Page 44 of Mane Full Of Stripes
“Don’t like it? Sugar pie? Love bug? Cheeky chops?”
“Have you been drinking?”
Apollo burst out laughing and shook his head even though Jost couldn’t see it. “No. I’m just happy.”
“I know. I can feel it, and I like babe. It was a shock.”
“Well, babe. Get used to hearing it. Have you finished?”
“Yes, the last pup has gone. I love alpha Elvin, but did he have to have so many cubs? They are so cute and adorable then become wild animals! I need to sit down and have a drink.”
“I had a fight happen in class and had to call security. That was fun.”
“You couldn’t sort it out?”
Apollo exhaled heavily. “No, in case I’m charged with assault, and the school is sued. It doesn’t happen often here. We’re a small community, but it’s the way of the world right now. You look at someone wrong and they’ll threaten to sue you.”
“I sometimes think it would have been nicer to have been alive decades ago when life was simpler in so many ways.”
“But harder in others, but I know what you mean.” Apollo stared out of the car window, watching the trees sway in the wind. A storm was coming in. “I’m going to pick up something for us to eat. What veg don’t you like?”
“Cauliflower. I only eat when it’s smothered in cheese.”
“You can’t go wrong with cheese. I’m going to go. I have this hot shifter coming over later, and I need to make sure I’m ready for him. I’m hoping he’ll rock my world tonight.”
Jost gasped, then whispered, “I can be in charge?”
“Well, I hope so. I’ve been thinking about it all day. I’ll see ya later, babe.”
“You will. Bye Apollo.”
Apollo hung up and dropped his phone on the passenger seat, then drove away from his parents’ house. At the supermarket, he didn’t take long because he had to get home and showered, and wear something nice for his mate. His mate. Apollo still couldn’t quite believe he’d met his mate and was now actually mated to him. His sweet little omega made his heart ache with love and his dick hard. Love? Yeah, he was in love with the perfect shifter.
Whistling, Apollo grabbed what he needed, avoided a conversation with Martha, who he knew would be gossiping about him later because she would have scented the changes in Apollo’s scent, and drove home. As he pulled up outside his home, he felt a sudden jolt of fear crash over him. He gasped, a hand on his chest, his heart racing, and took several deep breaths to calm down. It was only then he realized it wasn’t his fear he was feeling. It was Jost’s.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jostfinishedhiscallwith Apollo and closed his eyes, smiling to himself. Apollo was worlds apart from Jenrick, and Jost was ecstatic to have found him. Putting his car in drive, Jost pulled away from the nursery and began the journey home. He could barely keep still in his seat, his mind thinking about all he could do with Apollo. There were some nerves there as well. Thoughts of how Jenrick had treated him lingering, but he knew deep inside he could trust Apollo. He could feel it through their connection, and it helped ease his worries.
Another night with his mate, kissing and touching and making love. Jost thought that was what they did together. They made love. Apollo touched him in a way that showed Jost how much Apollo cherished him, and now he had someone who treated him with dignity and respect. He knew what he’d had with Jenrick was anything but that. The looks Jenrick gave him that Jost interpreted as love were anything but. Now they seemed calculating, and they made Jost shiver inside. It mystified him how he had fallen for someone like Jenrick, but then again Jenrick had showered him with small gifts and such affection that Jost fell for it, and he’d learned a painful lesson.
Not with Apollo, though. When Apollo had told him they didn’t need to move in together until Jost was ready, Jost knew fate had sent him the perfect shifter. Maybe he’d gone through his awful relationship with Jenrick so he’d know when he’d found the right shifter. From an early age, he’d wanted to mate and have cubs, but he wanted to have a career too. Jenrick had promised him the world, and Jost had been young and immature, so had easily fallen for the lies and Jenrick’s charm. Now that Apollo was here, Jost knew he’d never have to worry again. He couldfeelApollo. It was the most wonderful thing in the world, being able to feel how much Apollo cared for him.
Jost stared ahead as it began to rain, and switched his windscreen wipers on, leaning forward so he could see. Flicking his lights on, Jost noticed how dark the sky had become and winced when the rain lashed the windshield as the wind picked up. A storm had arrived, and he wanted to gather his things then go home to Apollo.
Go home to Apollo. Yes, home was Apollo.
As he had that thought, the wind buffeted the car, and Jost gritted his teeth as his grip tightened on the steering wheel. He automatically slowed, and then he noticed a car off the road ahead of him with its hazard lights on. Jost slowed as he passed, seeing someone bent over staring at the engine, the hood providing some shelter, but not much. Jost pulled in and grabbed his umbrella, then hopped out of his car and ran over.
“Can I help you?”
“No, Jost, but I can help you.” Jost staggered back, staring into Jenrick’s dark eyes, that narrowed and hardened as they glared at him. “I’ve been waiting for you. A little birdie told me you’d mated. They weren’t happy about who’d you mated, either, but I’ll deal with him later. Now I need you to come with me.” Jenrick lunged at him and Jost spun around and bolted for the trees. A flash of heat washed over him, his body heating up, but Jost ignored it as he ran.
“Fuck you!” Jost shouted as he ran into the trees, ignoring the scream Jenrick let out. As he ran, he patted his pockets, and winced when he realized he’d left his phone in his car. He’d have to circle back and get to his car, then drive away before Jenrick caught him. He should have done that first, but instinct had him bolting away. “Shit.”
“I will get you, Jost, and then I’ll make you suffer!” Jenrick screamed from far too close behind, which meant he had to be catching up. Why now? He’d been gone for almost a year, so why was he here now, and who had told him about Apollo? “Jost!” Jenrick screamed. At least it was raining. The rain should help to hide his scent. Jost carried on running through the trees and burst out into a field, then saw a stream off to one side. Sprinting over to it, he jumped in then ran downstream, following it until he was certain Jenrick hadn’t seen what he’d done. The cold water did nothing to stop the heat that ebbed and flowed inside and a quick sniff of his skin confirmed Jost was entering his heat. Why now? Was it because he’d mated Apollo that his heat had come in before it was due? Getting out, he ran back into the trees and headed to where he thought he’d parked his car, ignoring the changes in his body.
It felt like hours later when he ran out onto the road, then looked both ways, spotting his car to the left and some distance away. Gritting his teeth, Jost ran towards it, listening for sounds of pursuit but not hearing any. All he heard was the wind and the rain. His teeth chattered due to the ice cold water that had soaked into his clothes, which were still wrapped around his legs, but he’d almost made it.
