Chasing Seth

by Loveless, J. R.

  “Stop,” he pleaded on a whimper, his eyes squeezed shut tightly at the feel of those firm lips on the nape of his neck. “You don’t even wa-want me,” Seth said, stumbling over his words as his body fought to deny the control his mind had over it.

  “No?” Kasey intoned, thrusting his hips forward, grinding his cock into Seth. “You see, Seth, it’s as I told you. Despite my stubborn, bullheaded reaction before, you are my mate. That means I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone else.” He scraped his teeth along the delicate skin of Seth’s bared throat.

  A small keening sound came from Seth, but he forced his body to remain still, not to push into the hot, stiff flesh nudging his lower back or to tilt his head to the side and allow the other male to dominate him. “You… only want me because you think I’m your mate,” he gasped out, his nails digging into the wood of the cabinet he held onto for dear life. “Not because you truly want me.”

  “I don’t think you are my mate, pup. I know you are. My body craves you like sustenance. My mind craves to hear your sweet voice like the oceans lapping at the shores. My hands need to feel your skin beneath them.” Kasey carefully turned Seth to look at him, locking their eyes together. He traced the line of Seth’s lips with one finger as he spoke. “I can only imagine what brought you to where you are now, pup, so afraid and unable to recognize me as your mate. I will bide my time, Seth, and woo you at every chance I get, but one day I will claim you.”

  Seth bit his lip as he strained his body away from Kasey’s. The damned bastard made him feel things he’d never felt with anyone. The slightest touch of the sheriff’s fingers drifting over his skin made Seth’s stomach muscles clench; his heart began to pound inside his chest at just a simple look from those amazingly dark eyes. The gentle treatment left him confused and torn. Taggart had never treated him so carefully. A small sound of dismay broke free at the thought of that name. He’d learned not to think of him, to lock those thoughts deep inside his mind, because they made him feel ashamed, weak, and useless.

  It was taking every ounce of control Kasey had not to ignore the little voice in his head demanding he go slowly with the slender male in front of him. He could feel and smell his mate’s desire for him. He knew if he pressed he could override the smaller wolf’s objections, but he wanted Seth to come to him willingly, to want to be claimed by him. There would be no sweeter reward than to see Seth submit to him without fear or reservation.

  A sound from the vet distracted him from his thoughts. “What is it?” he asked softly.

  “N-nothing,” Seth stuttered, seeming to withdraw into himself.

  Reluctantly, Kasey stepped away from the smaller form, knowing he was crowding the other wolf. He reached down and gently took Seth’s hand in his. “Come on, pup. I’ll walk you to your car and follow you to make sure you get home all right.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Seth insisted, but Kasey just ignored him.

  It pleased Kasey when Seth didn’t draw away from him. He waited patiently for the blue-eyed doctor to lock up the clinic before capturing Seth’s hand in his again. A light rain began to mist down to the dry ground during the short walk to the car. When they reached Seth’s small sedan, Kasey found himself hard-pressed to let him go. He lifted Seth’s hand to his mouth, brushing his lips over the backs of his knuckles. Lust slammed into him when he saw the most becoming blush flood his sexy mate’s cheeks. Stifling a groan, Kasey released him and opened the car door for him.

  “Good night, pup,” Kasey said huskily as he shut the door once Seth slipped into the front seat. He jogged over to his truck and started it, following his mate from the parking lot. The drive didn’t take long, and he pulled up to the curb, watching as Seth hurried into the house. It brought one corner of his lip up into a soft smile when he saw his gorgeous mate glance at him one last time before closing the door.

  Rain trickled down the front windshield in rivulets, growing harder with each passing mile that Kasey drove toward the station. A deep-seated instinct told Kasey that there were many dark secrets in Seth’s past, secrets that he needed to know to keep his mate safe, and the only way to do that was to know the details of what had caused so much pain.

  It was obvious that Seth wasn’t going to tell him anytime soon, and even though the sheriff knew the dark-haired vet would be furious if he ever found out what he was about to do, Kasey couldn’t ignore his instincts to dig beyond the surface. He hadn’t been elected sheriff just because he was the Alpha’s heir. His instincts ran deep and true, and he’d found that if he followed them when they were kicking up the kind of fuss they were right then, they never led him astray. Seth would just have to never find out.

  Chapter Five

  Seth leaned back against the door wearily. Bullet whined at him, and he gave the dog a strained smile. “Hey, boy. I know I should have taken you with me today, but I was in such a rush I didn’t have time. Tomorrow,” he promised.

  Bullet seemed to understand as Seth let him out to relieve himself. Seth rested his forehead against the cool, smooth glass of the window while waiting for the dog to return. Kasey left him confused, aching, and uncertain. He’d never felt these feelings before. He’d thought he would never be able to feel anything again after everything that had happened. Especially toward another werewolf. He needed to be firm where the big Cheyenne was concerned. A shiver raced down his spine at the promise in Kasey’s voice about how he would claim him.

  He hadn’t been raised in a pack environment, and being someone’s mate seemed impossible. His mother had told him one day he would find his mate just like she’d found his father. For years, it was all he’d dreamed of: finding the one person he was meant to be with for the rest of his life, finally not feeling all alone in the world. Two years ago that dream had shattered, and now he just wanted to live out his life in solitude, a rogue forgotten by the rest of the world.

  A woof at the door brought him out of his thoughts, and Seth opened the door to let his dog inside. The phone rang as he turned the lock. Frowning, he wondered who it could possibly be at this time of night. Maybe it was an emergency. “Hello?”

  Silence met his ear, but he heard a slight shift in breathing as the person remained quiet. A sense of foreboding trickled down his nape straight to his gut. “Who is this? Hello?”

  Click. They hung up.

  Seth carefully placed the receiver in the cradle. He berated himself. Stop it, he mentally chided himself. It was probably just a wrong number. And besides, you know it couldn’t possibly be—

  Seth slammed the door on his thoughts. The person had the wrong number. Making sure all the doors were locked, he headed back to the bedroom, happy to have Bullet at his side.

  The next day dawned bright and clear, the ground fresh and renewed from the rain overnight. Seth stretched beneath his sheets and gave a small groan just as Bullet perked up and took off down the hallway, barking. He heard the sound of someone knocking at the door. He yawned as he stood, pulling a robe on over his T-shirt and boxers and running a hand through his hair to straighten it at least a little bit. When he entered the living room, his eyes locked on the dark orbs belonging to the man who'd haunted his dreams last night. Sighing, Seth unlocked and opened the door for the sheriff.

  Bullet growled and crowded in close to Seth. He dropped his hand onto Bullet’s head. “Shh, it’s okay, boy. He’s not a bad wolf… I think.”

  Kasey held a brown paper bag in one hand and a tray containing two coffees in the other. A wince spread over his features at Seth’s words to the dog. He forced a smile at Seth. It would take time to earn Seth’s trust, but patience had never been his strong suit, unfortunately. “Good morning, pu—Seth. I brought some coffee and donuts.”

  Seth wrinkled his nose at the endearment cut short. Without a word, he stepped back and motioned Kasey into the house. His hands pulled the robe tighter around his body in an almost protective gesture. “I’ll go get dressed,” he muttered.

  “Oh, you don’t have to bother
on my account,” Kasey drawled wickedly, his eyes sliding down Seth’s slender body. Even the vet’s toes were sexy! A light dusting of hair shadowed the length of Seth’s legs, which were visible beneath the hem of the robe, and Kasey’s wolf prowled beneath the surface, begging him to claim his mate before he got away. Reining in his desire, Kasey winked at Seth and almost laughed when he saw red flood the pale cheeks of his mate.

  Seth escaped down the hall but not before giving a harsh glare at Kasey for enjoying his discomfort. His face felt hot, and he knew he was blushing. A tingle spread over his skin as he quickly dressed, shaved, and brushed his teeth. The primal, lustful gleam in Kasey’s eyes caused his breath to hitch, and flashes of what it would be like to be pinned down and roughly taken by the gorgeous male sitting in his kitchen passed through his mind. A low growl rumbled in his throat as his wolf reacted to the thoughts. His cock instantly hardened, pressing against his fly. “Stop it, Seth,” he commanded himself sternly.

  He looked up into the mirror and noticed his eyes were starting to bleed through to his canine pupils. His tongue slid along his upper teeth and found they’d extended slightly as well. His hands gripped the granite countertop, hard. This wasn’t how he’d seen his life playing out after moving here. It’d seemed like such a quiet, sleepy town, with no one to bother him. Now he either had to accept Kasey as his mate or leave.

  He was so tired of moving. It was all he’d done since he could remember. First with his parents, then by himself. But the thought of allowing Kasey to dominate him also made his throat tighten with screams of terror. How could he give in and allow it to happen again? Flashes of the pain and degradation almost sent him to his knees in agony.

  Effectively, his thoughts allowed him to bring his body under control so he wouldn’t embarrass himself when he re-entered the kitchen. He stopped in the doorway and lifted an eyebrow at his traitor of a dog. Belly-up in submission to Kasey while said wolf scratched his belly, Bullet panted happily. “I hope you didn’t feed him any of those donuts,” he said darkly. “Or you’ll be cleaning up the mess he leaves behind.”

  Kasey looked up at Seth with a grin. “Nah, Mom never let us feed our pets human food when we were growing up. We just came to an understanding, didn’t we, boy?”

  Seth didn’t realize his eyes were following the big, firm hand scratching Bullet’s belly until the man moved to stand up. Clearing his throat, he slipped into his usual chair and picked up the coffee cup to take a sip. He sighed as his eyes closed in pleasure. One of the most addictive substances on the planet, coffee was like heroin to some people. Just inject it straight into my veins, he thought wryly. When he opened his eyes again, he found Kasey staring at him with the same feral expression, but it quickly disappeared behind an easy smile the moment he saw Seth’s eyes were open. “So, Doc, where’d you live before you decided to move to Senaka?”

  He shrugged. “All over the place. We never lived anywhere longer than a couple of years. After my parents died, I kept the same patterns, moving every couple of years. People start to notice certain things.”

  Kasey frowned at him. “So you’ve never had a real home? What about friends?”

  “I’d make friends, and then we moved on. Lost touch with most of them. Except for my friend Nick.” Seth’s face softened as he thought of his friend. Even though his parents expressly forbade him from telling any of his friends he was a werewolf, Nick had figured it out and confronted him. So he’d told him the truth, and Nick had stuck with him ever since. He hadn’t cared Seth was a monster. Nick was the only person Seth would ever trust in his life again, the only one who’d been there when he’d needed him most.

  “Nick?” Seth heard a tinge of strain to Kasey’s voice and looked at him, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

  “Yeah. He’s my best friend. He travels a lot for his business. He does graphic design and sometimes has to be overseas in Japan or Australia. Wherever it takes him. He’ll be coming for a visit when he gets back.” Seth looked forward to having his friend there. Nick would be able to help him figure out what he should do about Kasey.

  “Is he wolf?” Kasey asked in a heavy tone Seth couldn’t interpret.

  Seth laughed and shook his head. “No. He’s human. I intend on introducing him to Chessie. She’s got her sights set on me, and I haven’t the heart to tell her I’m gay. Nick could charm the panties off any woman he wanted. He’s good-looking, rich, but not arrogant about it. He’s very down to earth and far from wolf.”

  Kasey stifled a growl at the pure affection on Seth’s face as he spoke of this Nick. His hands tightened on the coffee cup, and he had to force himself not to crush it. How had this man gotten past his pup’s defenses? “How… how long have you known him?”

  “Hmmm… I think going on fourteen years now. I met him when I was fifteen, and we lived in New Harrisburg for a year and a half. He saved me from a bunch of bullies the first day of school. We’ve been friends ever since.” Seth swallowed the last of his coffee and stood. He pushed his chair into the table before looking expectantly at Kasey.

  “Answer me one thing before I go, Seth.” Kasey also stood and moved over to Seth. He picked up Seth’s hand in one of his, studying the fragile bones in his fingers as if they were the most awe-inspiring things in the world. “Does he know what you are?”

  Seth jerked in surprise, his eyes widening at Kasey. “He does, doesn’t he?” Kasey ground out at the sudden shadowing in his mate’s deep-blue eyes. He wanted to howl in anger and sadness. This man, this human, had done what he craved. He’d invaded Seth’s heart.

  Seth stiffened at Kasey’s nearness and question. A proprietary note had invaded the older wolf’s voice. Seth tilted his head back and gave Kasey a heated glare. “And if he does?”

  A fierce look came into Kasey’s eyes, and his lips flattened into a thin, disapproving line. “Humans are dangerous. Telling one of them about us is never a good idea. How do you know you can trust him not to betray you as soon as it’s convenient for him?”

  “Because he’s my friend. And he is the only one who’s been there for me in the five years my parents have been gone. He’s the one who sa—” He abruptly cut himself off, horrified that he’d almost revealed his darkest secret.

  “The one who what?” Kasey demanded. His fingers tightened slightly in his jealousy as a red haze drifted over his mind. No one else could be that close to his mate. Seth was his.

  Seth winced at the tightened grip. He wrenched at his arm. “Let go. You’re hurting me!”

  Kasey’s grip immediately loosened, and he grimaced, lifting Seth’s abused wrist to his lips to press a gentle kiss against the reddened skin. “I am sorry, pup. I just want you to trust me, to be able to tell me the things you would share with your… friend.”

  Seth’s blue eyes narrowed at the edges, a sharp coldness in them. “If you want me to trust you, then stop crowding me and expecting me to obey you. And don’t touch me. Every time you do, it turns out to be a bad thing.” His gaze dropped pointedly to where Kasey gripped his hand.

  Kasey’s heart clenched at his mate’s obvious rejection of his touch. His thumb caressed the soft skin on the inside of Seth’s wrist. “I’m trying, pup. I really am.” His other hand came up to cradle the other’s face. “I can’t help but be jealous of this man having won you over when getting even an inch with you is like pulling teeth.”

  Seth made a small sound at the feel of the warm, rough palm on his cheek and the calloused thumb rubbing against his skin. His lips parted at Kasey’s actions and words. “Don’t…,” he murmured breathlessly, almost unable to stop himself from leaning into Kasey’s hand.

  “Please give me a chance, Seth,” Kasey begged shamelessly. “Let me show you I’m not a cruel man. Have dinner with me. Tonight.”

  A war raged inside of Seth. Part of him wanted to say, “To hell with this!” and run for the hills. The other part, the one that had waited for his mate for so long, wanted him to give in and see where the road in Kas
ey’s direction led. One road, if it could be trusted, could lead to a beautiful sunset on a far-off beach in the middle of summer. The other was a bleak and cold existence, alone. Seth bit his bottom lip, hesitating to answer.

  “Please, Seth,” Kasey whispered again, dark eyes intense and beautiful.

  With a small smacking of his lips as Seth let his bruised bottom lip go, Seth nodded, only to find himself in a tight embrace and his mouth under attack by Kasey’s. He gasped at the abruptness of it, and then it ended as abruptly. Kasey stepped back, a wide grin on his face. “Tonight, seven o’clock. I’ll pick you up at the clinic.”

  “O-okay,” Seth muttered, fidgeting at what he’d just gotten himself into. He watched in a daze as Kasey left the house. What the hell are you doing, Seth? he berated himself. His lungs suddenly felt as though they couldn’t get enough air in them.

  Seth dropped to the floor, bringing his knees to his chest as he tried to control his breathing like the doctor had showed him. Kasey’s face blended in with another’s. A face he saw every time he slept. The only way he could escape the dreams was to exhaust himself, usually after one of his healing episodes. His chest felt like it would cave in under the pressure of it all. Tears stung his eyes, and all he wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry himself to death.