Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jonah was starting to think someone was pranking him.
Why else would he get hit on this often?
He’d never gotten this much attention before.
Yes, he’d been raised on a farm and only ever interacted with the farmhands and his family, but still.
It wasn’t like the guys he’d hooked up with in the past were beating down his door.
Jonah was pretty sure he was usually the one to make the first move with them.
And yet, at Spellbound, he was getting way more attention than he was used to. What was even happening?
“He’s with me.”
The way Emmett had said that, so possessive and growly, made Jonah breathless.
So there was at least one supe he wanted attention from.
It just happened to be the same supe who offered to be his fake boyfriend.
If Emmett were actually interested, he would have truly asked him out, not just offered to play pretend, right?
The vampire, Neil, who Jonah had met before, narrowed his eyes on Emmett, leaning in closer to draw in a breath. It weirded Jonah out, and he leaned back automatically, not that Neil seemed to care.
“He doesn’t smell taken,” Neil pointed out with a smug grin.
Emmett let out a low growl, and Jonah was a little worried they’d start a fight or something, but before he could say anything, Emmett grabbed Jonah’s chin, tipping his head enough to run his tongue along his neck.
Jonah squeaked, actually squeaked, in surprise, a shiver rolling down his spine and leaving him breathless.
“There. Fixed. Now go away,” Emmett growled.
Neil didn’t look convinced, crossing his arms with a scowl. “If you were actually together, he’d smell like you. Werewolves are all about marking their partners. There’s no need to lie–”
“We’re still new,” Jonah blurted out, grabbing Emmett’s hand and darting away. “We gotta go.”
Thankfully, Neil didn’t stop them, and Emmett didn’t protest walking away, letting Jonah drag him over to where their friends were waiting.
His face felt like it was on fire, and it was embarrassing just how quickly he got hard from a simple lick.
He was seriously considering heading outside to find a rock to crawl under so he could hide out for a few years.
At that point, maybe the embarrassment would fade.
Taron cocked his head at him with a concerned frown when they joined the group. “Why are you all red? You look like you’re going to combust. Do humans do that? Should we be concerned?”
Tasha rolled her eyes at him. “You’re mated to a human. Shouldn’t you know the answer to that?”
Taron pointed at Jonah. “My mate’s never been that red before. Seriously, are you going to faint or something? Emmett, what did you do?”
Jonah jerked his head up, giving Emmett a pleading look, but Emmett just grinned. “I licked him. He’s mine now.”
That sent the group into cackles, and Jonah hid his face in his hands while a few of them jostled him playfully.
It was Tasha who came to his rescue, shoving them away and putting a hand on his shoulder.
“Alright, leave him be. He’s had a hard day, and he doesn’t need to be dealing with you idiots on top of it.
” She tipped her head, waiting for him to peek out to look at her.
“Be honest. Did Emmett do something to embarrass you? Because I can put him in his place if I need to. He’s needed to be taken down a peg or two for a while now. ”
“Excuse you?” Emmett complained, and when Jonah glanced at him, he looked scandalized. “I do not!”
Seizing the opportunity, Jonah murmured to Tasha, “What exactly does putting him in his place entail?” while still looking at Emmett.
Emmett’s jaw dropped. “Hey!”
A smile tugged at his lips as Tasha tossed her arm around Jonah’s shoulders, dragging him away from Emmett with a smug tilt to her chin. “I feel like we could come up with some creative punishments. Maybe make him run some laps, that kind of thing.”
“You should make him wear the cone of shame,” he suggested.
That got both Emmett and Miguel to gasp audibly. Meanwhile, Kian, who’d come to join them, burst out laughing. “Goddess, I showed up at the right moment. I’d pay to see that.”
“Not sure we’d have one big enough for his fat head,” Tasha said with a considering frown.
“I could conjure one,” Kian offered.
Jonah’s shoulders shook with repressed laughter. He’d meant it as a joke, but he should have known better. If Kian or Taron was involved, pranks were sure to happen. The fact that Tasha was joining in was just a bonus.
“Some fake boyfriend you are,” Emmett mock grouched.
“Fake boyfriend?” Taron asked curiously.
Jonah felt his face flush again, which wasn’t fun since he’d just calmed down. He hated having to explain that he needed a fake boyfriend to keep people from bothering him.
“I, uh…”
“He’s been getting some unwanted attention,” Emmett stepped in, giving Jonah that reassuring smile that always made him feel better when he was embarrassed about his overreactions. “After his run-in with that idiot Kyle, he felt better with a story about being taken so people would back off.”
Miguel made a face. “He shouldn’t have to make up a story. Are people not taking no for an answer?”
Jonah lifted one shoulder awkwardly. “I mean, some do. One or two have asked more than once. I feel like if rumor spreads that I’m taken, they won’t ask anymore.
” He didn’t want to admit he was uncomfortable turning people down.
He still wasn’t used to being around supes, not enough to recognize when he was under threat.
Obviously, after what happened that morning.
That part went unsaid, but the group as a whole seemed to consider it before they all slowly nodded.
“Alright. I can see how being in a relationship could be helpful, at least until you’re more comfortable,” Tasha agreed.
Taron nodded, fishing his phone out of his pocket.
“I agree. They won’t have to pretend forever, just until Jonah feels more confident around supes.
” He frowned at his phone, then looked around.
“I can’t stay for lunch today. I’m going to eat with my mates.
I just wanted to check in with my future son after I heard what happened this morning. ”
Since Tasha was standing closer to Taron than Emmett was, Jonah ducked out from under her arm and moved to stand by Emmett instead, shaking his head.
“Not your son. I don’t need to be adopted.”
Taron, the brat, acted like he didn’t hear him. “What? I didn’t catch that. I gotta go. Have a good lunch, byeeee.”
He skipped off to join his mates, and Jonah’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Am I really going to get adopted by a supe?”
Emmett chuckled, and Jonah saw out of the corner of his eye when his tail began to wag. “I’d say no, but this is Taron we’re talking about. Maybe if you were a little less adorable, he’d let it go.”
Jonah’s face flamed again, and in retribution for the tease, Jonah grabbed his tail and gave it a light tug. Emmett yelped and jumped nearly a foot in the air before jerking away. The group all started laughing again, this time at Emmett’s expense. Emmett gaped at him.
“You just pulled my tail!”
Jonah shrugged, trying to come off as casual even though he was a little worried by that reaction that he’d just done something taboo. “You licked me. Fair’s fair.”
They were all still laughing and ribbing Emmett as they stepped into the cafeteria. Jonah had stopped paying attention to it the week prior, but he couldn’t help looking around warily for the werewolf who’d intimidated him that morning.
“Don’t worry,” Emmett murmured, leaning close so he wasn’t overheard by the rest of the group. “Kyle got sent home by our alpha. You aren’t the only one he’d done that to, and our alpha was pissed. He’s been put on sabbatical until Ronan decides he can be trusted to come back.”
It felt like a weight lifted off him, and Jonah let out a long breath, shooting Emmett an apologetic look. “Thanks. I’m trying not to let it get to me, but I’ll admit it freaked me out a little.”
Thankfully, Emmett didn’t look the least bit offended, putting a hand on Jonah’s lower back to urge him forward.
“You’re allowed to feel freaked out after that.
No one judges you for it. No one judged you for the fake dating plan either, right?
Whatever makes you feel comfortable. And I promise, it won’t happen again. I’ll make sure of it.”
He said it with just enough of a growl to get a reaction out of Jonah, but Jonah ignored it. He’d embarrassed himself enough today. He wasn’t going to pop a boner in the middle of the cafeteria.
As they grabbed trays and shuffled along the line, Jonah finally remembered to ask a question he’d had earlier. “About the smelling thing. What was Neil talking about when he said it doesn’t smell like I’m dating anyone?”
Emmett hummed, his tail wagging when he saw fried chicken was on offer at one of the stations. Jonah snickered, but didn’t comment, since he wanted the answer to his question more than he wanted to tease the werewolf for being so cute.
“So you know how human senses aren’t as great as supes, right?” Emmett began.
Jonah nodded.
“Well, because we’ve got such heightened senses, lots of species claim their partners by scent instead of something physical.
Especially if they’re just dating, since some of the more physical marks would be permanent.
Werewolves especially like to scent mark their partners.
He said you didn’t smell like you were dating anyone because you don't smell like me.”
The thought of smelling like Emmett was both embarrassing and intriguing.
“And how do I make myself smell like you? Do I have to use the same shampoo as you or something?”
Emmett snorted, snagging Jonah’s favorite soda and putting it on his tray. “No, that wouldn’t be enough. To mark you with my scent would require a lot more… touching.”
The suggestive tone made Jonah swallow hard. Any thoughts he’d had about pretending he wasn’t interested in hooking up with a supe were immediately thrown out the window, and his voice was breathless when he asked, “What kind of touching?”
The chuckle that Emmett emitted was half-growl and made goosebumps spread along Jonah’s skin as Emmett leaned in to whisper, “Want to find out?”
Were Jonah’s knees weak? He felt a little like his knees were weak.
At the same time, he wanted to climb Emmett like a tree.
He looked up at the werewolf, studying his face with his long snout and hint of sharp teeth when he grinned.
What would it be like to be with him? What would it even be like to kiss him?
Tasha poked Emmett in the side, nudging him out of the way so she could get her own drink. “You two are holding up the line. Move it.”
The moment broke, and Jonah felt his face go hot again. At this point, if he didn’t cool off, he was going to permanently change color. He did not want to spend the rest of his life looking like a tomato just because he had the hots for a werewolf.