CHAPTER THREE #2
"I'm a masseur, a real masseur. I went to school, and I have a license. I am not a whore, no matter what that man seemed to be asking for; it was not something I was going to give, not willingly anyway." He seemed to want to make it clear that he was a professional, and Torin understood.
"He would have taken what he wanted, whether you wanted to give it or not. Men like Jarod Massey don't ask, they take." Torin pointed out the obvious.
"I got in your way, didn't I?" Awareness dawned on Shae's face. "I'm sorry I screwed it up for you." Then another thought clearly crossed his mind, and he continued. “Why did you save me? You could have waited and let them have me and then taken them out.”
"No one gets to have you, sweetheart, least of all that swine Jarod Massey." It was stated with more anger than intended, but it just came out that way. "It's still quite early. Why don't you lie back down and try to get some more rest? You will need your strength."
"There's only one bed. Why don’t you lie down with me? I don't mind, I'll move over." He scooted over to the side of the bed, making room for Torin, who was in no way going to decline such a sweet offer.
"Thank you for saving me, Torin. I owe you one."
"You're welcome, sweetheart." He took off his shirt and shoes and lay down on top of the blankets, stretching out next to Shae.
He stared at Shae, taking in his gentle features and the lovely scent that calmed and soothed every part of him.
Shae wasn't a child, but he possessed an innocence that was rare and beautiful.
“Thanks for loaning me these clothes. I remember what the others looked like.” Shae spoke softly.
“No problem. The others were disposed of.”
"Good." Torin listened, and after a few minutes, Shae's breath evened out, and he was asleep. The events hadn't really hit him yet, and with Torin close by, the effects might be minimal. Beloveds always ease pain, upset, and trauma; they make life easier to live, according to what he’d been told.
He pulled out his phone and scrolled through the local news, but nothing had been reported. The Hadden people were on it and leaving no traces, which was good. He looked over at the beauty sleeping next to him and wondered where this would all lead.
Could this man become a part of his life, this wide-eyed, unaware human with lips that ached to be kissed? He smiled softly to himself and realized he would very much like to have this little human in his life. Fate had always been accurate in her matches, so he wasn't going to second-guess her.
He didn't know much about Shae beyond his name, but it was easy to see that he was a nice guy, probably liked his job, had good friends, and lived a life he considered pleasant and fulfilling.
Shae could never have imagined that his world would turn on its end like it did last night and that he would find himself in bed with an assassin.
Torin felt a laugh pass his lips, and it felt nice.
Shae had some eye-opening information and realities coming his way, and Torin was going to be there for it.
***
Shae watched the man who had saved him and then abducted him to this cabin walk around an open kitchen, preparing bacon and eggs.
It was surreal, but it also gave him a bit of comfort.
There was no explanation, but the vibe was calm.
All the blood and death and mayhem ended in a very handsome man making breakfast in a cabin in the woods.
His name was Torin, and he said he was an assassin.
Shae kind of hoped he'd heard him wrong or that Torin was joking about the occupation.
Although there was something about him and the way he dealt with those men last night that told Shae he probably was an assassin.
He wouldn't think about it right now. He slowly sat up and stretched, running his fingers through his messy hair.
Torin was pouring coffee and looking at him. “Do you take milk and sugar in your coffee?” He asked.
“Yes, both. Lots of sugar.” Shae shifted to the side of the bed with his feet dangling off the edge. Torin brought over the cup of coffee and handed it to him as he sat down next to him on the bed.
"How are you this morning?" The question was natural, but seemed too generic for what they had endured the night before. He saw Torin scrutinizing his face, looking at his eyes and his lips.
“Did they hit you? Your eye looks bruised.” His expression seemed angry.
"No, that happened earlier in the week. A client didn't like my technique, said I was too rough, and punched me in the face.
" He couldn't read the next expression that came over Torin; it was dark, really dark, so Shae hurried to explain.
"It happens people will ask for deep tissue or a workout they don't understand and then get pissed when it hurts a little. "
“Your clients hit you?”
"Not all, some do, I'm used to it now. The soft ones who think they can take a deep massage, but they really can't, are the worst.” Shae drank his coffee and tried not to notice that Torin was still staring at him silently.
“That is unacceptable.” He stated with a firmness that made it absolutely final, and Shae felt it.
"It's partly my fault, I can get carried away when I'm focused.
Margaret, my boss, funnels the tender ones to Lauren, and the construction workers come to me, and women over fifty also come to me.
There is nothing on this earth tougher than a woman over fifty.
" Shae smiled, and Torin seemed to loosen up a little.
"If anyone dares to raise a hand to you again, it will be the last thing they do," Torin stated very clearly.
"Breakfast is ready, wash up and meet me at the table.
" He stood and headed for the kitchen, and Shae just sat there for a second trying to process what he had just heard.
He stood and watched Torin, briefly trying to figure him out, and then headed to the bathroom.