Tyler was another problem. He worked from home, and as a tiger-shifter had apparently higher body temperature than humans, so he paraded through the house shirtless. All. The. Time. Every time he and Jason were passing each other in the narrow hall or on the staircase, they nearly brushed. And every time Jason reacted with an almost painful hard on. And Tyler the jackass seemed to know it. Jason caught him smirking more than once. He started suspecting that the bloody tiger did it on purpose.
So there it was, the situation was becoming complicated. And it wasn’t only his arousal making it so. Unfortunately that was the lesser of two evils. The bigger problem was—Jason was starting to care for his two rescued men. And not in an I-feel-responsible-for-them kind of way. No, they were actually growing on him, and Jason thought that he might be slowly falling for them.
And therein lay the problem. Jason had no idea what caused his emotions to come back. Assuming that both men would return his feelings and they somehow navigated their way to creating a three-way relationship, Jason had no idea if his emotions would stay with him forever. And if sometime after Jason ended up in such a relationship his feelings suddenly disappeared, that would hurt both men more than anything. He just knew it. That’s why he tried to steer clear of any and all situations that involved any sexual or emotional contact. And with his latest inclination to grow a boner anytime he was near his two guests, it was becoming more and more difficult.
Jason sighed as he lay sprawled on his bed with his hands under his head and staring at the very fascinating sight of his ceiling. There was no easy answer to his problem. He pondered it over and over again and every time came up with nothing.
People said that it was better to love and lose somebody than to not love at all. Jason was never convinced it was true. He thought that it was one of the most painful things to watch a loved one grow indifferent towards you. And that’s exactly what would happen if he invested himself in a relationship and then lost his feelings once again. Jason sighed again and got up to get dressed. It was his and Toby’s day off, and he promised the young man to help him look for a way to go back to school.
He was halfway down the stairs when he heard a doorbell.
“I’ll open it,” said Tyler as he emerged from the kitchen, shirtless like always and clutching his ever-present coffee cup. Tyler was apparently useless without coffee. There was no working for him until he finished his second cup. Jason could sympathise. He loved his coffee as well. Jason reached the bottom of the stairs just as he heard the door opening and a familiar voice saying…
“Oh, um, hello. I’m here to visit my son.”
“Jason!” shouted Tyler unnecessarily as he knew Jason was just behind the corner. “You’re mum’s here!”
“Yes, I know, I heard her,” he answered through clenched teeth, entering the hallway. Jason discovered that some emotions he could live without. Like being annoyed. That was one that Tyler excelled in causing.
“Hi, Mom. What’re you doing here?” he asked, frowning at Tyler’s smirk when the other man passed him on his way back to kitchen. Before his mother could answer, Toby came running down the stairs, pounding his feet like a herd of elephants and asking from halfway down.
“Hi Jason, I wondered if we could go to—” He paused when he rounded the corner and saw that Jason wasn’t alone. He immediately stopped and dropped, his head peeking from beneath his bangs. “Um, hi.” He gave a little wave and glanced at Jason uncertainly. Jason hurried to reassure him.
“It’s all right, Toby, that’s my mum, Elise.”
“Nice to meet you, Madam,” said Toby, quietly as if unsure what to do. Jason knew that while the young man was better with social interactions, he was still pretty shy when meeting new people.
“Nice to meet you too, Toby.” Elise smiled at him, putting him at ease. Toby visibly relaxed and addressed the other man.
“I’ll go to the kitchen, Jason. Would you like something to drink?” Toby asked, looking at both of them.
“A cup of tea would be fine, dear,” Elise answered politely with a kind expression and eliciting a bright smile from Toby.
“Very well,” Toby said. He disappeared in the kitchen. Jason followed him with his eyes and then turned back to his mother.
“So? What are you doing here?”
“Well,” Elise answered, lifting her brows at his curt question. “When you didn’t call to arrange our lunch date when you were supposed to, I decided to come and see what was wrong. Now I see nothing is wrong and rather the opposite, everything is looking fine…very fine indeed.” She winked and wiggled her brows.
“Mum!” Jason groaned. He completely forgot his mother had a way of embarrassing him very easily. She laughed.
“Won’t you invite me inside? Are we going to stand here talking in the doorway?” Jason did a mental eye-roll.
“No, of course not. Come on in. Let’s go to the living room. I’m sure Toby will bring your tea any minute now.”
“And then you can tell me all about these boys. Isn’t that right?” Jason groaned at this statement because it was a statement, not a question. His mother could be really pushy and demanding when it came to his life. He knew she’d drill him until he spilled everything. There was no avoiding it. If he remembered about their lunch date, he could have probably evaded her questions. But not now. Now she knew for certain something was up, and she wouldn’t give up until she knew exactly what it was.
* * * *
“So, tell me about these boys,” said Elise when they were comfortably seated in the living room with a cup of tea and a cup of coffee and left alone by the mentioned two. Jason sighed inwardly.
“What do you want me to say? They’re my new housemates. Toby works with me in the shelter and was in need of new accommodation, and Tyler is his friend who also had to move here. They moved in about a month ago.” Jason purposefully left out that Toby moved in with him before they started working together. This way it sounded like he met him at work. He didn’t want to explain to his mother about the whole kidnapping business and his freaky-deaky powers. She didn’t know he had them and didn’t need to know.
“And that’s it? Just housemates, nothing else?” Elise asked noncommittally.
“Yep, nothing else.”
“Liar!” Elise surprised Jason by saying. “You know you cannot lie to your mother. I’ll always know when you’re lying.” Jason grimaced as if he bit into a lemon.
“There is nothing going on between us, I swear,” he said quickly.
“Jason, I’m your mother. I changed your diapers and consoled you after you broke up with your first girlfriend and then boyfriend. I know you better than anyone else. Don’t lie to me.” She looked him straight in the eye. Jason returned her gaze at first and then looked away and said quietly, “It’s complicated, okay?”
He spoke not looking at her, his gaze wandering over different pictures adoring the walls, pictures of him and his onetime friends, the ones he lost after his transformation. They all reminded him why he couldn’t have a relationship with the two men living in his house.
“And what isn’t, Jason, hmm? Life is complicated. That’s just the way it is.” Elise took a sip of her tea and sat back in a sofa. “Now tell me all about these complications.” And Jason did. Well, he told her all he could. About not knowing if either one of them was gay, of being attracted to both of them, of helping them out in a time of need and not wanting to take advantage of them. And finally about his feelings. Not the truth though.
He told his mum that he was simply afraid of getting involved with them and then hurting them inadvertently. He said he had a fear of being involved, like something was telling him to run in the opposite direction whenever a real commitment was involved. And it was true in a way. He just couldn’t tell her that the thing that was making him afraid was his supernatural powers and the lack of feelings he experienced for the last four years.
His mother listened to all his fears and uncertainties and then leaned tow
ards him and said in her normal straightforward way, “Well, son, first of all, you need to learn if they are attracted to you as well. If not then the whole thing is pointless. Then when you’re sure they return your attraction, you go and do what you need to make it work. With either one of them, or maybe even both if you like.”
Jason’s eyes widened and she shrugged. “What? It’s not like I didn’t have my fair share of threesomes in my youth…. Who am I to judge?”
“Yuck, mum! TMI!” Jason interrupted her, but she simply raised her brow and continued as if he said nothing.
“And as to your fear of screwing up…well, son, nobody can really promise to love the other person forever. There are things, circumstances that could separate two loving people, or feelings could simply expire if not cultivated. There are all kinds of things that could make couples split. You can’t live your entire life in fear of something happening. It’s no way to live. You need to square your shoulders, grind your teeth, and do your best. That’s the only thing you can promise. To always do your best.” Elise finished and sat back in the sofa once again. Jason thought for a moment over what she told him. He guessed she was right. Nobody could say what their feelings would be like in a year or twenty. All kind of things could happen. Jason’s wasn’t the only condition that could make it difficult.
“I can promise to think on what you said. Nothing more.”
“That’s all I ask Jay-Jay,” his mother said, calling him by his childhood nickname. “So now, come and introduce me to your friends properly. I want to get to know them a bit better.” This time Jason didn’t even try to hide his groan.
“Just promise me no embarrassing childhood stories!”
“Well, what would be the fun in that? That’s the best part of having adult children. Paying them back for all the times they were being difficult as teenagers by embarrassing them in front of their friends!”
“Mooom!” Jason whined like a child. Elise simply laughed, getting up and moving towards the kitchen. Jason smiled gently behind her back. Elise had to have this special sixth sense every mother somehow developed because she turned to him and said with teary eyes, “I can already tell that they have a good influence on you. You are happier than I’ve seen you in years. Give these boys a chance, son.”
Then she turned and marched to the kitchen without another word.
* * * *
His mother spent half a day with them, and both Tyler and Toby came to adore her. She was not a person anybody suspected of having a thirty-year-old son. She looked and behaved young and was really fun to spend time with. She also had a talent of putting people at ease. By the time she left, Toby and Tyler behaved like her best friends. Jason didn’t know if he should be annoyed or amused. Just as she promised, Elise told his housemates all the embarrassing childhood stories she could think of. On the other hand though Jason hadn’t yet seen Toby as relaxed as he was right then. Tyler was only slightly more reserved. Jason suspected it was his true nature showing—just like he told them he preferred to observe from the side rather than jump headfirst into a situation. And so he sat there and listened to Toby and Elise chatting, not speaking himself unless asked a direct question.
All in all, the day was a success. Jason was serious about considering his mother’s advice. Still, even if he decided to pursue whatever it was between them, he had no idea whatsoever as to how to approach the subject. Surely he couldn’t just go ahead and ask them, “Hey, and by the way, I’m attracted to you both and want to try a relationship with you, so what do you say? Are you even gay?” That would go over well. Not! So tidying after the dinner that day, he pondered over what to do.
He had just finished drying some of the dishes and putting them away and turned away from the sink when Toby entered the kitchen, his eyes on a new smartphone he bought with his second pay check. He got them every other week, and it was very convenient for him. The smartphone wasn’t something Toby wanted to buy yet. He didn’t think he needed it, but Jason insisted. He wanted some way for Toby to contact either him or Tyler if he needed anything. After initial protest, Toby agreed and was now addicted to the thing.
“Hey, Jason, did you know there is an app that can…” He started, not taking his eyes off the screen, and it was a mistake. There was a missing skirting board in the doorway that made the floor uneven. Normally it wouldn’t be a problem, but as Toby wasn’t paying attention, he tripped and would have face-planted if not for Jason’s fast reaction. He jumped forward and caught Toby just in time. The boy looked up with his mouth slightly open and panting from the scare he just got. He licked his lips, about to say something, and it was just too much for Jason. Not thinking any longer, he leaned down the last several inches and kissed the boy.
Toby was clearly shocked, but just as Jason was about to withdraw and start apologising, Toby shook his shock off and kissed him back. From a simple touch of their lips, the kiss quickly turned into something else, something much hotter, with lips, tongues, and teeth involved. Toby even dropped his new electronic toy and buried his hands in Jason’s hair, pressing tightly against him. The young man hooked his leg behind Jason’s, trying to bring them even closer together, and there was no saying what would have happened if a sound of clearing throat hadn’t brought them back from the haze they were in.
Suddenly they pulled apart and panted. Toby blushed and looked away, and Jason tried to get himself under control. It wasn’t easy. He had a major hard-on and wanted nothing more than to continue what they were doing. Still, he managed to drag his eyes away from Toby to a person leaning in the doorway. Tyler wore a self-satisfied smirk.
“Well, if that wasn’t long overdue. And hot as hell, let me add. So, who’s gonna kiss me now? As in first, who’s gonna kiss me first? ’Cause I’m definitely kissing both of you.” The man straightened and stalked into the room.
Well, it looked like there was the answer to Jason’s question if the men were gay and attracted to him. A big, fat yes.
Chapter Six
Tyler entered the kitchen and was met by an incredible sight. His two men—as he had started thinking of them—were kissing. His first reaction was relief. He was at his wit’s end when it came to Jason. Tyler knew the man was attracted to both him and Toby. He could smell his arousal clearly, and still he did nothing about it and even seemed to start avoiding them. Tyler was afraid to push his host more than he already did in fear that it would send Jason running for the hills. So seeing that he finally gave up and kissed Toby was a great relief. Tyler wasn’t jealous, not even in the slightest. He was definitely aroused. Seeing the two men kissing made him hard faster than he could say “kitchen kisses.”
So no, there was no jealousy. He wanted to be a part of their kiss, though. That’s why he interrupted them when things seemed to get hotter. Clearing his throat, he leaned into the doorway, looking as both men jumped apart. Toby blushed prettily and looked down, clearly embarrassed for being caught red-handed. Jason also seemed to need a moment to gather his composure. When he finally did and looked straight at Tyler, the tiger was unable to stop himself from making a teasing comment and demanding a kiss for himself.
Tyler didn’t give them time to recover and answer before he stalked to Jason and took his mouth in a hard, possessive kiss. He pressed the slightly shorter and slimmer male into kitchen counter, pushing one of his thighs between Jason’s. Their tongues duelled, teeth clashing as each of them tried to take the lead. It was hot, it was forceful, and Tyler loved it. He pushed his thigh harder against Jason’s hard cock and balls, and felt the man rubbing against him. There was a small whimper coming from their right side, and Tyler withdrew, looking towards Toby. The younger man was looking at them with wide eyes, his mouth parted and panting, his hand rubbing his generous erection. Tyler smiled slowly, still holding Jason’s face between his hands, and licked his lips.
“Come here, Toby,” he said, beckoning him with one hand, the other one moving to Jason’s shoulder. Toby didn’t move at first, his gaze
traveling from Tyler’s face to Jason’s and back. But finally Jason’s smile and nod seemed to be enough to reassure him as he rushed to them.
“That’s my good boy,” Tyler said, smiling at him. Then, not letting go of Jason, he lowered his head and claimed Toby’s mouth in a kiss that was much gentler than the one he shared with Jason. Tyler sensed that his smaller man needed more gentleness than Jason. Toby was still emotionally fragile after being a vampire’s slave for seven years, and Tyler was ready to give him all the time and care the younger man needed. Jason seemed to agree as he softly traced both their faces with his slim elegant fingers. Tyler opened his eyes, slowly withdrawing from the sweet kiss, and saw an emotion on Jason’s face that he hadn’t seen there before. Tyler took a deep breath and offered.
“Why don’t we take it to one of the bedr—” A loud bang on the door and sound of a doorbell being pressed repeatedly stopped him mid-word, and he groaned. He was ready to ignore it, but the person on the other side of that door had to be really determined as they kept pressing the bell over and over again. “Keep that thought,” he said, lifting his forefinger. “I’ll check what’s it all about and be back in a second.
* * * *
Tyler was seething as he walked to open the damned door. Just as he managed to convince his men to act at their attraction, someone had to interrupt, go figure. It was just his luck. Anytime things seemed to work out for him, something had to come and meddle in his plans. “It better be something really important or I'm gonna be one pissed kitty!” he shouted, reaching for a handle. Scowling, he swung the door wide open. And he scowled even more fiercely. “What’re ya doing here, fairy boy?” he asked his friend Jim, who was standing on the other side. A low growl alerted him to the other person standing close behind his friend. Jim turned back and slapped the other man's chest, calming him.
Changing His Reality Page 6