I knew the truth then. He was floundering. He needed something to make him less afraid.
“I dunno if I’m straight or bi or gay for you, but it doesn’t matter. After that mind-blowing kiss, I knew you were the only one for me. And every day after that? I fell more under your spell.”
Mason snuggled closer. “So you’re not still freaked out over me being a submissive?”
“I am not,” I assured him. “In fact, I hate to admit it, but I find it comforting and totally hot.”
“You do?”
“I do. Knowing it makes you happy to makemehappy? Itspeaks to my soul. It gives me something to look forward to every day.”
“Do you look forward to the free blow jobs as well?”
I laughed quietly. “Well, thosearea bonus. And you’re so fucking good at them. Everyone else always choked or wouldn’t swallow. You don’t know how disappointing it was to see them spit out my cum. Not you, though. You swallow and still try to get more.”
“Um, you do the same thing,” he countered.
“I do, because you taste like the sweetest thing I’ve ever eaten, and it’s not enough when you give it to me.” I kissed his forehead. “Now go to sleep.”
It wasn’t long before his breathing evened out.
I lay there in the dark, Mason weightless in my arms. Holding him comforted me. I couldn’t understand how someone could attack him. He was a sweet, submissive guy who’d never hurt anyone in his life. The pack seemed to love him. At least, Ithinkthey did.
Well,someonedoesn’t love him, do they?
I tried to shut my mind off, but it was no use.
“Kip? You okay?” Mason asked groggily.
“Go to sleep. I need to make a phone call.”
“Okay.” He yawned. “Tell John I said hi.”
The fact that he knew who I was calling told me our connection was as strong as ever.
I brushed a kiss over his forehead. Though he was mostly healed, I could still see the line where his skin split, and rage settled like a rock in my stomach. He was already asleep when I got to the door. I went into the spare bedroom across the hall and pulled out my phone. I knew it was late, but I couldn’t make myself care.
John answered after only two rings. “I was expecting your call, Kip. How’s he doing?”
“He’s scared.” I glanced toward our bedroom. “He’s putting on a brave face, but he’s terrified.”
“I can’t blame him.” A pause. “Did you have another reason for calling?”
I set my jaw. “I want the person who did this found. Then I want them locked in a room with me.”
I would rend the bastard limb from limb for what they’d done to Mase.
John pushed out a deep, exhausted sigh. “I had my best trackers in your yard while you were at the hospital. Not one of them discovered anything. It’s like he was attacked by a ghost.”
And there are no such things as ghosts. At least, I didn’t think there were.
“How could someone get into our yard, not be sensed by Mase, and beat him?”
“I wish I knew,” John ground out. “What’s making it worse is now others are afraid too. News of what happened is spreading, and everyone is freaked out.” Another sigh rolled out of him. “The pack was barely hanging on to start with. It’s why we allowed humans into town. Now? I’m afraid this might be too much for us to bounce back from.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to bitch him out, to demand to know why he cared about others when it was Mason who could have died. I forced myself to calm down and think rationally. These were Mason’s people, and despite how things were when he was growing up, I knew they were part of his heart and soul. I also knew John had to think of the whole pack, even if his main concern was Mason.
“I’m sorry.” My apology came from the heart.
