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Samuel
Waking up on a daze filled haze the day before is different than waking up in a strange place and forgetting where I am. Oh yeah. I’m in the hospital in Florida. My father drugged me and Jamison and then kidnapped me and dragged my naked ass back here. How embarrassing. I shake my head at the thought.
I will never forgive my father for betraying me like this, for shaming me in front of all my family, friends and peers. I did what I did because I didn’t know what else to do to get out of a situation I was being forced into. I don’t love Amy or Shawn and Shawn already told me that he would fuck me, not make love to me, so that thought there is scary to me. I’m a smaller man, but I’m still worthy of love and being made love to.
Remembering back to last night when Jamison was at my side when I woke up. I remember asking for him, I wanted him near me. When I sensed him by me, but couldn’t hear him, I knew I was going to be okay and the lies I was told were just that. Lies.
I have never been so low emotionally when my father was telling me that Jamison dumped me and that he changed his mind about us. That he drugged me and threw me to the road, where my father was concerned and found me. I knew it was a bunch of BS. 1) My father would never be out looking for me. 2) He would never be concerned about me to come look. And 3) it would only be to further himself in the shifter world here in Florida.
Right after my lunch is over, I’m taken to a security ward for what I did, now I’m on lock up. Suicide watch or something. I didn’t do it because I wanted to die...well I did, but it was because of what was forced upon me. Not for my daily everyday life with Jamison. I would never do that if I was with him all the time verses home with my family.
Jamison is my home. He will always be home to me. It’s where I feel safe and secure. And healthy. Living in Florida was only good for the weather and hot sun, but with fair skin and red hair, it’s not such a good idea for my human side. My bird agrees with me. My animal side wants me safe, because without me, there is no him.
“We need to prove to the human and shifter doctors that we are well and need to go back to Jamison. His beast was calling to me when he was here.” My bird tells me in my mind. It’s like a loud whisper.
“I know, but I can’t force them to understand. You heard the doctors say I will be here for at least a week to prove to them that I’m not a threat to myself and can be released to a responsible adult.” I reply to my animal in my mind. “Only thing I can do is go through their tests, the games and paperwork I must do to get out of here.”
“Then we better play nice with everyone. I want to go back with Jamison and away from your family as soon as possible.”
“I agree with you on that.”
After the brief conversation with my bird, I close my eyes and drift off to take a nap.
Jamison
After I push food into my mouth for lunch, I drive back to the hospital. I just received a message from Amanda, the head nurse that Samuel was brought to his own room on the lock up floor. I’m going to visit him and go over the plan I have in mind to get him to come home with me. I don’t know what medicine or special needs he will require, but I’m bound and determined to make it happen when I’m able to bring him home and make him happy.
Arriving at the hospital a short time later and parking the rental, I walk to the front desk and ask how to get to room 814. The lady looks at me like I have two heads and says, “That’s the locked ward. I will have to clear you for visits. Your name please.”
I give her my name and she rings up to the floor. A minute later, my name is cleared, and she gives me the directions to get there. Upon arriving off the elevator, I walk to the closed metal doors with a small window. I see the phone on the side, and I pick it up.
“Hello? Who are you here to see?” The man on the line says.
I tell the man Samuel’s name and BUZZZZZZ goes the lock in the door. I hang up the phone quickly and grab the door handle to let me in. Walking to the front desk where I’m assuming is the man I just spoke to on the phone, I ask where room 814 is. He gives me directions and I’m pointed in the direction I’m needing to go.
The door is closed, and I knock quietly, just in case he’s asleep. I open the door slowly and the room is dark with the blinds closed. I’m assuming he’s asleep with the soft breathing and light snores tell me anything. The smell of his lunch is still in the room and I see his rolling table pushed to the side, with a half a plate of food left over and an empty glass. Looks like a sandwich and chips. I push the rolling table out of the way and set his food tray into the hall on the floor. I step back inside Samuel’s room quietly then shut the door behind me with a soft click.
I quietly sit in the chair in the corner and close my eyes as well. I guess I could use a nap and I don’t want to disturb Samuel while he sleeps. He needs it while his animal heals as well. Slowly, I feel my beast calm, and relax and is finally silent, knowing I’m able to rest now too. I wiggle a bit to get comfy in this corner chair, and fall asleep easily to the soft, sleepy sounds of my mates soft breathing.
Samuel
I see that my rolling side table has been moved to the side and the food tray I had earlier is gone. I wasn’t very hungry and ate as much as I could. Food in here sucks. No utensils to eat anything because, ya know, suicide watch now. I shouldn’t be here. I’m not a threat to myself or anyone. I was just trying to get away from the situation.
I sigh out loud, and it must have been louder than I expected because now I feel a set of dark eyes on me from my right. I look, and I meet the eyes of Jamison.
“Hi, sorry if I woke you. I’m just bored, and I didn’t want to disturb your sleeping with anything.” I say to him.
“You’re fine, Samuel. How do you feel today? Besides bored?” He chuckles at the last bit.
“I actually feel good, surprisingly. I don’t feel depressed or anything. I feel good today. You’re here so it’s better anyway.” I smirk shyly.
“Yes, I’m here. And only for you. I’m here as long as they’ll let me be here. But I couldn’t bring anything in here for you. Regulations and all that.” He looks at me with sad eyes.
“That’s okay. When I bust out of here, we can do and go anywhere we want to.” I smile but it’s forced.
Knowing my family, or rather, my father, won’t let me do anything but get married to Amy and Shawn. I hate him for his stupid rules for family mediocracy. ‘Only to make the bloodline stronger, I don’t care if you hate them, you will marry them.’ I remember my father saying at one time or another.
I was friends at one time with Amy as teenagers in school. But then she met Shawn, and he was stronger than me, bigger than me. He became her whole world. He took her and our friendship away. She always knew I was gay. I wasn’t interested in a romantic relationship, only friendship from her. She knew me.
I guess Shawn turned her away from me, she used to care about me, but I guess that all went out the door now too. Shawn has turned her against me, her friendship is something I will always hold close to me, even though she isn’t a friend anymore. He’s turned her against me so much that her mind and heart are full of what he wants her to see, feel and want. I just want her to be happy in her life and decisions. Even if it’s without me in it.
I look back to Jamison’s eyes, study his beautiful facial features, and it brings me back to center. He sits on the bed next to me, and pulls me into a huge tight hug, and I can feel my world align once again. I’m home. I’m whole again. I belong here. Right here in his arms.
We chat for a while and then he leaves to go back to his hotel. My sister called and said the parents were on their way, and Jamison didn’t want to ruffle any more feathers. When my parents leave after a few agonizing hours, and the head nurse coming in and telling them visiting hours are over, I finally ease back into my pillows and blanket and let the day drift in my head. It’s way after dark by the time I calm down enough to be ready for sleep. I bring up the sight and smell of Jamison, and before I know it, I’m finally in a peaceful sleep for the night.
*****
My bird is screeching in my head to wake up. And as my mind becomes clearer, I can scent Jamison close by. I open my eyes and slowly turn over to my back. I can see his sleeping form in the chair over in the corner. Glancing up to the clock up on the wall, I notice it’s almost lunch time already. I wonder when he got here.
Shifting slightly in my bed and getting into a comfortable position, I now notice that the sun is shining. After a quick bathroom break earlier. I had noticed it was raining. It looks like I’ve missed yet another nice day to get outside.
I wonder if they let shifters be in their animal form here on this side of the ‘bars’. Do they let them outside? Can we leave our rooms to shift? What about prey/predator shifters? Is it safe for everyone? Is this place shifter only or is there humans here as well? If there are humans, do they know about shifters and is that safe for us? I know my head nurse is a shifter, but don’t know what kind yet. I guess I can ask her my questions next time I see her.
As my brain swirls around all these questions, I can feel my bird getting anxious as well. He squawks in my head, and I turn my head slightly and notice Jamison, now awake in his chair, staring at me with his beautiful almost black eyes.
“Good morning, or, rather afternoon. How long have you been here?” I ask him.
“I’ve been here for a little while. I was waiting for you to wake. We need to talk.” He murmurs looking towards the ceramic floor tiles.
Whenever someone says, ‘We need to talk’, it’s never a good conversation. I sit up slowly, adjusting my pillows, and I’m also lifting the head of the bed so I can see him better. He gets up off the bed, stands back but then helps me adjust the pillows behind me.
After I’m all adjusted and comfortable, Jamison sits on the edge of the bed, our hips touching his hip on the blanket, mine under them. I want to touch him, reach out my hand and caress his arm or thigh. I’m craving just to touch him right now. To soothe me and my nerves down a few notches. But from what he’s just said, maybe I don’t have that right anymore.
Shit, what if my family finally got to him? What if they told him to leave me alone? What if I never see him anymore? What if they make me marry Amy and Shawn? All these questions flow through my brain and I can feel my body tense up, my eyes going back to the horrible day of me being forced to dress in my tux for my wedding.
“Hey, Babe, calm down. Your breathing is going crazy and your blood pressure is up.” I can feel Jamison embrace me against his hard-muscular chest, his hand wrapping around my waist and the other hand runs through my hair, holding me close to his chest. I can smell his fresh clean scent-pine trees, grass, leaves and fresh air.
Breathing the scent that is Jamison, my bird calms, and with it, I do as well. Jamison has become my calming salve. My ying to my yang. The one person in my life, that I would trust everything too. Including my own life. His scent, his voice, his image in my head over the past six months he’s been my home. Now this shit storm that’s happened with me being kidnapped: him in my memory, he’s the one that’s kept me going.
Except for that one moment on the wedding day when I thought I had no other options given to me, but to do what I did. But I was also told that Jamison no longer wanted me. And, stupid me, I believed what I was told. Now I know, I know he’s here for me. Only for me.
But when he tells me we need to talk, I get scared. What is he going to tell me? Is he leaving me? Is he going to tell me that he doesn’t love me? That he doesn’t want me anymore? Did my parents finally sink their talons into him so deep and threaten him away from me forever? I’m pulling all the questions together again and my nerves ramp up once again.
“Samuel, you need to calm down, so I can tell you my news. If you don’t calm down, I’m going to be forced to call in the nurse and have them give you a relaxer. And I don’t want to medicate you. Not for the news I have to tell you.” Jamison’s lips brush against my temple. His breath brushes through my hair and I instantly relax into his arms once again.
I lean back from him, instantly missing his warmth. I look to his deep dark eyes, and I can only see the longing he has for me. And the love from him pours from him to me. He’s not leaving me. But what is it that he wants to tell me? I’m nervous and scared for his news.
Before Jamison says anything to me, he cups my cheeks in his hands, looks me in the eyes, and says to me, “Samuel, I love you more than anything in the world. I’m going to take care of you, babe. When the doctor gives the okay to release you, we’re going back to your home, packing up all your stuff and we’re out of here. You’re coming home with me. Where you truly belong.” Then his lips brush over mine, whisper soft before he tenderly kisses me.
*****
A week later, I’m being released to Jamison’s care. I called my sister and told her that Jamison is bringing me by the main house so I can pack my things and leave. She said both of our parents are not home and won’t be until later this evening. But she will let me know if that changes.
She’s my closest sibling. She was forced to marry as well, but she loved her husband before they got married. She knows my situation; she knows I’m being forced into this and she hates Shawn like I hate him. She just wants me to be happy in my choices, and I’m so happy in choosing Jamison as my mate, my life partner, and my future.
An hour later from being released from the hospital, Jamison reaches the house. I sit there in the passenger seat, and I can feel my body trembling. Even the sight of the house, knowing my parents are not at home, just brings up bad memories.
Jamison takes my hand in his, links our fingers together, and gives me a slight squeeze. Showing me support and his strength to get through this one last time. Once I’m done packing my things, I’m out of here and I won’t need to come back. Only for my siblings, not my parents.
We enter the house together. He’s parked right in front of the main door so we can throw my stuff in the bed of the truck he’s rented and ship things home, back to Oregon. I open the front door, and it’s completely silent. No noise from the kitchen, no maid service, cooks clanking pans or anything. Eerily quiet.
I pull Jamison in with me and up the main stairs to the second level to my bedroom. I quickly shut the door behind me. I let go of his hand and run to my closet to retrieve my suitcases. Three of them and they will be full of things.
I toss them to the bed; Jamison unzips all three while I grab the clothes, I want to bring with me. Anything I leave behind; I don’t want anyway. While I rip clothes from hangers, and toss them on my bed, Jamison tries to fold and roll them to pack them faster and smaller to fit.
I race to my dresser and pull underwear, socks and a few other things I’m taking with me. I grab a family photo, my books and a few other odd and ends I just can’t live without. It all fits snugly but fits all in the three suitcases that I’m bringing with me.
We were never allowed to have any pets, so I don’t have to worry about that. Suddenly, my cell chirps, and I freeze in fright. Knowing it’s my sister, I read the text.
Addy: Hurry. Parents’ home in 15!!
I show Jamison the text then pocket the cell quickly. I grab one of the suitcases while Jamison grabs the other two. I shut my bedroom door while we walk as fast as we can dragging the heavy load down the stairway and outside to the waiting truck. He has no problem because he has his beast’s power behind him.
Once we’re both belted in and driving away from the house, eight minutes later, I send a reply back to my sister.
Me: Thanks, just got out with three suitcases full. I don’t need anything else. You can have it or sell it or they can burn it. IDC.
Addy: Ok good, glad you made it out. Love you little brother. Be safe and call me when you get back home with your man in Oregon!
Like I said, I love my siblings. They agree with me, that our parents are mad with what they want us to do. My sisters and brother were all lucky to love their mates before they got married. My brother Trenton, Trent, he actually married his mate from high school. It wasn’t a forced marriage, but my parents could see that her lineage would match ours. So, they agreed to the marriage.
With Addy, Adaline, they knew she was in love with her boyfriend and allowed the marriage as well. Rachel, she was forced, but fell in love with her husband. They are not true mates, but they are making it work. Don’t know what will happen if they truly found their one true mate. It could get ugly for my parents.
With all three of my siblings already having children of their own or on the way, I’m the last one to get married and give my parents another legacy within the household. But I’m the ‘black sheep’ now. I’m sure my parents will be pissed and bitch about me packing up and moving out. But I just don’t care what they think. This is about my sanity. My bird’s sanity. And me truly being happy in my life.
Once we hit the freeway, Jamison kicks it down and were flying down the road. He tells me we’re going to the hotel where he was staying at, packing up anything he left there and then he’s checking out. Then we’re making our way to another hotel, but closer to the airport.
A half hour later, we pull into our destination. A hotel fifteen minutes away from the airport. When we got to his original hotel, he parked the vehicle, jogged in and was only gone a few minutes. He came out holding a duffel bag over his shoulder and threw it in the backseat.
Once he’s parked, we both move to grab the suitcases and duffel from the back. He locks up the truck and we walk towards the entrance for a room for the night. After we check in, and we drop our things by the door. Jamison takes out his cell phone and makes a call.
Overhearing him, he’s speaking to the rental place to see how much it would be to rent the vehicle and drive back to Oregon with it. Sounds like he’s disagreeing with whatever they are saying. A few moments later, he’s on another call to the airlines for two tickets back to Oregon as soon as possible.
I open my suitcase, find some clean pajamas and head towards the shower. I can’t deal with the hostility raging from him right now. I just want peace, calm and quiet. Once the shower is on a comfortable warm enough for me, I strip and jump in under the spray.
I grabbed my shower wash and shampoo and quickly wash and rinse off. I sit on the bottom of the shower and allow the heat and pounding of the shower hit over my head and shoulders. Feeling the heat pull away the tension of the day and narrow escape from my parents.
Jamison finds me there a few minutes later. My eyes closed, body completely relaxed and almost asleep. I feel a quick cool breeze and the curtain is pulled back and his arms lift me up from under my arms. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he kisses my temple softly.
“Babe, I need you to stand up on your own so I can wash up as well. Then we can go to bed. I ordered a quick light meal, so we have something in our stomachs. It will be here in twenty minutes. Go ahead and get out and ready for bed. I’ll join you soon.”
After nibbling on the meal that was ordered, neither of us too hungry, we toss the garbage away. We both climb into bed, I’m in my sleep pants and t-shirt, I cover up with the blankets. I let what’s left of the days stress seep out of me and finally relax into the bed. Dozing, I can feel Jamison come up beside me and pull the blankets over him as well. He snuggles up behind me, wraps his arm around me, securing him as close as we possibly can. I can hear a distant, “I love you, Samuel. You’re safe now.” And I fall into complete darkness of sleep, wrapped up in the safety of my mates’ arms.
