by J. D. Light
I wasn't sure that I actually believed him. I honestly couldn't even blame him if he did find me boring, plain or simple. Everyone else did.
"You can borrow anything you want from me, sweet Sutton. Literally everything I have is yours."
"Gawd! I don't know another bein' in this world that I'd rather hear those words from. Do you have any idea what you do to me?" Running his nose against my neck, Sutton chuckled. "How is it possible I'm gettin' turned on again? I shouldn't have anythin' left."
Pushing his head back, I captured his mouth again, making us both moan. I just couldn't get enough of him. And the idea that this perfect human felt the same about me was almost more than I could take without spontaneously combusting.
"Okay," Sutton breathed harshly, resting his forehead against my shoulder. "I seriously have to get goin'. How the hell am I gonna get to know ya if I can't think straight around ya?!"
"Mates do it all the time. Surely, we can figure it out. Right?"
Biting his lip, Sutton looked into my eyes. "Hell if I know. Every second I'm with ya, I wanna jump ya."
Standing quickly, almost like his ass suddenly caught fire, Sutton strode over to my closet and pulled out one of my plain, boring, white t-shirts and slipped it over his head, blocking out the view I'd been enjoying of his ample ass and sleek, toned back.
Groaning, I reached down and pinched my dick, trying desperately to get myself to calm down. Because, whereas, the shirt covering up the perfection that was his body should have been a deterrent of some kind for my lusty self, the sight of him in my shirt was just as fucking arousing.
Smiling mischievously, Sutton brought the cotton collar up to his nose and took a long sniff. "I don't know which of us likes me in yer shirt more. Honestly, I'm probably about to go home and roll around all over my bed in this shirt. So maybe, I can smell like you all day."
Growling, I gripped the bed I was still sitting on, feeling my claws slip out and dig into the mattress. "If you plan on making it out of the room in the next few minutes and not staying right here in this bed for the rest of the fucking day, you better go ahead and get your delicious ass out of my house right now. I can not be held responsible if we both miss work today if you continue to stand there, looking and smelling like mine."
With one last moan, Sutton quickly scooped up his pants, underwear and shoes, leaving his ruined shirt, and rounded the corner before zooming down the stairs and out my front door. I made my way to the room across the hall from mine so I could look out the window and watch him scamper over to his house and up the front porch. All, somehow, without chasing after him like a crazed leopard. Even though, that is exactly what I felt like in that moment.
***
Walking into the garage, I really wasn't surprised to find Foster loitering by my station looking like a cocky little asshole. I knew he'd want to talk to me about my mate. I just hoped he'd leave his usual level of arrogance at home. Wishful thinking, really.
"It's about time you got here! I know you suck as a second, but you'd think you'd be punctual for a job that is clearly your whole life."
Wishful thinking, indeed. Sighing, I brushed passed the annoying fox and started the lift. As the car rose slowly into the air, I turned and narrowed my eyes on my mate's best friend. "I dare you to share your opinions of me with your best friend. But wait until I'm standing there. I want to see what is left of you when he's done."
Rolling his eyes, Foster smirked. "Good point. But seriously, I know the alpha can't make the trip with me, but I need you or someone of some importance in this leap to make a trip with me to New Mexico. I think it would be a good idea for you guys to get a picture of what all this cult shit looks like."
Nodding, I had to agree. "Flynn sent me pictures on my way over here of the shit you guys found. Even for shifters, that was pretty messy. He said you think it was only a few hours old when you guys checked it out. I hate that there are people pulling that shit in my own leap."
"You have no idea how messy. The crazy part is, as demented as these assholes can be, they can also blend in with everyone else, and nobody is the wiser until something sets them off."
"Yeah. You should have seen the shit Abby was able to pull of right under all of our noses. I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself."
The lift stopped and I pulled the drain pan over and sat it on the ground under where the oil would drain out of the plug. Oil changes were like second nature. I could seriously do them in my sleep. Some might think it would be boring or mundane, and sometimes it was, but in times like right now, when there was so much going on in my life, it was nice to do something I could do on autopilot and let my mind wander.
My mind, of course, slipped to my mate, and I may have missed a good chunk of what Foster was saying, because the snark-master actually growled at me. "Would you please get your head out of your ass! I said, you need to find a way to keep Sutton safe and get your shit packed. If we leave in a few hours, we can be back here in two days tops."
"Nice baby growl," I said, starting to get annoyed. "I know it doesn't seem like I have much of a life to you, but it takes more than a few hours notice to completely shut it down. I need to finish these cars and then see if I can get someone else to do my other jobs for the next couple of days. And yes, I need to find someone I trust to watch out for Sutton."
Especially now that my scent was bound to be all over him. Unless…
"Do those flowers mask not only his scent but mine on him?"
"Yeah. They mask the scent of just about anything in a three to four foot radius. He should be good to go on that front. Though, it wouldn't hurt to have Bennett and his grizzly watching over him."
"I'll be sure to let Bennett know he has your vote of approval."
Foster's eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare."
Smirking, I turned to my toolbox, pulling the filter wrench from its drawer. "I also just found my mate. You do realize what a prick I'm going to be when I have to go a couple days without seeing him, right?"
"Yes. And normally, I would never ask it." For the second time since I met the asshole fox, I saw more than just the smartass comments. He seemed sincere. "I just don't know if we are going to get another opportunity like this. They are having a cult meeting tomorrow night. I've already bought two plane tickets there and back. We will have to do some digging after the meeting, but there is no reason we can't be back night after tomorrow."
Sighing, but nodding, I was resigned to what he was telling me. "I guess you already cleared this with Flynn."
"Of course," he said, sounding almost offended. "I would never address you about something like this without clearing it through him first.
There it was again. The absolute deference he played to the man in the alpha role. I wasn't sure if it was an inane respect bore into him, from a decent rearing…or fear. Maybe I should have Green look into Fosters skulk a bit.
"Let me finish up here and then go talk to Sutton. What time is our flight?"
"In four hours and thirteen minutes. Meet me at your alpha's house in two."
By using a couple of the empty bays and running around like a lunatic, I was able to get all the oil changes done. Flynn called in the middle to assure me he could handle all my jobs for the following two days and I still had forty-five minutes to get a couple changes of clothes, grab a shower and stop by Sutton's work for a few minutes on my way out.
The door overhead announced my arrival, and I almost swallowed my tongue when my beautiful mate came hurrying toward the door, in his tight fitting navy slacks and button up pink shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, showing off his shapely forearms and pale, glowing skin.
"You can't come in here, and look at me like that," he scolded, smiling as he threw a hand in the air to keep me at a distance.
I, of course, snagged it, and used it to pull his body into mine with enough force to nock the air out of both of us a little.
"I actually wasn't planning to do this, but seeing yo
u looking so sexy, I just can't keep my hands off of you."
Rolling his eyes, but giggling, he leaned up, putting his mouth just a few inches from mine. "It's just my work clothes."
"Hmm." I brushed my lips against his, causing tingles to erupt against my mouth. "But you fill them out so fucking well."
"Dammit, Barron." His lips stuck to mine slightly as he was talking, causing the skin to hold and give, sparking more tingles. "We can't do this here."
But he latched onto my bottom lip softly, gently suckling it.
"Where the fuck even are we?"
Giggling against my mouth, he released my lip and dropped his forehead to my chest. "I can't believe only yesterday, at this time, I thought you were a straight man who hated the very ground I walked on."
"Hate to tell you this, but you were kind of a dumb ass."
"And a creepy stalker. What do you even see in me?" When he looked up and smiled at me, my world stood still. This man was beyond measure, and I had no doubt that every moment I spent with him from that point until the rest of our lives, I would be thanking God for making him my mate.
"Everything," I whispered into his hair. "How is it even fair that I got so lucky and you get stuck with…me."
I was too selfish to do anything but accept what had been given to me, but if I was a better man, I would tell Sutton to find someone better suited to him. Someone as vibrant and beautiful and caring as my sweet, sweet Sutton.
"Don't be––"
"I have to go to New Mexico with Foster," I said, wanting to get that part over with before I completely forgot why I came and bent Sutton over the counter where anyone walking down Main Street could see.
"Leavin' me for my best friend already, huh?" There was clear humor in his tone, but it was also obvious he was disappointed.
"I would rather cut my dick off," I said in all seriousness.
"Do you think it would grow back? Like in some of those books where immortals lose a body part and then it grows back."
"It wouldn't grow back. I'd rather lose the ability to have sex for the rest of my immortal life, than have sex with anyone that wasn't you. Especially, your snarky ass friend." Waving my hand in the air, I rolled my eyes. "We're getting off topic. I'll only be gone tonight and tomorrow night. I should be back by the time you get off work Saturday evening."
"You don't have ta check in with me," he said quietly, making it clear he was worried I would think he was a possessive ass.
"Being courteous enough to let someone know what is going on in your life, so that they know they are an important part of it, doesn't make me feel like less of a man. I'll always check in with you."
Smiling again, Sutton blushed. "That works for me then."
"Good." I kissed his nose gently, just barely pulling back from attacking his mouth when I got a good look at that blush.
"Did ya really mean it about not wantin' to have sex with anyone else?" He whispered, staring at me with such hope in his beautiful green eyes.
"I thought you understood about mates, sweet Sutton. There is nobody in this entire world I would rather be with than you. Why would I want to mess that up for something that would never stack up?"
"I feel the same way." Sighing, he again leaned his head into my chest. "When do you have ta leave?"
I glanced at my watch and groaned. "Now."
"Damn. I was kinda hopin' you could bend me over that counter for all of Main Street to see."
Growling, I devoured his mouth, only stopping when neither of us could breathe.
"Rain check?" I asked, panting against the side of his head.
"Don't think I won't cash it."
***
The next two days were boring, rage inducing, sweet, obnoxious, sad and confusing all rolled into one. Foster and I were able to listen in to the meeting, but we had to stay on the DL due to the fact that we didn't know which members of my leap were in with the cult and whether or not they were going to be coming to this meeting.
Green had found quite a bit of interesting information about Foster's skulk for me, including the fact that he was actually no longer a member. I decided to put all that on the backburner for the time being, because what Green hadn't been able to find out for us, was who all was involved in the cult and that zero plane tickets were purchased by any member of our leap members from Nebraska to New Mexico.
That didn't mean they weren't there, or even conferencing in. We still had to be very careful whom we were spotted by.
When we hid in the rafters of the giant warehouse, where literally hundreds of crazy, fanatical shifters were discussing how they planned to take out their entire pack, we overheard some disturbing news about a poison that could be introduced as a small chemical explosive, and was nearly impossible to trace.
Apparently, the doctors were still in the testing phase. I was worried, and so was Foster, about what that could mean.
In the meantime, I was going to suggest to Flynn that we cancel any large, leap gatherings where something like that could be used.
And Foster was going to have to get his guys on finding the doctors who might be involved with the cult.
The only good thing about being on stakeout, when there was very little to actually stake out, was that I got plenty of time to text and call Sutton. It also meant more time getting to know him and not letting a little thing like the uncontrollable urge to shove my tongue down his throat get in the way of that. Though, I had to admit to being unbelievably hard––and sometimes awkwardly so when Foster was in the area––the entire time his melodic tenor carried that sexy accent to my ears through the phone.
We'd gotten to know each other more and more, and I honestly believed I was well and truly on my way to falling in love with him. It didn't matter that I had only been actually speaking to him for two and a half days. I'd been watching him for months.
In the most non-stalker way possible.
Plus, he was my mate. It was inevitable. I'd known couples who'd mated within hours of meeting each other.
But sometime between Friday around lunch, and Friday when he'd gotten off work, Sutton had pulled away from me. He'd stopped answering my texts around 1 PM, and didn't pick up his phone until I called three times in a row, after I knew he was off work.
When he finally answered, his answers were clipped and short, and this morning he hadn't answered at all. If it weren't for Bennett checking in with me to let me know my beautiful mate looked sad, but was otherwise fine, I would have been worried he'd been kidnapped.
I'd thought we were getting along perfectly, and even thought I'd detected more than a hint of affection in his voice when we'd spoken Friday on his lunch break, but now all I could do was go over our last texts in my phone, as we sat patiently waiting for the rest of the passengers to board the plane that would take us back to Nebraska.
Nothing in it made me think that he would have a reason to be mad at me. We'd literally been talking about how nice it was to lounge in the sun on a nice day or curl up in front of a fire in the winter.
And maybe that was the problem. Even I could see how those things would probably be boring as shit to most people. Maybe he was finally starting to see just how plain and boring I really was.
I glanced down at my white t-shirt and sighed. I couldn't just let him give up on us. I could be fun. I'd fucking learn. Maybe we could go skydiving or something.
I'd talk to Bennett about it. He seemed like the type who would know plenty about that.
First, I had to make it home and hunt down Sutton. I had to tell him. Tell him that I would figure out how to be fun. I would do anything to keep him.
CHAPTER FIVE
I was sulking. Pouting. Walking around my shop with a giant crying emoji on my face.
Mostly, I was ruining the best thing that had ever happened to me because I was scared. Not scared of commitment or that Barron would leave me. Scared that, whatever this mate thing was that had already––in three short days––made me fall head ove
r hills in love with Barron Franks, was the only reason he liked me. The only reason he wanted me.
I'd been barely tolerated by my adoptive parents since the whole mark fiasco, until the day I'd moved out. They had been forced by moral decency to keep the kid they now wanted nothing to do with. They hadn't even tried to hide it.
They'd been hostile and just short of abusive, making it clear in every way, that I was there because getting rid of me would look bad.
Barron had never said he was gay. I realized that now. If he hadn't liked men before, how on earth could I trust that the fact that he was suddenly ready to bend me over every flat surface around––I seriously had to stop thinking about that––wasn't something he was going to resent about me later.
What happened when he woke up one day down the road and remembered that he'd always dreamed of having a female mate. Sure, I could give him kids, and that might be something he was excited about for now. But I'd never grow boobs!
Wait. Would I? I sure as fuck hoped not. But how was I going to feed the babies? That was definitely something I should ask Foster.
Shaking off the disturbing picture in my head of me with breasts, I sighed and went back to cutting the stems of a dozen roses an older gentleman was picking up for his wife in a few hours. Apparently he'd gotten her a dozen red roses every anniversary for thirty-nine years.
It had never occurred to me to ask Barron if he was gay. All the really gay things we had done to each other that first night, kinda made that question fly right out of my head.
But if the conversation I'd overheard a couple of bigoted assholes having when I picked my to go order up from Bunny's Diner was anything to go by, they'd never even known Barron was into men. They were also more than just a little pissed off that their alpha was mated to a man. The disgust and venom in their voices, as they talked about Flynn, Bennett and Barron made my skin crawl.