by Fel Fern
“Doesn’t seem like you’re doing a good job of it.”
He sucked in a breath. “I need to go, things to do.”
“Trying to escape this uncomfortable conversation?” Amusement lit in those vivid blue eyes, eyes Tom remembered thinking would never belong to a human.
They were more akin to a husky blue, set in a rough but handsome face that was all hard lines and stubble. Strands of black hair fell across Raul’s forehead, but the werewolf kept his gaze locked with Tom’s. Now that his mind wasn’t distracted, ripping itself apart over whether Raul would bring him bad news or nothing, he looked at the magnificent male specimen sitting across the table from him.
Tom wouldn’t deny he felt that strange tug of attraction toward Raul the first time they met, but to him, it felt like cheating. Ironic how he remained loyal to Bradley all this time, whereas Bradley would fuck anything on two legs without hesitation. At six-feet plus and made entirely of muscle, Raul didn’t just look like a gorgeous predator in human skin, he also moved like one.
With his headphones, he didn’t hear the words Raul exchanged with the other man earlier, but the big guy quickly backed off at whatever Raul said. Tom wondered what the fight was all about. Maybe Raul knew the guy. It didn’t matter, because once their business was concluded, he’d never see the werewolf again.
Somehow, that fact saddened him more than the news Raul delivered. Bradley never promised him monogamy, their relationship all but built on lies. He needed the physical proof to show his father, leverage so he’d no longer be part of the charade. Once the press got hold of the photos, they’d be in a frenzy. Tom was no one, merely the lucky son-of-a-bitch Bradley Morris chose for his mate. Bradley, though, was the media’s darling, and Bradley needed the attention to survive.
Realizing Raul expected an answer, wasn’t about to let him go that easily, he straightened his spine and looked the big werewolf in the eye. “You made this conversation uncomfortable. You told me, reassured me during our first meeting, that you didn’t flirt with clients, that you’re a professional first and foremost.”
“I did, didn’t I? However, that only applies during an on-going case.”
Those blue eyes burned into his, full of incomprehensible dark emotions he didn’t dare put a name to. Certainly, desire that befuddled him, but maybe it was Raul’s thing, to try and fuck his clients after they were done conducting business.
He made both his tone and expression icy. “I hope you don’t push yourself on all your clients.”
“Just you.”
Him?
Uncertain what those words meant, he rose to his feet, tucked the envelope under his arm, only to find the werewolf standing in front of him, blocking his exit. Tom let out a surprised breath. He hadn’t even seen Raul move, let alone heard him.
“I need to go. As agreed, I’ll wire the payment to your bank account by the end of the day,” Tom said.
“Then you needn’t worry, little human. I never push myself on the unwilling.”
He realized he’d offended Raul by his earlier words, but he refused to take them back. His own feelings toward the werewolf, he couldn’t quite identify. Attraction certainly, but complicating matters was the last thing he needed. A storm was coming, and he needed to take cover.
He could already imagine his conversation with his father going downhill, could see the media turning into feral dogs once he handed them the photos. A vicious move on his part, but he’d learned from the best, his father. Freedom to make his own decisions, to no longer worry about his every move being watched by the media simply because he was Bradley Morris’s mate, it was worth it.
“Are you going to deny you’re attracted to me?” Raul asked.
He realized only a few inches of space stood between him, how tempting it would be to reach out, touch that wall of muscle, find out if shifters really burned hotter than the average human. Tom ought to know. He’d been mated to one for half a decade, but he’d been starved for touch, too, had to fight for every tiny bit of affection Bradley bestowed on him.
It took him a long time to come to the conclusion Bradley simply saw him as furniture, always there, a permanent fixture that was nice to look at. That was all he was.
He finally managed to open his mouth and make his voice come out flat. Tom had plenty of practice pretending to be an emotionless robot after all, to smile for the press when needed, to laugh at all the cues. “Why would you think that?”
“Because I can smell your arousal.”
Tom swallowed. It was bad, playing these kinds of games with a shifter. He was way out of his league, too. Raul was a PI, probably dug up information on him. He didn’t think Raul had any sinister intent. Otherwise, he’d never hire the man. He’d grown up among vipers, had to develop the survival skills to navigate the waters of his father’s ambitions. While he made it a point to never step into the cut-throat world of business, some lessons remained.
“I really need to go. Besides, you wouldn’t want to be near me.”
Raul cocked his head and let him pass, but he could feel the werewolf following him out of the diner, until they were out on the street.
“You knew,” Raul finally said, “that Bradley was cheating on you.”
“I did, but I needed the hard evidence.”
“Why?” Those strange blue eyes, capable of stripping him bare, unnerved him.
“To be free,” he whispered.
Tom had been well-aware he’d been equally guilty in trapping himself in his own cage. Five years ago, he’d been naive, foolish to believe his childhood friend would somehow fall in love with him, to truly believe he was Bradley’s soulmate. He’d been such a deluded fool.
Raul fisted Tom’s shirt, jerked him close. He let out a breath but didn’t stop Raul from banding one corded arm around his waist, making their bodies kiss. Hot, he realized, the werewolf’s skin felt incredibly warm under that shirt, and all he wanted was to slip a hand underneath just to check.
Tom stood frozen in place, though, held his breath for a couple of seconds to see what Raul would do, because he’d always been a coward. Tom never made the first move, always waited for the other guy to do so, for fear of rejection.
“If I kiss you, would I still be pushing myself on you?” Raul mused out loud.
“I didn’t mean to put it that way,” he whispered, staring at those perceptive eyes.
Flecks of gold appeared in Raul’s irises, telling him it wasn’t just the man looking at him, but also the animal within. Bradley’s eyes changed color, too, especially when things didn’t go Bradley’s way, but this was different. The hunger that burned in that feral gaze told him all the dirty things this dangerous and sexy werewolf wanted to do to him, deeds that would make him scream in bed.
“Stop me, just say the word.”
It was a dare, he realized, but he wisely held his tongue back, parted his lips in invitation as Raul slammed his mouth over his. Heat went down his throat. Their tongues tangled, teeth clashing. He broke his paralysis, ran his hands over the chiseled perfection that was Raul’s body. So much warmth everywhere, and he’d been so hungry for touch, for someone to remind him he was flesh and blood, too, and not just furniture.
Raul prodded his tongue between his lips and he opened up, letting the werewolf deepen the kiss. Tom’s dick pulsed in his jeans, straining against the zipper of his jeans. More. He wanted so much more, and yet his mind told him now wasn’t the time. They might be in a neighborhood no one would expect Tom Morris to frequent, but who knew? Some tabloid reporter might be lurking nearby, eager to catch wind of juicy news even before he could use the photos to his advantage.
As if sensing his newfound apprehension, Raul released him. He automatically ran his thumb over his kiss-swollen lips. That kiss burned, he realized, capable of incinerating him from the inside out. Dangerous. This werewolf was lethal, because Raul shook the very foundations of his careful control.
Instead of telling Raul this was all a mistake, th
at they should forget that ever happened, he said something else. “I’ve never been kissed like that before.”
The only kisses he’d been privy to were quick pecks on the cheek from Bradley. All for show, of course, only when the public demanded it. Superficial. This was something else.
“Good to know.”
“I really need to leave.” What else could he say? He had so many things to sort out, but once that was all over, he’d have time to mull over the strange events of today. To wonder if there was something between Raul and him.
Raul nodded. What Raul said was unexpected, instantly warmed his heart. “If you need help spreading those wings, you know how to contact me.”
Chapter Three
Once Tom reached the high-rise condo Bradley and he shared, he put his mind and body on automation mode. He methodically packed all his belongings into the boxes he bought months ago. Somehow, he knew it would come to this, and he’d been prepared. Looking at all his boxes, at his belongings, he realized everything in the apartment, from furniture to tiny baubles—they’d all been chosen by Bradley, not him.
Hard to believe he lived here for five years and never once could he comfortably call the place home. He pushed two boxes in the living room before heading to his bedroom. Tom paused by the master bedroom, Bradley’s room, although Bradley never slept in it. He lingered by the doorway, staring at the sheets he always changed, despite never being used.
Maybe once or twice a month, Bradley would remember he owned this condo and he’d find his way here, collapse instantly in bed. At least Bradley was careful not to bring anyone else with him. The next morning, Bradley would have left without a word, but he’d leave a note to Tom, asking him to pick up his clothes from the dry cleaner or run some other errand his personal assistant couldn’t do.
He huffed, stalked to his own bedroom, and started pulling his clothes out of the closet. Tom didn’t own a lot of things, merely bought what he needed. He might have grown up with luxury, but he didn’t like wastage. Sweat coated his front and back by the time he finished. He collapsed on the sofa, about to take a sip of water when the front door opened, revealing Bradley on his phone.
Bradley might be blind for the majority of their fake relationship, but he wasn’t stupid. Bradley saw the boxes and said, “I’ll call you back later.”
Bradley walked up to him, the boxes hindering his way, and stood there, staring at Tom. “What’s all this?”
“I’m moving out,” he simply said.
Bradley never once explained where he was going or who he was seeing or doing. He didn’t owe the bastard an apology. Tom held his ground, didn’t bother standing to explain himself. When he’d been a teenager, he’d fallen for Bradley’s looks. Shiny plastic on the outside, he came to realize, but underneath, rot festered.
“Why? What the hell are you talking about?” Bradley demanded, about to jump over a box, but he held out a hand. He took out his phone and showed Bradley the photos Raul also sent him via email.
Bradley narrowed his eyes. “Now of all times, you’re blackmailing me?”
He shrugged. “It’s not a blackmail. I don’t want anything from you, not money or properties, anyway.”
“What do you want then?”
“To no longer be associated with you, to keep playing this game. It’s gotten old, Bradley. Find some new sucker to be on your arm. I’m sure there are plenty of willing participants.”
He finished his glass of water, set it down on the coffee table and rose to his feet. It would make a statement if he grabbed one of the boxes and headed out, but he needed to finish this conversation now. Besides, beyond this point, he hadn’t quite thought it out. He could temporarily stay in a hotel, but it would be pricey and he was only an independent bookstore owner—well, owner of a failing business, to be exact.
Worse comes to worse, he could stay at the store for a while.
“Just hold on a goddamn second. You wear my mating mark,” Bradley accused. “You can’t just walk out. You belong to me.”
He let out a harsh laugh. “You know what the pathetic thing is? Back then, I was so proud to wear your mark.”
The mating dance was considered sacred in the shifter community, because shifters mated for life. He thought letting Bradley bite him could somehow push Bradley to the right direction, to someday realizing Tom was really the one for him.
“That doesn’t change anything. In the eyes of society, we’re mated.”
Tom jerked down the collar of his shirt to show Bradley the faded mark. “You mean this?”
Bradley swore under his breath. “What did you do?”
“Me? Nothing. It faded on its own, reflected your complete disinterest in me, I’m pretty sure. It’s rare, but I read online that it happens. So there, you don’t need to worry about public image. We can say we went on our own amicable ways.”
“You don’t understand, Tom. What we’ve built up over the years—we’re society’s favorite couple.”
“Image is all that matters to you, isn’t it?”
Bradley growled at him. Once, that would have frightened him, but for all his good looks and steroid pumped body, Bradley reminded him of a bully. Raul, on the other hand, was the real thing. Raul never denied him physical contact or whatever he needed, either. He’d been the one who backed down, terrified of where that particular road might head.
Well, he decided he should stop running from his fears. Once he tied up loose strings, he’d contact Raul again, see if the werewolf wanted to go out on a date. Date. It sounded so immature, something kids did, except he never really got to experience other relationships. Throughout high school, he experimented with other guys, but only held a torch for Bradley until adulthood.
What a splendid waste of time, not to mention a space in his heart. Finally, he woke up.
“Have you talked to your father?” Bradley asked.
“That’s a low blow, Brad.” He purposely used that nickname, knowing Bradley hated it. “He’ll come around, once I tell him I’ll leak these photos to the press.”
“I’ll fucking destroy that phone.”
He laughed, unable to help it, which only made Brad clench his fists by his side. Tom knew he played with fire, that he shouldn’t make Brad any angrier, but all those years of waiting and bitterness caught up with him, too.
“Don’t you think I’m smart enough to back up data?” He shook his head. “Bradley, this isn’t working. It’ll be fine for you, but do you think I’ll be content being your poster-boy mate forever? I want to live my own life.”
Bradley snarled. “Who is he?”
“He? Don’t give me that. You fuck a new guy each night. I can’t be the same?” His tone was so cold, he hardly recognized himself. Whatever. He was definitely lying his ass off, but it didn’t matter now.
Bradley was silent for a few moments. He could see the shifter trying to rein in his anger. Bradley probably might be tempted by violence, he had a temper after all, but Bradley was smart enough to know any mark he left on Tom’s body could be used against him.
“You’ll regret this,” Bradley practically growled out.
“No, I won’t. I don’t want us to fight, Bradley. You don’t know it yet, but you hate being mated to me, too, even if it’s fake. This is for the best.”
Bradley turned, left, slamming the door behind him. Relieved, Tom sunk into the sofa, energy sapped. God. That could have gone in a dozen ways. Bradley could have easily snapped and accidentally use his claws and teeth on him, injure him badly, or worse, end his life.
He didn’t know how long he sat there, replaying what just happened in his mind. Eventually, he dragged his legs up the couch, curled into a pathetic little ball. It finally hit him. Tom was moving out, leaving this life forever, the only life he’d known for the last five years.
Tom didn’t regret his decision. How could he? He refused to live out the rest of his life as a fixture to someone else. Bradley had no right to be angry, to be jealous either, co
nsidering he spent most of their time together fucking other guys.
He looked at his phone, unsurprised to see several messages from Dave Fisher, Bradley’s lawyer. Bradley didn’t even have the guts to confront him again. Typical. He was about to put his phone on silent, but instead looked at his contacts.
The people on the list were either Bradley’s friends or acquaintances. There was no one he trusted to listen to him or offer advice. No doubt any of these men and women wouldn’t hesitate to leak the information of their fight to the media as soon as he opened his lips. As for family, there was only his father, the man who came up with this silly arrangement in the first place.
His dad knew he always had a crush on Bradley.
Tom looked at the unit, which felt more like a hotel suite than anything else, and expelled a sigh. Loneliness hit him then, ate at his bones. No one. He felt isolated, alone.
If you need help spreading those wings, you know how to contact me.
Raul’s words echoed in his head.
He touched his lips again, remembering that kiss, Raul’s words.
He hovered his finger over Raul’s number. Was it wrong to reach out to a stranger? No, he couldn’t quite call Raul that, because Raul probably did his own research about him. He took a deep breath. Tom was sick of feeling like a coward, of second-guessing his decisions. It was time he took charge of his own life. Tom called Raul, shocked the werewolf answered on the first ring.
Raul didn’t judge, didn’t demand answers, merely asked, “What do you need?”
He took a breath, and told him.
Chapter Four
Raul instantly spotted Tom standing by the sidewalk, along with four medium-sized boxes, right outside Tom and Bradley’s apartment. Well, Bradley’s now. The human looked like a complete mess, hair all tousled and dressed in a hoodie and sweat pants.
He found a parking spot by the curb and got out. Only a few hours passed since they last met in the diner. Tom must have been eager to move out of Bradley’s place and, eventually, the bastard’s life. That pleased his wolf immensely. He’d always known that underneath Tom’s slender frame lay a will of iron.
