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

with carts full of brilliant colored
oranges and lemons and melons, was now a dusty corridor with dead trees, more
walls, all to be traveled at top speed.
    All
too soon, the carriage shuddered to a stop at the station. She waited for
someone to open the door, peering through the dust at the Ottway’s train,
belching great clouds of steam into the hot morning air. It had already been turned
around on the great roundabout, facing back the way it had come.
    Finally,
the door opened and she leaned out, setting her hand on the footman’s arm, setting
her foot onto the stony ground. With the sunshade hooked over her arm, she let
the man escort her to the car she would be riding in to her new home.
    He
set the footstool down and helped her up the steps. The door closed behind her,
and she was alone in the dim compartment. It took her a moment for her eyes to
adjust.
    And
once they did, she realized she was in the same car she’d ridden home in the
last time she’d been on this train. The tapestries covering the divan were the
same, the rugs on the floor still bearing the imprints of the heels of her
slippers from her journey home. She was relieved to see her travel bag sitting
on the dusty carpet by the side of the divan. A small plate of cheeses and
fruit sat on a small table, along with a bottle of wine wrapped in a plain
silver container. It was basic, common, something far below her station. And
the car was dirty.
    “He
could have cleaned the car, at least.”
    “At
least.”
    She
spun around. Gabriel stood in the corner, cast in shadow. For a moment all she
could do was stare in disbelief. Then she dropped the sunshade and ran to him.
He caught her, pulling her further into the shadowed recess of the door.
    “Careful.
We are not alone on this train.” But despite the warning, he didn’t let her go.
Instead, he pulled her closer, reaching to caress her cheek, to undo the veil
that covered her face. Slowly he bent his head, his lips meeting hers.
Everything…the car, the train, the Ottway…it all faded away. All that remained
was Gabriel, the kiss, the touch of his hand. The love she felt.
    He
gently pushed her away and she went reluctantly, eyes closed, face still turned
up to his, aching for another kiss. When she realized he wasn’t going to
continue kissing her, she opened her eyes.
    “Where
were you? You broke my heart, you know.” A swirl of emotions rose up with the
question, and she was surprised that she was quite put out with him. “I
waited…all night. I got ready, had a bath…perfumed…” She sniffed, tears welling
up, washing away the anger. “And a robe…scarlet…” It was hopeless; she let the
tears fall.
    “And
for breaking your heart, I am sorry, so very sorry.” He brushed his finger
across her cheek. “There are too many tears here. Each one is a spear to my
heart because I am the cause of them.”
    “But
where were you? Why didn’t you come to me?”
    “Come.
Sit. The train is going to depart soon.” As if someone heard his words, there
was a huff of steam, followed by the whistle’s shriek. Outside, men shouted and
she looked through the curtained window, watching a group of men struggling
with one of her larger trunks.
    “Someone
will be coming soon to make sure you are settled.”
    She
let him lead her to the divan, let him sit her down. He remained standing and
she took in everything about him as if she’d been away from him for months,
instead of far less time. But she frowned.
    “What
are you wearing? That’s not your uniform.” His purple tunic was edged in gold,
but the sash was missing. The hat he wore was nothing but a billed cloth cap.
For a moment she thought he’d cut his hair, but she realized it was tucked up
under the cap.
    Gabriel
glanced down at his clothes, frowning. “These are the Ottway’s colors.”
    “I
know that. What are you doing in them?”
    He
looked up, lips curling in a sudden smile. “I liberated them from someone who
won’t be missed. At