Shifters: A Samantha Reece Mystery Book 1 by Jaime Johnesee (libby ebook reader txt) 📕

guys just don’t care. To them all it boils down to is they feel inadequate because they can’t satisfy me.

Before I could stop myself I found I was spewing all of this information to Ben who looked at me with a concerned and understanding smile.

“I’m not a whore,” I said stupidly, wondering why I had let all this stuff spill out to him of all people.

“I didn’t think you were. Would never think you were. I know what is in your heart and soul, Sam. I don’t see any evil or malicious intent there. I just see a sad and broken person who is in need of a friend. I promise I will be that friend, and if you ever want more I would be happy to be that for you as well.” He held out his right pinky finger to me. “I pinky promise that I will not force myself on you in any respect and I will adhere to your wishes.”

I smiled and took his pinky in my own.

“So, now that the most embarrassing stories of my life are out of the way, maybe you can tell me a couple of your own to make me feel less vulnerable.” I tried to smile but I was speaking the truth and it didn’t feel right to make light of it all right now.

Even though making fun of the dark in my life was my normal defense mechanism.

“Sure thing. When I was sixteen I got arrested stealing women’s underwear from a store. I was going to give them as a gift to my girlfriend, honest. A classmate who didn’t like me very much saw me get arrested and they spread the story all around school that I liked to wear women’s panties. My girlfriend broke up with me and I didn’t date again until college.”

“That’s definitely embarrassing.” I gave him a weak smile.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any really bad stories like yours to share, except for how I became a shifter.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

I could tell this story was a difficult one for him to relate. It seemed to be as troubling and painful for him as mine was for me. I stayed silent, scooted over, and put my hand over one of his. He opened his eyes and gave me a sad smile.

“If you don’t want to tell the story, you don’t have to. It’s not easy telling folks your most painful moments and I understand if you don’t want to.”

“No, I think you need to hear this. I was on a date in college and the girl I was with raped me. I know there is this stupid stigma that guys can’t get raped, but I was. As much as I liked the girl, I was a virgin and was truly wanting to wait for the right one, especially with what happened with my high school girlfriend. I know it’s ridiculously cheesy and this is embarrassing as hell for me to admit. I’m fairly certain there are some assholes who think my guy card should be revoked because of this.”

“Well, those people are just that, assholes.”

He took a shaky breath. “Anyway, she raped me and then she partially changed while she was raping me … and she leaned her jaguar head down and bit my shoulder. It was like an awful nightmare, or a horror movie; she didn’t bother to change back, just kept raping me with that cat head and said, “Now you’re just like me.” Then she finished, got off me, dressed, and left. I never saw her again and I never wanted to. I went to the hospital and a doctor there pulled me aside and explained what’d happened. He told me about shifters and that I was now one of them. I was given numbers for support groups and super-friendly counselors to speak with. It didn’t help. That’s why I was planning on supporting you through the change. I never meant to disappear on you. I am so sorry I bit you. I really never meant to turn you and run. If my dad hadn’t died I swear things would have been different, Sam.”

I could see he was being honest with me.

As hard as it was for him, he was looking me right in the eyes and the sincerity there was unmistakable.

“I’m sorry I accused you of fang-raping me.” I hadn’t known what he had gone through at the time and now I understood why his reaction to my accusation had been so immediate and visceral.

I also understood how he thought his turning me was gentle, because, compared to his own turning, it was.

“It’s okay. I understand how you see it that way. I was wrong in changing you without consent and I am so sorry I did that to you.”

“I wish you hadn’t, but, all in all, it did help me. I was in a bad place when you turned me. I don’t think I can ever say I appreciate what you did, but it gave me a new perspective on life.”

“I’m sorry if I was arrogant or cocky before. To tell you the truth, I felt I had to put on airs to impress you. I really had no clue what you would think of me and I was hoping the whole Mr. Mystery act would intrigue you.” He looked embarrassed and his ears reddened as he met my eyes.

“I’m sorry if I was a bitch before. I didn’t know what you had been through and just thought you were an arrogant asshole that imposed your own will on me.”

“I suppose that’s exactly what I was and for that I really am truly sorry.”

“So am I. Shall we start over as friends?”

“Friends.” Ben smiled and held up the carton of egg rolls and asked, “Would you like another?”

“No, thanks. I’m full. For the next hour, anyway,” I joked.

My cellphone rang and I moved into the hallway as I answered it. I was only half