He carefully folded his clothes, placing them on the driver’s seat, further evidence of his intentions should the Johnson boys get curious enough to investigate, and then slipped into possum form, ambling across the field back to Seth’s house to keep watch throughout the night. While most of the passel only used the kitchen entrance, more than a half dozen more existed. Dustin wouldn’t use them unless dire circumstance forced his hand.
Chapter 14
DUSTINLIVINGSTONhadnotturned into a possum in the sitting
room. Seth had simply averted his gaze for a moment and the creature that’d bitten him had found a way back in. Horror sank in. The possum might still be loose in the house! Grabbing the straw broom from its hook on the back porch, Seth crept warily down the hall, alert for movement, though what he’d do upon actually encountering the animal he had no idea.
Room by room he investigated, stopping before he entered his aunt’s bedroom. He closed his eyes—the essence he’d noticed earlier in some of the townspeople was even more intense here. As he eased the door open, he breathed deeply, his olfactory senses leading him across the floor to the bed. He buried his nose in the quilt, catching the full scent. The beast had been here, evidenced by the hair Seth had found on the bed upon first arriving.
A pet, then. Instead of a cat, Aunt Irene had somehow tamed a possum, which explained everything: the hole in the wall, the food mess, the hair, the appearance of a full-grown possum in the sitting room tonight. Yeah, the neighbor woman had three tame possums, why couldn’t Irene have one? Or maybe the tame ones came visiting. Did the women time-share the creatures?
Dustin’s words came back to him.“Have you noticed lately that your sense of smell is stronger? Hearing?”
His grandmother’s words joined Dustin’s:“Your father’s family was… well, they weren’t natural.”She’d always changed the subject when pressed further.
“Dustin Fucking Livingston! I hate you!” Seth screamed at the room as he moved through like a tornado, sweeping vials and bottles off his aunt’s dresser and sending them crashing to the floor. He screamed and screamed and screamed, impotently releasing his temper before the pressure built to critical mass.
His bare foot connected with broken glass, sending pain shooting up his leg. His fury ebbed, leaving him empty inside, with an aching throat, and with his aunt’s possessions smashed upon the floor. He dropped to an area rug, carefully avoiding the mess. Staring in rapt fascination at his bandaged wrist, he peeled back the gauze to find the bite mark nearly healed. He buried his face in his hands, letting out the hurt, confusion, and bitterness in a relentless wail, unsurprised when strong arms wrapped around him, securing him against Dustin’s bare skin.
Neither man spoke. Seth sobbed into the crook of Dustin’s neck while Dustin crooned, soft sounds, not words.
Seth’s caterwauls gentled as he grew too tired to continue. At last Dustin said, “You haven’t eaten. Can I get you something?”
“Not hungry.” The way he felt at the moment, Seth wondered if he’d ever be hungry again.
“No, I suppose not. Is there anything I can do for you?” Though he’d been furious with the man a few moments ago, now Seth didn’t want to be alone. “Hold me until I’m asleep?”
“If you want me to. But first I need to treat your foot. You’ve cut yourself.”
As though Seth weighed nothing, Dustin lifted him and carried him into the bathroom, depositing him on the closed toilet lid. With gentle hands, he probed Seth’s wound before applying antiseptic and butterfly bandages.
Seth marveled at how familiar his childhood friend seemed with the inner workings of Aunt’s Irene’s home, and how unaffected he appeared by casual nudity. “You know your way around here.”
“Yes. I was Irene’s second-in-command. Even if I weren’t a doctor, part of the position’s duties included tending minor injuries.” “And the vet?”
“We keep him around in case he’s needed. Sometimes it’s easier to treat a patient in animal form, and this being a farming community with lots of livestock is the perfect cover.”
“Oh.” Seth studied Dustin’s precise movements as he wound and neatly folded a strip of gauze and secured the ends without using tape.
“Keep an eye on that cut. We’re more resistant to illness due to the virus, but we’re still at risk of infections, other viruses, and ailments that exist in both species.” He handed Seth two ibuprofen tablets and a Dixie cup of water. “Here, take these to help with the pain.”
Seth obediently swallowed the pills. “Can I ask you something?”
An intense green-eyed gaze connected with Seth’s. “Unless you’re gonna ask me to leave again. I’ve already promised to stay, and I keep my promises.”
“Did you plan this? For me to be bitten?” Seth held his breath, hoping against hope for Dustin to tell him no.
Those sad eyes turned away. “No matter what you might think, I never intended this to happen. In a moment of distraction an elder let Tiffany slip away.”
Seth watched for signs of duplicity and found none, only what he believed might be shame. “Take me to bed.”
Once more Dustin lifted him, exerting little effort to haul Seth to the bed they’d shared. For now, Seth pushed aside the questions, doubts, and fears, determined to lose himself in the physical. His problems would keep until morning.
Dustin took great care in removing Seth’s jeans to avoid his injured foot, and the insistent throbbing slowly faded to a dull ache. Seth’s boxers followed the jeans down his legs and off.
When he returned to the bed, Dustin approached from the foot, slowly crawling up the covers, his gaze smoky with longing, tempered with concern. He stopped with his head near Seth’s crotch, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply. “You smell amazing.” Dustin brushed his nose against the thatch adorning Seth’s groin. “Right now you’re scared, but when you learn to appreciate heightened senses….” He let loose a wicked grin. “Let’s say they have their uses.” Dustin whiffed again, and ran the flat of his tongue along the underside of Seth’s cock. “Ummm…,” he moaned. “Cock. My favorite meal.”
Sumptuous heat engulfed Seth’s rising erection, and he fell back against the pillows, closing his eyes. Dustin worked up and down Seth’s hardening flesh, humming, hand keeping time with his mouth. He stroked and fondled Seth’s balls, occasionally tracing further below with a fingertip, trailing saliva toward Seth’s hole.
