Caleb froze.
“There are two things you need to know,” I continued. “One, I’m in charge here. Two, you’ll watch your language when you speak to me. No swearing. Got it?”
Caleb dropped his gaze. Immediately, he tried to lift it, then grunted when he couldn’t. After a second, he settled for digging his heels into the mattress and shoving his butt up as much as he could. The movement set his mouthwatering abs flexing and clenching. His tan skin gleamed under the bedroom’s soft lights. His breathing grew more labored as he twisted around and began tugging at his right arm. He kept talking, anger and fear thick in his voice.
“You took off my shirt,” he said. “You chained me to your bed, you sick fuck.”
A sigh built in my chest. Upstate New York was the very last place in the world I wanted to be. Every shot of pine-scented air up my nose was a reminder of a past I’d rather forget. If I were smart, I would have done my job in the forest and put this entire unpleasant trip behind me. But something had stayed my hand.
Well, not something.Someone.
Caleb.
He was so young—and he had no idea what kind of mess he’d wandered into.
He thrashed and jerked against the cuffs, making the bed frame squeak. Smoke began to rise from his wrists, and the burning rubber stench of fear mingled with the scent of cooking meat. With every futile tug, his skin sizzled like bacon hitting a frying pan. I released the sigh and stuffed my beast down so Caleb would be able to look me in the eye.
But he ignored me as he kept on tugging at his burning wrist. “What the fuck?” he whimpered. His heart tripped over itself as I stood and moved to his side.
“D-Don’t,” he gasped, cringing away as far as the cuffs would let him. His chest rose and fell swiftly as he angled his head down, his thick lashes obscuring his eyes. His bravado died a swift death, and his voice warbled as he whispered, “Don’t hurt me.”
I slid a hand under his jaw and forced his gaze to mine. “I’m not going to hurt—” I sucked in a breath as a connection flared to life.
Caleb paled under his tan. Confusion swirled in his eyes, which had lightened several shades. Abruptly, the dark, smoky scent of desire lifted around the bed. He made a sound—half pain, half pleasure—and shuddered in my grip.
My heart sped up. His desire flooded my lungs and streaked a fiery path to my dick, which swelled eagerly.
“Fuck,” I muttered before I could stop myself. This was a complication I didn’t need. Lust coiled low in my gut. Deep in my consciousness, my beast lifted its head and scented the air. Recognition pulsed through the connection.
No.Hell, no. I reached for my control, but it was too late.
My beast sat up in my mind, every ounce of its attention on Caleb.
New links twisted around the connection. One end anchored in my chest and sizzled like a lit fuse. Burning hotter, it streaked to my fingers on Caleb’s jaw. My cock throbbed, which was as unwelcome as it was inconvenient. The recognition struck again—a jab I couldn’t ignore no matter how much I wanted to. My shock was reflected in Caleb’s eyes as his lips parted and a fluttery little breath escaped him.
“Are you…?” he began. His brows, which were several shades darker than his hair, drew together. He moved restlessly, his hips lifting. His fingers curled like he wanted to grab onto something, and he released another soft, breathless moan that wrapped tight, invisible fingers around my cock.
He rocked his hips up again. “Oh god… What are you doing to me?” Fresh panic bolted through his eyes. “Did you drug me?”
“No,” I bit out. It took more willpower than I cared to admit, but I slammed a mental block against the connection between us, blunting the link. Then I released him and stepped back.
He shook his head like he meant to clear it. The bulge in his jeans left little doubt he was just as affected as I was.
I folded my arms over my chest so I wouldn’t reach for him. “You’re gay,” I said bluntly.
Caleb’s gaze sharpened. In an instant, he was as bristly as a porcupine. “So?” The distance I’d put between us must have eased his reaction to me, because a defiant look entered his eyes as he raked his gaze down my body. “You stripped my shirt offand tied me up. You’ve got me barefoot in your bed. Now you’re rocking a semi and you wanna say no homo?”
Fortunately, I had enough experience with smart-ass college students to wrangle back the smile that tried to spring to my lips. I kept my arms folded as I raised a brow. “Your shirt was long gone before I found you. I removed your shoes because they were covered in mud. I also cleaned the blood from your face and chest, called an ambulance for the man you attacked, and brought you here before the police could arrest you. You’re welcome, by the way. As for mysemi, as you so eloquently put it, I guarantee I’ve been gay a lot longer than you have, sweetheart.”
He sucked in a breath, and I could almost see the endearment land like an arrow between his eyes. He recovered quickly, a hunted look entering his gaze as he swallowed hard. “That, uh, cyclist… Did I…?”
“No,” I said. “He’ll be fine, although he won’t be hitting the trails for a while.” I let my beast rise just a touch. “Who sired you?”
The hunted look turned into confusion. “What?”
Damn. Unless he was an exceptionally skilled actor, my suspicions were right on the money. Another sigh built as I unfolded my arms. There was no easy way to do what I was about to do. No gentle methods for easing someone into revelations that could break their mind or send them into a tailspin of existential doubt. Some situations called for simply ripping off the bandage and grimacing through the pain. This was one of them.
Eyes locked with Caleb’s, I lifted my arm and called my wolf.
