Haven 1: Caution: Contents Under Pressure Read Free Page A

knowing the consequences for disobedience and rudeness.
    Stavion took a step toward the bed, and Jory finally made a sound.
    He whimpered. Panic clawed at his insides, but fear paralyzed him.
    He didn’t like this. How was he supposed to keep himself out of trouble if they didn’t tell him what they expected from him? Why were they pretending to be so nice to him?
    “Do you have a name?” Stavion still spoke quietly, his voice steady and even.
    “J–Jory, sir.”
    “You can call me Stavion, not sir. You are free now, Jory. You have no master and can do as you like. Do you have family? I could call them for you.”
    Stavion took another step forward, slow and deliberate in his movement, but it didn’t scare Jory quite so much this time. “No. My family doesn’t want me.”
    A look passed over the big vampire’s face that Jory couldn’t name, and he was terrified that he’d said something wrong. Lifting his head, staring into Stavion’s eyes, he opened his mouth to plead for mercy when the most intoxicating scent hit him like a Mack truck.
    His stomach tightened, his cock swelled, and his head swam from the warm, welcoming smell. Sniffing at the air, he leaned toward Stavion slightly without realizing he was doing it.
    A deep rumble echoed around the room, emanating from Stavion’s curled lips. “Mine,” he growled, taking another jerky step forward.
    The growl, the snarl on his lips broke the trance, and Jory yelped, scrambling backward until he felt nothing but air and somersaulted head over ass off the side of the mattress.
    “Jory!” Stavion rushed around the bed, dropping to his knees and reaching out to touch him.
    Crying out, Jory rolled away from the descending hand until he was scrunched beneath the high bed. Stavion didn’t yell or try to reach for him like Jory expected him to do. He just sat there, his face hidden from view for a long time. Then, very slowly, he rose to his feet and shuffled across the room.
    “I would never hurt you, Jory,” Stavion said softly. “The sun is almost up, but I will come see you tonight. Please try to eat something and get some rest.”
    Jory watched Stavion’s boots travel the rest of the way toward the door and disappear out of it before he finally released the breath he’d been holding. Curling up on his side, he closed his eyes and furrowed his brow as he thought over what had just happened.
    One thing was for certain. Stavion was his mate. Jory just didn’t know how he felt about that. The big vampire was certainly gorgeous with his pale skin and inky black hair. He hadn’t tried to hurt Jory and had even seemed concerned for Jory’s safety.
    He was freaking massive, though! And Jory had been told one too many lies in his life for him to just fall into the man’s arms because they were mates. Though, if Stavion decided to claim him, there wasn’t much he could do about it. Naturally small, the starvation he’d endured had only left him weaker. In top shape, he wouldn’t be able to fight off Stavion. In his current condition, he wouldn’t even be able to run away.
    There was a lot to think about. He wished he could see his friends.
    Even if they didn’t know what to do to help him, at least he wouldn’t be alone. If Stavion had truly meant what he said and Jory was free now, then maybe he could ask.
    It had been a long time since he’d been allowed to ask for anything, and the mere thought made his stomach churn painfully.
    Damn it! He hated being weak. He detested being afraid of everything and everyone. Still, he couldn’t stop the trembling of his muscles as he cowered beneath the bed.
    Sucking his bottom lip between his teeth to stop it from wobbling as well, he hugged his arms around his midsection and let his head rest on the carpeted floor. He had a lot to think about, but he was so damn tired. While part of him feared what would happen if he drifted off to sleep, his mind and body could no longer handle the strain of constant fear, and