Shit, I'm proving exactly how insecure and young I am!
Jason knew his mother's fucked-up, apathetic parenting had done a number on him, he just hadn't realized it had messed him up that bad.
A look of shock crossed Michel's face, before he unexpectedly snarled. Jason squeaked as he found himself once more rolled beneath the much larger man. This time, no lust or desire sparked in his lover's eyes. Instead, he spotted one of anger and possession.
"Is that what ye think?" Michel snapped. "That this was just a fling for me? Ye think I'd do that after almost ten years of celibacy?"
Jason's jaw sagged open at the vehemence in Michel's tone. That was kinda exactly what he thought. "Y-yeah, I guess. We didn't talk-I mean-I thought-" Jason managed to shrug one shoulder around the weight of Michel's body.
"I see," Michel growled. He grabbed Jason's wrists and lifted them above his head, pinning them there with one big hand. With his other palm, Michel cupped Jason's cheek and forced him to meet his penetrating gaze. "Then let me straighten a few things out."
For several seconds, Michel just stared at him, as if assessing to make certain he truly had Jason's attention. Finally, he stated gruffly, "You are mine, Jason. This is not a fling. We're not fuck buddies. I don't share. No one else touches ye. Got it?"
"O-okay."
That response seemed to ease some of the tension in the other man, for Michel's shoulders relaxed somewhat. "Good. Because we've started a relationship, Jason." He pecked a butterfly kiss to Jason's lips, then smiled, his dark eyes twinkling. "I look forward to learning everything about ye, sweetheart, from the tips of your pretty green toes to the top of yer shaggy auburn hair." His grin suddenly turned sly. "Which I happen to love, by the way. I look forward to getting the opportunity to grip yer pretty hair, hold yer head still, while I fuck this pretty little mouth."
Jason's mind conjured that image-Michel sliding his thick prick between his lips, using his hair to hold his head still to do with him as he pleased-and his tongue tied in his throat. He barely managed a garbled squeak.
Chuckling, Michel crooned, "Ah, I can see ye like that idea, don't ye?" He lowered his head and licked his way into Jason's mouth, sliding his tongue inside and swirling it with Jason's, teasing and tasting, engaging him in a bout of sensual oral play.
When Michel finally broke the kiss and lifted his head, he smiled smugly down at Jason. Panting hard, Jason tried to catch his breath. Licking his lips, he blurted, "So, what is it we need to talk about?" As far as he was concerned, the sexy man on top of him would make a damn fine partner … well, sort of. There was the slight problem of commuting to a job if he lived out in the middle of nowhere with Michel. He'd have to travel nearly forty minutes of dirt and gravel roads before even hitting the winding mountain roads that led to town. And in the winter … forget it! Jason bet they'd be snowed in!
Then he realized how presumptuous he was being. Jeez, Michel wants to learn about me, not marry me! How come that thought saddened him so?
"What I have to discuss with ye is a wee … unconventional," Michel started slowly, his voice lowering, expressing without words his sudden seriousness.
Holy shit! Maybe he really is going to ask me to move in with him!
"Ye see, I'm different than most people."
When Michel stopped talking, Jason's brows creased in concern. Fear stabbed through him. "You don't have some terminal illness, do you?" he whispered, his brain immediately jumping to conclusions. "Is that why you live way out here? Because you're dying and you want to live out the rest of your days in peace and quiet?" He reached up and threaded his fingers through Michel's thick, dark hair, then petting his way down the man's face and over his neatly trimmed beard. "How long do you have?"
Michel's brows shot up. "Illness? Dying? Nay, Jason," he denied, shaking his head. He rubbed a thumb over Jason's brow, smoothing away the creases. "Nay, I'm not sick. In fact, I can hardly get ill at all. That's part of what I need to explain."
Okay, now Jason was completely confused. "Then what could be so bad?"
"I didna say it was bad," Michel stated. "I said it was a wee bit unconventional."
Exasperated by Michel's sudden desire to play word games, Jason snapped, "Well, then what is it?"
Someone speaking not far away interrupted their conversation. "The big oaf is trying to figure out how to tell you he's an animal. A wolf. An abomination," the man sneered derisively.
"Shifters are not abominations," Michel snarled back.
Jason watched Michel lift his head and sniff. The wind maybe?
Then Michel's lip curled as he growled, "Are you the one leavin' the traps? Are you Doctor Marlow? The asshole trying to injure us?" He continued gruffly, anger filling his eyes and tensing his body. "The one who's injured so many already?"
Jason found himself completely lost, his brain freezing on the term shifter, wolf, and abomination. What the hell?
"Oh, yes, wolf. I am Doctor Sampson Marlow, and I will be the one who will eradicate your abominable species from the earth, starting with you and your pack. I will not allow you to contaminate us further," the man Sampson stated.
Confusion and shock flooding his system, Jason watched as Sampson-who Jason saw was accompanied by a slender brunette and a dark-haired, squat guy with glasses-lifted his hand from his pocket, revealing a gun. The man pointed it at Michel, but instead of trying to get away, his lover actually covered Jason further, protecting him with his body.
Michel looked down at him and whispered, "No matter what, I will never hurt ye."
Just as Michel finished his cryptic words, he grimaced in pain. Glancing over the big man's shoulder, Jason spotted a green-feathered dart poking out of him. Jason's focus snapped to Michel when he felt him shudder hard against him.
"Fuck," Michel hissed. "N-never wanted y-ye to f-find out like t-this," he gasped through clenched teeth. "W-won't hurt ye, m-mate."
Fear stabbed through Jason as he watched his lover begin to twitch violently, goose-bumps breaking out over his skin.
Michel rolled off him then, growling, "G-get in the c-cabin. B-back door's open."
Before Jason's eyes, he watched Michel's already thick chest hair become even thicker, then begin to spread over the rest of his torso. "M-Michel?" Jason squeaked.
"G-go," Michel ordered, the shudders racking his body making it difficult to make out the single word.
"No, stay, young man. Learn the truth of your lover," Sampson jeered.
Jason glared at him, but when Michel barked, Go again, he obeyed. Grabbing his pack and shorts, Jason sprinted barefoot over the grass to Michel's cottage. A glance over his shoulder told him the woman followed, running after him. She gained ground, probably assisted by her taller frame. She wore sneakers, bike shorts, and a halter top, and a snarl curled her lips, making her look almost … feral.
Putting on a burst of speed, Jason leaped onto the back porch and shoved through the door. He slammed it shut just as the heavy wood shuddered, telling him the woman had slammed against it. He yanked his phone from his short's pocket while peeking out the window.
He prayed he had a signal. To his shock, he did.
Just as he finished punching in his uncle's phone number, a rocking chair came flying into view. Jason screeched as he leaped back. The woman appeared in the broken window and peered around. He backed away, drawing her focus.
"Doctor Marlow wants you, human. You will come," she ordered. Her voice sounded flat, emotionless, and scary as fuck.
Jason turned away and swept his gaze over the room, looking for some means of escape. He stood in a kitchen, the woman peering through the broken window in the door behind him. Ignoring her words, Jason headed deeper into Michel's home. He hoped whatever was in that dart didn't permanently injure his lover, but he knew when retreating was the better part of valor. He couldn't fight three people, two of which were larger, and at least one with a weapon.