Chapter 24: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… Your touch!

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Jeremy froze. That was a new one. If he still hated him so much, why did he ask for him? “Okay. Why did you want to see me, Ryan?”

“I don’t know why. I just needed to. Why haven’t you been to see me?” Ryan was shaking so badly. He really didn’t know why.

Jeremy shrugged. “You made it very clear that you didn’t want me around you. I was only trying to respect your wishes.”

“It’s been ten days. You…” Ryan pushed his hands into his back pocket as if to hide the fact that they were shaking. “You didn’t want to see me.” It wasn’t a question.

Jeremy slowly shook his head. “I came here every night to watch you sleep, with the exception of last night.” He said softly. He would have probably gone insane by then if not for those few stolen minutes. “You, on the other hand, were obviously too angry to want to see me.” Jeremy didn’t want to add the fact that he was crushed. But he was.

Ryan removed his hands from his pocket and folded them across his chest. Then he unfolded them and clenched his fists by his sides, almost as if he was physically stopping himself from doing something. He was breathing hard…a film of sweat covered his forehead. He was hyperventilating.

“Ryan? I’m going to touch you now.” Jeremy breathed softly as if he were dealing with a skittish cat.

“Don’t.” Came Ryan’s shaky voice.

“I have to. You need me to.” Jeremy explained gently.

“Why you?” His voice was barely above a whisper. “Why can’t it be someone else’s touch? Say…Philip?”

Jeremy’s lips tightened. “Do you want Philip’s touch?”

“No,” Ryan whispered as he felt his whole body trembling. “What’s happening to me? Am I sick?”

“No, you’re not sick. Do you want me to touch you, Ryan? You have to be truthful. Be honest with yourself. Do you want me to touch you?”

“God yes,” Ryan answered on a sob.

“Shhh…come here.”

Ryan flung himself against Jeremy, burying his face against his chest. And suddenly everything felt right. He’d never felt safer. Ryan never wanted to leave those arms. When he felt Jeremy pick him up, he wrapped his legs around his waist and coiled his arms around his neck. He just didn’t want to let go. Even when Jeremy went to sit on the couch, Ryan straddled him and completely relaxed against him. And when he felt himself drifting enticingly toward sleep, Ryan didn't fight it.

Keeping an arm possessively around his mate’s waist, Jeremy tenderly ran his fingers through Ryan’s beautiful white hair. The silky texture felt heavenly against his fingers. In no time at all Jeremy felt Ryan’s even breathing, indicating that he was fast asleep. It felt so amazing to have Ryan in his arms and from Ryan’s current lax state, it was obvious his mate also felt relaxed and safe in his arms. Jeremy only realized that they’d been alone in the room when the door opened to reveal his mother. He’d totally forgotten about her. Gloria came directly to where they sat and leaned down to kiss Jeremy on the cheek.

‘Philip just told me what caused the delay.’ She said through their mind-link. Apparently, they couldn’t fly due to bad weather. So Jeremy had ridden home on a motorbike. According to Philip, Jeremy had insisted he didn’t want to be delayed with any traffic situation, not to mention the fact that he’d wanted to enjoy the fresh air. He’d obviously sped like a maniac to have gotten home at that time. ‘You must be tired. You could have just explained the situation and waited till you could be given clearance to fly.’ Her eyes were filled with so much concern but at the same time, pride for her son.

‘I didn’t want to wait. Didn’t know when we were going to be allowed to fly.’ He pressed a kiss against Ryan’s hair. “I needed to see him too.” He spoke out.

“I know,” Gloria said softly. “The past few days have been rough on him. That’s one stubborn mate you have there. Just what you need.” Gloria couldn’t mask her smirk and the glint of satisfaction in her eyes.

Jeremy groaned. “Enjoying this aren’t you?”

“Damn right I am.” Gloria grinned.

“Is it always going to be like this?” Jeremy whispered with a frown. “This intense desire to be around him all the time. I know we’re supposed to want to be around our mates all the time but I didn’t know it was this intense. I don’t like it.” He looked very worried.

“You think this is intense?” Gloria raised an eyebrow. “Wait till after you mark him as your mate.”

“Fuck.” Jeremy swore darkly.

“Hey, you’ll be fine. Remember he’s supposed to be special and powerful. And you are…you. What you feel for each other is bound to be much more intense than usual because you’re both powerful creatures.”

Jeremy sighed. “He still hates me. Thought you would work on him for me.” Jeremy said with so much regret in his eyes.

Gloria sighed as she lovingly ruffled Ryan’s hair. “The last thing I wanted to do was to make him feel I was pushing him to forget about what you did. He won’t trust me again if he gets any such impression. In the end, I decided he just needed a friend. He’s such a lovely person. Did what I could without revealing too much. Mind you, he’s an intelligent man. I did my best. The rest is up to you.” She bent down to drop a soft kiss against Ryan’s temple. “I did tell him to please not kill my son though,” Gloria said with a grin. “I made him understand that although my son is a total douche, he’s all I have,” Gloria murmured, making Jeremy laugh.

“Gee, thanks, mum.” Jeremy gave a mock growl.

“Don’t you dare growl at your mother.” She returned jokingly. “He hasn’t eaten the whole day,” Gloria informed Jeremy.

“I’ll take care of it,” Jeremy murmured. “And I’m taking him home so you have to come there instead of here tomorrow.” He added, burying his nose in Ryan’s hair and taking a deep breath. He didn’t notice the amusement in his mother’s eyes.

Gloria couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. Wanting to breathe in the scent of one’s mate was a werewolf thing. It gave them some pleasure and peace to fill their lungs with that sweet smell that could only emanate from a mate. What thrilled her, even more, was the way her son handled his mate. It was obvious he already cared for Ryan. Gloria sent a quick prayer to Luna to touch Ryan’s heart so that he would give her son the chance to make things right.

“That’s good,” Gloria said quietly. “Take good care of him.”

“I will Mum. Promise.” He mumbled, throwing his head against the headrest and closing his eye. He was so tired.

“Good. See you tomorrow.” And with that, Gloria left the alpha alone with his mate.