When Keaton fell again, Kade opened his mouth wide, clamping it over Keaton’s neck. Not to harm him. But to show Keaton that Kade was the dominant of the two. Keaton whimpered and Kade released him, sufficiently establishing the hierarchy between them.
Now it was time to have fun. Kade backed up, yowling low in his throat. Keaton pushed to his feet, moving closer to Kade. He was shocked when Keaton began to lick his face. It was a very welcome feeling.
Kade jerked when Keaton butted his head against him and then ran around the back of the couch. He inwardly smiled as he stalked after his mate, moving along the side of the couch and then behind it. Keaton jumped at him and then took off running toward the back of the apartment.
Kade’s heart sped up at the chase. He raced after Keaton, both bumping into furniture and knocking things over. A small lamp crashed to the floor, making Keaton skitter to a stop and glance behind him. That gave Kade his chance to pounce, taking Keaton down. They rolled together, Kade landing on top.
As much fun as he was having with Keaton, Kade knew they had to shift and go find out what was going on with the cops. Kade backed off and returned to his human form. “Come on, Keaton, we have things to take care of.”
Keaton gave a small yowl, backing away.
“Don’t make me come after you,” Kade warned. “You can shift back to your cat when we get home tonight.” The word home sounded so foreign to Kade. Although he had been living with Bishop, it wasn’t really his home. His childhood home was no more, and prison had been his shelter for a very long time.
A stirring in his gut happened when Kade thought about making a home with Keaton. He never knew how badly he had wanted a place to call his own until Keaton had asked Kade to move in with him. Now he couldn’t wait to pack his shit and leave his brother’s.
Not that Bishop was a bad guy, quite the opposite. He was what any younger brother would want for an older sibling. It was just time for Kade to move on.
“Think of your human form, baby,” Kade said to Keaton.
He watched as Keaton shifted and then collapsed to the floor. Kade chuckled. “Like I said, it’ll take some getting used to.” Without another word, Kade picked Keaton up from the floor and held the man in his arms as he carried him to the bathroom and showered.
“That was so freaking cool!” Keaton laughed as Kade washed him down. “A lot scary, but cool.”
Kade smiled as he finished washing them and then grabbed some towels. “You did just fine.”
Keaton’s forehead crinkled as he gazed into Kade’s eyes. “Do you think the cops will arrest us?”
Kade stood, tossing the towels in a hamper by the sink. “I sure as shit hope not. But we can’t stay on the run. Bonnie and Clyde we are not, so let’s go straighten everything out.” Kade swatted Keaton on his tight little ass as they exited the bathroom.
He spoke to Keaton with confidence, but a part of Kade prayed they weren’t in trouble. He never wanted to see bars again for as long as he lived.
Chapter Ten
Oliver sat on the steps of the rec center, his elbows resting on his legs, staring off into the parking lot. He had needed time to himself, to work things out in his mind. Spending time with Blair earlier was good for him, but right now Oliver needed to be alone.
He had thought that after all these years he’d put his past behind him, buried it deep and forgotten about it. Thoughts of years long ago hardly ever came to mind.
But, what Blair had told him had rocked him to his very foundation. It wasn’t the fact that his father was a monster. Oliver knew this. He had lived it, had known his entire life what sort of man the guy was. He had further proof the night his father had stumbled drunk into his bedroom, after he had kicked Blair out, and had forced himself on Oliver.
His hands balled into fists.
Stomach clenched.
Heart hurt.
He wiped at his eyes, pushing away the falling tears.
No, what shocked him was the fact that his father had held someone at gunpoint and raped him. Hadn’t his mother seen what kind of man he was before she married him? Hadn’t she known? Had he hid it so well that his father had fooled his mother?
Oliver would never know because she had run off with her boss, leaving them to live a nightmare until fate finally intervened.
Oliver knew that Micah was right inside the woods, watching him. Instead of being irritated about the intrusion, Oliver was thankful. Micah had always been there for him, had helped him through his nightmares when he first came to Brac Village.
When Micah stopped watching him, that was when Oliver would worry. He pushed to his feet, walking from the parking lot. He could feel Micah following, so Oliver stopped, allowing his mate to walk with him.
“I’m not my father’s son.”
“No,” Micah agreed. “You are not. You are a very intelligent, strong man who fears so very little. You’re facing this, and it’s painful, but if you need, I’ll help guide you through this and get rid of all your pain.”
Oliver loved Micah so much. It hurt that Kota had kept what had happened a secret, and it was going to take Oliver some time to forgive him, but Micah was right. He would get through this. Micah was like a little piece of heaven. Oliver knew the man would help him get rid of his pain, little by little, day by day.
He felt compelled to apologize to Kade. The man had
