Jaded [The Moonlight Breed 9] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Gabrielle Evans (good novels to read TXT) 📗

the sofa. “I know,” he mumbled. “I don’t want them to worry about me, but I hate this. They’ll think. They’ll think. They’ll think I’m a freak.”

“If you won’t talk to your friends, at least speak to Dr. Woods. He would probably have more answers than I do.”

Spiro had treated many people with different disorders over the years, including various types of tics that ranged from almost nonexistent to extremely severe. In Cicero’s case, he was exhibiting signs of palilalia—a neurotic disorder that presented itself in the repetition of certain words or phrases during speech. The strange part, however, was that the symptoms hadn’t begun until after his escape from The Hive.

“Maybe I’ll just wait until you come back.”

“Ro, I know you’re afraid of what people will think, but you need to trust your friends. They love you, and they want to help. Let them help you.”

“I just want it to stop. Why? Why? Why? Why?” On and on for nearly an entire minute he repeated the word like a skipping record. “Why did this happen to me?”

Cicero was having a fairly mild day. The repetitions weren’t nearly as bad as they had been during some of their previous sessions. Unfortunately, that didn’t necessarily mean he was getting better. The symptoms came and went, some days good, some days worse.

“I don’t know why this happened to you.” It broke his heart, though. If there was anyone on the planet who deserved to be happy, it was Cicero. “I want you to talk to someone while I’m gone, so choose your poison. I can call in another psychologist. You can talk to Dr. Woods.” He paused, letting Cicero absorb what he was saying. “Or you can just talk to your friends.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“I’m leaving in the morning, but I’m going to check up on you. If you haven’t found someone to talk to by the end of next week, I’m going to call Dr. Woods. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Cicero answered with a tiny half smile. “Safe travels, Doc, and hurry back.”

The back door of the cabin opened quietly, and Spiro leaned back to get a better view into the kitchen. “Zuriel?” His mate never bothered him during a session, and they’d made plans to speak later in the evening. “What’s wrong?”

“Hey, Ro.” Zuriel greeted his friend with a wave when he entered the living room. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d be finished by now.”

For just a moment, Spiro thought Cicero might answer. His lips parted, he sucked in a breath, but right at the last moment, he pressed his lips together and shook his head. Then he pushed up from the cushions, hugged Zuriel, and disappeared out the same door Zuriel had just entered.

“Is he okay? Is he getting better?”

“He’s going to be okay.” It was the best answer he could give without completely violating his oath and Cicero’s trust. “Now, what are you doing here, lirimaer?”

“Oh! Right.” Showing more genuine confidence than Spiro had seen from him yet, Zuriel marched forward to stand right between his thighs and smiled down at him. “I’ve made my decision, and I want to go with you. That is, if you still want me.”

It was the most absurd thing he’d ever heard. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I want you.”

“Mmm,” Zuriel purred as he crept closer, crawling into Spiro’s lap to straddle his thighs. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Shouldn’t you be packing?” His words held little conviction—probably because most of the blood in his body was rushing straight to swelling cock.

“I should.”

“What are you doing?”

Zuriel’s nimble fingers worked open the buttons on his shirt, parting the fabric so that he could spread his palms across Spiro’s chest. “If you don’t know, I’m obviously not doing something right.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Hell, he wasn’t sure what he’d meant, but he definitely knew that he wasn’t going to take Zuriel for the first time in some living room on a narrow armchair. His mate deserved candlelight and roses, soft music and sweetly whispered endearments. In that moment, however, Spiro would settle for a mattress and some privacy.

“This would go much better if you cooperated.” Those delicate hands skimmed over his collarbones and up the sides of his neck to tangle in his hair. “Maybe I don’t deserve it, but I need this, Spiro. Let me have just this one time where I don’t have to be anyone but myself.”

The plea in his eyes and the tremble in his voice cemented Spiro’s decision, and he pushed to his feet, clutching the little fox to his chest. “I never want you to be anything but exactly who you are.” Holding Zuriel up with an arm around his hips, he used his other hand to palm the back of his mate’s head and pull him close for a gentle kiss. “Lle naa vanima, amin lirimaer.”

“Wow.” His lips parted and curled into a cute grin. “I love when you do that. What does it mean?”

“You are beautiful,” Spiro whispered as he brushed his mouth up the smooth slope of his mate’s neck. “You don’t see your value clearly, but you will.” He’d do everything in his power to nurture Zuriel’s self-confidence and prove to him that his worth was not based on the pleasures his body could provide.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t looking forward to worshipping every inch of the little shifter’s lithe body. The pleasure he received would be from the quiet whimpers and throaty moans from his lover, though. It was all about Zuriel—what he wanted, needed, and desired.

Shifting him higher for a more secure hold, Spiro carried his treasure from the room and down the hallway to his bedroom, closing the door behind him with his shoulder. “It’s been a long time.” The words were spoken without conscious decision, and he wasn’t even sure why he’d said them.

“Don’t worry.” Tightening his grip around Spiro’s neck, Zuriel pulled him closer to nibble at his mouth. “I know what to do.”

That wasn’t exactly what he’d meant, and if