Out Of The Shadows (10 page)

“She must have known, why didn’t she leave?”

“She was more of a best friend and a flatmate than anything else,” Dane told him. “I’m not sure why she put up with it for so long. I should have stopped it and tried to make it work with her, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t stand not having what they could give me, but I didn’t know where else to turn to get what I needed.” He shuddered involuntarily. “I always felt dirty afterwards. I would go home and shower before I could let myself go near her again.”

“Does having sex with me feel dirty to you?”

“No! Never,” he assured Jai. “It was the sneaking about and fucking in the bathroom or in some grubby alley that made me feel dirty, and knowing that I was nothing more than a toy to those men, but not having the willpower to walk away. You’re different; you make me feel wanted and loved and I know that you won’t just discard me. They used me and I let them because I had nowhere else to turn—I see that now. You made me see it. I believe that you will never do that.”

Jai drew Dane into his arms. “I never will,” he promised.

Dane sank into his embrace. “I love you.”

“Love you too, babe.” Jai felt Dane’s questing hand on his cock again.

“Maybe we should move this to the bedroom,” his mate suggested.

“I want you here. Ride me, please, Dane.”

Not needing to be asked twice, Dane stood and went to the bedroom, returning with the lube. When he sat astride Jai’s knees again, Jai dragged him down for a kiss. He groaned as Dane sat up, spreading some of the lube on his fingers and reaching back between his legs. Jai’s eyes widened as he watched Dane get himself ready, fingers spearing into his own arse. His hand went to Dane’s dick, fisting it as his mate fucked himself on his fingers.

“You’re killing me here,” he said after a moment. “Dane, I need you now.”

Dane spread some of the lube onto Jai’s cock as he knelt above him. “You ready for me?”

“Oh fuck, yes. Do it.”

Positioning Jai’s cock with one hand, Dane eased himself lower. He felt the hot, hard head press into him, inch by inch, hearing Jai’s groans. Going slowly, Dane sank down until he rested in Jai’s lap.

“You feel so good around me,” Jai murmured. “Damn it, babe, move!”

Dane did, impaling himself again and again as Jai’s fingers dug into his hips. Unable to remain still any longer, he began to thrust his hips up to meet Dane, tilting his face up so that Dane could look into his eyes. The affection, the love, the desire that he saw there was almost enough to make him come on the spot.

“Want you to come with me, Dane.”

Dane bit his lip at the feel of Jai’s hand on him. He had the feeling that neither of them were going to last for long, but that was fine. They had the house to themselves for the next few days at least. Besides, the muscles in his legs were screaming already and he knew he’d be sore tomorrow from holding himself in this position for so long. He fucked himself on Jai’s cock, riding him hard.

“Dane. Close, love.”

Even as Jai spoke, Dane felt his balls tighten, body tensing as strings of semen pulsed over Jai’s hand, covering his stomach. Jai cursed under his breath and thrust up into Dane, filling him as his own climax came.

When he caught his breath again, Dane moved off Jai, both of them groaning as Jai’s cock slipped free of Dane’s arse. Jai reached for his t-shirt from the floor, using it to clean them both up before dropping back onto the sofa again. He lay back, pulling Dane down on top of him.

“I’m never going to be able to sit here again without blushing,” Dane said softly.

* * * *

Jai laughed. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

Eventually, they dragged themselves off the sofa and into bed, Dane nestling into the crook of his arm, half sprawled across him.

“How did your parents react when you told them you were bisexual?” Dane asked after a while.

“It was just me and my dad, but I didn’t exactly tell him,” Jai said. “He found out on his own. When I was younger, I had a friend, James. I’d known him since I was eleven years old. We met at school and we were instant friends. Over the years, we got closer. He used to stay over a lot, spending some of the holidays at our house, as I did at his. One night, I realised that something had changed. I’d just turned sixteen; I’d had girlfriends before but it felt different with James. I started to realise that whilst I was noticing the pretty girls, I was also noticing the boys as well. It seems that James was, too. We didn’t know how to handle it to begin with—we were attracted to each other, but there was always that thought that maybe we shouldn’t be.”

“So what happened?”

“We both knew that the feeling was mutual but we avoided the issue. He was staying at my house—he slept in a fold-up camp bed in my room—and he got out of bed. I wasn’t sure what to do as he pulled back the covers and got in beside me.” Jai paused. “He kissed me, nothing more, and we spent the night like that, in each other’s arms.

“In the days and weeks that followed, we stopped trying to fight it and just let ourselves see what would come of it. It was unknown territory to both of us, every touch or kiss was new and exciting. We didn’t have sex for a long time, it went on for a good few months before we got to that stage. I was a virgin that first time—James wasn’t, but even he hadn’t much experience. His parents were away and so we had his house to ourselves, and we decided to try it.” He shook his head with a short laugh. “It was awkward and fumbling and, to be honest, it hurt like hell when he took me, but it also felt so freeing. The next time we knew what we were doing, and the next.

“I think it was a bit of a shock when my dad came home early from work one day and caught us in my room, in each other’s arms, kissing.” He paused, taking in the surprised look on Dane’s face. “He sat me down and asked me for the truth, about what was going on, about what had been happening considering how long James had been staying at our house, and I told him. He didn’t really know what to do with the information, I don’t think, but he decided that as long as I was happy, then he’d back me in whatever I chose.”

“I can’t imagine my dad doing that,” Dane commented sadly. “I sometimes wonder if I’d just told him, right from the start, if it would have been any easier on him. I’ve spent the last five years hiding. If I’d just told them, it could have been completely different.”

Jai held him close, letting him talk. Dane didn’t open up very often and, although he might hate what he heard, he wanted to know about Dane’s life.

“What you said, about noticing the boys when everyone else was looking at the girls, that was me. I just ignored it, pushing the thoughts away. I just shut them off and convinced myself I was over it, that it was just a phase.”

“So what changed?”

Dane was silent for a moment.

“You don’t have to tell me, if you don’t want to.”

“I do, it’s just that my story isn’t quite as hearts-and-flowers as yours,” he said. “About five years ago, when I was with my old pack, a man called Ant arrived in town. He wasn’t pack but I worked with him in my job. He was a sweet bloke, but because of how he acted—he was very effeminate in his speech and actions—he was teased a lot. I liked him, stuck up for him and befriended him, and we would meet for drinks after work. One night, when we went to his place after quite a few drinks, he told me that he fancied me.”

“What did you do?”

Dane had been at the office for an hour when his phone rang. Checking the display, he frowned.

“Sash?”

Jai, sitting close by, listened.

“Nick was here,” Sasha told him. “He turned up just after I got here. I think he was waiting outside. He kept saying he was sorry, that he loved me and that he wanted me to come back to him. Like I would! He wouldn’t take no for an answer and he started kicking off when I told him to get lost.”

“Where is he now?”

“The security guard threw him out and I haven’t seen him since, but from what he was saying, I think he’s been watching me.”

Jai watched the cold fury on Dane’s face and went over to him, sat down on the desk, and reached out to him.

“I don’t want you to go out on your own for a while,” Dane told her. “I can drive you to work and collect you when you finish.” Jai nudged him, nodding, and he added, “Or Jai can. If he appears again, you call me.”

“I don’t want to cause trouble for you, Dane.”

Dane sighed. “I said, call me.”

“Fine,” she relented.

* * * *

At five o’clock, Jai got off Ret’s bike and watched as he pulled away into the traffic. He turned and headed for the department store where Sasha worked, sauntering in just before they locked up for the day.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we’re about to close.” The petite sales girl flashed him a seductive smile as she approached. “Of course, if I can help you find anything real quick, I’d be happy to.”

Jai shook his head. “I’m actually looking for Sasha Bryant.”

Her expression suddenly became guarded. “Why?”

“I know that Nick has been hassling her and I didn’t want her going home alone.”

“Oh, that’s good. I never liked him; he was awful,” she said. “So, are you her boyfriend?”

“No.”

She grinned, eyeing him in a way that made him think of a hungry lion watching a gazelle. Licking her lips, she batted her eyelashes at him.

“Actually, I’m sleeping with her brother,” he said, chuckling as her eyes widened and she blushed. “Sorry, couldn’t resist that. I’m Jai, by the way.”

“Lindy,” she said. “Come on, I’ll take you to Sasha.”

* * * *

“Thanks, Jai,” Sasha said as she climbed out of the Jeep. She looked around. “Why are we here?”

Jai slammed his door and locked the Jeep. “Because you’re staying at my place again until I can be sure you’re safe.”

“But Mum…”

“Your mum has agreed to go home until we sort this mess out. I can’t say she was happy about leaving, but she did. She thinks the same as your brother and I,” Jai told her, “that you would be safer here.”

* * * *

For the next couple of days, Sasha found herself with an almost constant bodyguard. Since the guards were not needed for pack business, their Alpha had told them to stay with Sasha instead. He had expressed his concern, even though she wasn’t with his pack, and insisted that they call him should they have any trouble. Dane knew he meant it, but they wouldn’t need help. Between the six guards, they could easily deal with one human should he provoke them enough.

“I kind of hope that Nick shows up,” Jai commented as he and Dane wandered into the store. They had dropped Sasha off three hours earlier. “That way, we could just kick his arse into next week and get it over with.”

Dane agreed, although he didn’t admit it. It was boring, sitting around all day, waiting for something that may or may not happen. They spent the first hour sitting in the car before deciding to move to the bench in the square at the opposite side of the street. When Jai suggested going for a coffee in the café in the department store, he agreed. At least that would be a bit warmer than the bench. Jai had done the first day on his own since Dane was saying goodbye to his mum and making sure she set off safely, and he spent most of it talking to the salesgirls inside the store. Today he had Dane with him for company.

“With any luck, he’ll have taken the hint and pissed off,” Dane said. “I hate seeing Sasha upset by that moron.”

Jai reached down and took his hand. “We won’t let Nick near her,” he promised.

Dane didn’t answer, and Jai could sense the tension in him. Moments later he slipped his hand free again. When Jai glanced at him, Dane’s eyes were fixed on the old couple who were walking toward them. The woman was frowning at them.

“Hi there, gorgeous,” a voice said, distracting him from the old woman. “Back again?”

Jai grinned as he turned, seeing Lindy approach them. “I just couldn’t keep away from you, darling,” he quipped. “Dane, meet Lindy.”

She smiled at him. “So, you’re Dane. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Dane frowned. “You work with Sasha?”

“Yes, but I meant from him,” she said, casting a wicked grin at Jai. After a chatting with Jai for a moment, she glanced at her watch. “I’m on my break in a few minutes. Are you heading for the café?”

Jai nodded. “Come and join us if you want.”

Once she had gone and they were sitting down at a table with a cup of coffee, Jai turned to Dane.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong,” he asked, “or should I guess? You haven’t said a word for ages.” He reached out to his mate. “Come on, babe, what is it?”

“Don’t.” He moved his hand away from Jai’s. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. Not yet.”

“Dane, it’s fine. I told you that I wouldn’t pressure you into anything,” Jai assured him. “I am so proud of you for what you’ve done so far. You don’t have to apologise to me, ever.”

The relief was obvious on Dane’s face. “I just saw that woman looking at us before and it was like I was back where I started. I feel like such an idiot for reacting like that.”

“Yes, you are,” Jai agreed, “but you’re
my
idiot.”

Despite himself, Dane smiled. Hesitantly, he reached across the table to lay his hand over Jai’s, his gaze still flicked around at the other customers but he didn’t pull away.

“I’m trying, Jai,” he said.

“I know you are, babe.”

* * * *

There was no sign of Nick until the following day, when Jai went out to start the car to drive Sasha to work. Dane was sitting in the kitchen when he stormed back inside, cursing a blue streak. Jai threw his keys onto the counter.

“Little fucker has gone too far this time. I’m going to break his fucking neck when I get my hands on him.”

Sasha stopped dead in the doorway, actually backing up a step when she saw the fury on his face.

“What happened?”

“Nick, that’s what happened,” Jai raged. “Garage door lock has been smashed off. Every fucking tyre on the bike and the Jeep have been slashed.”