by Jana Downs
His cell phone rang in his pocket, vibrating against his hip. He managed to fish it out of his pocket and frowned at the unfamiliar number. Maybe it was Collin’s lawyer again with an update. “Hello?” he asked as he answered.
“Hey, beautiful,” an achingly familiar voice murmured.
Evan couldn’t help it. He burst into tears as hot relief tore the emotion out of him.
“Aw, damn, Evan,” Brandon whispered. He sounded as weak as a kitten. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“What is it?” Quinn asked, his eyes wide with fear. Logan jumped to his feet and walked over to where Evan was sitting. Evan waved him off.
“It’s Brandon,” he managed to force out between sobs. He hadn’t meant to cry in front of everyone, but he was so fucking happy to hear Brandon’s voice.
“Oh thank God,” Jude whispered.
“I’m gonna step outside,” he said, pushing himself to his feet.
Quinn pointed to a hallway. “Last door on the right is my office. Use it.”
He nodded, grateful. “Brandon?”
“I’m still here, beautiful,” Brandon said. “Get somewhere we can talk.”
Evan made it to the office before he even knew he was moving and shut himself inside. A fresh round of tears burst forth in a flood. He tried to muffle the sobs with his hand, but Brandon’s voice in his ear finally made him stop fighting it.
“Let it out, babe. It’s okay. I missed you, too.”
Five long minutes later, when Evan couldn’t do more than hiccup anymore and Brandon’s soothing murmurs grew silent, he finally spoke. “Are you okay?”
“I guess so. Had surgery. News to me. I’ve been out for the past week.” Brandon paused. “I’m so sorry my father kept you from me.” Another long pause. “Where are you?”
“Quinn’s house. I’ve been taking care of him.” He shuddered. “I had to do something, and you were so adamant about him being like family to you and—”
“Shh, it’s okay, Evan. Thank you for taking care of my friend for me. It was really stupid for me to go after him. I should’ve listened to you and headed to an exit.”
That wouldn’t be like Brandon. “It would’ve killed you,” Evan said. “You always have to be the hero.”
Brandon chuckled. “I guess you’re right. But I should’ve thought of you. My mate should come first, always.”
“I won’t even blow you off again. I just got so caught up in what I was doing and I thought we had all this time, and then it was over. Please, forgive me.” If Evan kept it up, he was going to start crying again.
“Shh, all’s forgotten, beautiful. You and me are solid. We both forgot that this life is finite. We won’t forget again, huh?”
“No.”
“Then we’re going to be just fine.” He sighed into the phone, sounding sleepy. “So when did Quinn get home?”
“Today. We just got him here. The nurse is supposed to be coming by every few days to check in on him until he’s healed. He’ll need someone to drive him to his physical therapy sessions. Luckily since he’s a shifter, he should be okay.”
“Where did the main blast come from?”
Evan rubbed his temples. “The interview rooms, according to the news reports. They didn’t know that interviews were concluded an hour before they’d rigged it to go off or else the casualties would’ve been so much worse.”
“How many?”
Evan had dreaded to answer that question. “Seven. Three at your company. Four at the other.”
Evan hissed into the phones. “Bastards.”
“Yeah.” He swallowed. “I tried to get to you.”
“I know you did, beautiful.”
“Do you think I could come now?” Evan asked. He didn’t want to leave and be turned away again. It would kill him.
Brandon cursed softly on the other end of the phone. “You don’t even need to ask, baby. No one is going to stop you from coming in this time. I promise.”
“Okay. Let me make sure Quinn is good and I’ll be right there.”
“Take your time, beautiful. There is no rush. I’ll be here.”
He knew that this was the point where he was supposed to hang up, but he just didn’t want to. “Brandon?”
“What?”
“I love you, okay? Don’t leave me.” He hadn’t wanted to say the words because he’d thought it was too soon. But in waiting, he’d almost held onto the words too long.
“I love you, too, beautiful,” Brandon said, sounding pleased. “I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
“Okay. I guess I gotta hang up now.”
“Seems like the proper protocol.”
Evan gripped his phone as anxiety spiked. “I don’t know if I can.” He swallowed. “I’m sorry. I’m being dramatic.” But the fear just wouldn’t leave him. He felt like if he hung up the phone that something might happen to Brandon.
“Hush. You’ve been through a whole other nightmare while I’ve been out. That’s not dramatic. It’s a normal reaction. Don’t hang up,” Brandon said. “I don’t mind being on the phone until you get here.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, Trigger.”
He opened the office door and made his way back to the living room. “Brandon is up. I’m going to go to his room.”
“Good. That’s where you belong,” Quinn said, nodding. “Tell Brandon I said to feel better.”
“We’ll stay with Quinn,” Orion said, looking over at Logan like he dared his older brother to correct him.
Logan hesitated a second before nodding. “Yeah. We’ll stay.”
“Just call if you need anything,” Jude said, giving him a pointed look. “I’ll be calling down to the shifter league that we’re a part of and seeing if we can get a rotation schedule up and running for the people hurt. They’ve got a ton of resources we can tap into.”
“Cool. I’ll see you guys later.” Evan wanted more details, but he was really more interested in seeing his mate at the moment than hearing about what Jude and Logan’s group was going to do. It might have not been politically correct to feel that way, but he did. All he wanted was to touch Brandon. His animal demanded it, and Evan was done denying it. “Keep me updated.”
He reached the front door and let himself out. His car waited in the driveway, the same as it always was. He climbed in and started the engine. It rumbled to life, and he backed out of the drive. Logan’s big ass trucked was parked in the way to circle around.
“You doing okay, beautiful?” Brandon asked in his ear.
“Yeah. I’m okay.” He’d be better when he got to his mate.
“Good.” The sound of rustling covers crackled over the line. “I hope they come in with my meds soon. I’m starting to hurt, and it ain’t pleasant.”
“I have a way with nurses. I’ll get you taken care of,” Evan promised. “How long are they keeping you in ICU?”
“Don’t know. I haven’t talked to anybody. My dad and his goons are leaving tonight. I hope after they leave, people will stop talking around me and actually talk to me.” Knowing Brandon, it was probably what was pissing him off the most.
“I’ll get whatever you need.”
“Thanks, sweetheart.”
The drive to the hospital seemed to take twice as long as it normally was. He grabbed a primo parking spot on the first level of the parking deck before cutting the engine and climbing out of his car. It was insane how familiar this walk seemed. He felt like he’d done it over and over the past few days, which he had.
“Almost here?”
“Yeah. After this, if I never see another hospital in my life, I will be a happy camper.” He meant every word. He was sick of the smell, sight, and sounds of hospitals.
“Me and you both. Let’s just stay healthy, huh?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He crossed the lobby and beelined for the elevators. The reporters who had been camped out there didn’t even move as he walked by. He’d mad
e it really clear the first day they’d accosted him that if they wanted to keep their cameras they’d back the fuck off. He’d had to demonstrate the concept for them before they’d gotten the message, but at least they didn’t mess with him now.
He pressed the down button and waited impatiently for the elevator to descend. Once the light dinged and the doors swung open, he stepped inside and pressed the floor number without hesitation.
“Hey, beautiful?”
“What?” Evan asked. He was afraid they’d lose connection in the elevator. Fear tightened his chest. Please don’t.
“Say it again.”
“Huh?” He was lost. His mind blanked at the order. What was he supposed to say?
“Say you love me.”
Oh. That. “I love you.” The words had seemed really intimidating before, but now they just seemed like words, beautiful words , but just words nonetheless.
Brandon sighed, the sound happy. “God, I love you, too.”
Chapter Nine
Brandon wrapped his arms around his mate, uncaring that it tugged at stitches and hurt various bruises all over his body. All he cared about was the fact that Evan was back in his arms where he belonged. They were never going to leave a fight unresolved again. Evan sobbed into his hospital gown, his scent showing more than anything what kind of pain he’d been in.
He was glad he’d kicked out his dad and the rest of them for this. Evan wasn’t someone to be overly emotional unless there was a lot of stress attached to the fact. He petted his lover’s head, murmuring soothing nonsense in a hope of calming him down a little bit. “We’ll get the nurse to get their legal person down here so that they know my wishes on your involvement in my healthcare,” Brandon promised. “I’m so sorry you had to go through this, beautiful.” His Trigger had been so strong in his absence, taking care of his friend when Brandon couldn’t and holding it together much better than Brandon thought he might’ve in the same position.
“I love you,” Evan whimpered, laying his cheek against Brandon’s naked chest where he’d burrowed under the opening of the hospital gown. He shuddered. “I thought I lost you.”
“I’m too stubborn to go out like that,” Brandon said, showing more bravado than he really felt. He was going to need to get both of them into some counseling after this shit. He started shaking just thinking about the moment when the world had exploded.
Evan raised his head. “They shaved your head.”
“Don’t I look good bald?” Brandon teased. “They had to for the surgery. They had to remove some rubble from my skull apparently.” He’d had shrapnel embedded there. Along with the compound fractures on his left leg, he’d been beaten all to hell. He was lucky in a way though. He had been taking the shortcut through the interview room hallway. Ten seconds earlier and he would’ve been blown to bits. He swallowed as panic threatened to well up. “God, I can’t wait to get home.” He paused. “You’re staying with me.”
“Yes.”
“And we’re getting a dog or something. I mean, I want a white picket fence, Mr. and Mr. matching pillow cases kinda deal. Okay?”
“Whatever you want, Brandon. So long as we’re together, I don’t care.”
“Well, I’m more of a cat person.”
“I’m good with a cat, too.”
“And we’re getting married,” Brandon added. He had an entire list he’d compiled of the things that were going to change so they could be secure in their relationship. “And we’re registering with the shifter mating thingy.”
Evan chuckled. “Okay, Brandon.”
“I mean it.”
“I know you do. Let’s just worry about getting you well first, hmm?” Evan asked. “And then we can worry about the rest.”
“God, I’m so sorry my dad hurt you,” Brandon said, squeezing Evan just the tiniest bit tighter.
“He’s an asshole,” Evan agreed. “But that’s not your fault. We won’t let something like that happen again.”
“No we really won’t.” Brandon would die first just for spite if someone tried. “I love you.”
“Love you, too, mate.” Evan snuggled close and pressed a kiss to the place above his heart. “I’m never leaving you alone again.”
“Good.”
* * * *
Thank God for superior shifter healing capabilities. Brandon was never more grateful than when they allowed him to go home a week later. His injuries were healing nicely, and with a few more weeks of physical therapy, he should be good as new.
Evan had just installed him in his bedroom in front of the flat screen, propped up on pillows like a king. The inactivity was killing him, but Brandon let Evan fuss. He hadn’t got to do a lot of that in the beginning, so he was making up for it now. He even conceded to his lover feeding him his medicines like a toddler. The time was fast approaching that he wanted a proper welcome home from his mate.
“You know,” he drawled as Evan delivered a glass of water and two white tablets to him. “The doctor did say we could have sex.”
Evan snorted. “If you were feeling up to it and in limited positions. I’m not risking it until you are more healed up.”
Brandon whined. “Come on, Evan. I’ve been without my mate for weeks. A mate has needs, you know.”
“I don’t want you hurting your leg,” Evan hedged. He was interested. Brandon could tell. But he was being stubborn about it as per usual.
A slow smile spread Brandon’s lips. “So ride me and we won’t have this problem. I promise not to help at all.” The idea was hot actually. Evan whimpered, and Brandon knew he was making progress. “I don’t want you to treat me like I’m broken, Trigger. Come be with me.”
“Okay,” Evan said, caving in.
Yes!
“But you can’t move. I mean it. I want you to just lay there and let me do everything.”
“Will do,” he said, grinning. He lifted his hips in an attempt to get his boxers off, but Evan growled and slapped his hand away.
“I said I’d do everything.”
Brandon grinned. “Observe me being a love slave on the altar of your lust.”
“Observed.”
With a little bit of struggling, Evan managed to strip him of his clothes, and Brandon was already hard by the time he finished.
“Well,” Evan drawled, licking his lips at the sight. “You’re easy.”
Brandon shrugged. “I aim to please.”
Evan rolled to the side and reached for the slick where it rested on his bedside table. It pleased him to know that Evan had been sleeping at his home in his absence so he knew his way around better than he had when he’d only been over periodically.
“So when are the movers getting your stuff?” Brandon asked as Evan tugged his shirt over his head after tossing the lube on the bed.
“Tuesday,” his lover mumbled from under his shirt. He tossed it aside before attacking the button on his jeans. “They’re supposed to deliver everything here by 5:00 p.m. Will your housekeeper watch them unload?”
“She should.”
“Cool.” He grabbed the slick before popping the cap.
“I want to get you ready,” Brandon protested as Evan smeared lube on his fingers.
“Tough. I said I’d do everything.”
Stubborn, beautiful mate. “Fine.” It would be no hardship watching his lover prepare his ass for Brandon’s cock.
Evan reached behind himself and smeared some of the slick he’d gotten out onto his entrance, his face a mask of concentration as he pressed his fingers inside. Brandon’s already hard cock started to throb. He reached down and palmed himself, watching Evan as he worked open his ass with eager plunges of his fingers. Brandon’s balls tightened as Evan caught his bottom lip between his teeth like he always did when something felt particularly good during sex.
“Like that, beautiful boy?” Brandon rumbled, stroking himself a bit harder.
“Yeah.”
“Yeah? How much do you like it, Trigger?”
Evan groaned. “Stop talking. I’m gonna come if you don’t.”
Brandon chuckled, the sound low and pleased. This was how he wanted his mate, nice and needy for him. “Come on, Trigger. Fuck that tight little ass with those fingers.”
Evan shuddered. “Brandon…” Evan reached over and grabbed the lube he’d discarded from the moment before and popped the cap with his teeth. “You’re a fucking tease. You know that?”
Brandon grinned. “Can’t help it. Love watching you, mate.”
“Love you watching me.” Evan smeared a good dollop of the slick onto Brandon’s prick, which Brandon obligingly smeared for him. His eyes rolled at the sensation that streaked down through his balls. It had been way too long. There was no way this was going to last.
He pulled his hand away as Evan straddled his hips. It was a good thing that it was his leg below his knee that was fucked up because there was no way he could stop the swaying of his hips. Evan took Brandon’s prick in hand and slowly lowered himself down on the already leaking length.
“Evan,” Brandon gasped as he was enveloped in warm, delicious heat. Evan sank onto him to the hilt, squirming as he was fully seated.
“You’re totally bigger in this position.”
Brandon took that as a compliment.
Then there were no more room for words as instincts took over and the two of them were moving in an age-old rhythm designed to bring them to climax in no time flat. Evan bounced up and down on his lap, rotating his hips with each downward plunge. Brandon couldn’t resist reaching out and stroking his cock as Evan pleasured him. It was the least he could do for his beautiful, needy mate.
Evan threw his head back as a keening sound of pleasure erupted from his throat. “Brandon,” he moaned. “Gonna come.”
