Free Rise to Submit [Rise of the Changelings, Book 4] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) by Lynn Hagen Page A

his fucking life back.
    Mason’s hand smoothed down Ian’s back, surprising Ian with the gentleness. He had an overwhelming urge to drop to his knees, bow his head, and do whatever Mason commanded. But that was insane. Mason was not his Master. “If it gets that bad, I’ll find you.”
    Ian could hear a rough sigh and somehow knew it had come from Rick. He knew Rick and Bryson were only trying to help, though he couldn’t understand why. They didn’t know him. What did they care if he was a worthless junkie?
    Oh, right, Dorian . His brother probably wanted Ian knocked out so he didn’t have to feel guilty about the pain Ian would endure. Ian had thought Dorian truly loved him, but he was starting to see that his brother was more worried about the beliefs he stood on than what was really going on in Ian’s life. But Dorian didn’t want to know about Ian’s depravities. His brother saw him as a waste of life. Ian knew this because he knew Dorian.
    The only thing he could do was get clean. He had to prove to not only Dorian that he wasn’t a sick and depraved man, but to himself. He was better than a man who craved an addiction that was going to kill him sooner or later. Ian knew this, but that knowledge didn't stop his cravings. He wished it did, but Ian could still feel the claws of addiction trying to tear him apart.
    He had to fight this.
    Because if he didn't, it was going to kill him.

Chapter Eight
     
    Mason wasn’t sure what to make of Ian. The man was clinging to him like his life depended on it, but just yesterday he was filled with venom—although their talk about what was going on in the world around them hadn’t been so bad. Ian had lain there listening, asking the right questions, and seemed truly enthralled with what Mason was telling him.
    Rick and Bryson had left them alone, but Ian hadn’t released him. Mason stood there by the bed, barely breathing. Slowly, Ian’s fingers uncurled from Mason’s arms as the man slid back down to the bed.
    “Do you want to tell me what that was all about?” Ian’s scent had changed to something he couldn’t identify, and Mason could tell the man was rebuilding the walls around his defenses. Ian was shutting him out. “Were you just using me to get out of being put under or were you really scared?”
    It pissed Mason off to no end to think of Ian using him. He had defended the guy, stood up to Rick, who could by all rights make Mason leave. If he was risking his position within this Rebellion group, then he wanted to know why.
    “I wasn’t using you,” Ian defended his pleas and protests. “I don’t want to be doped up. I have to be in control of my own mind.”
    “Do you think that someone would take advantage of you while you were out of it?” He noticed the jerkiness in Ian’s hands as he pulled the blanket around his bare hips. It was natural for a changeling to see others nude and think nothing of it.
    But Ian was human, and he seemed so natural in the buff that it made Mason wonder how long had it been since Ian wore clothes.
    Ian glanced away and Mason had his answer. “Your brother is here. Don’t you think he would kill anyone who thought of taking advantage of you?” Mason didn’t mean to so sound so angered, but he was offended. Rationally, he knew Ian didn’t know anyone here except Dorian, but for Ian to look like he didn’t trust even Mason—well, it hurt.
    It shouldn’t. They didn’t even know each other, but it did. He just wasn’t sure why. There were emotions brewing around inside of him. Emotions he didn't fully understand. But to know Ian looked at him as some kind of deviant didn’t set well with Mason. If anything, Mason was looking out for Ian, protecting him. Didn’t the man see that?
    “What do you guys plan on doing now that the government is tracking the nonhumans down?” Ian asked.
    Subject change . Mason wasn’t sure he liked Ian’s evasive tactics, but wasn’t going to push the man. He knew from