Some shifters could stay in their human form after they’d been injured. It took great strength, but normally nature took over and they eventually shifted. Dante had tried his hardest not to, to stay awake until help arrived so he could watch over Jason, but his cheetah had taken over. Dante had been powerless to stop the shift.

  “I’m okay.” Jason rested his head on Dante’s chest when Dante lay back down. “I jumped out of the way in time, and then he dropped the gun and took off. My only concern was you.”

  Dante ran his hand over Jason’s soft hair. “I wasn’t cheating on him. I swear. I’m not that type of guy. I was serious when I told you we were mates, and just so you know, mates are precious. I’d cut off my arm before I would ever hurt you, physically or emotionally.”

  “Or give me another ticket.”

  “Or give you another ticket. Just don’t go speeding anymore, or I’ll have to put you over my knee and spank you for it.”

  Dante felt his mate smile against his chest. So much shit had taken place in such a short period of time, and he was glad Jason wasn’t having a meltdown. He was taking things in stride, and Dante couldn’t be prouder of him. He was also relieved that Cal hadn’t shot Jason.

  If he had, nothing would have stopped Dante from getting out of bed, hunting the man down, and tearing him apart. He was still going to hunt for Cal, along with Kevin, and deal with both of them.

  Shifter style.

  Jason raised his head. “Spank me?”

  He tapped Jason’s ass. “It’ll stop you from speeding again.”

  Jason’s pupils dilated as he stared at Dante, his eyes full of desire. Dante’s cock started to thicken, and there was no way to hide what Jason was doing to him since he was naked. His mate hadn’t covered him, so his cock was exposed.

  His mate looked down at Dante’s erection, lingered there for a moment, then he looked back up. “Tell me more about this mating thing.”

  “What do you want to know?” Dante pulled Jason up toward him until their faces were inches apart. “Ask me anything.”

  Jason’s lips parted, then he licked them, making Dante’s cock throb. “How do we bind our souls?”

  “Sex.” Dante ran his finger over Jason’s skin where shoulder met neck then tapped the spot. “I’d bite you here.”

  “Will it hurt?”

  “For a brief second. Then I’m told it’s a pleasure like you’ve never experienced before. My saliva will enter your bloodstream, giving you immunity against diseases and enabling you to live as long as I do. We’ll be bound for all eternity.”

  Jason gave a nervous chuckle. “First, you haven’t even taken me on a proper date. Second, you’re not asking much from me, are you?”

  “When my kind find their mate, we don’t hesitate.” He shrugged. “It’s ingrained in us from birth, from even before that. It’s a part of who we are, Jason. I’m dying to claim you right now, but I’ll give you whatever time you need because there is no reversing this. Once our souls are bound, you’re mine.”

  “Can you have sex without biting?” Jason’s grin grew. “Asking for a friend.”

  Dante chuckled then sobered. “To be honest, I don’t think I can. The need would be too overwhelming. I might not be able to stop my cheetah from taking over and claiming you.”

  Jason’s gaze lowered to Dante’s cock again. “Can we do other things?”

  Dante rolled, pinning Jason under him. “Like sucking cock?” He slid his hand down Jason’s body, cupping his mate through his jeans. Dante felt how hard Jason was and wanted to taste him. “You’re wearing too many clothes, love.”

  He eased back as Jason unfastened his pants, lifted his hips, and shimmied out of his pants and underwear. Dante lay on his back as Jason sat up and pulled his shirt off. Then his mate eased over him, his groin in Dante’s face.

  Shifters were normally famished after healing, but fuck food. Dante would rather have Jason’s cock in his mouth. He’d rather feel his mate’s lips wrapped around him.

  “Are you sure you’re healed?” Jason looked under him, directly at Dante. This was one hell of a time to ask when his cock was dangling in Dante’s face.

  Instead of answering him, Dante gripped Jason’s hips and lowered him, licking at the head and drawing in the pre-cum. He groaned at how good Jason tasted, at the way his mate wiggled and sighed, at the way Jason took hold of Dante’s cock and did the same, exploring at his leisure.

  Dante pulled Jason down farther, engulfing him, the hard shaft sliding down his throat. Dante cupped Jason’s sac, massaging his balls as he licked and sucked, flattening his tongue as he pulled back. God how he wanted to sink his dick into Jason, to fuck his mate until they were both too tired to move. He purred around Jason’s cock at the thought, only to hear Jason groan.

  Jason started fucking Dante’s mouth in short bursts, attacking Dante’s dick at the same time. His warm, wet mouth felt like heaven as Dante felt the buildup in his groin. His balls drew close to his body.

  Jason was the first to cry out, his cum shooting down Dante’s throat. Dante licked his mate clean then pulled back and concentrated on his blowjob. Jason had gripped the base to detract inches and was stroking Dante as he bobbed his head. Dante gritted his teeth as his own orgasm ripped through him. He grunted, holding on to Jason’s hips, fucking his mate’s mouth for all he was worth before he finally felt as if he was floating back down.

  Jason lay on him, his head resting on Dante’s thigh. Dante eased his mate off of him, spun Jason, then closed his eyes. “Five more minutes of sleep.”

  “Just so you know, Deputy Dario is in the living room.”

  Which meant Maynard had gotten an earful. At this point, Dante didn’t have the energy to care.

  Jason yawned and curled into Dante’s side. Within moments he heard Jason’s even breathing, telling him the guy had fallen asleep. Dante held Jason close, thanking whoever was listening that Cal hadn’t shot him, that Jason was safe and in his arms.

  * * * *

  Two days later and neither Kevin nor Cal had been found, though not for lack of trying to hunt them down. It was as if both had simply vanished. Dante had been on the phone a lot over the past forty-eight hours getting updates, but so far, no one had found either man.

  Jason just wanted this over with. It was bad enough Kevin had attacked him, but having one of Dante’s ex-boyfriends on the loose with a grudge—and willing to use a handgun—put Jason on edge.

  But Dante refused to stay inside.

  The day was a lot cooler than it had been. The heat wasn’t oppressive, and Jason decided to wear a light jacket. His bruises were now green and yellow, but his sister—surprising the shit out of Jason when she’d shown up at his door just to hang out—had taught him how to wear concealer to hide the discoloring.

  There were times when Sara could be a decent human being. Yesterday had been one of those times. She’d told him that she would keep an eye out for Kevin, since she knew who the guy was, and call the cops if she saw him. Jason had told her not to put herself in harm’s way, but she’d simply waved off his concern.

  Another miracle was that she hadn’t told their parents about the attack. Jason wasn’t sure they’d even care if she had told them. Now if Sara had been attacked—which Jason never wanted to happen—they would be in the streets crying for justice and for the perpetrator to be found.

  Even so, Jason was wary of Sara’s kindness. He would bet his last dollar she was keeping things on the down-low so she could use that against him in the future for some favor. She’d fucked him over when she’d told Stephen how many guys Jason had been with—which had been a complete lie—and now she wanted to help.

  Nope, he didn’t trust her in the least.

  Dante walked up behind Jason and wrapped his arms around him. He kissed Jason’s nape, and secretly, Jason loved all the attention. “Ready for a day out?”

  “Yes, but I’m still worried one of our assholes might ruin our day. What if Cal has another weapon? What if Kevin has one?”

  “We can’t live our lives in fear, Jason. If either of them tries anything, I’ll shut them down quicker than an old man farts.”

  Jason laughed. “That’s gross.”

  “It’s true.” He spun Jason in his arms and gave him a proper kiss, tongue included. Jason groaned, hitching his leg over Dante’s hip. He clung to the man, drowning in how good Dante tasted. Coffee and toast. Jason never knew the combination could be so heady. He couldn’t remember that last time he’d been this happy, either.

  Now this Dante—unlike the one who’d pulled him over and given him a ticket—was hot. He was also caring and a great conversationalist. He kept Jason enthralled for hours with his stories as they left the apartment and walked around the downtown area of Willow Point.

  Most would think this a hick town, and they’d be right to a certain point, but there were a lot of shops that fascinated Jason. That was one of the reasons he’d stayed when he’d come here to see a friend years ago.

  Then he’d talked Gem into living there. The town was wholesome, even though it saw its fair share of trouble with petty crimes. But most small towns dealt with those troubles. The town was butted up against a vast forest, where one could go hiking, running, or bicycling. There were also picnic areas with grills. Jason couldn’t think of one thing he didn’t like about Willow Point. Even most of the residents were nice.

  Most. Jason had a run-in or two with jerks.

  Like Stephen.

  And Kevin.

  But now that his face was clearing up and he knew how to use the concealer, it was time he went back to work. Although Dante had said that Jason would never want for anything, he wasn’t living off of a guy. That was a recipe for disaster.

  For now, he shoved all that aside and enjoyed his day with Dante, and he had to admit it was the best day he’d had in a very long time.

  If ever.

  Chapter Seven

  The sun had already set by the time Dante was driving them back from Point Pizza. Although Jason hadn’t been claimed yet, Dante had found it comical that Jason was still wary that he could eat what he wanted without worrying about his health. After some coaxing, his mate had eaten damn near the entire pizza. For a skinny guy, Jason could sure put the slices away.

  Not that Dante cared. He would love Jason even if he gained—Had he just thought those four letters? Dante looked over at his mate, who was asleep in the passenger seat, his head resting against the glass of his door. Dante had known that love would come in time, and that he already cared about Jason, but was he already in love with him?

  It was a new feeling for Dante. He’d never been in love before, but he was almost certain that was exactly how he felt. No one had ever made Dante’s heart thunder the way Jason did. No one else had made him smile at just the sight of them. No one had made his palms become sweaty, and no one had ever made Dante wanted to please them as he did Jason, simply to see his mate grin.

  As Dante drove down the backroad, happy to show Jason his place, he noticed headlights behind him. That was peculiar since it was only seven in the evening. What made Dante take notice was the fact that the driver had on his high beams. Dante had to adjust his rearview to escape the glare but kept watch in his side mirror. Whoever it was behind the wheel was driving way too close.

  Dante slowed, rolled his window down, and signaled for the jackass to pass him. He wasn’t in any rush, and he would be damned if he sped up, especially after he’d given Jason a ticket for speeding.

  Shit. Dante had completely forgotten about taking care of that ticket. He would have to let Sheriff Weston know that he was paying it, or fees would be added.

  His thoughts scrambled as the truck behind him tapped Dante’s rear bumper. That was no accident. He’d reached for his phone in the cupholder to call this in when his car was hit again, the cell phone falling from his hand and onto the passenger floor.

  Jason jerked away and looked around. “What’s going on?”

  “We’ve got company,” Dante said. “Make sure your seatbelt is on tight.”

  This time Dante did speed up. He came to an intersection on Route 26 and, at the last second, cut the wheel right onto a road that would take him farther from town. The vehicle behind him cut the corner just as fast. Dante got a brief glance at it when it came around the corner and saw he was dealing with a black pickup. Unless Cal had stolen it, Dante didn’t think it was his ex.

  If it wasn’t Cal, then it had to be one of the men that had been harassing Jason at Loose Lips. Kevin? Sheriff Weston had found out the guy’s full name and where he lived, also what he drove, and it wasn’t a black truck.

  “I can’t see who it is,” Jason said from beside him, his fingers strangling his seat belt. “The bright lights are blinding me.”

  His mate yelled when the truck hit them again, causing Dante to fishtail. He righted his car, white-knuckling his steering wheel as he watched the odometer needle pass eighty.

  “Grab my phone off the floor and call 911,” he told Jason. “Let them know where we are and what’s going on.”

  “I have my phone.”

  Jason grabbed his out of his back pocket, but before he could dial, they were struck again. This time Dante lost control of the car. It skidded off the road, up an embankment, and stopped suddenly between two trees. Dante had to use his strength to wedge his door open, but it was enough for him to work his way out of the car.

  Instinctively he grabbed the gun in his holster, only to remember he wasn’t wearing it. He leaned through the window. “Give me my gun out of the glove box.”

  Jason’s hand shook as he did what Dante said. He handed it over, and Dante pulled from the door just as a bullet whizzed past his head. He returned fire as he shouted for Jason to get out of the car. His mate had no choice but to use the driver’s door since the passenger door was held closed by a thick tree.

  As Dante fired his gun, he and Jason backed into the woods. When he was sure they had enough cover, he grabbed Jason’s hand and took off. His mate kept up as they ducked around trees, skirted large bushes, and hauled ass away from whoever was out to kill them.

  “Call the station,” Dante said as they slowed.

  “I can’t.” Jason sounded seconds away from freaking out. “I dropped my phone when he struck us the last time. It’s in the car.”

  Well fuck. Dante had seen two men by the pickup when he was getting them out of there. Two men, but possibly more. And he’d recognized them. Kevin Brandt and Stephen Broderick. What in the hell was their problem? Was Kevin that pissed that he hadn’t been able to finish what he’d started? Was Stephen that gung-ho to see his friend assault Jason? None of this made any sense.

  Dante had run into men with chips on their shoulders, some who took it personally when they were slighted. The kind of guys who thought they were the shit and no one could possibly turn them down. Perish the thought.

  But this was above and beyond insane. Then again, there were some pretty disturbed people in the world, people whose thinking process and the way they viewed things was so obscure that they weren’t even in the same realm of reality as everyone else.

  It seemed Kevin and Stephen were some of those people because no one in their right mind should think it was okay to run someone off the road and shoot at them.

  But in Dante’s line of work, and for as long as he’d been alive, he’d seen some pretty fucked-up people, dark, dangerous, with no remorse for their actions.

  To those men, this was probably justified or even a thrill.

  Dante kept them moving, stopping every once in a while to listen. His mate took the opportunity to catch his breath with every stop. “If I’d known we were going on a psychopath hike, I would have worn more comfortable shoes.”

  “You’re wearing sneakers.”

  “I should have worn hiking boots.” He looked around. “Do you think they came after us, that they might still be following us?”

  “I’m not sure, but I want to keep going. I saw two guys, Keven and Stephen, but there might have been more inside the truck.”

  “What the hell is their problem?” Jason looked up at Dante. “Is Kevin’s ego that fragile that he wants me dead for rejecting him? All we need is for Cal to join forces with them and this would be the perfect outing.”

  Dante admitted that this was messed up. Both Cal and Kevin had resorted to weaponized violence. If Dante got his hands on either man, he wasn’t going to arrest them. Not when both had threatened Jason’s life.

  He was going to bury them in these woods.

  “Let’s just make it back to town without getting shot. Then we’ll figure it out from there.” He took Jason’s hand. “Can you keep going?”

  “I’m not that out of shape,” Jason said. “I’m winded but can keep going just as long as you don’t expect me to run a marathon.”

  They’d hiked another mile before Dante saw a house set back from the road, butted up against the forest. He didn’t see any lights in any of the windows, but if he announced who he was, maybe the occupants would at least let him use a phone.

  “I’m getting all kinds of horror movie vibes from this place,” Jason whispered as they grew closer to the house. “If anyone comes out with a chainsaw or machete, you turn into Cujo, okay?”

  “I’m not a dog,” Dante pointed out. “I’m a cheetah. Big difference.”

  “I’m talking about being rabid.” Jason smirked at him. “Or, hey, you could give them a ticket for being creepy.”

  “Am I ever going to live that down?”

  “I’m just nervous.” Jason squeezed his hand. “Sorry, I’m not the type to hold a grudge, for long, anyway. You were just doing your job, and I was being a dick. I’m the one who should be apologizing for that morning.”

  “Water under the bridge.” Dante returned the comforting squeeze. “Now stay behind me while I knock on this door. Some people get real edgy when strangers show up after dark.”

  “Wouldn’t want someone else shooting at us,” Jason said under his breath. “I swear to god, when we get out of this, I’m buying my own weapon.”