Hearing footsteps and realizing he had nowhere to hide, he forced his body to shift back into his animal form knowing it would cost him later. Too many shifts in too short a time span could be dangerous to his health, but he had no choice. The choice he did have, he made with a grin. He decided to have a little fun with the intruder before he left on his trip.

He set up the scene perfectly; when the intruder entered his little cove all they would see was him coming out of the water in human form, naked. He dove into the water and waited for the intruder to appear. With his enhanced animal vision he watched as the widow entered the cove, a blanket and picnic basket draped over one arm and her trusty shotgun over the other.

The moment she started to unbutton her dress for a swim, he thought he’d died and gone to heaven. She looked even more alluring and delicious under her clothing. The sexual excitement he felt at watching her undress affected his control over his shifting abilities. Her shock at seeing a naked man rising out of the water matched his at the inability to control his form. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before, at least not since he’d hit puberty and had gained his hard won control over his abilities.

He had to admit that in this instance he was totally in the wrong. This was her cove after all. He’d taken advantage of the safety she provided him here, along with the fact that she never once came out here, while he’d been in residence. It didn’t hurt that the trappers were well aware that she had a habit of shooting first and asking questions later when she caught them on her land. It meant he was safe on her lands.

He recovered more quickly than she did, thank heavens, or he’d be a dead were now. “A million apologies good Miss, I thought this cove was abandoned.” He saw the appreciation and desire flash through her eyes when she looked him over. He’d have thought the look was imagined if a bright red blush hadn’t appeared to cover her cheeks in embarrassment at being caught looking.

“Are you a trapper?”

Of all the questions for her to ask him, he never expected that one. “Why, no, Miss, I was merely traveling through on my way to…” She cut him off mid-sentence, pulling a grin from his lips.

“It’s Mrs., and I don’t allow hunting on my lands either!”

His respect for her rose another notch, even half naked, she stood her ground against him. “Is fishing allowed?” His grin returned when he saw her start of surprise at his question.

“Why, yes, it is…” She looked at him with confusion evident in her eyes.

“I would never go against the word of such a beautiful woman as yourself, especially when she has a gun so close at hand.” Her blush deepened, but the shotgun never wavered. Good girl. Make me earn your trust.