Isaiah (18 page)

“Bae’s right,” Tim said. “I wanted to find out about our past, specifically about Grandma Marybeth’s family who were killed in the Himalayas. I mean, yeah, I wanted to www.total-e-bound.com

ISAIAH

Bailey Bradford

111

know more about shifters, because we knew next to nothing about our history. But I didn’t put a lot of thought into what truly made us shifters. And when I found out you can lose the shifter spirit? That about blew my mind. It scared me, still does in fact. I don’t want my snow leopard to leave me.”

“It won’t,” Otto reassured Tim, rubbing his shoulder. “I’ve only known of it to happen in severe cases where the human is abusing his or her body to the point they risk death.

Isaiah has a good point. What we are has to be a mix of spiritual and genetics, and we have to just accept it as the truth. We’ve no way to check, not without risking exposure, and maybe that’s part of being what we are.”

Bae was more confused by the last part of Otto’s explanation than not. “What’s part of being what we are?”

Otto coughed and Bae realised he was uncomfortable, and probably out of his element discussing things like faith. Well, they probably all were. Bae knew no religious shifters, so faith was something one rarely had outside of family and friends, or their lepe or pack.

“Faith,” Otto said, oddly following Bae’s train of thought, or, Bae corrected silently, he was following Otto’s after all. “I just mean, maybe being what we are is something we simply have to trust is the way we are supposed to be. We are blessed, by the spirits in us, and possibly by some greater spirit. I’m more inclined now to believe in the latter than I have been.”

After another half hour of conversation, Tim and Otto left. There’d been nothing decided about the shifters who had attacked earlier in the day, but really, what could they do? Bae had no ideas, it wasn’t like he knew where to find the guys and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Although, if they only wanted his help…

“They should have asked instead of whatever they were trying to do today,” Isaiah said. “And, we may see them again. If they are ill and desperate enough to try to grab you, I think they will likely be back.”

Bae snuggled up against Isaiah’s side. “And what are we going to do?”

Isaiah didn’t answer for a moment, then he growled, “We’ll be ready for them.”

www.total-e-bound.com

ISAIAH

Bailey Bradford

112

Isaiah had been edgy all day. Well, edgier. He hadn’t been able to relax when Bae was out of his sight ever since the botched attack a week ago. Frankly, Isaiah was about ready to close up the shop and ride with Bae every day—except he knew Bae would kick his ass for even thinking it. Yeah, he knew Bae wasn’t a wuss who couldn’t defend himself, but he
was
Isaiah’s mate, and as such, Isaiah’s instincts, both man and leopard, urged him to protect Bae.

“Hey boss, I’m going to lunch,” Dorso called out from the front where the register was.

“I got the bill all ready for Mr Matso if he shows up.”

“Go ahead, I’m gonna finish doing this tune-up then get started on changing out the ignition switch and starter on the Chevy.” Which was going to be a right bitch to do.

Business had been booming the past week, and Isaiah had barely had time to eat lunch most days. In fact, he’d eaten one-handed while wielding a wrench yesterday, and today he didn’t think he was going to get lunch at all.

If Tim and Otto hadn’t left for Holton, they could have brought him a burger or something, but they’d left early that morning. Isaiah knew part of why they’d hung around was that they’d hoped to encounter the shifters who’d broken into the vet van. No one had seen hide nor hair of the two…and no one had caught whiff of them, either.

But Isaiah didn’t think they were gone, maybe just holed up until they were healed enough to make another grab at Bae. Of course, what with the results of their blood tests or whatever it was Otto and Tim had done, it was possible the two unknown assailants were dead, he guessed. Or they might still be really sick. There was just no way to know.

Isaiah shut the hood and put up his tools. He’d need different ones for the next job. He cleaned his hands off then moved the vehicle out into the parking area for pick-ups. The Chevy was steaming inside, and he wished he’d have thought to roll down the windows when the owner had left it this morning. By the time he finally got it started and parked it in the bay he was drenched in sweat. The damn car needed the compressor on the AC replaced, www.total-e-bound.com

ISAIAH

Bailey Bradford

113

too. He’d call the owner and ask if they wanted it taken care of now or if they needed to wait on it.

A familiar van pulled into the parking lot just as Isaiah got out of the Chevy. His heart fluttered rapidly and he knew he was grinning like a fool, but he couldn’t help it. Bae got out of the vet-mobile and Isaiah was rushing towards him when he remembered he was all sweaty and nappy and gross. He stopped and held up his arms and Bae frowned at him.

“I’m covered in sweat and oil and—oomph!”

Isaiah had a double armful of sexy veterinarian trying to crawl up him. Like he was going to fight Bae off. Isaiah scooped him up, bracing his arms under Bae’s ass. He carried him inside and back into the office. The Chevy would have to wait. Isaiah would stay and work on it all night if it meant he got to hold Bae now.

“Dorso?”

“Lunch,” Isaiah answered. “Aubrey?”

“Sent her home. We don’t have any appointments and Aubrey was sick and grumpy.

I’m done for the day.” Bae undulated against him as Isaiah plopped Bae on the desk.

“Thought I’d come spend the afternoon with you. Answer the phone, hand you tools, suck your dick…”

Isaiah moaned as he unfastened the coveralls with a shaky hand. “I really am all—”

“Sweaty and oily and haven’t I ever told you how that turns me on?” Bae leaned up and inhaled deeply right below Isaiah’s ear. “Aw, fuck yeah.” He pushed Isaiah back and slid off the desk onto his knees. In seconds, Isaiah’s clothes were shoved down to his thighs and Bae was holding the base of his cock. Isaiah watched, gape-mouthed with anticipation, little shivers already beginning as Bae looked up at him and lapped at his slit. “Fuuuuck,” Isaiah exhaled.

He hunched over and slapped one hand on the desktop. With the other he cupped the back of Bae’s head, knowing things were about to get dirty and rough. Bae opened his pretty lips and Isaiah, desire already making his balls pulse and tighten, thrust in.

“Oh yeah, honey.” Try as he might, Isaiah couldn’t keep his eyes open. Bliss was encompassing him, starting at his dick, deep in Bae’s throat. He rocked back then thrust in again, holding Bae’s head still. Bae’s wet slurps and muffled moans, along with the surging waves of lust passing from him to Isaiah, were all enough to reassure Isaiah that Bae was www.total-e-bound.com

ISAIAH

Bailey Bradford

114

enjoying giving the blow job as much as Isaiah was enjoying receiving—or almost, at least.

He tossed his head back and fucked Bae’s mouth with shorter, sharper snaps of his hips. Bae whipped his tongue up and down Isaiah’s length while at the same time pushing his balls up against his body. Heat flared out from Isaiah’s nuts, his release bearing down on him.

When Bae scraped a nail over his ass hole, Isaiah screamed before he could stop himself. His head buzzed like a swarm of bees had invaded his skull as he pumped cum down Bae’s throat. Isaiah couldn’t draw a breath as his body clenched, pleasure infusing into his cells.

And then it wasn’t, as a sharp pain pierced his side. Isaiah roared and thrashed, but his arms were caught and whatever was hurting him did so more, and Isaiah’s vision turned grey as Bae screamed.

Bae didn’t know how it happened. One second he was on his knees, drinking Isaiah down, the next the men who’d been in his mobile clinic were there, one running a small knife between Isaiah’s ribs, the other hitting him with what Bae thought was a Taser. He tried to stand but was pinned between Isaiah and the desk, and whatever jolted Isaiah got him as well. Bae screamed, pain and fear overpowering him as Isaiah convulsed.

“Shut up!” one of the men snapped at him. “You shut up or we’ll kill him and be done with him!”

Bae shut his mouth so fast his teeth clacked together. He glared at the man holding Isaiah up. Blood streaked down Isaiah’s side. Bae saw that the puncture wound was small, but how deep was it?

“You will come with us. Adal, do not let go of this one.” The man who wasn’t Adal tapped Isaiah’s cheek, hard. “He is what will make sure the veterinarian complies with our demands.”

“Yes, Steven.” Adal hefted Isaiah up on his shoulder, stumbling until Steven steadied him. “Heavy.”

Steven grunted and glared at Bae. “One wrong move from you, and I will have Adal kill the mechanic. He’s no help for us anyway. Give me your keys.”

www.total-e-bound.com

ISAIAH

Bailey Bradford

115

Bae bit back every sarcastic reply he thought of, and it was almost painful to do so, but one look at the blood running from Isaiah’s wound and Bae’s snark vanished. He took the keys from his pocket and handed them over. “I would have helped you, had you just asked.”

Steven scoffed at him, muttering bullshit as he took Bae’s arm. “Follow us, Adal.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hey, what the fuck—” Dorso stood in the hall, staring into the office. “Uh.”

“Dorso—” Bae began but in a move so quick his arm was just a blur, Steven punched Dorso in the temple. Dorso dropped like a ton of bricks, and Bae leapt to keep him from cracking his head on the cement floor. Steven jerked him back before he could reach Dorso and the sickening thud as Dorso’s head hit the floor curled Bae’s stomach.

Growling, Steven shook Bae and shoved him against the wall. The impact knocked him off stride, and Bae was turned and metal cuffs were slapped around his wrists. “I knew you would be trouble.”

How was any of this his fault? Bae knew better than to ask.

“Put the mechanics in the van.” Steve grabbed Bae’s arm again then glared at Adal.

“Both of them.”

Adal grimaced and was definitely not steady on his feet under Isaiah’s weight. “I can’t carry them both!”

Steven led Bae to where Dorso laid. He turned to Bae. “One wrong move on your part and they are both dead. Remember that.” He let go of Bae’s arm. Steven watched him the entire time he bent and wound his arms around Dorso’s chest. “Fucking heavy asshole.” To Bae, he said, “To your clinic, now.”

Bae hoped the customers, whoever they were, would realise something was wrong. He unlocked the mobile clinic and stepped inside. “Can you please put Isaiah on the exam table and let me check him? I swear I won’t do anything to try to escape.”

Steven ignored him and pulled out another set of cuffs once he dropped Dorso on the floor. Adal did put Isaiah on the table, which was good. From a pocket of his cargo pants he pulled out cuffs along with a length of chain—obviously their abductors had thought this out very well—and Isaiah was cuffed and chained so that he couldn’t use his arms. Adal gestured to Isaiah’s groin. “Do something with that.”

www.total-e-bound.com

ISAIAH

Bailey Bradford

116

I was doing something with that when you interrupted you fucking asswipe.
Bae held up his hands, arching his eyebrows as he looked from his restraints to Adal.

Adal shrugged. “If you can’t work with them, then I suppose your mate does not get attended to.”

“Are you both really this fucking hateful?” Bae snapped, completely astounded by what Steven and Adal were doing.

Steven slapped Bae so hard his ears rang and bright spots dotted his vision. “Shut up and do as you are told. I will not tell you again.”

The cold look in Steven’s black eyes was enough to convince Bae the psycho meant it.

He made it to the exam table and, after much grunting and cursing, managed to get Isaiah’s privates covered. There was blood on the table, not a whole lot but any was too much. Bae moved up and bent to look at the wound. It wasn’t long at all, just like he’d thought.

“What did you use?” he asked Adal without looking at him. He could see the jerk in his peripheral vision anyway. When Adal waved something back and forth Bae turned to look.

Adal held a small knife, the blade only about two inches long.

“But it had an anaesthetic of a sorts on it.” Adal shrugged. “What my lepe leader applied to it.”

“So you don’t know what it was?” Bae was trying not to panic at the idea of some weird, possibly toxic chemical being induced into Isaiah’s body. He checked Isaiah’s pulse. It was strong, steady. The relief Bae felt was almost overwhelming. His phone rang then and Bae almost screeched in surprise.

Adal, however, simply came over and pulled his phone out of his pants pocket. “You don’t need this.”

“No, he doesn’t. Check the mechanics for phones as well, then go lock the shop up. Put up a sign about a family emergency or something.” Steven looked out of the window at the parking lot. “Wait. There might be customers coming to pick up the Chevy at least. I know it doesn’t belong to any of the men in here. Call Brant and have him come up here. Tell him to come up with some story to tell about there being an emergency.”

“Yes, sir.” Adal left and Steven came to stand on the other side of the exam table.

“This man is really your mate?”

www.total-e-bound.com

ISAIAH

Bailey Bradford

117

“Yes,” Bae answered, gently probing the wound as he had been doing. “And if he dies, I don’t give a fuck what happens to you and your lepe. His brother, his family, will find you and your buddy, and your lepe, and they will destroy you.” Bae was pretty sure they would.

At least Timothy and Otto. He hadn’t met the rest of Isaiah’s family but if they were as loving as Isaiah had made them out to be, Bae didn’t imagine they would let anyone get away with hurting one of their members.

“Why would you bring my lepe into this?” Steven asked.

Bae gave him an annoyed glance then stood to get the gauze and alcohol wipes.