by Lynn Lorenz
“Why not? What’s going to stop me?”
“You won’t be able to leave. The pull between mates is too powerful. I can’t leave you any more than you can leave me.”
Ted shut the door again and thought about what Scott said. “Okay, if that’s what you believe. We just have to get your mother to reverse that spell. Then I’ll be free to leave, and you can find your woman.”
“Right.” Scott nodded, but the look on his face told Ted that the sheriff didn’t really believe it.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Scott held on to the wheel of the cruiser like a life preserver as Ted gathered up his strength and opened the door again. What Scott had said about not being able to leave had proved right. It took everything Ted had to get out of the car and shut the door.
Even more to walk away. Every step stabbed into him as he left Scott behind, but he knew he had to do it.
Spell or no spell, Ted wasn’t going to go through that heartbreak again. And this was even worse.
No fucking way was he some werewolf’s mate.
Chapter Twelve
Ted stalked back to his car, opened the rear hatch, and pulled out his equipment. None of the other artists were in sight. He turned, exhaled, and brought his attention back to his paid job.
Find out if Kirsten was cheating on old man Charbonnet. Clean, simple, easy.
So unlike his life ever since he’d taken this stupid job. He adjusted the easel, chair, and tackle box in his arms, and started to search for her.
He’d set up his easel near her, within watching, if not hearing distance. But where had she gone?
Ted wandered around to the back of the house, finding several people already set up and painting. They nodded, waved, or said hello as he moved past them. Up ahead, Peter faced not the house, but the woods. Beyond him, Kirsten stood talking to Darcy.
Figures. Wherever Peter was, there would be Darcy, sniffing around. When he got a chance, he was going to have that conversation about safe sex with Darcy Wentworth, whether he liked it or not.
Ted found a place in between the two painters where he could keep an eye on both of them and set up facing the house. The view of the large covered porch stretching across the back of the house looked like it came straight out of a magazine. Picture-perfect, down to the hanging fern baskets, white wicker furniture, and dark green ceiling fans.
This was the view he’d try to capture.
He set up, got out his brushes and paints, and set to work, blocking in the picture like Darcy had shown them.
Darcy moved toward him, done with whatever he’d been discussing with Kirsten.
“Hello. Glad to see you finally made it.” Darcy arched an eyebrow at him.
“I had some business to take care of.” Ted made a few swipes with his brush to capture the building’s shape.
“With the sheriff?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s the guy from the restaurant, isn’t he? The one you thought you knew?”
Darcy was sharp, no doubt about that.
“Yeah. Turns out, he was the guy.” Ted shrugged.
“Everything settled?” Darcy sure was full of questions. Ted couldn’t tell if it was interest or just being polite.
“Sure.” He continued to sketch the house in, adding a few hastily drawn details.
Darcy moved around to watch. “You’ve got a good foundation there. Strong lines. Good perspective. I can’t wait to see it once you’ve laid in some color.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll be back later.” Darcy gave him a nod and moved on to Peter. Ted watched him as he stopped to talk to the younger man, moving in closer, touching Peter’s shoulder every now and then, then with a soft laugh, he moved on. Peter continued painting.
Ted looked over to Kirsten, who stood at her easel staring at her painting. She frowned and exhaled.
He put down his brush and strolled over to her. As he approached, she glanced at him and then smiled.
“What’s wrong?” Ted asked.
“Something’s just not right.” She stared at her canvas.
Ted came up beside her and looked at the just blocked in drawing. “It’s your perspective. It’s just a bit off.” He picked up her brush and held it next to the canvas to demonstrate how the lines should be. “See, here, you just need to follow the same lines on the ground.”
“Right.” She nodded and took the brush from him and quickly made the corrections. “Thanks!”
“No problem. Why didn’t Darcy say anything when he was here?” After all, that’s what they were paying him the outrageous fee to do.
“He pointed it out to me, just didn’t tell me how to fix it. He’s really hard, you know.” She frowned, and Ted’s heart went out to her.
“Yeah. In more ways than that.” Darcy clearly wasn’t what he seemed. “But I’m sure it’ll be fine now.” He pointed to the painting.
She nodded. “It will be, thanks to you.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. It surprised him how much that pleased him, but the feeling set off alarms. He should keep his distance from her. “How’s yours coming?”
“Fine. Got it sketched in, just ready to slap on some paint.”
“Well, better get to it. By the time Darcy comes back around, we’d better have them almost done. Or else.” She wiggled her eyebrows up and down and laughed.
“Gotcha.” He headed back to his easel and picked up his brush. Once he started painting, he lost himself in the picture.
After a few hours, he had a nearly complete painting and one he was pretty proud of, if he said so himself.
Darcy called for everyone to pack up and bring their canvases back to the cars for a check-in and quick critique.
As the others leaned their paintings against the cars, and they all strolled back and forth looking at them, Ted could see most of the folks had talent, in a wide range of degrees.
Pleased to hear it, Ted listened as Darcy told him that he’d done a superb job of rendering the old plantation house. Peter had true talent, though, and Darcy didn’t waste any time fawning over him. Peter’s chest swelled a bit under the praise.
As Darcy moved on to the others, Ted couldn’t help but think this trip had been a real waste of time. Kirsten wasn’t cheating on her husband, and Ted wasn’t going to get laid, not by Peter, Darcy, or even Scott.
And that was more than he could stand. Ted sank into a grim mood as they packed up to head to the restaurant for dinner. As he put the last of his stuff in the back of the SUV, Peter appeared at his side.
“Can I ride with you again?” He clutched his equipment under his arm.
“I smell like linseed oil,” Ted warned.
“I’d rather go with you than the old ladies.”
“What about driving with Darcy?” Ted cast a glance at their teacher, who was helping one of the women load her trunk.
“Nah. I’m in no rush.” He put his stuff in the back and turned to Ted. “Besides, I like you better.” He looked up into Ted’s face from under unbelievably long blond eyelashes.
“And I like you, but kid, I told you, nothing’s happening between us.”
“Maybe.” Peter winked at him and trotted to the passenger door. He got in and buckled up.
“Definitely.” Ted put the seatbelt on and turned on the ignition.
“We’ll see.” Peter smiled. “You look a little tense. I can take care of that you know.”
Ted should have said yes. Should have lingered at the plantation, let Peter suck him off, but he didn’t. Once again, his lack of interest in sex frightened him.
He could only think of sex with Scott, and that was so not going to happen. The kiss had been one thing, but more with Scott would be out of the question.
Frustrated, he sighed. “I’m fine. Just worried Darcy would rip my painting apart in front of everyone.”
“Why would he do that?” Peter asked.
“’Cause I turned him down too.” Ted chuckled.
“Oh. Y
eah, I get your point, but I don’t think Darcy’s like that.”
“Not jealous? Kid, he practically shot daggers with his eyes at me when you were flirting earlier.”
“He did?” Peter looked pleased as punch.
“He did.”
“Do you think he cares about me?” Peter really was young.
Ted shrugged. “I don’t know. But I do know he wants to fuck you.”
“I know that too. He told me. No secret there.”
“Look, if you want him, do it, just insist on being safe, that’s all. You’re both adults, and there’s no one in the background, is there?”
“No.”
“Then just do it, get it over with, and move on.”
“That’s what you’d do right?”
“Kid, if I were in my right mind, I’d do you both at the same time. I’d fuck your sweet tight ass and blow Darcy to kingdom come.” Ted laughed.
“But, you’re not in your right mind?” Peter tilted his head at Ted, searching for something.
“Nope. Not anywhere close.” On the verge of going crazy, he’d say. Standing on the ledge of a building and deciding to jump, crazy. Believing the man he wanted was a werewolf, kind of crazy.
“Too bad.” Peter shrugged. “I would have really liked that.”
“Me too, kid, me too.” Ted followed the line of cars to the restaurant.
What he really wanted was to go back to his room at Bayou End and find Scott there, stretched out on his bed, his dick tied up with a big red bow.
Ted sighed.
Never gonna happen.
Chapter Thirteen
Scott pulled into the parking lot of the strip center that housed the Rougaroux Social Club and shut off his engine. Mike wasn’t there yet. Good. Gave him time to get his shit together and figure out what the hell he was going to say.
Hey, Mike. Found a mate. She’s a he.
Hey, Mike. My mate is a guy.
Hey, Mike. I’m not gay, but my mate is.
Scott groaned and ran his hand over his face. He got out of the car, went to the front door and unlocked it with his key. Both he and Mike had keys to the club, in case one of them had to miss a meeting or get inside for something.
He’d just turned on the light in the back room when the headlights of a car flashed in the window. He waited as Mike came through the door.
“Hey, Scott.”
“Hey, Mike.” Scott motioned with his hand for Mike to join him in the small office that held all the file cabinets filled with information about the Rougaroux Club and its charity work. They made sure nothing in the files could ever be linked to or hint at the wolf pack’s existence.
Scott dropped into the chair behind his desk as Mike sat in one of the chairs on the other side.
“So what’s up?” Mike leaned back and propped a booted foot on the edge of the metal desk.
“I have to talk to someone, and you’re the only person I trust.” Scott leaned forward, gripping his hands together.
Mike frowned. “Hey, this is serious. Is this about Wyatt? He challenge you?”
“No. Not yet, anyway, but if this comes out, he will.”
“Merde, buddy, you’re scaring me.”
“That makes two of us.” Scott took a deep breath and launched himself into a rambling explanation. “You know my mom is all wrapped up in the church and superstitions, right?” Mike nodded. “Well, for the last four months, she’s been casting a love spell to bring me a mate. It worked. Only it sort of backfired, and now I’m in deep shit.”
Mike laughed, then sobered when he saw Scott wasn’t laughing. “What? She’s ugly?”
“No, it’s worse.”
“She can’t cook? ’Cause if that’s it, it’d be a deal breaker for me.”
“No!” Scott shouted. “Look. Just let me get this out, and keep your mouth shut, okay?”
“Sure.” Mike frowned.
“My mate showed up in town, and it’s not what my mom or me ever expected.” Scott leaned close and lowered his voice. “It’s a guy.”
Mike stared at him, eyebrows laced together. Then he exploded into gales of laughter. “Son of a bitch! You got me that time, buddy!” He whipped his head around. “Where’s the fucking camera? Where is it?” Mike leaned down to check under the desk.
“Mike, there’s no camera. Goddammit! It’s not a fucking joke!” Scott bolted out of his chair and slammed his fist into the wall.
Mike froze, the laugh dying on his lips.
“It’s a guy. He’s from New Orleans, and he’s gay. He said he’s taking a painting course here for a week, but he’s been having dreams about me for months.” He rested his head against the wall.
“How do you know he’s your mate?” All the humor drained from his voice.
“When I first saw him, it was like lightning struck me. For him too. I can’t get him out of my mind.” Scott closed his eyes. “I kissed him.”
“What the fuck!” Mike exploded out of his seat. “You kissed him?”
“God forgive me. I couldn’t help it, couldn’t stop myself.” Scott groaned. “You have a mate. You know what the pull is like, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but Sharie is a woman.”
“So. I don’t think it matters to my wolf.” Scott went back to his chair and sat. Mike sat down also, and they faced each other across the desk.
“What the hell am I going to do?” Scott whispered, dragging his gaze up to meet his beta’s.
“I have no fucking idea, boss. But whatever you do, you better do it fast, ’cause when Wyatt finds out, the shit is going to hit the fan.” Mike ran his hands through his hair.
“I’m going to see if my mom can reverse the spell. Break the connection between us.”
“Hell, has that ever been done?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask you. What happens if a wolf denies his mate?”
Mike thought for a minute. “He either finds another or sickens and dies. That’s all I’ve ever been told. And I’ve never heard of anyone breaking the connection between mates.”
“Neither have I, but then, I’ve never heard of gay werewolves.”
“Are you gay, Scott?” Mike frowned, and for once the look in his eyes shook Scott’s belief that his best friend would stand by him no matter what.
“No. But what if I were? What if this doesn’t work, and I have to take him as my mate?” Scott knew what he was asking. Would Mike stand by him in a fight, if it came to that?
“Scott. We’ve been friends for most of our lives. Fuck, man, we ran together as kids, did our first change together. There’s no one I love more than you, and that’s the truth.”
“But…” Scott could hear the ‘but,’ even if Mike didn’t.
“But nothing.” Mike stood. “I’ll stand by you. No matter what. You’re my alpha, Scott. I love you, and I’ll fight for you if it comes to it. I don’t want Wyatt leading this pack way more than if gays are in it.”
“Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me. Really, you don’t care about having gays in the pack?”
“Look. This is 2017. Gays are everywhere, even here in St. Jerome.” Scott’s eyebrows shot upward. “Not naming names, but I don’t let who a person loves come between me and them. It’s not my business what goes on in someone’s bed.”
“Right.” Scott cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the talk about beds and love. He didn’t love Ted. He just wanted him sexually. Deeply, insanely, wanted him. That wasn’t love. That was just wolf chemistry and hormones.
Scott held his hand out for Mike to shake. Mike took it, gave him a hard squeeze, and then slapped him on the back.
“Kissed a guy, right?” Mike’s eyes gleamed.
“Uh, yeah.” Scott shuffled his feet.
“Was it hot?”
“Fuck, yeah.” Scott groaned. “I’ve got to find a way out of this, Mike. If my mother can’t undo the spell, I’m fucked.”
“Well, I thought alphas always topped.” Mike snorted as
he held back a laugh.
“Shut the fuck up.” Scott snickered. “Damn straight I’m topping.”
“He’s gay, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Bet he gives a goddamn fantastic blowjob.”
Mike and Scott groaned, then laughed. “I don’t intend on finding out.”
“Really? Thought you might want to try it out, see what you’re missing?” Mike teased.
“Shut up and go home to your woman.” Scott moved around the desk, and he and Mike walked through the conference room to the front door.
“Really, Mike, thank you. For everything.”
Mike slapped him on the shoulder. “It’s nada, man. I got your back.”
Scott locked up as Mike got into his truck and drove off. Now all Scott had to do was to find his mom and get her to undo the spell.
He glanced up into the night sky. Tomorrow was the last night of the full moon. Would she have to do the spell now or wait until the next month?
One thing he did know. He didn’t want to wait another month. No way could his resistance hold out against the pull of the need to claim his mate.
He might have kissed him, but no way was he fucking a man.
Chapter Fourteen
During dinner, Ted made sure he sat among the ladies, keeping his distance from both Peter and Darcy. The looks he got from the two of them almost made him want to laugh, if he weren’t feeling so screwed.
This just wasn’t normal, but damn, he could still feel Scott’s mouth on his, smell his scent. Both their scents had permeated the air in the cruiser’s cabin, robbing his brain of oxygen. That had to be the only explanation.
His brain was oxygen starved.
Well, tonight, when they got home, he’d take Peter up on his offer of a blowjob, and prove to himself this was all in his mind, not in his dick.
Dinner broke up, and Ted strolled over to Peter. “Riding with me?” Ted didn’t wait for an answer but moved toward the door of the building.
Peter nodded, turned to Darcy, and whispered something in his ear. He trotted up behind Ted and caught his arm.
“Wait up!” His breathless voice tickled Ted’s ear.
“Get in.” Ted opened his door and slid inside, not waiting for Peter.
