Accepting His Human

Crypto Zoologist Drake Whitton works as a genetics professor at Colin City College while he figures out how to remove the eccentric label from his name, given to him by his peer’s response to his last paper on the existence of the chupacabra. He thinks he’s found the opportunity he needs when a private firm asks him to dissect and analyze a new DNA strand, and he discovers it contains both human and reptilian characteristics. His plans are derailed when his car gets hijacked by a detective on the run, his home gets broken into by people from the corporation he’s been doing research for, and he gets seduced by the doctor assigned to care for the hijacker. Doctor Ailean Carmichael never expects to find a mate, let alone a human one, but he’s willing to take what Fate gives him. After all, not all humans are like his late foster parents, right? And an orphaned, exiled black jaguar living in a wolf shifter’s territory doesn’t have too many options. He decides seducing the naïve professor will be delicious fun for both of them, until Ailean realizes he needs to protect his little mate from those bent on experimenting on and eradicating shifters. But when Ailean discovers Drake actually works for the scientists trying to destroy him and his friends, will he take the time to listen to Drake’s explanation? Or will he decide all humans really are the same?

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Accepting His Human Copyright © 2011 Charlie Richards ISBN: 978-1-77111-034-1 Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.eXtasybooks.com

Accepting His Human Wolves of Stone Ridge Four

By

Charlie Richards

To all those who love shifters as much as I do!

Chapter One

D

rake Whitton strode out of the building, fighting back the urge to run. Man, those guys give me the heebie jeebies. If he didn’t need the grant money so bad, he would have told them no after the first meeting. But it was tough to find anyone willing to front money to a crypto zoologist, and one thought to be eccentric at that. Maybe he should walk away. It wasn’t like he needed to do research to survive. He’d fallen back on his teaching degree last year after the critics tore apart his paper on the existence of the chupacabra. He should have known better than to publish something so controversial. Drake rubbed a hand over his lean face, realizing he’d lost weight since taking this grant from the Crystal Lake Corporation. Their schedule for results was pretty aggressive, and Drake often found it difficult to find time, if he even remembered, to eat. And getting enough sleep at night? Forget it. He was lucky if he managed four hours. Letting out a sigh, he lifted the key fob and pressed a button. The lights to his hatchback Ford Focus blinked, and he heard a muted click, the noise that meant he was pushing the button to unlock an already unlocked car. Odd. He felt certain he’d locked it. Drake glanced around warily but saw nothing amiss. He was the only one in the parking lot. Rolling his shoulders, he tried to relieve the tension. He continued to sweep his gaze over the area as he climbed into his car. After putting the 1

Accepting His Animal keys in the ignition, Drake fastened his seatbelt and started the vehicle. He put the car in reverse and looked in the rear view mirror, checking for traffic that he knew wasn’t there. His eyes widened as he focused on the gun. “Drive,” the man lying across his tiny backseat ordered. Drake’s jaw dropped open, and he struggled to breathe. “Just drive and you won’t get hurt.” The rasping order of the gunman came again. Nodding quickly, he headed out of the parking lot. “Wwhere do I need to take you, sir?” Drake managed to squeak out after several moments of tense silence. Yeah, that sounded so un-manly, but he was a college professor and scientist, not a courageous man. “Grady,” his armed hitchhiker wheezed. It was then that Drake noticed the metallic scent of blood filling the small car. Another look in the mirror showed the bruising covering the man’s face and the dark, dried blood caking his arms. His eyes widened even more. What had happened to this man? “Is your name Grady?” For a second the man just stared at him, and Drake worried he’d managed to anger him. The man shook his head slowly and said, “Need to get to Detective Grady Stryker.” The man’s words were slow and deliberate, as if each word was an effort. “Detective Grady Stryker?” At the man’s slow nod, Drake couldn’t stop a smile, or the nervous laugh. That’s odd. Why would a kidnapper want to get to a cop? Hopefully this Grady fellow wasn’t crooked. “Okay,” Drake said softly. “Just relax. I’ll find Detective Stryker for you.” His words seemed to soothe the man because he eased back onto the seat and let out a sigh. Drake worried his lip, eyeing his uninvited, and evidently severely injured, passenger. What on earth happened to him? Should I take him to my condo? If he were to find this detective, he’d need to get 2

Charlie Richards online and do a search, and it wasn’t safe to use his phone and drive. Hopefully, this guy wouldn’t be too far away. Or maybe… “Do you know Detective Stryker’s phone number?” His inquiry received no response. On a straight stretch of road, he took a long look in his mirror and realized the man had passed out, either from exhaustion or from his injuries, Drake didn’t know. Okay. My condo it is. Fifteen minutes later had him driving through the gate of his secured community. He hurriedly parked his Focus in his garage and hit the button to close the garage door, locking them inside the cavernous room. If he could get the gun away from the man and then get online, maybe he could locate the detective and get some answers, or he could drive back out of the garage and to the nearest police station. Another look in the mirror at the severely injured man had Drake opening the door and shoving his seat forward. He sucked in a breath as he got his first good look at the stranger. Short dark hair was matted with blood, and dark, square facial features were obscured by bruises, scabs, and a bushy beard. Even in sleep, the man clutched a rough, gray, military style blanket around his body. The arm he could see, the one holding the handgun, was pale, a chafing line around the wrist indicating confinement, and needle marks. Crap! Is he a druggie? Having no way of knowing, he carefully eased the weapon out of the unresponsive man’s fingers. Not knowing anything about guns, he set it on the floor and used a foot to push it under his car. Then he reached forward and pressed his fingers to the man’s neck. Relief filled him when he found a pulse, weak, but it was there. Drake pulled out his blackberry and started a search. He found a Detective Grady Stryker who was a homicide officer commissioned out of Stone Ridge, a town a little over an 3

Accepting His Animal hour from Colin City, where Drake lived and worked. Noting the number, he entered it into his phone and pushed send. He crossed his fingers for luck, praying the man would answer. A glance at his watch showed him it was already nearing ten-thirty at night. Cringing at having to call anyone this late, Drake worried his lip and eyed the prone form still in his car. A deep voice answered on the fourth ring. “Stryker here.” “Detective Grady Stryker?” Drake asked warily. “Hello? Anyone there?” Drake frowned. “Is this Detective Grady Stryker?” he asked, a little louder. “Fuck, I can’t hear anyone. Piece of shit.” He heard the deep voice growl into the phone. “Give me that,” another man said, his voice faint enough that Drake realized he must have been standing right next to the detective. “Hold on,” the second man said, his voice much clearer. Drake knew the stranger now spoke into the phone, to him. “You gotta stop playing with the buttons, stud. You screwed with the volume again.” Drake’s brows shot up. Stud? What on earth? Seconds later, he heard the tenor again. “You still there?” “Yes,” Drake managed to answer, thoroughly confused. “Good. Hang on.” “Stryker here.” The deep bass voice sounded into the phone again, this time with a hint of irritation. “Are you…are you Detective Grady Stryker?” Drake asked, suddenly hesitant. There was a short silence, before, “Yeah. Who is this?” “My name is Professor Drake Whitton. I picked up 4

Charlie Richards someone who says he’s looking for you.” Drake stared at the injured man as he spoke, willing the man to wake up. He didn’t. “Who?” Well, that was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? How to answer… “Um. I don’t know his name. He kinda…well…I gave him a ride, and he passed out in the back. He’s injured. There’s bruising on his face and blood on his arms.” “Shit!” the detective snarled. Hushed voices murmured in the background, this time too quiet for the sensitive phone to pick up and pass on. Finally, he heard, “Does he have dark hair and eyes? Stands about six foot?” “Uh…” Drake swept his gaze over the man. “He has dark hair. I didn’t notice his eyes, and he’s lying down, so I don’t know his height.” Before the detective could say anything else, Drake said, “Look. He’s pretty beat up. I think I should take him to a hospital. Maybe you could meet me there.” The next long pause made him twitch nervously. What if the detective thought he was the one who beat the guy up? Of course, one look at him, and the guy would know that wasn’t even a remote possibility. Drake was five-foot-nine with light chocolate skin, thanks to his half African American, half Swedish father, wore glasses, and was skinny, not lithe or tone or any of those flattering ways of saying someone was thin. He had to work to weigh more than one hundred twenty pounds, and women were more interested in getting some meat on his bones than dating him, which was good, since Drake was gay, very, very gay. He couldn’t imagine what he’d do with a woman if she ended up interested. “Are you near Colin City or Sugar Creek?” The deep voice interrupted his stray musings. “Yes. Colin City.” 5

Accepting His Animal “Take him to Colin City Hospital. Know where that is?” “Yes.” “Ask for Doctor Carmichael. I’m going to call and tell the doc he’s coming. Can you do that?” “Yes.” Oops! Now I feel like a broken record, better say something else. “I’m not too far from there. I’ll have your friend there in about ten minutes or so.” “Good. I’ll see you there, Professor.” After popping his head into the condo and yelling to his brother that he needed to run out again, Drake climbed back into his car and started it up. Hitting the garage door opener, he eased out of the enclosure and back onto the street. After closing the garage door, he glanced in the rear view mirror again, more to assure himself that the man was still unconscious than anything else. **** Doctor Ailean Carmichael let out a low growl as he set the phone down. Some idiot human was bringing in an injured man, possibly Detective Sullivan. The big cat shifter figured he should be grateful for the good Samaritan, since they’d been looking for the missing man for two weeks, but it sure made his job more difficult. All his rooms were full, which meant he’d have to transfer a patient to Doctor Lansey, who would raise a fuss and demand all kinds of explanations. The prick. He strode to the emergency room admissions desk and smiled at Bernice. “I need to free up one of my rooms. Can you transfer Mr. Sanders from room three into one of Doctor Lansey’s rooms, please?” The woman grimaced, but nodded. “Yes, Doctor.” Still typing, she glanced up at him. “You know he’s not going to be happy.” 6

Charlie Richards “I know, Bernice.” He tapped his clipboard on the desk in agitation. “If he gives you any trouble, tell him the order came from me.” “You’ll probably be seeing him in exactly…six minutes,” she said after glancing at the clock. Ailean nodded, knowing she was probably right. A couple moments later, just coming out of the room of one of his patients, he found a glaring Doctor Lansey. He glanced at his watch and lifted a brow. Damn. Six minutes. Is Bernice psychic? More probable was the fact that the older woman had been working at the hospital for two decades. “Why did you transfer your patient to me? Don’t you think I have enough of my own?” the other doctor snarled angrily. Doctor Lansey did a damn fine impersonation of a cat, Ailean thought, staring at the man. “I received a call from Detective Stryker notifying me that an injured man was on his way. He asked that I take a look at him,” he said, crossing his arms over his white coat. “And you couldn’t just give that patient to me?” Doctor Lansey scoffed. “No,” he replied. He’d be damned if he explained himself to this human. “Why not?” “Doctor Carmichael, please report to the emergency room desk,” Bernice’s voice came over the intercom. Ailean turned on his heel and walked down the hall, dismissing the irritating man behind him. As he neared the reception area, a sweet musky scent hit his senses, making his cock perk up and take notice. What the hell? Trying to ignore the sudden onslaught of lust, Ailean crossed the room while taking in the occupants. Half a dozen patients occupied chairs. An orderly walked past him, taking another patient through the doors behind 7

Accepting His Animal him to a room. Bernice sat at her desk, keying information into her computer. And a cute man stood nervously in front of her desk, twisting his long slender fingers in agitation. He couldn’t help but give the human a once over as he walked toward him. Light chocolate skin and short, dark brown hair spoke of a mixed heritage. The stranger stood around five nine and had a lean body, a little too lean in fact. The poor human looked like a stiff wind would blow him over. A strange desire to hold the man and ease whatever stress caused the man’s obvious tension swept over Ailean. Frowning at the ridiculous notion, he made his way over and stopped next to the desk. The small human stared up at him, and his deep brown eyes widened as he swept his gaze over Ailean’s body. He smirked, keeping his eyes on the human as he said, “You called for me, Bernice?” “Yes, Doctor,” she replied, her gaze glancing from one man to the other. “This gentleman says Detective Stryker sent him to see you.” “Thank you, Bernice,” he said. “Come this way.” He rested a hand on the man’s shoulder and a bolt of desire shot through his body, making his dick tighten and jerk in his scrubs. Mate! Ailean snatched his hand away as if burned and sucked in a breath. No. It can’t be! My mate can’t be human! But the intoxicating scent that surrounded them as the man followed where Ailean led to a quiet corner of the reception room didn’t lie. Fuck! Glaring, he snapped, “Where’s Lyle?” The man’s brows shot up. “Lyle? Oh, my hitchhiker!” He wrapped his arms around his midsection and dropped his gaze to the floor. “He’s in my car. I couldn’t get him out. He’s too big.” And, well hell, now he felt bad for growling at the human, and Ailean wanted to wrap his arms around him and soothe him. Letting out a frustrated breath, he said, “Let 8

Charlie Richards me get a stretcher and then you can lead the way.” The man nodded quickly, still not looking at him. Running a hand through his thick black hair, Ailean headed toward the back to get what he needed. He was back a moment later. The man glanced up quickly before averting his eyes. Shit! Ailean didn’t want the man scared of him. How the hell was he supposed to seduce him that way? Even if he was human, a shifter only received one mate. Then another thought struck. What if the human wasn’t gay? That put a whole new spin on the situation. He’d have to find out. But first… “Where’s your car?” “This way,” came the soft, breathy reply that had Ailean’s balls aching. Swallowing his desire, so glad the coat he wore reached mid-thigh and hid his erection, he followed out the door. The man glanced over his shoulder at him. “Don’t you need an orderly to help or something?” “Nope,” Ailean said. His shifter strength would be more than enough to get Detective Sullivan, or whoever it turned out to be, out of the car. At least he thought so until he saw the tiny hatchback’s lights flash in response to his mate hitting a key fob. He may need the little human’s help just due to the awkward confines of the vehicle. He pulled open the car door and got a good look at the detective. “Fuck, Lyle. What’d they do to you?” he growled. Blood covered the human’s arms, face, and neck, and Ailean knew some of the discolorations were masses of bruises. He mentally cringed at what he’d find under the blanket. He turned to the good Samaritan and motioned him over. “Okay. I’m going to need you to keep the stretcher steady as I pull him out and get him on it.” The man nodded and wrapped long fingers around the metal bars of the stretcher. For a second, Ailean stared at those fingers, wondering what their length would feel like 9

Accepting His Animal around his dick. Shit! Giving himself a mental slap, he turned back to Lyle. The man needed help, and here he stood lusting over his mate, one that didn’t look like he returned Ailean’s desire. Gritting his teeth, Ailean placed one foot in the car and maneuvered his big body into the back seat of the little vehicle. He wrapped his arms under Lyle and carefully lifted him. Lyle groaned, his eyes fluttering. The fingers of his right hand seemed to clench convulsively on empty air, then the detectives eyes snapped open. He started to struggle. “Easy, Lyle,” he muttered to the thrashing man. “It’s Doctor Carmichael. Ailean Carmichael. You’re going to be okay.” Damn, he hoped he wasn’t lying to the man. Finally, Lyle stilled. Focusing dilated eyes on him, he whispered, “Ailean?” “Yup. I’m gonna get you fixed up, Detective,” he purred soothingly. Sometimes it was good to be a cat. For some reason, purring soothed even the most upset human. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the little man shiver and discreetly adjust his dick. Ailean hid a smile, pleased the man wasn’t completely immune to him. “Grady?” Lyle whispered. “He’s on his way. Just relax. I’m taking you into the hospital, so we can get you fixed up.” “No. No hospital,” Lyle muttered, beginning to wriggle again. Tightening his hold as his back started to burn from holding the awkward position, Ailean purred again. “Easy. It’ll be off the record. No one knows you’re here except me, Grady, Gordon, and the one who found you. You’ll be fine.” Lyle opened his mouth again, probably to protest, but the words died in his throat as he passed back out. That was definitely a blessing, for both of them. Moving again, Ailean pulled Lyle from the car as gently as possible. His mate was 10

Charlie Richards there instantly with the stretcher. “Hold it steady, little mate,” he commanded as he set Lyle down. The man nodded absently as he held the rolling cot’s frame. Ailean quickly strapped Lyle down, so he wouldn’t fall off during his quick trip across the parking lot. A dozen feet toward the door, he paused, realizing his mate wasn’t following. Ailean turned and saw the man once again twisting his fingers nervously as he stared at his car. The man looked like he was ready to bolt, and that just wouldn’t do. Ailean moved back to him and wrapped an arm around the skittish human’s waist. “Come along, little mate,” he purred. The man sagged against him, fitting perfectly against his bigger six-foot frame. Heat seared through his veins at the contact. “Maybe I could just go?” the man said softly. Pushing the stretcher with one hand, he kept the other firmly around his mate. “I’m afraid not. Detective Stryker will need to speak with you,” he said. When the man tensed, he squeezed the bony shoulders he held. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

11

Accepting His Animal

Chapter Two

D

rake expected the doctor to release him once they walked back into the hospital, but to his surprise, and pleasure, he didn’t. He kept his arm wrapped around his shoulders, nodded at Bernice as he called, “I’ll be back with info on this one.” The woman lifted a brow in obvious curiosity, but she waved a hand in acknowledgement and went back to her typing. Doctor Carmichael pushed the stretcher into a large room. “Have a seat, little mate,” he said. “Grady lives in Stone Ridge, but I’m sure he’ll hurry.” He nodded, watching the bigger man for several minutes as his mind whirled with questions, like what he’d landed in the middle of, because he couldn’t imagine this was normal procedure. The man, Lyle the doctor had called him, hadn’t even been checked in, and the doctor didn’t call for nurses or anyone else to help him. Instead, he shut the door and started cleaning up the man and hooking up IVs himself. Was that normal? “You called him Lyle. Do you know him?” He figured that was a safe question. Doctor Carmichael glanced at him before returning to his work. “Yes. I’ve met him a couple times.” “Who is he?” This time the doctor’s honey-brown eyes stayed on him 12

Charlie Richards for a bit longer. He seemed to be assessing Drake, and he flushed under the man’s scrutiny. His skin still tingled from where he’d pressed him close to his side. He wanted to shift in his chair and find a more comfortable position for his cock, which had gone hard from the contact. Drake couldn’t remember the last time someone had turned him on so much so fast. But he knew that would be inappropriate and a dead giveaway to his orientation, and he didn’t want to offend the nice doctor. “His name is Detective Lyle Sullivan.” Well, one thing could be said for Doctor Carmichael, he sure didn’t volunteer information. “What happened to him?” “He went missing two weeks ago. From the looks of things, someone held him captive and tortured him,” he replied bluntly. Drake sucked in a breath, his eyes widening in his head. “That’s terrible,” he whispered. Doctor Carmichael lifted his head and nodded. “Yes, little mate, it is.” He frowned, wondering why the man kept calling him that. He’d used that term several times now, and he wondered what meaning it held. He knew he was little, but they weren’t friends, not that he didn’t want to be. But he couldn’t imagine the doctor wanting to be friends with someone like him, an eccentric, poor, skinny professor. Before he could ask, a light knock sounded on the door. Doctor Carmichael paused and took a deep breath, before saying, “Come in, Grady.” Weird. How did he know? A large muscle-bound blond man strode into the room followed by a shorter, slightly heavy man with long, steelgray hair. The bigger man frowned and muttered an explicative under his breath. 13

Accepting His Animal The doctor smirked. “Yeah. That’s what I said upon first sight.” He watched the shorter man rest a hand on the blond’s shoulder and whisper, “Easy, Grady.” To Drake’s surprise, Grady, the detective, wrapped his own hand around the other man’s, holding it in place. Huh, are they a couple? Impossible. The detective oozed testosterone! Family, then? If so, Drake couldn’t make out any parental markers between their features. “Is he going to make it?” the detective asked. Doctor Carmichael grimaced. “I’m not sure yet. He seems stable, but I still need to run some tests. Check for internal bleeding, concussion, broken bones, blood work, that sort of thing. You got here awful quick, so I haven’t had time yet.” Grady turned toward Drake, and he wanted to cringe. This man’s calculating gaze made him feel like prey in the presence of a hungry lion. “Are you Professor Drake Whitton?” Drake nodded. Grady looked back at the doctor. “Think you can run your tests while I chat with the professor, Ailean?” The doctor, Ailean, nodded. What an exotic name. He wanted to ask it’s origin when the man spoke. “Sure.” Ailean’s gaze fixed on him, removing the chill he’d gotten from Grady’s stare. “You’ll be fine with Grady, little mate. He just needs to ask you some questions.” How did Ailean know he’d been nervous? Drake looked down and realized his twisting fingers must have given him away. His head snapped back up. “Why do you keep calling me little mate?” Ailean left the bed and headed toward him, his body moving with sensual grace. “I didn’t know your name,” he said, stopping in front of him. “Would you prefer I call you handsome? Maybe sweet baby?” 14

Charlie Richards Okay, so the doctor did seem to swing his way, but why would he be interested in him? He wasn’t attractive by any means. Trying to control his erratic reactions to the man, he frowned. “My name is Drake.” Ailean used a finger under Drake’s chin to lift his gaze. “I still prefer little mate, Drake. Don’t go anywhere until I return. I want to ask for your phone number.” Then to his utter shock, Ailean brushed his lips lightly over Drake’s in the gentlest, most sensual caress. Before he even realized it was happening, it ended. His first real kiss and he’d been too stunned to reciprocate. But Ailean didn’t seem to mind. He straightened and turned to a stunned looking Grady. “I’ll be back.” “Little mate, huh?” Grady murmured, concern etched on his features. The doctor lifted a brow as if daring the larger man to contradict him. “Yes.” Silent messages seemed to pass between the two men, but before Drake could even begin to guess at what it meant, Ailean wheeled Lyle out of the room and disappeared. The door clicking shut sounded so ominous to Drake’s ears that he tensed. Grady eased onto the hard plastic chair next to him and sighed. “Relax,” he said. “I just have some questions.” Drake nodded, suddenly feeling more at ease. It was like all the aggression had gone out of the man and left behind was a bone weary friend. “I’ll help any way I can,” he assured. He really did want to help. No one deserved to be beaten. “Where did you pick up Lyle?” Grady asked. “It was outside the Fitzgerald Building on third and ninth. I had just left a meeting with my contractor, the Crystal Creek Corporation, and when I climbed into my car 15

Accepting His Animal he was in the back,” he stated. “In the back? He was already there?” The man’s tone made it apparent that he didn’t believe him, and Drake frowned. “Yes.” He rose, agitation making it hard to keep still. “I thought I’d locked the car, but when I hit the unlock button, it made that click noise like it was already open. I looked around, but didn’t see anyone, so I climbed into the car.” Drake crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the detective. “When I looked into the rearview mirror, there he was, and…” He worried his lip, suddenly uncertain. He knew Ailean wouldn’t hurt him, he wasn’t sure how he knew, but he was certain of it. He wasn’t so sure about these two though, and the doctor was gone. “And what?” Grady asked gently. Knowing he couldn’t hide the information, he shared, “And he was holding a gun on me.” Grady nodded slowly, his throat working as he swallowed hard. “Did he say anything to you?” Drake nodded. “Yes. He told me to drive and I wouldn’t get hurt.” “And?” He let out a huff. “What do you mean and? I drove!” he yelled. Fatigue, pressure, and hunger made his fuse suddenly too short, and he wanted Ailean to come back. He found something about that man soothing, and he liked knowing the man liked him. “Please calm down, Professor,” the man in the corner finally spoke. “We know this situation is trying, to have someone pull a gun on you and highjack your car. Being out of control is never easy. Please, Lyle is a good man and would never have done this under normal circumstances. He’d never have pulled a stranger into his problems if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.” Drake nodded slowly, mulling over the other man’s 16

Charlie Richards words. They rang true. “Who are you? Are you a detective, too?” The man smiled, his black eyes belying the warmth in his face. “I’m sorry. I’m Doctor Gordon Digby. I’m Grady’s partner.” Partner? “I thought Doctor Carmichael said Lyle is Grady’s partner?” Gordon chuckled, sharing a smile with Grady. “Not that kind of partner, Drake.” “Oh.” Well, that answered that question. The big men really were gay! To have the two men so openly confirm their relationship shocked and confused him. He wasn’t in the closet by any means, not really, but no one really asked him what his preference was, and that’s the way he liked it. He wasn’t sure he could keep his teaching position otherwise. “Now,” Grady said, rising smoothly from his chair. “You were saying that Lyle was in your car when you left the Fitzgerald building, and you started to drive. What else did he say? How did you know to call me?” the man asked as he put a hand on Drake’s shoulder and steered him back to his chair. He went willingly, mainly because he knew there was no way he could overpower the big detective. Closing his eyes, he brought up the scene in his mind. Due to years of scientific research, he’d trained his mind to remember even minute details. That skill paid off now. “Okay. Lyle said Drive. And when I sat there in terror, he said Just drive and you won’t get hurt. I obeyed pretty quickly that time. After I pulled out of the parking lot, I stuttered out W-where would you like me to take you, sir? Thinking it’d be a good idea to be polite to the man with the gun. His answer confused me. He said Grady.” Drake opened his eyes. “Now I know he meant he wanted 17

Accepting His Animal me to take him to you, but I didn’t know that at the time. I asked him Is that your name? It took him a while to answer, but he finally replied, Need to get to Detective Grady Stryker. I thought that was weird, too. A hijacker wanting to be taken to a detective, and then the thought occurred to me that maybe you were a dirty cop. You aren’t, are you?” He paused expectantly, praying the man wasn’t. Realizing he expected an answer, Grady lifted a brow and shook his head. “No.” Letting out a breath of relief, Drake nodded. “Oh, good.” He paused. Where did I leave off? Oh yes. “Anyway, I noticed the bruises and blood on his face and arms and realized something bad had happened to him. So I confirmed your name, but when I asked Lyle if he knew your phone number, he didn’t answer. He’d passed out by then, you see,” he added. He glanced between Grady and Gordon, trying to ascertain if they were following. He knew that once he got going with a lecture, he could sometimes lose his students. He figured this couldn’t be too much different. After both men nodded, and Grady waved a hand as if to say go on, he did. “I didn’t know who you were, Detective, so I went home and…” “You took him to your home?” Grady cut in. Drake cocked his head. “Yeah. I didn’t take him into the house. I just closed us into the garage. I needed a safe place to connect to the internet and find out who you were. That’s where I called you from, my garage.” He watched Grady and Gordon again exchange looks he couldn’t decipher. Well, that’s just frustrating. What is going on? He sighed, suddenly sure he didn’t want to know. If it involved people hurting other people like they did to Detective Sullivan, then Drake didn’t want anything to do with it. “After talking to you, I brought Lyle here.” He 18

Charlie Richards shrugged. Grady nodded. “Okay. What happened to the gun? Is it still in your car?” “Oh, no,” he said, biting his lip. “I took it away and kicked it under the car. I didn’t pick it back up, so it’s still in the garage. Do you want to follow me home to get it?” Then he hoped he could go to sleep, but he still had research to do and an early class tomorrow. He fought back a sigh. Bummer, he wasn’t going to get much sleep tonight. The detective leaned against the bed. “I will need to do that, yes. I’d also like you to take me to where your car was parked when you picked Lyle up, but it needs to be in the daylight. Are you available tomorrow?” Rubbing his brow, he thought about everything he needed to do the next day. Slowly he nodded. “I have a break in classes between eleven-thirty and one. I can meet you at the corner of sixth and ninth at eleven-forty-five. That should give me enough time to show you were it is and be back for my next class.” “Will that give you enough time to eat?” Drake whirled at the growling voice, a flood of warmth he’d never felt before hit him when he saw Ailean in the doorway. Uh, oh. He shouldn’t like the man this much this fast, especially since he didn’t know anything about him. He chewed his bottom lip in consternation. **** Ailean couldn’t believe he’d just said that, but the man obviously didn’t take care of himself. The nibbling on his lip and abashed look just confirmed it. It also made him so fucking cute Ailean’s teeth ached. And so did his shaft. He wanted to order everyone else out of the room and taste that plump bottom lip that Drake worried. 19

Accepting His Animal Instead, he rolled the stretcher into the room and motioned for Grady to help him lift the still unconscious Lyle onto the bed. Once done, he moved the stretcher into the hall. He closed the door and crossed the room to stand in front of Drake. The skinny human’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, and Ailean couldn’t stop the grin. “Now, does that leave you time for lunch, little mate?” “Uh, no,” he whispered. “Then that won’t work, will it?” He brushed Drake’s jaw with the tips of his fingers to soften his words. “I don’t work tomorrow until three in the afternoon. How about I pick you up at the campus with lunch? That way you can eat while I drive?” he offered. He continued to stroke his little mate’s soft skin, marveling at how right it felt to touch the human. How could Fate give me a human? He’d never had any good experiences with them. Fuck, he hoped this would be different. He frowned at the thought. Of course it would be different. This is my mate! Drake gave a quick nod. “Okay. I’d like that,” he murmured, ducking his head. Ailean wondered if it was shyness or something else. Inexperience? He’d have to see. “Good,” Ailean replied. “Now, give me your phone number, little mate,” he ordered softly, handing the man a pen and his clipboard. He watched Drake glance between him and the other two men in the room. From the corner of his eye, Ailean watched Gordon give his little mate a wink and an encouraging nod. Drake gave a slight smile and scribbled an almost illegible string of figures across the page. He’d have to remember to find a way to thank the elephant shifter. Whatever had happened while he was gone, Drake seemed to value Gordon’s opinion. He owed the man. 20

Charlie Richards “And people say a doctor’s signature is bad,” he teased, taking the clipboard back. Drake opened his mouth, starting to stutter something, but Ailean rested an index finger against the soft lips he so desperately wanted to taste properly. The little peck from earlier hadn’t been nearly enough. “Relax,” he assured. “I’m just teasing. Go with Grady, and I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Okay,” Drake murmured, his eyes slightly dilated. What a fucking sexy look. Ailean couldn’t stop himself from pulling the shorter man to his feet, cupping his jaw, and claiming his lips. Surprise shot through Ailean when Drake froze in his arms for several seconds. But he patiently brushed the man’s lips again and again and soon Drake melted into Ailean’s embrace. Inexperience. Definitely inexperience. He flicked his tongue out, tracing Drake’s lips, tasting lightly. When he didn’t automatically open, he gently nipped his mate’s full bottom lip. A sharp inhalation had Drake opening slightly, allowing Ailean the access he wanted. He took advantage. As he slid his tongue into the narrow gap between Drake’s teeth, he wrapped his arms around his mate’s slender waist and pulled him flush to his body. Holy shit! Ailean’s dick shot rock hard and leaking. It jerked and pulsed against his mate’s stomach. Moaning softly, he plundered Drake’s mouth, mapping the man’s teeth, gums, and tongue. Finally, needing air, Ailean lamented having to ease the kiss to an end. Blinking, he took a deep breath, watching his mate’s cheeks flame underneath his bronze coloring. Ailean looked from the corner of his eye and gave Gordon and Grady a slight smile at their attempt at giving them some sense of privacy in the small room. Both had their backs to the couple. “Hey, none of that now,” Ailean whispered, drawing 21

Accepting His Animal Drake’s attention. “We aren’t doing anything wrong, and we’re certainly not bothering my friends. You should see them when they get going,” he teased, winking largely. That just caused Drake’s blush to deepen. Yup. Definitely inexperience. He’d have to remember that. He kissed his mate lightly one more time before pulling away. “It’s late, and from what you’ve said, it sounds like you have an early class. Get going and I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Okay,” his mate replied breathily. “I’ll, uh…” Drake cleared his throat. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” “Most definitely,” Ailean promised. He watched the three men file out of the room. Grady gave him a nod, telling him without words that he’d find a way to keep an eye on Drake when Ailean wasn’t around. He didn’t know if it was the detective’s way of saying thanks for helping his mate heal from a broken arm a couple weeks ago, or if it was because Drake was essential for finding those who’d hurt Lyle. Either way, he appreciated it. He was busy checking vitals when a knock sounded on the door five minutes later. Opening it, he found Bernice. “No one brought the chart for this man yet. Is it ready,” she asked. Ailean sighed and held up his clipboard. “The detective just left. I’m almost done filling out the paperwork, and I’ll have it to you in fifteen minutes,” he promised. Bernice nodded and turned away, although she did shake her head as she walked down the hall. Sliding a needle into the IV port, he injected Lyle with several CCs of morphine. The man needed to stay asleep for at least a day. He had so many bruises and lacerations, Ailean had great respect for the human, just for the fact that the man had managed to move, let alone escape! He was just finishing the made up file when another knock sounded at the door. A growl of frustration escaped 22

Charlie Richards him. “I told you I’d have it to you soon,” he snarled as he yanked open the door. Declan McIntire smirked back at him. “Oh, really? Weel, forgive me for fogettin’ yer words,” he replied, deepening his Irish lilt just to give him crap. Ailean shook his head. “What is this? Grand Central Station tonight?” He pulled the door open further and motioned the alpha of the Stone Ridge pack into the room. Declan sniffed the room openly before eyeing Lyle’s unconscious form and settling into one of the hard patient chairs. Following the large African American was a second man, a short brunet, who he remembered as Todd something or other, having met him once at a BBQ. He was a wolf shifter who’d been held captive by the same scientists who’d held Lyle. Todd hurried to Lyle’s side, immediately grasping the hand that didn’t have a tube attached. He settled into the chair by the bed and nuzzled Lyle’s cheek with his own, whispering words even Ailean’s sensitive shifter hearing couldn’t catch. He turned to Declan and lifted both brows in silent question. The wolf alpha grimaced. “Ailean, ye remember Todd Abernathy. Lyle is his mate.” When Ailean opened his mouth to express his confusion, Declan held up a hand. “They’ve never actually met, but Todd recognized him the night he was rescued from the scientists. Lyle’s scent is the reason Todd convinced his brother Phillip to stay here with him and join me pack.” The alpha rose and rubbed both palms over his shaved scalp. “He needs to be here,” he murmured to the ceiling. Turning to face Ailean, Declan grimaced. “Even though they’re not mated yet, just his presence will calm Lyle,” he said, entreating with his dark brown eyes. “Please don’t make him go.” Ailean let out a long sigh before grabbing his clipboard. 23

Accepting His Animal “One Todd Abernathy,” he said as he wrote. “Significant Other to Detective Lyle Sullivan,” he added out loud, his gaze shifting between both men. After a shake of his head, Ailean added, “Soft crooning from Todd relaxes volatile patient. Open visitation for Todd allowed.” He huffed a sigh. “You do realize that if anyone finds out, they’ll be sure to have my…” Declan rested a hand on his shoulder. “Yer aide to the pack will not go forgotten,” he said. “Nor will yer friendship to me.” The wolf sighed. “I may not like yer prejudices against humans, but ye’re still me friend. If ye ever need anything, just ask. I have sway with other people.” He gave Ailean a long look. “Aye. Even human others.” Ailean couldn’t stop the surprised grunt. “Thank you, Declan. I never meant any offense.” Declan winked. “I know. It’s just yer way. Sometimes ye just need a reminder that ye have friends.” Nodding deeply, Ailean grinned. “And for that, I’m truly grateful.” He watched Todd softly whisper nonsense words to Lyle for several moments before he turned back to the wolf alpha. “You know, I just met my mate, and he’s human,” he revealed softly. Declan grinned. “No kidding! Congratulations!”

24

Charlie Richards

Chapter Three He couldn’t wrap his mind around what had happened at

the hospital. Not only did Drake get a date, he’d gotten the hottest kiss ever. Not that he really had anything to compare it to, but his dick was still hard from the contact. And he had been able to feel how hard the other man’s cock was, too. That had to mean something, right? Opening the gate, he watched the detective’s car follow him into the community and to his house. He opened his garage and pulled inside. Grady’s car parked in the short driveway behind him. Ducking down, he searched the floor of the garage. He remembered distinctly kicking the gun under his car. Maybe he should have parked in the driveway until he’d found it. “You all right?” Gordon’s confused tone had Drake jerking his head up. “Yeah. I’m just trying to find the gun. I know I kicked it under here. Maybe I should move my car.” He frowned, his gaze sweeping the ground. Grady pulled a small flashlight out of his pocket and swept the beam under Drake’s car. “Sorry, man. It doesn’t look like it’s here. You sure about where you kicked it?” Drake huffed. “I know what I did,” he snapped, letting fatigue again sharpen his tone. “Sorry, Drake. I didn’t mean anything by it.” The big man 25

Accepting His Animal stood and sniffed the air. “Do you live alone?” Frowning, Drake shook his head. “No. I live with my brother, Dagus.” “Do you think he may have picked it up?” “The chances are extremely slim,” he replied. “Maybe I kicked it farther across the garage than I thought,” he mused, walking around the car and searching the other side. With how organized and clean his garage was, there wasn’t anywhere it could be hiding. It just isn’t here. “Is your brother home, Drake?” Grady pressed. “Maybe we should ask him.” “Very well,” he said, sighing in resignation. He turned to the two men and nibbled his lip. “Look, my brother is blind and can be a little sensitive about it. Don’t…” He lifted a hand, uncertain how to request that the men be polite. “Hey, relax,” Gordon soothed. “We’re not about to make any derogatory comments.” Drake cocked his head. “How do you always know what’s bothering me?” The slightly heavy-set man chuckled. “I’m a psychiatrist. I’m good at reading people,” he added with a shrug. “Oh.” Drake unlocked the door and led the way into the condo. He paused just inside the kitchen when he saw Grady sniff again and then exchange looks with Gordon. What was going on? “I’ll see if Dagus is up,” he said. “Drake, is that you?” That answered that question. Drake crossed into the dining room, surprised to find his brother at the table. His gaze swept the room. The laptop was off, and the man had no brail papers spread across the table. “Yeah. It’s me. What’s wrong?” Surprise filled him when Dagus rose from the table and moved straight into his arms. Drake wrapped up his brother, tucking the taller man’s head into the crook of his neck. 26

Charlie Richards “Shhh,” he murmured. “What’s wrong?” he crooned. “What happened?” “Someone was here,” Dagus whispered. “Someone was here?” he asked in surprise. “What do you mean?” It was then that his brother’s trembling registered. He shifted his hands to either side of Dagus’s head and pulled his head back. Staring into his brother’s vacant green eyes, he ordered, “Tell me what happened.” A shudder worked its way through Dagus’s body, alarming Drake further. What on earth? “Someone else was here,” Grady growled. “Weren’t they?” Dagus jerked away. “Who the hell are you?” Reaching for his brother’s tense form, Drake wrapped his arms around the man’s waist to reassure him. “Easy, Dagus. This is Detective Grady Stryker.” “Shit, Drake. Why didn’t you tell me you were running back out so you could bring a date home?” his brother murmured, twisting in his arms to face him. Drake shook his head, knowing the faint breeze it caused would alert Dagus to his movement. “It’s not like that. Grady is a…a friend,” he finished after a second. Dagus caught his slip. He cocked his head for a second before turning and looking right at Gordon. “Who are you?” Gordon’s brows shot up, but the man answered smoothly, “My name is Doctor Gordon Digby. We were on a date when your brother called Grady.” A frown marred Dagus’s dark face for a second, but then his focus switched from Gordon to where Grady had stood directly next to them. “You’re a couple?” Grady chuckled softly from halfway inside the living room. “Yes. Gordon is what you’d call my partner.” The big man watched his brother swing around. He could almost 27

Accepting His Animal hear Dagus’s silent, surprised exclamation. “Yeah. I’m over here. Don’t worry. I haven’t met anyone yet who can hear me move when I don’t want them to.” “What’s going on?” Dagus whispered. Drake wrapped an arm around his brother’s waist as much to support Dagus as needing the contact himself. “I had a problem on the way home from the Fitzgerald building today,” he admitted. “A man hijacked my car.” “Your car!” “Yeah. He had just escaped from people torturing him and needed help. He asked me to find Detective Stryker, which I did, but not before I made a stop at home to access the internet.” Drake explained. “I dropped the man’s gun in my garage before calling the detective and then I took Lyle to the hospital.” “What happened?” Dagus asked. Grady stepped close. “You said there was someone in your house,” he interrupted. “How did you know?” Dagus glared. “I’m blind, not deaf. I heard him!” he roared indignantly. “Easy, brother. He didn’t mean offense,” he crooned. Drake turned his head and glared at the surprised detective. Letting out a sigh, he said, “Look. Evidently, someone in the area is doing something illegal. He’s already attacked one detective, who happened to be Grady’s partner on the force, and now he’s after us. I brought Lyle here, so they stopped by to get the gun.” He grasped Dagus’s shoulders to get the man’s attention. “Unless you’ve been in the garage?” he questioned. “You haven’t been in the garage, have you?” Dagus shook his head, his grip tightening on Drake. “No. I haven’t been out there since last week.” “Okay,” Drake replied, his tone asking his brother to relax. Last week Dagus had gone on a date with an attorney. One he’d met through his book dealings. The man had 28

Charlie Richards wanted more than Dagus had wanted to give on a first date. “I’m sorry to have caused such trouble at our place.” Dagus frowned, reading his guilt through the tone of his words. “What the hell is going on?” he murmured. “Why would someone break into our condo?” Letting out a sigh, Drake deflated. “I got into my car after walking out of a meeting and realized Detective Sullivan had crawled into my back seat,” he admitted. “The detective who was abused crawled into your car?” Dagus asked. “Yeah,” Drake admitted. “He had a gun. He asked me to drive away and find Detective Stryker. Before I did that, I brought him here. Someone must have followed me,” Drake admitted. “ “Wait,” Grady said, drawing their attention. “Why would the guy come into your condo? If he found the gun in the garage, what would draw him inside your place?” Frowning, Drake took several slow deep breaths, trying to remain calm and think. “Do you know which rooms they searched?” he asked his brother. Dagus remained silent for a moment, but Drake watched his brother’s brows scrunch. He knew his brother was thinking back over the sounds he’d heard. He saw the detective open his mouth, but Drake cut him off with a motion of his hand. Finally, Dagus whispered, “The office. He spent at least ten minutes quietly ruffling through your school papers.” “Ah,” Drake murmured. His gaze lifted and shifted between the two near strangers pacing his home, one of them sniffing strangely. “I keep my college paperwork in the office, but if someone didn’t know that, they may think it had to do with my scientific research for the Crystal Lake Corporation.” He watched Grady’s jaw clench for several seconds and 29

Accepting His Animal exchange a look with Doctor Digby. “Pack a bag. You’re both coming with us. It’s not safe here anymore.” “What? Why?” Drake squeaked. “Because they know that you helped Detective Sullivan escape. That means you’re on their radar,” Grady explained. Drake frowned. “Who’s radar? What are you talking about?” “Look,” Grady said, softly. “I’ve been searching for information on this company for the last month. Two weeks ago, they kidnapped my partner. They run illegal drugs and are housed right here in Colin City. You helped Lyle escape. You confirmed the name of the corporation involved. You’re now an enemy.” As he looked between them, realization dawned. Somehow, he’d allowed himself to be hired by drug dealers. Just another example of how burying his nose under a microscope made him naïve to the ways of the world. “I…I didn’t know,” he whispered. He wrapped his arms back around Dagus and pulled his brother close. “I’m so sorry.” “Hey. Easy now,” Gordon soothed. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know.” He wrapped his hands around Drake’s shoulders and kneaded them gently. “Let’s get you and your brother to safety. We’ll all get some sleep, and then tomorrow, we’ll go from there. Okay?” He felt his breathing stutter, and a sudden desire to call Ailean filled him. Shoot! Where did that come from? As if the doctor wanted anything to do with his problems! After taking a deep breath to relax his scattered senses, Drake nodded. “Yeah. Let me pack a couple bags.” Another thought occurred to him. “What about my classes tomorrow?” Grady shook his head. “Sorry, Drake. Give me a couple days to figure out if you’re really at risk, then we’ll talk about you going back to teaching.” 30

Charlie Richards Drake wanted to scream. With one stupid mistake, giving in to his desire to do research again, he’d turned his and his brother’s lives upside down. He hadn’t needed the money, and he hadn’t really had the time either, but he’d so wanted the chance to prove that his theories were viable to the scientific community. Why couldn’t I just leave well enough alone? Fighting back tears, he gently led Dagus back to the table and settled him into a chair. “Stay here. I’ll be back in a moment.” He hurried into his bedroom, catching snippets of Grady’s conversation to someone named Declan as he passed through the living room. Ten minutes later, he’d called in to work, claiming an illness his queasy stomach actually justified, and now bundled Dagus into his coat and settled him into the front seat of his car. He eased his vehicle out of the driveway, making certain he shut the garage, and then followed Grady and Gordon’s truck out of the complex and then out of Colin City. “Where are we going?” Dagus asked quietly. Drake reached over and gripped his brother’s hand. “I’m not certain, but don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you,” he promised. Forty minutes later, he followed Grady down a long, winding, gravel driveway and parked in front of a large lodge. Two stories high with stone trim around the base and windows, Drake couldn’t believe that something this gorgeous was hidden this deep in the forest. The passenger door squeaked, alerting Drake that Dagus was on the move. “Where are we?” “I’m not sure,” he admitted, rushing to his brother’s side. “Here comes Detective Stryker. I’m sure he’ll let us know.” Wrapping his arm around Dagus’s waist, he watched Grady wave, motioning him to stay put for the time being as 31

Accepting His Animal he headed toward the door. Gordon stopped close to them. “Relax,” the doctor told him. “Declan told us he was at the hospital and Lark was on his way home from work. We just need to be certain one of them arrived home.” “Oh. Who are they?” he asked as he watched Grady knock heavily on the door. Gordon smiled. “Declan is the local head of the park rangers. Lark is a doctor at Cedar Creek Memorial. They’re both good men. You’ll be safe here.” Drake could hear the respect in Gordon’s voice, which impressed him. It also surprised him that so many gay men were in such open relationships. He wouldn’t have thought that, considering the rural area. Maybe they were only open about their relationship in front of other men they knew to be gay. The door opening caught his attention, the shaft of light from the doorway illuminating the face of a short, blond man. Drake couldn’t keep his brows from lifting as he watched the man speak quietly with Grady. The blond had short, spiky hair, obviously colored, and sported a lithe, muscular frame. All in all, Drake would classify the man as an incredibly cute twink. Of course, he’d never say that to his host’s face. He may not be too good in social situations, but he knew it wouldn’t be polite to say that for fear of insult. Seconds later, Grady gave a shout, drawing their attention and motioning them forward. His arm still around his brother, Drake encouraged Dagus forward while telling him there were three steps. Once within the circle of light, he got his first good look at one of his hosts, and there was no mistaking the man’s sexuality. The man screamed gay from every pore of his eye-linered and lip-glossed face. But he pulled the look off well! The man reached a hand out. Drake took it automatically 32

Charlie Richards and returned the man’s surprisingly firm grip. “Hey. I’m Lark. I understand you’ve had some trouble with Grady’s scientists. Come on in and make yourself at home.” “Thank you. This is my brother, Dagus. He’s blind, so if you could show us to our rooms, I’d like to take a few minutes to give him the layout. Then I’ll get our things and settle him for the night.” He wasn’t usually so forward, but he had to think of his brother’s comfort. Lark’s eyes widened slightly, before he motioned them inside the lodge. “Of course. Look around. Take your time. Count out steps if you need to. Whatever’s necessary.” Drake nodded. “Thank you.” It surprised him that the man seemed to understand his brother’s needs, but he didn’t question it. He followed Lark through the house to a staircase. He told his brother that there were sixteen stairs, and then Lark pointed at the doors. “The first door on the right is mine and Declan’s daughter’s room, Sara. She’s a heavy sleeper, but please still try to keep it down,” he murmured. “Your rooms are the first and second on the left.” His blue eyes warmed as he smiled at them. “Take your time deciding. I’ll have Grady bring your things to the top of the stairs.” He pointed at another door. “The second door on the right is a bathroom. I’m afraid you’ll have to share it with Sara, but it’s the school season, so she’ll be done with it by seven most mornings. She has to be at school by eight-ten and Declan normally drives her.” He patted Drake’s shoulder gently. “Take your time. We’ll be in the front room. Just join us when you’re ready, okay?” Drake nodded, though he didn’t know why he agreed. It was already after midnight, and all he really wanted to do was go to sleep. Fifteen minutes later, both he and Dagus wore sleep pants 33

Accepting His Animal and t-shirts. Drake had explained the layout of the top floor, stairway, kitchen, and dining room to his brother, and now the other man slept, he hoped peacefully. Drake paused in the doorway, verifying that his brother’s breaths came slow and even, before he headed down toward the front room. He stopped in the doorway, listening to a stranger’s Irish lilt mutter, “Ah, love. Of course I won’t give them a hard time. I only want to…” He held his breath as the man stopped talking. A soft murmur of voices he couldn’t make out sounded before the Irish accented voice called, “Come in, Drake. I know ye’re in the doorway, so ye’d best come into the room.” Hearing the amusement in the man’s voice did far more to set Drake’s mind at ease than the man’s earlier words. He stepped into the room and tried to hide his shock. Lark’s small frame was curled up on the lap of a massive black man, his skin far darker than Drake’s own brown skin. The man’s broad shoulders and muscular arms held Lark close to his chest. Drake wondered what that would feel like, to be held, but he imagined lightly bronzed arms, honey-brown eyes, and thick black hair. Deep brown eyes pinned him in place for several long seconds before a smile curved the African American’s lips. “Come in, Drake. I won’t keep ye long. It’s late, and we all should be to bed soon. I just wanted to introduce meself and let ye know mine and Lark’s schedules.” Drake nodded, easing into a large leather chair that quickly swallowed his skinny frame. He curled his feet under him and tried not to pick at a loose thread on his pants. “Thank you for taking us in on such short notice,” he murmured. “Yer welcome. Now why don’t ye tell me how we can make ye and Dagus’s stay more comfortable? Does yer 34

Charlie Richards brother have any special needs we should be aware of?” Drake smiled slightly, pleased by the man’s surprising consideration.

35

Accepting His Animal

Chapter Four Ailean

turned his Audi A6 into the heavily wooded driveway, his headlights bouncing as he carefully navigated the potholes caused by last winter’s snow. He managed to avoid most of them, remembering their location after a BBQ he’d attended nearly three weeks ago. It hadn’t been long after that that Lyle had been kidnapped. He thought of his patient, still sleeping in the hospital. He’d given him a mild sedative to keep him asleep while healing, letting Todd know that it’d be at least three days before he’d allow Lyle to wake. With all the chemicals floating in the man’s blood, it’d be far easier for him to go through detox while unconscious. He felt for the small wolf shifter. He couldn’t imagine the pain Todd went through, even though technically the man hadn’t met Lyle yet. If Ailean had stumbled across Drake’s prone form in the hospital, he’d do exactly as Todd did. He’d camp out in his mate’s room until he woke. As it was, that was pretty much exactly what he planned. Knowing his mate was in danger, Ailean couldn’t stay away from him. After parking the car, he grabbed his overnight bag and hurried to the door. The bell wasn’t even halfway through its chimes when someone pulled it open. He grimaced up at Declan. “Hey,” he murmured. “How is he?” The big man motioned him inside, not speaking until the 36

Charlie Richards door clicked shut behind Ailean. “Yer mate is fine,” Declan assured. “They’re upstairs, the first and second door on the left. I’m not sure which room Drake is in,” he admitted, shrugging. “When I spoke to him, it’s not like I could ask which room he’d put his brother in, aye?” “His brother?” Ailean hadn’t known anyone else had joined Drake at Declan’s home. “Aye,” Declan replied, sounding amused. “Although I’ve not met him, Lark told me that Drake’s brother, Dagus, is upstairs as well. He’s a blind author, from what Drake says.” The alpha gave him a cheeky grin. “Be careful when ye enter a room, I wouldn’t want to have to slice ye open for hittin’ on Sara.” Ailean chuckled softly, following Declan toward the stairs. “Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to sniff the room before I enter,” he assured. Sobering, he leveled an even stare at the alpha wolf. “Thank you for taking in my mate. I know you didn’t have to.” Declan shook his head, rolling his eyes in the process. “Ah, Ailean. Still ye don’t understand. Ye may not be pack, but I still consider ye family. So if he’s yer mate, I’ll do everything in me power to protect him.” Nodding, he smiled warmly. “And for that I thank you.” “What are friends for,” Declan stated, slapping him on the shoulder. The blow sent him forward a step, and he grunted in amusement. “Fair enough.” He followed the big man’s pointed finger and headed up the stairs, keeping his tread light. He sniffed at the first door on the left, and although he smelled his mate, he smelled someone else, too. A darker, muskier scent than the light sweetness he recognized as Drake. Moving on, he inhaled deeply at the second door and nearly groaned. My mate smells so damn good! The idea that every shifter probably felt that way about their mate made 37

Accepting His Animal him grin. He carefully slipped into the room, setting his bag down on the floor near the foot of the bed. He allowed his eyes to change to his cat, giving him nearly perfect vision in the dark, and stared at Drake. His mate wore a white t-shirt that contrasted sharply with his mocha skin. His dark hair was cropped close to his scalp and Ailean barely resisted the urge to rub his palm over it and feel if it was soft or rough. Drake had kicked the covers off, displaying dark blue pants and bare feet. After changing into comfortable shorts and a t-shirt, he settled into a chair to stop himself from crawling into bed with his mate. He didn’t know how the other man would react to that since they’d just met and didn’t want to scare the human. He must have dozed off, for he was startled awake by a squeak and a whimper. Frowning, Ailean looked for the source of the sound and realized his mate appeared to be in the throes of a rather unpleasant dream. With everything that had happened to the man in the last twelve hours, it didn’t surprise him. When Drake began to thrash, Ailean moved to the bed. Sitting on the edge, he rested a hand on Drake’s arm and gave him a gentle shake. “Wake up, little mate,” he crooned. “It’s only a dream.” Drake jerked from his grip, his eyes snapping open. He glanced around the room in confusion for several seconds before his focus returned to him. “Ailean? What are you doing here?” Ailean smiled at his confused mate. “Declan told me that you and your brother were coming here for safety. I wanted to make sure you were okay, so after my shift ended, I came here.” “But why?” 38

Charlie Richards He stretched out on the bed and propped his head on his hand, pleased when Drake didn’t put any additional space between them. Now how to explain to a human? “I like you, Drake. Your well-being is important to me. I want to get to know you better.” “In the middle of the night?” he asked, cocking his head in confusion. Chuckling, Ailean eased his free hand up to Drake’s face and cupped his jaw. “Well, I knew you wouldn’t be available for lunch tomorrow, so I figured I’d just sleep here and see you in the morning.” He leaned forward, noting the hitch in his mate’s breathing as he slowly closed the distance between them. “Waking up in the middle of the night was just a bonus,” he whispered against Drake’s lips before brushing them gently with his own. Drake let out a soft whimper that heated Ailean’s blood. The scent of his mate’s arousal spiked, and Ailean’s dick became so hard so fast he groaned. He licked the seam of his mate’s mouth, begging for entry. Drake granted it, opening for him. Plunging his tongue inside, he tasted mint toothpaste and the heady essence of Drake. Using his hand to tilt Drake’s head, he deepened the kiss, licking, nipping, and sucking, unable to get enough of his mate’s taste. Ailean shifted closer, settling Drake back into the pillows and half sprawled over the smaller man. He inserted a knee in between Drake’s legs and pressed his thigh against his mate’s straining erection. Drake bucked against him. Ailean caught the strangled cry erupting from his mate’s throat as he stiffened, then began to tremble. Wet heat spread against Ailean’s thigh and the salty scent of seed filled his senses. Shock rocked him as he realized his mate had just come. Ailean eased the kiss to an end and lifted his head to stare down at his flushed, trembling mate. The blitzed out 39

Accepting His Animal expression on Drake’s face was truly the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. Suddenly, as if realizing what he’d just done, Drake gasped, clamped his eyes shut and turned his head away. He tightened his grip on Drake’s neck, forcing him to turn back to face him, but his mate kept his eyes tightly squeezed shut. “Hey, now,” he murmured, placing a gentle kiss on each of Drake’s eyes. He tasted the salty wetness of tears and worry slammed into him. How could he have missed it? He’d bet his home, his one and only sanctuary, that his mate wasn’t just inexperienced, he must have no experience whatsoever. He kissed Drake’s lips. “Look at me, little mate,” he ordered softly. “There’s no need to be embarrassed.” “I’m so sorry,” Drake groaned out. “I didn’t mean to come like that. It just felt so good. I’ve never…” And there was his confirmation, and damn, if that just didn’t set Ailean’s blood on fire. He’d be his mate’s first and only. “Shush, Drake,” he whispered. “I love that you respond like that to my touch,” he admitted. That finally got Drake to open his eyes and stare hesitantly up at him. “You do?” He grinned down at him. “Hell, yeah, baby. You’re the sexiest fucking man I’ve ever seen.” Disbelief flashed over his mate’s features and he frowned. “No, I’m not.” “Yes, you are,” Ailean countered. When he saw Drake open his mouth, he frowned. “Don’t argue, little mate. I say you are, so you are.” Before the man could come up with a reply, Ailean continued. “Now, let’s get you out of these pants. I know from experience that dried cum is anything but comfortable.” A fresh tint of red colored his mate’s cheeks and neck, and Ailean knew that it wasn’t from pleasure this time. Ailean 40

Charlie Richards grinned. His little mate really was too adorable. Before Drake could offer a protest, Ailean whipped his shirt over his head and then slithered down the bed and worked his mate’s pants down his hips and legs, tossing the pants onto the floor. He took in the white cream clumping the black pubic hair and Drake’s semi-erect cock lying on his stomach, also glistening with the evidence of his release. Drake’s hands moved to cover himself, but Ailean grabbed his wrists and pinned them to the bed on either side of his hips. “Oh, no, little mate. None of that with me.” Settling between his mate’s legs, he swiped his tongue along Drake’s shaft, collecting as much semen as possible. He hummed in appreciation at the salty taste and got to work cleaning up his mate, enjoying the man’s gasps and groans. By the time Ailean had finished, his mate’s cock once again stood at attention. Grinning at his mate’s fantastic recovery time, he quickly shimmied out of his own clothes and crawled up Drake’s body. He settled his straining erection against his human’s, sliding easily against each other through his saliva. Resting on his elbows, he looked down into Drake’s dazed expression. “So sexy,” he murmured, thrusting his hips, grinding them together. Drake moaned and bucked against him, creating wonderful friction that sent tingles of pleasure spreading from Ailean’s dick, up his spine and down his legs. “Never felt anything like this,” Drake whispered. “It only gets better,” Ailean promised. He reached down and wrapped one hand around both their dicks, giving them a tight tunnel to push through as they rutted against each other. Drake let out a ragged groan, his head thrashing, his body almost vibrating beneath him. It was the most erotic sight Ailean had ever seen and it almost 41

Accepting His Animal made him come just watching his mate’s enjoyment. Drake’s fingers dug into Ailean’s shoulders as he rocked against him. He lowered his head and nibbled the sensitive flesh behind one of the man’s ears. Feeling his mate’s body tense beneath him, he turned his head and latched onto Drake’s lips, swallowing the man’s cry of ecstasy as he came apart beneath him. The smell and feel of Drake’s pulsing shaft against his own pushed Ailean over the edge, and he buried his face in the crook of Drake’s neck, fighting the urge to sink his teeth into his mate. His body tensed as tingles raced down his spine and out of his cock, stream after stream of seed mixing with Drake’s. When he managed to regain a semblance of his breathing, he reached over the side of the bed and snagged his t-shirt. He cleaned the cum from himself and Drake before settling next to the nearly comatose man. Pulling his mate’s back to his chest, Ailean spooned around him, a contented smile curving his features as he followed Drake into sleep.

42

Charlie Richards

Chapter Five

D

rake slowly swam to wakefulness, snuggling into the heat behind him and stretching his toes. Feeling the arm tightening around his waist and the lips gently kissing the back of his neck, he tensed. What the heck? “Easy, little mate,” a sleep roughened voice murmured. The voice triggered memories of the night before, reminding him of how the man had made him come with almost no stimulation. He remembered how it’d felt for the handsome doctor’s tongue to scrape across his dick and balls and a shiver worked down his spine. Renewed heat settled in his groin, making his cock quickly fill. Oh, no! A low chuckle sounded behind him and the arm around his waist moved. A big hand stroked across his stomach to toy with the tight curls surrounding his shaft. Drake mewled as sparks shot down his legs, making his toes tingle. He shifted restlessly, unable to keep still. But then he felt the hard dick against his butt, and that made him freeze. Ailean growled softly into his ear and rubbed against him again. Suddenly, an arm snaked under his side and around his chest. The one that had been playing with his pubes gripped his hips, and he found himself being rolled backwards to lie on top of Ailean, his back still to the bigger man’s chest. Ailean hooked his ankles and spread Drake’s legs before 43

Accepting His Animal inserting his knees between his legs and pulling them even further apart, making them fall over the outsides of Ailean’s legs. A hard shaft bumped against his balls, before sliding along the underside of his own, and he gasped. “What are you doing?” he whispered. With his legs splayed and lying on top of the man with his shaft pointing straight into the air, he’d never felt more exposed. “Just taking care of you, my little mate,” Ailean growled into his neck. He felt sharp teeth scrape over his collar bone, sending tingles up and down his spine. The hand left his hip and gripped both their shafts in a tight fist. It felt similar to last night, except better, because now the other man’s dick rubbed against his balls every time he moved. “Oh, Ailean,” he groaned, pushing his butt down against the other man’s pelvis. “That’s it, Drake,” Ailean crooned. “Take what you need.” With one hand, Drake gripped the large arm around his chest and then used the other to reach back and grab Ailean’s hip. He planted his feet on either side of the man’s thighs and began to grind as hard as he could down onto Ailean’s cock, gasping when it slid between his cheeks and the smooth flesh rubbed over his hole. Before he could assimilate the sensations, Ailean bucked up and down against him, sliding along his hole, balls, and shaft with each stroke. Drake’s head dropped back on Ailean’s shoulder, his body instinctively pushing back against the other man. Heat blossomed through his abdomen, chest, and thighs. His balls pulled tight and tingles raced up and down his spine. “Gonna…gonna…” “Yes, little mate. Come for me.” The words whispered against the back of his neck sent 44

Charlie Richards shivers of air across the hairs there. His body couldn’t handle any more stimulation and an explosive orgasm wrenched through him. Wave after wave of cum exploded from his cock, landing on his abs and chest, as his body bucked spastically, and Drake opened his mouth in a silent scream. The shuddering of the body beneath him a moment later told Drake that his lover had gotten off as well. Lover? Oh, wow! I have a lover! He smiled and sighed, as a fresh wave of happiness rolled over him. “Mmmm.” Ailean nuzzled his neck gently. “Very nice.” He had no way to respond to that. He’d never woken with another before now, well, except for his brother when they were younger and Dagus had had nightmares. “Just relax, little mate,” the man holding him said as he shifted Drake off his chest and to the side. Ailean rolled over until he was draped over him and gazed down at him with a pleased look on his face. “There are so many things I’d like to teach you.” His smile turned speculative. “And I have so many things to share with you.” Before he could think of a suitable way to respond, his stomach grumbled, reminding him that with all the excitement last night, he hadn’t eaten since noon the day before. Ailean chuckled. “Let’s enjoy a shower, and then we’ll find something to eat.” “Okay,” Drake whispered, finally finding his voice. He started to rise, but then it occurred to him that he was naked, and except for doctor visits, he’d never allowed anyone to see him naked before. Well, again except his brother, but he didn’t count because he couldn’t actually see him, right? Ailean had no such hang-up. He rolled out of bed and crossed to his bag, pulling out a smaller case before turning to look at him. Drake sucked in a breath. It was no wonder the man wasn’t shy! He had lickable bronze-covered abs, 45

Accepting His Animal nicely toned arms, muscular legs, and a sexy-fine smattering of chest hair that tapered down to a treasure trail extending to his half-hard dick. He realized the man didn’t have a tan line on him, so it was either natural or the man sunbathed in the nude. He finally managed to get his gaze to rise back to Ailean’s face. He gasped at the heat and lust glowing in the bigger man’s brown eyes. Ailean grinned. “You can’t look at me like that and expect me not to act,” he growled, prowling forward. Drake squealed when Ailean ripped the blanket from his grip and picked him up in his arms. “Relax, my mate,” the man laughed. “We’ll just shower this morning. I’m hungry, too.” Ailean made sure the hall was empty, and seconds later, Drake found himself showering with a man other than his brother for the first time in his life. So many firsts with Ailean! What else can I expect? It was a good thing he had mocha skin, otherwise the blush burning just under the surface would turn his face into a furnace. Fortunately, Ailean kept the shower quick and utilitarian, even with the occasional kiss as he cleaned him. Ailean stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel, and held it up for Drake. “Come on, baby,” he encouraged. Drake screwed up his courage and stepped out from behind the opaque glass. A pleased smile creased his lover’s face. He knew Ailean must have realized his innocence last night. How could he not? So the fact that he’d managed to please the man, even a little, put a shy smile on Drake’s face. “Ah, now that is a gorgeous sight,” Ailean murmured, pulling Drake’s towel-wrapped form into his arms. Gently, he sealed their lips together. When Ailean’s tongue slipped out and brushed against his lips, Drake happily opened for him. The man tasted of dark masculine flavors and 46

Charlie Richards sensuality, if sensuality had a taste, Drake decided. Either way, he couldn’t get enough. He moaned softly, pressing his body against the other man and wrapping his arms around Ailean’s neck. The friction against the soft towel combined with the kissing had his shaft quickly filling. Ailean’s hands gripped Drake’s butt and squeezed gently. The man plundered his mouth. There could be no other way to say it. The growl surprised him almost as much as the world spinning. Suddenly, Drake found himself sitting on the sink, the towel thrust aside, and Ailean settled between his legs. “Oh, fuck, you are such a sexy little piece,” Ailean groaned, pulling back for just a second to look down their bodies. “I can’t get enough of your taste.” The drops still clinging to Ailean plastered them together and provided a bit of slickness for their aligned dicks. “Ailean,” Drake moaned. “Mmm, my name on your lips is the sweetest damn sound,” he whispered against his lips. “I want to sink my cock into you, little mate. I want to feel you squeeze me. I’ll fill you so full of my seed you’ll know that you belong to me.” The man’s possessive words and actions sent a wave of heady desire through Drake. Why the man wanted a skinny geek like him, he didn’t know, but he planned to enjoy the handsome man for as long as possible. He didn’t delude himself into thinking that the man could fall in love with him, but there was certainly plenty he could learn from him. “Ah, you’re thinking too much, sweetie,” Ailean crooned. “Don’t worry. When I take you, I’ll make certain you’re more than ready.” Drake’s gaze snapped to find Ailean staring at him with quiet compassion, and he realized he should have said 47

Accepting His Animal something. He lifted his hand to Ailean’s face, tracing the man’s features. “I look forward to it,” he whispered. Ailean smiled. “Good.” He carefully wrapped the towel back around him. “Let’s get dressed, and we’ll head downstairs. I’m ready for breakfast,” he murmured, pressing another quick kiss to Drake’s lips. He felt a bit disappointed, and Drake must have done something to alert the man, but he wasn’t sure what. Ailean cupped his cheek and smiled. “Soon, my little mate,” he promised. That contact alone made Drake want to shiver. He forced the reaction back, instead nuzzling into the man’s palm for a moment, impressed with how he could smell Ailean’s skin, masculine and musky, even through the soap of the shower. Breaking the contact, he slipped off the sink and peeked into the hall before heading into the bedroom. He glanced over his shoulder and said, “Come on. I’m starved, and I need to make certain Dagus made it downstairs all right.” Thoughts of his brother made him blush. What if Dagus had heard them last night? He couldn’t remember if they’d been quiet. “Yes, I look forward to meeting your family. Is it just you and your brother?” Ailean asked. He wants to meet my family? Why? We’ve just met. Keeping his focus on dressing, he replied, “No. I have a sister, Doriah, who lives in Denver.” He saw the amusement light the man’s eyes and blushed. “Yeah, my father had a thing for D names. I never understood it,” he muttered. “Anyway, my mother is in a nursing home in Denver. She suffers from Alzheimer’s.” He paused, holding his shirt to his chest like a shield as he thought of his mother. It had been six months since he’d seen her between semesters, and she hadn’t remembered him. Arms wrapped his arms around him from behind, and he 48

Charlie Richards settled into Ailean’s comforting embrace as if they’d done it a thousand times. “I’m sorry, little mate. I didn’t mean to bring up a painful subject.” Drake tilted his head, allowing his lover to nuzzle his neck. “It is what it is. She’s so far gone now that she doesn’t remember any of us. Doriah stays out of loyalty and because her boyfriend is there.” “Ah.” They remained quiet, Ailean holding him for several more minutes, until Drake’s stomach growled again. Ailean chuckled. “Finish up,” he ordered gently, pressing one more soft kiss to the side of Drake’s neck. Drake bit back a sigh as he pulled his shirt over his head. He could get used to Ailean’s affection way too quickly, and that probably wasn’t a good thing. Pushing the unproductive thoughts from his mind, he allowed Ailean to lead him from the room. He paused in the hall, knocking gently on Dagus’s door. When he didn’t receive an answer, he opened the door several inches and poked his head in. The room was empty. Guilt swamped him. He should have been there to help his brother instead of allowing a virtual stranger to— He blushed. When had he become such a slut? Or was it just because no one had ever expressed such an interest in him? He decided it was neither. Ailean made him feel safe, comfortable, and he was hot as Hades. Okay, so maybe a combination of slut and the situation, he decided, giggling internally. Heading downstairs, Drake followed the enticing aromas of food into the dining room. They found a cute, dark haired girl seated at the table with Dagus, jabbering away at him as they ate their breakfast. Drake eyed the spread of food on the table, his mouth salivating as he took in the platters of scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, biscuits, gravy, sausage, 49

Accepting His Animal bacon, and toast. His stomach growled again. Dagus cocked his head and held up a hand to silence the girl. “Good morning, Drake. Glad you could join us.” Drake blushed. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept in until seven in the morning, and to not actually get moving until seven-thirty? Well, he blamed it on the man behind him. “This is Sara McIntire, Declan and Lark’s daughter.” Dagus smirked knowingly. “Who’s that with you?” “I’m Ailean Carmichael,” the doctor stated, stepping forward. “It’s good to meet you, Dagus.” He turned to the small teenager. “And it’s good to see you again, Sara. You’re not getting into too much mischief, I trust?” “No, Doctor Carmichael,” she replied, smiling impishly. “I’m too busy with school and training to get into trouble.” Drake grabbed a plate and began filling it. “What are you training for?” He thought her a bit young to have chosen a career, but what did he know about kids? “My dad is helping me smooth out my shift transitions,” she replied. Drake glanced at his brother whose lifted brow told him Dagus didn’t understand any better than he did. Ailean squeezed his shoulder and whispered, “I’ll explain later. It’s one of many things I’d like the opportunity to talk to you about.” Sara’s eyes widened in dismay. “Oh, no. I’m so sorry, Doctor Carmichael. They’re staying with us, so I didn’t realize.” Ailean tapped the girl’s hand with a forefinger. “Think nothing of it, sweetie. It’s just something I haven’t explained to my little mate yet.” She bit her lip and nodded, returning her attention to her food in silence. Drake admitted his curiosity was peaked, but from the looks that passed between the two, he knew he 50

Charlie Richards wouldn’t get more information at the moment. He’d just have to ask Ailean another time. “Little mate?” Dagus whispered, leaning close to Drake. “What does that mean?” He waited expectantly, munching on a piece of bacon. Drake wondered who’d helped his brother with the food, and more guilt flooded him. It was his job to help Dagus. “Little mate is a term of endearment I use for your brother, Dagus,” Ailean answered the question for him. “I’m your brother’s boyfriend.” “Since when?” Dagus snapped incredulously. “How long have you known my brother? When did you start dating?” Dagus pinned his senses on Ailean, his dark brows drawn into a frown. Drake shook his head and grabbed Dagus’s hand. Drake may be the younger brother and worked hard to care for Dagus due to his differences, but that didn’t mean Dagus couldn’t go all protective on him, like now. “We met yesterday,” he admitted. “And he spent the night—” “Can we discuss this another time, Dagus?” Drake asked sharply, cutting his brother off. “Maybe when we’re alone?” Dagus frowned. “Fine,” he snapped. “But don’t think this is over.” To Drake’s immense relief, Dagus quieted, refocusing on his food. Drake did the same. He scooped heaps of eggs onto his toast, relishing their fluffiness mixed with the crunch of the buttered bread. The potatoes had just the right amount of crispiness. And the bacon, oh how wonderful! He moaned his appreciation. Ailean chuckled, drawing Drake’s attention to the heat in the bigger man’s eyes. He fought back another blush and focused back on his plate. A rough finger traced his jaw, bringing his head up to meet Ailean’s look. “Just when was the last time you ate breakfast, hmm?” 51

Accepting His Animal Drake shrugged. “I don’t know. I never have time.” “Twenty-seven days,” Dagus said dryly. “And that was only because you were sick and I made it for you and insisted you eat it.” Drake jerked away from Ailean to look at his brother. “How do you remember that?” Dagus smirked. “How do you remember those formulas?” “Huh,” Drake conceded. “I see your point.” “Well, either way, we’ll have to do something to change that,” Ailean cut in with a smile. “I’m a doctor, and I remind you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” “Good luck,” Dagus snorted. “If it’s not related to a cryptid or genetics, it’s not going to be a priority.” “Hey! That’s not true,” Drake replied indignantly. Ailean settled a hand on his thigh under the table. “Easy now,” he all but purred into Drake’s ear. “No fighting at the breakfast table. Later I want to hear all about your research, but Detective Stryker will be here in fifteen minutes, so let’s finish up, hmm?” Declan walked into the room, stalling any more conversation. “Good morning, gentlemen,” he said while snagging a slice of bacon. “Are ye ready to go, Sara?” “Almost, Papa,” she answered, pushing from the table and taking her plate to the sink.

52

Charlie Richards

Chapter Six Ailean

followed Drake and Grady out of the house. He knew his mate felt guilty for leaving Dagus at a stranger’s, but Lark had the morning off and promised to help him get his computer and braille printer set up so he could spend some time writing. Besides, there was little point taking the brother with them when he could do little to help. Guiding Drake to his Audi, Ailean settled him into the seat and gave him a quick kiss before rounding to the driver’s side. “We’ll lead the way,” he told Grady. The big detective nodded. “The Fitzgerald building first, I need to know where Drake picked up Lyle.” He nodded, not liking the fact that his mate had to return to that place one last time. He’d much rather keep Drake far away from anyone with guns. Humans were so damn fragile. Ailean climbed into his car and started it. He smiled quickly at Drake, still struggling with the knowledge that Fate saddled him with a human mate. Sara had given him a fantastic opening to explain shifters to the professor, but Ailean hadn’t been able to do it. He didn’t know enough about the man yet. Trust didn’t come easy to him, and no matter how much he was sexually drawn to the man, he wasn’t ready to give it to Drake yet. After receiving instructions to the area of Colin where the business complex resided, they lapsed into a companionable 53

Accepting His Animal silence. He rested his hand on Drake’s leg, enjoying the feel of the muscles under his palm. Drake sighed and rested his head against the headrest and stared out the window. It took forty minutes, but eventually Drake snapped his head up and looked around. “We’re close,” he whispered. Ailean could scent the waves of tension and fear rolling off his mate. He wanted to turn the vehicle around, take him to his home, and tuck him away from anything dangerous. But since he couldn’t, he said, “Easy, little mate. We only need to stay a few minutes, just long enough to show Grady where you found Lyle.” Drake smiled, and the effect on Ailean’s cock was immediate. It filled swiftly, pushing against the confines of his slacks. Getting off with his mate had been nice, but it didn’t ease the ache caused by his desire to actually claim the man. He’d heard how some of the wolves had dated their human mates before claiming them. Ailean hoped he didn’t have to do that, because he didn’t know if he could be patient. “Here’s the turn,” Drake said, drawing his attention. He turned the car onto a side street, checking the rearview mirror to be sure the detective still followed. The tiger shifter turned his truck behind them, following closely. “Which one?” he asked, looking over the many office buildings. “It’s that one.” Nodding, his gaze swept over the structure his mate pointed at for a few seconds. It looked like a standard, modern office building with steel and glass construction. Ailean turned his car into the parking lot across from it. At Drake’s questioning look, he smiled grimly. “Sorry, little mate. I don’t want you getting too close to them.” Drake nodded. “Me neither.” Grady parked next to them and climbed from his vehicle. “This the place?” he asked, after they all stood together. 54

Charlie Richards “It’s that one,” Drake said, pointing. “That’s the building where I meet my contractors and other scientists.” Nodding, Grady surveyed the area, his hands on his hips. “Well, considering the state you found him in, I can’t imagine he came from very far.” Ailean agreed. “What are you going to do?” “Come back tonight with Carson.” He grinned coldly. “He got back from Georgia yesterday, so we’ll see what we can sniff out.” “Who’s Carson,” Drake asked curiously. Grady spared him a glance before refocusing on the buildings around them. “A friend.” “Another officer?” Ailean chuckled. His little mate really was too curious for his own good. He sobered and exchanged a glance with Grady. He had to tell him something or his mate wouldn’t stop asking questions. “Some of the authorities are compromised,” Ailean revealed. “Not all of them can be trusted, that’s why Lyle asked specifically for Grady, and why Grady asked you to bring him to me. Carson is a military trained friend who is helping us figure out how bad the situation really is.” Drake’s brows lifted, his pretty brown eyes rounding. “What can I do to help?” “Nothing,” Ailean replied quickly. “You’ve done enough. The detective will take it from here.” He turned to Grady. “Do you need anything more from us?” His mate’s scent was driving him nuts. He needed to get the man alone. Grady’s gaze snapped to his, and he smirked. “Not for now. Where can I find Drake should I need to question him later?” “I’m scheduled at the hospital at three this afternoon. I’ll take him back to Declan’s before then.” He hated the idea of leaving his mate at the wolf’s house, but he didn’t want 55

Accepting His Animal Drake to be alone in Colin City until he knew he was safe. Nodding, Grady turned and headed to his truck. “Got it. See you later.” “Get in,” he said, opening the door for his mate. “Where are we going?” Drake asked. He grabbed Drake’s arm before he could climb into his car and pulled him close. “My place,” Ailean whispered before claiming his lips. He delved his tongue into Drake’s mouth, licking his gums and tangling their tongues. His mate’s mewls of pleasure and the way he pressed his body close, as if trying to meld them together, enflamed Ailean’s desire to a near fever pitch. When the need for air became paramount, he broke the kiss and grinned at Drake. “To do a little more of that.” “Okay,” Drake panted. The chuckle behind him had Ailean releasing Drake and ushering him into his seat. After closing the door, he glared over his shoulder at Grady. The man stood with his hands on his hips, not looking at him, so Ailean rounded the car. Before he opened the door, Grady called, “It’s nice to see you this…happy.” “I’ll be happy after I claim him,” he snapped back. “There’s a lot to talk about first. He is human, after all.” Grady finally turned his head and looked him in the eye. “Do you think you can handle that?” He growled in irritation. “Of course I can. He’s my mate.” Grady’s eyes narrowed slightly and the man frowned. “I hope so.” When he turned away and climbed into his truck, Ailean growled low in his throat. So what if he’d kept clear of any long term entanglements with humans for nearly eighty years. This was his mate. Of course he’d make it work. Ailean opened the door and climbed into the car. Drake looked at him. “Everything okay?” he asked. 56

Charlie Richards Forcing a smile, Ailean nodded. “Of course.” He leaned over and gave Drake a quick peck. “Let’s get out of here.” Another thirty minutes of driving, Ailean checking his rearview mirror often during that time, and he pulled into his home’s driveway, a single story, three-bedroom house that Ailean used for his sanctuary. He hadn’t brought anyone here since he’d moved in a year and a half ago. Whenever he’d wanted sex, he used back rooms and hotels. It seemed fitting that the first man he took to his bed was his mate. His cock jerked at that thought. Smiling, he led Drake into his home. Passing through the living room, he glanced toward his kitchen. “Would you like a drink or anything?” Drake paused, looking uncertain. That’s when Ailean noticed the tension in the man’s shoulders. “Hey,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around his nervous mate. “Let’s curl up and watch a movie, okay?” He motioned toward the sofa. “Have a seat. I’ll grab us a couple of sodas.” “Okay,” Drake muttered. “Diet, if you have it.” Ailean chuckled. “I think you could use the calories, little mate.” Drake blushed, hunching his shoulders. “Food just isn’t always a priority.” Cupping Drake’s cheek, Ailean stared down at the man. “I’m a doctor, and although I’d love to give you a physical,” he added with a lascivious wink, “it wouldn’t take that to figure out that you’re under weight.” Drake tried to pull free, but Ailean wouldn’t let him get away. “I happen to think you’re sexy just the way you are, Drake, but that’s not going to stop me from wanting to make certain you’re healthy.” “You think I’m sexy?” Drake whispered, his big brown eyes widening with hope. “Oh, yeah,” Ailean assured. He pulled Drake into his 57

Accepting His Animal arms, tucking his smaller frame close against him. He nuzzled his face into the crook of Drake’s neck, inhaling his mate’s sweet scent. So good! “I really like the way you smell.” “It’s said that scent from pheromones is a key component to attraction,” Drake whispered, tilting his head to give Ailean more room. “Huh,” he muttered, nibbling on Drake’s neck. He wondered briefly if his mate had any idea how right he was. Scent was how shifters determined their mate. And right now, that’s all he cared about, getting inside his mate and easing the ache in his dick. His cock pressed painfully against his fly, and to his great pleasure, he felt his mate’s tension ease as Drake melted against him. Lifting his head slightly, he captured Drake’s lips, speared his tongue between his lips, and delved deep inside his mouth. Sweet heaven! He wanted to stay there forever. He nipped the man’s lower lip, capturing it and tugging gently as he pulled away. He grinned at Drake’s dazed expression and dilated eyes. Gripping one small ass cheek in each hand, Ailean lifted his mate, encouraging Drake to wrap his legs around his hips. Drake’s moan was music to his ears as their erections pressed together in a delicious wave of painful sensation. He walked to the couch and dropped down onto it, keeping his mate firmly on his lap. His lips captured Drake’s again as he slid a hand up the man’s body and underneath his t-shirt. His palms traced over warm skin, almost burning him with the intensity of his need. Growling softly, Ailean pushed the man’s shirt off his head, his breath catching as he took in the chocolate skin he’d been able to touch only briefly in the shower that morning. He leaned forward and his lips latched onto Drake’s pert nipple. Drake gasped as he sucked the hard nub into his mouth, his mate’s body arching in desire to press 58

Charlie Richards more skin into Ailean’s mouth. “What…what happened to watching a movie?” Drake gasped. After several more hard sucks, he released Drake’s nipple. “Did you want me to stop and put on a movie instead?” he asked between gentle nips and licks as he made his way to Drake’s other hard nub. When Drake mewled and thrust out his chest in frustration, Ailean chuckled. “That’s what I thought,” he purred, before latching onto the other nipple. After several seconds he let go and whispered, “I plan to make you feel so good, little mate.” He just prayed he’d be able to last long enough to please Drake first. He wanted his mate relaxed to a near boneless state so he could sink his cock deep inside him with as little pain as possible to the virgin human. “Ailean,” Drake whimpered. He smiled against Drake’s neck, loving the man’s thick scent, wriggling body, and sexy noises. Gliding a hand down Drake’s back, he slipped it beneath the man’s slacks and cupped his skinny cheek, kneading it gently while he took Drake’s lips in a hot kiss. Gently, he dipped his middle finger into the man’s crack, ghosting over his hole. To his surprise, Drake moaned and pushed against him, questing for more contact. Ailean slipped his finger into the man up to the first knuckle relishing the tight heat and pressure that immediately surrounded him. He couldn’t wait to get his cock in there. He slowly started working his finger in and out of his mate, loosening him, learning him, and giving Drake pleasure. “This isn’t the first time you’ve had something in here, is it?” He purred his question. Drake’s reply came between panting breathes, and his cheeks flamed. “No. I bought toys online.” “I’ll want to see you play with them sometime.” And he 59

Accepting His Animal meant it, too. Knowing his mate already knew how to pleasure himself, this would be so much easier. Using his other hand, he unbuttoned Drake’s cargo shorts and fished out his mate’s dick. Drake’s slender rod already leaked copiously, and Ailean used his thumb to spread the pre-cum around the head. “That…that feels…” Ailean grinned against the flesh he worked. Unabashedly pleased that he’d reduced his mate to incoherent, fragmented thoughts. Drake rocked between his hands, and Ailean made no move to stop him. His dark, slender fingers dug into Ailean’s shoulders as he thrust into his fist only to rock back and fuck himself on Ailean’s fingers. Back and forth he moved. Ailean nibbled the pulse point on Drake’s neck, fighting his instinct to allow his canines to descend and sink them into that delicious skin. When Drake’s hips stuttered, indicating his impending release, Ailean released his cock, wrapped his arm around the man’s back, and flipped them on the sofa. Drake’s shout of surprise ended in a long groan as Ailean swallowed his mate’s cock deep into his mouth. He sucked hard, hollowing his cheeks, before plunging back down, deep-throating Drake’s slender rod. Ailean’s throat muscles worked Drake’s sensitive head, and he screamed right before soaking his throat with streams of salty, creamy goodness. Ailean growled his pleasure as he continued to suck on his mate’s pretty prick, extending Drake’s orgasm as he grabbed the tube of lube from under the couch cushion. Because he didn’t bring tricks home, he’d become accustomed to using his hand when the mood struck. Now he couldn’t be more grateful that he hadn’t bothered to move to the bedroom the last time he’d jacked off. As he lapped around his mate’s cock, making certain he 60

Charlie Richards didn’t miss a drop of Drake’s tasty essence, he poured lube onto his fingers and worked a third one into Drake’s ass. The man’s back arched, his head tossed from side to side, and the skin of his chest, neck, and face flushed. It was the most fucking beautiful thing Ailean had ever seen. “Oh, Ailean. Full…so full…” Drake whined. “More. Need…need…” Mine! All mine. The drive to claim ratcheted up several notches and Drake slid his fingers from his mate’s ass. Drake cried out in frustration. “Easy, little mate. I know what you need,” he crooned as he scrambled to get out of his clothes. He heard buttons skitter across the floor and fabric shred, but couldn’t care less. Clothes he could replace. He used the excess lube on his fingers to stroke his aching cock, biting back a moan. He had to clench the base of his dick in a painful grip to stave off his orgasm. He needed inside his mate. Now! Carefully, he reached for Drake and brought him to his knees on the cushions, turning him to face the back of his couch. Drake looked over his shoulder at him, confusion clouding his big brown eyes. Ailean settled behind him and kissed those plump lips. “It’ll be easier this way,” he assured. “I don’t want to hurt you, my pretty mate.” Drake smiled, warmth filling his gaze. He tensed slightly as Ailean pressed the tip of his cock to his hole. Ailean stroked Drake’s spine and purred, rubbing his cheek against Drake’s. Drake immediately calmed, humming his excitement as he tilted his hips in invitation. “I love that sound,” Drake whispered. “Oh?” Ailean grunted, pushing forward firmly so the crown of his dick popped past Drake’s ring of protective muscle. 61

Accepting His Animal Drake gasped, and Ailean paused, letting his little human get used to his invasion. “Yes,” Drake hissed out. “I don’t know how you do it, but it’s so sexy!” Ailean grinned. “I’ll tell you all about it later,” he promised. “But if you can still think about it, I must not be doing something right.” Bracing his hands on either side of Drake’s on the back of the sofa, he thrust forward, sinking his cock all the way into Drake’s tight ass in one, swift stroke. Heat and pressure surrounded Ailean, but upon hearing his mate’s strangled moan, he froze. He lay over Drake’s back and nibbled the nape of Drake’s neck, enjoying the springy brown curls making up his hair. Ailean’s breath came in heavy pants as he waited for his mate to adjust. “Move. Oh, please move.” He growled at the sweet, begging words spilling from Drake’s mouth. Ailean withdrew almost all the way out before thrusting forward again. He sank into his mate again and again, loving the way Drake squirmed and rocked against him, as if trying to suck Ailean into Drake’s body through his ass and make them one. His mate’s whimpered words cut through his lusty fog, and he almost stopped, fearing he hurt him in his exuberance. Then the words registered. “So good, so good, so good,” Drake panted over and over again as he met Ailean thrust for bone-jarring thrust. Growling his delight, his canines descended and Ailean struck. He bit deeply into the fleshy spot where Drake’s neck met shoulder. Drake screamed and convulsed beneath him. His ass muscles tightened into a near strangle-hold on Ailean’s dick as the man came, and Drake’s tangy blood flowed over his tongue. Wrapping his arms around Drake tightly so not a hint of space was left between them, he rocked his hips into the man twice more before his release 62

Charlie Richards overwhelmed him. The bond with his mate locked into place as he spilled into his mate. A sense of peace he hadn’t felt since a cub swept through him. His hold on Drake loosened slightly as his hands roamed the man’s slender chest, and he licked the mark he’d left on his neck. Drake moaned as his cock slipped from Drake’s body. He purred, wrapped Drake in his arms, and carried him to his bedroom. Ailean still had several hours before work and planned to make the most of it by exploring his mate.

63

Accepting His Animal

Chapter Seven The insistent ringing pulled Drake out of his sated doze. A

soft growl sounded in his ear and the arm around his waist lifted as Ailean rolled away. Drake immediately missed the heat of his lover’s embrace, but reveled in the memories of just a few short hours ago when Ailean had carried him to the bed and made sweet, slow love to him. There could be no other way to describe the way the man kissed and nibbled every inch of his body except worship. And it had felt indescribable. Ailean’s body settled back against him and lips pressed against his spine. “I’m sorry, Drake,” he whispered. “There’s an emergency with one of my patients. I need to go in early.” “It’s okay. I’ll call a cab to take me to my place.” He hid his disappointment, knowing he had plenty to do at home, formulas to work with and DNA to research. “No,” Ailean growled. “You’re not to go back there. It’s not safe.” “What?” He knew from the softening of the man’s features, which usually signified amusement or concern in most people, that he hadn’t kept the surprised squeak out of his voice. “They know where you live, little mate,” Ailean purred. How on Earth did he do that? “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I won’t allow 64

Charlie Richards you to be there until I know it’s safe.” The unreadable look that fleetingly crossed the man’s face made Drake think he wanted to add something, but stopped himself. He wondered what it was. Having no way of knowing, Drake nodded instead. “Okay. I should probably get back to my brother.” He nibbled his lips as nervousness flooded him before saying, “Do you have an extra car? Or do you think cabs will travel all the way to Declan and Lark’s? It seems a little far, but as I’ve never had to take a cab anywhere before, I don’t really know.” Ailean’s finger over his lips made him stop the flood of words. Yeah, Drake knew he tended to ramble when nervous. “You’ll come with me to the hospital for now. I’ll call Detective Stryker on the way over there, and he’ll take you to Declan’s.” He pressed a quick kiss to Drake’s lips. “As much as I’d like to linger in bed with you, I can’t.” Ailean kissed him again before drawing away with a groan and landing a stinging smack to Drake’s butt. “Get dressed.” Drake froze in surprise at the unexpected smack. It sent tingles over his skin, almost as nice as the bite that Ailean had given him that morning. Drake would never have thought he would enjoy biting, but he had to admit that he’d loved every second of it. There had only been one second of searing pain before absolute pleasure sluiced through his bloodstream, centering in his dick and forcing the most intense orgasm of his life from him. The memory had him shuddering out a breath in anticipation of next time. “If you don’t control yourself, I’m going to flip you on your stomach and slam my cock into your ass,” Ailean growled. His leaned over him and gave a hard nip to Drake’s nipple. “And as wonderful as that sounds, I don’t have time.” After another kiss, this one slower and full of promise for 65

Accepting His Animal later, Drake gathered the nerve to smile up at his lover. “Then we’ll just have to keep this until later,” he whispered, tracing a forefinger up Ailean’s scrub-covered, but obviously hard cock. “Yes,” Ailean grunted before he groaned and pulled away. “Get up before I lose control of myself.” Drake grinned at Ailean’s retreating backside. Wow! I’ve never had this effect on anyone! He jumped from the bed, still grinning from ear to ear as he padded out to the living room and found his clothes. Drake couldn’t believe how comfortable he felt with Ailean, especially knowing the man watched his every move as he poured them both a cup of coffee. He pulled on his clothes and then went to the kitchen and picked up the mug Ailean had poured for him. After taking a sip, he crinkled his nose. “Sugar?” Ailean’s brows lifted. “You didn’t add sugar at breakfast,” he pointed out, though he still crossed to his pantry and pulled out a jar. “Thanks.” Drake added several teaspoons of sugar before taking another sip. “Mmmm.” He grinned at Ailean’s surprised look. “Part of early morning coffee’s waking ability is its bitter, rather disgusting taste,” he admitted. “If I’m going to enjoy it in the afternoon, it needs quite a bit of sugar in it.” Ailean chuckled, while herding him toward the door. “Got it. I’ll remember that, little mate.” Once outside, he opened his car door and helped him into the seat, being careful not to spill the hot beverage. “Now, we need to get moving.” Before shutting the door, Ailean gave him a quick peck. A contented smile curved Drake’s lips as he watched Ailean hurry around the hood and climb into the car. It didn’t take long to reach the hospital. Drake set the empty 66

Charlie Richards coffee cup onto the floorboard and followed Ailean into the building. He fully expected to be told to stay in the waiting room or at the very least, shown to a staff room. Instead, Ailean had him follow him into his office, then his dressing room, then along several corridors where a nurse met him. “I’m so sorry to call you, but the chart said to contact you about anything unusual with this patient,” she hurried to explain. Her gaze flicked to Drake, but she didn’t say anything about his presence while Ailean read the chart she thrust under his nose. Ailean hissed in irritation. “It’s Lyle,” he muttered by way of explanation before he started down the hall in a ground eating stride. Drake had to hurry to keep up. “Detective Stryker will be here in a few minutes. Be sure to show him to the patient’s room as soon as possible,” he ordered. “Yes, Doctor,” the nurse said before hustling away. Drake followed in silence while Ailean strode quickly down several hallways. He stopped just inside the room, surprised to find a muscular man sitting beside Lyle, watching anxiously as Ailean inspected Lyle and the monitors connected to him. The doctor didn’t seem the least bit surprised, so must know the man. Ailean muttered under his breath, his words too low for Drake to make out. A few moments later, Detective Stryker ambled through the door. The big man crossed to his partner’s bed and frowned at Ailean. “What’s going on?” “Hell if I know,” Lyle snarled, preparing to draw blood. He froze, the needle poised inches over the patient’s flesh. “What the fuck?” “Is that a rash?” Grady asked. “It appeared about an hour ago,” the other man told them, wringing his hands as his gaze darted between them. “It was about ten minutes after that the monitors went off.” Drake eased closer, wondering what the men were staring 67

Accepting His Animal at. He gasped, his eyes rounding as disbelief coursed through him. “No!” he whispered. Regaining himself, he rushed forward and ran his fingers over a dark green, bumpy patch of skin on the inside of Lyle’s forearm. “What are you doing?” Ailean snapped, snatching his hand away from Lyle. “It could be contagious.” “It’s not,” he assured, his gaze shifting between the angry doctor and the concerned detective. Grady recovered first. “What do you mean? Do you know what this is?” Fighting back the panic, Drake nodded. “I told them it wasn’t safe for experiments yet. Why didn’t they listen to me? And to do it on a human? Oh, God. I’m so sorry!” Ailean dropped his hand as if burned and took a step back. “You did this?” “Calm down, Ailean,” Grady commanded. “We don’t know anything yet.” He turned to Drake, his blue eyes hard. “Now tell us what you mean. Who did you tell what?” Running a shaky hand through his short hair, he tried to catch Ailean’s eye, but his lover refused to look at him. “I told you I was at the Fitzgerald building for a meeting. I was contracted by Crystal Lake Corporation to break down a DNA string they provided,” he admitted. “They told me they thought it could be proof of the existence of the Ninkinanka. I teach molecular genetics at the college, but that was my minor. I’m really a crypto zoologist, but I’ve been blacklisted from any serious grants due to my last paper on the chupacabra. If I could prove the existence of the Ninkinanka, it’d restore my reputation.” Grady scowled, clearly unimpressed. “Okay, what the hell’s a Ninki-nanka and what does that have to do with this?” he asked, waving a hand at Lyle’s arm. “The Ninki-nanka is a creature that supposedly lives in the swamps of West Africa. It’s believed to be reclusive and 68

Charlie Richards very dangerous and those who see it often end up dead within a few weeks. It’s what we call a cryptid, because we don’t have any proof it really exists.” Before Grady could interrupt with more questions, he hurried on, “When I broke down the DNA, I realized it had both reptilian and human components.” His gaze swept between the two men, but they didn’t seem surprised. Okay, so they probably didn’t understand the significance of that. “It means this creature wasn’t either, and yet it was.” Still nothing came from either man. “A changeling of some kind. A brand new species!” Maybe they just didn’t believe him, because they still didn’t react. Whatever. “Anyway, when I reported my findings, they wanted to know if a serum could be created to share this creature’s abilities with humans. I had been working on that for two weeks, giving them regular reports, when Lyle appeared.” He saw a closed, stormy expression descend over Ailean’s face. The man growled low in his throat and turned away. When Drake reached out and laid a hand on the doctor’s arm, Ailean snarled at him and jerked away. Drake yanked his hand back in shock. “I kept telling them it wasn’t ready for trials, even on animals. I guess they didn’t listen.” His voice trailed away. Before the silence could lengthen for too long, Ailean met Grady’s concerned gaze and growled. “Get him out of here. Take him to Declan. I have work to do.” “Are you coming by when you get off?” Grady asked, sounding just a little too calm. Ailean finally met Drake’s eyes, but he saw none of the affection and desire that normally resided there. Instead, the doctor stared at him with barely concealed loathing. “No. I won’t be back.” Pain like he’d never experienced ripped through Drake’s chest, and he gasped. Ailean’s out of hand rejection shouldn’t have hurt so much, since they’d only known each 69

Accepting His Animal other a couple days, but for some reason it did. “Ailean,” Grady growled. “Don’t make any rash decisions.” “I said get him out of here,” he all but roared. Drake cringed away. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t know.” “Doesn’t matter,” Ailean snapped. “You humans are all the same. Always looking out for number one. All you thought about was your career. You probably didn’t even think about how your findings would affect others.” He turned his back on Drake, dismissing them both as he stabbed Lyle with the needle and finished drawing blood. Ignoring him, Ailean headed toward the door. “I’ll call you when I figure out how to heal Lyle.” For a second, he thought Ailean might be talking to him, but then Grady sighed. “Okay.” Drake’s shoulders slumped as Grady’s big hands landed on them. “Come on, Drake. Let’s go.” He allowed the detective to steer him out of the hospital. Once in the man’s truck, Grady turned to him. “Give Ailean time. He’ll come around.” Staring morosely out the window, Drake shook his head. “No, he won’t. He’s right. I didn’t think about how my actions would affect others. What good could come of a serum that gives humans reptilian traits? I mean really?” Drake rubbed his temples, amazed at how naïve he could be. Biting his lip, he muttered, “Besides, he got what he wanted.” He huffed out an irritated sigh, his hands clenching into fists. “I always warn my brother not to put out on a first date, but did I follow my own advice?” he snapped at himself. “Of course not. I am such a fool.” To his surprise, Grady chuckled. “Yes, that’s good advice 70

Charlie Richards under normal circumstances, but in this case, Ailean has just had some tough experiences with humans. He really will come around.” The man sounded so certain, but why would he…Drake frowned and looked at Grady, watching him steer the truck for a few seconds before whispering, “What?” “I said he’ll come around.” “No,” Drake stated. “You said he’s had some tough experiences with humans. And back in the room, Ailean said, you humans are all the same. What are you guys talking about?” Grady glanced at him and frowned, but Drake wouldn’t back down. He wanted to know what was going on. Suddenly, Grady whipped the truck to the side of the road and screeched to a halt. “Fucking hell!” he yelled. “He mated with you and didn’t explain things to you?” Drake straightened. “Mated? What do you mean? What things?” His confusion began to cut through the strange heartache plaguing him. Growling under his breath, Grady slammed the truck into gear and got them moving again. He yanked his phone out and hit a button. “Declan,” he grunted into the phone. “We’ve got a problem. Ailean mated Drake but he didn’t explain…anything.” He heard the frustration in the voice on the other end of the phone, but couldn’t make out the words. Grady grunted an acknowledgement then said, “We’re about fifteen minutes out,” before snapping the phone shut. They drove in silence for several minutes, Drake sneaking glances at Grady. He could tell from the man’s tightly clenched jaw and narrowed eyes that the man was upset. He just couldn’t figure out why. Why would Ailean dumping me make Grady so angry? It isn’t like it impacts him, right? When it didn’t look like the detective was going to 71

Accepting His Animal explain, Drake frowned, “Okay, what’s going on?” Grady shook his head. “I’m sorry Ailean put you in this situation,” he replied. “I never thought the doctor was that selfish.” Drake frowned, indignation stirring. “I’m sure he’s not selfish. He has a lot going on, what with Lyle showing up and then…” His words failed him, and he fought back a sniffle. “I just met him,” he whispered. “Why do I miss him so much?” Sighing, Grady reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “Just hang on for a few more minutes. Once we get to Declan’s, we’ll explain everything.” He nodded, his focus returning to the passing trees outside the window. A niggling of concern ate at him. His entire life was in upheaval and now the detective made it sound like there was even more to deal with. Part of him wished he could go back in time and never take that contract. Then he’d never have gone to that meeting the other night, never have been hijacked by Lyle, and he’d never have met Ailean. But then Drake never would have experienced the most amazing sensations while in the man’s arms, either. Or the broken heart he had now, and his heart was breaking, because somehow, in the course of twenty-four hours, he’d fallen in love with the doctor. And didn’t that just suck? When he walked into the house, he heard Declan’s Irish lilt growling from another room. “What do ye mean yer not coming over after yer shift at the hospital ends tomorrow? He’s yer mate, damn it! Ye can’t just…” Drake’s steps faltered, the man’s words telling him exactly who the Irishman spoke to, and he wrapped his arms around his belly. A wash of bile rose up his throat and he struggled to breathe. Why did he have to walk in right at 72

Charlie Richards this moment? Wasn’t hearing it from the man himself enough? Now he had to overhear others talking about their whirlwind affair, too? “Come on,” Grady muttered gruffly and led the way into the room where Drake could still hear Declan arguing with Ailean. He followed slowly and discovered a growling Declan holding Lark, who was trying to soothe the big man. His brother sat stiffly on one end of a leather couch. His head cocked to the side and his shoulders tense as he listened to the angry men around him. Drake hurried over to him and settled next to him, rubbing his brother’s arm to reassure Dagus of his presence. He blushed when Dagus leaned toward him and sniffed, realizing his brother, whose senses were heightened, could probably smell that he’d had sex. Dagus grinned and bumped shoulders. “It’s about damn time,” he whispered. “I guess,” he muttered back. “You didn’t like it?” His brother cocked his head, obviously trying to gauge the tone of his responses. “Did he hurt you?” “I don’t understand why everyone is making more of it than it is,” he hissed back. “It was just a short fling. Ailean got what he wanted, and I finally figured out the allure of sex.” “The bite on yer neck says otherwise, Drake.” Surprise shot through him, and he lifted a hand to the still tender mark not quite covered by his shirt. “It’s okay. I…I liked it,” he managed to admit, his gaze drifting from a solemn Declan to the floor. “Damn that shifter,” Declan growled. “I canna believe he did this to ye without explaining what it meant.” He knew the question was written all over his face, especially since Grady had said something similar in the truck. “Look, this 73

Accepting His Animal may be a little hard to accept, but Ailean biting ye is not to be taken lightly.” “At the hospital, you told me how different the DNA was than anything else you’d ever seen, right?” Grady said, drawing his attention. He stared in shock as the big man began to slowly remove his shirt, his face so serious that Drake didn’t know how to respond except to nod dumbly. “Those men who hired you found out about something we’ve successfully kept secret since the early third century.” He grimaced, his shoulders lifting in a shrug. “Well, at least until now.” “What secret?” he asked. He wasn’t certain if he should feel dread or expectation. Gripping Dagus’s hand tightly, he leaned forward. “What’s going on?” “There were human and reptilian components together because it was DNA from a shape-shifter, Drake,” Grady said solemnly. “Ailean is a shifter. So am I, and so is Declan.” His eyes widened and his body tensed for several long seconds, before he shook his head, his blood chilling. “I know Ailean is your friend, but you don’t need to compound the humiliation of him dumping me by making fun of my work, too.” He rose, pulling Dagus up after him. “We’ll pack our things and go, thanks.” He started to turn away, when he heard Declan say, “We’re not playing with ye, Drake. We figured ye’d need proof, being a scientist and all. Allow us to prove it.” That peaked his curiosity, and he paused. “Okay. Prove it,” he challenged. Did these men really believe they could shape shift? He watched with interest as Grady stripped the rest of his clothes and dropped to the ground. At any other time, he probably would have taken time to admire the impressive lines of muscle on the big man, but as soon as the detective’s 74

Charlie Richards knees hit the floor, fur grew from his back. Orange and white stripes appeared, a tail sprouted, limbs shifted and popped, and his head contorted to accommodate a mouthful of incredibly sharp teeth. The change only took maybe ten seconds, but when all was said and done, a massive tiger sprawled across the hardwood floor. “Oh my goodness,” he whispered, right before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and the world tilted.

75

Accepting His Animal

Chapter Eight

“D

rake? Are you awake?” His brother’s voice cut through the fog as he struggled to focus. “Yeah,” he grunted. His throat felt like sandpaper and his head pounded. “What happened?” “You fainted.” That was Lark’s voice. Drake forced one eye open and stared at the slender blond’s concerned face. “Here. Drink this.” Dagus’s hands slid under his shoulders, helping him to a half-sitting position as Lark pressed a pill to his hand and then helped him take a swig of orange juice to wash it down. After he’d swallowed the pill, he sighed. “What was that, Doc?” Lark smiled. “Just a little something to help you relax. They really should have prepared you a little better. Watching someone shift for the first time is really quite shocking.” “I can’t believe I fainted,” Drake groaned. Could he be any more wussy? “Hey,” Lark whispered, regaining his attention. The understanding look on the man’s face didn’t really reassure him. “My first time, I was at a BBQ. Most of the people there were wolf shifters, although I didn’t know that at the time. I saw several kids shift a couple times while playing.” He 76

Charlie Richards grinned ruefully, admitting, “I had a full blown panic attack. It took my friends, Rainy and Cliff, several days to calm me down. Imagine my shock to realize the guys I played poker with every month were really wolves!” “So not all of them are tigers?” Drake asked, still having a hard time wrapping his mind around this turn of events. “And Grady really turned into one?” Dagus nodded, patting his shoulder awkwardly. “After you passed out, I started to freak a bit. They ended up letting me pet him, so I could understand what had happened.” “Sorry about that,” Drake muttered, renewed embarrassment creeping over him. “Where are they now?” “We figured you’d need a couple minutes with just the humans when you woke,” Lark smiled. “They really are no different than us, other than the animal thing. They are fully aware while in their animal form, and they’re not controlled by the cycle of the moon. They’re just another species that have been living right alongside humans, keeping their abilities secret.” “Why? People are smart. They could handle it,” Dagus said almost belligerently. Drake knew how he felt. This kind of cover up was huge! Lark shook his head. “A person is smart. But people are not, get a few of them together and they turn into sheep. Stupid, panicky, and quick to judge and cast the first stone at anything different,” he pointed out. “Shifters need their secrecy to remain safe. Otherwise they run into problems with humans like your employer. Humans who want to do experiments on shifters for their own gain.” Drake thought about that for a moment. It really did make sense. His own research and contract with the Crystal Lake Corporation was proof enough of that. There was still one thing that didn’t make sense to him. “Okay, so these guys are shifters. What does that have to do with me and 77

Accepting His Animal Ailean? They act like it’s such a big deal that he dumped me.” “He dumped you?” Dagus growled. “Why?” “It’s not like I didn’t expect it,” he said. Sitting up, he ran a hand over his brother’s arm to let him know where he was. “After all, I’m not much to look at. I’m short, skinny, and nerdy. He probably pegged me for a virgin and wanted to see if he could pop my cherry.” Okay, normally he’d never speak this frankly, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. The whole episode still felt surreal. “That’s not why he did it,” Grady snarled, stalking back into the room followed closely by Declan. “Didn’t you think it odd that he immediately started calling you little mate?” Seeing the obviously irritated big man, once again in human form, Drake had to take a long deep breath to relax. Then he shrugged. He really had no answer for the man. He’d been too overwhelmed that Ailean seemed to like him. “It’s because ye are his mate,” Declan told him. “Shifters get one true mate, hand-picked by Fate. That person will complete us. Be our perfect balance. Ye are that person for Ailean. He recognized ye immediately by yer scent.” After a heartbeat, and a glance at the other men in the room, Declan added bluntly, “By biting ye during sex, he bound the two of ye together. Shifters live longer than humans, so by entwining yer life forces, yer life will be extended to match his.” Drake’s breathing sped up the more Declan spoke until he could barely pant. Dark spots danced across his vision. The one man who was supposed to want him had rejected him. Was he really that unlovable? Sensing his distress, Lark gripped the back of his neck and forced his head between his knees. “Take slow, deep breaths, Drake. Just breathe,” he instructed. He followed the small doctor’s advice, closing his eyes 78

Charlie Richards and forcing his brain to shut down for a few precious seconds as he calmed down. He felt a presence in front of him and looked up to see Declan crouching in front of him. “He should not have done that without explaining what he is and how being a shifter’s mate would affect ye, Drake.” The man glanced over his shoulder at Grady, as if confirming that he should say his next words. When his gaze returned to Drake, Declan’s gray eyes had turned flat. “There is no way to break the bond, but in time, since ye’re a human ye will be able to move on. Ailean, on the other hand, has sealed his fate with his actions.” A fresh wave of uselessness swept over him. “Why wouldn’t a shifter want his mate?” he whispered the question, uncertain if he really wanted to know the answer. Sensing his distress, Dagus wrapped an arm around his shoulders and brought him into a tight embrace. Declan sat back on his heels and sighed. “Ailean has some issues that he needs to work through. He’s been hurt by humans. Although I don’t know all the details, I can tell ye that he was an orphan. Human parents adopted him.” “Oh, gosh,” Drake whispered, his heart beating hard as he guessed where this was going. “Did they kick him out when they learned he was a shifter?” “No. It would have been far better if they had,” Declan replied grimly. “They thought he was possessed and tried to have priests exorcise the demons. They caged him. Eventually he escaped, but the damage was done. The humans who were supposed to care for him did the opposite. He’s trusted few people, human or shifter, since then.” Drake pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, fighting back a shudder. Longing filled him, a burning desire to care for the man, but he knew he’d never be able to. Ailean wouldn’t allow it. Tears threatened at the 79

Accepting His Animal corners of his eyes. “I created those formulas that hurt someone else held captive. He thinks I’m the same as his parents,” he realized sadly. “He’ll come around,” Grady said, but from the looks that passed between the other men, he knew none of them were really certain if that was the case. Sighing, he shoved the fruitless speculation away, unfolded from the couch, and crossed his arms. Locking his gaze on Lark, he asked, “Can you get me some of Lyle’s blood?” Lark shrugged. “Probably. Why?” “Because I created this problem,” he held up a hand, stopping the other’s words of denial. “It may have been indirectly, but my research allowed those scientists to experiment on Lyle. I have a lab set up in an apartment I rent under Dagus’s name. If I get some of Lyle’s blood, I may be able to find a way to help the poor man.” Besides, he needed something to occupy his time while his heart mourned. **** Ailean growled in frustration, running both hands through his hair. Nothing worked. He’d tried everything he could think of to isolate the chemicals causing the changes to Lyle’s DNA. He could see how it was changed and could monitor the speed of change. He could even anticipate what would change next and ways to delay it, but he couldn’t figure out how to reverse it or stop it! And if he didn’t figure that out soon, Lyle would die. His body wouldn’t be able to handle the stress and everything would shut down, one organ at a time. “How’s it going?” Ailean spun his chair around and found Grady standing 80

Charlie Richards in the doorway. He didn’t need to wonder how the sneaky cat managed to move around the hospital undetected. There was a reason he made such a great special ops soldier before becoming a detective. “Not good,” he said, rising and heading toward the coffee machine near the door. As he drew closer, he caught his mate’s scent clinging to Grady’s own and his hackles lifted. He couldn’t contain a soft growl as he froze and stared at the man. It had been four days since he’d seen or spoken to his mate. And it had been hell, even with the distraction of trying to help Lyle. At the worst times, memories of Drake distracted him. He’d remember the way Drake’s firm flesh felt pressed against his, how it felt to hold him in his lap, to kiss him, to open him up to take his cock, the tight squeeze of his mate’s ass around him. That last one always left him hard, wanting, and frustrated. His shoulder leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, Grady frowned. “You could just apologize. Fate only knows why, but Drake likes you. He’d take you back.” Ailean snarled at the man, stalking forward to get that coffee. “He’s just like the rest.” “You don’t know that,” Grady countered. “He was doing a job he’d been hired to do. Why don’t you give him a chance? Get to know him?” “I know exactly what I’ll find if I get to know him,” he sneered, letting his fears of getting hurt echo through his voice loud and clear. “A human who puts his own wants and desires ahead of everything and everyone else. Do you know what he said to me?” His heart in his throat, he couldn’t stop his hand from trembling as he thought about the words that had haunted him every waking moment. Without waiting for Grady to reply, he plowed ahead, “He said pheromones were mostly responsible for attraction. 81

Accepting His Animal Then I find out he’s a scientist for the very fucking company we are trying to stop. How do I even know he’s my mate? What if it was all a trick?” “That’s bullshit and we both know it. You can’t fake a mate attraction!” Grady countered. “We don’t know that,” Ailean shot back, although in his heart he knew the tiger was right. A shifter’s animal couldn’t be fooled, even if a human’s nose could. Grady heaved a sigh and stared at the ceiling, from the tension in his neck and arms he was probably trying to rein in his desire to do something physical to Ailean, like ring his neck. “Look,” he said, his voice quieting. “Declan told Drake a little about your past. Not a lot,” Grady added, holding up a hand. “Just enough to explain why it would take you some time to come to terms with how Drake was involved.” When he didn’t respond right away, Grady stepped forward and settled a hand on his shoulder. “Relax. He didn’t say anything about what went on in the attic.” Ailean’s eyes flew wide for a second before narrowing into slits. He shook off Grady’s hand and glared at the bigger cat. “But he evidently said something to you. So much for trusting a friend to keep a secret.” “No, he didn’t,” Grady growled back. “When I heard another shifter was moving into the area, I checked out your past.” “You son-of-a-bitch! You had no right!” He trembled with a mixture of rage and humiliation. “And you can tell Declan thank you for allowing me to live in his territory, but it’s probably best if I moved on again.” Saying the words sent a stab of despair through him, but he kept his feelings carefully masked. “Fuck! You are such an asshole!” Ailean snarled at the big detective. “I never claimed to be anything else!” 82

Charlie Richards “But you are a shifter,” Grady reminded him coldly. “We don’t dump our mates just because they make a mistake. He did research for the wrong people. So the hell what!” “Get out,” he roared. The man’s words pricked at his already bruised ego and extremely guilty conscience. He knew he should have allowed Drake to explain, and now he didn’t know how to bridge the gap. Grady’s lip curled in disgust. “Fine. I’ll leave. For now.” Instead of walking away, the detective crowded close. “But know this, your mate is working around the clock to fix his mistake. I don’t think he’s slept a full hour in the last three days.” His eyes narrowed to slits. “What are you doing to correct your shortcomings?” Before Ailean could get past the fact that his mate wasn’t taking care of himself and formulate an answer, Grady snarled at him again, truly exasperated, and left. The Styrofoam cup in Ailean’s hand popped from his too-tight grip, but the nearly scalding coffee running over his hand remained unnoticed. His mate wasn’t sleeping? What about eating? Drake didn’t have any extra weight to lose. If he wasn’t eating, how could he gain weight? His heart raced, his blood pounded in his veins, and his guilt quadrupled.

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Accepting His Animal

Chapter Nine

D

rake’s pulse rate increased exponentially the closer he got to the hospital. “Hey, relax, dude,” the man driving the car said. He looked over at Phillip, trying to spot the resemblance to his much smaller brother, Todd, whom he’d learned was the man, shifter, standing vigil over Lyle. Drake didn’t see it. “I can’t help it,” he replied. “What if—” “He’s not there,” Phillip assured. “My brother said his shift ended at ten this morning. We’ll go in, you’ll do your thing, and then we’ll see what happens.” He reached over and gripped Drake’s shoulder in a supportive man-squeeze. “Lark told me a little about how Ailean freaked when he found out you worked for that corporation, but Ailean’s not that bad a guy. He’s had some time to chill, so even if we did see him, I’m sure he wouldn’t kick you out again. Just relax.” Nodding, he forced himself to take a deep breath, and then a second one. “Okay. Yeah.” Drake still didn’t feel ready to reenter the hospital he’d been kicked out of six days ago, nor was he ready to face the owner of said domain. He didn’t think he’d ever be able to face Ailean again, who gave him the most pleasurable and the then the most painful experiences of his life, all within a span of four hours. Drake fought back a sob. This was why he focused on work and didn’t get involved with people. The possibility of 84

Charlie Richards getting hurt was too high. He didn’t know how his brother managed to do it. And then to find out the guy was supposed to be a jaguar shifter and Drake was his mate, and still Ailean didn’t want him. This time the sob escaped. “Easy now,” Phillip muttered, sparing him a concerned look. He grimaced. “Sorry, Drake, but you gotta hold it together a little longer. Lyle’s life may depend on it.” Nodding, he started deep breathing again. He felt reasonably calm by the time they reached the hospital and Phillip parked the car. He climbed out and followed the wolf shifter into the building, down several halls, up an elevator, and into a room. Drake felt amazed at the ease with which the man chatted and flirted with just about every nurse he passed. He’d never been at ease with others like that. Give him his microscope, vials, and test tubes any day. They found Todd dozing in his chair by the detective’s bed. The guy jerked awake, rubbing a hand over his face for a second, before smiling up at them. “How is he?” Phillip asked, crossing to his brother and giving him a hug. “The doctor has him sedated.” Drake crossed to the blinking monitors and cocked his head. “Do either of you know how these work?” The brothers shook their heads, and Drake turned back to the machines, slowly figuring out what the different numbers and beeps meant. “I need his heart rate a little higher for this to really be effective.” “How are we going to do that?” Todd asked. “Higher heart rate, huh?” Phillip chuckled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Oh, come on. He’s your mate. I’m pretty sure you can get his heart rate up, even asleep.” Todd stared at his brother for a long moment. “You’ve got to be kidding.” Drake glanced between the two men, not comprehending. “How are you going to get his heart rate up?” 85

Accepting His Animal Phillip smirked. “You’re an exhibitionist, Todd. We both know it, but if you want, we’ll turn around and watch the monitors.” Understanding dawned, making Drake’s face flame. Was he really… He watched in shock as Todd huffed irritably and then lifted the blankets to crawl under them. Drake heard him mutter about how this was so not how he’d imagined his first time giving his mate a blowjob would be before he disappeared under the blankets and settled into an unrecognizable, slow moving lump near Lyle’s groin. It didn’t take long to see results. The heart rate machine began to beep just as it hit the specs Drake needed. As he inserted the drugs he’d concocted into the plunger, he glanced down and blushed. Lyle’s face was flushed. His mouth had dropped open as he panted, soft moans coming from his throat. “Don’t get too close,” Phillip whispered, wrapping an arm around Drake’s waist and pulling him away. “My brother doesn’t mind people watching, but he’s still a shifter.” He grinned when Drake looked at him with a confused frown. “We’re territorial,” he whispered, leaning close. “Oh,” he muttered. Maybe being territorial was a wolf thing. Suddenly, Lyle grunted in satisfaction and the smell of cum filled Drake’s nose. To his surprise, his cock took an interest, thickening in his jeans. Phillip chuckled, shifting his grip to his shoulder and squeezing to get his attention. “How long until you know if it works?” he asked, an amused smirk covering his face. He had to blink several times to focus. Before he could answer, a low growl sounded from the doorway. “What the fuck is going on in here?” Drake shrank back from a snarling Ailean. The man’s 86

Charlie Richards blazing eyes were glued to the hand Phillip still had on his shoulder. His nostrils flared as he took in the scents filling the room. With barely controlled aggression, Ailean closed the door and turned back to them. From the corner of his eye, Drake saw Todd slide out from under the blanket. “What are you doing?” Ailean snarled. Frustration sparked through Drake’s veins. He knew it was childish, but he stamped his foot. “I know I screwed up by giving those guys my research, but how was I supposed to know that they’d do something like this with it?” he screamed, pointing at Lyle’s prone form. “I’m trying to fix what they did.” When all Ailean did was glare at Drake, the bigger man’s chest heaving and his eyes glowing in what Drake could only call disgust, his shoulders slumped. It didn’t matter what he said. His past was too big an obstacle for Ailean to accept. He shouldn’t have allowed himself to hope. Phillip wrapped an arm around Drake’s shoulders and began to steer him toward the door. The dark-haired wolf whispered words Drake didn’t understand, his brain having frozen in his head. A loud roar echoed through the small room and a heavy body slammed into the pair, separating them. Drake landed in a heap, his momentum making him slide across the floor to stop against the machines. Loud growling and snarling reached his ears. Crawling along the floor, he reached the foot of the bed and peeked around the side. A gasp escaped his throat. A large black cat crouched over Phillip’s prone form, his lips peeled back, exposing long fangs as he growled. He eased to his knees, his eyes rounding in shock. That had to be his mate in jaguar form, but why did he shift? “Ailean?” he whispered. For a second, the big, black cat stopped snarling and 87

Accepting His Animal turned his head toward Drake. He tensed when familiar honey-brown eyes focused on him, but a movement caught the shifter’s attention and he began to growl again. Drake realized Todd must be over there, too. He didn’t know what to do, how to help his friends. He needed help. Slipping his phone from his pocket, he hit five on his speed dial. “Hey, Drake,” Declan’s deep voice sounded through the device. “Did yer formula work?” “I have no idea,” he whispered. “I’m in the room now, and Ailean is here. He wasn’t supposed to be on duty right now. And he got super angry, probably cause Todd had to give Lyle a blow job to raise his pulse to where the formula would work,” he continued urgently, his eyes still fixed on the big cat on the other side of the room. “Whoa, whoa, Drake,” the alpha’s voice cut through his ramblings. “Slow down. What’s going on with Ailean?” “He turned into a jaguar, and he’s holding Phillip and Todd captive.” His words met with a long pause, and at first he didn’t think the alpha believed him. “Declan?” “Answer me this, Drake,” Declan commanded, which had Drake nodding, even though the other man couldn’t see it. “Was either of them touching ye in any way when Ailean walked into the room?” Drake frowned. “Well, sure. Ailean started yelling and I yelled back. When he just glared at me, Phillip tried to coax me out of the room,” he admitted. “Ah, then there’s yer problem.” He couldn’t feel more confused. “What?” “An unmated male tried to steal his mate.” “But he doesn’t want me,” Drake denied. “Aye, he does, Drake,” Declan assured. “He just has some baggage. Ye need to get between him and the others. Coax 88

Charlie Richards him back to human form.” He could feel himself going pale. Get between them? Did Declan seriously expect him to approach the cat? “But…but he’s a cat.” Declan sighed into the phone. “Ailean is still himself, even in his cat form. He’s just running on instinct right now. Instinct that says to keep his mate from single shifters who may try to steal him.” He must have let out a squeak of protest because Declan added, “He does still want ye, Drake. But his human senses are warring with his shifter instincts. Don’t let him do something he’ll regret. He won’t hurt you,” Declan assured. “Ye’re his mate.” Drake glared at his phone. “Not all hurt is physical,” he muttered before putting the device back to his ear. “I know,” Declan replied as if he’d spoken directly into the piece. He gritted his teeth when he realized the man’s sensitive shifter hearing had allowed him to understand his muttered words. “I told ye why the man has issues with humans. Just…have faith in the mating link.” “Okay.” Holding back a sigh, Drake snapped the phone shut and slowly rose to a crouch. He wasn’t a brave man, so couldn’t figure out why he followed the alpha’s advice. Maybe it was because he liked the doctor too much to let him do something stupid. And he certainly didn’t want Ailean to get caught like this in a hospital full of humans. What a disaster that would be! All too soon, he found himself within a foot of the large cat. He forced in a slow, deep breath and whispered, “Ailean. Mate? You need to let the wolf go.” His words got the animal’s attention. Drake could tell by the way the jaguar’s body tensed. He could see the animal eye him as he cocked his head to look at him with one big 89

Accepting His Animal brown eye, then the cat sidled sideways, pressing his body against Drake and pinning him to the wall. “You two need to get out of here,” Drake whispered. He reached out tentatively and stroked his hands down Ailean’s side. “Now. Make certain no one comes in,” he added. The animal pushed into his hands and purred loudly. He rubbed the animal’s side again, his mind practically reeling in shock at how Ailean’s cat reacted to his touch. Phillip lifted his head and eyed him. “Thought you’d left,” the man whispered. The words hadn’t finished leaving Phillip’s throat before the cat’s gaze snapped to the man. “Easy,” Drake crooned, his hands moving to the cat’s back, stroking the soft hair. “You have me, Ailean,” he whispered. “You don’t need them.” To his relief, the cat backed a step and pressed its body against him again. Phillip took Todd’s hand and led his brother slowly past the wary jaguar. It didn’t escape Drake’s notice that the shifter kept himself between Drake and the leaving brothers. Phillip paused at the door. “You’ll be okay?” Drake nodded, hoping he would be, but he kept his fears off his face. Phillip gave him a long look, but then nodded and slipped out the door, closing it firmly behind him. As soon as the man left, Ailean gave him a hard shove with his big head and Drake found himself flat on his back on the floor. He peered up into the black feline face as the jaguar crouched over him. For several seconds, his heart tripped in his throat. Then the cat rubbed his head against him and purred. Drake realized after several seconds that Ailean’s cat was marking him with his scent. He brought his hands up and ran them over his shifter’s face, head, and chest, stroking the fur within reach. It felt so bizarre to be able to touch a wild cat like this, but then he 90

Charlie Richards remembered this wasn’t really a wild cat, and Ailean was horribly heavy. “Hey,” he whispered. “I’m having trouble breathing. Do you think you can get off?” Suddenly, the fur receded, and bare skin slid under his stroking fingers. “Sorry, so sorry, Drake. I’m so sorry.” Kisses from human lips scraped along Drake’s jaw and neck. The weight lifted slightly as Ailean levered himself onto one arm, while burying that hand into Drake’s hair to hold him still. The other hand slid down to his hip, squeezing and stroking. “Please, please, please,” Ailean crooned, nibbling and sucking. “Please forgive me. I didn’t mean it. Missed you so much.” Drake brought his hands up and cupped Ailean’s face, forcing him to stop the kisses and nibbles that were quickly making him forget where he was and what events had led to this. His breath caught as he stared into Ailean’s eyes. The glowing need and tormented pain reflecting in them touched something deep inside Drake’s soul. “I do forgive you, Ailean,” he said softly, “but we still have many things to discuss.” A smile lit up the shifter’s face. “Thank you, thank you,” he whispered, pecking soft kisses on Drake’s lips between words. “We’ll talk. I promise.” Drake slid his hands into Ailean’s hair and tilted his head, asking for a deeper kiss. Ailean groaned as he accommodated him, thrusting his tongue deep inside Drake’s mouth. Drake sighed at the invasion, surprised at how much he’d missed the man’s taste. Was that a mate thing, too? Would the craving to touch and be touched by this man ever ease? What if after their talk Ailean changed his mind again? Uncertainty made Drake hesitate, and Ailean groaned. “Promise. Promise we’ll work it out,” Drake whispered timidly. “Promise you won’t reject me again.” 91

Accepting His Animal Ailean nibbled along his jaw to his ear, first tugging the lobe and then sucking at the sensitive skin behind it. “Yes, little mate,” he breathed. “Promise to fix this. Promise to be together. But need. First need.” His broken sentences didn’t make sense to Drake until Ailean ground his stiff, naked cock into Drake’s jean-clad erection. His body jerked as sparks shot through his strangled dick. “Oh!” he groaned. “Yes!” His mate must have taken that as acquiescence, because seconds later his pants were opened and dragged from his unresisting body, his socks and sneakers with it, then his shirt was whipped over his head. He hissed in shock as bare skin hit cold floor. He didn’t have time to get used to it. Ailean hauled him into his arms, as easily as if he were a child, and Drake found his legs wrapping around the shifter’s waist. The hard cock that slid against his own, already wet from oozing precum, told Drake how on edge Ailean already was. The man managed to continue rocking them together as he walked across the room, but he was too busy sucking up a mark on Ailean’s neck to care where they were going. Last time, the man had marked him, and he hadn’t had the chance to reciprocate. He wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to do just that. Seconds later, rough cotton settled against his backside as Ailean set him on a towel spread across the bathroom counter. Drake settled his elbows under him as he watched Ailean use the wall dispenser to pour a liberal amount of lotion into his hand. He reached between Drake’s legs, but he stopped a hairsbreadth away from Drake’s taint and mewled a needy request. Drake propped his heels on the counter and tried to get closer to Ailean’s digits. A glance up at Ailean’s face showed the man’s relief as he stared down at Drake. The shifter’s features clearly showed 92

Charlie Richards his relief at the way Drake accepted their impending coupling. As he leaned over him and claimed Drake’s lips again, this time in a slow, sweet, exploratory kiss, he pushed a well-lotioned finger into Drake’s hole. Drake didn’t bother trying to hold back the groan as Ailean’s finger pressed deep and was quickly joined by a second. The stretching invasion felt so good. After knowing what sex with Ailean felt like, he’d missed it so badly. His cock jerked against his stomach, smearing pre-cum over his abs, as the shifter rubbed his prostate. “Yes, oh yes, Ailean. Right there,” he whispered. His body rocked on those fingers while Ailean pleasured him with his hand. Ailean licked and nibbled his lips, catching his panting gasps in his own mouth. “More,” he moaned. Ailean didn’t question him, just gave him another finger. His other hand rested on his hip as he helped him rock, helped him wring as much sensation out of those thrusting digits as he could. He felt his orgasm building, felt the tension pull his balls tight. His head dropped back on his shoulders, breaking the kiss. Instantly, wet heat enveloped his cock as Ailean sucked him deep. It was too much, and not enough, but when Ailean’s teeth scraped gently against the throbbing vein running the underside of his dick as he sucked harshly, Drake lost it. He couldn’t even warn the man, he just exploded, his mouth open in a silent scream. Streams of his spunk flooded his mate’s mouth. Ailean hummed happily as he sucked it down, sending vibrations down his cock which made one more stream burst out of him. Drake felt the fingers slide from him, stroking across his prostate one more time, sending a sharp buzz through him. Ailean released his cock and rose over him. “Need you, mate,” Ailean whispered, the tip of his wet cock bumping 93

Accepting His Animal Drake’s suddenly too empty hole. “Make me yours again,” he answered immediately. A soft growl erupted from Ailean’s throat as he thrust inside in one long, swift stroke. Buried balls deep, Ailean froze, his body shivering as he allowed the burn in Drake’s rectum to ease, for which Drake felt grateful. Ailean gazed down at him, his brown eyes full of warmth and awe as he stroked fingers over every inch of exposed skin, as if Ailean needed to learn Drake all over again. After several minutes, Drake tried to rock against the man seated deep inside him, desperate to feel that thick cock rubbing the walls of his rectum. Ailean’s soft touches had his cock full and aching again. When Drake moved, Ailean shifted to hold him tightly, as if he feared he’d disappear, wrapping one arm under Drake’s back to grip his shoulder. The other hand moved to Drake’s hip, locking their bodies together. Ailean purred softly as he began to move, his cock sliding nearly all the way out before pushing slowly back in. Drake could feel every ridge, every vein as he impaled Drake on his dick again and again. Drake’s cock leaked a steady stream of pre-cum as Ailean pressed closer still, trapping it between them, giving pressure and friction to his sensitive flesh with each stroke. It took a second to break through his lust-clouded brain, but finally Drake realized Ailean whispered something against his neck with each stroke. “Mine, mine, mine.” Drake grinned, knowing the separation had affected Ailean just as strongly. “Yours,” he whispered back. “Your mate.” Ailean groaned his pleasure and his body went tense for a second before his hips jerked, his cock buried deep. Drake felt the shifter’s prick expand right before hot cum sprayed his inner walls. Ailean bit gently on a tendon in Drake’s 94

Charlie Richards neck, not hard enough to break skin, but it was enough, and Drake fell over the edge again.

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Accepting His Animal

Chapter Ten Slowly, his

ragged breathing began to level out, and the post orgasmic haze cleared. His first thought was, why the hell did I think I could live without this man? The next, shit! Is Drake okay? He snapped up his head, searching his mate for signs of discomfort or pain. Instead, his mate smiled faintly from where he lay on the counter, still impaled on Ailean’s softening dick. “My mate,” Ailean whispered, tracing Drake’s face in awe as he stared down at him. My mate came back to me. Drake’s forgiven me. He’s let me claim him again. “Not that I’m not grateful that you showed up, but why are you here?” When he’d walked into the room and spotted the wolf shifter with his hands on his mate and the scent of cum in the air, Ailean’s ears had buzzed with rage, and he hadn’t been able to understand a word any of them had said. When Phillip tried to take Drake from the room, he’d lost control of his jaguar instincts, his only desire to reclaim his mate and fix what his damn human half had broken. Drake’s brow crinkled as he said, “I told you. I came to help Lyle.” “Really?” The word came out a grunt as he pulled his now soft cock out of his mate’s body. His mate’s breathing hitched, and he squirmed slightly and gasped when he pulled free. “Yeah. It just made sense 96

Charlie Richards that since I created the problem that I fix it. I think I got it right, too.” He frowned at Drake as he soaked a towel and cleaned them both up. “What do you mean?” “I found a way to help him,” Drake insisted. “I’ll know for sure in another…” he glanced at the watch on his wrist. “Two minutes.” “Shit, seriously? Come on,” he said, helping his mate to his feet and hurrying into the outer room. He grabbed the remains of his clothes from the floor and held them up. “Damn,” he muttered. His shirt was a complete loss. “This is why we shouldn’t shift in clothes,” he told Drake ruefully. “Fortunately, the pants are still wearable, but if I run into anyone I’ll have some explaining to do.” He watched Drake pull on his clothes, hiding all that tempting mocha skin from view. Drake shook his head. “I’m still in shock that you guys can…” His voice stopped as he shrugged and waved his hand toward where Ailean had held the wolves captive. Ailean crossed to Drake and wrapped his arms around him. Burying his nose in Drake’s neck, he drank in his scent, relieved to discover no fear. “I’m sorry you didn’t learn about it from me. I just couldn’t seem to—” He stopped, uncertain how to get his concerns into words. Drake gently stroked his back. “I understand,” he whispered. Letting out a sigh, Ailean trailed kisses down Drake’s jaw until he captured the human’s lips in a thorough ravishing. “My mate,” he whispered when they separated, putting all his emotions he couldn’t voice into those two words. Drake’s kiss swollen lips grinned at him. A knock on the door drew his attention and Ailean reluctantly released his mate. Heading that way, he inhaled deeply and caught several wolf scents. After pulling on the 97

Accepting His Animal shredded pants, he cracked the door open and let in Declan, Lark, Phillip, and Todd. Declan smirked and handed him a pair of jeans and t-shirt. “Thought ye might need these after I got that call from Drake.” He sniffed the air and grinned. “Glad ye got it all worked out.” Seeing Drake’s blushing cheeks, he pulled the man into his arms, tucked him close, and nuzzled his cheek. He felt the man relax against him and smiled. His gaze fell on Phillip. “Sorry about that, dude.” Phillip shook his head. “No apology necessary. Someone should have told me he was your mate.” His brows shot up as he caught a guilty look cross Lark’s face. Ailean chuckled, “You little shit,” he hissed. “You set us up. You knew if an unmated wolf was touching my mate…” Lark shrugged, suddenly no longer repentant. “Yup. I knew you’d go ballistic.” He lifted a haughty brow. “Someone needed to give you a swift kick in the ass.” He let out a soft laugh, which immediately stopped when Drake pulled away from him. He turned to see him lift Lyle’s arms, worry filling him when he heard a squeal, until Ailean realized it was a good sound. He wrapped his arms around Drake from behind, unable and unwilling to stop touching his mate for long, and watched over his shoulder. Amazement filled him as he watched the scales recede. In less than a moment, flawless skin covered Lyle’s arm. “You did it, little mate,” he crooned. “How did you cure him?” He felt his mate stiffen and pull away. From his worried face, Ailean wondered what he’d said. “It’s not really a cure,” Drake whispered. Shaking his head, he frowned. “I don’t understand. The scales are gone.” “Yeah, yeah, kind of,” he said, his body still tense. 98

Charlie Richards Wanting to ease his mate’s tension, he wrapped his mate in his arms and refused to let him go. “Tell me what has you so upset, little mate,” he purred. Drake remained silent for a moment, and then he sighed. “I don’t want to lose you again,” he murmured. The words sent a stab of pain through Ailean’s heart. He’d put this fear, this doubt, into his mate. Taking a deep breath, he promised, “Whatever it is, I promise we can work through it together. I learned my lesson, little mate.” He cupped Drake’s face and tilted his head up so he could stare into the dark chocolate eyes he loved so much. “The last week has been hell for me,” he admitted. “I don’t want to live without you.” Giving a brief nod, Drake said, “It took me four days to realize I couldn’t stop the changes. Whatever they gave him was tearing Lyle apart from the inside out. I gave him an additive instead.” “What’s that mean?” Todd whispered, his hand clutching his mate’s unconscious fingers. “It means I gave him something to smooth out the transition. After a couple more doses, his body will accept the changes.” He stared around the group. Ailean felt his tension return. Ailean stroked his spine, soothing Drake’s nerves. “When the transformation is complete, he’ll be a shifter,” he whispered quietly. “My God,” Lark’s shocked murmur pretty much summed it up for everyone. “Well,” Declan whispered. “He’ll have a lot to learn then, won’t he?” The alpha’s gaze landed on Todd. “Good thing he’ll have his mate there to help him, aye?” He looked at Drake and lifted a brow. “What kind of shifter will he be?” Drake shook his head. “I don’t know. From looking at the DNA, my closest guess would be a crocodile or alligator.” 99

Accepting His Animal “Closest guess?” Ailean crooned into Drake’s ear, making certain his tone was soothing and not accusatory. Shrugging, he mate craned his neck to look at him. “I couldn’t match it to any known species. What kind of reptile shifters are there?” He lifted a brow at Declan, who shrugged. “Snake,” Ailean said. “Other than that…oh, wait. I’ve heard of komodo dragon shifters, but not in the northern hemisphere.” “Where do you get all this information from?” Lark asked curiously. Ailean shook his head. “I’ve traveled a long time, Lark. I’ve seen a lot of places.” Before anyone could ask any more questions, he pecked a quick kiss on Drake’s lips and held up the clothes. “I’m going to step into the bathroom to change, and then we need to go. I’m really not on shift right now. I was in the lab when Lyle’s buzzers went off. We can get out of here as soon as I get dressed.” He gave him another quick kiss before disappearing into the bathroom. When he stepped out, he found Grady had joined the group. Catching his attention, he said, “You need to find a new place to keep Lyle. If he’s going to turn into a shifter, he needs a safe environment to learn control.” Declan nodded and exchanged looks with Grady. “Me home would probably be best. If something happens, he has plenty of woods to run in and no one would be around to see.” Taking Drake’s hand he nodded. “Let me know when, and I’ll make certain the paperwork is in order. No one will ever know he’s been here,” he promised. After the others expressed their thanks, he took Drake’s hand and pulled him close. “Let’s go. We have things to discuss.” Ailean led Drake into his house and an intense feeling of 100

Charlie Richards déjà vu flooded him. Instead of offering him a drink, he led him directly to the living room. After turning on some soft jazz, he settled onto his couch and beckoned Drake to him. He wrapped his small mate in his arms and pulled him close. Kissing Drake’s temple, he whispered. “I’m proud of you.” “What for?” he asked curiously. “Instead of focusing on how to remove whatever those guys shot Lyle up with, like I did, you focused on saving him. His life will be forever changed, but he’ll still have a life.” Drake smiled and turned in his embrace. He wrapped his arms around Ailean’s waist and settled his head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry my research hurt your friend.” “You didn’t know,” Ailean murmured. “I should have realized that right off. I just…damn.” He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair in frustration as he relived the memories that had flooded him in those moments. His mate’s hand rubbed up and down his chest, his touch soothing him as nothing else could. “I hope this doesn’t make you mad,” he started tentatively, “but Declan told me about how you were adopted by humans.” He grimaced. “Grady said he mentioned it. What else did he tell you?” he asked softly. “That when you shifted as a teen, they thought you were the devil. They tried to exorcise the demons inside you,” he murmured, continuing to rub, soothing even as his words made Ailean flinch. “I’m sorry that happened to you. No one should have to live through that.” “Did Declan tell you how they tried to exorcise the demons?” Ailean barely managed to whisper the question, and when Drake didn’t answer right away, he wondered if the 101

Accepting His Animal other man had heard. Finally, Drake shook his head. “No, but if you’d like to talk about it, I’d be happy to listen.” Frowning, he looked down into his mate’s warm, reassuring look. “Why would I do that?” “Because sometimes it helps to talk about it in order to let it go,” Drake replied, smiling gently. “My brother is blind. Sometimes he gets frustrated. It always seems to help him clear his head to talk about it.” Cupping his mate’s face, he kissed him gently. “Okay,” he whispered. As soon as he said the word, something in him eased. He knew, of all the people who’d understand, who wouldn’t hold it against him, his mate would be that person. “They would chain me to a cross in the attic and whip me with a belt as a priest prayed, but because I’m a shifter, I healed overnight.” He grimaced. “That, of course, proved to them that their treatments didn’t work. They moved on to cutting next, and eventually to burning.” He shivered at the memory of the pain. He’d tried so hard to put it in his past, and yet it still affected his future. “How did you get away?” “Other shifters caught wind of it. They helped me escape, taught me how to control my shift. They introduced me to other jaguar shifters, but as soon as they found out I was black in my shifted form, they ostracized me.” Tucking his face into Drake’s neck, he inhaled deeply, using the man’s scent to calm his racing pulse. “How long have you been on your own?” “I’m ninety-two years old. I’ve been on my own for over seventy years,” he admitted. Drake lifted a hand and traced a finger over his brow. “You’re not alone now. You know that, right?” “I do,” Ailean whispered, turning his head to kiss Drake’s fingers. He glanced around his living room and then refocused on his mate. “You know, I’ve lived here for over a 102

Charlie Richards year and in all that time, I’ve never invited anyone into my home. Even Declan and Grady haven’t been here.” “Why not?” Drake whispered, nuzzling his cheek against Ailean’s. Ailean smiled. It felt far better than he ever expected it would to share these things with another, almost as if it was no longer his burden to bear all alone. “I don’t really know,” he muttered, getting distracted by the tingles his mate’s nearness caused. “I guess I’m not very social.” He drew back and grinned. “I’m kind of an asshole,” he admitted. Drake chuckled. “Yeah, I caught that already. I’m antisocial, but my brother’s not.” He watched his mate frown. “What is it, my little mate?” “After my father died six years ago, and we had to move my mother to the nursing home, my brother moved in with me.” Drake looked away, nibbling his lip, and Ailean understood. “I see. You’re worried about how that will affect us?” Drake gave a sharp nod and Ailean pulled him tight to his chest. “This place has three bedrooms. Plenty of room for all of us.” “Really? You want us to move in already? You hardly know us!” He grinned down at his surprised mate. “Well, shifters kinda do things quick. It doesn’t take long for us to love our mates, especially when their hearts are as kind as yours.” He ended his sentence with a slow, sensual kiss, expressing all his affection through action. “You love me?” Drake gasped, when Ailean finally lifted his lips. Ailean smiled. “I do. I do love you, Drake. It tore me apart to be separated from you, and I never want that again.” And he would do whatever it took to make certain they remained together, because he refused to suffer the agony of the last 103

Accepting His Animal week again. Drake was his mate, and his place was with him. “Me neither,” Drake admitted after staring at him for several seconds, probably to judge his sincerity. “I love you, too.” Relief and love filled him to the brim, calming his nerves, letting Ailean know that this was right. He cupped his mate’s jaw and gave him a gentle kiss, savoring his mate’s taste. “Then we can work out the details after I make love to you,” he whispered. He watched a slow smile curve Drake’s sensual lips, Ailean’s heart beating faster at the heat in his mate’s gaze. “Count on it.”

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About the Author Charlie lives on a mini ranchette in Utah with her handsome, supportive husband. She started writing fantasy when she was eight, and after stumbling onto her first erotic romance at nineteen, she realized her true calling. She now focuses on writing erotic romance, often of the paranormal variety, with heroes and heroines of all kinds. You can often find her curled up with her laptop and a cup of tea or glass of wine, creating her next story, which could pair a sexy hero with an adventurous heroine…or maybe with another handsome hero. Charlie enjoys horseback riding, jump lessons with Apache, watching movies with her husband, and listening to her muse tell her about her next project. She can be reached at [email protected] Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com