Part 25

Hunter tried to blink the sweat out of his eyes. He was working hard, his arms ached his chest was tight and his legs felt like lead in other words training was right on track. He gave a low grunt as he finished another rep then chuckled to himself. Randy was quietly pounding out the miles on the treadmill. It never ceased to amazing him how much the neko loved to run and especially on the running machine. He often wondered if it had something to do with Randy's time in captivity when he'd been kept as a slave. Hunter felt his anger raising, just the idea of anyone caging his beautiful neko sickened and enraged him. He smiled and nodding slightly as Randy looked over. The neko stared at him a moment before turning back to watch the tv screen. Hunter had noticed Randy doing it more often, the little glance over to make sure he was still there, that he wasn't alone. The attack on Josh had made them both nervous and Hunter wasn't too proud to admit he never wanted to leave Randy alone again.

Finishing the final reps he set the weights down and reached for his towel. Just as he wiped the sweat off his face he saw an all too familiar black hat weaving it way through the machines heading straight for him.

"Hey Hunter," called JR as he drew closer.

"JR," repaid Hunter nodding fondly at the older man.

"That's your cat?" asked JR indicating towards Randy who was watching them intently, his neko ears flattened slightly and his tail lashing around nervously.

"Yeah that's Randy," replied Hunter draping his towel around his neck

"He's a damn fine looking specimen," murmured JR his eyes raking over Randy's body, "He's got an athletes build. You thought about getting him to train properly? He could have quite a fut..."

"Forget it," growled Hunter, "Randy is not nor will he ever be training for competition."

"I'm just saying, son, that young kat could have a real future and..."

"JR. I said no."

The older man looked at him from under the brim of his hat and giving an understanding chuckle he nodded drawling, "Okay, okay, I understand." He paused then with the laughter dropping from his face, he asked, "How was Josh when you found him?"

"Scared, in pain and not telling me anything." He held JR's eye and leaning in closer he growled, "I sent him home JR but I want to know what the hell is going on. He wouldn't say a word."

"Then he's an even better man than I already thought he was," he hesitated then sighing he said, "Here's not the place to talk. Come on lets go to my office."

Hunter nodded and as JR started to lead the way through the machines Hunter looked over and caught Randy's eye. Randy instantly stopped running, his eyes glued to Hunter, his face alive with questions but his body dropping slightly. Hunter paused and after a milliseconds' hesitation he indicated for him to follow. Randy obeyed grabbing his own towel and snaking his way gracefully thought the machines to meet them at the exit.

Hunter couldn't help reaching out to touch the glistening neko. He looked amazing the black vest he was wearing was sticking to his body highlighting the body beneath and it was all Hunter could to stop himself licking his lips in appreciation. Randy too seemed to be hypnotised by Hunter, his eyes roaming over the large chest barely hidden by the white training vest.

Trying to hide his laughter at the obvious yet unacknowledged interaction, JR coughed and drawled, "Lets got to my office, you too Randy."

As JR ushered them in Hunter went straight to chair located in front of the desk. As JR wondered around behind the desk, Randy hovered in the door unsure where he should go. When Hunter looked back at him Randy gave a faint shrugged then nodded as Hunter murmured, "Take a seat on the couch, this wont take long."

Randy nodded and sank onto the couch his tail undulating along the length of it his ears twitching nervously as Hunter and JR got down to business.

"Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?" asked Hunter his voice getting firmer and firmer.

"Son there's a lot you don't need to know but..."

"JR they attacked him. They beat Josh up and he was scared. Now I want to know what the hell is going on and why wouldn't Josh let me call the police?"

JR gave a sad sigh then running a hand over his face he confessed, "They're trying to stop you from winning that championship. That's what this is all about."

Hunter blinked in surprise then asked," What? What the hell has beating Josh up got to do with stopping me from..."

"They beat him up," explained JR sadly, "Because neither he nor I would...well basically they want us to sabotage you. To stop you from winning. We both said no, hell we said more than no. They tried bribing us at first, I mean Josh is young man and the amount they offer him would have set him up for life but he said no. In fact he threw the money back in DiBiase's face and slapped him so hard he knocked a tooth. That probably wasn't such a wise move on his part. Same me – they offered me enough money I would never have to worry again. But we said no. Told them to go hell. Then they threatened the gym and when that didn't work they starred to get personal."

"Why didn't you go police!" exclaimed Hunter, unable to believe that two of his friends, two men he knew and respect were in such deep trouble.

"Because if we had, then things would just have gotten worse. Hunter these aren't reasonable men. They are thugs and crooks and ..."

"They're blackmailing you."

Hunter turned at Randy's soft statement. The neko held his gaze a moment the looked away with a sad sigh. Looking back at JR, Hunter cocked an eyebrow asking, "Are they?"

JR nodded, "Well not me but Josh. They got pictures of him and..." JR hesitate obviously worried about revealing Josh's secret but when Hunter rumbled, "David came and took him home," JR continued, "Well they have pictures of Josh and David. Pictures they threatened to show David's father. Now you know I love Davy-boy but he has certain views, views that if he found out his son was seeing another man...let's just say that would be one family that would be destroyed for ever. And Josh would do anything possible to protect David even getting beaten up."

Hunter stared at JR. He knew Sheamus and DiBiase were nasty pieces of work he just had no idea how nasty they could be. The idea of Josh and JR being harassed and threatened all to stop him from winning left him numb.

"Hunter I know this is a lot to take in but you have to forget about it as well," he held a hand up cutting off Hunter's protest adding firmly, "I mean it son. You need to concentrate on that championship. You winning it would be the best thing that could happen. It would make everything worthwhile." He paused and taking a deep breath he murmured, "I really should go see Josh. I doubt he'll have let David take him to hospital and I know he has that boy wrapped around his little finger." He stood up then leaning on the desk he looked at Hunter ordering, "I mean it Hunter you concentrate on winning, bring us home the belt and that will be the best thing you can do."

Hunter nodded. He was stunned by JR's revelation but in many ways it made sense. The constant harassment of Josh the reason why those two thugs where constantly hanging around the place. And if anything it hardened his resolve to win on Saturday even more. As he stood up he looked at JR and without saying anything he gave him a single nod. JR returned the look then looking past Hunter he looked at Randy before chuckling and murmuring, "Hunter go take your kat somewhere nice he's been cooped up in here all morning."

Hunter glanced over at Randy. JR was right he did look skittish. Skittish and decidedly unhappy. Torn between wanting to find out more about what had been happening behind the scenes and taking care of Randy, it wasn't until JR touched his arm and murmured, "Take him home son, take some time to enjoy the nicer things in life. It's about time you started living again."

Hunter glared at JR but even as the sarcastic comment rose in his throat it died again. JR was right and Hunter knew just how he was going to do it.

X x x x x x x x x

The Red Lobster was pleasantly quiet. There were just enough people to cause a hum but not enough to be overwhelming. As they followed their waitress to their booth Hunter couldn't' stop chuckling. Randy's head was swilling round so fast he thought the neko was going to pull a muscle. Sinking onto his plush seat Hunter took the menu and glancing at Randy, he said, "Well here we are. Just as you asked. You like it so far?"

Randy nodded, his eyes glued to the menu in his hands. But as the neko started to study the menu properly Hunter noticed stiffening in Randy's posture and a glower settling over what had been relaxed features. Making his own choice in his mind, hunter lowered his menu and asked, "Anything caught you eye? What do you fancy to eat?"

Randy didn't answer he was still glowering the menu his brow creased by a deepening frown.
"Randy?" called Hunter, "Hey earth to kittykat! What's up?"

"It's so expensive," murmured Randy, finally looking up at Hunter, "I...I had no idea I...I..."

"Expensive?" repeated Hunter frowning slightly, "Randy what are you...ohh," he gave a little chuckle. He had forgotten just how damn proud his cat could be. It was just the same as when he had offered to buy Randy new clothes at the start of their relationship. Shaking his head he sighed fondly, reassuring, "Randy I offered to take you to lunch, so stop fretting and choose whatever you want to eat."

"It's too much!" snapped Randy, dropping his menu, "I didn't know it would cost this much. I..."

"Randy!" growled Hunter, "Stop it!" He glared at the neko ignoring the faintly angry look Randy was now giving him and ordered, "I'm telling you to order whatever you want off the menu, even if it's a whole case of live Maine lobster. I want you to have you what you want. And don't you dare insult me by refusing my offer of lunch. Do I make myself clear?"

Randy held his gaze for a few moments then dropping his head Randy glared at the table a moment. His ears were twitching like mad and it was all Hunter could do not to reach over and stroke them. Finally Randy nodded but not without grumbling, "Its too much, I..."

Hunter growled at him and kicked him under the table snapping, "Behave or I'll order for you."

"You don't know what I like!" exclaimed Randy sounding like a petulant child.

"Exactly," replied Hunter fighting to keep the smile off his face, "So quit staling and choose your meal."

Randy glared at him then slowly nodded offering, "I...I could pay for the drinks."

Hunter hesitated then nodded in agreement, "Ok if that makes you feel happier, you can pay for the drinks. But I still want you to have whatever you fancy no matter what the price. Promise me?"

When Randy didn't answer Hunter asked again and was reward by Randy nodding and offering him a killer smile.

The meal proceeded without event. Hunter smashed his way through a bucket load of king crab claws while Randy indulged himself with a platter of lobster tails cooked in butter sauce. As the waitress cleared away their plates hunter noticed a dribbled of butter on Randy's chin. Without even thinking he reached over and thumbed away the offending dressing. Randy froze, his eyes widening as Hunter's fingers touched his face. It was only as Hunter felt the soft purr vibrate through Randy's body that he realised what he was doing. Freezing in surprise, with his hand still cupping Randy's chin and his thumb dangerously close to Randy's mouth he stared at the neko waiting for some kind for reaction. What happened next fried Hunter's brain.

Without breaking eye contact Randy extended his tongue and gently lapped the tip of Hunter's thumb. Swirling his tongue around the tip he licked off the smear Hunter had wiped off his chin. He gave a low purr as his tongue danced with the garlic infused butter. Then still without breaking eye contact he lowered his head moving so that he could take just the tip into his mouth, sucking the last remaining morsel of the sauce off Hunter's thumb. Closing his lips around Hunter's thumb he gave a few hard sucks before pulling back and offering Hunter what could only be described as an orgasmic smile.

With his hand still on Randy's face and his thumb being tormented by Randy's tongue, Hunter just stared at the neko in wide eyed amazement. He felt himself responding to the all too obvious offer and it scared him. He hadn't felt this alive or turned on for months probably not since before Steph's death and he had forgotten just how overwhelming those feelings could be. Without thinking he jerked his hand back almost wincing at the pop as his thumb slid out of Randy's mouth. He leant back in the booth not blinking not even certain he was breathing. Randy's smile slowly faced and in front of Hunters eyes the neko who moments before had been positively glowing with life seemed to fade and fold back into himself, Randy's head lowered and he was staring at the table top again a faint blush colour his cheeks. Realising that Randy had taken his sudden retraction as a rejection Hunter leant across and catching the closest hand he laced his fingers with Randy's and murmured "Hey look at me."

Randy did but only from under his lashes he didn't raise his head and Hunter hated that. He gave a warm smile and leaning over he murmured, "How about we continue that part of the conversation when we get home?"

Randy stared at him seemingly not understanding what Hunter was trying to say. Not sure he had the courage to actually voice what he meant Hunter was about to try and explain when the waitress came over causing Hunter to release Randy's hand and sink back in his chair. Handing them both menus, she asked brightly, "You boys want to look at the dessert menu?"

Hunter leant forward and holding Randy's gaze he chucked to himself and murmured seductively, "Yeah I think we'd both like some dessert."

Randy stared at him then as the penny dropped the smile that slowly spread over his face was enough to make Hunter shift in his seat and wish that the restaurant was a little closer to home and not a half hour drive away.

TBC