Remi snorted. “Come on. All right, but you’ve thought about it right? I mean how could you not?”
Keaton rolled his eyes. “Never. I like my job.”
“I knew it. You’re a fag.”
“Remi,” Chay, Bobby and Simon yelled at once.
Keaton smiled. He’d known from the moment he agreed to come with Chay that this would be brought up. It wasn’t like he acted like some queen or something, but his size and youthful appearance always made macho straight guys think “gay”. Which he was, but…well, yeah he was, therefore it was a moot point. He had every intention of answering in the affirmative, but before he could the table rattled slightly.
Remi jumped up, glaring at Chay. “What the fuck did you do that for?”
Chay came to his feet, glaring right back. “Stop being a dick. You’ve been giving Keaton shit since we got here. First you called him a pussy for not drinking, now… Quit being a dickhead.”
Simon tossed his cards on the table and cocked a brow at the two men. “Give it up, Chay, he’s been a dick since elementary school.” He looked over at Keaton. “Sorry, man. Just ignore him. Don’t take it too personal. Remi is an asshole to everyone.”
Bobby shot Keaton an apologetic glance and cleared his throat. “Uh, Chay? Remi?”
“What?” They both answered. Neither of them moved an inch. They continued trying to stare each other into the floor.
“We gonna play or what?” Bobby asked.
Chay sighed and sat. “Yeah.”
“Hey, I was playing. Chay’s the one who assaulted my shin.” Remi took his seat. He gave Keaton one last good glare and took a swig of his beer.
Things calmed down for about three more hands after that, then Remi started in again. He upped the ante a dollar and looked from Chay to Keaton. “Where did you meet Chay?”
Keaton glanced at Chay, and back to Remi. “At his clinic. I brought a wounded, uh, dog in to him.”
Bobby shifted a little in his seat. “You’re the wo—dog…I mean you’re the one who brought the dog in? My brother mentioned it the other night. He heard from the game warden that someone shot a dog and Chay patched it up. Glad he made it. The authorities need to look into that, we can’t have people going around shooting dogs.”
Keaton nodded. First, Joe Winston, now Bobby. Apparently, Chay’s pack liked to gossip like his did. “That was me.”
“Have you met Jasmine yet?” Remi asked with a smile.
“Jasmine?” Keaton raised a brow.
Chay cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak, but Remi interrupted him. “Chay’s girlfriend.”
What? Keaton tried not to react, but he wasn’t sure how successful he was because it felt like someone punched him in the stomach. He couldn’t get air into his lungs. Could a person pass out from sorrow? He didn’t look at Chay. He couldn’t. He shook his head and smiled at Remi. “No, I haven’t. Maybe after Chay introduces me, we can double-date sometime.” Okay, yeah it was petty, but he wasn’t happy with Chay at the moment. He could have told Keaton about a girlfriend.
“No, we cannot, because Jasmine is not my girlfriend. We dated exactly twice. That hardly constitutes a relationship.”
“But you fucked her.” Remi smiled so big his pretty white teeth gleamed, then he glanced back and forth between Chay and Keaton.
Oh God. Keaton felt sick to his stomach. Logically, he knew Chay wasn’t a virgin. He even knew it had been with women, but why did it hurt so much hearing about it? He had no claim on Chay…not really. Had Chay been getting serious about this woman before Keaton showed up on his exam table?
Chay leaned back in his chair and took a drink of his beer, acting for all the world like the conversation wasn’t important. Even though Keaton could smell the underlying scent of unease coming off him. It was irritating. “Are you practically engaged to everyone you fuck?”
Remi shrugged. “Okay, point taken.” He picked up his cards and looked at them again, his eyes twinkling over the top of his cards at Keaton.
He had no idea what Remi’s problem was but the man obviously had it in for him. Which didn’t bother Keaton too much, until Remi and Chay started reminiscing—at Remi’s instigation of course—making it clear that the two had been friends for a long time.
By the time they left, Keaton felt downright dejected and to make matters worse, the ride home was silent. Not good.
Keaton knew Remi had purposely set out to upset him, and damn it, it had worked. The man had brought to light what he’d known from the beginning. He didn’t belong in Chay’s world.
Somehow, after meeting Chay’s parents, he’d kidded himself into thinking everything would be smooth sailing assuming Chay could get over the whole “gay thing”. Which was stupid on several counts. Number one, he actually cared about Chay. Chay was a good person, no way was he willing to watch the man’s life go to shit because of him. Number two, Chay would be miserable being an outcast from his friends and family. Unlike Keaton, the man was a social being, he liked people. Number three, hell, number three didn’t really matter, because number one and number two made Keaton change his mind.
“Bit, I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into Remi tonight. He’s not usually so…obnoxious.”
Keaton sighed. Damn, he was going to miss Chay calling him Bit. How screwed up was that? “Don’t worry about it, Chay.”
The truck stopped next to Keaton’s car. “How about tomorrow we just get something to eat here and watch the documentary you recorded?”
He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against the window. It would be easy to agree to a date and not be here tomorrow when Chay got here, but he wasn’t a coward. “No. I don’t think that is a good idea.” He looked at Chay. “This isn’t working, Chay. We need to move on.”
“What? No fucking way, Bit. You are not going to brush me off because my friend was an asshole to you.”
Why couldn’t this be easy? Keaton should have known any mate destined to be his would be his equal when it came to being stubborn. Then again, he’d have thought his mate would be gay too. “Chay, I’m not going to argue with you about this. I don’t want to see you again. Goodbye.” He got out of the truck and didn’t turn back. He made it all the way into his apartment and leaned against the door before he started questioning his decision.
He hoped like hell he was doing the right thing, because damn if his heart didn’t ache. He barely knew Chay but the thought of never seeing him again cut like a knife.
Keaton slid down the door and pulled his knees up, resting his head on them. Why did everything in his screwed-up life have to be complicated? Why couldn’t Chay have been gay? Why did he have to care for the man after such a short time? God, his chest hurt…bad. His nose was stopped up making it hard to breathe and his stupid eyes were blurry.
Fuck. He was actually crying.
Chay sat there dumbfounded for about five minutes, before anger took over. He was not going to do this every time Bit got upset over something. The sooner Bit understood that the better. Chay got out of his truck and stormed up the steps to Keaton’s apartment. He didn’t even bother knocking. He knew Bit could hear him, smell him. “Keaton, open the damned door.”
The locks clicked then the door flew open. Bit’s frowning face appeared in the crack of the door. “Why are you still here?”
Were Bit’s eyes red? Did he smell tears? Chay pushed him back and walked into the apartment. “Because my mate is throwing a temper tantrum.”
“What?” Bit shut the door, spun around and leaned against it. “I am not throwing a temper tantrum. Damn it, Chay. Can’t you get it through your thick head… You don’t want me.”
“What? You don’t have any clue what I want. You may be a goddamned genius, Dr. Reynolds, but you don’t know everything. Why don’t you get that through your thick head.” He grabbed two handfuls of those glorious platinum curls and pulled Bit’s face up to his. He was a little rougher than he should be, but he felt entitled. He was pissed. He
slanted his mouth down over Bit’s. His tongue plunged in, seizing Keaton’s mouth, staking his claim. Let Bit digest that.
Surprisingly, Bit kissed back. He clutched Chay’s forearms and made this sweet little whimpering sound that went straight to Chay’s dick. Damn, what a sweet sound.
He broke off the kiss, staring down at his mate. Keaton had been crying. There were tear streaks on his face. Chay relaxed his hold on Keaton’s hair a tad. What else could he say to the man to get through to him? He finally settled on the truth. “I have always wanted you. I’ve wanted a mate since I was four years old. And it’s always been you. I didn’t know it at first, but I do now.” He ran one hand down that angelic face, feeling Bit’s cheek. “I dreamed of you. Of this face.” He bent and kissed Bit’s cheek where he’d caressed. “Of these freckles.” His lips brushed over the bridge of Keaton’s nose. “These stunning blue eyes. This pretty blond hair. It was you. God, you’re beautiful.”
Keaton whimpered again and slid his arms around Chay’s neck.
Chay groaned. Fuck, he was so hard. His cock strained against his jeans, making him uncomfortable as hell. Before sealing their lips together, Chay nipped Bit’s bottom lip. This time the kiss was sensual, meant to explore and savor, not punish. He traced every inch of Bit’s mouth, before seeking out his tongue. He took and Keaton gave. It was sweet and arousing.
Chay smelled tears again and pulled back, looking down at Bit. Bit’s eyes brimmed with tears. Chay blinked, realizing everything appeared black and white, his eyes had changed.
“You don’t want me.” Bit shook his head. “And I don’t want you. Go home, Chay.” Bit tried to push away, but his words lacked heat.
Damn, the man was stubborn. His body and heart said one thing and his mind said another. He was too analytical for his own good.
Chay smiled. Bit was perfect. Abso-fucking-lutely perfect. Stubborn, beautiful, funny, smart…he embodied everything Chay had ever wanted. “If you don’t want me, why are you so fucking hard?” Chay grabbed the harder-than-nails prick through Keaton’s jeans, proving his point. He wasn’t sure who moaned louder. Keaton was hard and, oh damn, Little Bit wasn’t small there. Chay squeezed, then started rubbing.
Bit’s eyes closed and he pushed into the caress. “Because of your stupid pheromones. I hate your pheromones.”
Chay chuckled and leaned into the younger man, pressing his small body up against the door. “My pheromones hate you too.” He nuzzled Bit’s neck, nipping and licking.
Bit nuzzled back, and there was that sweet little whine again. Letting go of Keaton’s cock, he fumbled with Bit’s pants. He had to feel that hard, hot prick with no barrier. He got the jeans unfastened and pushed them down past Bit’s hips.
Keaton gasped, pulling back and blinking up at Chay.
He pulled back too, looking down at the thick cock he’d revealed. He moaned, unable to help it. Keaton was every bit as big as he was, and Chay wasn’t a small man by anyone’s standards. He couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or not. It was very aesthetically pleasing though. He’d never considered dicks pretty, but Bit’s was. Long, thick, an enticing reddish tint to it and curving toward his belly just slightly. His pubes were the same beautiful platinum color as on his head.
Chay wrapped his hand around the pretty prick, sliding it up and back down, lightly, before gripping it more firmly. His own cock jerked inside his too-tight jeans. He’d done this before, to his college roommate, but it hadn’t been this exciting.
Bit’s cock throbbed in his hand, already leaking precome.
Knowing Bit was this hard all because of him was a powerful aphrodisiac. Hell, Keaton himself was a freaking turn on. Everything about the man called to Chay. Keaton made him want things he’d never wanted to admit, even to himself.
Bit squirmed, his eyes wide, the whites swallowed up by blue, his wolf eyes. “Chay?”
Chay kept stroking. Slow and easy at first, then faster as Bit’s hips surged forward, fucking his hand. He captured Keaton’s mouth, his tongue pushing deep, plunging in and out to the rhythm his hand set. His teeth stung his gums as his canines lengthened. He needed relief bad, but he wasn’t going to let go of Bit long enough to get it. He had Keaton right where he wanted him, squirming, panting and moaning. It was the sexiest thing Chay had ever witnessed. He couldn’t remember being this hot for anyone else…ever. He’d never lost control of his wolf side with anyone but Bit. No woman had ever made his teeth and eyes change. He pressed himself to Keaton’s side, grinding his cock against Keaton’s hip as he continued to pump Bit’s dick.
Bit was getting close. His movements were erratic, his heart had sped up and his moans grew louder. Finally, Bit pulled back. His eyes locked to Chay’s. His back arched against the door and a guttural groan ripped from his chest as he came.
The sharp scent of semen filled the air as Bit spurted on Chay’s hand and wrist. Bit slid down the door, sitting, panting.
Chay bit his bottom lip, his balls drawing impossibly tight at the sight of Keaton sprawled at his feet, jeans open, prick hanging out, drops of cum still clinging to it…to his jeans and the bottom of his shirt as well. Fuck, the man is sexy. Chay rested his head against the door. He was too close and he did not want to drive home in squishy pants. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, concentrating on the cool door beneath his head.
He wasn’t sure how long he stayed there, but a rustling sounded below him and then Bit’s fingers started working the fastenings on his pants. “Bit, what—”
Keaton tugged his pants and boxers to his knees in one motion. Then his cock was engulfed in moist heat. “Oh shit.”
Bit grabbed his ass, encouraging him to move. Bit slipped half of him into his mouth, and pulled back before taking more in. It felt damned good. This was going to be the shortest blowjob in history.
He looked down to find that angelic face turned up toward him, the smooth cheeks hollowed out as Bit sucked. Those big sky blue eyes held his. Then Bit did the most amazing thing, he took every inch of Chay’s dick into his mouth and swallowed. The sight of that pretty little freckled nose buried in the dark curls above his cock was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Chay lost it. His balls squeezed tight, his prick jerked in Bit’s mouth and he came and came and came. “Keeeeaton!”
Bit swallowed every drop and bless him, he didn’t release Chay’s cock until it became limp. Chay decided then and there the man was a fucking God.
He slithered to the floor and ended up lying in a sprawl next to Bit. He pulled him into his arms, holding him tight, and kissed the back of his neck.
“I guess this means you aren’t leaving?” Bit snuggled in, getting cozy.
“Nope. You better get used to me in your life. I’m here to stay.”
“It’s not going to be easy. You are probably going to end up hating me.”
“Nothing worth having is ever easy.” Chay kissed the back of his mate’s neck again and squeezed him. “I could never hate you, Bit. My pheromones, on the other hand, can’t stand your ass.”
Chapter Six
Keaton finally gave in to the insistent tugging on his pant leg and closed his book. Chay would be here soon anyway. He pushed his glasses back up his nose and scooted away from the table to look down at the newest gift. He smiled at the big gold eyes peering up at him. Chay had dropped off the little Golden Retriever puppy yesterday after he got off work.
After their episode—as Chay called it—Chay had started bringing him presents. Keaton had told him to stop, but as usual Chay didn’t listen. The first day he brought a book on Apache history and culture. The next day it was a book on Sioux history and culture. Last night Chay gave him a puppy. Keaton had in turn taken to getting things for Chay. He’d bought him the new mystery book in a series he had read and a new lab coat, because his was, well it was just yuck, stained with God only knew what.
The night of their “episode”, he had reluctantly agreed to forget the possibility of their relationship not working.
In turn, Chay had declared it a done deal, they were a couple. So now Chay was back to wooing—which was silly considering the man himself said this wasn’t a trial relationship, but the real thing—and he in turn was wooing Chay. Chay thought it would help them get to know each other and make Keaton less “skittish”. It was almost like a real beginning of a relationship, like actual dating, only they knew the outcome already, or he hoped he did anyway.
Keaton still had his doubts, but he was dealing with them. He truly loved being around Chay and he really, really liked him. Okay, maybe it was more than like. Which bothered him, because Chay could easily become everything to him. Hell, he was halfway there already, but Keaton was trying not to dwell on it. He was following Chay’s example and going with it. He didn’t doubt Chay’s sincerity so much as he doubted outside factors. One thing he’d learned, Chay was honest to a fault, even when it came to telling him his shoes were ugly—which he did the other day—if the man said he was sticking around, well, Keaton was pretty sure he meant it.
The puppy gave another sharp tug just as the knock came at the door. “It’s open, Chay.”
The door opened and Chay’s dark head popped in, looking around. Trying to find the puppy, Keaton presumed.
“He’s over here.” He pointed at the dog tugging on his jeans.
Chay grinned and stepped through the doorway. “Hi, Bit.”
The puppy let go of Keaton’s pants and bounced across the floor to Chay, immediately grabbing the leg of his scrub pants, growling and shaking his head like a possessed demon.
Chay laughed and made his way, with great difficulty—due to the tugging, growling pest at his feet—to Keaton. “Does he have a name yet?” He gave Keaton a quick peck on the lips.
Keaton smiled and kissed back. It still amazed him that Chay felt comfortable with him. Most men would be having a major identity crisis in the same situation, but not Chay. Chay was happy as a pig in shit. The man seemed so comfortable in his own skin it was almost disgusting. “Pita.”
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