Without Reservations

at all different angles and marks from the sheet marred his cheek. He appeared half-asleep, but no worse for wear. His eyes met Chay’s, looking a little unsure and nervous.
    Last night after Doc Baker had given Remi a sedative, they’d talked and explained things to him. There was still a lot to go over, but Remi had eventually calmed down and listened. He seemed to finally accept it.
    Well, as best he could anyway. It had to be a surreal feeling, suddenly finding out that something you thought fiction was true to life. Chay related it to himself suddenly finding out there were unicorns, fairies and leprechauns.
    They had yet to tell him about Jake being his mate. Let the poor man get adjusted.
    Remi set Pita on the floor and cautiously took a seat at the end of the couch. Remi looked at Bit, his eyes zeroing in on Chay’s hands still on Bit’s ass, and blushed.
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    Chay ignored his friend’s discomfort. If Remi was going to accept them, then he was going to accept all of them. He raised a brow at him.
    “You okay?” he asked quietly.
    Remi nodded and whispered, “A little freaked out. How long have you been a…a…”
    “A wolf? All my life.”
    “How could I not know something like this?” Remi seemed a little hurt and a lot disbelieving.
    “Would you have believed it?”
    Remi snorted. “Well, yeah, if you showed me. Kinda hard not to believe it when it’s right there in your face.” He glanced around.
    “Where’s…”
    “Jake?”
    “Yeah. He’s not dangerous is he?”
    Chay grinned. “Not to us, but he’s not a man I’d want to cross. He went to go get coffee and donuts. We’re out of everything and a certain someone refuses to cook for me.”
    Bit pinched his shoulder and continued his conversation.
    Remi’s lips quirked as he shook his head. “He’s so fucking pretty he could be a woman.”
    Bit’s hand shot up, flipping Remi the bird.
    Yeah, and real ladylike too. Chay groaned and pulled Bit’s hand down.
    Remi chuckled. “He’s one too, huh?”
    “Yes. He’s my mate.”
    Remi’s eyebrows furrowed, his head cocking to the side a little.
    “I’ll explain later.”
    Remi looked like he wanted to press, but he finally nodded. “Who is he talking to?”
    “He’s supposed to be talking to his parents.” He patted Bit’s ass to get his attention. “Bit, who are you talking to?”
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    “Housekeeper.”
    Chay’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. “Housekeeper?” His gaze flew to Remi.
    Remi’s mouth dropped open. “His family has a fucking housekeeper?”
    Chay shrugged. “Apparently.” Geez, he sort of gathered that Bit had money, but a housekeeper?
    Bit laughed, bringing Chay and Remi’s focus back to him. Absently, he ran his hand down Chay’s chest. “Thanks, Martha.”
    There was a brief pause then Chay heard a man’s voice. “Keaton?”
    Bit grinned, his eyes twinkled, making him appear even younger than he usually did. “Hi, Thompson.”
    Thompson? Who the hell was he talking to now?
    Keaton must have read his mind. He covered the phone and whispered, “He’s sort of like a butler. He’s Martha’s husband.”
    Chay and Remi both blinked, eyes widening. A housekeeper and a butler? How rich were Keaton’s parents? Good lord, they could hire a professional hitman to kill Bit. Why would they bother sending their oldest son to sully his hands with the task?
    After a short conversation, a new feminine voice replaced Thompson’s. “Keaton? Son, is that you?”
    Bit fidgeted. “Yeah, Mom, it’s me.”
    “Oh my God. Howard. It’s him! It’s Keaton.”
    “Son?” a man, not Thompson, asked. They must have picked up separate lines.
    “Yeah, Dad.” Keaton frowned, directing a questioning look at Chay.
    Chay knew exactly what he was thinking. They did not sound like two people plotting their son’s demise.
    “Oh, honey. We’ve been looking for you. We’re sorry,” Bit’s mom said.
    “We hired a detective to find you, but from the report Aubrey got last week there was still no news. Where are you, Son?” Howard, Bit’s dad, inquired.
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    Without Reservations
    “I’m in New Mexico. What do you mean there was no word? Aubrey is here. He is the one who told me you were looking for me.”
    “What?” both parents asked.
    “What do you mean Aubrey is there?” Keaton’s dad wanted to know.
    “He’s here, in New Mexico. He