Seeing Beyond the Scars

By JP Sayle

When all Brad sees is his scars, can his special Manx cat and his new neighbour make him see differently?

Brad Cummings is happy living the life of a hermit with Princess, the cat he inherited from his grandmother. Until he gets a new neighbour and everything starts to change.

Princess, a guardian Manx cat has her work cut out for her when she realises that Brad’s new neighbour Martin, is his predestined soulmate. As she conspires to get the two men together, she breaks a guardian golden rule, don’t mess with fate!

With a sinister force working to thwart Brad and Martin’s relationship, can their soulmate connection save the day?

Seeing Beyond the Scars (book two) Manx Cat Guardian Series, is an MM romance with hurt comfort, a steamy instant connection, spanking and a naughty ancient paranormal cat. This book has a HEA.

Trigger Warning: There are aspects of child abuse and some scenes of violence. The author recommends that the books should be read in order.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jayne Paton
• Release date: May 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781914077111

JP Sayle

Let me introduce myself, I’m JP or Jayne. I’m a lady of a certain age (cough, cough over 50 but I embrace my inner child often). I’m an identical twin and I was born in the Isle of Man; this makes me Manx (not British or English). I’ve lived in several places over the years but I returned to the island 1998. I love the sea and now it’s only a stone’s throw from my home.I quit my nursing career recently to follow my dream to write full time. I published my first book in 2018 and since then I’ve managed to publish further twenty-plus books. I gave myself a 12 book challenge for 2020, and I’ve written 14 so far!!My island is steeped in folklore and I have used some of this in my writing, particularly the Manx Cat Guardian Series, it’s paranormal with a twist. But I’m an eclectic girl and I’ve spread my wings a little. The tropes vary from Daddy Kink, BDSM, age gap, Billionaire romance, Smalltown friendships, friends to lovers, out for you, sweet romance, they all have a little angst (or a lot). I tend to write in series (shakes head). The list is below!Manx Cat GuardiansThe AppThe Flamingo BarBillionaire PlaygroundLa Trattoria Di AmoreDark River Stone CollectiveThe PlayroomPotter Creek(The app and flamingo bar are connected, as in the boys get a book in the app and their conclusion in the flamingo bar series)Writing has unleashed a beast in my mind and now I can’t switch it off. So with that, I now have to try and keep my unruly boys in check while they vie for my attention, and currently, it’s who shouts the loudest. But, I’m okay with that now that I have the time to let the words flow!

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Copyright © 2018 J P Sayle

All rights reserved.

Updated version Copyright © 2021 by JP Sayle

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Book Cover © 2019 Design by Tina Løwén

Editing by HL Day

Gina Fišerová and HL Day Proof reader

Book formatting by Champagne Book Design

References to real people, events, organisations, locations or establishments are only intended to give a sense of authenticity and have been used fictitiously.

The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark on: Superdry, Davidsons Ice Cream, Mop Hair, Google, Abercrombie & Fitch, Isola, Henley, Disney, Apple, Volkswagen, Bose, YouTube.

Films, music, and lyrics mentions are the property of the copyright holders.

Warning

The content of some of this book is sexually graphic, with the use of explicit language and adult situations involving two males. It is only intended for mature adults. There are also some potential triggers of parental abuse.

When all Brad sees is his scars, can his special Manx cat and his new neighbour make him see differently?

Brad Cummings is happy living the life of a hermit with Princess, the cat he inherited from his grandmother. Until he gets a new neighbour and everything starts to change.

Princess, a guardian Manx cat has her work cut out for her when she realises that Brad’s new neighbour Martin, is his predestined soulmate. As she conspires to get the two men together, she breaks a guardian golden rule, don’t mess with fate!

With a sinister force working to thwart Brad and Martin’s relationship, can their soulmate connection save the day?

Seeing Beyond the Scars (book two) Manx Cat Guardian Series, is an MM romance with hurt comfort, a steamy instant connection, spanking and a naughty ancient paranormal cat. This book has a HEA.

Trigger Warning: There are aspects of child abuse and some scenes of violence. The author recommends that the books should be read in order.

Prologue

Princess eyed the new house that was going to be her home as she strolled up to the back door. It had been several years since her last owner had met his soulmate, and it had been a wrench to leave them, but like most good things it had had to come to an end.

They’d never noticed that she didn’t get old or sick, which was all to do with her magic. She was an ancient Manx guardian cat over three hundred years old. She’d been working her magic on soulmates for all of those years, and she loved her job… well, most of the time. She got a sense that this time things might be different. Her mother had been a little cagey about this guardian role.

The door in front of her opened and she darted past the old woman and into the house. The woman shouted something, but Princess didn’t stop as she ran towards the boy sat on the floor playing with a doll. Her soul instantly recognised him as her charge. Why was she getting him so young? The men in her charge were normally just that—men. Or at the very least they were teenagers, but this boy could only be four or five at most. Princess eyed him as he looked up, a sad smile appearing on his face.

Hello kitty, he cooed, dropping the doll to reach for her.

Brad, be careful, the cat might not like you touching it, the woman said kindly.

Brad giggled as Princess pushed into his hand, feeling the instant connection between them. The boy’s eyes widened and gleamed. Granma, she’s won’t hurts me. Will you’s Princess? She’s mine to keep.

The woman gave a sigh and Princess watched as the woman crouched next to them. Brad, why did you call her Princess?

Dat’s her name. She told me.

His simple answer received arched eyebrows in response. I’m not sure. She probably has an owner who will be missing her, the woman insisted.

Brad gave her a serious look, No, Granma, she’s all alone and she wants to be mine.

Brad, let me ask around the neighbourhood, and if we can’t find her owner, then we’ll keep her. The woman’s lips pursed and she got a worried look on her face. You won’t be able to take her home, you know that right? Your father won’t tolerate a cat.

Princess’s hackles rose as Brad gave a mournful sigh. I knows. His eyes shone with hope as he looked at his grandma. You’lls keep her here for me, won’t you, Granma?

Princess could see the resignation on the woman’s face before she nodded. Okay, but only if no one claims her.

Fifteen Years Later

Princess licked her paws and watched Brad, concern and dread unfurling in her tiny tummy. As Brad’s anxiety, grief and sadness overwhelmed her, she was reminded of her first encounter with the small boy. Understanding of why she’d been given to him at such a young age had dawned not long after his seventh birthday.

The life he lived away from his grandmother was very different to the one he lived on the Isle of Man. After his grandmother’s death, all Brad had felt was fear. Fear for the future, fear of what his father would do when he found out that Brad had inherited everything from his father’s mother.

Brad’s jumbled thoughts ran into one another, Princess struggling to make sense of them all. It seemed his biggest fear was not being loved, and her heart bled for him. Bled for the damage a family could cause to a boy who had just wanted to be accepted for who he was.

The clock ticked on the mantelpiece as Brad roamed across to the window and looked out, his back rigid. I’ll be safe here, I will. I’ll make a good life, won’t I, Princess?

Princess prowled over to Brad and rubbed herself against his leg until he bent to pick her up. He nuzzled his face into her neck and she opened her mind to him, letting her love for him flow through their link, even though she wasn’t supposed to. A sob rose from him, and then another, until his body was shuddering, her fur growing wet.

Her head was filled with chanting.

Safe, safe, safe.

You are, Brad. You’re safe here with me, she whispered to him, praying that the other guardians she was connected to weren’t paying attention at the moment.

Brad’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed and looked at her. She held his gaze, giving him what he needed regardless of the possible consequences of being caught.

It’s just you and me now.

Princess purred loudly, the vibrations skittering up Brad’s fingers and reinforcing that she was there for him.

Brad’s lips curved up. I could do with a friend right now. Do you think that’s what we could be? Friends?

Princess licked his cheek.

Eww, you licked me! Brad shuddered at her antics, but he also giggled so she took it as a win. You’re the best thing in my life, you know that?

His smile dimmed as he spoke, his mind going to places Princess didn’t want to follow, but she did, needing to know.

The boy braced at the whistling sound as the belt cut through the air. It was his only warning before the belt struck with deadly accuracy, flaying the skin on Brad’s back. Already wet with blood, the sheet underneath him stuck to Brad’s skin. Brad cowered, feeling the intense hatred his father felt for him in every blow.

Princess cried out as a rage unlike any she’d ever experienced before filled her, coursing through her tiny body. She squirmed in Brad’s arms as it pounded at her, using her magic to shield the man from the past as best she could.

"Princess, you can’t change the past. Focus on the here and now, and finding this boy the love he deserves," her mother whispered in her mind.

"I know, but look at what the poor boy endured."

"It can’t be changed. Help him find his future." The voice faded away, Princess barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

Instead of fretting over the past, she focused on filling Brad’s mind with new dreams, working hard to combat the negativity that threatened to take over, images continuing to plague them both. I can do this, I can!

Brad’s fingers tensed, digging painfully into Princess’s fur as his mind returned to the present. Princess didn’t let up for a second, not until Brad’s body relaxed and his mind quietened.

Her whiskers twitched as Brad shook his head, his eyes dazed. Princess whispered words of encouragement into his head. Things will be better from now on. You’ll see. All you have to do is trust me.

His mind opened to new possibilities as ideas flourished. They bloomed in his mind, encouraged by her love. The brightness touched everywhere inside him, and the darkness receded. At least for now.

All Princess had to do was keep it that way! It should be a piece of cake… or at least she hoped so.

Martin

2017

Despite the fact it was only April, he could feel the heat in the air brushing against his skin. It warmed him as he pushed the lawnmower through the overgrown grass, sweat sliding down his back. Shit! Why hadn’t he thought about this gardening lark before he’d bought a place with one?

Martin paused, the hairs on his arms and neck lifting as his senses suddenly went into overdrive. What the heck? He eyed the house at the entrance to the cul-de-sac, shivering even in the warmth. Was Ms Stevens spying on him?

His hands tightened around the metal bar of the mower and he increased his pace, inhaling the scent of the freshly cut grass. It hadn’t taken him long to establish that he needed to avoid his nosy neighbour, Ms Stevens. She was a singleton who was also the village gossip. Martin cringed as he recalled their first meeting.

The truck turned right at the end of the road, Martin giving a sigh at the mess that was his new home.

"Hello, you must be the new neighbour."

Martin bit down on a sigh as he glanced towards the lady who’d stopped at the end of his path. He gave her a half-smile, hoping to discourage her.

"I’m Ms Stevens—she twisted to point at the house tucked next to the road—I live at number one. If you need anything, or want some information about the place, let me know. I’ll be only too happy to help you."

Her simpering voice gave him the creeps, her attention seeming a little too intrusive to him.

"Hi, I’m Martin. It’s nice to meet you." Even as he said it, he knew he didn’t mean it. There was something behind the calculating eyes that told him he’d be doing his best to avoid her. She took his hand and gave it a limp shake, seeming disinclined to let go of it.

He unclasped his hand from hers, resisting the urge to wipe it against his leg. Her appearance gave the impression of reserved politeness. The dress she wore was buttoned up to the neck and starched to within an inch of its life. Yet, he couldn’t help but wonder if the facade was fake.

Her brow furrowed into deep lines, and he schooled his face into an expression of friendly indifference, unsure what he’d given away. "What made you decide to move to our quiet and respectable village?"

Why had she stressed the respectable bit? Martin gave a shrug. My sister lives here. I want to be closer to her.

"There must have been other reasons to make such a drastic move?"

Martin’s frustration built. Nosy bugger! I’m sorry, but I’ve got a lot to do. It was nice to meet you, but I’ve got to crack on.

Alarm bells had rung as she’d walked away looking displeased, her expression making him uneasy. That wariness still lingered weeks later due to her endless attempts to befriend him. Her eyes often made him think of a snake waiting to strike with a deadly bite.

The lack of activity and twitching curtains from her house allowed Martin to relax and carry on with his plans to get the patch of grass cut before he went back to work the next day. He had a hectic week coming up with trips planned, meaning he’d have very little opportunity to get into the garden.

He continued, cursing the thick grass as the mower struggled to cope, his skin starting to prickle as if he was being watched. He swept his gaze around the other houses, starting to feel a little pissed off. An attractive face with a pair of sea-green eyes behind a window startled him. He released the motor switch and the engine died, leaving only the sound of buzzing bees. He licked his dry lips, blinking slowly, so that he didn’t lose the connection with those beautiful eyes. Something tugged deep inside his chest, unnerving him, but as soon as he moved the guy disappeared from sight.

Holy fuck! Who was that?

Martin’s hands shook as he gripped the mower, his heart racing. He remained still, his breath lodged in his lungs as he waited. Waited for what, he wasn’t sure. But his feet seemed rooted to the spot as he watched the house he’d thought was empty.

If he was honest, he’d spent a lot of time looking at that house, and there’d been no activity. He’d not been put off by its ‘nothing to see here’ vibe, as if it was deliberately trying to blend in with the scenery and go unnoticed. Ever since the first time he’d seen it, he’d had an odd obsession with the house. It had been a little unsettling to be aroused by a house. But, fuck, the second he’d laid eyes on it, he’d got a boner. One that it had been hard to hide from the estate agent who’d been showing him around the house he now lived in. He’d tried to rationalise his strange reaction to the house, but had pushed it to the back of his mind when he hadn’t been able to come up with anything. Now, he wondered if he’d seen the guy who’d just been looking at him. As if! It had been dark.

After giving the house one last look, Martin gave a disgruntled snort before switching the mower back on. Who was the blonde-haired guy with the alluring eyes? Was there something wrong with him that prevented him from leaving the house? He’d looked all right, though. In fact, he’d looked more than all right!

Martin shook his head and went back to cutting the lawn. Every now and then, his gaze returned to the window, the ache in his chest returning as time passed. He turned off the mower to rub at it. Was he having a heart attack? He rolled his eyes at the thought. It was more likely that he’d pulled a muscle.

The breeze ruffling his dark hair distracted him. He pushed it out of his eyes, and for a second, he thought the guy was back at the window. Jesus, let it go.

He twisted too quickly in an effort to look anywhere but at the house, his side reminding him why it wasn’t a good idea. The skin where he’d been shot pulled tight, and was accompanied by a wave of grief and guilt.

Pain lanced deep, the grief when he thought about his parents swamping him. Realising there was no grass left to cut, he unplugged the mower, wrapping the cord back around it. Thoughts filled his head of everything he’d lost. The weight of guilt for things that couldn’t be changed pressed against him, reminding him why he’d moved to a small island in the middle of the Irish Sea.

His parents had died in a car accident while he’d been deployed abroad. Having recently been shot, he’d been unaware that his older sister by a year had been left to take care of everything while he’d been having surgery in a foreign country. Oblivious to what Martin had been going through, she’d been furious at him. By the time he’d finally returned to the UK, his parents had already been buried, and his sister would barely speak to him. It had taken months to heal the rift between them, and it was one of the reasons he’d chosen to follow her here.

Heaving a deep sigh, he pushed the mower through the side gate. His sister was less guarded with him now, but sometimes he thought they’d never get back to where they’d been before his parents’ death.

All thoughts of his sister fled as he went to close the gate, his gaze again caught by a pair of sea-green eyes from behind the window. The ache was back, Martin filled with the need to do more than just look. His body awoke, blood flooding to his groin. Despite the fact he was so mesmerised, his eyes narrowed. Was that sadness he could see?

He cursed the distance between their houses as the man disappeared from sight once more. He shut the gate reluctantly, a smile spreading across his face. Would Ms Stevens know who their elusive neighbour was? His grin widened at the obvious answer.

Maybe it was time to be a bit more friendly towards her.

Brad

Brad stretched his arms in the air, trying to relieve the ache in his lower back. He moved his cramped legs out in front of him as it dawned on him how long he’d been sitting there. With a heartfelt sigh, he got up and wandered over to the closed window. As he wasn’t playing music, the lawnmower sounds penetrating through the glass were that bit more distracting.

He lost track of time as he stared at who he’d started to think of as ‘McHottie’ across the road. Muscles rippled and bulged under the tight T-shirt he wore, his thighs flexing with each stride he took. His jeans hugged his magnificent arse, Brad’s fingers twitching at his sides. What would it feel like to touch? Would it be as firm as it looked?

Brad had to swallow several times in order to moisten his dry mouth. His gaze remained locked on McHottie as the man stalked around the garden like a predator. There was a confidence to him that seemed to ooze from every pore. His sheer size made Brad’s insides quiver with… well, he wasn’t sure what it was, other than that he’d never