Snake Snack

by Lisa Oliver

  Pulling out his phone, he hit Lenin’s number. He wasn’t at all surprised the snake answered immediately. Memorizing the address given, he said “Thirty minutes,” before disconnecting the call. I can do this. I can do this. Darwin hunted through Simon’s pack. He frowned when he found a pile of sorted money in a side pocket. Should I? Fuck it, I need it. Rustling around some more he pulled out a long slim knife. Now, I can definitely do this, he decided as he slipped the knife down the side of his boot and cautiously left the motel room.

  With Simon and the others rescuing Jude, Darwin figured it’d be an hour before he was missed. By then he hoped to have Lenin dispatched and be on his way out of town.

  Did he want to be with Simon forever?

  Hell yes.

  Did he think he was worth having a good man like Simon by his side?

  Hell, no and after taking out Lenin he’d be lower than shit in his and anyone’s eyes.

  Lenin was a high-profile lawyer and had connections in the human world. His death would cause complications with law enforcement and although Simon would never know it, Darwin cared too much for the stoic man to bring that type of trouble to his door, or to the tiny shifter town he called home. Better that Darwin get rid of the menace once and for all before disappearing. Simon would get over him soon enough and at least Darwin could leave knowing his mate, Arrowtown and Jude were safe.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I thought we were going to save Jude?” Mal protested as Simon pulled his bike to the side of the road just around the corner from the motel.

  “You two are. Here, you can use my bike,” Simon hopped off and threw Mal the keys.

  “Hey, I can understand the lure of a naked mate in a bath as much as the next person,” Rocky didn’t sound happy either. “But we’ve got to save that human and Darwin will be safe enough in the motel until we get back.”

  “If you think Darwin’s bathing, you’re the one with rocks in your head. Think about what he said back there. Lenin won’t be with Jude and Darwin knows it. That’s why he didn’t kick up a fuss when I told him he couldn’t meet Lenin by himself. Didn’t you see him snatch his phone and take it with him when he locked himself in the bedroom?”

  “Damn sneaky little mouse,” Mal shook his head. “So what do we do now? You know we’d rather come with you but I hate the thought of that poor guy being tied up longer than necessary.”

  “We can solve that problem easy enough. It’s just it wouldn’t get us any closer to Lenin,” Simon said pulling his phone from his pocket. “I’ll simply phone the police and ask them to check Darwin’s apartment because there appears to be a disturbance there and then we can follow my mate, because everything to do with that mouse of mine is a shifter matter.”

  “I really thought Darwin was taking a bath,” Rocky muttered to Mal as Simon made the call to the police. He disconnected before they got too invasive about who he was and how he heard the noise. Let them sort it out. His number was hidden, they couldn’t trace him and at least Jude would be safe. Darwin on the other hand….

  “You were right. There he is now,” Mal slapped Simon on the shoulder and pointed. Sure enough, Darwin was hurrying down the road, his head down, his shoulders hunched. He was barely looking where he was going which was probably a good thing because the bikes parked on the side road were hard to miss.

  “Looks like we’re walking.” Rocky swung his leg over his bike and pocketed the keys. “Hope this is a good neighborhood.”

  “Of course it is, look at the houses.” Mal urged Rocky forward, Simon following cautiously but keeping Darwin in his sights. The tension in his mate was obvious from a block away and Simon cursed that he hadn’t had enough time to seriously get to know the man he’d bitten and was having strong feelings for. It would help if he knew how to express them outside of the bedroom, although inside of one would be nice too. Unfortunately, it seemed for all his words, Darwin still didn’t trust him.

  ~~~~/

  This is a mistake, this is a mistake. The words echoed with Darwin’s footsteps as he hurried to the warehouse Lenin was meeting him in. Sure, the remote location, lack of humans and law enforcement would make his getaway easier. But the closer Darwin got to his location the more his mouse was telling him he needed to get away. Not even the thought of Jude being safe was helping. For the first time in his life, Darwin cursed being alone and he was sensible enough to realize it was his own damn fault.

  Telling me no. That just goes to show he doesn’t listen.

  He wanted you safe. Lenin wants to eat you and Simon knows that. He was trying to save you from doing stupid stuff.

  Damn, Darwin hated it when his brain fought against him. It wasn’t helpful. He already knew he was running into a trap. But the thought of Lenin and Simon fighting, Mal getting hurt by the coyotes; the image of Simon’s face when he found out his sweet sexy dancer was a common murderer. He couldn’t take it. He couldn’t be with a man who would hate him for the rest of his life. Yeah. I’m doing the right thing. I know I am…I just wish….

  Wish in one hand, shit in the other and see which one fills up fastest.

  Darwin checked the warehouse numbers. Of course, it had to be the derelict one; boarded up windows, a broken padlock on the gate. If this was a movie I’d be screaming at the fool to get out about now. But in this case, he was the fool and squaring his shoulders, Darwin slipped through the rusted gates and headed for the only door. It was ajar, and yes, it creaked. I’m watching nothing but sitcoms from now on, he promised himself.

  “Hey, Handbag, you in here?” His voice echoed across the cavernous empty room.

  “Handbag?” Lenin stepped out of the shadows in the far corner. It looked as though he was alone, but Darwin wasn’t taking any chances. He stayed just inside the door.

  “Yeah, handbag. You know. The things they make with snakeskins? That’s all your good for, isn’t it?”

  “You’re awfully cocky for someone who’s about to become coyote fodder.” Lenin came closer, which was Darwin’s intention. He wanted to stay in the light, and close to the only exit.

  “Yeah,” Darwin said, stalling for time. “About that. Shifters don’t eat people. What the hell did you do to the coyotes to make them turn against their nature?”

  “It’s not hard to get people to do what you want if you give them the right incentive.” Lenin was close enough to smell. “Keep them out of jail. Threaten to kill their mothers and sisters. Lacing their food and drink with drugs. Damn fools will do anything I tell them to. They don’t have any choice.”

  A tiny growl from the rafters confirmed Darwin’s suspicions they weren’t alone. He kept his eyes on Lenin. “So, you trapped innocent young coyotes, probably picked them up in jail and promised to get them free in return for working for you? And then you drugged and threatened them, causing them to do despicable acts which could kill their animal spirit? What kind of a monster are you?”

  “The kind of monster who gets exactly what he wants, when he wants and doesn’t really give a shit about anyone else; the powerful kind of predator that won’t be stopped by humans or shifters alike. Those coyotes should be grateful for anything I give them.”

  “Why me?” Darwin gulped, fighting his urge to turn tail and run. Lenin’s eyes were hypnotic. “I’m nothing. You fucked me once years ago and I don’t remember it being that thrilling at the time. I’m not special. The coyotes beating me let me know that. I’m just another body to you. Why kidnap Jude and force me to come here?”

  “Because you’re pretty.” Darwin froze as Lenin reached out and stroked down his face. “You have a following. People lust over you every time you dance. They want you. Crave to be near you. I want them to be jealous of me when they see us together.”

  “I’m not that big of a deal.” This man is crazier than I thought.

  “You don’t hear the things they say about you. The way they talk about you when you dance. I brought a chair along. I want you to dance for me now. An exclusive strip j
ust for me.”

  What a wacko. “I don’t have any music,” Darwin said, leaning back as Lenin reached for him again.

  “I have some on my phone. In fact, I recorded one of your performances. The audience yells of appreciation will bring an added ambience to the scene, don’t you think?” Lenin pulled his phone from his suit pocket and hit the screen a few times. Music poured out in the abandoned warehouse. Darwin recognized the tune. It was one of his favorites.

  “Dance.” Darwin’s blood chilled as he saw the gun in Lenin’s other hand. “I won’t ask nicely again.”

  Lenin backed up to the chair Darwin hadn’t even noticed, the gun never wavering in his hand. Do this for Simon, for Jude and for Mal. Hell, do it for the drugged coyotes who never stood a chance against this monster.

  Focusing on the throbbing beat, Darwin began to move to the music. He’d never stripped in his normal clothes before. His dance outfits had Velcro, easy release buttons and tiny snags in his t-shirts making them easier to rip. He casually moved his shirt up his abs, and down again, watching as Lenin’s eyes blazed. The whole point of a strip was the teasing aspect and Darwin was one of the best.

  Turning, Darwin pulled his shirt over his head. He wouldn’t have been capable of doing it, if he was facing Lenin. Dropping it to the floor, he rocked and shook his ass, his hands sliding down his legs, his fingers touching the end of the knife handle in his boot.

  “Come closer,” Lenin urged. “Come closer and take those pants off.”

  You’re making this too easy. Turning, Darwin stayed focused on a spot just over Lenin’s head as he slinked forward. Lenin was panting, a sheen of sweat over his face; the bulge in his pants getting bigger as he leaned back on the chair. Darwin flicked the button on his jeans and Lenin licked his lips.

  “Straddle my lap,” Lenin panted as the roar of the canned crowd grew louder. “This is where you took your pants off. Do you hear the crowd begging to see more?”

  This is it. Don’t chicken out now. A foot away from where Lenin was sitting, Darwin turned to give the snake a good look at his denim covered ass. Leaning forward, his hand found the knife and he pulled it up the front of his body as he straightened.

  “This is it.” Lenin’s voice rose. “This is where your gorgeous butt cheeks were on full display. You were wearing that tiny g-string and you pushed your package in the audience’s faces as they stuffed money inside. Do it. Turn and let me give you your reward.”

  Darwin didn’t think. He could barely look. His fist gripped the knife so it pointed outwards and he turned, leaping on Lenin’s body, the two men crashing to the floor as the chair broke.

  “Oh yes. Oh yes. I knew you had passion in that body of yours. What…what did you do?” Lenin screamed as the pain finally registered. His unbelieving eyes watched as Darwin leaned back, snapping the handle from the blade.

  “Something I should’ve done the first time we fucked.” Darwin shivered as he stood, watching Lenin writhe on the floor. There was no way the snake could shift with a blade in his heart.

  “Get him. Get him,” Lenin yelled, his voice getting weaker. “Fucking dumbass coyotes, kill him.”

  Six men dropped silently from the rafters and Darwin eyed them dispassionately. “It’s over guys. Whatever he promised, he’d never deliver. Whatever hold he had over you is gone. Whatever he threatened you with – he can’t do anything to you anymore.”

  “We owe you a vote of thanks,” the tallest of the men stepped forward. “You know, for a mouse, you’re one plucky bastard.”

  “Never underestimate someone because of his animal.” Darwin cast one more look at Lenin’s body and shook his head. Now the adrenalin was fading, he felt sick and cold. “I need to get out of here. If there’s a shifter on the force and they find the body, I’ll be locked up for murder.”

  “They won’t find his body,” the tall coyote told him, “and no, we won’t eat him. We never did, although that’s what he always told us to do and yeah, we might have joked about it a little. He’ll join the others in the ground, which is more than he deserves. Thank you and your friends.”

  “I don’t have any….” Darwin broke off as his t-shirt was handed to him. Simon, Rocky and Mal were standing behind him watching the coyotes.

  “You’re friend’s safe.” Mal said quietly. “I’ve been monitoring the police band. They found him alone, tied up in your apartment, as you said. He has no knowledge of the attack. The police think he was drugged but he’s going to be fine.”

  “Thank you.” Darwin pulled his shirt over his head. “I’ll…er…the police will probably want to question me. It was my apartment. I have to leave. I don’t want any of you getting into trouble because of me, especially with the authorities.”

  “You’re not going anywhere.” Simon’s eyes held his and unlike the repulsion Darwin felt when he was under Lenin’s spell, all he wanted to do was melt into Simon’s arms and never let go.

  “You can’t afford trouble in Arrowtown. You’re needed at home. I killed someone, don’t you understand? I killed someone in cold blood. That makes me a murderer.”

  “That makes you the bravest fucking mouse I’ve ever known.” Simon was there, in his face. His arms were tight around Darwin’s back and Darwin felt his head tip up before his lips were claimed. And that was exactly what that kiss was. A claiming. Simon letting him and the entire world know that they were mates and nothing, not even a dead shifter would change that. Darwin felt a spark run down to his toes. Every cell in his body ached to get closer and he hung onto Simon’s neck, giving as good as he got until his lungs forced him to break free.

  “You are mine,” Simon whispered, “and I don’t care how many assholes you have to kill, that will never change.”

  “You saw what I did?” Darwin couldn’t believe Simon had let him handle Lenin alone.

  “Every sexy sway of your hips,” Simon growled and Darwin got an inkling then of just how difficult his altercation had been on his dominant mate.

  “Yeah,” Rocky broke in ruining the moment yet again. “Just, don’t dance for any of us, okay? I mean, you’ve got some sexy moves, but that last one was a real mood killer.”

  “Just for you,” Darwin promised, drowning in Simon’s approving gaze. “I’ll keep all of my dances for you and leave your knives alone from now on.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Simon hungered for his mate. It took every ounce of patience to walk back to the motel. He didn’t care about the coyotes. He didn’t care about Lenin’s body. He gave the keys of his bike to Mal to bring back. His only focus was Darwin. He just hoped Darwin appreciated his control and lack of interference when he’d watched the scene between Lenin and Darwin unfold.

  He’d been there from the start and from the second he saw Lenin’s gun his snake was desperate to intervene. But Darwin’s lack of trust in him held him back. His mate wasn’t silly enough to meet with a killer without a plan. And while Rocky and Mal were silently urging him to intervene he held himself back through sheer force of will, determined to let Darwin handle the situation for as long as he was able. Simon had a point to prove and he’d do it, even if he gnawed his lips off in the process.

  And fuck. Darwin showed just how capable he was. From goading Lenin into giving up his secrets over his hold on the coyotes - guaranteeing they wouldn’t help the slimy monster if he called – through to knifing the man and making sure the handle broke off so Lenin couldn’t remove it and shift. Simon’s heart had been in his throat when he saw the blade Darwin filched from his boot. But his worries were baseless. Darwin handled the situation. It was only when Simon saw his mate shiver; how he seemed to wilt as he was talking to the coyotes that they made their presence known.

  And now they were alone, in their motel room with only the bed for company. Mal wisely took Rocky out for food, promising they’d be at least an hour. An hour Simon intended on taking full advantage of.

  “I need a shower,” Darwin said quietly as he tried to pull out f
rom under Simon’s arm. “I stink of him.”

  “There will be no more talk of him,” Simon said firmly, leading Darwin into the bathroom. He started the water and then plucked at Darwin’s top. Darwin’s arms came up and Simon took that as permission, stripping his mate bare as Darwin stood like a doll; a precious, breathing, sexy doll with a plump cock and a rosy hue covering his chest.

  “You’re stunning,” Simon said quietly as he inhaled deeply. Darwin’s unique papaya scent mixed with the steam from the shower, increasing his urgency. He gently nudged Darwin under the water and stripped off his clothes. He hesitated, just a brief moment before stepping into the shower. Darwin was motionless, his head back as water streamed over his hair and shoulders. But then, without looking at him, Darwin held out his hand and any concerns Simon had disappeared.

  “I’m sorry I lied to you.” Simon barely heard Darwin’s whisper above the running water. The young mouse turned in his arms and Simon knew without scenting him, Darwin was being sincere. “My head was all messed up. I wanted to trust you. I didn’t want to see you hurt. It’s just from our first day, all you’ve had to do is deal with shit and it’s all because of me.”

  “You’re used to being alone,” Simon grabbed the shower gel and a washcloth and gently soaped Darwin’s back. “I understand that. I live with others and I love them all like brothers, but inside, I’ve never really believed I could rely on anyone else except myself.”

  “That’s going to make mated life difficult.” Simon was touched at the hint of his mate’s smile.

  “I think we can make a go of it,” Simon said, trying to get his thoughts in order; damned difficult considering he had a naked mate in his arms. “I’m sure, if we’re both committed to this, we’ll find we have more in common than we think.”

  “I am. Committed I mean.” Darwin hesitated for a moment and then plunged on. “I thought I had to leave even though my heart ached at the idea. But you stood there. You watched as I killed a man and kissed me afterward. There’re not many guys who can say that about their mates.”