A Cajun in Colorado(19)

Manon paused, and Chris looked up to see a frown crease his brows as if  he were trying to decide if he should say more. Chris reached up and  touched his jaw, regaining his attention. "You'd better tell me  everything," he whispered. "I promise I won't go blabbing it all over  the place. For some reason … " It was his own turn to hesitate. "For some  reason your safety is important to me, too. I don't want anything to  happen to you. I didn't want to believe you could be a murdering  werewolf." He nibbled his lip and asked tentatively, "You're not, are  you? You were telling the truth when you said that Roman and Will are  alive?"

"Oui, cher. They are alive. We learned from dem dat … " He paused and swallowed.

Chris knew from the thickening of his accent that this was a sensitive  subject for Manon. Chris squeezed his hand and cuddled more firmly in  Manon's embrace, showing him without words that he was willing to listen  and trying to understand whatever Manon was about to say. Manon sighed  and nuzzled his neck, inhaling his scent. His lover's shoulders and jaw  seemed to lose some of their tension.

"At times, I assist with rescue missions, helping release captured  shifters from scientific labs. We've been fighting a silent battle with a  company called the Crystal Lake Corporation. According to Roman, the  government backs their experiments. If that's the case, we have a bigger  problem on our hands than we thought."

"Wow! What would you do?" It didn't take a genius to realize that by  getting into a relationship with this man, Chris had stepped into a  warzone. Still … the thought of not being with Manon was what made his  pulse speed up and his heart race.

"If we're facing off against the government?" Manon shook his head. "I  don't know, Chris. Anything we decide impacts so many people all over  the world."

Chris knew his eyes widened in shock, and Manon cupped his jaw. "Most  people mistake shifter groups as communes, fanatics, or even nudist  colonies."

Glancing down at the elephant, they rode and the Bengal tiger padding  silently beside them, he could believe it. After all, he was in the arms  of a naked man! That reminder made Chris focus on the feel of Manon's  well-muscled arms around him, the firm chest pressed against his back,  and the warmth and safety he felt in Manon's arms. His dick started to  thicken back up, and he couldn't help but rock his ass against Manon's  groin.

Manon growled and tightened his hold, stilling his movements. "You're  playing with fire, cher," he said, his voice deepening with arousal.  Manon pressed his lips to Chris's ear and whispered, "Now, dat you know  everything, I don't have any intention of letting you go. I plan to  claim you and make you mine."

Chris's breathing hitched and Manon paused. Then he added, "Dat means I  be your's, too, Chris. A shifter can never stray from their claimed  mate, and will happily tear limb from limb any who dare touch him. If  you're not ready for dat, you'd best tell me now."

Unable to think beyond his lust, Chris looked over his shoulder and met his lover's heated gaze. "I want that. I want you."

A groan rumbled through the chest behind Chris, and Manon slanted his  mouth over his. The kiss was deep, possessive, claiming, and Chris loved  every second of it. The way Manon's tongue massaged the soft tissues of  his mouth, then curled around his tongue in a sensual dance had his  shaft hard and leaking. It pressed against the open flaps of his wet  jeans, splitting them wider, and Chris had just enough presence of mind  to keep the towel over his groin.

An irritated grunt from the elephant below them, coupled with a low  growl from the tiger, caused Manon to ease the kiss to an end. Chris  bemoaned the loss.

"Let's get you checked out, cher," Manon said huskily, "Den we take you home and … "

The words Manon whispered into Chris's ear did nothing to wilt his erection.





Chapter Twelve


Manon could tell by the tense lines of the man he held that Chris wasn't  certain he wanted to be back here. When the lodge appeared through the  trees, every iota of arousal in Chris had vanished in an instant.  Rubbing his hands up and down his mate's arms, Manon had assured Chris  that everything was fine.                       
       
           



       

Now, they sat in one of the rooms that Lark had customized after a  hospital room. With all the shifters they'd rescued over the last year,  it had made sense to get the right facilities in place to care for the  injured, so Declan and Lark restructured the upstairs to include four  regular bedrooms and three exam rooms. One of those rooms was even large  enough to do surgery in a pinch.

Lark had taken one look at the soaked cast on Chris's arm and told them  he'd be right back with cutters. Meanwhile, Chris sat stiffly on the  edge of the bed. Manon opened a dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of  sweats and a t-shirt. One of the things he appreciated about Declan was  the man was always prepared- whether it be food, medicine, or clothes,  he took care of his own. Manon pulled the clothes on and then retrieved a  second set and turned to stand in front of his mate.

"Let's get you out of those jeans," he said softly. "Time to get you warmed up."

Chris nodded and slid from the bed, the brown butcher paper crinkling as  he moved. Manon knelt in front of him and helped Chris from his jeans  and underwear. He took the t-shirt and rubbed it briskly over his legs,  trying to dry and warm his mate's sexy slender legs.

Chris hummed above him, showing his appreciation. Manon grinned up at  him, pleased at the sign of relaxing his mate displayed. "Okay, let's  get these on. Step in," he ordered, gently tapping Chris's thigh.

His mate obeyed, and they settled the sweats around his hips just as  Lark returned. The alpha-mate paused and glanced between them. "This a  good time?" he asked, his lips curving into a smirk.

Manon rose to his feet, giving Chris a lascivious wink. "Oh, no, Doc,"  Manon said, turning to Lark. "We need you to clear my mate for  extracurricular activity. We have … plans for the night." He pitched his  voice low on those last few words, wanting to make it clear to his mate  that he still wanted him and planned to keep him.

A pretty flush worked its way up Chris's chest, neck, and cheeks, and  Manon had to fight his desire to follow the trail of pink with his  tongue. His dick thickened in anticipation of his plans for the evening.

Lark snickered, reminding him that he and Chris weren't alone. Biting  back a sigh, Manon stepped back, although he picked up Chris's good  hand, offering him his support.

"All right," Lark murmured. "Let's take care of this. How long have you  had it on?" he asked curiously referring to the cast on Chris's arm.

"A week," Chris answered.

Lark flashed a smile at him. "Didn't they tell you not to get it wet?"

Chris snorted. "As if I'd planned to take an evening swim."

Declan stepped into the room, and his serious expression squelchedthe  mirth that had filled the room. "Good news. Nick is not pressing  charges, although I'd steer clear of Miach for a while. He's still kinda  pissed."

Chris frowned. "Who's Nick and Miach? Charges? What do you mean?" His voice rose with every word, finally ending in a squeak.

Lark frowned at his mate. "Couldn't you have waited until I was done?"  The slender blond turned back to Chris and patted his shoulder before  returning to cutting the cast off his arm. "Don't move, Chris. We'll  have this re-casted in no time."

Manon squeezed Chris's hand and answered his mate's questions. "Nick is  the wolf shifter you tranqed. He's in the room to our left," he  explained. "Miach is his mate, and very protective of him. Under normal  circumstances, one mate can seek retribution from another if his mate is  injured without cause."

From the way Chris's eyes widened and his face paled, Manon knew he understood the gravity of the situation.

"B-bbut, I didn't know," Chris stuttered.

Declan nodded. "Nick understands that."

"Even if he had requested restitution, I would have taken the  punishment," Manon vowed. When Chris's head whipped around, his jaw  dropping at Manon's announcement, Manon reached out and used a knuckle  under his jaw to close his mouth. "Like you said, you didn't know. I  did. It was my fault you didn't know the world you're now involved  with."

"I wouldn't let you take the heat for something I'd done," Chris said, shaking his head and frowning.

Holding up a hand, Declan cleared his throat to regain their attention.  "It's a moot point." He stepped forward and held out his right hand.  "Welcome to me pack, Chris. Since Manon is making certain ye're … all  right … " He smirked at Manon, who grinned back unabashedly, "I'd  recommend ye assure yer friend that ye're fine before ye go." He crossed  his arms over his chest and stated, "I'm afraid until I get assurance  from Daren that he won't share our secrets with anyone, I can't let him  leave."