by Lynn Hagen
“No.” Deon shook his head as he played with Jayce’s fingers. “Moose is a bear. Deputy Christopher is a coyote, and Burrows is a lion.”
“Are you shittin’ me?” If possible, Jayce’s eyes grew larger.
“Cyril, the diner owner, is a black panther. The guy who owns the auto repair shop, Raven, he’s a wolf shifter, and so is the owner of Tilted, Mike Cage.”
Jayce help up his hands. “Okay, enough for now.”
Deon winked. “Then I guess you don’t want to know about vampires and demons.”
Jayce pressed a hand to his forehead. “I think I’m about to pass out.”
Deon stood and pulled Jayce to his feet. He circled his arms around his mate. “Fair enough. But I’ve been dying to kiss you since seeing you in the diner.” He pressed his lips to Jayce’s ear. “Especially after I heard you cry out my name in the shower.”
“Oh god.” Jayce buried his face against Deon’s chest. “I’m so mortified.”
“Don’t be.” Deon kissed the shell of Jayce’s ear. “That was the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I’m still embarrassed.”
Deon tucked his finger under Jayce’s chin and lifted it until they were staring at each other. He dipped his head, brushing his lips over Jayce’s. When his mate parted his lips, Deon slid his tongue inside, groaning at how good the man tasted.
Jayce slid his arms around Deon’s neck, pushing up on his toes to get closer. Deon knew that if he didn’t end the kiss, dinner wouldn’t be made, and as badly as he wanted to take this further, his mate’s needs came first.
Reluctantly, Deon pulled away. He pressed his forehead against Jayce’s. “We’ll pick this back up later. After I’ve fed you.”
Jayce had a dazed look in his brown eyes as he nodded. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Chapter Four
Deon moved around the kitchen, brushing against Jayce every chance he had. At first, his mate kept jumping, but now he sort of leaned into Deon whenever their bodies touched. It took all of Deon’s concentration not to reach out and pull the man into his arms. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d thought he wanted Jayce to absorb everything first. He had to give his mate time to come to grips with the idea of their foreverness before he took the human to bed.
But fuck if Jayce wasn’t one tempting son of a bitch. His sleek body, his light brown hair, those kissable lips, and the way he moved all drove Deon nuts. He felt like panting every time Jayce looked his way. But his panther did purr.
They were in the middle of making breaded pork chops. Deon dropped two of them into the hot oil, the aroma already filling the kitchen. He wiped his hands on a towel then tossed it over his shoulder.
“How did you learn to cook so well?” Jayce sniffed at the pan. “My mouth is watering already.”
Deon thought about his late wife, Selene. He didn’t want to open himself up. Not right now. He’d tell Jayce about her and his son…someday. It wasn’t as if he and Selene had had the best marriage anyway.
Besides, he wanted to keep the mood light. He shrugged. “Just learned over the years.”
Deon had planned on making a salad to go with the meal. He’d already pulled some of the ingredients from the fridge, and Jayce helped himself to a few small cubes of Colby-Jack cheese. He popped them into his mouth while leaning against the counter.
“Exactly how old are you?”
Deon chuckled. “I thought you’d had enough for now?” He turned the pork chops over. They were coming out nicely. He pulled a bag of vegetables from the freezer. The corn was in a steam bag, so Deon tossed the bag into the microwave and set the timer.
Jayce took a deep breath and nodded, like he was bracing himself. “Go ahead and tell me.”
“Take a guess.” Deon kissed Jayce’s cheek.
Damn that blush. Every time Deon saw it he wanted to bend Jayce over the nearest flat surface.
“I’m not very good at guessing ages.” He pursed his lips. “Your early thirties?”
A bark of laughter escaped Deon. “Try again.”
“Early forties?”
Deon pointed his finger toward the ceiling. “Add about two hundred years to that.”
Jayce’s jaw dropped. “You’re teasing me, right?”
Deon grabbed two plates from the cupboard. “Nonhumans age very slowly. It’s our metabolism and the fact that our cells regenerate. We also don’t suffer from human diseases or ailments.”
“You guys can’t get cancer or Alzheimer?”
Deon shook his head. “Not even the common cold. And when we bind our souls together, you won’t suffer from any of that either. You’ll age just as slowly as I do.”
Jayce’s eyes bugged.
“I have heard of a few exceptions.” Deon pulled the pork chops from the pan and turned the burner off. “I’m just not sure how true those rumors are.”
“Rumors?”
“Some mated human caught a cold, and some nonhuman had some kind of tumor in his head.” Deon crossed his arms. “How’re you holding up?”
“So far I’m vertical. I haven’t passed out yet.” Jayce helped him set the table. “What’s this whole mate thing? I mean you told me, but I was too busy having a mental meltdown.”
Deon started to explain, but someone beat on the front door. He wasn’t expecting any company, and it was still raining heavily outside.
“Why don’t you finish in here while I see who it is?” Deon headed for the kitchen exit before Jayce could answer him. Whoever it is better have a damn good reason for knocking like that.
Deon was surprised to see Deputy Christopher and Deputy Burrows on his porch when he looked through the glass of the front door. He opened the door but didn’t open the screen door. “Can I help you guys?”
“We were told that Jayce Foyer is doing some work on your farm,” Malik said. “Do you mind if we have a word with him?”
Deon stepped outside, closing the door behind him. “What’s this about?”
“We’d prefer to speak with Mr. Foyer,” Darren said.
“He’s my mate.” Deon had said that a bit harshly, but he didn’t like the feeling settling in his gut. Cops didn’t show up asking for someone just to say hi. He would be damned if he brought Jayce out here until he knew why the deputies had stopped by.
“Shit,” Malik mumbled while Darren explained about a dead body and a strange call the sheriff had received.
“And you think my mate had something to do with that?” Deon asked incredulously. True, he didn’t know anything about Jayce, but the guy was shy as fuck. There was no way he’d killed someone.
“That’s what we’re trying to find out,” Malik said.
Deon remembered when he’d gone out of town with these two and Moose. They’d gone to find Mike Cage’s mother-in-law. Some mafia kind of guy had kidnapped her, and they’d recovered Emma Oliver.
He’d enjoyed their mission. It had been exciting, but Deon was glad to be back to a slower pace of life.
“So you’re here to question Jayce because of some computerized voice telling you he’s the guilty party?” Deon refused to believe Jayce had anything to do with this, and was about to tell Darren and Malik to fuck off, but Jayce had come to the door.
“Is everything okay?”
Deon told Jayce what the deputies had told him. Jayce looked genuinely shocked. “Someone said I had evidence at my house?”
Darren nodded.
Jayce looked at Deon. “My keys are in my pants.”
“I emptied your pockets before I threw your clothes in the wash.” Deon had thought it better to wash them since Jayce had worked in the barn. He hadn’t wanted to just throw the dirty clothes into the dryer.
“I can give you my keys,” Jayce said to Darren.
“No.” Deon shook his head. He didn’t think either deputy was dirty, but he wanted to be present when they conducted their search. “We’re going with you.”
“But what about dinner?” Jayce asked.
“We can gr
ab something from the diner.” Deon hated that they would waste their meal, but fuck if he was leaving anything to chance. Jayce was being accused of murder, and Deon would make damn sure his mate’s name was cleared.
He went to the kitchen to make sure everything was off. While they were at Jayce’s, his mate could grab a few changes of clothes to bring with him, because, until this was resolved, Deon wasn’t letting Jayce out of his sight.
* * * *
Jayce would be a liar if he said he wasn’t afraid. More afraid than when Deon revealed his mind-blowing secret. More frightened than when Deon said they were fated to be together. Jayce was being accused of murder, and he hadn’t done the crime. He didn’t even know who had been killed.
His mind was in a whirl as he hurried to Deon’s truck. The rain was starting to let up, but it was still coming down, wetting the clothes Deon had loaned him but not soaking them.
Jayce slammed the truck door and shivered. Mostly from fear, but a little from the cooler temperature outside. He’d have to grab a jacket when he got home, if the deputies let him touch anything.
“Don’t worry,” Deon said when he jumped into the driver’s side. “We’re gonna clear this up.”
Deon hadn’t asked Jayce if he was guilty. The guy had had Jayce’s back from the word go. That surprised him. They’d just met, and Deon fully trusted him.
“I know you’re dying to ask if I did it.” Jayce couldn’t help the question. Any sane man should be asking if he’d done it or not. If roles were reversed, Jayce would’ve asked. He didn’t know a damn thing about Deon Wilkerson.
Deon cut a glance at Jayce before starting the truck. “I’m pretty good at reading people, and you don’t seem the type to stab someone multiple times.”
Jayce felt like he would throw up. Deon had left that tidbit of information out when he told him why the cops were there. “Oh god, are you serious?”
“See, that reaction tells me you didn’t do it.” Deon pulled down the driveway, following the police cruiser as they headed toward Jayce’s house.
Jayce hadn’t committed the crime he was being accused of. Now if the deputies had asked if he’d jaywalked, Jayce would’ve been guilty as sin. He never used the crosswalks. Those were for little kids and the elderly.
Everything about this accusation was bullshit. Jayce knew it, and clearly Deon knew it, too. But the cops had to do their job, follow any lead. That still didn’t make Jayce feel any better. He kept thinking of his house, of what they might find. Had he left any dirty magazines out? Had he washed his dishes, folded his laundry and put it away? When was the last time he’d vacuumed, and could there be a murder weapon lying on his kitchen counter?
The last was a definite no. Jayce bulked at the idea of shoving a knife into anyone. He wanted to vomit. Why would anyone call the sheriff and accuse him? That didn’t make any sense. As far as Jayce knew, he didn’t have any enemies.
But clearly someone was trying to frame him. Again, he didn’t have any enemies, so he couldn’t fathom who would do that to him.
As soon as he got a moment to himself, he would call Baxter. His best friend would flip over this. He had no doubt that Baxter would storm down to the police station and read the sheriff the riot act. He and Baxter had been friends since kindergarten. They’d been inseparable growing up. Even as adults they talked every day and hung out whenever they could.
Right now Jayce needed his best friend but knew Baxter was at work. He looked over at Deon and felt a sense of peace wash over him. Jayce wasn’t sure why, either. But Deon had said something about a connection between them. Was that the feeling Jayce had felt since meeting Deon? He’d thought it had been lust.
Jayce’s heart thrashed behind his ribs when Deon pulled into his driveway. The cops had parked at the curb and were getting out, heading for the door.
“Whatever happens in there, let me handle it, okay?” Deon brushed a hand over Jayce’s hair. “I know you didn’t do this, but something sinister is going on. I can feel it in my gut.”
The only thing Jayce felt in his gut was ice cubes. He looked at the door handle but couldn’t make himself open the door. Fear was paralyzing him.
Deon cupped Jayce’s face. “We do this together. I’m not gonna leave you hanging. Got that?”
Jayce nodded, but he still wasn’t able to make himself get out. Deon did and then circled the truck. He opened Jayce’s door and helped him. Jayce’s legs were gonna buckle. He just knew it. But they stayed firm and steady as Deon took his hand and led him to the door.
The deputies were still waiting. Deon dug Jayce’s keys out and opened the door. The house felt cold and dark as they stepped inside.
“If you don’t mind, stay by the door,” Deputy Burrows said.
Jayce sat on the couch. It was close to the door, but his legs had started to wobble. Deon sat next to him as the deputies conducted their search.
Twenty minutes later, Deputy Christopher emerged from the kitchen. “We have a problem.”
Jayce’s heart went into overdrive. “What kind of problem?”
The deputy held up a clear plastic bag with the word Evidence written in red letters. Inside the bag was a bloody knife. Deputy Burrows came from down the hallway, another clear bag in his hand. It held what looked like a bloody shirt.
Deon jumped up and snarled when Deputy Burrows began to read Jayce his rights. This couldn’t be happening! Jayce forced himself not to cry as he was cuffed.
“Get your fucking hands off him,” Deon shouted.
Deputy Christopher held up his hands, standing between Deon and Jayce. “Take it easy, Deon. We’ll get this figured out, but until then, you know damn well we have to take him in. The evidence is too overwhelming.”
“I’ll drive him to the station,” Deon demanded. “Get your hands off my mate, or you won’t like the results.”
Deputy Christopher’s features darkened. “He’ll probably be freed by tonight, but you keep acting this way and you’ll have a fucking cell right beside him.”
“It’s okay,” Jayce said past the hard, burning lump in his throat. “They’re just taking me to the station. You can follow them.”
Deon looked as though he was ready to shred the two cops. That was the last thing Jayce wanted. If they were gonna figure this out, one of them needed to be free.
“We’ll let you come,” Deputy Burrows said, “but only if you don’t cause any trouble.”
Deon took a deep breath then nodded. He gave Jayce a quick kiss before Jayce was hauled away.
* * * *
Steaming mad didn’t even come close to how Deon felt. After the bond he’d shared with Darren and Malik when they’d gone to Oklahoma, he wanted to tear both their throats out.
He was in the police station, pacing, growling at anyone who looked his way. Deon was also afraid. They had found evidence at Jayce’s house that tied him to the murder. Deon wasn’t as confident as he’d been before about Jayce’s innocence. Come on. A bloody knife and shirt? That was incriminating as fuck.
“We don’t need to do a blood analysis,” Malik said as he watched Deon pace. “My sense of smell. The blood on the stuff we found matches the homeless guy. My nose is better than any test that can be given, but we’re still sending the items off for testing.”
“He was framed,” Deon argued.
“Do you know that for sure?” Malik asked.
They were at Malik’s desk, and Jayce was sitting in interrogation, although the wording on the door had read Interview Room. That was bullshit. Deon was seconds away from getting up and rescuing Jayce, although he would have to get through the deputies on duty, and two of them were shifters.
“Does Jayce look like a goddamn murderer to you?” Deon started bouncing his leg, trying desperately to hold his shit together. He was on the verge of losing it.
Malik studied him for a minute. “How long have you known Jayce Foyer?”
“Why does that matter?”
“I see.” Malik folded h
is arms on his desk and stared Deon right in his eyes. “I know we’ve worked a mission before, and we’re cool, but you don’t really know Jayce, do you? How can you sit there and vouch for him? I know he’s your mate, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t kill that guy.” Malik shrugged. “Maybe they had a falling out. Maybe the bum asked for money and got a bit aggressive and Jayce was just defending himself. You can’t say for sure, can you?”
No, Deon couldn’t, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t defend Jayce with his last breath. Mates were a rare find, protected by their kind, and even if Jayce had killed the guy, Deon would stick by the Jayce’s side.
Sheriff Copache walked in. “Jayce’s parents are here.”
Oh fuck. Deon groaned as Jayce’s dad made a beeline for Malik’s desk. “This is all your fault.” He jabbed a finger at Deon. “I told my son that working for you wasn’t a good idea. You got him into this mess, didn’t you? Somehow you twisted his mind. You gave him some of those drugs young people take. Admit it!”
“Mr. Foyer.” Malik stood up and inserted himself between Jayce’s father and Deon. “We can talk about this in another room.”
“Murder!” Mr. Foyer threw his arms out. “Jayce isn’t capable of killing another man.”
“He’s still a virgin,” Mrs. Foyer volunteered. “Virgins don’t kill people.”
Deon furrowed his brows. Jayce was a virgin? And even if he was, what the hell did that have to do with killing a guy?
“He’s a good boy,” Mr. Foyer argued. He pointed at Deon again. “Arrest that man for brainwashing Jayce. My son was an honest man until he met Mr. Wilkerson.”
Deon had had enough. He got up and stretched to his full height. “I didn’t do anything to Jayce. He came to my farm and cleaned out stalls. I was about to take him home when the rain started. We were just waiting it out. I don’t do drugs and am fully against them. I didn’t give your son a damn thing, and why in hell would I brainwash him?”
“To do depraved things,” Mr. Foyer said. “I watch those criminal shows. Men who live alone in isolated places aren’t right in the head.”