Chapter Three #2
He knew better than to actually do that. He had no idea who he’d meet if he opened the door. The only person he trusted was Taylor, and maybe the other men who’d been there when he’d first met his mate. Anyone else, he wanted to stay away from.
A noise just outside his bedroom door made him jump. He stared at the door, wondering who was about to come in. For a moment, nothing happened, but he knew someone was out there. He could hear them.
That someone finally knocked. Ben sucked in a breath. He didn’t want to answer, but he didn’t have a choice. He wasn’t in his home. He was here because he was a guest of the pride, and if someone wanted to talk to him, they should be able to.
“Come in,” he croaked. Before yesterday, it had been a while since he’d used his human voice. He’d been surprised it still worked after everything.
The door slowly opened, and Taylor appeared. Ben watched him, surprised. It wasn’t only that Taylor was here, but also that he was carrying a tray.
Taylor kicked the door closed. He looked around the room briefly, hesitated, then moved toward the nightstand on the side of the bed where Ben was sitting.
Ben held his breath, wondering what was about to happen.
He watched as Taylor put down the tray, then quickly took a step back.
It looked like he was trying hard not to look at Ben, which wasn’t what Ben wanted.
He needed to convince Taylor that he would be a good mate. He had no idea why Taylor had freaked out when he found out yesterday, but whatever it was, Ben was sure they could find a solution.
“Is that food for me?” he asked.
Taylor finally looked at him and nodded. “Yeah. Has someone brought you breakfast already?”
“No. I haven’t seen anyone since last night.”
“But you got dinner.”
“Gal made sure I had something to eat, yes.”
“Well, I brought you breakfast.”
“Thank you.” Ben was hungry, but he didn’t reach for the food yet. He continued watching Taylor, wondering what he should say. Was Taylor planning on leaving the room now that he’d delivered the food? Ben didn’t want him to.
“I wanted to talk to you,” Taylor eventually said. “And to apologize.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“That’s not true. I ran. I didn’t give you an explanation, even though I knew I was the only one you trusted. I should’ve told you what was going on, but I was in shock.”
“Because you didn’t expect me to be your mate. I understand.” They’d spent two days sharing a bed. Ben had thought Taylor knew they were mates, but if he hadn’t and had spent two days hugging Ben and never noticing, it had to have been a shock.
Taylor shook his head. “In part, that was it, but that’s not all there is to the situation. I mean, I was shocked because after spending two days together, I should’ve known, but it’s also that you’re a guy.”
Ben blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“I’ve only ever been with women before. I never considered being anything but straight, but you’re my mate, and you’re a guy.”
Ben was slightly confused. He understood where Taylor was coming from, but they were mates, so what did their sexuality matter? Maybe he didn’t understand because he’d had boyfriends before.
He shuddered at the thought of the last one. That wasn’t a situation he ever wanted to think about again.
“I’m not sure what to say,” he admitted. “I feel like I should apologize, but at the same time, this isn’t my fault.”
“I know, and you don’t need to apologize. I freaked out, and the way I reacted is on me. I should’ve remembered everything you’ve no doubt gone through, but I panicked. I wasn’t planning on meeting my mate.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, either, but it happened. That’s how meeting your mate goes.”
“You’re right.”
“That doesn’t mean I won’t give you time. I don’t expect us to start a relationship right away, and I certainly don’t expect you to be ready to bond now. I don’t think I am.” Because as much as Ben trusted Taylor, part of him couldn’t stop thinking about Jimmy.
Ben had thought Jimmy was safe, too. He’d trusted Jimmy. They hadn’t been mates, but Ben had believed he loved Jimmy and that Jimmy loved him.
“Good.” Taylor rubbed his hands over his thighs. “So maybe we can put our bond on the back burner for a little while. Since you shifted to your human form, you could come out of the bedroom. Even if you don’t want to talk to anyone else, I think you should know where everything is in the house.”
Ben hugged the pillow tighter. He didn’t want to leave this place, but he understood that he couldn’t stay here forever. For all he knew, Taylor wanted Ben to leave his bedroom so he could reclaim it. There was no way to know if he wanted Ben to continue staying here.
“Or we can wait if you don’t feel up for that,” Taylor quickly added, possibly because he could tell that Ben was uncomfortable.
Ben was, but he also needed to do something more than hide in bed.
He’d been hiding for weeks. He finally had a way out, and he couldn’t ruin it, especially because his mate was involved.
“What did you have in mind? Do you want to introduce me to the pride?” As what?
Ben didn’t think Taylor was ready to tell anyone they were mates.
“Well, that would be a good thing, but actually, I wasn’t planning on spending the day with the pride. Jacob is moving out.”
Ben had no idea why Taylor was telling him that, but he nodded anyway. “He’s your friend, right? I’m sorry.”
Taylor shrugged. “I am, too, but he’s moving in with his mate, so I can’t say anything. Besides, he’s not going far. Tony lives in town.”
“I see.” Ben had no idea where Taylor was going with this, but he was eager to spend time with his mate. He’d listen even if Taylor started talking about worms or the weather.
“I was supposed to help Jacob move his stuff. He doesn’t have a lot, but it felt right, you know? Maybe we could do that together?”
“You want me to help your friend move?”
Taylor grinned. “We both will. It’ll give you the opportunity to leave this bedroom without having to deal with too many people. Tony and Jacob will be living alone in Tony’s house, so there’s no pride and curious people to deal with. What do you think?”
Taylor might be confused because Ben was a man, but he was still taking care of Ben. That told Ben that there was a chance things would be okay between them. He didn’t want to ruin that by being afraid. Besides, this was a nice compromise.
“I’d like that,” he said.
Taylor’s smile was enough for Ben to feel like he’d said the right thing.
* * * *
TAYLOR HAD GOTTEN BEN out of the bedroom. He hadn’t expected to be able to do that, but he was glad he had. It was clear that Ben was uncomfortable from the way he clung to Taylor, but that was okay.
It was also awkward. Taylor had never felt like he was someone’s security blanket.
He was a sheriff’s deputy, so his job was to protect people, but it was still jarring to realize that Ben trusted him so much.
Taylor didn’t have to ask to know that Ben wouldn’t have left the bedroom on his own or with anyone else.
Taylor had asked, though, so Ben had said yes.
He’d borrowed some of Taylor’s clothes last night after his shower, and Taylor was happy to give him more this morning. If Ben was going to stick around, they’d have to go shopping, but it could wait. Taylor doubted that Ben would be comfortable enough to do that anytime soon, and that was okay.
Taylor still didn’t know what Ben was running from. He hadn’t pushed because he suspected that Ben wouldn’t want to tell him, not yet anyway. Eventually, he’d have to ask, if anything, because Gal needed to know in order to protect the pride, but it could wait a few hours, maybe even a few days.
“What are we supposed to do?” Ben asked softly as they walked down the hallway. “What’s left to move?”
“Well, Jacob spent the night with Tony. They already moved some of his stuff, but he left a lot of boxes. You and I are going to carry them to my car and drive over to their house.”
Ben wrinkled his nose. “I thought you said that Jacob didn’t have a lot of stuff to move.”
Taylor laughed. “I guess it depends on what you think is a lot. Jacob’s lived here his entire life. He was born here, just like me. He accumulated some stuff, and he wants to take it with him now that he’s moving.”
“I understand.”
“I’m sure that you would be happy if you had some of your stuff,” Taylor tried, just to see how it went.
Ben tensed. “Is that a way to ask me where my home is?”
“I guess. I’m sorry if you don’t want to talk about it. I’m just curious.”
That and he wanted to protect Ben. His tiger wanted to protect their mate even more, and it was ready to go out there and tear down anyone who’d hurt him.
Because it was clear that someone had. Ben wasn’t here, shaking like a leaf, still too thin from having lived in the woods on his own, because he wanted to be.
He was on the run from someone, and the only reason for him to be was that someone wanted to hurt him.
It was unacceptable for Taylor’s tiger, and Taylor agreed.
No one should fear for their lives. No one should be on the run and forced to live in the forest, hiding in holes.
“I’m not ready to talk about it,” Ben said softly.
“Then forget I asked anything. We’ll focus on Jacobs’s boxes for today, all right?”
Ben nodded and moved closer. Taylor continued walking, feeling a bit awkward because he could feel the way Ben was holding onto his t-shirt.
It was as if he was afraid that Taylor would vanish if he wasn’t touching him one way or another.
Taylor could understand, considering that was precisely what he’d done yesterday.
Never again. Taylor didn’t want to run. Even though he was confused and had no idea what to do, Ben didn’t deserve to be abandoned.