Page 21 of Snatching Jackie (Wintermoon Shorts #5)

JACKIE

I give myself a slow twirl in front of the mirror, finally feeling like myself in a dress that embraces my curves rather than fights them.

The soft fabric caresses my skin with each movement.

I’ve taken my time with a light makeup look, and my freshly washed hair is moisturized and straightened.

The new slippers on my feet are plush and comfortable—a small luxury I didn’t know I needed until now.

The bedroom is a mess from my self-care regimen, clothes scattered across the bed and makeup covering the dresser. I’ve never been one to leave a space cluttered, so I start gathering the damp towels from the floor, wiping down the bathroom counter, and organizing the dresser.

As I hang up Jabari’s new shirts in the closet, a realization hits me. “I don’t have to worry about money,” I say aloud, testing how the words feel in my mouth. A laugh bubbles up from somewhere deep within me.

Here I was, stressing over my failing boutique, and now I can have whatever I want—a business on Wintermoon, the richest land in the world. The irony isn’t lost on me. Everything I’ve been working for, struggling for, is suddenly within reach because I’m fated to a bear shifter.

The smell of baked macaroni and cheese floats up from downstairs, making my stomach growl. I hang up the last of his shirts and head downstairs, following the smell.

Jabari’s setting plates at the table, his massive frame making the dining space seem smaller than it is. He’s cooked dinner while I was upstairs pampering myself, and the thoughtfulness of the gesture touches something deep inside me.

When he notices me, he freezes mid-motion, his jaw slackening as his eyes travel from my face down to my feet and back up again, lingering on the curves my dress accentuates.

“You like?” I ask playfully, giving him a slow twirl reminiscent of India’s showing off on the ship, but with my own confident flair.

When I finish my spin, I meet his heated gaze. “Do you like what you see?”

“Yes,” he rasps .

He pulls out a chair for me, and I giggle at how hard he’s fighting not to grab me. His fingers flex at his sides, and his jaw tightens with the effort.

“I made you dinner,” he says, his voice deeper than usual.

“Thank you,” I reply, walking to the table and puckering my lips for a kiss.

He doesn’t hesitate. He leans down, pressing his lips to mine in what was meant to be a simple greeting but quickly transforms into something desperate and hungry. His mouth claims mine with a passion that makes my knees weak, and I have to steady myself against his chest.

When we finally break apart, I’m breathless as I take my seat. He pushes in my chair with a gentle care that seems at odds with the heat of his kiss.

The food looks incredible—steak bites seared to perfection, creamy baked macaroni and cheese, and bright green steamed broccoli arranged artfully on the plate. He grabs a bottle of wine from the counter, placing it before me with a wine glass that he fills halfway.

“You don’t really eat any of this stuff, right?” I ask, watching as he brings over a pitcher of water and what looks like nearly raw steak bites to his own place setting.

He sits across from me, his eyes meeting mine over the table. “With my brother and the rest of my clan all mated, all the mating pheromones were driving me nuts.”

I take a sip of the wine, wincing slightly at the strength. “I can imagine.”

“Leah would visit the clan to try and teach us human ways, but none of the men wanted to touch human food—except for me,” he continues. “I buried myself in recipes and looked forward to her visits. She noticed my torture, so she suggested that I come work on the tourist island.”

I grab my fork and stab it into one of the steak bites. “The job before you were working on the ship?”

He nods as I take a bite. The meat is tender and perfectly seasoned, practically melting in my mouth.

He picks up one of his rare steak bites with his fingers, examining it for a moment before popping it into his mouth.

“As long as the meat isn’t well done, and there’s no seasoning, it’s easier to tolerate,” he explains.

“It’s really my bear, though. We’ve gotten used to tolerating human food, but we prefer a fresh hunt. ”

“And what about the water?” I ask, gesturing to his pitcher.

“That’s a shifter thing. Shifters only drink water,” he says.

“Though, I’ve heard Leah and Kade whispering that the doctor at Wintermoon Medical has been testing things.

Apparently, if you add a bit of fruit flavoring, say lemon, taste can calm our animals down.

It’s being tested with one of the orphaned lion shifters. ”

My face falls. “Oh yes, those poor babies. Jewel filled me in on what happened to them from the human radicals. Just awful.”

He nods solemnly, agreeing.

“Can we visit the school one day?” I ask.

“Yes,” he says. “I want you to meet Ebony. Our future cub will attend the academy—at least, I’d like for him to.”

“Already planning our future?” I tease, but my smile fades when I see the seriousness in his eyes.

“You don’t understand how long I’ve been waiting for this moment,” he says.

I fall quiet, the weight of his words settling in. We eat in silence for a long moment, the only sounds the soft clink of my silverware against my plate.

“Dinner is good,” I finally say.

He smiles, his face lighting up at the simple compliment. It’s endearing how little it takes to please him.

“Are you going back to lumberjack work now that you have me?” I ask.

He nods. “My bear and I love that work the most. But we also like serving our mate.”

“Are you close with any of the other clan members?”

“Yes, all of them,” he says. “But being newly mated, I’ve been giving them space to bond with their women. And I’m also close with my brother.”

“Well, I guess I’ll make myself useful by helping Jewel keep the pantry stocked,” I suggest. “It looks like a lot of work.”

“The men will do the stocking,” Jabari explains. “She just picks out the food.”

“I want to get to know the other women of the clan,” I tell him.

“I’ll introduce you tomorrow,” he promises. “They’ve been keeping their distance because you’ve just arrived. They want you to get comfortable and adjust.”

We enjoy the rest of our meal, chatting and laughing, getting to know each other better. The conversation flows easily, and I find myself relaxing in a way I haven’t in years. There’s something about his earnestness that breaks down my usual defenses.

When I finish my plate and wine, he stands and begins to clear the table. I move to help him, but he snatches my plate and glass before I can grab them.

“I can clean up,” I protest.

He’s already moving toward the sink, so I follow, bumping him playfully with my hip to make him move over.

“Fine, I’ll help you then,” I say, and he just smiles down at me, eyes crinkling at the corners.

“You wash while I rinse,” I instruct, taking my place beside him at the double sink.

As we work together, passing dishes between us, I ask, “Do any of the bear shifter clans get together sometimes?”

“No, not really,” Jabari says, taking one of the rinsed pots. “Every clan keeps to themselves. But we are close with our cousins from Axel Clan. They visit sometimes, and we visit them.”

He wipes his hands on a dish towel. “Most of the congregating in Wintermoon is done in the market with seasonal festivities and vow renewal ceremonies. Kade has been working hard to get us out of our villages more.”

I rinse the last dish and pass it to him to dry. “I’m wondering where I’ll fit in on Wintermoon. I’m just a personal stylist, but I have other skills too.”

We move together easily, putting away the leftovers and wiping down the counters. The kitchen shines under our combined efforts. There’s something nice about this—the easy rhythm of working together.

“You don’t have to rush to assimilate into the clan,” He tells me, folding the dish towel. “You can rest, enjoy your new home, work on making it a comfortable space.”

I look around at the cabin. “It is comfortable. The clan practically gave the place a full remodel while we were in the market,” I gesture at the new furniture and electronics.

Jabari laughs, the sound rich and deep. He turns off the water and pulls me into his arms. His eyes rake over my body, his hands moving to my waist and then sliding down to cup my ass.

“Can we stop talking now?” he asks, his voice dropping to a growl. “I want to eat your pussy again.”

I shake my head with a smile. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Love me,” he says simply. “Just love me. I’ll handle all the rest.”

I run my fingers through his beard, the coarse hair surprisingly soft against my skin. “I’m teaching you how to keep your hair and beard trimmed in the morning.”

“I told you, I’ll clean myself up for you, baby,” he promises before leaning down to press his lips to mine.

The kiss deepens quickly, his hunger evident.

Before I can process what’s happening, he’s lifted me onto the counter, positioning himself between my legs and pulling me tight against his body.

His hands move to my breasts, pulling them free from my dress and bra.

He lowers his head, taking a nipple into his mouth, and I gasp at the sensation of his warm tongue circling the sensitive peak.

He lifts my dress over my hips, spreading my legs wider.

I place my palms on the counter, watching as he tears my panties apart with a single pull, tossing the ruined silk to the floor.

I frown slightly—those were hard to find in the market, and there were limited options in my size.

I make a mental note to stock up on underwear, since he apparently enjoys destroying them.