Jason led the group inside, pointedly ignoring his mother's scowling countenance. Trina bumped his hip, then leaned close and whispered, "Don't worry. I'll keep her off your back. The only reason she's here is because she feels guilty, and we both know how long that will last."
Watching his sister roll her eyes again, Jason realized that his youngest sister wasn't completely oblivious to everything that had gone on at home. He gave her a side hug and bumped his head against hers. "Thanks."
She gave him a wide smile, then he watched in shock as his out-going, boisterous sister turned shy and hesitant before his very eyes. If he hadn't seen it, he never would have believed it.
"Jason," Michel said, drawing his attention. "This is Jamie Stratton and Preall McCollins." Glancing around the crowded dining room and kitchen, full of talking men and a happily giggling Lily, Michel frowned. "Preall, where's Laramie?"
"He went home to his wife. He'll join us for a run later," Preall answered, never taking his eyes away from Trina.
Smirking, Michel nodded before saying, "Well, then, I'll introduce him another time. Guys, you remember Jason Truollo. This is his sister Trina Truollo and his mother Brianna Barringer."
"Very nice to meet ye," Preall responded, smiling at Trina. "Can I help ye fix a plate? Ye like bacon and eggs, I hope?"
"Y-yeah," Trina responded, her green eyes huge in her lightly blushing face. "Thank you."
"Raul," Brianna hissed, watching them with narrowed eyes. "Your home is full of half-naked men. What the hell is going on?"
Raul glanced around at the people filling his home. He shrugged. "They were out jogging and dropped in for breakfast." He smirked at his sister. "What? You're not enjoying the view?"
For a second, Brianna sputtered. When she managed to find her tongue, she snapped, "This is not an acceptable environment for your under-aged niece. We're leaving."
She only managed to march two steps before Raul snagged her arm and snarled, "What the hell, Bri? I'd never put my niece in a compromising situation. They're all just being polite."
Jason watched his uncle give Preall a warning look that, fortunately, his mother didn't notice.
Preall grimaced, then nodded curtly.
"Besides," Uncle Raul continued quietly, "they're wearing a helluva lot more than most men on a beach do. Don't tell me Trina has given up sun bathing."
At that, Brianna subsided. "Whatever."
Michel handed Jason a plate of food. When the hell had he gotten it? Listening to his fighting family must have really distracted him. He took the plate and sat down next to his lover. Michel leaned close, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Trina really seventeen?"
Jason nodded. "Her birthday's in a couple months."
"Damn. Poor Preall," Michel mumbled, before taking a bite of his eggs.
"Why? What's going on?" Jason asked, although he had his suspicions.
After swallowing, Michel leaned and explained quietly. "They're mates. Think she'll be willing to move here?"
The man's warm breath sent goose bumps down his neck and Jason fought back a shiver. He struggled to focus on Michel's words. "Oh, um, maybe. She obviously likes the area." He glanced over at his lover. Movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention, and he watched Uncle Raul place a plate of food in front of Sean, who was busy feeding Lily. Uncle Raul kissed his lover.
A sharp hiss followed by Brianna shouting, "What the hell? Since when are you a fag?" caused just about everyone in the room to freeze.
Lily, on the other hand, opened her mouth and let out a loud wail.
Uncle Raul straightened and frowned at his sister. "Brianna, you are eating a meal in my home. I'd appreciate it if you would not use such language."
"And I'd appreciate knowing what the fuck is going on!" she screeched back. "You know what? Never mind. I don't care what you deviants decide to do in your home! Trina! Come on! We're leaving!"
Trina glanced around the room with wide eyes. "But, Mom-"
"Don't talk back, young lady!" Brianna scolded sharply. "Let's go."
"Good God," Uncle Raul snapped. "Come with me, Brianna. It's time we had a brother-sister chat," he snarled. Leaping to his feet, he grabbed her arm and led a sputtering Brianna from the room.
Jason reached over and gave his sister's hand a squeeze. "May as well have a seat, sis," he urged softly. "Mom and Uncle will probably be a while."
Trina nodded, clearly uncomfortable. She stared at her plate as she lowered herself slowly back to her chair. "Right, okay," she whispered. Her flushed cheeks told of her embarrassed state.
Trying to return to the ease of earlier, Jason asked, "So, tell me what Alisha is up to? Since I'm just starting my job tomorrow, I can't go anywhere for a while, I imagine, but you all are welcome to visit any time. Ya know?"
Although Preall kept his mouth shut, he seemed very interested in her response. The blond shifter paid close attention to every word Trina said. After breakfast, Jared, Carson, and Jamie left for home-the latter promised to see Jason again soon, and he figured it'd be true, since he was Michel's buddy. Jared told Jason that if he had trouble with his family, let him know-he had his back.
Jason wasn't completely certain what that meant, but after the encouragement on the deck, he figured it could be just about anything … and probably not all of it on the up and up. He'd have to ask his uncle, if he ever managed to draw up the courage.
While Sean cleaned up Lily, Jason, Michel, Trina, and Preall made short work of the dining room and kitchen.
At one point, Michel cornered Jason in the laundry room-where Sean said the clean hand towels were in the dryer-and kissed him senseless. When Michel finally broke the kiss, Jason panted for breath. Once able to speak, he gasped, "Wow. What was that for?"
"No reason," Michel replied softly. "Just because I can and I wanted to." He lowered his head, but instead of resuming the kiss, he nibbled his way along his shoulder blade, up his neck, to his ear, where he proceeded to suck lightly on the lobe.
Tingles spread down Jason's neck, spread across his chest, and flooded his groin. His cock jerked in his shorts, oozing, and Jason prayed he wouldn't end up with a wet spot. When Michel palmed one ass cheek, delved his middle finger into his crease, and pressed on his denim covered hole, his chute clenched and need burned through him. Never had Jason wanted to be filled so badly.
He whimpered and clung, gripping tightly, trying to get closer. Except Michel held his hips with his other hand and kept him from moving as he wanted, as his body needed to do.
"P-please," he begged.
"Come home with me," Michel urged. "Come home with me and I'll fulfill all yer needs, me mate."
Jason groaned. Never had he wanted so badly. He jerked a nod. "Y-yeah. Okay."
Growling his pleasure, Michel led them out the back door.
Three days.
Jason hadn't seen Michel in three days. Need and excitement vibrated through him as he bounced down the narrow road leading to his lover's mountain home. He'd turned down three invitations from coworkers yesterday-one to go to the movies from a girl, whom he'd had to tell he was gay, but they could be friends, and two to go hiking with some guys-because all he could think about was getting to his shifter's home and feeling his hands on him.
It'd been far too long.
Pulling up in front of the house, Jason shivered in excitement. His phone dinged, telling him he had a text message. Picking it up, he smiled upon seeing it was from Trina. His sister and mother had made it home safely. They'd stayed in town another two days-the apology from his mother had shocked the shit out of him-not to mention her promise to pass his info on to Alisha and to keep Arthur away from him and the girls … well, within reason. Trina had even promised to convince Alisha to join her in visiting in a few months. A certain blue-eyed blond wolf shifter might have had something to do with that decision.