Elliott

by Catherine Lievens

  Elliott licked Mihaja’s nose and Mihaja sneezed. Elliott rolled his eyes and Mihaja batted at his nose before running away. Elliott ran after him.

  * * * *

  Mihaja burst through the trees. He wasn’t sure where he was, but he knew it was still pack territory, so he wasn’t worried.

  He climbed the tree on his right just as he heard Elliott crashing toward him. Elliott passed under the tree and screeched to a halt. He looked around the clearing they now were in, and Mihaja took the opportunity to jump on him. He took not to stay too long on top of Elliott, just in case, and rolled to the side.

  Elliott rolled with him and managed to pin him after they fought it out. Elliott grinned, his tongue lolling to the side, his chest heaving against Mihaja’s, and Mihaja took the opportunity to lick Elliott’s nose, just like Elliott had done before.

  Someone laughed and Elliott tensed. Mihaja looked sideways, and a few people he didn’t know—two men and two women—were sitting on a wooden bench, looking at them. One of them might have laughed, but they didn’t look amused, and Mihaja could see this was going to get ugly if they stayed there.

  One of the men tsked. “I swear, it’s like wolves just aren’t good enough anymore. Humans, rats, cats,” he looked at Mihaja, his upper lip curled. “This would never have happened with Erskine.”

  The woman next to him tried to shush him, but Elliott and Mihaja had heard him just fine. Elliott rose and snarled at the man. Mihaja butted his head against Elliott’s side, trying to make him understand he didn’t care and that they should go. He didn’t know who those people were, but they weren’t friendly, and the last thing he and Elliott needed was to get in a fight. He wasn’t even sure Elliott could defend himself if someone attacked them, so it would be better not to provoke them.

  “Isn’t that Edith and George’s son?” the other man asked.

  “That can’t be right. You know the little fairy is hiding.”

  The woman who’d tried to shush the other man earlier looked angry, and Mihaja wasn’t sure whether it was at them for interrupting what might have been a double date or for the man’s words. The other woman didn’t say anything, but she nodded.

  “Yeah, ‘cause he’s been raped,” the first man said.

  Elliott shuddered and Mihaja stepped in front of him. He knew Kameron wouldn’t approve violence, but he was ready to do whatever it took to protect Elliott, be it from fists or from words. He snarled, showing his teeth, and the angry woman got up.

  Instead of talking to them, though, she turned around. “You’re an asshole, Mike.”

  She turned to leave but Mike grabbed her wrist. “Hey, where’re you going, Tami? We’re on a date.”

  “We’re not, not anymore. I don’t date assholes.”

  “I was just telling the truth.”

  Tami put her hands on her hips and stared him down. Mike didn’t look as courageous as he had only a few minutes before, but it didn’t mean he backed down. “It’s true. Everyone knows he thinks he’s been raped.”

  Mihaja tried to push Elliott back toward the forest, but Elliott refused to move. Mihaja could tell he was angry and ashamed, but there was also a determination that hadn’t been there when they’d first met. Elliott apparently wanted to confront the people who’d bad-mouthed him, at least Mike, but Mihaja was pretty sure Mike hadn’t been the only one to do it.

  “How can someone think they were raped? If he says he was, then he was,” Tami said.

  Mike snorted. “Aww, come on. That’s not possible.”

  “Be very careful of what you’re about to say, Mike. I won’t have any problems ripping your balls off and feeding them to you.”

  Mike’s eyes widened. Mihaja tried to push Elliott away again, but Elliott still refused to move. He was looking at Tami, satisfaction and gratefulness coming through the bond.

  “It’s just that, he’s a man.”

  “So?”

  “Men can’t be raped.”

  Tami smiled, and it wasn’t a pleasant smile. “You’re an asshole.”

  “It’s true! I mean, they wouldn’t be men if they can be raped, right?”

  Mihaja snarled and Tami looked like she was about to tear Mike’s head off and eat it for breakfast. “You know, I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea to go out with you. I knew you were an asshole, but I didn’t think you were that bad, or that you were that stupid. That’s obviously not a good combination.”

  She turned and started to leave again, but Mike got up. “Baby, I was just telling the truth. You know I want you, and who cares about fairies and fake men?”

  Tami moved fast, so fast Mike didn’t have the time to move away before her fist landed on his face. He howled and Mihaja winced, because that had to hurt like a bitch. The other man got up and took a step toward Tami, but one glance from her was enough to stop him from coming closer. He took his date’s hand instead and pulled her away, disappearing into the woods.

  Mike was still holding his nose and whimpering, and when Tami stepped forward, he flinched and moved backward. She leaned forward. “You should have thought a bit more when you decided to date one of the pack’s recruits, Mikey. Didn’t you know I could hurt you if I wanted to? Or did you think I couldn’t because I’m a woman?”

  Elliott huffed, and amusement came through the bond. He wasn’t upset anymore, and Mihaja wanted to kiss Tami. He might have, if he weren’t gay and mated to Elliott. She was kickass. He liked her.

  “I didn’t mean anything, Tami, I swear.”

  She leaned closer and Mike flinched, but he didn’t move away this time. He let his hand fall and Mihaja wasn’t surprised to see his face was bloody.

  “You didn’t mean anything?”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Then why did you basically tell Elliott he was either lying or a woman?”

  Mike sputtered. “I didn’t—I—it’s just that, well, real men can’t get raped, right? They fight back.”

  Tami raised her hand and Mike took a step backward this time. She smirked and let her hand fall by her side. “Mike, you’re a dick. This can’t work.”

  “But...”

  “Have you forgotten who my brother is?”

  Mike’s eyes widened and he paled. “I didn’t mean anything!”

  “I don’t care about that. You offended Elliott and my brother, and you don’t seem to think you did anything wrong. I guess someone really should teach you what being a real man is, because I don’t think you are one.”

  “But...”

  “Shut up. Men can be and are raped. Do you really think you’d have been able to fight off a rapist if you’d been drugged and tied? Huh? After spending time in a lab where they did who knows what to you?”

  Mike opened his mouth to answer, but Tami had clearly had enough. She growled at him and turned around, heading toward Mihaja and Elliott. Mike didn’t try to stop her this time. It was obvious she wasn’t going to give him the time of the day, especially when she stopped in front of Elliott and crouched. She scratched under his chin, and Mihaja couldn’t stop the small growl from rising in his throat.

  She looked amused, but she stopped touching Elliott. “So you really found your mate, huh? Congrats, Elliott. Now can you stop being a dick and come see Simon? He’s been moping around for months because of you.”

  Elliott huffed and Tami straightened. “You know where the house is. I expect to see you by the end of the week, or I’ll come get you myself, and I’m sure you don’t want that, after seeing what I did to Mike.”

  Elliott huffed again and Tami left. Elliott looked at Mihaja, rolled his eyes, and nodded toward the direction they’d come from. Mihaja started to walk that way, but he paused in front of Elliott, licked his nose, then ran away.

  Chapter Six

  Elliott cleaned the vapor off the mirror and looked at himself. He could do this. He could. It was time.

  He and Mihaja had been mated for two months
, and they hadn’t done much more than kissing and a bit of grinding. Mihaja had been true to his word and hadn’t pushed for anything, and while Elliott was grateful, he also hated it. He didn’t want his mate to be careful around him. He didn’t want Mihaja to have to think about things before doing them.

  So he’d decided tonight was the night. Mihaja didn’t know that yet, of course, but Elliott was nervous anyway. He could back out and Mihaja would never know about it, and he was conflicted. A part of him wanted to make love with Mihaja so much, but another part thought it was a better idea for him to keep his legs shut forever.

  Mihaja didn’t require sex. They could go on like they were, just kissing and doing other stuff that didn’t require them to take their clothes off. Elliott didn’t want to, though.

  “Are you making out with the mirror?”

  Elliott scowled at the bathroom door, even though Simon couldn’t see him. “No.”

  “Then you’re moping. I should have known you’d mope. Have you changed your mind?”

  “No.”

  “Right. I don’t believe that. I’m coming in.”

  The door opened and Simon strode in, barefoot and wearing only a skimpy pair of jeans shorts and a tight T-shirt. He stopped by Elliott’s side and looked him up and down. “So, what’s the problem?”

  “I don’t have one.”

  Simon snorted. “That’s why you’re still hiding in here wearing only a towel when your mate is supposed to be back home any minute now?”

  “Any minute? Fuck, what time is it?”

  “Six.”

  “Fuckfuckfuck.”

  Elliott dropped the towel without even caring that Simon was still there. It was weird, because he still wasn’t comfortable enough to do stuff like that with many people, but he guessed Simon, Merle, and Jonah were different. They’d been with him in the lab, even if only for a while. They were more than friends. They were family, and Elliott wasn’t afraid of them.

  “Fuck, where are my clothes? I didn’t choose any!”

  Simon patted Elliott’s arm. “I chose them for you. They’re on your bed.”

  “I want to hug you right now, but I’ll refrain.”

  Simon grimaced. “God, yes. I love you, and I don’t mind seeing you naked, but that’s where I draw the line. I don’t want any of your naked bits to touch me.”

  They both shuddered and Elliott hurried to the bedroom. He’d been using it less and less as the time passed. He slept with Mihaja almost every night now, and he felt safe doing so. He felt safe with his mate, and he loved it, but he wasn’t sure it was enough. He’d see if it was soon enough, though.

  Simon had chosen some lose yoga pants—and Elliott was pretty sure they weren’t his, because he didn’t own yoga pants—and a soft T-shirt. He looked at Simon, a question in his eyes, and Simon shrugged. “You’ll need to be able to get naked easily, and it’s better if you’re comfortable.”

  “Who’s pants are those?”

  “Mine. Just make sure you wear underwear and not to let any bodily fluids drip on them.”

  “Well, if the point is to make it easy for me to get naked, they shouldn’t go anywhere near bodily fluid.”

  Elliott reached for the underwear and held it up. “Okay, that’s not mine either.”

  Simon laughed. “It is now. I sure wasn’t about to lend you mine. I bought you new ones.”

  “Are you sure people are supposed to wear underwear this small? Doesn’t it kind of defeat the purpose of underwear?”

  Simon slapped Elliott’s ass. “Put them on.”

  Elliott did, and it wasn’t very comfortable, but it would do. Like Simon had said, he was planning to get naked soon enough anyway. He slid on the yoga pants just in time. The door swung open and Mal peeked in.

  “You’re still not dressed? Zach called and said Mihaja left the house. He’s coming.”

  “Already?” Elliott screeched. He put on the T-shirt and hurried to the living room. He hadn’t had the time to do anything he’d planned to do, but when he stepped in, the room was softly illuminated by candles and there was a meal ready on the coffee table. Soft music played, and Elliott slowly turned to look at his friends.

  Simon and Mal were both standing behind him, looking smug.

  “You did this?” Elliott asked. “For me?”

  “No, we did it for your grandma,” Simon answered. “Of course we did it for you, dummy. We want you to be happy.”

  Mal nodded, and not for the first time, Elliott noticed how much he and Simon looked alike. They were both blond, although Simon’s hair was a few shades darker. Simon’s eyes were green where Mal’s were hazel, but they were the same height. They had the same slight frame and their faces had the same form.

  That was where the resemblance stopped, though. They might look like brothers, but Simon was, well, Simon. He wore make-up, jewelry, and clothes as tiny as he could find them. Elliott wasn’t sure if he did it on purpose to make people angry, but it did exactly that. Simon’s friends didn’t care, and neither did his sister Tami, but Elliott knew Simon’s parents weren’t happy, and neither was his brother. Not that Simon cared—he had friends. Yet, Elliott knew the fact that his family couldn’t accept him hurt Simon, even though he never let it show.

  “Are you done standing there staring at us?” Simon asked.

  “Yeah, it’s getting creepy,” Mal added.

  “Sorry. I was just overwhelmed by brotherly love for you two.”

  The smiles that bloomed on both their faces made Elliott happy, even when Mal slapped his arm. “Yeah, well, less brotherly love and more hot sex love, man. Mihaja’s going to be here in minutes, and me and Simon need to be out of here when he does. I really don’t want to have to listen to you two going at it the entire night, so I’m going to go stay at Arlen’s house for tonight.”

  “Can I come?” Simon asked.

  “Of course you can. We’ll make fun of the lovey-dovey stuff they do.”

  “Oooh, I can’t wait.”

  They left without giving Elliott another glance, but he was so nervous he didn’t even care. He sat on the couch, then got up to check out the window. He straightened the silverware and wondered if he should put the food in the oven, just in case it got too cold.

  The front door opened just then, and Elliott froze before he could take the plates. He sat back on the couch, his hands folded on his lap, and waited for Mihaja to come in.

  “Elliott?”

  “Living room.”

  There was a thunk, probably Mihaja taking his shoes off, then he was there, walking in the living room, his hair adorably mussed as if he’d spent half the day raking his hands in it.

  Mihaja paused when he saw the living room. “Are we celebrating something?”

  He looked worried, so Elliott reassured him. “No. Or maybe yes, I guess it depends on how the evening goes.” He laughed nervously and Mihaja’s gaze snapped to him.

  He came closer and sat next to Elliott. “What do you mean? Do you have something planned?”

  “Uh, kind of?”

  “Elliott.”

  Elliott closed his eyes. He knew Mihaja wouldn’t push him away. He knew it because he could feel the love coming through their bond, He still remembered the first time he’d realized what that warm emotion was, and how he’d choked up at the thought that his mate loved him. They hadn’t told each other yet, but Elliott planned to, just maybe not that night. “Well, we’ve been together for a few months, and I’m not afraid of you anymore.”

  “I know that.”

  Elliott opened his eyes and looked at his mate. “So I thought, if you want, that we could, you know. Have sex.”

  Mihaja was silent, so long Elliott got scared. Maybe it was too soon. Maybe Mihaja was comfortable the way they were and didn’t want things to change.

  “I want it too, but are you sure you’re ready?”

  “I think so? I mean, we’ve been getting physical in the
past couple of months and I didn’t freak out.”

  “You didn’t, but it wasn’t full on sex. I’m afraid it might bring back... memories you’d rather avoid.”

  Elliott swallowed and nodded. “I know, and I can’t be sure I’ll manage to actually do it, but I want to try. Please?”

  * * * *

  Mihaja kissed Elliott’s cheek. “Whatever you want, Elliott. We’ll try, but you can say no whenever you want to. Remember that.”

  Elliott huffed. “I know, I know.”

  Mihaja could tell when Elliott had reached the end of his patience by now, so he didn’t insist. He knew it would only push Elliott too far, and then they wouldn’t do anything but fight tonight. “Shall we eat, then?”

  “Oh, yeah, before it gets too cold.”

  Mihaja looked at the plates. It wasn’t anything elaborate—roasted chicken, potatoes, salad—but it smelled good. “You did a wonderful job.”

  Elliott blushed. “It wasn’t me. I spent most of the day freaking out about tonight. Mal and Simon did this.”

  “I’ll have to thank them later, then.”

  It was delicious, and while Mihaja didn’t particularly like the fact that Elliott was stressing over sex, he was pleased to know Elliott had spent the entire day with his friends. He still tended to stay inside too much, even now that he’d reached out to Merle, Simon, and Jonah again. They didn’t see Jonah much, and Merle was often busy with Aranck, but Mal, Elliott, and Simon were really close, so close Mihaja wasn’t even surprised when he often came home and found the three of them on the couch watching TV. Simon might as well have moved in, because he was always there.

  “Where are Mal and Simon?”

  “Mal said they’d stay at Arlen’s for the night. Something about bugging them about being all lovey-dovey and not wanting to hear us.”

  Mihaja arched a brow. “Oh?”

  Elliott waved in the general direction of Mihaja’s bedroom. “You know.”

  Mihaja did know, and while he still wasn’t sure it was a good idea, he also really wanted to give it a try.