, and she took the wine and
cheese onto the balcony. The garden below was quiet except for the soft rustle
of wind through the palms. She listened for a moment, then looked up at the
stars overhead. The moon was past full, hadn’t risen yet. The stars were
brilliant, thousands and thousands of them, brighter than any of the diamonds
in her jewelry.
    As
she watched, one streaked across the sky, a comet, a bright fuzzy tail
streaking behind it. Before it disappeared she closed her eyes and made a wish.
    “With
all my heart and all my soul, make it so Gabriel and I can be together. Make it
so this marriage to the Ottway never happens.”
    When
she opened her eyes the comet was gone. But she felt different, as if the world
had moved a few degrees in her favor. As if whatever deity riding the comet had
heard her.
    But
she was chilled and went back to her bed, pulling a mohair shawl around her
shoulders. It was still early, really. She’d have some more cheese, another
fig. And wait. It had been very late when he’d come to her the first time, not
quite so late the last time.  And the moon rose later each night. There
was still time. Still there was time for him to come to her.
    She
curled against the padded headboard, pulling the coverlet over her shoulders.
Her eyes felt heavy with sleep. She’d close her eyes, for just a minute. He’d
wake her, surely he’d wake her. He had before.
    Her
eyes closed, and for a moment she heard his voice.