“No!” Rian yelled, swiping his hand across the table, sending it flying to the floor. Rian raced around the end of the table to sit next to Felix.
“You said it was safe. It was safe right?” Rian begged, looking at Claybourne.
When Felix looked up into his lover’s eyes, he saw the dawning realization of what he had done blossom in Claybourne’s aquamarine eyes. Seconds later he saw them shift to a pale sky blue and he knew that Claybourne was fighting his tiger. That was when Felix lost his composure and began to sob into his hands, terrified.
“Baby, no! What have you done?” Claybourne pulled Felix away from Rian and began to rock him in his arms.
“If you’re right and it’s not the chocolate then I am safe. If you’re wrong and I get sick, we’ll have concrete evidence that it is the chocolate and we’ll be one step closer to the cure. We’re out of time, Claybourne. The people of this town are out of time,” Felix said, burying his face in his mate’s strong shoulder.
The other men wiped their eyes, thinking of their own sick mates.
“It wasn’t the chocolate. It wasn’t.” Claybourne held Felix tight, refusing to let go. Felix pulled away as he grabbed a napkin to wipe his eyes.
“Come on, we have twelve- to twenty-four hours before any symptoms appear. Let’s go through more samples today,” Felix said, sniffing. Claybourne stood and scooped Felix up in his arms.
“If you gentlemen will excuse us?” Claybourne carried his mate through the school. He walked slowly through the deserted town to the clinic. Once inside he bypassed the lab and went directly to his private quarters.
* * * *
Claybourne lay him down on his narrow bed gently before stretching out beside him, pulling him close to his body.
“Do I mean so little to you that you would risk your life?” Claybourne whispered. Felix shook his head.
“We have to know for sure. I couldn’t ask anyone else to do this, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to let you do it. Maybe we’ll luck out and you’ll be right,” Felix said, new tears streaming down his face. Claybourne looked at him Felix could tell he was fighting back tears of his own.
“Didn’t you tell me when we first met, you were always right?” Claybourne blinked and Felix felt his tears hit his cheek.
“Now you listen.” Felix’s smile was wobbly.
“I need you, my mate.” Claybourne leaned in and kissed him gently.
“Yes! I need you, Claybourne. I need you inside of me, I need to feel you so deep that I know we’ll never be apart, even if….” Felix sobbed the last word, unable to think about leaving his mate, not after just finding him. They had barely enjoyed any time together.
Claybourne eased off the bed and began to slowly strip off his clothes. Felix went to remove his, but Claybourne shook his head. Felix settled back on the narrow bed. Piece by piece, Claybourne removed his clothing. He folded each piece neatly, watching Felix the entire time.
Felix felt himself start to harden. As each piece was removed, that much more of his mate was revealed. That chocolate may have had the virus, but he wasn’t sick yet. He wanted his mate more than he wanted his next breath. Shifting his hips on the bed, he reached down to ease the tightness of his pants and Claybourne shook his head. Felix moved his arms so that his wrists lay crossed over his head. Claybourne’s lips teased a hint of a smile. Lord help him, his mate was going to kill him!
Without saying a word Claybourne stripped down and stood next to the bed, looking down at his mate. Felix could see how aroused his mate was. His lover’s cock was leaving smears of pre-cum across his stomach. But Claybourne made no efforts to rush. Felix lifted his hips off the bed entirely, trying to ease the pressure of his own prick. Claybourne raised a single eyebrow. Felix settled his lower body back down on the bed.
“Please,” Felix asked in a strangled whisper.
Claybourne eased off Felix’s shoes one at a time. He rubbed each foot’s arch and removed his socks. Next he undid his jeans and pulled the zipper down slowly. Carefully he eased the jeans down over his hips and down his legs. A ghost of a smile appeared when Claybourne looked down at Felix’s underwear-covered prick. The evidence of his arousal was soaking the front of his boxer briefs. Claybourne leaned down and licked the moist spot on the fabric. Felix shuddered and fought his body’s desire to push his cock closer to his mate’s mouth. He strained to stay very still.
“Good,” Claybourne whispered and stood up, walking to the head of the bed. He pulled Felix’s T-shirt up over his abdomen. He leaned in and licked his belly button. Felix couldn’t hold back the moan. Claybourne eased the shirt up and with Felix’s assistance pulled it over his head. Wearing only his boxer briefs, Felix felt more naked than his bare mate.
Claybourne, with a single finger, traced his body from collarbone to navel, along the rigid outline of his cock and down the crease of his ass. Felix began to pant, unable to keep air in his lungs. His mate had only touched him with a single finger, yet set fire to his entire body.
Claybourne grabbed the top of the briefs and pulled them down and off in one fluid yank. He walked over to the small, utilitarian night stand and retrieved a small tube of lube. He returned to the foot of the bed and crawled between Felix’s legs. He gently lifted his legs and opened them wide, exposing Felix’s pink hole to him.
Felix watched Claybourne’s every deliberate move and felt himself start to shake. Never had he been taken like this, possessed in every single way. He loved it and would crave it again.
Gently, Claybourne eased a finger into his dark channel. Felix threw his head back and bit his lip to keep from yelling out. Each touch was magnified a thousand times due to the slow pace.
“Even if you fall ill and die, I will follow,” Claybourne said, breaking the quiet.
“I could not bear to walk this Earth without you.” Claybourne eased in a second finger and began a slow sawing in and out of Felix’s body. Slow, measured, deliberate. It was as if his lover was savoring every single second they had together.
“I love you, Maddox,” Felix said, watching his mate’s face. Claybourne’s movements stilled when Felix used his first name.
“Say it again,” he asked.
“Maddox. My Maddox,” Felix said. Claybourne scissored his fingers wide before pulling them free to replace them with the head of his cock. Gradually he pushed his engorged head past the first ring of inner muscles until he was fully seated inside his mate. Felix sighed in relief. His mate was where he belonged. Inside him, possessing him. Owning him.
“I love you, Felix. I love your zest for life and the way you always say what you think. I love the way you always put others first and take care of me even when I fight you about it.” Claybourne wrapped Felix’s legs around his waist and leaned down until he rested on his elbows on either side of Felix.
Felix pulled his lover closer to him, trying to send him deeper inside of him. Claybourne rested his forehead on Felix’s. Kissing him tenderly, his mate made love to him. Each slow thrust started new fires of urgency in his body until he was insane with the need for completion. Crying out his intense pleasure, he begged Claybourne to go faster. Claybourne had left enough space between their bodies that there was little friction to his prick. With tears in his eyes Claybourne shook his head.
“I want this to last forever.” He continued his methodical onslaught. Just when Felix thought he couldn’t take anymore, his orgasm caught him by surprise. He clamped his ass muscles down, squeezing his mate’s thick cock. Above him Claybourne yelled his release. Jet after hot jet filled his ass until it started to drip down his crease.
Claybourne collapsed on top of him, burying his face into his shoulder. Alone in the utter silence of his room, they both wept and comforted each other. Felix knew that they would have to return to reality soon, but he wanted this one moment to last with his mate forever.
* * * *
Felix crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at his mate as Claybourne glanced over at him for t
he twentieth time.
“If I start to feel tired I will let you know, though after what you put me through in your private quarters, I’m not sure I’ll be able to tell the difference between the virus and afterglow.” Felix leered at his mate.
“You tell me the second you feel any different,” Claybourne made him promise again. Rolling his eyes, he crossed his heart and held up his hand, swearing.
Claybourne wouldn’t let him help at the microscope anymore. He had graciously agreed to let Felix keep him company in the lab while he worked, but only if he was wrapped in a blanket and drinking water.
“Felix. Felix.” He heard Claybourne’s voice.
“I told you I would let you know if I got tired.” Felix grumbled.
“Baby, you were asleep,” Claybourne said quietly. Felix opened his eyes and looked at his mate surprised. He grimaced when he went to move his arms under the blanket.
“I’m achy and feel weak. Shit! I hate being right all the time,” Felix joked. With serious eyes Claybourne immediately got the syringe and took a sample of his blood. Felix watched, detached, as Claybourne placed the blood-filled slide under the microscope. Minutes later, Claybourne stood back and turned to Felix, a bewildered look on his face.
“How? I checked that chocolate dozens of times since you ate some, and there wasn’t anything there. But now you’re sick, and it’s showing up under the microscope. It’s like it appeared out of nowhere.” Claybourne ran his hands through his hair frustrated. Felix struggled to stand.
“Let’s try a high dose of epinephrine.” Claybourne turned, making his way to the locked storage closet. He returned with a syringe and bottle. Carefully he measured out a dose and looked to Felix.
“This will.” His words died when he saw Felix giving him a wry expression.
“Right, guess you would know. Here we go then.” Claybourne injected the needle into his mate’s thigh and depressed the plunger.
“This didn’t work on Brayburn or Damian,” Felix said.
“The virus had already had a chance to take root. You’re barely infected, it should work to trigger your shift. Anything?” he asked. Felix shook his head.
“I got a little warm, but that’s it. I can tell you without a machine my blood pressure and heart rate are normal.” Felix headed over to the microscope.
“Let me see.” He peered into the tiny eyepiece.
“Baby, I think you should be in bed, we need to get you hooked up to an IV.”
Felix ignored him. When he looked down, sure enough there was the virus swimming around, attacking all his poor innocent cells. Wait. What? Felix stood up and rubbed his eyes. He looked down again. He watched as the virus swam directly toward a cluster of red blood cells and started to attach itself. Felix stood back. Turning to Claybourne, he opened his mouth then shut it. Frowning, he turned back to the microscope and looked again.
“What is it?” Claybourne asked. Felix stood back again and turned to face his mate. Feeling lightheaded, he sat down on the lab stool.
“Do you remember when I said that this virus was acting like it was designed to kill? Rebecca had said she saw it doing things that were out of the ordinary, things no other virus should be able to do, like target cells. I know this is going to sound crazy, but what could make that happen?” Felix asked.
“We have nanotechnology now,” Claybourne started. Felix shook his head.
“Where in the hell would Gilberton get nanotechnology? There are whole countries trying to develop and or steal that kind of technology. There’s no way one old shifter could get his hands on it. It must be something else.” Felix hopped off the stool and began to move around in an effort to stay alert.
“We need to go to Bobbles and Things and go through Gilberton’s things. Now that we know it was the chocolate we need to trace it back and find out where that chocolate came from and who supplied it to Gilberton.” Felix threw off his blanket.
“You need to be in bed,” Claybourne argued.
“You need me. If we can track down the source we could have a cure by tomorrow. Then it won’t matter if I’m in bed,” Felix countered.
“You help out at Gilberton’s for an hour, that’s it. Then you go to bed,” Claybourne said, crossing his arms.
“You’re so sexy when you go all dominant.” Felix purred.
“Come on, trouble. Let’s head over there now.” Claybourne took Felix’s hand and they quickly headed to Bobbles and Things.
* * * *
“How in the hell did he stay in business? There’s no computer, no central filing system or invoices! It’s complete chaos in here.” Felix watched as his mate spun around in horror. Felix chuckled.
“We’re not here to clean and organize, Claybourne. I know you’re dying to put this place in order, but try to stay focused.” Felix began to pull down old and dusty cardboard boxes from the bookshelf. Once the box was on the desk, he had to take a moment to catch his breath. This virus was no joke. He had worked in human hospitals before and had seen plenty of flu victims. If this was a fraction of how they felt he had a new admiration for the sheer strength of will that humans possessed.
They searched for what seemed like hours to Felix, but he knew it was probably about forty-five minutes when Claybourne straightened.
“I think I found something.” He walked over to show Felix a packing slip with a handwritten note.
“That was delivered a couple days before Gilberton went apeshit. This matches the size and weight of the order of ‘Screw You’ chocolate. Why does it have the warning about keeping it cold? It looks like it was kept in a mobile refrigeration unit,” Felix asked. Claybourne shrugged.
“Because chocolate melts?”
“Maybe. But how did Gilberton get a virus into Arkadia? The perimeter is on lockdown, I doubt it would allow the virus to cross its borders even if it was in a refrigeration unit,” Felix said. Claybourne shouted and pumped his fist before he swung Felix around in the air.
“Okay, what did your beautiful mind figure out?” Felix asked. His mate was practically vibrating with excitement.
“Okay so we tested the chocolate right? No virus. Boring old chocolate. You eat some and then bam! Virus. What changed?” Claybourne asked. Felix shook his head. He didn’t want to admit it, but his thinking was starting to get foggy.
“You ate it. You digested it. Your body’s internal temperature is slightly above ninety-eight-point-six degrees. The virus must lay dormant until it reaches ninety-eight-point-six or body temperature, and then comes to life. Which is why there are handwritten warnings about keeping the chocolate cold for delivery, it’s how he snuck the chocolate past the perimeter and into Arkadia,” Claybourne explained.
“We have to get back to the lab,” Felix said. Claybourne nodded. Felix got as far as the second stair heading up out of the basement when he had to stop to catch his breath. Claybourne was immediately at his side.
“It’s getting worse, isn’t it?” he asked worriedly. Felix nodded.
“Let’s get back to the lab and test our theory. From there we can use pure, heated samples to work on a cure,” Felix said. Claybourne stooped and picked him up.
As Claybourne carried him down the street back to the clinic, Felix started to laugh.
“What is it?” his mate asked.
“Remember why you carried me out of Bobbles and Things last time?” Felix giggled.
Claybourne groaned. “You and your Niagara. I should still spank you for that.” Claybourne growled playfully.
“Hey, don’t threaten me with a good time.” Felix made kissy noises up at Claybourne.
Once back in the lab Claybourne set him back in his comfy chair with a blanket and he insisted on starting an IV. Felix glared at his IV.
“You’re one of the healthcare professionals who make impossible patients, aren’t you?” Claybourne asked when he batted Felix’s hand away from his IV tape. Felix flipped him off and stuck out his tongue.
“Later,” Claybourne promi
sed and Felix smiled.
Claybourne got busy setting up a chocolate-melting station at a Bunsen burner and readied his slides. Felix relaxed into the chair, sighing as the smell of melted chocolate filled the lab.
“I want chocolate now.” Felix pouted. Claybourne stopped mid-stir and looked over to Felix.
“You have got to be joking. I’m never looking at this stuff again.” Claybourne shuddered.
“Hey, you can’t blame all chocolate for this. It provides so much love and comfort to those in need.” Felix sighed.
“There’s something wrong with you.” Claybourne turned his attention back to the heated chocolate.
“Felix, it’s there now! We did it! We figured out the source,” Claybourne said, and Felix yawned.
“I knew you could do it,” Felix said.
“Come on, we need to have a meeting with the others.” Claybourne walked over and unhooked his IV bag before placing it in his lap. He scooped him up again and headed to the school. Instead of going to the gym, he walked straight to the principal’s office, setting Felix down in the high-back leather chair. He walked out of the room, and seconds later Felix heard his mate’s voice over the school’s PA system.
“Could Liam, Kent, Aleks, Bran, Caleb, and Gabriel please report to the principal’s office? Allons-y, gentleman.” Claybourne walked back into the conference room and started the dial out to Lachlan.
“I never would have pegged you for a Doctor Who fan,” Felix said, chuckling.
Claybourne looked over and winked. “Sadly enough it was one of the reasons I became a doctor. My upper-crust parents thought that I was doing the family proud. But the tiny rebellious side that I had just wanted to be called Doctor. I’ll show you my sonic screwdriver later.”
“Promises, promises.” Felix yawned again.
“Doctor, do you have any news?” Lachlan said when his image appeared on screen. Claybourne looked over to Felix, grinning, and he nodded to the monitor.
Felix rolled his eyes. “Geek,” he said.