Page 14 of Sex, Blood, and Real Estate

“Stay with me, don’t leave.” Wyatt reached out to hold onto Sam.

“I’m right here baby I’m just grabbing a towel to clean you up.” Sam took the soft hand towel and tenderly cleaned him and then tossed the towel to the floor and pulled Wyatt back into his arms. Wyatt laid his head on Sam and ran his hands down that marvelous chest loving the feel of his soft warm body.

"I feel different," Wyatt commented but couldn't explain beyond that one word. Things were happening. He felt it, and he saw it. He wasn't scared, but he wanted to know what it was and why he felt the way he did. His connection to Sam was suddenly bone deep, and he possessed a need for this man who could never be sated.

"Were you born here, Wyatt? Did you live your entire life here in Eastport?" Sam asked off the subject.

“Yes.” Wyatt wasn’t sure why Sam was changing the subject.

"I'm not changing the subject; I'm just getting a read on how much you might already know about the citizens of Eastport and the surrounding area." Sam dropped a kiss to the top of Wyatt's head and pulled him close.

Wyatt turned his head, looking up at Sam in surprise. "You read my mind?"

"You can read mine too. It's not perfect, but we can understand and feel each other's emotions and deep thoughts." Sam said, matter of fact. "It's part of the bond that you and I share." Wyatt concentrated on Sam, and it was true he could feel his emotions. He could feel the pleasure he was experiencing being close to him and holding him.

"You're happy; you're happy that you're with me." Wyatt erupted.

“I’m very happy.”

“How is that possible?” Wyatt stuttered and then stopped for he was getting a vision of his lover with eyes red and fierce and his face so hard but beautiful in its intensity. He saw Sam savage and extreme and it was a huge turn on. He wanted this man in every way. He saw the smile and recognized that Sam knew.

"You saw me; you know me. Open your mind to me, Wyatt." He said and then continued to explain. "You've lived here your entire life, and you must know something. You must have seen or heard something that, at the time, sounded too fantastic or unreal. An experience you may have tucked away because you were not ready to believe." Sam's tone was soft and sultry, drawing Wyatt into the mystery and making him think, bringing back moments of wonder and confusion. This town had many secrets and mysteries.

"I had a friend, Ian, who dated one of the security guards at the Indigo Hotel. He had many fantastic stories of wolves, bears, and vampires. The guard's name was Seamus, and I met him once. He was a really nice guy with a great sense of humor. The things Ian used to say made me wonder about his sanity." Wyatt hadn't seen or talked to Ian in a few years. He moved to New York, and their friendship faded, which often happens when people move away.

“What did he tell you?” Sam urged him to keep talking.

“He said that the gated community Bay Harbor was a Wolf Pack as in werewolves and that the Indigo Hotel was staffed by werewolves, fox shifter, bear shifter and vampires.” Wyatt told him with a nervous grin part of him believed his friend because he’d been so serious about it at the time. “But then a few days later he and Seamus broke up and suddenly Ian had no memory of the bizarre things he’d said to me.”

"I remember your friend," Sam said to a surprised Wyatt.

“You met him.”

"Yes, when he and Seamus broke up, it became clear that Ian was going to be a threat to our secret." Wyatt, again, turned to look at Sam directly, reading his expression and touching his emotions. His words were true, and Wyatt felt himself tense up.

“Ian was upset when Seamus wanted to break it off with him. Ian was not his beloved or rather mate as the shifters call them, so a long-term relationship was impossible." Wyatt felt himself hanging on every word and was grateful when Sam pulled him closer, holding tightly against his body. The closeness had a relaxing effect on him.

"Ian was getting too serious, so Seamus, being the nice guy that he is, chose to end the relationship rather than string him along. Unfortunately, Ian took it badly and started making threats to broadcast what he knew about Seamus and his friends and colleagues. Ian should never have known anything to begin with since every species takes great care in maintaining the secret, but accidents happen, and Ian was made privy to some truths.” Wyatt couldn’t stay silent. He had to comment, so he broke in.

"You're telling me that what he told me was true. Werewolves and vampires are real?" Wyatt reached up and covered the scar on his neck with his palm, and things began to click into place.

“I took Ian’s memories from him. My people have the ability to clear minds and it was necessary to clear Ian’s of the things that he had witnessed when he was with Seamus.” Sam paused but Wyatt didn’t know what to say.

"You saw me; I let you see me. You know what I am." Sam urged him to speak.

"You’re a vampire are you going to clear my memories like Ian when our time together is over?" That question seemed to have an effect. Sam rolled him over, covering him with his body, and cupped the side of his face. He stared down into Wyatt's face, piercing him with his dark, penetrating eyes. He saw everything, but Wyatt saw, too. He saw Sam, and he saw his concern and his honesty. His words were true, and his concern was for Wyatt's handling of said truth.

"You are my beloved. I first recognized you when I touched your scarf. It was the most amazing day of my life. I immediately went in search of you, and when I found you, I was enthralled the moment I laid eyes upon you." Sam kissed him, but it was short and powerful. "Your memories cannot be touched; Fate designs that way. No one can touch your mind or have any influence on you. It's Fate's way of maintaining a balance between us and giving you power in the relationship."

“I’m your beloved?”

“Yes.”

"I've heard that word before. Ian said that one of the vampires from the winery found their beloved at the wine-tasting seminar that was held at the Indigo. He said it made the man hyper-focused on the individual and a bit crazy." Wyatt remembered Ian acting like it was entertainment and oh-so-funny to watch.

Wyatt felt for the man. He was trying to take care of his love and protect him from both the man's own family and the hired goons that were after him. Wyatt didn't find it funny at all. "He wasn't crazy; he was just protecting what he loved."

CHAPTER EIGHT

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