"We stay mostly secluded until most of those that knew us best have either moved away or passed on. Most of the time, it takes a decade or so. In any case," he added, "we change our looks a bit, in my case a beard." Touching the thick, dark facial hair, he continued, "We change our jobs, and avoid anyone who might recognize us." He thought a bit more and added, "Over the decade, we start to build our new identity. In me case, a reclusive mountain man who'd prefer to live off the land and avoid society. I bought the cabin from a pack-mate under me new name, Michel McDover, and over the course of the years, the pack learns to call me by it, instead of me old name, making us all comfortable with it."
"And that works?" Jason asked, surprised.
Michel smiled. "Ye'd be surprised at what ye can hide in plain sight when people aren't lookin' for it."
"Huh." Jason rested his head against Michel's shoulder and they sat in silence for a couple of minutes, lost in thought.
Michel continued to softly pet his mate's skin, allowing him to assimilate everything he'd just shared.
"I remember you saying you're three hundred seventy-eight years old. That kinda blew my mind for a while there," Jason admitted. He rested a hand on Michel's arm, running his fingers through the hair there. "I wondered if you had kids. Now that I know you do, you wouldn't, um, expect me to be a stepparent or something to them, would you?"
Jason turned his head and glanced up at Michel through his lashes. "I've known I was gay since I was fifteen, so having kids was never even a blip on my radar. Having to raise one, well, that'd be an adjustment I don't think I'm ready for."
Michel appreciated Jason's honesty. After all the info dumped on his mate, he knew it'd take time to adjust, the assimilation process coming in pieces. This time, Michel vowed to stand beside him. No way would he allow his mate to push him away again. He shouldn't have left his human the first time, but how could he have guessed how it'd turn out?
At least, Michel could lay this fear to rest. "Nay, sweetheart," he replied. "All me children are grown. After Kelly passed, I didn't feel the urge to find another bed partner. I really haven't been with anyone in over a decade." He winked. "No chance for wee ones without sex."
"Oh, I didn't mean to insinuate you lied," Jason quickly assured. He rubbed his forehead against Michel's neck, then reached up and nibbled the sensitive flesh under his jaw where his beard started. "I love your beard. You're not gonna shave it, are you?"
Grinning, Michel tilted his head to give him more access. "Nay, Jason. I won't. It's part of me knew identity," he admitted, winking. "Reclusive, crazy mountain man."
Jason snickered, grabbed a few of Michel's beard-hairs with his lips and tugged gently. The move caused chills to spread down his neck, making his nipples bead and his prick thicken.
"Don't forget to add sexy in there," Jason whispered. He wriggled a bit, turning around until he sat across Michel's lap in what was probably a more comfortable position and started sucking up a mark on Michel's neck.
"Ah, shite, Jason," Michel moaned. He gripped Jason's hips, holding his lover's pert arse firmly as he shifted his hips a bit, showing his lover just how good his mouth on him felt. "Ye have to stop," he pleaded, his prick aching in his borrowed sweats.
"Don't wanna," Jason mumbled where he worked his way up Michel's jaw to his ear, nipping, sucking, and tugging.
Hissing with pleasure, Michel forced out, "If ye don't, we'll end up givin' everyone a show, because I won't be able to stop myself from bendin' ye over the porch railing and sinkin' me aching cock into yer tight arse."
The sound of the sliding door broke them apart. "As entertaining and hot as that sounds, I don't think your family would appreciate the show," an amused male voice stated. "Especially your mother."
Jason lifted his head, revealing a dazed expression, dilated eyes, and puffy lips, swollen from his beard hairs. So fucking sexy! It took every ounce of self-control Michel possessed to keep from capturing his mate's lips and ravishing him. Instead, he pulled his gaze away from the enchanting sight and peered over to find Jared leering at them.
Michel growled softly. Not enough to offend the enforcer's mate, but enough to warn that he didn't appreciate the man staring. The man's actual words registered. "Wait. Jason's mother?"
"Indeed," Jared replied, moving toward them. He held a pair of mugs in one hand and held them out. "One's black, and one contains a dash of cream and three teaspoons of sugar."
Clearing his head sounded like a good idea. Michel reached for the coffee mugs, easily discerning which was which and handed the one with the extras to Jason. He'd have to remember how his mate took his coffee.
"Where is he?" demanded a sharp, feminine voice.
Jason sighed and grimaced. "Sorry about this. Her maternal instincts come in waves. Mostly she doesn't care, but every once in a while … " He shook his head and called, "Out here, Mom."
When Jason moved to rise, Michel tightened his arm and kept him still. At Jason's questioning look, Michel instilled his voice with soothing calm as he said, "You and I are a couple. She'll have to get used to seeing us together if she plans to be a part of our lives."
"O-okay," Jason responded uncertainly. To cover the nervousness Michel scented rolling off him, Jason took a sip of his coffee.
Michel followed his example. Over the rim of his coffee cup, he watched a reed thin woman in red capris, matching wedge sandals, and a low-cut blue top-with obviously fake tits-step onto the porch. She looked around, her lips pressing into a thin line and her green eyes-so much like Jason's-narrowed as she spied her son sitting on a clearly older man's lap.
"Jason, honey," she greeted, stepping toward him. "When I heard about your illness and you didn't call me back, I got worried." She stretched one hand toward him. "Come give me a hug, sweetie."
Jason glanced at Michel as if asking permission. Michel really liked that his mate deferred to him, and he let him know by pressing a quick kiss to Jason's lips and whispering, "Come right back, sweetheart. Me arms feel empty without ye."
The smile Jason bestowed upon him warmed Michel from the inside out. He felt his heart clench in his chest as he released his hold and watched Jason cross to his mother and give her a hug.
Gods above, I love that man.
Ah, shite! How did that happen so quickly?
Michel didn't know, so blamed it on being a shifter. What he did know was that fighting for his future with Jason was the only thing in his life right now. Instead of releasing him, Brianna kept the fingers of her right hand-slender fingers so like Jason's except tipped in red and white acrylic nails-gripping Jason's upper arm. Michel's eyes narrowed when he realized his lover couldn't get away from the woman without appearing rude.
Rising from his seat, Michel stepped forward and held out his right hand. "I'm Michel McDover. A pleasure to make ye're acquaintance."
With her right hand wrapped around her son's arm, now it was her turn to have no choice unless she wanted to be rude. From the pinched expression of her lips, Michel figured she knew it, too. Reluctantly, she released her son and took his hand. "Brianna Barringer," she said.
While holding her hand, Michel took the opportunity to wrap his free arm around Jason's shoulders and tuck him in close. He kept his smile pleasant, even as Brianna scowled.
As he released Brianna's hand, he asked, "How'd ye hear about Jason's illness?"
"Raul called. He said Jason had gotten sick from food poisoning and had fallen on some rusty metal," she stated. Turning to her son, she added, "He wanted to know if you were up to date on your tetanus shot and if you were allergic to anything."
Brianna swept her gaze over them, taking in where Michel held Jason. Her fingers actually twitched as if she wanted to yank him away.