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But it was obvious that some fucking wolf had damaged Sanjay in some way. Jake’s gaze slid down Sanjay’s body, and Jake noticed a scar on the guy’s chest. It ran from his left nipple to his navel.
A growl vibrated in Jake’s chest.
“Then give me something to cover up with,” Sanjay demanded.
Jake tossed his mate a throw pillow from the couch.
“You’re not funny,” Sanjay grumbled as he held the pillow at his chest. “You said I was in control when it came to intimacy.”
“Who’s getting intimate?” Jake asked with a smirk. “I have a gorgeous naked guy on my living floor. You’d have to poke out both of my eyes for me not to stare.”
Sanjay pushed to his feet, keeping the pillow at his chest, leaving his groin exposed. Damn, his mate knew how to torture him.
“Then I’ll just shift and make my own way home.” He dropped the pillow, staring defiantly at Jake.
“I thought gazelles were supposed to be sweet and gentle.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” Sanjay spun on his heel and walked toward the door, his backside jiggling a little. Jake suppressed a moan as he stalked toward his mate.
“Whatever that wolf did to you, it wasn’t me, so stop punishing me for some asshole’s actions.”
“I’m not punishing you.” Sanjay kept walking.
Jake gently grabbed Sanjay’s upper arm and spun him around. Sanjay swung at him, his eyes wild.
“Whoa!” Jake held his hands up, palms out.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Jake saw how heavily Sanjay was breathing, how his pupils were dilated, how those same, beautiful eyes were wide.
“I…” Sanjay looked around. “I’m not in a good headspace right now, Jake.”
Jake dropped his hands, his gaze never leaving Sanjay. He could see the anguish his mate was in. He knew Sanjay was skittish, and he was going to have to take it one moment at a time.
“I know,” Jake said. “But I want you to know that I’m not that wolf.”
Sanjay roughly swiped his tears away. “I need to go.”
With a heavy sigh, Jake nodded. “Let me get you something to put on.”
He had to trust that Sanjay wouldn’t leave while he retrieved some pajama pants and a T-shirt. Jake was much bigger than Sanjay, and his clothes wouldn’t fit his mate, but it was better than leaving naked.
As Jake stepped into his dimly lit bedroom, he rifled through his drawers, searching for the necessary items. He paused, leaning against the dresser as he stared at the pile of clothes before him. The weight of his relationship with his mate weighed heavily on his mind as he contemplated how to approach Sanjay and prove that not all wolves were cruel and heartless beings. His thoughts swirled like a tornado, leaving him feeling helpless and unsure of what to do next.
He walked back to the living room to find the front door open and Sanjay gone.
* * * *
After shifting into his human form and putting some clothes on, Sanjay sat on his back porch, his legs curled to his chest, his arms wrapped around them, and stared into the backyard, thankful that no one had spotted him on his way home.
Ever since things ended with Matt, Sanjay had sworn off dating. He enjoyed the freedom and independence that came with being single, not having to compromise or answer to anyone else.
But deep down, he also feared getting close to someone again, afraid of losing himself once more. Part of him longed for companionship and the chance to rediscover who he truly was, but another part held back, paralyzed by past pain and the cruelty he’d suffered through.
Sanjay had thought he was getting better, but Jake had proven him wrong. Sanjay was far from okay. It wasn’t just Jake, either. Trenton’s attack had made Sanjay’s past trauma come roaring back with a vengeance.
If it had ever truly gone away.
By the argument he’d had with Jake and the fear that had nearly crippled him, Sanjay could say that it hadn’t gone away.
