Page 6 of Thayne
Looking over at Baron, I signed if he wanted anything to eat and all he gave me was a wide grin showing me his elongated teeth. I’d take that as a yes. Pointing down at a now wide-awake Scarlett who was looking back and forth between us questioningly; her mind was going ninety to nothing and her heart felt like it was going to explode.
“He says calm your tits, he’s just stopping to get gas and food. Are you hungry?” Baron clipped out at Scarlett. That wasn’t exactly what I’d said but it calmed her down so I’d take it as a win. When she looked up at me, she let her thoughts flow to answer me. The fact that she tried to communicate directly to me instead of using Baron gave me hope that she might be able to accept me as her mate.
I nodded as she listed off a plethora of foods she’d like to have. Apparently just because she was small didn’t mean shit when it came to her appetite. She wanted Twizzlers, beef jerky, pork rinds, a moon pie, pickled eggs, RC Cola, and fried chicken gizzards. Damn, my girl could eat. I couldn't help but smile down at her as I ran my fingers through her fur.
“You two are going to make me vomit before I even get some food in my belly. Move your ass, I’m starving.” I rolled my eyes at Baron as I got out of the truck and gave him a cocky smile.
After filling up the truck, I made my way into the gas station with my giant list. By the time, I made it to the check-out I looked like a pothead with money on a munchie run. The clerk gave my stash a knowing look before he glanced up at me smiling and nodding. Clearly he thought the same thing I did and I wasn’t about to contradict him I just shrugged smiling back at him.
Walking back out to my truck, I notice a highway patrol car pulling into the gas station. I didn't think anything of it until Baron looked out the back window at me motioning me to hurry up. Reaching out to the patrol’s mind he was there for coffee and that was it. I wasn’t sure what had spooked Baron about the patrol officer but I imagined it had something to do with his past.
When I got back into the truck, he ducked down in his seat making nervous glances in the mirror at the patrol car. I tried not to probe people unless I had to in order to communicate, but with the way he was acting, I was tempted to do some snooping. Instead, I handed him the bags of food, cranked the truck, and quickly pulled back out onto the highway.
“You gonna ask or just poke around in here?” He asked about ten minutes down the road. I couldn’t sign while I drove so I just shook my head at him. If he didn’t want to share I wasn’t going to ask and I wouldn’t invade his privacy either. Scarlett’s face bounced between us for a second before she started clawing at the bags.
“Okay, okay girlie I get it you’re hungry and give zero fucks about my drama. What the hell is all this shit by the way? Did you seriously ask for pickled eggs? If I didn’t know better I’d say you were pregnant.” Baron laughed as he opened the pickled eggs and the smell filled the cab of the truck. My stomach rebelled against the smell and I gagged a little. I quickly rolled down my window as Baron started to complain.
“Oh fuck! That shit smells awful. How can you eat those things?” Chancing a glance over at Baron, he was holding his nose as he rolled down his own window. Meanwhile Scarlett was chomping down on her pickled eggs like they were the finest veal.
She hates us. That’s the only explanation for exposing us to such a heinous smell.Between Baron complaining, my animal complaining, and Scarlett completely oblivious to our distress I couldn’t help but start laughing. Baron and Scarlett both looked at me like I’d lost my mind and maybe I had. Maybe after killing all those guards, melting the last guard’s brain, setting fire to the building, and fleeing, having them complain about something so normal was just funny as fuck to me.
“Okay, this was pretty funny all things considered, but please for the love of all that is holy and my sinuses finishes those damn eggs. I’m glad she’s your mate, man the pickled egg thing would be a deal breaker for me.” Scarlett glared at Baron before letting out an offended yip and then snuggled closer to me.
“You got your hands full with that one. She is full-on spitfire from her cute little button nose to the tip of that fluffy little tail of hers. I hope you can handle all that.” Baron barked out a laugh as he started rummaging through the bags before he yanked out a bag of chips holding them up triumphantly. He threw a second bag my way before going silent again.
Scarlett
Wakey wakey eggsand bakey sleepy head.I must have fallen asleep after I finished eating. Having a full belly, being next to my mate, and the rocking of the truck was like the perfect combination to put me to sleep. Speaking of my mate, he was almost absentmindedly running his fingers through my fur and I gave into my sudden desire to rub against him. I had this almost uncontrollable urge to rub myself all over his body so he smelled like me.
My fox told me he was my mate, and I believed her, but I’d never had this desire to make a boyfriend smell like me before. None of the men in my past gave me a feeling of completeness by just sitting next to me either. Just being in Thayne’s presence gave me a sense of belonging, something I’d never really felt growing up. Even Lucy couldn’t make me feel like I belonged with her and Jimmy. With Thayne, I wanted everyone who came in contact with him to know he belonged to me and that I belonged to him.
What if I was becoming obsessed with him and it would freak him out and then he’d leave me? I needed to get these urges under control or he’d run for sure. He wouldn’t want a crazy mate who couldn’t control herself. Oh shit, I forgot he could read my mind. I bet he’s thinking this girl is bat-shit crazy and I need to drop her off at the nearest nut house and run. Chancing a glance up at his face, he was giving me an amused smile.
He’s not going to dump you. You’re his mate. He can’t dump you.Even if I’m a stage five clinger? I mean who wants someone this clingy? He can’t want someone this clingy.
You’re not clingy.Yes I am. I want to rub my body all over his so he’ll smell like me for everyone to smell. That’s like the ultimate stage five clinger.
Maybe this is normal, ever think of that? The way you are reacting to him as your mate could be perfectly normal.No, there’s no way this is normal behavior. How could this be normal behavior even for a shifter? Clearly not being around other foxes has broken me somehow. Maybe if I’d been raised with other foxes I wouldn’t be broken, but I am and he’s not going to want a broken mate.
Sadness engulfed me thinking about how lonely I was going to be when Thayne dumped me like everyone else had in my life. Just as I was going to that dark place, I felt Thayne’s fingers in my fur. Next thing I knew he was pulling me into his lap and rubbing his face in my fur. My fox purred in response and I melted against him. This was his way of telling me he accepted my crazy. Smart mate had silenced the negative thoughts with such a simple gesture that meant everything to me.
Told you he wouldn’t dump you. Me one you zero.My animal stuck her tongue out at me and shook her head at me. Choosing to ignore her mockery, I basked in the feeling of being in Thayne’s lap and cuddled closer.
When the truck came to a stop a short time later I figured we were stopping for gas again, but when I looked out the windshield we were parked in front of a house. I looked up at Thayne and he was already waving at some tall, muscular guy. Whoever he was, he smiled at Thayne as he waved back.
“So that’s the famous Colton Alexander?” Baron asked as he moved to get out of the truck, Thayne nodded smiling.
“He’s smaller than I thought he’d be.” Baron replied with a smirk as he opened his door.
“I’m pretty sure everyone is small compared to you.” Colton replied as Baron opened the door.
“You’ve got a point there. Baron Michaels, nice to meet you.” Baron reached his hand out to shake Colton’s hand. Colton took it but gave him a puzzled look before responding.
“Sure you are.” Colton replied with a quirk of his eyebrow. Even I could tell Baron was lying about who he was, but the real question was why. Why would he feel like he needed to lie about who he really was? Was there something or someone in his past he was hiding from?
“That’s who I am now, or have been for the last few years. Who I was only mattered to those who are no longer here.” Colton clapped a hand on his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look.
“Fair enough.” Colton replied looking over Baron’s too small blood stained clothing.
