Without Reservations

by J. L. Langley

  “Fuck that!” Jake pushed Chay out of the way, knocking him on his ass. He bit into his own arm, ripping the skin open. Blood poured out. It must have hurt like hell, but Jake never even winced. He bent over Remi, dripping blood into his open wounds.

  Keaton and Chay blinked at each other. Keaton jumped up. “You heard the man.” He reached around Jake’s bare thigh and worked his fingers into the largest laceration on Remi’s chest. He pulled the cut apart, allowing Jake to get more blood in. The smell of Chay’s blood tickled his nose, making his eyes shift.

  Chay’s bleeding arm came around the other side of Jake, hovering over another wound on Remi’s chest.

  Keaton hurried to spread that gash too. He wasn’t sure if it would work or not. Werewolf blood would turn a non-wolf male into one, but Remi was pretty far gone. A werewolf’s blood could heal his human female mate without turning them into a wolf. Keaton wondered… It didn’t matter, they didn’t have time to chance it.

  The combined strength of Jake and Chay’s blood sped up the process. Remi’s wounds were healing before their eyes, so it must be working.

  The tear on Jake’s arm healed and Jake brought it back up to his mouth, intent on ripping it open again.

  Chay grabbed his arm. “No. It’s working, there’s no need.”

  Jake snarled, jerking his arm from Chay’s grip, and prepared to attack.

  Keaton tensed, his hands shifting to claws. He moved between Chay and Jake, instinctively protecting his mate. He growled and felt his teeth sting his gums.

  Chay pulled Keaton back with him, moving away from Jake.

  Jake blinked, flinching like someone slapped him. He held his hands up. “I’m sorry.”

  Keaton relaxed, letting his hands shift back to normal. His teeth receded and with the smell of Chay’s blood no longer fresh, his eyes changed as well. “I’m sorry too. You all right?”

  Jake took a deep breath. “Yeah.” He ran his bloody hands down his face. He looked up. His eyes were still canine, but his teeth shrank back to human.

  Chay cleared his throat. “Why don’t you go take a shower, Jake? I’ll go find you some of my sweats to wear.”

  “I…” Jake glanced down at Remi, then at his own naked bloodstained body. “Yeah, okay. I’ll go clean up, then fill you both in on what happened. You think he’ll be okay?”

  Chay nodded. “I think so. Keaton and I will clean him up while you’re in the shower. When he wakes up we are all going to have some explaining to do.”

  Keaton snorted. “No shit. Somehow I never imagined myself explaining the existence of werewolves to Remi.”

  Chay ushered Jake into the bathroom while Keaton peeled the remaining, mangled, bloody clothes from Remi’s body. It was a shame the man had a personality defect because he was gorgeous. He was damned near as handsome as Chay.

  The shower started and Chay came back with some clothes. “Okay, Bit, I got a bucket of soapy water and a washcloth. How are his wounds healing?”

  “Good. They’re closed. Still red and a little puffy, they’re starting to scab over. Damn, that works fast.”

  Chay set the bucket down and pulled Keaton into his arms, kissing him soundly. “Yeah. I’ve never actually seen anyone changed. I had no idea it would work so quickly. How long do you think he’ll be out of it?”

  “I don’t know. This is a first for me too. I’m so sorry, Chay.” Keaton caressed his mate’s cheek. “It was my brother. I’m sure of it. It’s just too big of a coincidence not to be.”

  Chay nodded. “I think so too.” He hugged Keaton, holding him for several seconds. “We need to get Remi cleaned up.”

  “Yeah.” They pulled apart and got to work. There would be plenty of time to talk later. They needed to know what Jake knew and what Remi remembered when he woke.

  Chay rolled Remi on to his side. “Grab the rag and wash off his back.”

  He got the rag, wrung it out and leaned over the unconscious man.

  “Are there any scratches there?” Chay asked.

  “Jesus Christ.” There were crisscrossing scars all up and down Remi’s back, like he’d been whipped.

  “Guess they didn’t heal, huh?”

  Keaton looked up at Chay as he ran the washcloth over Remi’s back and shook his head. “No.”

  “I didn’t think they would, but I’ve never known anyone who was turned, so…” Chay shrugged.

  “What the hell happened?” Keaton dipped the rag again, rinsing the blood out. He washed Remi’s buttocks and thighs, noticing similar scars, but not as many as on his back.

  “Happened the summer we turned sixteen. He and our friend Billy were walking back from the movie theater and some guys jumped them. Remi ended up in the hospital in ICU. Billy died.”

  Keaton gasped, caught off guard. That didn’t seem right. The scars were consistent with a whip or a belt. Why would someone… “Did they know the assailants?”

  Chay gently laid Remi down, meeting Keaton’s gaze. “No. Remi never could identify them.”

  “Chay these were done by a belt.” He picked up the shirt Chay had brought and worked it carefully over Remi’s head. He put Remi’s arms through and pulled the shirt down.

  “Yeah. Simon, Bobby and I always figured it was Remi’s dad, but we never could get Remi to say so. And Remi’s dad didn’t have a reason to kill Billy. It wasn’t like it was a big secret that Remi’s dad was abusive. We all knew it. My dad even tried to get Remi away from his dad, but Remi never would cooperate when CPS questioned him. He didn’t want to leave his mom and Sterling.” Chay tossed Keaton the boxers he’d brought for Remi to wear.

  “Sterling?” He helped Chay lift Remi to put boxer shorts on him.

  “Remi’s younger brother. He was an infant when Remi was almost killed. He’s about thirteen now. Sterling’s a great kid.”

  Keaton shook his head. He’d have never thought Remi the type to sacrifice himself for another, like he obviously had his younger sibling. He was about to ask where Sterling was now when Jake came into the living room.

  Jake wore a pair of Chay’s sweats and a T-shirt. Damn, Jake was a big man. Chay’s sweats looked like tights on him. Jake sat in a chair across from the couch, his eyes normal. “He looks better.”

  Keaton glanced down at Remi, now clothed. He did look better. His tanned skin wasn’t quite normal yet, but it was close. His breathing was regular.

  Chay nodded. “Yeah. I need to call Doc Baker and dump this water out.” He took the bucket of water to the kitchen.

  “You want something to drink?” Keaton asked.

  Jake stared at Remi for several seconds then smiled sadly. “He’s my mate.”

  Shit, shit, shit. Keaton ran his hand down his face. “I was afraid of that.”

  After finishing his phone call, Chay grabbed three beers and settled in the living room with Keaton and Jake. The three of them sat quietly drinking their beers and watching Remi.

  Chay sniffed. “He smells like a wolf now.”

  Keaton’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Yeah, I noticed that too.”

  Jake signaled his agreement by dipping his head. “I’m not surprised. I’ve never heard of a case where a man was given blood and not been changed.”

  “What happened, Jake?” Chay asked.

  “When I followed Keaton home, I saw a car parked at the curb. I thought it looked suspicious, so I waited.”

  Keaton sighed. “My brother.”

  Jake nodded, absorbing that information. “After he left here, I followed him to that little wooded area a few miles away, the one that backs up to your subdivision. He got out and shifted. I parked further away, staying downwind. Figured I should shift and follow him. By the time I caught up to him, he was already here. I saw the motorcycle and smelled the blood. When I jumped the fence, he was standing over Remi. I ran him off. From a distance, I thought he…Remi, was you, Chay. Until I got close to him.”

  Keaton squeezed Chay’s shoulder. “Which explains a lot. I can see how someon
e would mistake Remi for Chay. They look alike from a distance.”

  Chay cocked his head. “But Aubrey is a wolf. He was even in wolf form. How could he not smell the difference? He’d just met me.”

  Keaton sighed. “My brother is an idiot. He’s never been one to trust his senses. He probably didn’t even try to differentiate scent.”

  Jake set his beer down on the table next to him and idly scratched Pita’s head. “I guess this gives us a good place to start looking for your attacker. Why would your brother want to kill you?”

  Chay turned his head to look at Bit.

  Keaton shrugged. “That’s just it. I have no idea. He has no motive, whatsoever. I’m out of his life.”

  Chay frowned. “How about your parents?”

  Keaton shook his head, bewildered. “I…I don’t know. I don’t think so. The same thing applies, there isn’t a reason.”

  Chay patted Bit’s leg. “Jake, can you look into it?”

  “You betcha. Keaton, if you can give me names and addresses and that sort of thing, it’ll go quicker. What exactly did your brother—”

  Remi groaned and squirmed.

  Pita, noticing him for the first time, barked, making them all jump.

  Remi’s green eyes blinked open and his hand flew to his head. “Fuckin’ A, my head hurts.” He focused on Chay. “What the hell happened? I came over here to tell you I was sorry and this dog—or actually it looked more like a wolf—attacked me. Don’t tell me I passed out like some freaking pansy.”

  Keaton gasped. “You came to apologize?”

  Remi pushed himself to a sitting position, wincing. “Yeah. I…uh, yeah. I’m sorry. Chay has been my friend for a long time and if he chooses you, well then—” Remi’s eyebrows pulled together, his eyes narrowing. “Who are you?”

  Jake stood, depositing Pita in Keaton’s lap on his way to the couch. “I’m Jake Romero. I’m Keaton’s bodyguard.” He held out his hand to Remi.

  The faint scent of fear permeated the air. Remi scooted back on the couch a little, staring at Jake’s hand. He checked Jake out from head to toe and the smell of lust filled the room. His body was probably reacting to the scent of blood in the air, but Chay didn’t relish telling Remi that.

  Remi shifted side to side, trying to hide his growing erection, then drew his knees up. He finally lifted his hand and shook Jake’s. “Remington Lassiter. Nice to meet you.”

  Dipping his head, Jake smiled and let go of Remi’s hand. “Likewise.”

  Remi’s nose twitched and he frowned. “I feel really weir—” His eyes widened and he glanced down at himself. He grabbed a pillow, placing it in his lap. “What happened to my clothes?” His brow furrowed. “Chay?”

  Keaton nudged Chay’s shoulder and Jake cleared his throat. Great. Of course they were going to make him break the news.

  Chay got up and went to sit on the couch beside Remi as Jake sat on Remi’s other side.

  Remi looked at Chay expectantly. “I passed out and peed my pants or something, didn’t I?”

  Chay grinned. “Er, no. I mean, you didn’t pee yourself.”

  “Well, thank God for that. It’s bad enough that I fainted.” Remi rolled his eyes.

  “Listen, Remi. What I have to tell you is going to be a little shocking. I…we…hell. The wolf attacked you and almost killed you and the only way we could save you was to make you a werewolf.”

  Remi blinked three times then after several silent seconds, threw his head back and laughed.

  Bit shook his head. “Oh good Lord, Chay.”

  Jake stared at Chay like he’d grown two heads, his mouth hanging open.

  Chay shrugged. “What? There isn’t an easy way to tell someone that. Besides I didn’t see either of you offering up explanations.”

  They both groaned.

  Finally, Remi’s guffaws turned into chuckles. After a few more seconds, he stopped, wiped the tears out of the corners of his eyes and grinned. “Okay, I deserve that for being an ass. I’m sorry I was such a dick to Keaton. I actually heard about the cut brakes from Bobby and came to make sure everything was okay. So, what really happened to my clothes?”

  Chay knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but…well hell! What was he supposed to do?

  “Okay, I’m not shifting. He already thinks I’m an abomination. Let him hate one of you for being a werewolf. I’ll stick to being hated for being gay. Someone else is going to have to show him.” Bit tucked his feet underneath him and sat up straighter. Damn him, he almost looked amused.

  Chay gave him the evil eye.

  Bit only grinned. “What? I’m just saying…”

  “Yeah, whatever.” He rolled his eyes. “Jake?”

  Remi tilted his head to the side. “Joke’s gone far enough, Chay. I said I was sorry, all right?”

  Jake stood and started stripping off his clothes.

  Remi looked at him and jerked back. His hands came up. “Whoa, hey!”

  Jake ignored him and continued to strip. When he was naked, he moved back. “Ready?” he asked Chay.

  He nodded.

  Remi started to get up. “Okay this is going too far, I mean rea—”

  Chay grabbed his arm to keep him from leaving.

  He glared at Chay then turned back to Jake. Remi’s eyes widened. All the blood fled from his face and he let out a strangled gasp.

  Chay followed his gaze to the large black wolf as Keaton pointed at Remi and yelled, “Chay.”

  Chay turned just in time to catch Remi as he fainted.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Keaton sighed, sitting down hard on the edge of his and Chay’s bed. Damn, Remi being Jake’s mate sucked. Jake was a nice guy, he deserved better.

  “What’s that for? Did you and Jake get Remi settled?” Chay came out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist. The man was fine, all that smooth tan skin and lean muscles. It was enough to distract a man out of his doom and gloom ponderings.

  “Yeah. Remi is still out of it. Jake carried him to the guest room. He’s going to sleep on the floor in case Remi wakes up. What was what for?”

  “You sighed. Been a fucked up day, eh?” Chay sat next to him, running his hand through Keaton’s hair. “I love your hair.”

  Keaton smiled and tangled his fingers in Chay’s hair, tugging him forward. He leaned his forehead against his mate’s. “Yeah, really, really fucked up. My parent’s may or may not be plotting my death. My brother definitely is. Remi got attacked and changed into a wolf and Jake told me earlier that Remi is his mate.”

  “Holy shit.” Chay’s eyes widened and his mouth gaped. “Guess that explains the boner, huh?”

  Keaton nodded. “Tell me about it. Poor guy. And you aren’t supposed to notice things like that.”

  “How could I not? It was pretty obvious. I thought it was due to blood lust.” Chay shrugged and kissed Keaton’s nose. “Don’t write it off yet. Remi’s a wolf now too, likely the same pheromones that are screaming at Jake will start yelling at him too.”

  Those dratted pheromones. “Yeah, like I said, poor Jake. I don’t know what’s worse. Having a mate who is a homophobic asshole and wants nothing to do with you or having a mate who is a homophobic asshole and can’t keep his hands off you. How the hell does that work? He hates you for fucking him?” God, that was just beyond ridiculous. Did that fly out of his mouth? Keaton laughed and fell back on the bed. “I’m losing my damned mind. That’s not even funny.”

  Chay flopped back on the bed beside him and wrinkled his brow. “You okay?”

  Keaton shook his head. “Nope. How do you feel about Hawaii? Surely they need vets and teachers in Hawaii.”

  “Never been to Hawaii, but we aren’t moving. We are going to figure this out and make a life for ourselves here.”

  Keaton snorted.

  “At least we have an idea where to look now. We have a clue where the threat is coming from.” Chay’s fingers twined with his, squeezing.

  He squeezed back. “Yeah.
Why doesn’t that make me feel better?”

  Chay sat up and pulled his towel off, baring his gorgeous body. “Maybe this will help.” He straddled Keaton’s hips and leaned down to kiss him. It began as a gentle press of lips, but in no time Chay’s tongue caressed his. Chay pinned Keaton’s wrists, keeping them over his head. His hard cock mashed into Keaton’s belly above the flannel PJs he had on.

  Keaton’s cock filled instantly and he was pretty sure it was him moaning. He bucked his hips up, trying to get more pressure on his prick.

  Chay grinned against his mouth. “Want you.”

  He nodded. “Want you too.”

  Chay slid off him, keeping hold of his wrists. He maneuvered Keaton to a sitting position and up off the bed. When Keaton stood, Chay dropped to his knees and slipped Keaton’s pajama pants down over his hip, kissing the bare skin he exposed. “I love your body.” He kissed one hipbone, then the other. “Love this ivory skin.” He pulled the waistband out and over Keaton’s dick and placed a kiss on the head.

  Keaton moaned, tangling his fingers in his lover’s thick black hair. “You’re nuts. I’m scrawny and pale. You’re the one who has a beautiful body and gorgeous coloring.”

  Tugging the pants past Keaton’s thighs, Chay ran his hand along the insides. His tongue soon followed. “Mmm, then I guess I have a thing for scrawny and pale.” He pushed Keaton’s pants the rest of the way off and stood. “Bed, pretty baby.” He kissed Keaton’s nose then went to shut off the overhead light. Chay sat on the edge of the bed and flipped on the bedside lamp as Keaton got into bed.

  Keaton crawled under the covers and Chay threw them off.

  “I want to see you, Bit.” He propped himself on his elbow and ran his other hand down Keaton’s stomach. “Look how different.”

  Keaton glanced down at the dark hand covering his abdomen. Chay was as dark as he was light. The contrast was surprisingly sexy. He’d never thought about it before. He’d always loved dark men, but seeing that dark hand on his own fair skin was quite a turn on. As he watched, Chay’s hand continued down and grabbed Keaton’s cock. It felt like Keaton’s whole body contracted when Chay squeezed.