Let the Rain Come Down [The Moonlight Breed 6] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Gabrielle Evans (read a book TXT) 📗

“You know I don’t deserve you.”

“I know.” Winking mischievously, Oscar wiggled off the bed and padded toward the bathroom. “You’ll figure out a way to make it up to me.”

The shifter was a total brat. He’d probably make Demitrius want to pull his hair out more times than not. “I look forward to it.”

Chapter Nine

“So, I have to stay inside the dorm tonight?” Oscar was trying his best to sound indignant, but he figured he probably just sounded relieved. As a hedgehog shifter, he wasn’t particularly fond of snow, preferring warmer, dryer climates. Plus, his small size combined with his white coat practically guaranteed that he’d end up lost in the deep, wet fluff.

“Yes,” Demitrius answered in his no-nonsense tone that terrified most people. Oscar just found it sexy. “I think you’ll have fun, though. I have a surprise for you, too.”

In Oscar’s experience, surprises usually meant something bad. He knew Demitrius would never do anything to hurt him, however, so for the first time, he was actually excited. He was also pretty excited about letting his animal out to play as well.

The first full moon in Haven, he and his friends had opted to take the Inhibitors to keep from transforming. The drug wasn’t quite the same as what they’d given them in The Hive, though, and after the headaches and vomiting, none of them were anxious to repeat the experience.

“I think Ro should probably stay in as well.”

Demitrius squeezed his bottom and hitched him a little higher on his back as he stomped through the snow on the way to the dorm. “I meant to ask you about that. He doesn’t talk to anyone, and no one is sure what his animal is. Xander said he’d take the twins, but we were a little concerned about Cicero.”

“Ro is an Ash Gray ladybug.”

“Hmm, interesting. He’s still a guy, right?”

Oscar snorted and rolled his eyes. “Yes, love. Cicero is completely male. Well, mostly.”

“What does that mean?” Reaching the front porch of the dorm, Demitrius helped Oscar down to his feet and turned to face him with a deep scowl on his face. “How can he be ‘mostly’ male?”

“Well, we all are.” Oscar twisted his fingers together nervously and chewed on his bottom lip with great enthusiasm. He should have kept his big mouth shut. It wasn’t really a big deal, and there was no need for Demitrius to worry about it.

“Oscar,” Demitrius said in his “alpha” voice, and this time it wasn’t nearly such a turn-on. “Tell me.”

“Desirables are designed to fulfill a Master’s every wish. That includes reproduction if that’s what is required of us.”

Demitrius stumbled a step backward and leaned heavily against the porch railing. “So, you…you could be…in there.” He jabbed a finger at Oscar’s midsection as his face paled alarmingly.

“No.” Crap, this was so far out of the ordinary, even for paranormals, that Oscar didn’t even know where to begin explaining. “I can change my appearance at will, Demitrius. Hell, I can shift into an animal the fraction of my usual size in under a minute.”

“Yes, but men don’t just fucking grow uteruses!”

“I can transform completely into a woman if that’s what you wanted.”

To prove his point, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let the magic flow through him until he nearly suffocated under the onslaught. When he opened his eyes, his hair was longer, his hips shapelier, and his chest sported a pair of small, firm breasts.

“Not everyone who signs a contract is a gay man. Some of them want women.”

“Fuck me sideways.” Demitrius dropped his head and turned away, gripping his temples in both hands. “Please change back. Holy crap, just fucking change back.”

Oscar did as asked, shaking in his boots as he waited for his mate to say something else. He knew he was a freak, but he couldn’t stand the thought of Demitrius looking at him that way. If it meant keeping the man in his life, he’d gladly take those damn Inhibitors every day until he died.

“Okay.” Demitrius bobbed his head a couple of times and sighed. “Okay.”

“Okay, what?”

“I’m sorry that I freaked on you.” Stepping forward, he pulled Oscar into his arms and kissed the top of his head. “I’m sorry this happened to you, sweet baby, but it doesn’t change anything. You’re not pregnant, though, right?”

Oscar chuckled and nuzzled his cheek against the soft cotton of Demitrius’s shirt. “No, I’m not pregnant. I just thought you should know that it is possible.”

“Thank you for being honest. I don’t know how I feel about children, though. That’s a conversation for much, much later.”

All Oscar cared about was that Demitrius still loved him. He’d never been around children before, and he wasn’t at all certain that he wanted to be. Good grief, he could barely take care of himself without getting into trouble. “Can we not tell anyone? Please?” The last thing he wanted was for someone to look at him like he was some kind of circus attraction.

“Yeah, I think that’s best, not to mention safer.”

The front door swung open, and Zuriel bounced out onto the porch. “Are they here yet? Can we go now? My freakin’ skin itches.”

Now that it had been brought to his attention, Oscar felt like his skin was crawling as well. The sun sank below the horizon, finally releasing its hold on the land and giving way to the night. Several loud howls carried on the wind, and Oscar jumped about a foot into the air, pressing closer to his mate’s side. “What the hell is that?”

“The resident werewolf pack, I’d guess.” Demitrius sounded so calm about it, but Oscar had never met a werewolf before. On the night of the full moon didn’t seem like the most opportune time to make their acquaintance, either.

“Right. Great. Awesome. Can we go in now?”

“No!” Zuriel pressed his legs together and wiggled his hips, looking like a small child who needed to use the restroom.