Page 97 of Forbidden Moon
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RJ’S HOME, LATE AFTERNOON
A half-eaten supper lay forgotten on the table as RJ stared off into space, head full of conflicting desires. The strongest among them was the need to see Jonah, yet his fears anchored him in place. He’d seen and heard incredible things today, and yet he knew them to be true. Combined with what Jonah, Evan, and Ben told him, all the little quirky things about the people of the Preserve told a consistent story—his boyfriend was a wolf, or rather a shifter, as they called it.
Where did such beings come from, and why had no one discovered them before now? Worse yet, could he do what they wanted and accept Jonah as his life partner and live among them? If he understood correctly, he and Jonah were already mates, decided by who or what he didn’t know. Another unanswered question to join all the others queued up in his brain. Maybe he should have stayed to hear them out instead of running away, but between the beating, and the shock of seeing his lover turn into a predator, the urge to flee won out.
The desperate look on Jonah’s face nearly shredded RJ’s heart before he left. The man’s feelings were strong and clear, yet instead of comforting RJ, they frightened him. Was it possible, in one week’s time, to make a lifelong commitment? Humanly speaking, he didn’t think so. Honesty compelled him to admit that until the shocking discovery of this afternoon, he wanted a life with Jonah. Beautiful, funny, smart, tender, sexy Jonah.
The thoughts circled round and round, taking him nowhere, and RJ pushed away from the table with a wince to settle carefully in the living room. On the coffee table, his mother’s photo watched him with eyes full of life, love, and wisdom. Until Jonah, she was the only person he’d truly loved, and he needed her guidance.
“Tell me what to do, Ma. I thought I found THE ONE, and now I doubt everything.”
As if summoned by his request, snippets of past conversations mingled with the memories of his mother’s calm, careful advice through the years. He could almost hear Lottie’s soft, strong voice.
* Do you love him, Rascal? *
“Yes. Except for the wolf thing, he’s perfect.”
* If you walk away, will you regret it? *
“I think that scares me more than staying with him.”
* Courage is knowing what not to fear. *
“I know, Ma, but this isn’t something I ever expected to face.”
* Remember, son, love never fails. *
RJ stood slowly, minding his bruised ribs, and went out on the back deck to think—hoping to clear his mind before bed. He’d never expected to make such a life-changing decision, and the weight of it settled uneasily on his broad shoulders.
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JONAH ACCEPTED BEN’Sinvitation to stay with his family for a while, grateful for the company. He felt incredibly... empty: bereft of his mate, denied a future, and betrayed by Luna. His family and friends surrounded him with love and support, but it wasn’t the same or enough. Deep inside lay a dark, desolate chasm where his mate once resided. Oh, he knew intellectually that Evan’s dreams foretold a happier ending, but when? How could he go on living without his other half?
Part of him wanted to call RJ and beg him to return or maybe camp out on his front porch until the man agreed to see him. He knew such measures were sure to backfire and might push RJ even farther away. When he asked about mixed couples of the past, Evan agreed to tell him one of the stories.
“This account goes back to fourteenth-century England before our ancestors emigrated to America. A female shifter named Felice followed her human mate’s scent until she found Laurence, a handsome woodcutter, working nearby. Little by little, they spent time together until the man asked her to marry him. With no understanding of human religion, marriage was out of the question, and she refused.
“When he demanded a reason, she revealed her true nature, fully expecting her mate to turn away. It did frighten him, and after months of separation, his love for her ultimately convinced him to do whatever it took for them to be together. Posing as a married couple, they moved to another village where no one knew them and began their life as a couple. Eventually, they raised eight children, and their love became something of a legend among local packs.
“Felice didn’t have the benefit of Luna’s dreams to assure her that she and Laurence had a future together, and she never gave up hope. I don’t know how long it will take RJ to figure out how much he needs you, but when he does, you’ll welcome him with open arms. Trust me, Jonah. Hewillcome back to you.”
Evan wouldn’t lie to him, and the story momentarily lifted his spirits. It helped knowing someone else faced the same issue and persevered. Would RJ prove to be as flexible and accepting as Laurence? Could he duplicate Felice’s trust and longsuffering attitude? Jonah liked to think his connection with RJ was strong enough to weather the storm, but ithurt. The underlying pain of separation invaded his bones, making it difficult to acknowledge anything else.
He finally went to bed in the spare room but lay awake wondering what RJ might be doing. Did he miss him? Was he also having trouble sleeping? A wave of loneliness and worry wiped away the earlier taste of hope, and Jonah struggled to keep his spirits up. It wasn’t long before his bedroom door opened, and Evie’s scent washed over his troubled soul. She hurried to the bed and climbed in to snuggle against his side.
“Evie! Did I wake you up, sweetheart? Let me take you back to bed.”
“No! You need me, and I’m going to sleep here. Don’t worry, Uncle Jonah, RJ will come back. Papa said so.”
She was right; Jonahdidneed her right now. He kissed the top of her head, breathing in her comforting scent. Soon enough, he fell into an exhausted sleep, dreaming of a sexy, dark-skinned woodsman.
