Free Striped by Abigail Barnette

stop you, if that’s what you wanted to do,” Mitchell explained calmly. “You’re not worried about being stuck. You’re worried about caring for anybody, because you know they could make that same decision to leave. You’re afraid you’re not going to be the one to do it first.”
    Sean stared at him, looking as though he were torn between calling Mitchell a liar or just punching him out.
    Mitchell didn’t back down. “If you’re pissed right now, it’s because you’re angry that it’s true. Most people don’t like to hear the truth.”
    Tears rose in Sean’s eyes, tears that he hastily blinked away. In seconds, he’d composed himself. A sign that he did it often.
    “You don’t have to be ashamed,” Mitchell said gently. “And if things don’t work out here, and you want to leave, I’m not going to tell you to stay. But at least give yourself a chance. If not a chance to try and be with us, then at least a chance to fit in here.”
    “I think I messed too much stuff up around here already,” Sean confessed. He laughed and shook his head. “I’m a mess.”
    “So was I, once. So was Jason. I don’t know what got you so spooked. I thought we were all getting along.”
    “Yeah, we got along, all right.” A grin crept over his face. “Hey, will you do something for me?”
    Mitchell raised an eyebrow. Whatever it was he asked, he knew he’d almost have to do it. That lopsided smile and those big brown eyes were enough to blow apart his resolve. “I guess you’ve been good lately. We haven’t heard any complaints. What do you want?”
    Sean sucked his lower lip into his mouth to wet it. “Let me chase you.”

 
     
     
    Chapter Twelve
     
     
    For a moment, Mitchell hesitated, and Sean stood waiting, feeling kind of stupid. But wasn’t this what Jason had been trying to tell him? To just let go, let his nature out, but in a safe way? He wouldn’t be able to hurt Mitchell, or even frighten him. It didn’t seem like Mitchell was afraid of anything.
    Mitchell stripped his t-shirt off slowly. “You won’t be able to keep up.”
    “I’ll take my chances.” Sean stepped outside, shucking his briefs. He didn’t wait for Mitchell to change before he shifted.
    Mitchell took off at a jog, turning backwards to call, “I never said I was going to change.”
    Sean hesitated. Was it a test? See if he could resist chasing after an innocent human being and blowing everybody’s cover? Or was it something else?
    “Are you going to chase me or what?” Mitchell shouted, stopping in his tracks.
    Why the hell not? Sean took off after him. If it was a test, fine, he would fail it. It would be worth it to knock Mitchell down, to surprise him.
    To dominate him.
    Sean was on him before he could even reach the tree line. He knocked him to the grass with one paw, then stood over him, a low growl rumbling in his throat.
    Wheezing a little, Mitchell panted, “See? I’m totally out of shape for running. Asthma, allergies. Never been good at it. You only became submissive to me because you choose to.”
    Sean shifted, still kneeling over him. “That’s not what I’m afraid of.”
    “Then what are you afraid of?” Mitchell reached up and laid his hand against Sean’s cheek.
    The tender touch seized something inside of Sean, and he lowered his mouth to Mitchell’s soft lips. “I’m afraid of wanting this.”
    For someone who claimed to be out of shape, Mitchell managed to flip Sean effortlessly, sliding their mouths together.
    A blur of black stripes and orange fur knocked Mitchell aside. A moment after the collision, Jason shifted, with Mitchell pinned beneath him. “I knew it! You came over here, because you can’t leave well-enough alone.”
    “Guilty,” Sean confessed. “But I didn’t ruin anything, did I, Mitchell?”
    “Except for that pair of jeans,” Jason observed as he stood and glared down at Mitchell’s torn knee. In the morning sun, Jason was gorgeous and naked, his cock fully