Without Reservations (22 page)

Keaton sighed. “My brother.”

Jake nodded, absorbing that information. “After he left here, I followed him to that little wooded area a few miles away, the one that backs up to your subdivision. He got out and shifted. I parked further away, staying downwind. Figured I should shift and follow him. By the time I caught up to him, he was already here. I saw the motorcycle and smelled the blood. When I jumped the fence, he was standing over Remi. I ran him off. From a distance, I thought he…Remi, was you, Chay. Until I got close to him.”

Keaton squeezed Chay’s shoulder. “Which explains a lot. I can see how someone would mistake Remi for Chay. They look alike from a distance.”

Chay cocked his head. “But Aubrey is a wolf. He was even in wolf form. How could he not smell the difference? He’d just met me.”

Keaton sighed. “My brother is an idiot. He’s never been one to trust his senses. He probably didn’t even try to differentiate scent.”

Jake set his beer down on the table next to him and idly scratched Pita’s head. “I guess this gives us a good place to start looking for your attacker. Why would your brother want to kill you?”

Chay turned his head to look at Bit.

Keaton shrugged. “That’s just it. I have no idea. He has no motive, whatsoever. I’m out of his life.”

Chay frowned. “How about your parents?”

Keaton shook his head, bewildered. “I…I don’t know. I don’t think so. The same thing applies, there isn’t a reason.”

Chay patted Bit’s leg. “Jake, can you look into it?”

“You betcha. Keaton, if you can give me names and addresses and that sort of thing, it’ll go quicker. What exactly did your brother—”

Remi groaned and squirmed.

Pita, noticing him for the first time, barked, making them all jump.

Remi’s green eyes blinked open and his hand flew to his head. “Fuckin’ A, my head hurts.” He focused on Chay. “What the hell happened? I came over here to tell you I was sorry and this dog—or actually it looked more like a wolf—attacked me. Don’t tell me I passed out like some freaking pansy.”

Keaton gasped. “You came to apologize?”

Remi pushed himself to a sitting position, wincing. “Yeah. I…uh, yeah. I’m sorry. Chay has been my friend for a long time and if he chooses you, well then—” Remi’s eyebrows pulled together, his eyes narrowing. “Who are you?”

Jake stood, depositing Pita in Keaton’s lap on his way to the couch. “I’m Jake Romero. I’m Keaton’s bodyguard.” He held out his hand to Remi.

The faint scent of fear permeated the air. Remi scooted back on the couch a little, staring at Jake’s hand. He checked Jake out from head to toe and the smell of lust filled the room. His body was probably reacting to the scent of blood in the air, but Chay didn’t relish telling Remi that.

Remi shifted side to side, trying to hide his growing erection, then drew his knees up. He finally lifted his hand and shook Jake’s. “Remington Lassiter. Nice to meet you.”

Dipping his head, Jake smiled and let go of Remi’s hand. “Likewise.”

Remi’s nose twitched and he frowned. “I feel really weir—” His eyes widened and he glanced down at himself. He grabbed a pillow, placing it in his lap. “What happened to my clothes?” His brow furrowed. “Chay?”

Keaton nudged Chay’s shoulder and Jake cleared his throat.
Great.
Of course they were going to make him break the news.

Chay got up and went to sit on the couch beside Remi as Jake sat on Remi’s other side.

Remi looked at Chay expectantly. “I passed out and peed my pants or something, didn’t I?”

Chay grinned. “Er, no. I mean, you didn’t pee yourself.”

“Well, thank God for that. It’s bad enough that I fainted.” Remi rolled his eyes.

“Listen, Remi. What I have to tell you is going to be a little shocking. I…we…hell. The wolf attacked you and almost killed you and the only way we could save you was to make you a werewolf.”

Remi blinked three times then after several silent seconds, threw his head back and laughed.

Bit shook his head. “Oh good Lord, Chay.”

Jake stared at Chay like he’d grown two heads, his mouth hanging open.

Chay shrugged. “What? There isn’t an easy way to tell someone that. Besides I didn’t see either of you offering up explanations.”

They both groaned.

Finally, Remi’s guffaws turned into chuckles. After a few more seconds, he stopped, wiped the tears out of the corners of his eyes and grinned. “Okay, I deserve that for being an ass. I’m sorry I was such a dick to Keaton. I actually heard about the cut brakes from Bobby and came to make sure everything was okay. So, what really happened to my clothes?”

Chay knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but…
well hell!
What was he supposed to do?

“Okay, I’m not shifting. He already thinks I’m an abomination. Let him hate one of you for being a werewolf. I’ll stick to being hated for being gay. Someone else is going to have to show him.” Bit tucked his feet underneath him and sat up straighter. Damn him, he almost looked amused.

Chay gave him the evil eye.

Bit only grinned. “What? I’m just saying…”

“Yeah, whatever.” He rolled his eyes. “Jake?”

Remi tilted his head to the side. “Joke’s gone far enough, Chay. I said I was sorry, all right?”

Jake stood and started stripping off his clothes.

Remi looked at him and jerked back. His hands came up. “Whoa, hey!”

Jake ignored him and continued to strip. When he was naked, he moved back. “Ready?” he asked Chay.

He nodded.

Remi started to get up. “Okay this is going too far, I mean rea—”

Chay grabbed his arm to keep him from leaving.

He glared at Chay then turned back to Jake. Remi’s eyes widened. All the blood fled from his face and he let out a strangled gasp.

Chay followed his gaze to the large black wolf as Keaton pointed at Remi and yelled, “Chay.”

Chay turned just in time to catch Remi as he fainted.

Chapter Nineteen

Keaton sighed, sitting down hard on the edge of his and Chay’s bed. Damn, Remi being Jake’s mate sucked. Jake was a nice guy, he deserved better.

“What’s that for? Did you and Jake get Remi settled?” Chay came out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist. The man was fine, all that smooth tan skin and lean muscles. It was enough to distract a man out of his doom and gloom ponderings.

“Yeah. Remi is still out of it. Jake carried him to the guest room. He’s going to sleep on the floor in case Remi wakes up. What was what for?”

“You sighed. Been a fucked up day, eh?” Chay sat next to him, running his hand through Keaton’s hair. “I love your hair.”

Keaton smiled and tangled his fingers in Chay’s hair, tugging him forward. He leaned his forehead against his mate’s. “Yeah, really, really fucked up. My parent’s may or may not be plotting my death. My brother definitely is. Remi got attacked and changed into a wolf and Jake told me earlier that Remi is his mate.”

“Holy shit.” Chay’s eyes widened and his mouth gaped. “Guess that explains the boner, huh?”

Keaton nodded. “Tell me about it. Poor guy. And you aren’t supposed to notice things like that.”

“How could I not? It was pretty obvious. I thought it was due to blood lust.” Chay shrugged and kissed Keaton’s nose. “Don’t write it off yet. Remi’s a wolf now too, likely the same pheromones that are screaming at Jake will start yelling at him too.”

Those dratted pheromones.
“Yeah, like I said, poor Jake. I don’t know what’s worse. Having a mate who is a homophobic asshole and wants nothing to do with you or having a mate who is a homophobic asshole and can’t keep his hands off you. How the hell does that work? He hates you for fucking him?” God, that was just beyond ridiculous. Did that fly out of his mouth? Keaton laughed and fell back on the bed. “I’m losing my damned mind. That’s not even funny.”

Chay flopped back on the bed beside him and wrinkled his brow. “You okay?”

Keaton shook his head. “Nope. How do you feel about Hawaii? Surely they need vets and teachers in Hawaii.”

“Never been to Hawaii, but we aren’t moving. We are going to figure this out and make a life for ourselves here.”

Keaton snorted.

“At least we have an idea where to look now. We have a clue where the threat is coming from.” Chay’s fingers twined with his, squeezing.

He squeezed back. “Yeah. Why doesn’t that make me feel better?”

Chay sat up and pulled his towel off, baring his gorgeous body. “Maybe this will help.” He straddled Keaton’s hips and leaned down to kiss him. It began as a gentle press of lips, but in no time Chay’s tongue caressed his. Chay pinned Keaton’s wrists, keeping them over his head. His hard cock mashed into Keaton’s belly above the flannel PJs he had on.

Keaton’s cock filled instantly and he was pretty sure it was him moaning. He bucked his hips up, trying to get more pressure on his prick.

Chay grinned against his mouth. “Want you.”

He nodded. “Want you too.”

Chay slid off him, keeping hold of his wrists. He maneuvered Keaton to a sitting position and up off the bed. When Keaton stood, Chay dropped to his knees and slipped Keaton’s pajama pants down over his hip, kissing the bare skin he exposed. “I love your body.” He kissed one hipbone, then the other. “Love this ivory skin.” He pulled the waistband out and over Keaton’s dick and placed a kiss on the head.

Keaton moaned, tangling his fingers in his lover’s thick black hair. “You’re nuts. I’m scrawny and pale. You’re the one who has a beautiful body and gorgeous coloring.”

Tugging the pants past Keaton’s thighs, Chay ran his hand along the insides. His tongue soon followed. “Mmm, then I guess I have a thing for scrawny and pale.” He pushed Keaton’s pants the rest of the way off and stood. “Bed, pretty baby.” He kissed Keaton’s nose then went to shut off the overhead light. Chay sat on the edge of the bed and flipped on the bedside lamp as Keaton got into bed.

Keaton crawled under the covers and Chay threw them off.

“I want to see you, Bit.” He propped himself on his elbow and ran his other hand down Keaton’s stomach. “Look how different.”

Keaton glanced down at the dark hand covering his abdomen. Chay was as dark as he was light. The contrast was surprisingly sexy. He’d never thought about it before. He’d always loved dark men, but seeing that dark hand on his own fair skin was quite a turn on. As he watched, Chay’s hand continued down and grabbed Keaton’s cock. It felt like Keaton’s whole body contracted when Chay squeezed.

He thrust up into Chay’s hand. “Chay…”

“Hmm…” Chay moved his hand, dragging it up and down his shaft.

Keaton’s toes scrunched. He was whimpering but he didn’t care. The more noise he made the more turned on Chay got. It was a win-win situation. He rolled to his side and reached for his mate. He kissed up Chay’s jaw, nibbling as he went, and tugged Chay over on top of him.

Chay straddled him and sat up, still stroking Keaton’s cock. “It amazes me how such a dominant wolf can be such a submissive man. Do you know how fucking sexy that is, Bit?”

Keaton shook his head. “I’m…I’m…not…I’m not submissive.” He may have always taken a bottom role with Jonathon, but he never let Jonathon actually have any control over him. Jonathon’s preoccupation with his family’s money had allowed Keaton to manipulate the man easily.

“That’s what makes it so damned hot. You aren’t like this with anyone else but me. You weren’t even like this with your ex, were you?”

“No. Only you.” Keaton didn’t trust anyone enough to give up control…anyone but Chay. With Chay it was a yearning. Chay needed to take care of him, and he needed to let him. Chay instinctively seemed to know what he needed. Keaton didn’t have to pretend with Chay and put up barriers to protect himself. Furthermore, Chay wouldn’t let him. It made him feel loved, special.

Chay smiled, kissed him and rolled them over, pulling Keaton on top. “You are going to fuck me tonight, baby.”

“But…”

Chay shook his head and put his finger to Keaton’s lips. “I want this, Bit.”

“You’ve never done this.”

“Neither have you. It will be a first for both of us. Besides, I’ve initiated enough virgins, I know what I’m doing.” Chay waggled his eyebrows.

Somehow Keaton didn’t doubt that. The man was as charming as they came, he could very likely talk a nun into not just sex but anal sex and maybe even a blow job too. “I hated my first time.”

Chay raised a brow.

He shrugged. “Well, not hated. Hate might be too strong of a word. But it hurt and it was uncomfortable and I kept feeling like I had to go to the bathroom. And I was terrified of getting caught by my roommate. I couldn’t even get a hard-on.”

Chay reached between them, squeezed their pricks together and winked. “I’ve already got one.”

“It won’t last.”

“Wanna bet?”

Keaton chuckled. God, he loved this man. “Okay, you win.”

“I always do, Bit.”

Groaning, Keaton sat up. He leaned over and fished through the nightstand until he came up with the lube. He laid the bottle on Chay’s stomach, making him squeak.

“Jesus, that bottle is cold.”

Keaton giggled. “Does this mean you’re going to complain if I don’t warm the lube up in my hands first? I hate getting lube all over my hands, it’s sticky.”

“You never say anything about cum, but you’re going to bitch about a little lube?”

“It’s different.” Moving the bottle from Chay’s stomach, Keaton slid off of Chay to his side. Chay turned with him, meshing their bodies perfectly. Kissing and panting, they rubbed their erections against each other.

Chay worked his hand between them, wrapping their pricks together and stroking.

Keaton’s cock was already slick with precome and he smelled Chay’s as well. He stared down his mate’s body, freeing himself from Chay’s grasp. He gently pushed Chay to his back and positioned himself between Chay’s thighs.

Chay, bless him, opened right up, spreading his legs even wider. He even handed Keaton the lube.

Applying lube to his fingertips, Keaton pulled his knees under him and leaned over Chay. He licked a long line up Chay’s shaft while circling Chay’s hole.