Vintage Pride Read Online Free Page A

couldn’t help thinking he’d somehow cheated the rules. And he didn’t know what caused him to feel the most guilt—that Benoît had died or that he still lived.
    “Jean-Luc, are you even listening to me?” Marcus’ voice cut into his musings.
    “I miss Benoît. That’s all.”
    “This isn’t just about missing him, and you know it. Frankly, you’re becoming obsessed with his memory, and it’s not healthy—not just for you, but for the business. We’re coming up to the busiest time of the year and I can’t continue to carry everything on my shoulders. In three months’ time I’m going to be a father. That’s when Thérèse is really going to need me. And I’m sure she’d appreciate more help from you than she’s currently getting.”
    The barbs hit home but Jean-Luc still found it hard to rouse himself from his despair. “You know I’m delighted about the baby, for both of you. And if you need to take on extra members of staff so you’re not spreading yourself too thin, I’ll be happy to sanction that. But don’t expect me to have anything to do with this television documentary. You’ve made some stupid, wrong-headed decisions in your time—”
    “Most of which have ultimately proved successful for the business,” Marcus interjected.
    He shrugged, weary of the conversation. “Please, Marcus, I’m very tired and I’d like to be alone.”
    His brother-in-law bore the expression of a man who clearly had more thoughts on the matter but he didn’t voice them. He strode from the room before slamming the door shut behind him.
    The air was charged with emotion even after Marcus left. Jean-Luc’s hackles rose as he recalled the accusations that had been thrown at him. ‘ You’re not interested in the business any more. You’re obsessed with Benoît’s memory.’ He fought against the urge to shift, which always came on him at moments of intense stress. It was a warm September night, the moon high and unobscured by clouds. The kind of night when he and Benoît had loved to roam the château’s grounds and the wider countryside beyond in lion form. So many times they’d made love beneath the stars, their naked, sweating bodies human once more. He could still recall those moments but every time it was a little harder to bring to mind the exact shade of Benoît’s eyes, the pitch of his laughter, the feel of being buried deep in his hot, receptive arse…
    Almost of its own volition, his cock stirred at the image he’d conjured up. He’d all but lost interest in masturbating since Benoît had died but now the need to touch himself struck him with a vengeance. Maybe all the kinetic energy his body would have used in shifting was seeking to find some other outlet. He didn’t know. The animal part of his brain, the part that craved simple pleasure and immediate satisfaction, had taken over, and Jean-Luc was in thrall to it. He unzipped the fly of his trousers, then reached in to bring out his cock. As he stroked it, he closed his eyes and thought back to one of his happiest memories.
    Jean-Luc stared out of the bedroom window, transfixed by the blue-white light of the full moon. Behind him, Benoît lounged on the bed, reading a dog-eared paperback detective thriller. Even though Jean-Luc had treated him to an e-reader for his birthday and loaded it up with the latest works by his favorite authors, Benoît claimed he still preferred the feel of holding a book in his hands. Typical of him to be so contrary, but Jean-Luc wouldn’t have his mate any other way. If they agreed on everything, life together would have been so dull.
    The blood seemed to fizz in Jean-Luc’s veins and his whole body was a mass of restless energy. He didn’t try to shake off the desire to shift. When the moon was at the height of her powers, he could not resist. She pulled him to her, just as she pulled the oceans and caused waves to beat against the shore.
    “Are you just going to lie there all night?” Jean-Luc strode