by Anderson, JJ
“Sure. Sounds good.”
A smile tilted up Ronan’s mouth as he speared another piece of broccoli on his fork. “Okay, I’ll start moving the plants tomorrow.”
David blinked, focusing on Ronan before he shook his head. “You’re still injured. Maybe you shouldn’t be doing something so physical.”
Ronan rolled his eyes. “I can’t sit around and do nothing.”
He cleared his throat and sucked in a breath as he shoved his desire down. Ronan didn’t need his lust. “We could shift again, you know, in the shower so they can’t scent you.”
Ronan’s cheeks flamed pink, and he glanced away. His throat worked hard as he swallowed. “We could.”
The words were whisper-quiet, his eyes still downcast. David had kept his desire under control for the last few days but being naked with Ronan again would push him to the edge. He’d never really believed in fated mates’ stuff, but now with this sweet omega next to him, his baked cookie scent tempting the heck out of him, he was starting to consider that there was some validity in finding the one omega who was meant for him.
His fingers tingled, and his mind buzzed. He needed to be close to Ronan. His desire overrode his brain, and he spoke without thinking through everything.
“Okay. Let’s do it now.”
“Sure.”
Ronan followed David to the bathroom where he pulled off his shirt. He ignored Ronan until he was naked and standing in the shower. When he turned and laid his eyes on the omega, he froze. The bruises had faded, leaving him looking sexier and less vulnerable. It was a dangerous mix.
David turned the water on, not letting it warm. The shock of cold water distracted him from the white-hot desire rippling through him. He started the process of shifting which took away the rest of his yearnings.
Ronan shifted too, his sleek coat looking even better than it had the last time. This time Ronan held his head up and let out a string of yips which sounded like laughter. David chuckled which came out as a rumbling roar.
He wished they had more space in here. Actually, he wished they were outside both of them running around together, playing in the water or hanging out. He could tell they would have a good time being free in the open.
David shifted to his human form and watched as Ronan went from full-on wolf to standing as a man before him. Their gazes met and electricity buzzed between them. The air around them grew thick. Both of their scents mingled and left him wanting more. His desire skyrocketed and though he knew it was crazy, he wanted this omega.
Ronan reached out and placed his palm on David’s chest. The touch was light, and when Ronan’s fingers pressed in, the sensation went all the way to his toes. Every part of him woke with desire.
“We shouldn’t,” David whispered.
Ronan looked up at him, his cheeks pink in a healthy way. The bruises showed less, and his eyes were brighter. Warmth and mischief shown in his depths.
“Ronan, I shouldn’t…you’re too…”
“What? Too young?” Ronan stuck out his tongue as he leaned in. The tip flicked over David’s nipple, sending shoots of desire to his cock. His balls pulled up tight, and he almost passed out.
“Oh, God.”
Ronan glanced to him, his lips curving up in a devious smile. “I’m not too young to know I want this.” Ronan’s hand snaked down his body to David’s engorged cock.
“It’s just the giddiness from the shift talking.” David placed both hands on Ronan’s shoulders and pushed him to arm’s length.
“You know it’s not.”
Disappointment shone in Ronan’s eyes, but David had to make sure this was really what Ronan wanted.
“I would help anyone. I want to make sure you’re not doing this out of some sense of gratitude. When this is over, and you’re free from the fear of your family, would you still want a big lumbering lug like me? I’m bear, and you’re…” his gaze traveled down Ronan’s body, taking in the tight muscles, the compact form, his sweet swell of pecs, and shivered.
“I’m what?” Ronan asked.
He met Ronan’s gaze and swallowed. Words dried up and all he could respond with was a crushing kiss. Ronan melted against him, ramping his desire even higher. He held on to Ronan, reveling in his touch.
Ronan grabbed onto David’s shoulders and hopped up, lifting his legs. David caught him, holding him steady as Ronan wrapped his legs around him. He was positioned just right to slide in, but he didn’t want this to be a quick screw.
David shut off the shower and carried Ronan to his bedroom before he dropped him to the mattress. Ronan gasped then chuckled. He went up on his elbows and his gaze raked over David as he licked his lips.
“You like what you see?” David asked.
Ronan glanced up and nodded. “Yes, I do.”
David placed his knee on the bed and lowered so his nose could skim over Ronan’s leg and up to his hip. This was pure heaven. He’d had sex before, but nothing had ever hit him in the soul like this man did. His heart cried out for more.
He moaned as pleasure filled him. He watched Ronan’s dick grow harder. David licked his way over Ronan’s hip to his bellybutton then up to his pecs, thinking this omega tasted like cookies and spiced apple cider. It was the perfect mix for him. He wanted to get even closer, but he didn’t want to push for too much too soon.
Ronan’s hands were on his back and in his hair. Desire swirled between them. This was what making love should feel like. His emotions were high, his skin tingling. Everything was more.
Ronan tugged him up so their lips found each other. The press of hot lips against his was almost too much. Then Ronan’s tongue pressed against the crease and David opened for him.
Ronan was a powerful little omega and wasn’t shy about what he wanted. David liked how pushy Ronan was. The man wasn’t meek at all, and when one of Ronan’s hands trailed down his body to his cock, he gasped. This was more than he’d hoped for. He wanted everything from this sweet Omega. Then Ronan lifted his leg and was guiding David toward his opening. David had to pull out of the kiss and roll away.
“Where are you going?” Ronan asked.
“Lube,” David said.
“I don’t need it.”
David glanced back at him and froze. “It’s your first time, right?”
“Yeah, but I’ve fingered myself.”
“I’m a bit bigger than your fingers. So we’re using lube.”
“Okay.” Ronan’s cheeks turned pink, and he pursed his lips as his eyes dipped. “Maybe you are bigger than my fingers.”
David chuckled and grabbed the lube before plastering his lips on Ronan’s in a scorching kiss, driving his desire to record heights. He needed to slide into Ronan and experience his heat. They were made for each other. No doubt, he and Ronan would set the sky ablaze with their passion.
David reached for the lube and was about to flick it open when an alert sounded. Ronan froze, worry making his brows pinch together.
“What is that?”
David couldn’t ignore the alarm. It only sounded if someone was close to his property. He sat up and reached for his pants, pulling them on without underwear. “You need to get dressed. We have company.”
Panic crossed Ronan’s face and his voice shook as he spoke. “Shit. Do you think it’s my dad?”
David wanted to comfort Ronan, but he didn’t have time. He needed to assess the threat and figure out what to do. “We’ll look. It could be anyone. Get dressed, and we’ll find out.”
The fear in Ronan’s eyes ramped up his own fear. If Ronan’s dad had shown up, they’d be screwed. He hadn’t been prepared for a full out war today.
They could stay inside and wait out the attack but he wasn’t ready for this. Worry made his chest ache. If Ronan died here because of the lust clouding his mind, he’d never forgive himself.
Chapter Nine
Ronan found his clothes and tugged on his underwear then his pants. He grabbed a clean shirt and pulled it on before going in search
of David. He found David in the den at his computer. A video of two men walking around outside played. He lifted his hand and chewed at his thumbnail. Worry filled him. Were these men looking for him or just stumbling around?
“They are what caused the alarm to go off. Do you know them?” David glanced up, worry shining in his eyes.
Ronan stared at the screen and leaned in close, looking at the two men who had stumbled upon the entrance to David’s property. A whisper of recognition fired then was lost.
“Rewind, please,” Ronan said.
“Sure.”
David rewound the video, and he watched the men walk and how they acted. He slowly shook his head. “No, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before.”
“They looked interested in this area. Maybe they realized the cameras were watching them and they walked away.” David stood and moved to the kitchen before turning back to face him. “I’m on the fence. We need to prepare for a war.”
Ronan had feared this response. If his dad could find him here, he would be able to find him anywhere. His hands started shaking then David was at his side, pulling him into a hug.
“I won’t let him get to you.”
He shook his head, tears spilling from his eyes. “He’s so powerful. He can do anything.”
“No, he doesn’t own me, and he can’t get to you. I won’t allow it.”
Ronan watched the anger roll over David. But he didn’t stay angry. Instead, his expression moved on to determination. If he ever had a chance against his father, it would be with this man.
“Log on to the computer and start searching for information. I’m going to get our packs ready.”
“Packs?”
“We need to go in ready to fight. Your father won’t give up easily. If those two were scouts, we could be screwed. If they located my hiding place and found your scent, we may not be able to withstand the coming war.”
Fully dressed, he watched David while he pulled on his shirt. There would be no going back to bed, no slipping between the sheets to explore each other’s body. His dad wouldn’t stop tracking him. Every day of his life he’d be forced to look over his shoulder. He’d never be able to relax. There wouldn’t be a time where he could hang out with David or anyone else without thinking his father could be there waiting.
The chat rooms weren’t busy, and he didn’t find any new mentions of him or his family. Maybe there was a secret chat room, but he hadn’t found it and didn’t know where they would be talking if it wasn’t in the forums they’d already discovered.
David stepped into the room and glanced over Ronan’s shoulder. “Any luck?”
“No.” Despair filled Ronan. “It’s the same stuff. They’re not talking on the internet.”
“They could have gone dark, using texting to communicate.”
David sat down and opened a laptop. They spent some time searching for new information but didn’t find anything.
“I fear what he’ll do to my brother.”
There wasn’t much to say about the situation. Ronan needed more information, but he would have to get close to his father’s home to get anything.
After another hour of searching and finding nothing, David stood and stepped away from the computers before coming back to stand beside him. His gaze met David’s, and he stood. He could tell what was coming before David even opened his mouth.
“We need to go there.”
The words from David weren’t shocking at all. He’d known they’d have to go. It was the last place in the world he wanted to return to, but the only way to save his brother.
“I figured we had to.” Ronan nodded and squared his shoulders. “I can’t leave without…”
“What?” David stepped close, worry creasing his forehead.
Ronan met his gaze and he knew without a doubt he was making the right choice. “I want you.”
David’s cheeks went red. “It’s not wise.”
“Please. I need this. I need this connection.” Ronan placed his hand on David’s arm and squeezed. “Before I go, I need something real. I need to feel you so I know what I’m fighting for.”
David’s body vibrated with pleasure, but still, Ronan wasn’t prepared for the kiss David delivered. Mouth open, tongue searching, David led him to the bedroom and pressed him back against the mattress. His shirt was gone in a flash and then his pants. He gasped, trying to keep up, but David was touching everywhere, his tongue invading, his hands searching.
When his fingers wrapped around Ronan’s cock, he threw his head back and moaned. David didn’t let up as he removed his own clothes. His hot skin rubbed against Ronan’s, drawing out another gasp. He cried out, as David reached between his legs, finding his hole.
Pain flashed for a second when David slid one huge finger in. He gulped for air, trying to keep up, but failing. This was all consuming. He was liquid, moving to accommodate David, opening up, welcoming him.
Pleasure was all that mattered. The fear of being found and having to go back disappeared. All that mattered was David.
David rolled away to grab the lube from the bedside table. When David moved close, Ronan ran his fingers through the fuzz on David’s chest, loving the silky fur against his flesh. Ronan lifted his legs and David slid his hand under Ronan’s butt, lifting him even more.
“This will hurt,” David said as he spread lube over his dick.
Ronan watched, stretching toward David, trying to get closer to what he really wanted.
“I don’t care about the pain, I need you.”
Ronan met David’s gaze and held it as his hot bear adjusted and pushed forward, his cock knocking against Ronan’s ass. A spark of electricity raced through him as David slid in, his dick filling every space, consuming Ronan with fire and heat.
The pain grew. Would he be able to do this? He gulped air, his fingers clawing at David as he adjusted, stretching to fit his man.
Everything stilled. Ronan drew in a slow breath, praying the pain lessened. This was more intense than his fingers, more intense than anything he’d ever experienced.
His gaze flew to David’s. He was going to lose it. He didn’t want this to end, but the pain was too much. David pushed forward a little more, and lightning struck. Ronan cried out. Electricity surged through him.
“Are you okay?” David asked.
Ronan grunted and clutched David to him, wrapping his arms and legs around the big bear, vowing to never let go.
“More,” he begged.
David lifted his brows, and Ronan nodded. He wasn’t sure what had happened, but the pain had gone from horrible to something amazing though he wasn’t sure if he would survive. David rocked in and another body shattering spark traced his nerves, waking every cell. He hadn’t known anything could be this good.
The only thing he could do was hold on, and he did. David was the lifeline, and he was along for the ride, trying not to slip over to the other side. But he couldn’t hold on tight enough, and he started to slip away. The present went dark, and all that existed was the light emanating from David.
For a second, Ronan felt like he could shift a thousand times. The energy pulsing through him took his breath, and his heart clunked to a stop. His lungs stalled.
He was David. There was no Ronan left. Only the bear above him existed in this space.
Ronan’s eyes flashed open, and he watched as David threw his head back and his eyes rolled up into his head. His mouth opened as he cried out. The pulsing of Ronan’s dick started again. He gasped, unable to think as David filled him.
An hour or minutes or seconds later, he flinched as David pulled out. The lights dimmed, and all he wanted was to be filled by David again.
The mattress dipped, and he opened his eyes he hadn’t known were closed. David was up on one elbow, his eyes warm, his smile soft and gentle like the rain.
“Are you okay?”
David’s question didn’t even make sense. “Okay? Oh my God, that was freaking amazing. David, seriously, it was
the best thing I’ve ever experienced.”
The smile on David’s lips grew wider. “Same here. I don’t—”
David’s eyebrows knitted tight. Ronan lifted his hand and cupped his cheek.
“What?”
“I don’t want this to end.”
Ronan knew what he was talking about. He wasn’t safe, not with his dad out there. “We need to go take care of this.”
David blew out a breath and sat up. He glanced over his shoulder, his gaze darker now. “We should leave soon. It’s a few hours on the main road.”
Ronan blew out a breath. “I doubt they expect me to go home. It’s the last place I want to go, but it’s the only place I’ll find answers.”
They both washed off in the shower before dressing again. David made sure his place was well secured before leaving. They had a ten-mile hike to his vehicle parked in a garage he rented from a farmer who no longer lived on the property. The last part of their journey was done with wet feet since the garage was located near a creek.
They didn’t speak much on the way to the truck, leaving Ronan to his musings. His stomach turned the closer they got. So much could go wrong. Fear increased with each mile they drove. Everything could go wrong. He could be lost forever because his dad was just that much of a jerk.
The sun had disappeared by the time they arrived in the town where he attended college. The train platform came into view, and he whimpered. His brother had been left behind, and now he was here to rescue him and hopefully get him out alive.
David reached over and squeezed his thigh. “We’ll take them out, don’t worry.”
Ronan nodded as fear filled him. David pulled into the parking lot of a hotel and turned off the engine. Fear filled Ronan, gluing him in place.
“I’ll go in and get a room. I have a ball cap you can wear when you get out of the truck and head into the room.”
He nodded, watching for some sign his father knew he was back. But there was nothing. “Being here is odd for me.”
David cupped his cheek, his touch gentle. “I understand, but Ronan, I’ll keep you safe.”
He blew out a breath and nodded, unsure if David knew what that meant or how hard it would be. His father meant destruction for him. How could one man go up against that?
