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CHAPTER SIX
Autry couldn’t believe how good he felt after such a fierce bout of lovemaking. He should be completely exhausted, but he felt fresh and alert. Cross sat up and carefully moved Autry to the side just a little so he could throw his legs off the side. He looked back over his shoulder at Autry and winked. “Come on; baby, let’s get dressed and head up to my quarters. “I have some things I need to explain, and I think you could use a bite to eat.”
“I could eat, and I wouldn’t say no to a bottle of water.” Autry had a dry mouth, and before he had time to think about it any further, Cross was placing a cold bottle of water in his hand. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now grab your clothes. I don’t want you showing that lovely bare ass in the club.” He joked and tossed Autry his clothes.
“That goes for you too,” Autry stated. “No one sees that ripped body but me from now on.” Autry stopped and fell silent for a moment, not sure where that feeling of possessiveness and ownership even came from and how Cross would react.
“Don’t worry, I’m all yours, baby, and you are all mine.” He bent forward over the side of the bed and kissed him hard before straightening and pulling on his clothes.
“Does anyone else live here?”
“No, just me, but there are two apartments on the second floor for anyone who needs a place to stay. Everyone in my pack has their own homes within the city, but if they want to stay here, they’re welcome.” Cross commented as he cleaned up the room and prepared to leave.
“You call your group a pack.” Autry kidded him. “Like a wolf pack?”
“Yes, like a wolf pack, but we are not all wolves. Lowell is a vampire, Zeke is a tiger shifter, Hofer and Cade are cougar shifters, and the two at the door, Noa and Ames, are bear shifters. The rest of us are wolves, and I am their Alpha.” Cross threw out the info like it made sense, and Autry stared at him, trying to decipher if he was serious or joking.
“You think you’re a werewolf, and you think your bouncers are bears?” Autry was struck with confusion and a sudden panic that the good-looking man he was lusting after was certifiable. Life couldn’t be that cruel. They were finished dressing, and Cross reached out his hand to Autry, who, for the first time, did not take it. He took a tentative step back and scanned the room, looking for a speedy escape.
Cross’ eyes narrowed, and he tracked Autry’s every movement. His expression grew predatory, and Autry automatically took another step back. “Are you serious right now?” He asked, and his voice broke, making him sound as nervous and scared as he felt. He saw the concern flash in Cross’ eyes, and the man took a step back, not crowding Autry but raised his hands palms out in a calming gesture.
“There’s a lot you need to know about me and my men and our lives.” He said calm and measured as if not wanting to spook him further, but his words were not comforting.
“There is no such thing unless you are referring to role-playing.” Autry worked to find an explanation he could accept and absorb, but Cross shook his head, and Autry’s stomach plummeted. His sexy new boyfriend was a head case. How could he own and operate a place like Club Zephyr if he didn’t have a firm grasp on reality? It didn’t make sense.
“You can shift into a wolf.”
“Yes.”
“I think I should leave.” It was hard to say, but he needed time on his own to lick his wounds and put this gorgeous crazy man out of his mind. There was no future for them, not if he believed in such a fantasy.
“Look in my eyes and tell me what you see.” Cross stared at him, baring himself to Autry’s scrutiny. He looked deep into those coal-black eyes and saw something a light and a sincerity, and it pulled at him to believe. “We are bonded when I bit you; it sealed the connection between us don’t you feel it.” He urged Autry to focus, but it was so difficult with all the crazy stuff flooding his mind.
Autry reached up and touched his neck where Cross had bitten him and gotten him off in a spectacular fashion, and he felt an electric sensation at the touch. He pulled back and then gingerly touched the area again, and the delicious sensations shot through him. He didn’t understand but assumed it was a damaged nerve or something easily explainable. “I’m sorry, Cross, I don’t know what I want or what I’m feeling right now. I’m drawn to you, and I want you but . . .” He broke off, unwilling to say the things that might offend.
“But what?” Cross pressed for more and took a half step forward.
“The sex is out of this world fantastic; being with you and your amazing energy is an experience I’ve never had, but you’re not a werewolf. There is no such thing as vampires and shifters. It’s crazy talk.” He blurted his thoughts and then took a deep breath and focused his eyes on the door.
…
He saw Autry staring at the door, and it gutted him. He’d fucked this up in a spectacular fashion in his defense, he wasn’t used to explaining and had never had to bring a non-paranormal in on their secret before, and it was much harder than he’d anticipated. For some reason, he thought their bond would have opened Autry’s mind enough to listen and accept what he was being told.
“I can prove it to you.” He said, and that made Autry swing his head around to stare at him once again with eyes that were filled with regret and disappointment, a look he never wanted to see again on his perfect Fated mate. Autry shook his head in a quick, jerky movement that betrayed his growing concern.
“You are not alone in this world. There are many things that you are not aware of or simply do not pay attention to. Mystics, magics, shifters, vampires, and species of life have existed forever, but in the shadows, they are all around you. We have always been here just as you and your kind have always been here.” He reached out his hands, but again Autry stepped back from him.
“Fate brought us together, and this new life is your destiny. Please don’t run away. Let me show you that my words are truth.” It was too much for Autry to take in, and he started shaking his head rapidly and heading for the door. Cross followed. He left the room and ran down the hall out into the main room with the crowd and the music and the lights. Cross did not stop him but watched as he raced out the door and away into the night.
Parc and Lowell walked over to him, standing on either side, feeling his desperation and misery and lending their support. Cross just stood there and stared at the door wishing him to return but knowing that was an impossibility. “He believes that I’m insane.”
“You tried to explain the paranormal to him?” Lowell asked, and Cross gave a curt nod.
“It didn’t go well.” He said and then added. “I thought he’d understand we’re a Fated couple, and I completed our bond. I thought he would understand.” It was strange standing on the side of the dance floor with so much life and activity going on around him but still feeling so damned awful and alone.
“He’ll be back. The bond is too strong for him to stay away.” Parc assured him with a pat on the back. “And when he returns, we will help you convince him.”
