With Caution

his. His to protect and care for.
    “Jake, I nearly killed him myself a few minutes ago. We’re close to finding something on him, I know it. Let’s just keep doing what we’re doing. Rhys is supposed to meet with his ex-boss today, right? Give him a chance to find something.” He touched Jake’s cheek with tears in his eyes. “I don’t want to risk you going to jail. Sterling and I need you.”
    They stood there staring—almost glaring—at one another for several moments before Jake gave in. How could he not when Remi looked at him like that? The gnawing 178
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    With Caution
    anger didn’t disappear, but the need to comfort Remi grew stronger. For all his bravado, Remi was still scared. His scent hadn’t changed much.
    With a pleading look on his face, Remi caressed Jake’s cheek. “Please.”
    He loves me. It was there in his eyes. He wanted Jake with him more than he wanted Dirk gone. Jake closed his eyes, nodding. For once it was he who leaned into Remi’s hand and enjoyed the feel of his mate’s touch. Remi needed him here. Dirk would have to wait.
    “Your eyes and teeth shifted.” Remi’s voice was soft, almost a whisper.
    “It’s the smell of your blood.” Closing the door with his foot, he reached for Remi.
    This time Remi didn’t shy away, he let Jake help him. “Come on, let’s get you taken care of. Where do you hurt?”
    “I’m not that hurt, just pissed off mostly.”
    “You and me both.” Jake traced his hands over Remi, trying to assure himself Remi was really okay. He seemed to be. Now Jake felt like an ass for not seeing to his mate’s care sooner. He steered Remi toward the bathroom. “What happened? Sterling called me in a near panic saying Dirk was headed here.”
    “Yeah. He told me to call you off or you and Sterling were going to get hurt.”
    Jake ground his teeth together. Guilt ate at him. He should’ve told Remi about Dirk’s visit. “He came to my office the other day. I was going to tell you about it tonight. I didn’t want to ruin your evening yesterday. You seemed happy and in such a great mood, I didn’t want you to worry. I figured he was confronting me, so he’d let you be.”
    “There isn’t any way you could have known he’d come looking for me too. You can never tell what the asshole is going to do. Where are we going?”
    “Bathroom to clean you up.”
    Remi was limping a little and Jake had to quash down the anger threatening to take over again.
    “I scared him.” Remi leaned against Jake more, groaning softly. “I lost it, Jake. I just wigged out. I started beating the hell out of him and my eyes and teeth shifted.” Stopping, he turned to Jake and worried his lip. “He saw them.”

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    J.L. Langley
    “What did he do?” Swooping Remi gently into his arms, Jake carried him the rest of the way to the bathroom.
    Remi wrapped his arms around Jake’s neck. “He thought I was on something. I don’t think it really registered. I shouldn’t have fought back. What if he tells everyone about what he saw? What if…?” Shoulders slumping, Remi sighed. He seemed exhausted.
    More mentally than physically, but then physically he wasn’t so hot either. The dried blood on his face and clothes was turning crusty.
    “Who the hell is going to believe him, if he does tell?” Setting Remi on the vanity counter next to the sink, Jake turned on the water to let it heat and got a washcloth from the linen cabinet.
    Remi reclined against the mirror and shut his eyes, a small smile curving his lips. He looked pleased with himself, or maybe he was resigned to let things be for now and allow Jake to care for him. Whatever the case, he was still and compliant.
    Placing his hands on Remi’s knees, Jake bent forward and brushed their lips together. Thank God Remi wasn’t more seriously injured.
    “Mmm…” Remi’s eyes opened. With the dark smears of blood on his face, his pale eyes appeared even lighter, almost white because of Jake’s monochrome vision.
    “What are you smiling about?” Brushing Remi’s hair out of his face, Jake picked some dried blood out of it.
    “I fought back. It felt good.”
    Jake smiled and kissed Remi again. “I’m glad. Wish I could have seen it. Lift your arms.”
    Remi raised his arms, allowing Jake to pull the T-shirt over his head. After tossing it toward the hamper, Jake inspected Remi’s ribs. There was a bruise halfway up on his right side, but it