Corbin slumped against the wall and slid down. Jago smiled at him and kissed him. Corbin scrunched his nose at the taste of himself on Jago’s tongue. It wasn’t something he particularly enjoyed, but he did enjoy kissing his mate. He pulled Jago closer, onto his lap, uncaring that they both still had their pants around their ankles.
They kissed for a while, until Corbin’s chin started to itch. He reached down and scratched it, and Jago laughed against his mouth. “I think you need to go clean up.”
Corbin smiled. He’d done a lot of that lately, and he found he liked it. It wasn’t a foolish thing, like he’d once thought, though. Love wasn’t something for the weak, something distracting Corbin had to avoid at all cost. Love was everything. Jago was everything.
Chapter Seven
Jago walked down the corridor again, peeking into every room he passed by and trying to memorize them. Not that the new pack hospital was all that different from the one Jago had worked at before, even though it still was mostly under construction.
Jago had finally caved in to Kameron’s request to come to work for the pack. With the new threat that was Tom and his council, Kameron wanted to be sure he had everything he needed to assure that the pack would be able to fight back, and that meant a new—albeit small—hospital on pack territory and new doctors and nurses. It also meant that no one was allowed to go out on their own, to the dismay of the younger members, but they were obeying for now, what with Merle’s abduction still fresh in their minds.
“Everything to your taste?”
Jago stopped and turned to face Kameron. “When will it be finished?”
“It’ll be operative in a few weeks, but only for emergencies.”
“Full capacity?”
“I wasn’t able to get a date for that.” Kameron grimaced. “Looks like it takes quite a long time to build a hospital.”
Jago chuckled and shook his head. “What, did you think they sprouted from the ground fully built?”
“I hoped they did.”
“Yeah, well. They clearly don’t.”
A loud screeching sound came from somewhere to their right, as if to reinforce that, and Kameron smiled. Jago cocked his head, because he could see it wasn’t a full smile. “Jeesh, what’s wrong now?”
“Am I that easy to read?”
“You forget I’ve been living with you for a year.”
“Right. Your father’s here.”
“Here at the hospital?”
“At the house.”
Jago sighed. He’d done his best to avoid even thinking about his father until now, even though he knew it wasn’t a solution to their problem. He knew he’d have to see him again sooner and later, and it looked like that moment had come. It was a lot sooner than Jago had thought, but he’d had the time to think about what his father had done to him.
“Great. I’ll go see what he wants, then.” Jago started to walk out but paused. “Do you need him?”
“Huh?”
“My father. Do you need him for anything?”
Kameron gestured at the door and they started walking side by side. “No, I don’t. I already talked to him. I meant to tell you, but your mother pressed charges against him.”
Jago stopped cold just outside the hospital. “She pressed charges? What did he do?”
“He sold you.” The duh was implied in Kameron’s voice.
“I know that. But it’s been two years, and it’s not like he got money out of it. Not really.”
“He still gave you away.”
Jago started walking again and Kameron followed. “I know. I’m not saying he shouldn’t be punished, or that I forgive him, but I do think he had attenuating circumstances.”
“The council will be judge of that, Jago. We can’t not condemn him just because he’s your father. He gave you away, fully knowing nothing good would happen to you. He needs to pay.”
“I know. I guess I still can’t believe he did something like that sometimes.”
It took Kameron a few moments to answer. “I don’t know. I don’t have problems believing parents can do something like that. I’ve seen it plenty of times in the pack, and in other shifter groups.”
“I didn’t. We never had many interactions with other shifters. You know how it goes, species tend to keep to themselves, and there aren’t many elephant shrews around the country, just a few families. And my father... he was a good father, you know? It sounds crazy when you realize he sold me, but I remember when he played with me on my room’s s floor, when he sneaked me chocolate before dinner, things like that.”
“Things every father should do.”
“Yeah.”
Jago could already see the house from where they were. He knew Corbin would probably be waiting for him somewhere close. Corbin was very attuned to Jago’s feelings. Jago thought it might be because he’d had to repress his own ever since he was a child, but it was only a guess. No matter the reason, Corbin always seemed to keep his attention on Jago’s feelings and mood, and he wasn’t in the best of them at the moment, so Corbin was bound to be close.
“He’s in the living room,” Kameron said as they climbed the porch stairs. He clasped Jago’s shoulder as he left and entered the house. Jago didn’t follow him, not right away. He wanted to take a few minutes to gather his thoughts, but a shout coming from the living room drew him inside. He ran there, not the least bit surprised to see his father pressed against the wall by a very cold-looking Corbin.
His father’s gaze focused on Jago as soon as he walked in. “Jago! Tell him to stop!”
Jago walked closer and put a hand on the small of Corbin’s back. He didn’t ask him to back down, though. He watched the interaction instead, his eyes narrowed.
“Jago!” his father insisted.
Corbin pressed his forearm harder against Jago’s father’s throat, and Jago pushed against Corbin’s back. Corbin relaxed enough that Jago’s father could breathe again. He leaned closer. “I never want to see you near Jago again,” he said in a cold voice.
“He’s my son,” Jago’s dad tried to protest.
“Look, Dad,” Jago intervened before Corbin could decide it would be better to kill his Dad. “I know you’re my father, but after what you did, I don’t think I want to see you for a while. A long while.”
“Jago...”
Jago leaned against Corbin. “Let him go. Please.”
“Are you sure? I could kill him for you,” Corbin answered.
Jago’s father widened his eyes and he gaped.
“No, don’t,” Jago told Corbin. “I still love him, even if he’s an asshole. He’s still my father.”
“I could maim him, then”
Jago could feel Corbin was very serious in his offer, just like he’d been the first time. Corbin knew Jago would say no, of course, but he wanted him to know the offer was real.
Jago shook his head. “Let him down.”
Corbin took a step backward and obeyed. Jago’s father slid down the wall and sat heavily on the floor. He rubbed his hand on his throat, as if Corbin had hurt him, and knowing him, he probably had. It made Jago feel a bit guilty, but it didn’t matter.
He walked to the couch and sat, Corbin right behind him. Corbin pulled Jago close to his side and glared at his father the entire time it took him to get up. He took a step toward the couch, but Corbin growled and Jago’s dad took two steps backward instead. He let his hand fall and Jago, saw a red handprint on the skin of his neck.
“I just wanted to apologize.”
“Dad, I know you didn’t want to do it. I know you had to, and honestly, if I think of what those bastards could’ve done to Emily, I’m glad you chose me. It doesn’t mean it’s easier to accept, that’s all. I love you, but I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive you for what you did. I’m sorry.”
Jago’s father slowly nodded. Jago could see tears glistening in his eyes, and rather than reaching for him and hugging him, he
took Corbin’s hand and held on. “I know Mom pressed charges against you. I hope the council won’t be too harsh on you, and I’ll testify for you if you need me to. Just... don’t push. Don’t try to contact me before I do. Give me time.”
His dad nodded. “All right. I’ll respect your wishes, Jago.” His gaze lingered on Jago’s hand that was still tangled with Corbin’s. “I’m happy I didn’t completely ruin your life. You deserve to be happy, and I’m glad you met your mate, as... unforgiving as he seems to be.”
Jago smiled. “At least I’ll never have to fear being taken again. I know Corbin would find me anywhere anyone might take me.”
Jago’s father rubbed his throat again. “Right.” There was a pause during which Jago and his father just looked at each other, then Jago’s father cleared his throat. “I’m going to go. You know where to find me when you decide...”
“Yeah, I do.”
He walked out and Jago waited until he heard the front door open and close again to relax.
Corbin hooked his arm around Jago’s shoulder and kissed his hair. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Jago asked.
“I know you don’t like me being... what I was before. I just couldn’t stop myself. He was there, sitting as if he’d been invited. He recognized me, and he tried to talk to me about you. He asked me if I could talk to you and try to convince you to give him another chance.”
“You didn’t take it well, huh?”
Corbin snorted, a very uncharacteristic sound coming from him. “No, I didn’t. I thought you’d be angry at me for it, though.”
“I’m not. I probably should, but what I told Dad is true. Knowing I have someone who would try to find me anywhere I am makes me feel safe. I can’t berate you for trying to protect me.”
“I’d never stop looking for you.”
Jago kissed Corbin. “I know. It’s one of the reasons why I love you.”
Corbin arched a brow. “One of?”
“Yup.”
“I hope there are a lot more reasons.”
“There are.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
“I don’t think so.”
Corbin smiled, one of the few real smiles Jago had ever seen on his face. “I guess that means I’ll have to stay with you forever if I want to know all the reasons.”
“Yeah. That’s exactly what it means.”
“I don’t think it’ll be a problem.” Corbin kissed Jago and Jago spoke against his lips.
“Forever.”
About the Author
Catherine lives in Italy, country of good food and hot men. She used to write fantasy as a child, but it was reading her first gay erotic romance novel that made her realize that that was what she really wanted to write.
After graduating from college in English language and translation, she divides her day between writing, reading, taking care of her son and reading some more.
You can find her on Facebook and Twitter or on her website: authorcatherinelievens.wordpress.com
Email: [email protected]
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