Chapter 27: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… Seething anger!

***

Jeremy couldn’t take his eyes off his mate. Even the way he ate was sexy, he thought, staring at Ryan’s mouth. It was so juicy and full he had to suppress the urge to lean forward and capture those lips again. The man had such sensual kissable lips it was driving Jeremy insane with lust. That naughty streak within the alpha that people didn’t get to see reared its ugly head, making him deliberately unblock his thoughts from Ryan. And when Jeremy heard a throaty moan from Ryan, he smirked.

“Is the food too spicy?” Jeremy asked with an innocent look.

“It’s not the food and you know it.” Ryan groaned as his face flushed with obvious lust. Was it always going to be like that around Jeremy, Ryan thought exasperatedly. “Whatever you’re doing, stop it.” Ryan rasped.

“I’m just feeding you. If the food is not…”

“The food is perfect. I love spicy food...love the light heat in my mouth.” Ryan slowly raised eyes filled with annoyance, off the food and onto Jeremy’s. “Maybe I should wrap it around your cock…let’s see if you can handle the heat,” Ryan added huskily, shocking himself. His intention had been to sound wicked and mean. But somehow what he’d said had rather come out sounding suggestive.

“Shit.” Jeremy breathed as he closed his eyes at the instant erotic image of Ryan’s sexy lips wrapped around his cock. He moaned when he felt his already semi-hard cock throb almost painfully inside his pants. But he also knew Ryan’s main intention. “Hate me that much?” He rasped.

“I do actually.” Ryan retorted smugly, leaning back against the headboard and watching Jeremy from beneath his lashes. “I really do.”

“Ryan…”

“Just being truthful here pal. This right here…” He flicked his forefinger between him and Jeremy. “I can’t help it. I have the hots for you. I don’t know why but I just do. I just want to ravish you whenever I lay my eyes on you.” He wanted Ryan to fuck him so hard it was driving him insane. “Maybe it’s because you’re the one who bit me. I’m sure you probably know why I feel this way but you’re just not saying. Whatever it is, I can’t deny that I want you. But I also remember clearly…as if it happened mere minutes ago, what you did to me. And I hate you for that.” Ryan said with eyes filled with condemnation.

“What can I do?” Jeremy whispered. He looked so miserable and defeated Ryan’s heart almost went out to him. Almost.

“Nothing. What you did to me was worse than death, Jeremy. I’d never wished for death till I met you.”

At those words, Jeremy felt disgust at himself claw up from his gut and burn within his throat. He felt sick. “What I did was evil and I hope one day you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.”

“Your mother explained that you were not yourself. Well, that doesn’t make me any less angry because I didn’t deserve that treatment at all. Know something else?” Ryan asked, leaning forward with a curious look in his eyes. “I have a feeling it wasn’t because you thought I was a hunter because from the little I’ve heard, you don’t have that reaction around other hunters. I asked two or three nurses and your mother, what you did when you catch hunters. Imagine my shock when I was told you usually get your witch or whoever, to work on them to take away their thirst for the hunt. Why didn’t you do same with me but rather got so angry you allow a murdering spirit to possess you? Was it my face? My hair? I know some people think it’s weird I have such white hair but it isn’t that bad. I just don’t know why my presence had to cause you to become a monster. It makes me so mad that I could be treated with so much cruelty when I’m not even a hunter. I mean hey…hunters are even treated better than I was apparently. Am I that repulsive?” Ryan sounded like he really needed to know why.

Jeremy sighed. It was obvious that Ryan wasn’t going to wait till after his meal to demand answers. “You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on, Ryan. I swear on my father’s grave.”

“Oh come on Jeremy. I’m not blind. I’m not anything extraordinary. I’m just okay. There are people out there who are more…”

“Ryan?” Jeremy growled. “I swore on my father’s grave. Respect that. Besides, ever heard the saying beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder?”

“And did you treat me that way because of that so-called beauty, Jeremy?” Ryan snapped. “I need to understand. I have all these feelings inside that I really don’t understand. And they are very intense. For instance, I want to be very far away from you. But at the same time, I can’t bear the thought of not seeing you. Does it make sense?”

“There’s an explanation for that. I’ll…”

“An explanation huh?” Ryan gave a humourless chuckle. “Same reason you had to torture me as though I was the scum of this earth?” Ryan tilted his head to the side and stared at Jeremy. “Well, at least the hatred I have for you is intact. I don’t think that’s ever going to diminish. I mean people like you shouldn’t be allowed to live because you are a threat to other people. Look at what you did to me.”

Jeremy’s heart was breaking. He knew Ryan hated him but it was so painful to hear it from Ryan’s lips. He felt his wolf whine pitifully within at Ryan’s words. And for the second time since his first shift into a wolf, Jeremy felt the sting of tears behind his eyes. He got off the bed. The last thing he wanted was for Ryan to see him vulnerable.

“You’ll have to excuse me please.” Jeremy’s voice was hoarse from unshed tears as he avoided Ryan’s eyes. He couldn’t understand how Ryan could bring him to the brink of tears so easily. He was an alpha for fuck’s sake…and a powerful one at that.

Jeremy quickly told Philip through their mind-link to send someone to clear the plates and to keep an eye on Ryan. Then the distraught alpha moved swiftly onto the balcony and jumped down, not even bothering with his clothes. By the time he landed on the ground, he was a huge red wolf. And even as Jeremy ran, his sad howls brought great sadness into the heart of every werewolf who heard him. Ryan didn’t feel any different…his heart hurt so bad he wanted to bawl his eyes out. What the fuck was his deal with Jeremy, he wondered for the umpteenth time. He covered his head with a pillow and screamed.