Blondie’s 1998 with a Goat: Chosen Book 7 Read online

  Growling, Arry leaned forward and brushed my lips with his. "Keep looking at me like that, Blondie, and you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see me shift, because I'm going to drag you up to my room, and keep you there all night."

  My whole body shivered. I hadn't even realized my eyes had shut until I had to open them, so I could look into his.

  He hadn't even really kissed me, but it was the best fucking kiss of my life. My entire body felt like it was coursing with energy.

  "Fuck. Seriously, Marlow." Blatantly adjusting himself, Arlington moaned, letting his head fall back on his shoulders. "Alright, everyone turn around. I have to get this damn shift over. Where the hell is Foster when you need him?"

  Spinning quickly, Sutton cheerily said, "I think he's on a call with Kinsey. They heard somethin' about one of the missin' chosen."

  With everyone's back to him, Arlington reached up over his head, and dragged his t-shirt off, tossing it on the floor next to my feet.

  My brother dropped his eyes to the floor immediately, giving a little giggle, but I could feel him throw glances in my direction.

  All I could do was stare. Arlington Martin was absolutely gorgeous. Perfect, even. His skin was a light tan color that looked smooth and silky. His chest was sparsely covered with black, springy curls that invited you to pull them straight and watch them bounce back into place. His body was muscled like that of a boxer. Not bulky, but definitely defined and glorious.

  There was nothing I could do to keep myself from imagining my mouth running over every inch, and I licked my lips, needing moisture in a bad way.

  "You look so stupid, right now," Bentley whispered beside me, laughing.

  Growling, Arlington leaned over me, grabbing the throw from the back of the couch, and again brushing his lips over mine. "Come on, Blondie. I need you to hold this up while I take off my pants, so your brother doesn't get more of an eyeful than he bargained for."

  He tossed the blanket over my head, making me scramble to get out from under it. When I finally managed to untangle myself, I glared as I stood.

  Holding the blanket up, so that even I couldn't see what was behind it (I was doing the smart. The Lord knows I'd been sitting around with my mouth open, looking stupid enough for one day) I sighed, wondering if I was going to have to be sedated if he really did end up turning into a leopard.

  Did I want him to, or not? Life would be so much easier if I was just standing in a room full of crazies.

  I heard the zipper of his pants, and what sounded like clothes rustling. I won't lie, I was kinda dying to look. The blanket may have even dipped an inch or so, but I got myself together, because my brother was watching, and I was really sick of him seeing me get all heart eyes over this man.

  Big, warm hands covered mine, and the blanket was pulled down under my chin.

  Do not look down. Do not look down. It was a chant I had to desperately repeat to myself if I wanted to survive this.

  My brother giggled again, and Arlington chuckled. There were a few other snickers in the room too. But I was concentrating too hard on controlling myself to worry why everyone was laughing.

  "Why not, Blondie?"

  Huh? "Why not, what?" I asked, closing my eyes. Temptation was starting to do a number on them. I caught myself, more than once, letting them dip.

  "Why not look down?"

  "That wasn't in my head," I said dryly, sighing.

  "I can relate," a voice I was pretty sure was Davis's said from somewhere behind me.

  Smiling and then sighing, I opened my eyes. "Whenever you're ready, 1998. This day is only getting longer."

  Looking into my eyes, Arlington, took the blanket from me, wrapping it lightly around his waist, and again, I was greeted with the sight of his amazing upper body. And the very real evidence of a massive erection pressing against the blanket.

  Bentley giggled again, and I turned to glare at him. Not sure if I was more angry at the thought that he was probably making fun of me, again. Or that he no doubt saw Arlington looking so fucking delicious.

  Grabbing my chin, Arry pulled my head around to his, so he could smile down at me. "Just remember, Blondie…and Bent. I will not attack you. Okay? There is absolutely no reason to freak out."

  Swallowing, because he'd pulled me in closer by my chin, and I was desperately wanting his lips on mine, I nodded. And then shook my head. "If you actually turn into a leopard, I don't know that I'll remember a damn thing."

  Smiling, he moved in, slowly licking a line across my lips, making me gasp before nibbling on the flesh of my lower one.

  Stepping back, he smiled, before his entire body started…convulsing? Moving?

  Changing.

  "Holy shit!" I stepped back, reaching for my brother.

  "Mars? Is he really…"

  And suddenly, we were both looking at a beautiful leopard.

  And my legs gave out. I vaguely felt the pain as my knees hit the floor, but the beautiful animal in front of me had all my focus.

  It moved toward me quickly, grunting as it nuzzled my face, clearly trying to make sure I was alright. It was strange that I knew that, but I did. He was a dangerous animal, and logically I knew that. But I also knew that he wouldn't hurt me.

  "I'm fine. I'm fine," I assured the beast, laughing at myself a little as I realized I was reassuring a leopard. "I really don't even know what to think at the moment. Just waiting to start screaming, actually."

  "This is all real," my brother whispered, as he eased to the floor next to me. And then he chuckled. "This is all real."

  "About those drugs you put in the omelets," I murmured out of the corner of my mouth.

  The leopard chuffed, making me think it might be laughing, and my brother backhanded me in the chest.

  "You're very pretty, Arry," Bentley said, smiling sweetly at the truly beautiful animal still nuzzling his face against the side of my head.

  "I'm actually kinda disappointed you don't have that ridiculous goatee as a leopard." I smirked when he growled.

  "So," Flynn said, crouching beside us. "Do you think you'd be okay with staying here for a little while? I'd really feel much better knowing you two were safe."

  "Not to sound ungrateful," Bentley said quietly, looking sideways at the man. The alpha. "But, why do you care? You don't really know us."

  "True. There are a few reasons we want to help. But the main one is that nobody should be used in the way these humans are being used." Flynn rested his hand on Bentley's shorter arm, right above where all the scars were hiding under his sleeve.

  He flinched in surprise but didn't pull away, blinking in shock at the touch.

  Flynn just went on like he didn't notice my brother's suddenly frozen state. "Even if you guys weren't important to the shifter world. Important to this leap––" he glanced pointedly at the leopard practically lying in my lap. "We would do everything we could to protect you, because it's the right thing to do. And what they are doing is terrible, and disgusting."

  "Oh shit!" Davis barked, making everyone turn to look at him. He was looking directly at me. "You're the kid off of the TV show about a kid who was lost in the jungle, had to learn how to live in New York."

  Everyone's focus returned to me, and my brother started laughing.

  Chapter Three

  I felt my mate sigh, and heard him groan. When I pulled back from nuzzling against him, getting his delicious scent all over my fur, I almost laughed at the weary look on his gorgeous face.

  "Sorry!" Davis said, probably realizing Marlow wasn't thrilled about being outed. "I just knew I'd seen you somewhere, and it's been driving me crazy. I won't tell anyone. Well, I just kinda told a room full of people, but maybe they can forget. We can hypnotize them!" Taking a deep breath, Davis slumped. "Damn. I felt less uncomfortable when I was yelling about dicks in the middle of Bunny's diner."

  Chuckling in leopard form, I reached out a paw, and clawed the blanket, dragging it to me. When I had it pulled up enough to cover my lower
half, I shifted, still leaning against my mate.

  When I was fully human again, Marlow looked at me with a curled lip and an eyebrow in the air. "Does that hurt? Because it seriously looks painful."

  "Nope. Kinda feels like stretching when you wake up from a nap." I smirked at my mate, once again slumping against him. "So, you're a famous actor, huh?"

  "Nope."

  "He used to be," Bentley leaned around him to whisper. "He's all washed up now."

  Marlow looked at his brother like he farted. "Washed up! "

  When Bentley winked at me, I couldn't help but laugh, as Marlow tried to reach out and smack his brother. Of course, that was hard with me kind of lying across his lap.

  "Get off me, 1998. I'm about to show my brother washed up."

  Smiling, Flynn watched the shenanigans for a moment before motioning to Green. "Since I know you guys have at least one person looking for you, we're going to have you wear these trackers. I know they are kinda big, but it's not like in the movies." Green handed him two necklaces with a pride flag on them, about the size of the face of an Apple watch. "You actually have to have a power source for something to be able to put off a signal, but they are satellite-based, so we should be able to find you just about anywhere."

  Taking both necklaces, Marlow handed one to his brother, and slipped the other over his head. Bentley took a little longer to get his on, but Marlow didn't try to help him.

  Flynn smiled once the necklaces were in place. "You'll need to charge them every night, but only when you're in the safety of this house. As soon as you wake up in the morning, put them back on. I just don't want you walking out the front door for something, and completely forgetting them."

  "I know I should be a little freaked out that you are monitoring my whereabouts," Bentley said, quietly. "But after watching that creepy guy as he watched every move my brother made, I feel a little safer, knowing you'd be able to find us, if someone grabbed us."

  "Not to mention, of all the things that were going to freak us out today, that's really the least of our concerns." Marlow was eyeing my goatee.

  Without warning, he reached up and gave it a tug, making my body burn and tingle. His eyes darkened when I let out a little growl, and the smell of his arousal mixed with mine.

  "Keep it up, Blondie, and I'll drag you out of this room, right now."

  He shivered, licking his lips.

  "Okay! No," Bentley said, standing quickly. "I can deal with shifters. I can deal with having babies. I can even deal with being monitored by near strangers, so some creep doesn't sell me to some other creep as a baby machine. But I draw the line at watching my brother molest a naked man in the middle of the floor, right next to me."

  As if suddenly realizing he'd had an outburst, his eyes widened, and then he closed them, taking a deep breath. "Can someone please tell me where I'm going to be sleeping?" He asked quietly, eyes still closed and head down. "I really think I might need a nap."

  Stepping forward quickly, Davis and Rory took either side of the clearly rung out man. He didn't even flinch when Davis grabbed ahold of his right arm, as they led him up the stairs.

  "I know it's a lot," Rory said sweetly. "But Alpha Flynn gave us all trackers. We're all mated now, but it didn't make him any less worried about us. He just really wants to keep us all safe. We're important." The last part was whispered, like Rory still had to remind himself sometimes.

  "Is your brother going to be okay?" I asked my mate, watching Bentley smile sweetly at Rory, and then again at Davis, as the guy bumbled through telling him about all the different couples in the leap, and the ones that lived in the leap house.

  He also mentioned sex noises, which made me cringe, hoping the guy wouldn't overshare about my personal exploits since he'd been here.

  "What's a mate?" Marlow's voice brought my head around so I could see his frowning face. "I mean I know what it means in shifter romances. But is that the same here? Do you have a mate?"

  Scratching the top of my head, I opened my mouth to explain, but Bentley came back around the wall on the second floor, holding a cell phone. "Uh…Marlow? Mom's on the phone. She really wants to talk to you."

  "I really don't think I could possibly care less what that woman wants, Bentley. Why are you even answering her calls?" He was angry. I could feel the cold fury radiating off of him. He stomped toward the stairs, moving gracefully, even as he looked like the floor should be catching on fire with every step he took toward his now agitated looking brother.

  "I'm sorry, Mars," he whispered, putting the device away from his body, so he couldn't be heard by whoever was on the phone. "I know they suck, but they're our parents."

  "The fuck they are. They were bad enough to me, always pushing me to basically be their fucking cash-cow, but they were awful to you." He snatched the phone out of the shocked Bentley's hand, making the boy flinch. "She told you you'd never make it baking for a living because nobody wanted to buy something from someone with a nasty stump!"

  An entire room full of shifters growled in unison, including me. What kind of person––what kind of mother––would say something so heinous to someone as sweet and innocent as Bentley? To their own child?

  The brother's both froze at the sound, turning to find a room full of very angry beings, watching them.

  Marlow's mouth opened, as he turned back to his brother, clearly realizing that he'd just said far too much in front of a room full of people.

  But a tear rolled down Bentley's cheek as he addressed everyone. "I swear I don't let my bad arm contaminate anything."

  "Bent," I said, throwing my hands up in the air. "Nobody cares about that. Even if you did touch anything we've had with your arm, it's not gross. Nobody thinks your arm is gross. Bennett knew you were missing part of your arm, and he brings his pregnant mate there every day to get his muffin fix. We're mad that somebody would say something so cruel to you."

  The tears were still coming, but both brothers' eyes slowly tracked to where Bennett was sitting on his big guy's lap, like he wasn't some kind of trained warrior, and the youngest lieutenant in the leap.

  Thompsyn and Bennett shrugged, smiling.

  "I can kill her for you," Bennett said, eyes going cold. "In fact, let me kill her."

  Ridley crossed his arms over his largish belly, glaring at the wall. "Maybe I've been a part of this leap too long, but I seriously want to stab another human being right now. Like right in the vagina."

  That surprised a laugh out of everyone, and even Bentley giggled through his tears, letting his brother wrap him in a hug.

  "I'm so sorry, Bent. I really didn't mean to embarrass you. I just despise everything about them. Especially our mother." Pulling back he smiled sadly at his brother. "You are an adult, and it is absolutely up to you whether or not you talk to them. I'd rather you not tell them where we are, and I never want to speak to them, but you have the right to do whatever you want. Just please, don't let the hateful things I know she'll say to you make you feel bad. She is just a nasty person."

  "Okay. I know you're right. But part of me just wants them to love me, Mars. Like they did you." His voice was so quiet, probably only meant for Marlow to hear. But he was in a room full of shifters.

  "They didn't love me, Bent. They used me. I was a means to money and fame. What you and I have is love. You're the only person who has ever loved me in my entire life."

  "We'll be your family," Davis said, him and Rory stepping forward. "This entire room is full of people who have little to no biological family left they want to claim."

  "Let's go check out our room, Bent. Maybe get that nap. This has been a bit of a trying day."

  I opened my mouth to tell my mate that he'd actually be staying in my room, but decided to tell him later. Along with the fact that he was my mate. And what it actually meant.

  His brother needed him right then. And maybe after everything, Marlow needed Bentley right then too.

  ***

  I sat outside the room,
waiting patiently for Marlow to emerge. He had to come out sometime, right? It had been three hours.

  When the door opened, it was Bentley that walked out into the hallway, smirking when he saw me leaning against the wall on the other side. "Are you stalking my brother, Arlington?"

  "I sure am, pipsqueak."

  "Good. Do you think anyone would care if I made dinner?" He asked shyly. "I kinda feel bad about putting a damper on the mood earlier."

  "Trust me, nobody is going to bitch about somebody making food. But you might want to make enough for fifty, because I guarantee they are all going to be all in your business, as soon as they smell it." Smiling, I reached out, pulling him in for a quick hug. "And you didn't put a damper on the mood. I believe there was already a damper on it. You don't remember we were talking about kidnapping and sex trafficking?"

  Giggling, he nodded. "Yeah, not much can make that conversation better."

  Jogging downstairs, I heard him greet Ridley and Davis, in his sweet, shy way. I couldn't help but hope he got as comfortable around all the others, as he was around me, but I knew that would take time.

  When the door opened again, I turned to find Marlow, watching me with an eyebrow raised in question. As usual, he looked sexy as fuck with his snarky, ready to pounce expression. I suddenly forgot why I was there, and why I wasn't already buried inside him.

  Not saying a word, I grabbed him by the hips, backing him into the wall hard, and pressing my mouth to his. He gasped, but melted almost immediately, parting his lips for me, and latching on to my shirt, dragging me closer.

  Pressing fully against him, I felt him go hard against my thigh, as I ground my own erection against his abs. When I pressed my thigh more firmly against his dick, he ripped his mouth from mine, crying out at the ceiling.

  "Fuck, 1998! I was beginning to think this was never going to happen."

  "Damn it, Blondie! I came up here to talk." But my hips undulated without permission, and I latched onto his mouth, dying for another taste of his unique flavor.

  Reaching around his hips, I palmed both his ass-cheeks and rocked him forward, loving the high pitched whine that left his throat.