by Flynn Eire
"He knew he would lose, Lance," I said, rubbing his back. The irony wasn't lost on me, I was the one who got shot, but here I was comforting Lance. "I would never blame you for your father's actions. This is not your fault, and I'm going to be just fine."
"But your memories—" I put my hand over his mouth.
"Maybe they will come back, maybe they won't. But it's worth it if you see now who your father really is," I replied, still trying to soothe him. "I have faith in you, Lance. I think the farther you are away from your family the better chance you have at becoming a great warrior and a good man."
"My father said he's going to cut me off if I testify against him," he said sitting up to look at me. "I told him to go ahead, that what he did was wrong and he needs to be held accountable for it."
"I agree, but the choice is yours."
"Thank you, Matteo," he said as he cupped my cheek. "Nate is a very lucky guy."
"Yeah, hope he realizes that," I chuckled. "Now, forgive yourself, because there's really nothing for me to forgive, Lance. And let me get some rest, I'm wiped."
He surprised me by giving me a quick kiss on the lips, "I couldn't resist. You're in no condition to stop me and I've always wondered what that would feel like."
"Get out of here before Nate finds out," I answered, shoving him away playfully. I wasn't going to yell or bitch at him for stealing a kiss.
Lance touched his fingers to his lips and smiled before turning and leaving. He started laughing as he reached the doorway and it was the first time I had faith that Lance had a chance at a real life. All he needed was someone to see past the angry boy facade and have a little faith in him.
CHAPTER 7
The next day I felt as if I were losing my mind. I was going absolutely stir crazy. The doctor and I had talked more that morning and he told me that seeing, and being in, familiar places would help me with my memories. There was nothing he could really do to help me, or guarantee they would come back, but he said immersing myself in my old life was a good first step.
"Nate, thank god! Get me the fuck out of here," I begged when my mate came to see me the next afternoon.
He stopped walking, just stood there looking me over before bursting out laughing. "Well that's one hell of a hello."
"I'm sorry," I replied sheepishly. "Hello, my wonderful mate. Now please spring me from prison."
"It's not prison," my doctor grumbled, coming up to the other side of my bed. "And I can't release you into your own care."
"Can you release him into mine?" Nate asked as he walked the rest of the way to me and took my hand. "I promise to take good care of him."
"Fine, but no more sexual activity for at least a few more days," the doctor chuckled as he reached over and grabbed a wheelchair. "He needs to lay down as much as possible or sit up only at a slight angle. Matteo's brain needs to be jarred as little as possible while he's healing."
"Done," Nate said as he helped me sit up and get into the chair. I didn't like being wheeled around, but what the doctor said made sense. So, as much as I wanted to complain right then, I wanted out of that hospital even more.
"I'll be good, I promise," I swore as Nate started to roll me out of the room.
"Yeah, and hell will freeze over," Nate hissed in my ear before sucking on my earlobe for a moment. I shivered all over, wanting to pout when he pulled away and started pushing the chair.
"I think you're going to be the problem. You can't seem to be able to keep your hands off of me," I chuckled, loving that he couldn't. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't upset, merely teasing my mate. Nate poked me in the shoulder, letting me know he took my comment in the manner it was meant.
Thankfully Nate was incredibly strong and adapted to his transition well, because the camp wasn't set up to accommodate wheelchairs. Once we were out of the infirmary he had trouble pushing me across the rocks towards the warrior housing. When we got to the house there was an elevator we could use. Most warriors rarely used it; it was actually a service elevator for the household staff.
I sighed once we got to a room that I assumed was mine, and Nate opened the door. He wheeled me in and over to the bed. Looking around, nothing struck me as familiar.
"Matteo, don't cry," Nate whispered as he knelt down in front of me. I reached up and wiped away the tears I didn't even realize I was shedding. "We'll figure this out, okay? I know your memories will come back, and even if they don't we have an eternity to make new ones."
"I just feel so lost," I whispered closing my eyes. He leaned forward and put his head on my lap while wrapping his arms around my legs. I moved my arms around him and down his back. We stayed like that for several moments before the position started to give me a headache. "Can you help me into bed? I want to lie down."
"Of course, my mate, for all the rest of my days," Nate answered as he stood up. I froze; something about what he said haunted me. He helped me up and settled me into bed before sitting down next to me. Nate frowned at me, looking almost pissed off, and confused. The combination of what he said, and his reaction to me, loosened something inside my head.
Suddenly I was flooded with images and memories. I remembered everything from the moment Nate was out of his medical coma until I got shot. Every word, emotion, and heartbreak over ran my senses like a crazy flashback. I turned and looked at him, his eyes wide with concern, "Get out."
"Matteo, what just happened?" he asked, ignoring what I said. "You were staring off into space and not responding to me."
"I remember what happened right before I got shot," I growled. "I want you gone!"
"Please don't do this," Nate begged, looking panicked. "I told you what happened and we worked it all out."
"You telling me, and me actually remembering it, feeling it, are two very different things."
"I'm sorry," he whispered as he leaned in to kiss me. I turned my head away and he straightened back up. "I never meant to hurt you, Matteo. Right now you might not remember what your transition was like, the hurricane of emotions it is. But when you do, I hope you can forgive me for not handling mine very well."
"Just go, I want to be alone," I answered, completely exhausted.
Nate got up from the bed and walked to the door. He turned as he grabbed the knob, "I meant what I said about wanting to be mated to you. I've wanted you from the moment I met you."
"But I'm just not enough," I said before turning on my side away from him. He left without another word and I just stared off into space. Several minutes had passed by when I heard someone at my door again. "I said I wanted to be alone."
"I don't give a fuck what you want, you stupid cocksucker," someone growled. I turned over as fast as my injured body could manage.
There stood Gabe Aretos, Lance's father, and boy did he look pissed. I knew he was a warrior before being a council member. But seeing him now, fangs and claws out, it was apparent.
The only reason I even recognized the man was that I remembered seeing him in the car when Lance was dropped off at the camp. The man hadn't even given his son's new instructors the respect of getting out of the damn car and meeting us.
"You here to finally challenge me? Or are you just going to kill a wounded man when he can't fight back?" I asked, disdain dripping off my words.
"You're not worth challenging," Gabe snarled as he stepped towards me. "You look down your nose at me? Some foreigner who comes from a nothing family?"
"I'm a warrior for our race, one of the best," I replied, trying to sit up and failing miserably at it.
"And yet you challenge a council member's son, knowing he can't win," Gabe spat at me. "There's no honor in that!"
"I was teaching him a lesson," I yelled as loud as my pounding head would allow. "One he learned quite well. Did anyone tell you why I challenged Lance?"
"Because you mate was trying to fuck him."
"I walked in on Lance trying to rape a pre-trans," I answered finally managing to sit up. "Nate wasn't my mate then. Lance attacked him right after his
transition out of jealousy for our relationship."
"Bullshit," Mr. Aretos roared before smacking me across the face with his claws. "My son's no fag!"
"Yes, he is," Lance snarled as he walked through the door and grabbed his father's hand. "Even if I wasn't, this is no way to handle this. How did you even get out?"
"Money greases a lot of hands," Gabe snorted, yanking his arm away from Lance. "I'm here to finish the job and protect our family's honor."
"More like smear it," Lance yelled. "What I did was wrong. I was confused and overrun by emotions after my transition. I wanted Matteo for myself, but attacking Nate wasn't the answer. I took my punishment like a man, there's nothing dishonorable about that. But what you're doing, hiring an assassin and coming after Matteo when he's injured; there's no honor in that."
"He's warped your mind, you're not a fag," Gabe growled, turning on Lance. Seeing he was distracted, I grabbed my cell phone and called Dimitri. I left the phone on the night stand so he could hear what was going on.
Lance was still facing my direction and saw what I was doing. "Yes, I am, father. And coming here and killing Matteo won't change that."
"You're confused. You're still going through the effects of your transition," Gabe said, as if he was trying to convince himself.
"I've wanted Matteo since months before my transition," Lance replied, looking at me over his father's shoulder.
"You turned him into a fag!" Gabe turned back to me and screamed. His face was bright red with anger as he launched himself at me. Lance was just as fast, tackling his father to the ground. I watched in horror as the two of them traded blows; Lance wasn't strong enough to take on a centuries-old vampire, and ex-warrior, even if his father was out of shape and hadn't been training.
Moments later, the cavalry came. Dimitri and Alexander raced through the door, looking at me before seeing the fight on the ground. They jumped right in, pulling Gabe off a losing Lance. Alexander was easily able to restrain Gabe by himself as Dimitri went to help Lance.
"You're dead to me," Gabe screamed as Alexander started to drag him out of the room. "You are no longer my son, Lance!" He turned to me then, just before Alexander pulled him into the hallway. "And you, fag, this isn't over. I have a very long reach. Your days are numbered!"
"Shut the fuck up," Alexander growled before punching Gabe in the face. The man slumped to the floor unconscious. "Good, I'd rather deal with him this way."
"Thanks guys," I said as I flopped back to bed. "Fuck, I hate claws to the face."
"I'm sorry, Matteo," Lance gasped as Dimitri lifted him up. "I saw my father enter the camp on my way back from the mess hall. I didn't know what to do, and no one was around, so I just ran after him."
"This isn't your fault," I said taking his hand as Dimitri started to carry him out of the room. Lance was a little smaller than Dimitri, luckily, so he could handle it. "And you jumped in to save me. Thank you, Lance."
"Anytime," he mumbled as he passed out.
"He's beaten up pretty bad," Dimitri explained when I looked at him. "I'll get him to the infirmary."
"And I'll take father asshole here to our lock-up," Alexander said grabbing one of Gabe's feet and dragging him out of the room. Dimitri and I shared a smile at Alexander's antics.
"I love my mate," he chuckled as he walked towards the door. "I'll send someone over to help you with your face."
"I'm good," I answered as I touched my already healing gashes. "I moved away in time, so I didn't get it deep."
"Okay, my friend," Dimitri nodded as he left my room. I had been exhausted before, now there wasn't a word for how tired I felt. Closing my eyes, it was moments before I was out. And boy did I ever have some intense dreams.
Somewhere in the middle of my dream I realized it wasn't made up; it was my memories.
"You shouldn't play with fire, Nate."
"I want to be burned by you," he moaned as he started to kiss the side of my neck. "Please don't deny us this anymore, Matteo."
"Fuck," I groaned as he began biting on my earlobe. I shook as his hands roamed my back, loving the feel of the smaller man finally in my arms. "Be sure this is what you want, Nate. My control is not limitless."
"Fuck me, Matteo," Nate hissed in my ear, making my cock twitch against his. "I want you pounding my ass. I need to feel your cock inside me."
In the dream I also remembered and felt what I had been feeling at that moment. The months of built-up desire, and how hard I'd tried to deny my feelings for Nate. Just then, the images sped up as if someone hit fast-forward.
"Nate, don't push me," I growled, desperately wanting to do what he said. Instead I pulled my fingers out of him and let him slide down until his feet touched the floor. "This is wrong. We can't do this."
"It's not wrong," Nate yelled, shocking me down to my core. I'd never heard him raise his voice before, especially not to me. "Fine, I'm all stretched and ready to go. If you won't fuck me, I'm sure I can find someone else who will."
He didn't get more than two steps away from me before I was on him again. The idea of someone else touching him, especially after what we just shared, had me seeing red.
"You want me to fuck you, Nate?"
"Yes, I want you, Matteo," he panted, unable to move, seeing as I had his chest pinned against the wall. My body surrounded his smaller one completely as I held us both facing the tile. "And you want me."
"God help me, I do," I answered as I lined up my cock with his perfect little hole. Gently, I pushed in, stopping after passing the first ring. "You're so fucking tight, Nate."
"I said I wasn't a virgin," Nate seemed to have trouble talking, "I didn't say I'd had anyone in my ass before."
"I'm your first?" I asked, a thrill shooting through my entire body at the idea of being the only person in the man before me. "I should have prepared you more."
"It feels perfect, Matteo," he replied, turning to smile at me over his shoulder. "You're a perfect fit."
"Fuck," I groaned, loving that little smile of his and the fact that I was pleasing him. Not being able to hold still any longer I pushed more of my cock into him. I slowly worked it in and out of his very tight ass, grabbing his hips once I had worked more than halfway into him. "So fucking tight. Your ass is like heaven."
It was like being there again, as if it was happening for the first time. All the sensations hitting me made my cock swell and explode. Shit! I hadn't had a wet dream in centuries, but this was so much more than simply a dream. I didn't even have time to enjoy my post-orgasmic glow before moving on to what happened next.
"I'm not a mistake," Nate whispered as he started to back away from me. "Don't do this, Matteo. Don't take this away from us."
"There is no us, Nate," I said firmly, knowing in my heart it was a lie. There was very much an 'us', and I wanted there to be. "This should never have happened."
"You don't mean that."
"I do mean that, Nate," I replied, squaring my shoulders to leave no room for argument. "This was a mistake, it will never happen again. I won't ever touch you again, Nate."
"No," Nate whispered. Tears started to fall down his cheeks. Seeing the pain I was causing him made me want to do nothing but pull him into my arms and comfort him. But I knew this was best for him. Nate had so much promise, and was so young. He didn't need to be tied to a centuries-old warrior, he needed to explore life. I couldn't let him miss out on that, no matter how much I wanted him.
"I'm sorry I let this happen," I said as I got to my feet. I reached out a hand to help Nate up. He looked at it like it was a snake before his gaze went back to my eyes.
"It wasn't a mistake," he sniffled as he got to his feet without my help and backed away. "I'm not sorry it happened, so don't you dare apologize."
I woke up clutching my chest. My heart was breaking at the memory of Nate running away from me after all the shit that had come out of my mouth. And I hadn't been just out of my transition. Yeah, I had been trying to protect Nate; I remembered that
part. But I still hurt him badly, no matter my reasoning. He had forgiven me, was I able to do the same?
Before I could even answer my own question, the door burst open. Nate rushed into the room and leaned over me. "My god, what did he do to you?"
"I'm fine, the scratches are healing," I replied, smiling up at him. Making the decision that I could forgive Nate, I reached out and pulled him down to me. Fuck! My mate knew how to kiss. Nate wasn't just some wet noodle having me do everything; he gave as well as he took. I grabbed him by the neck and pulled him down to the bed.
Nate wrapped his hands around my neck, one hand tangling in my hair. I never wanted this kiss to end. I could spend the rest of my life kissing Nate. Oh, he could kiss like no one I'd ever been with before. Nate didn't just kiss, he devoured, stealing every last breath from my lungs. Needing more, I ripped off Nate's shirt, using one claw to shred it down the middle, and pulled it off him. I let my hands wander over Nate's smooth, soft, but firm skin.
"I take it you forgive me?" He gasped as we came up for air.
Nodding for the moment while I caught my breath, Nate's wide smile warmed my heart. "I dozed off for a while and relived our time in the shower. I was such an asshole. But you had to have forgiven me if we got together and mated. If you cared enough to forgive me when I messed up, then this can't be about you not wanting me."
"It's not," he whispered against my lips, choking up. "I love you, Matteo. I don't want another mate. Forget I ever brought up anyone else. Please? I swear I'll never bring it up again."
"Shhh, baby, calm down," I said when I realized he was about to hyperventilate. He wrapped his arms around me and for the moment we just held each other. When I felt him calming down I decided to try again. "I'm still okay with us trying to bring someone else to our bed, Nate. It's just hard to relive these memories. It's not just like remembering something that happened to me, I'm living it for the first time."
"I'm not sure I understand," Nate replied. He moved up so he could look down at my face, confusion written all over his.