by Lisa Oliver
“He bit me?” Darwin’s hand went to his shoulder and he lightly traced over the huge scar. The slightest touch had his cock hard in an instant making it difficult to maintain a glare at the unrepentant snake.
“Your lips were blue,” Rocky offered, taking another bite. “Half your head was caved in and you were barely breathing. He didn’t have any choice.”
“Can you two get me some clothes and something to eat please? I’ll pay you back just as soon as I get to my apartment.” Darwin kept his voice deliberately sweet. Saccharine sweet. The kind that would make your teeth ache. “I’d like to speak to my mate in private for a moment.”
“Oh boy,” Rocky shook his head. “You’re going to get it now, Simon. We’ll go, because you asked so nicely, but yeah, I wouldn’t be in a rush to go to your apartment. Those coyotes did a real number on it.”
“I’ll buy you some new clothes,” Mal interrupted quickly as Darwin’s mouth dropped open. “Come on Rocky, you can come shopping with me.”
Darwin groaned and slumped back on the pillows as the door shut behind the wolves. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” he said to the ceiling, conscious of Simon watching his every move. “I’m tired and hungry; there’s not a bone in my body that doesn’t ache and the pain in my ankle makes me want to scream. I know I need to shift so I can heal, but I can hardly yell at you in my mouse form. And I want to yell at you but I don’t know why. I promised myself if I got out of that hell hole I would never mouth off to you again. Who am I kidding?” he laughed. “Mouthing off’s second nature to me. A defense mechanism, I suppose.”
“Why did you do it?” Darwin propped himself up on his elbows so he was face to face with his mate. “I want this mating, lord knows I do, but I’ve got nothing to offer you. I don’t have an education; I’ve only ever worked menial jobs. I don’t own a home, a car or anything like that. I keep trying to get ahead, but something always goes wrong. I’ve saved as much money as I possibly could, working three jobs and scrimping where I can. But I don’t have my shit together like you do. And now the Coyotes have probably got my savings.” Darwin hung his head. “I’m rude, abrasive, I don’t know how to make friends. I was trying to save you from being stuck with me. Don’t you get that?”
“I’m not sorry,” Simon’s shift was seamless and Darwin found his head cradled in comforting hands. “I’m sorry I couldn’t wait for permission. I’m sorry we didn’t get to have the romantic claiming scene I’ve always hoped for. But I won’t be sorry for saving your life or for bonding us for eternity. I wanted you from the second I saw you and that won’t change regardless of anything you share with me.”
“But that’s just sex talking. That’s just a trick from the Fates forcing people together because they think it’s a good idea.” Darwin didn’t want to hope but his hope was sneaky; winding around his heart trying to pry it open. “We can’t spend twenty-four seven in bed. We have to be able to talk to each other, have shared interests; like each other when we have clothes on.” Being acutely aware of how little clothing there was between them wasn’t helping his will power. Simon was a sculpted god and Darwin longed to nibble every ripple.
“To do that, we have to get to know each other which takes time,” Simon’s words were graveled as though hiding deep emotions. “I want to get to know you. Mating isn’t just about sex, I agree.” Darwin didn’t miss Simon’s hip swivel and pressed his lips together so he didn’t do something rash like kiss the stuffing out his man and to hell with conversation.
“But what we can share,” Simon continued, his voice impossibly deep, “is a life together. A very long life. One where we can count on each other, comfort each other and protect each other when times are bad. That’s what mates do.”
“I’m about as much protection as a muffin in a rainstorm,” Darwin muttered.
“See, you have a delightful turn of phrase. I like that.” Simon’s lips twitched in a facsimile of a smile. “Seriously, babe, I never imagined in a million years the Fates would bless me with someone as special as you. We share hard life experiences, that much is obvious. But don’t you find it hard relying on yourself all the time? Don’t you just wish sometimes you had someone to share a hug with at the end of a rotten day?”
Darwin nodded, his eyes closing as wetness threatened his eyes. The support Simon was proposing; it was right there ready to grab with both hands. A gentle brush of lips caressed his jaw and he leaned into the touch; his heart, mind, and body overwhelmed. “You need to shift,” Simon whispered. “I swear there is so much I want to do to you, but I won’t see you hurt.”
Wrinkling his nose, Darwin opened his eyes to see Simon’s face a mere inch away from his. “Good. I’m not into that kind of kink.” He looked around the sparse motel room. “I don’t want to be stepped on,” he said, eyeing the beige carpet. “But if I stay on the bed you could squash me.”
“I’ll sit on the floor, over by the door, so Rocky and Mal don’t come bursting in. Rocky has size fifteen boots.” Darwin inhaled as Simon sat up. Yep, he needed to shift because his cock was pushing his body to make promises he couldn’t keep. Simon wasn’t unaffected either. Darwin wasn’t sure what he wanted to watch more; the bounce of his mate’s cock as he stood up or the solid muscles of the man’s ass as he sauntered over to the door and sat with his back firmly against it.
Darwin wiggled his leg. His right ankle screamed at him; the rest of him simply ached. I’ll shift on the bed. I can climb down the covers to the floor. Seconds later, his little pink nose emerged from the covers, his whiskers twitching madly.
Chapter Ten
Simon rubbed his hand over his mouth, hiding his grin. His mate was so damn cute in his shifted form. Darwin was bigger than a natural brown mouse, but not by much. Maybe nine or ten inches in body length; couldn’t weigh much than a couple of ounces. But it wasn’t the soft blackish brown fur that fascinated Simon, or the tail that was as long as Darwin’s body. It was the cute little nose; brown with a splash of pink at the end of it, and the white whiskers that never seemed to stop moving that made him smile.
As he watched, Darwin slowly climbed down the duvet cover, hanging for a moment before he dropped onto the floor. Simon tightened his jaw. That was quite a drop for a little mouse, but Darwin didn’t seem bothered about it; sniffing the carpet, running around in circles, getting closer and closer to Simon while appearing to ignore him. He scurried over Simon’s clothing on the floor, sniffing and even nibbling at one point and Simon could only imagine what his scent was doing to the little mouse. The mating scent was always stronger in animal form. Hope he doesn’t try humping my knee.
Finally, the curious mouse came close enough to touch, although Simon stayed deathly still. He was supremely conscious of their size difference and not knowing much about mouse behavior, he wasn’t sure what to make of Darwin sniffing his skin. Darwin was attempting to climb up his calf muscle; Simon fought a twitch as tiny claws scratched his skin.
Unfortunately, for a mouse, Simon had solid muscles and no body hair and Darwin was getting frustrated in his efforts to climb. Unwilling to let any bundle of fur near his privates, Simon carefully reached out and stuck a finger under Darwin’s wiggling behind, giving him the boost he needed to sit on his leg.
“You are a busy little guy, aren’t you?” Simon kept his voice low and quiet, secretly pleased at the trust Darwin was showing. From all he’d heard so far, Darwin didn’t trust people in either form. The mouse ignored him, running along his calf and up his thigh. When his front paws reached up Simon’s torso, he leaned back so his mate could get more of a grip. It wasn’t easy though, being used as a mouse gym. Darwin’s claws and whiskers, even his tail all sent shivers through Simon’s body. He’d never thought himself ticklish before but he was revising his opinion.
“Oh, no, you’re not biting that,” he said as Darwin slipped and slid across his chest, heading for Simon’s nipple. “Not in this form anyway. You can bite all you like in your human form.” A tw
itch of his whiskers and a change in direction let Simon know his mate heard and understood. Now Darwin was standing on his shoulder, leaning up against his neck and then Simon felt a small nip on his ear lobe.
“You are a persistent menace, aren’t you?” Simon carefully reached up, cupping his hand around Darwin’s form so he didn’t fall off. Darwin’s whiskers tickled his palm and then two tiny paws rested on his finger. “Are you going to bite me if I pick you up?” A squeaky stream of chatter burst from Darwin’s mouth and Simon decided he was being scolded for asking.
With Darwin safe in the palm of his hand, Simon could finally examine his mate in detail. Sure, he’d seen mice before. His snake had eaten more than his fair share. But he’d never seen a shifter mouse before. Marveling at how Darwin’s energy could be contained in such a tiny body, he carefully traced down Darwin’s knobby spine. Darwin was trying to sniff at his fingers and Simon felt small teeth graze his skin.
“I wonder if your oral fixation extends to your human form,” Simon murmured, his cock rising in response to the ideas running through his head. Darwin’s bright brown eyes sparkled, watching him intently and then without warning, Simon’s hand was holding something far more solid than a mouse.
“Only one way to find out,” Darwin whispered against his ear, tugging at the lobe he’d bitten earlier. “You have the sexiest ears.”
Tipping his head to one side, Simon let Darwin nibble and kiss along his neck as his hands found a more pleasurable pursuit. With Darwin’s capture and subsequent rescue, Simon had spent two days consumed with worry. Those worries melted away as he was finally, finally, allowed to touch the skin he wanted so badly.
Lithe and firm, soft skin covered hard muscles Simon knew were a result of Darwin’s shifter genetics, not a gym. His hands slipped down Darwin’s smooth back, resting on and then kneading the pert ass under his fingers. He groaned as Darwin sucked on the nipple he’d threatened earlier, his hips arching as his cock dueled with his mate’s. He wanted. Simon burned he wanted so badly. One bite, that’s all he’d had but now, with Darwin wiggling against him, Simon’s balls ached with the need to come inside his mate.
“Lube,” he panted as he pressed Darwin’s head against his chest; tingles from the assault on his nipple heading straight for his cock. He stretched out his legs, one arm flailing for his bag. Darwin’s delicious tease was driving him mad. If he didn’t….
A loud knock pounded on the door behind him. “Stop fucking! It’s urgent.” Damn Rocky. A wolf with no finesse, who’s idea of an emergency was running out of pizza.
“We’re busy,” Simon snarled back, holding Darwin tight as he tried to get off his lap.
“It’s Lenin. He’s left a message on Darwin’s phone. I think you need to see this.”
The sound of Lenin’s name was enough to soften Simon’s cock. Even if that hadn’t done it, the way Darwin stiffened and the slight hint of fear that tinged the air would have done the job. “Give us time to put clothes on,” Simon called out. He gently cupped Darwin’s head, tilting it up. Yep. Fear tinging those lovely dark eyes that moments before had been filled with lust. Simon’s hatred of Lenin grew along with his protectiveness. “Whatever it is, we deal with it together. Whatever atrocities that psycho has committed, they are not your fault. And whatever happens, I promise you with every breath in my body, that asshole will never, ever touch you again. Trust me.”
“I do. I will. It’s just….” Darwin’s eyes shimmered with tears. “It’s like he’s got no conscience. He kills; those coyotes said I was one in a long line of many. When Lenin was finished with his victims they…they…they ate them.”
The last part was whispered but Simon heard clearly enough. The thought that Darwin was Lenin’s victim was bad enough, but eating humans…Simon assumed the other victims were human, but it didn’t matter either way. Shifters did not eat people –not shifters, humans or paranormals. It didn’t matter what their animal was. Sure, killings were common enough – protecting a mate, territory or group. That was part of shifter life. But a body was buried or left for natural animals to dispose of. He wondered if the coyotes were drugged. Lenin had to have some hold over them to make them act against their nature in such a way.
“Let’s get dressed,” he said quietly, knowing Darwin would keep worrying until he knew what threat he was facing. “I’m not leaving your side. You’re not leaving mine. I promise I’m sticking to you like glue until Lenin has been dealt with.”
“I’d far rather you were stuck in me,” Darwin managed a wobbly smile. “Maybe when all this is done, you can show me the claiming you dreamed of.”
“I promise.”
Chapter Eleven
Darwin shook his head as he stared at his phone screen. “No, no, no, no, no. This can’t be happening.”
“You know this guy?” Rocky pointed to the man in the photo. The picture filling the screen was of a dark-haired man with slender, pretty features tied to a chair with duct tape over his mouth. It could have been a scene from a BDSM photo shoot except for the terror clearly visible in the man’s eyes.
“It’s Jude. The guy I dance with.” Darwin quickly scrolled through the rest of his messages. They were all from Lenin.
Guess who I’m having lunch with today?
Aren’t you a bad friend? Not telling Jude where you’re recuperating. I’ll have to punish you for that.
Hmm, he gives better head than you do. Aren’t you jealous of his sweet mouth around my fat cock?
I won’t have this human parading by my side. He doesn’t fit with my image. You have twelve hours to get in touch. Otherwise, I’ll give him to my friends. They’re pretty pissed at you. They can work out their tensions on him.
The last message was timed at six thirty Tuesday evening. “What day is it? What time is it now?” Darwin looked up.
“The deadline’s past. You’ve been out for over a day. I’m sorry.” Mal looked devastated. “I didn’t think…we don’t usually snoop in each other’s phones, but yours was making that beep to let you know it needed charging. It’s the only reason I touched it and you didn’t have it locked. Fuck, I’m so sorry for your friend.”
“Lenin won’t have killed him yet.” Darwin didn’t know how he knew, but he did. “If Jude’s dead he’s got no hold over me. He knows that.”
“Are you two close?” Simon plucked the phone out of Darwin’s hands and scrolled through the messages. Anyone would think it was a casual question except for the rigid set of Simon’s shoulders and the tightness in his jaw.
“No.” Darwin looked around and spotted a chair. He slumped in it, his head in his hands. “I told you. I’m not close to anyone. It’s never been safe, especially in a human town. But Jude’s a good guy. He was studying….” Darwin tried to hold back his tears. “He was studying to become a teacher. He loved little kids and when his parents kicked him out for being gay, he worked nights to pay for his tuition. He’s due to graduate in July.”
“Then we have to make sure he does.” Simon started barking orders. “Rocky, drive by the old coyote house. It’s unlikely they are there, but stranger things have happened. Mal, I know you’re upset but get on the computer and start thinking about where Lenin might have taken someone else.”
“I think I know where he is,” Darwin lifted his head. “Pass the phone back.” He held out his hand and Simon passed it to him, his face a bland mask as always.
Opening the media message, Darwin ignored the terror in Jude’s eyes and focused on the background instead. The picture was dark, Jude’s pale skin deliberately highlighted. Lenin must have an artistic bent, but Darwin would know the wallpaper behind his friend anywhere.
“Lenin’s got him locked up in my apartment. I recognize the wallpaper and before you say that wallpaper is used in hundreds of apartments, how many apartments have a mouse shaped damp patch on the ceiling?”
“Really? Let me look.” Rocky crowded close. “Oh yeah, so it has.” He showed the phone to Mal but Darwin was
watching Simon.
“You know you have to let me go in first,” Darwin said firmly. “Lenin might not know who you guys are, but at the first sniff of you or the wolves, he’s going to either kill Jude or have his friends do it. Jude hasn’t done anything to deserve this. I’ll call Lenin and meet him wherever he says. If he gives me another address, then you can go and save Jude first.”
“No. Definitely not. You are going to stay right here and not move a muscle until we get back.” Simon crossed his arms but his intimidation tactics weren’t going to work on Darwin.
“Is that right? My Lord and Master has spoken. Well, fine.” Darwin stood and stretched, secretly palming his phone Mal had put on the table. “Seeing as you guys think I’m not capable of defending myself or anyone else, I think I’ll go and take a bath.”
“That’s it?” Rocky seemed shocked but Simon was watching him cautiously. “You’re not going to argue with him or try and change his mind.”
“Why waste the energy?” Darwin sauntered past Simon and gave Rocky a wink. “I know a bag of rocks when I see one and I ain’t seen nothing that can move that much shit without causing a stink. If I’m to be the fair damsel in this drama, then I guess I’ll just act like one. Excuse me.” He shut and locked the bedroom door and then pressed his ear against it.
“Are you the rock or the shit?” He heard Rocky ask and guessed he was talking to Simon.
“He’s acting like bag of rocks and he’s in the shit with his mate,” Mal’s quiet voice came through the door loud and clear. “But Simon can grovel later. Let’s ride. We’ve got to save Jude and do it in such a way as to not alert the human authorities.”
“Darwin? We’re heading out now. Darwin?” Simon knocked on the door, making Darwin jump. He hurried to the bathroom and started the water running. After a couple of more tries, Simon left him alone and Darwin let out a long breath as he heard two bikes start up and roar away.