Today's snippet is from The Arrogant Representative (Lubirea Mai). This book is also on sale a Sirenhttps://www.bookstrand.com/the-arrogant-representative?fbclid=IwAR1l_oNmI25vAe-CzxlZLv-uj6Ru3DbiqRzmrIdI_ihximMvBC2TQ3c4xjwPublishing for 99 cents.
I had the challenge with this story to convince readers that the shifter hero was just a confused man, not a nasty person. His mate did end up handling him and I think we all cheered for him.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Doug standing next to table seven talking to Mr. Gorgeous. Holly was right, the man looked terrible. His face was gray and his wavy styled blond hair was slightly messy. Doug was talking away, but the man clearly wasn’t listening. Jessie watched as the blond drew a deep breath of air in through his nose. His green eyes widened and his head turned toward Jessie.
The man’s blazing green eyes froze Jessie where he was standing. They contained equal amounts of lust and anger, making his stomach tense up.
Before Jessie could move, the blonde’s padded black metal chair flew back with a crash, and his long legs were eating up the distance between them. Jessie braced himself, creating a list in his head about what the man could be confronting him with and how he was going to respond. Casually he put his hand in his pocket, ready to take out his phone in case he needed to call 911.
Jessie tipped his head back when the extremely tall and ill looking man stopped in front of him. A large slightly shaking hand, palm side up, was held out. To his dying day, Jessie would never be able to explain why he took his own hand out of his pocket and placed it onto that palm. Immediately fingers folded around and trapping his hand in the bigger man’s grip. Before his eyes, the blond man seemed to grow even larger. His chest puffed out and his skin color became a golden tan.
“Fuck,” the man said, the word laced with disgust.
Before Jessie could respond to the man’s expletive, a wide shoulder lowered and Jessie was lifted into the air. Amid shouts and gasps of amazement, Jessie was carried out of the restaurant
“What are you doing?” Jessie pounded on the man’s wide back, trying not to notice the powerful tight ass flexing just below his head.
“Be quiet, human,” the man responded.
“Not a chance.” Now Jessie was getting pissed. The man just called him human like he was an old piece of chewing gum. “What’s your name, asshole? I want to be able to tell the police who kidnapped me.”
“My name is Simon Craydon. You may call me Simon or Sir,” Simon informed him.
Before Jessie could tell the man what he could do with that idea, Jessie was carried to a black limousine. Standing next to the open back door was a scary, large, black-haired man. Simon lowered Jessie into the car and pushed in next to him. Immediately he grabbed Jessie and enclosing him in his arms. The whole thing happened so fast, almost like warp speed, that Jessie didn’t have time to react.
“Where would you like me to drive you sir?” The black-haired man asked, leaning slightly into the car.
“Just drive around for a while.” Simon ordered.
The closing of the car door pierced through Jessie’s shock and he began to fight. He punched at Simon’s chest, shoulders and stomach, trying anything to get the man’s iron grip to loosen. The only thing he managed to do was bruise his hands in the process. Lifting his knee he tried to aim for Simon’s groin and abdomen. That only resulted in Simon moving in one motion, lying Jessie down onto the large wide leather seat and covering his body completely. To Jessie’s utter frustration his arms were now trapped against his sides.
“What do you want?” he asked, looking up into Simon’s piercing green eyes.
It didn’t take a genius to see that Simon was not happy. If Jessie was free, he would be able to touch the spikes of anger exploding from the man. It was kind of weird, but it was like Jessie had a direct line to Simon’s emotions. Fear gripped him when beneath the anger he felt lust building and something firm pressed against his leg.
“Calm down, your fear stinks,” Simon ordered, wrinkling his nose.
“Look, Simon Craydon. You need to let me go now. A lot of people saw you grab me. You know they’ve probably already called the police,” Jessie pointed out.
“Let them,” Simon answered. “Nothing will come of it. Certain people of authority know who I am.”
“Am I’m supposed to be impressed?” Jessie couldn’t believe how conceded this guy was.
“To be honest, I don’t care if you are impressed or not,” Simon responded.
“You’re a dick,” Jessie said.
“Why is it when humans don’t like something someone else says, they respond by calling names?” Simon asked. His tone was so superior Jessie wanted to puke.
“Because you are a dick. We, humans, call it like we see it,” Jessie answered.
“I’m going to ignore your vulgarity and get this over with,” Simon said.
Simon’s face leaned toward Jessie like he was going to kiss him. There was no way that was happening and Jessie turned his head. Simon’s lips followed and Jessie turned the other way. Simon reached up and cupped his cheek holding his head steady. Now one of his arms was free and he tried to twist the man’s skin on his side, except Simon was so muscled the skin was stretched taught and there was nothing to grab. So Jessie dug his fingers as hard as he could between Simon’s ribs.
“Stop that,” Simon ordered.
Jessie couldn’t believe the man wasn’t even flinching. Okay, maybe he was a little impressed.
“Do you really think I’d let you kiss me? I don’t even know you. And what I do know, I don’t like.” Jessie informed the conceited man.
Through whatever it was, Jessie could feel Simon’s determination. The man settled himself heavily on Jessie and put both of his hands on either side of Jessie’s head, holding him securely. Jessie couldn’t catch his breath he was so afraid.
“One kiss, then I’ll let you go,” Simon said.
“Are you telling the truth? You just want a kiss and I’m free?” Jessie’s heart was pounding so hard it was banging against his ribcage.
“I am not a liar,” Simon stated, looking down his straight nose at Jessie.
“Fine, you’re not a liar. Let’s get this kiss over with,” Jessie said. He had had enough of the big-headed man.
Simon lowered his head and surprisingly warm lips covered his. Despite still thinking the man was an utter ass, Jessie was pulled into the kiss. Simon deepened it and Jessie responded, putting his arms around his back, hands caressing hard muscles.
Jessie became lost in the amazing kiss and slid his tongue into Simon’s mouth wanting a taste. Their tongues came together and the kiss changed. Jessie opened his eyes and a steely determined gaze was looking back at him. Before he could pull away, Simon’s hands tightened on his head and Jessie’s tongue was pushed against the side of Simon’s teeth. Jessie felt a sharp pain and realized one of Simon’s teeth had cut his tongue. Jessie was confused and tried to push Simon away.
Jessie lost the ability to take in air and something grabbed ahold of his heart. Panicking he tried to plead with his eyes, but there was no mercy in Simon’s green depths. Jessie’s heart stopped beating. Terror encased him, and then whatever gripped his heart exploded outward searing through his body searching for something.
Frantically Jessie pulled his tongue back into his mouth, but his relief was short-lived when Simon’s tongue followed, barging in. No matter how hard he tried, Jessie couldn’t take any air into his lungs and black spots danced before his eyes.
In a last ditch effort to be free, Jessie bit deeply into Simon’s tongue. Pulling his teeth out of Simon’s flesh he expected the ass to jerk away. Instead Simon wrapped his tongue around Jessie’s.
In his mind’s eye, Jessie could see the blood from their tongues swirling around and mixing together. Then Simon moved his tongue to the back of Jessie’s mouth and he unwillingly swallowed some of the warm mixture.
Instead of feeling nauseous, the blood surge through Jessie’s system, making lights dance behind eyelids that he hadn’t realized he had closed. His skin started buzzing and nerve endings came to life.
Simon withdrew his tongue and Jessie heard him swallow. He opened his eyes that he hadn’t realized were closed. But only blindingly bright light greeted him. The air around them was snapping with static electricity and tiny pricks were running over his body. Confused and afraid, Jessie let Simon pull him closer into his arms. Seeking comfort he instinctively buried his head into Simon’s neck and breathed in the man’s essence. Immediately calm rushed over him and the rest of the world went away.
* * * *
Simon in his lion form lay, on an oversized dark crushed velvet pillow, on the floor of his office. To some it would look like he was lazing the day away, as his long shiny tail, with its tuff of fur at the end shifted slowly back and forth. Little did anyone know that shards of agony were slicing through him, and Simon was barely holding back his lion from breaking completely loose and finding his mate.
His brilliant plan of kissing his mate to free his magic worked. But checking Jessie’s wallet and having Barnabas carry him down into his basement apartment, had Simon’s lion raking its claws across his insides. He also discovered that the further away he was from his mate the worse the torment from the invading icy coldness became.
Through their mate bond Simon could feel his mate’s pain and confusion. Over the last two days his mate struggled to cope and now into the third day the light of his soul was fading. Simon’s plan was taking hold. He only had to wait for the next phase.
Simon lifted his head when the strip of hair along his backbone stood straight up. A very powerful shifter had just entered the building. As the shifter came closer, the air seemed to vibrate and thicken. Simon laid his head between his front paws and waited.
Simon knew his brother had arrived to take his place as the council’s lion representative. When the magic inside Simon was released it summoned the next chosen one to come to the council headquarters and take up his duty. As far as Simon was concerned, his mate could now hurry up and die, so that Simon could follow him.
The office door opened and in strode a man who immediately took over the room with his presence. Simon was muscular and tall at over six-five, but this man in dark jeans, black boots and a T-shirt with the sleeves cut off was taller, broader, and deadlier.
Standing in the middle of the room, with his hands on his hips, the newcomer surveyed the room. Simon watched him take in the dark marble tile and the oversized desk made of glass and black metal. To one side was a small sitting area containing sharp cornered leather furniture. Light eyes landed on Simon, who hadn’t moved or acknowledged the stronger shifter.
“Where’s the mate that finally captured my arrogant brother?” he asked.
Simon’s tail jerked, but other than that, he didn’t move.
Frowning, the big blond studied Simon for a moment. “You’re in pain. What have you done Simon? Change back now,” he ordered.
Simon fought the man’s will, but in the end he had no choice other than to succumb to his demands. Unhappily he now sat naked on the velvet pillow, looking up at his brother Sabastian.
“Now that you have arrived, the magic man can give you the magic to be the lion’s council representative. Barnabas has packed up my stuff and put it in a room down the hall, so the suite is ready for you.” Simon’s voice was hoarse from disuse over the last few days.
With careful movements, he managed to get his shaky legs to cooperate enough to let him stand. When he went to leave the room, Sabastian put one huge arm up, stopping him in his tracks.
“Why isn’t your mate with you?” Sabastian demanded.
“He is human,” Simon answered.
Again Sabastian frowned, studying Simon. Thick eyebrows rose and understanding dawned on his face. “Tell me you didn’t reject your mate.”
“He is human,” Simon repeated. What more needed to be said?
Sabastian’s eyes flared with rage and his large hand now containing razor edged claws swiped toward Simon. Bursts of red hot pain crossed Simon’s chest as his bare skin was laid open. Simon flew through the air under the power of the blow, crashing into the wall on the opposite side of the room.
“You idiot!” Sabastian shouted, stalking over to him.
Strong fingers enclosed around his neck and Simon was lifted like a ragdoll until his feet no longer touched the floor.
“Fate gave you the gift of a mate and you threw it away?”
The heat of Sabastian’s breath washed over Simon’s face just before he was thrown across the room until the thick glass of his former desk stopped him abruptly, cracking all the ribs on one side of his torso. Simon slowly and painfully slid to the hard cold floor
Sabastian’s feet came into view, and unforgiving hands grabbed Simon’s shoulders and lifted him to his feet until he was face to face with his tormentor.
“I had heard you were a bigoted asshole. I just never thought your prejudice would run so deep that you would reject the greatest gift of all. What would Dad and Mom say?” Sabastian asked.
“Dad would be proud,” Simon whispered, tasting blood from his internal injuries.
“What are you talking about?” Sabastian asked.
“Dad told me when I was ten that it was my duty to carry on our true blood. He said I was put on this world to make sure that true lion shifters stayed true. He said I would be the strongest and my children would be even stronger. All I had to do was continue our true blood line.” Simon answered.
“Of course he said that. He told that bullshit to all of his true blood children,” Sabastian replied. “Then Mom sat us down and taught us how it is fate that decides, not anything we do. All shifter mothers explained to their young how it is our duty to welcome our mate whoever they are and love, honor, protect and cherish them for eternity. Mates are a gift, more precious than diamonds or gold.”
Now Simon was confused. “Mom never told me anything like that.”
“Mom found me the same day Dad talked to me,” Sabastian said.
“After our talk, Dad had to rush to Mom because she had gone into labor with those triplets that didn’t make it. Mom was laid up for months and by the time she was better, Dad had sent me here to the council headquarters to start my training,” Simon explained.
“What kind of training would a ten year old need at council headquarters?” Sabastian sounded angry.
“I studied the history of cat shifters, centered on ancestry. Doesn’t everyone that is a true cat have to go through them?” he asked.
Because cat shifters lived long lives and had so few children, Simon’s siblings were all much younger or older than he was. That made for all of them to be raised like only children. Simon had just assumed they had all gone through the same thing.
“Simon, Dad was setting you up to either be an elder or to work in the archives. How long were you gone?” Sabastian asked, the vein next to his ear throbbing visibly.
“Two years,” Simon answered.
“Two years with those egotistical high and mighty bastards. No wonder you have such asinine ideas.”
“Sabastian, can you put me down? I’m afraid I’m not feeling very well.”
When Sabastian lowered Simon to his feet, he kept falling until he was lying in a heap on the floor. His heart started slowing and stuttering in his chest, trying to follow his mate’s heart miles away.
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