Once Upon a Shifter (2 page)

“Going… going…” The auctioneer cleared his throat. “Mr. Maguire, are you sure you want to let the lovely Miss Williams go to the gentleman on your right?”

Owen blinked. The man sitting next to him also had his hand up. He must have bid while Owen had been lost in the perfect happiness of finding his mate.

Owen’s lips curled in a snarl. He had no idea how much that man had bid, but he wasn’t letting any other man win a date with his mate. He’d grind his rival into the dust.

“Fifty thousand dollars,” Owen called.

Raina’s lovely brown eyes widened, and her sweet lips parted in shock. Owen smiled. His mate’s worth couldn’t be valued in money, of course, but he wanted her to know that he’d spare nothing to be with her.

The man sitting next to him glared, then raised his hand. “Sixty thousand.”

“Seventy!” Owen said instantly.

The auctioneer looked delighted. Raina looked stunned.

“Well, well,” said the auctioneer, rubbing his hands together. “For the benefit of those in the audience who don’t know them by sight, I’ll introduce our eager bidders. The gentleman who just bid seventy thousand dollars for one night with our bachelorette is Owen Maguire, the young CEO of OwenTech. Our other bidder is Austin Stroud III, the senior partner of Stroud, Stroud, and Stroud. Mr. Stroud, are you going to bid?”

Owen had heard of Stroud, Stroud, and Stroud. It was a very successful law firm that specialized in defending mega-corporations from charges of illegal chemical dumping. As a bear shifter, Owen hated it when forests were recklessly destroyed by companies trying to save a few dollars. He had to tamp down his rage at the thought of Austin Stroud daring to try to get his hands on Owen’s destined mate.

Stroud coolly raised his hand. He wasn’t looking at Raina, but rather at Owen as he said, “One hundred thousand dollars.”

Raina’s eyes darted to Stroud, frightened. Then she gave a pleading glance at Owen, as if she was hoping he’d save her. Owen tried to convey reassurance as he met her gaze. Of course he’d save her! He was her mate.

“Five hundred thousand dollars,” Owen called. That should crush Stroud. No way would a man who defended polluting corporations be willing to give that much to feed the homeless— not even for a date with Raina, who was worth that and so much more.

Owen could actually hear the tiny grinding sound as Stroud gritted his teeth.

Ha!
Owen thought.

“Going once…” said the auctioneer. “Going twice…”

Stroud clenched his fists, then shot to his feet. “Six hundred thousand!”

Owen stood as well. Stroud was a tall man, but Owen was taller. He towered over his rival as he called out, “Raina’s worth can’t be valued in money! But I’d pay much more than Mr. Stroud offers for the chance to spend some time with her. I bid one million dollars.”

The entire room gasped in shock. Raina’s beautiful eyes widened with amazement. Her pearly breasts moved as she inhaled, bobbing within their cups of scarlet satin. Owen imagined what they would feel like under his hands, soft and warm and silky-smooth.

The auctioneer nearly dropped his gavel, then recovered. “Mr. Maguire bids one million dollars for a date with Raina Williams! Going once… Going twice… Mr. Stroud, are you going to place a bid?”

Stroud shot a furious look at Owen, then shook his head and sat back down. Owen didn’t miss the relief in Raina’s eyes.

The auctioneer banged his gavel. “Sold! One date with Miss Raina Williams, to Owen Maguire for one million dollars!”

Owen’s bear rumbled his pleasure at the victory. Soon he would meet his mate.

He hoped she wasn’t afraid of bears.

***

Raina stood frozen in the middle of the stage, unable to believe what had just happened. The most stunning man she’d seen in her entire life had just paid one million dollars for a date with her. With
her
!

The auctioneer cleared his throat. “Show’s over, everyone. Thank you very much for your participation. Mr. Maguire, please go to the office to discuss your donation— I know that our program director would like to thank you in person. Everyone else, please come to the lobby to mingle and meet your dates, if you were lucky enough to win one.”

Raina watched as a well-dressed, middle-aged woman went up to Owen Maguire and gestured toward an office. That had to be the program director.

“I’ll meet you in the lobby,” Owen called to Raina, and gave her a wink before he stepped into the office. His deep voice sent delicious shivers down her spine.

Raina walked into the lobby in a daze. Why had the billionaire bid on
her
? He must be genuinely devoted to charity, she decided. He’d probably already earmarked the million dollars as his donation, and had simply waited until the final auction to bid it. His bid had everything to do with feeding the homeless, and nothing to do with her.

The lobby was filled with well-dressed people, drinking flutes of champagne and chatting. They all stared at Raina as she entered.

“It’s the million-dollar bachelorette!” someone called, and others applauded.

Raina blushed. Dates with the other bachelorettes had gone for anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars. Whatever Owen Maguire’s reasons, he’d spent an enormous amount of money on her.

“May I get you a drink?” The voice belonged to the other man who’d bid on her— Austin Stroud, the wealthy lawyer.

Austin was tall and handsome, though nowhere near as tall or as handsome as Owen. But the way he looked at her set her nerves on edge. She’d felt the same way when he’d bid on her. There was something greedy in his gaze.

“No, thank you,” Raina said politely, hoping he’d take the hint and leave.

He didn’t. Instead, he stood there and deliberately looked her over, his gaze lingering on her breasts. Uncomfortable, she crossed her arms over them.

“What, because I didn’t win the auction?” Austin asked. “Do I really need to pay to get a date with you?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then I’ll get you a glass of champagne.”

Irritated, Raina said, “I don’t want your champagne.”

“So you do only give the time of day to men who have to pay you to date them.”

Raina hadn’t even spoken to Owen, but she didn’t like what Austin was implying about him— or about her. “Owen Maguire hardly has to pay women to date him. And none of that money goes to me.”

“Of course,” said Austin smoothly. “In that case, why not have a date with me first? My car’s right outside.”

He reached for her elbow. She took a step back, disliking him intensely. In less than a minute, he’d stared at her breasts, tried to manipulate her into dating him, and implied that Owen was a loser and she was a gold-digger.

In a tone that didn’t allow for argument, she said, “No, thank you.”

“Don’t play hard to get,” Austin said.

“I’m not playing.” Raina raised her voice, hoping that making a scene in public would make him back off. “I said no, and I meant no!”

“Just one—” Austin began, then broke off, looking past Raina.

“You heard the lady.” Owen’s voice boomed out from behind her. She spun around. He stood tall and protective behind her, looming over both her and Austin. “She said no.”

“But—”

“Get lost.” Owen’s voice lowered in a snarl that made Raina’s hair stand on end. She wasn’t at all surprised when Austin hurriedly walked away. But once Austin was out of the room, Owen turned to her and said in surprisingly gentle tones, “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Raina replied. “All he did was pester me for a date. Thanks for rescuing me.”

She’d seen how handsome Owen was, but it had been from across a room, with the bright stage lights dazzling her eyes. Now she got a clear look at him for the first time.

He was one of the tallest men she’d ever seen— probably 6’4” or 5”— but muscular and well-proportioned. He looked big and strong, not gawky. His broad chest was like a sheltering wall, his arms bulging with tempting muscle. And his arms weren’t the only thing that bulged. As Raina’s gaze strayed downward, she saw a distinct lump in the front of his expensive pants.

Of course he’d be big everywhere
, she thought.

Embarrassed, she jerked her gaze upward. The strong features of Owen’s handsome face had looked fierce when he’d scared off Austin, but now his lips were parted in a smile. His black hair looked appealingly soft, not stiff with hair gel. But his most stunning feature was his eyes. They were true green, dark and pure as a forest. She’d never seen eyes like that in her life. They were like pools she could fall into.

“It was my pleasure,” said Owen. Raina loved the sound of his deep, manly voice. “But Raina, I have to ask… Did you actually want to be in that bachelorette auction?”

“No, my best friend talked me into it. She has chicken pox, so I’m taking her place.” Raina saw disappointment creep into Owen’s face. Did he think she didn’t want to go out with him? Hurriedly, she said, “But now I’m glad! You gave a million dollars to feed hungry, homeless people. That’s wonderful!”

“That was my pleasure too. And speaking of pleasure…” Owen took Raina’s hand. She jumped at the contact; it was as if a spark of electricity had leaped from his hand to hers. A wave of desire broke over her, at nothing more than the warm touch of his strong fingers. “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

“Of course I would!”

Raina agreed without thought. There was nothing in the world she wanted more than to spend more time with the sexy billionaire who’d bid one million dollars for her, gazing into those deep green eyes of his and listening to his deep voice. Then she wondered if
he
really wanted to go out with her, or if he was just living up to the agreement he’d made at the auction.

“I mean,” she stammered, “If you want to…”

“Raina.” Owen stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, rubbing in little circles. It was such a tiny movement, but it made her shiver with desire. She could feel her nipples stiffening within their satin cups, and prayed that he wouldn’t notice. “I would love to. And just to be clear, all I paid for is your company at dinner. And that’s all I’m asking for.”

“I know,” Raina said.

A hot blush crept up her face. That was all that the sort of man she’d want to date ever wanted from her. Company, friendship, and maybe advice on how they should approach the skinny women they had their eye on. It was only creeps like Austin who lusted after her body. How could she have ever imagined that a man like Owen would want anything more from her than conversation?

Well, there
was
his thumb on her hand. But it was just a thumb. A very sexy thumb! But nothing more.

“Then let’s go,” Owen said.

And, to Raina’s amazement, she found herself walking out of the lobby, arm in arm with the billionaire. She couldn’t feel her feet hitting the ground. It was as if she was walking on air.

He escorted her to the parking lot, where the valet brought him his car, a black Range Rover.

Owen noticed her surprise as it pulled up. “Expecting something different?”

“A limousine,” Raina admitted, as Owen opened the door for her. “With a chauffeur.”

Owen settled into the driver’s seat. “I like driving.”

“Or a sports car.”

“They’re tiny,” Owen said with a laugh. “I couldn’t fit into one.”

Raina looked him over again. Even the big seat of the Range Rover looked small with him sitting in it. Her thoughts strayed again to that bulge in his pants. She’d never been with a man as big as Owen looked to be. What would it be like, to have such a huge cock filling her…?

She had to stop thinking about his cock. It wasn’t like she’d ever get to see it, or touch it, or have anything else to do with it. Though, she thought with a private grin, it would undoubtedly star in her fantasies for the next ten years.

“Besides,” Owen went on, “I need to take it off-road. I have a cabin in the woods, where I like to stay and hike. Soak up some nature. It’s beautiful out there.”

“That sounds nice,” Raina sighed. Another thing she’d never get to see.

“Do you like hiking?”

“I love it.” Self-conscious, she added, “I know I don’t look like I exercise, but—”

“Why would you say that?” Owen asked, looking sincerely baffled. “I can see that you’re strong. And fit. And beautiful.”

Raina stared at him. No one ever said she looked strong and fit. But it was true. She did exercise, when she could find the time. But nobody ever looked past her soft plumpness to see her strength. And nobody but Madison ever called her beautiful. Flustered, she didn’t reply.

“You should come hiking with me some time,” Owen said, after an awkward silence. “You’d enjoy it.
I’d
enjoy it.”

Raina tried to simultaneously not stare at Owen while also examining his face to see if he was coming on to her or just being friendly. It was impossible. She caught a quick glimpse of his deep green eyes, then hastily dropped her gaze.

Another silence fell. She could feel Owen’s presence next to her, radiating warmth. A flutter of nervous desire made her stomach quiver. Was the billionaire really flirting with her? Was she getting mixed messages because he was trying not to scare her by coming on too strong? Or did she just want him so much that she was imagining things?

He pulled up in front of a restaurant, gave the keys to a valet, and opened the door for Raina. Not only that, but he took her elbow to help her down. Men never did that sort of thing for her: opening car doors, or defending her from creeps. He’d been so protective of her, even though he hadn’t yet exchanged a single word with her. She liked that. It made her feel warm and safe.

She smiled. “You’re a real gentleman.”

“Sometimes.” His voice lowered, giving that simple word a heady sexual promise. Before Raina could think she’d imagined it, he added, “I have a wild side, too.”

His words made Raina imagine all sorts of things, in a split second: Owen naked, his muscular body gleaming with sweat. Having sex with Owen outdoors. Having sex with Owen up against the wall. Owen’s huge cock filling her…