Falling for Tripp [Milson Valley 7] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove)

by Jo Penn

  “Yeah, well, when I was six, my mom fell for a con artist who cleared out her bank account, good furniture, jewelry, and put her into debt. We were left with nothing and ended up on the streets before child services put me in foster care for a year, and then we lived in a cramped studio apartment. So, while you—”

  “Well damn, mate.” Tripp grabbed Edward’s arm and stopped him beside the police car Tripp drove them to the Bistro in. “That’s pretty shitty, and I’m sorry it happened to you. But I didn’t do it. I’m not responsible for every paranormal out there doing dumb, irresponsible, uncaring shit. But when they do, I can arrest them, and I will. Are you going to go back on our agreement to date?”

  Edward knew he was being prickly and was out of line. It was just difficult with this mate draw pulling him closer to Tripp, wanting to be closer, while at the same time he was dealing with so many damn issues that were drowning him in bitterness.

  “Look.” Tripp rubbed Edward’s arm, and the feel made his balls tingle. “Let’s just take this one date at a time, okay? We’re not so different, you and I, Eddie. Let me show you that, okay? Give us a chance?”

  The anger that sometimes rose so swiftly and clouded his judgment and thoughts, receded with Tripp’s touch and quiet, calm ways. The bear shifter wasn’t pushing, he wasn’t throwing his weight and strength around, and the little he knew so far, he liked. Edward felt like a bit of an idiot for getting so steamed up over such a little thing and lashing out, and wondered just how bad he had become. Maybe he needed more therapy sessions, and to do more breathing exercises.

  His ex had really done a number on him. It’d been five years, and he was only getting worse.

  “Ok.” Edward drew in deep. “And…sorry, I shouldn’t have lashed out at you.”

  Tripp smiled, his honey hazel eyes twinkling as he leaned down and pressed the lightest, gentlest kiss to the side of Edward’s mouth. That small gesture took his breath away. A big man, so forceful, a police captain, Second to the local wolf pack, was forgiving and gentle.

  It made Edward fill with needs and wants, and feel like a heel, and reasonably worthless as a human being. What would it be like to let go of all those feelings that consumed his head and heart? Could he…could Edward just have a taste now?

  He didn’t say anything as he climbed into the passenger seat, but his mind was running over. The idea of dating the bear wasn’t such an abhorrent idea, and Edward might actually be looking forward to finding out more about the man who said they were mates.

  “Are you and those two men who look like you triplets or brothers only?”

  Was that rude to ask? He wasn’t sure, he hadn’t been very social the last four or five years, and only hung out with people from work. They usually talked about accounting and studying, which Edward could relate to and didn’t feel uncomfortable. He was good with customers as that was about accounts. He frowned, realizing that sucked.

  “Yep. Tredd’s the eldest by two minutes, then me, and Trekk by two minutes. We grew up with the family sleuth in Canada.”

  “Wow, I always wanted to go to Canada. Why did you leave?”

  “I wouldn’t have, but unfortunately, when we were seventeen, Renegades attacked the sleuth when most of the strong adults were out on a fishing expedition. By the time they got back, everyone was slaughtered, or too badly injured to survive. The Renegades hid and took out anyone who returned.”

  “Oh…that’s horrible.” Edward was stunned, and though Tripp’s voice expressed his pain and anger over the slaughter of his sleuth, which Edward took to mean the term used for a group of bears, the man was remarkable in the fact he could talk about it so easily, so openly. “How did you and your brothers survive?”

  “We were away at university. Trekk’s a genius, and while Tredd and I aren’t quite at Trekk’s level, we’re pretty smart, too, and all of us got scholarships and entered university early. So, a few other cubs, Trekk, Tredd, and I were away at boarding school and university when it happened. We all banded together and made our own mini sleuth so to speak. For the youngest cubs at boarding school, we tracked down any relatives, and after a lot of negotiating, arranged for them to be sent to their families. We got a big old place an hour from the university, but close to a school and made sure we all made it through school, college, and university. We worked part time, we had inheritances that paid for the rent and bills, we just needed money for the school fees. After everyone graduated, we pooled our money and bought an old bus.” Tripp grinned. “Great years those were. We travelled around from town to city and worked, we met other sleuths, lost some members who wanted to stay and settle down, picked up others who wanted to travel or were alone, and then after five years we were down to five of us and decided to settle down. So we did.” Tripp smiled.

  Edward was amazed. Tripp and his brothers, what remained of their group, turned a horrible event in their lives that may have destroyed so many, probably would have Edward, into something positive and amazing.

  “You’re a good guy, Tripp.”

  Tripp gave a soft smile and patted Edward’s hand. “I think you are, too.”

  “You don’t even know me,” Edward scoffed.

  “Yeah, but you didn’t push Officer Jensen into traffic, and you realized David Proctor’s a wanker. That makes you not so bad.”

  Unable to help it, Tripp was actually funny, Edward laughed. The man had him opening his eyes to what life really was about, and how his own life had narrowed down to bad memories and only what he wanted. Tripp talked about staying in the one town for a few years then moving on until he, his brothers and two other bears, made their way into Milson City and arrived in time to join a fight in the industrial park, where two rival wolf packs had banded together to take out the Starter’s pack. They were headed to the Sanchez pride next. Apparently, the Alpha of the Starters pack had been so impressed with the five bears jumping straight into the battle and fighting off the interlopers, he invited them to stay and join his pack, which already had a bear and an assortment of other creatures.

  “Tredd negotiated. He wanted more bears joining, and any other creature that was lost and alone. I wanted our own land, but to be part of the pack. Uri gave us both. He made me Second, tolerates Trekk’s cheekiness and getting out of work, and Tredd going Alpha and snapping everyone into doing what he wants. Technically, I still believe Tredd should be Second, but he’s pulled between that and his mate. Uri’s a good Alpha, the best I’ve ever seen. Nice building.”

  Edward hadn’t even realized the car had stopped. “I like it. Can I make you a coffee?”

  Tripp beamed. “Got tea?”

  “Err…yeah.”

  Tea? No, he didn’t have any tea. Edward hated the stuff. But he did want Tripp to come up.

  Chuckling, which coming from such a big man was sort of like a rock crumbling, Edward wondered how the fates decided who should be matched with whom. Was there some sort of cosmic balance? Or someone like cupid floating around? Or Psyche the Goddess of Souls? He thought on that a moment. The Goddess of Souls must be the one who matched people up, knew who the soulmates were.

  Rolling his eyes at himself, Edward wondered when he’d begun to believe in all this mythology stuff. Probably around the time a big bear shifter said they were mates, and Edward began to feel more than a little interest and liking for the creature. And his cock was constantly half-hard.

  They climbed out of the car, and as there wasn’t an elevator, walked the four flights of stairs which Edward swore was better exercise than jogging and lifting weights at the gym, especially when he had to lug his groceries once a week. His apartment was in the back corner, and as they walked down the hall, he could hear muffled sounds coming from apartments as they passed. He ignored Tripp sniffing at a few doors. He then showed his mate—and how strange was that—into the living room of his one bedroom apartment. It wasn’t big, but it was nice.

  He didn’t bother to say he didn’t really have tea, nor offer to show Tripp around. Ta
king hold of the police captain’s nicely starched, black collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up, he urged the man to lean down. Thankfully the shifter did. Edward wasn’t sure he could have jumped that high otherwise, the man was huge!

  As soon as their lips touched, there was an explosion. Yeah, this is what Edward wanted, what he needed. It’d been so very long since anyone touched him, since he’d allowed anyone close, and this man’s mouth was like lighting a flame to gunpowder. It sizzled and sparked. Their mouths fused, not fighting for supremacy. They enjoyed one another with long, sensual kisses, nibbling on lips, sucking tongues as their bodies pressed closer together, their hands wandering, not able to get enough of one another.

  Edward pulled back, breaking the kiss and dragging in a lungful of air. Tripp followed, his mouth covering Edward’s and kissing with that deep, needing sensuality that drove all thoughts from their minds and left only feelings, a need that may never be quenched, consuming them both.

  “More,” Edward whispered against Tripp’s lips. “Want you.”

  Tripp pecked kisses. “You’re not ready for me to claim you.”

  “No…I need this, Tripp. Show me what it is between us.”

  “More than sex, cutie, so much more.”

  “Yeah, this isn’t sex, it’s…exploding dynamite.”

  Tripp pulled back and looked at Edward seriously, panting heavily. His lips were kiss swollen, pupils large, and that honey hazel was now so dark it was like heated liquid.

  “Tell me what you need, cutie.”

  “I need to know what this is I’m feeling. I haven’t felt anything in a long time except pain and anger and like I’m mediocre, but with you, I’m coming alive. Give me something to think about other than the bitterness and pain I drown in. Tripp, give me something to hold onto.”

  “We hold with our hearts and minds, Eddie,” Tripp said quietly.

  Eddie nodded. “Then show me.”

  No more was said. Tripp swept Edward up into his arms and kissed him deeply before carrying Edward to the bedroom. The apartment was small, and there were only a few doors, making it easy to guess where the bedroom was. Tripp didn’t dump Edward on the bed, which was rather classy as far as he was concerned. The shifter laid them both down together, keeping their bodies close, their lips not leaving one another. It was the most tender, sensual moment he’d experienced, and he was glad it was with Tripp.

  Their clothes just seemed to melt away. He knew that wasn’t possible, but to Edward, that’s what it felt like. He trailed his fingers and hands over huge muscles and through a thick patch of hair across wide, hard pecs, abs, and then down to a long, thick cock that was pressing for attention between them. The bear of a man was all hard muscles, covered by hair the same color as on his head. It tickled Edward’s palms as he ran his hands over the man’s amazing body. It had been so long for Edward that he was on edge, ready to spurt immediately. Tripp was laying over him, pressing against him and rubbing their cocks together. It was such a temptation, he stopped giving a shit if he couldn’t hold back from coming and just enjoyed, rubbing himself vigorously against that long thick rod while attacking Tripp’s lips with his own.

  They came together in a tangle of limbs and devouring mouths, hands everywhere at once, and still, they couldn’t get enough. This felt right, oh so right to Edward. He managed to wiggle a little and flung his hand out to his bedside table, fumbling to open the draw.

  “Lube. We need lube.” He glanced down at the bear’s huge cock. It was so thick Edward couldn’t get his hand around the entire width. He’d tried. “Yeah, lots of lube.”

  Grinning, Tripp grazed his lengthened fangs across Edward’s neck, as one hand reached past Edward’s to the drawer to open it. His balls shot up at the first brush of fangs, and with a loud groan, Edward spurted a little pre-cum, groaning louder when Tripp wrapped a large hand around his cock and slowly stroked. It wasn’t enough to make him come, but it kept him right on edge and teetering, his body taut like a violin string. Tripp had the lube and moved between Edward’s spread legs, a finger finding his hole and rubbing lightly. Edward’s balls released another load of pre-cum, and he groaned.

  “No to claiming?” Tripp pressed a finger inside.

  “Holy shit!” Edward wasn’t sure if it was Tripp’s finger or dick inside him, the digit was so big.

  Then he groaned at the touch of little nerves tucked in his channel and urged Tripp on. The big man wouldn’t be rushed, though, saying he wasn’t going to hurt Eddie, and soon there was no more protesting over going faster, just grunts and groans as Tripp swallowed Edward’s dick down and worked his hole, opening him up for that mammoth rod he called a cock.

  Edward wasn’t passive, and between the moans and now riding two fingers in his hole, he pulled the cord holding back Tripp’s hair and let it loose, fanning it through his fingers and guiding the big man’s head as his cock was quickly ready to spurt again. He loved the feel of Tripp’s bristling chin brush against his balls and thighs, the sensations adding to the sensations he was experiencing. When the third finger pressed inside Edward winced, but then Tripp’s tongue did something amazing, adding just the right amount of pressure. Any discomfort was lost in the pleasure of Tripp’s warm mouth with that amazing tongue. Coming for the second time, pleasure exploding through his body, his balls emptying with long spurts. Edward only had time to remember to breathe out when Tripp removed four fingers from his ass and pressed the thick head of that big cock into Edward’s well-stretched hole.

  The pleasure was worth the burn. Tripp took it slow, stopping to let Edward breathe through it a few times, but when he finally hit bottom, the big shifter growled in a deeply primal way that had Edward’s flaccid cock springing back up hard and full.

  Tripp lifted Edward’s legs and wrapped them around his waist, and with a grip on his hips, used that long, thick cock in a way that had Edward begging for more. Tripp grabbed Edward’s wrists in one hand and stretched him out on the bed, their mouths fused together.

  Every stroke lit a wave of pleasure through his channel. It was like he was coming alive from the inside out with each powerful thrust of that cock, which was at least nine or ten inches, he was sure. Then he couldn’t think, only feel with the rub on his bundle of nerves, their bodies moving together, mouths breaking apart only to breathe, and become glued back together again. The shifter knew how to use his cock and was careful with his strength…or he was a gentleman even in his passion.

  He got lost in their loving, how Tripp growled and brushed his fangs against Edward’s lips and neck numerous times, his cock thrusting deep, and holding Edward down. It wasn’t long, which surprised him after already coming, that he was crying out. His legs locked around Tripp’s thick waist and buckled wildly as he climaxed so hard, he may have blacked out.

  A very loud bear roar snapped Edward right back to the here and now, and he groaned, feeling load after load of hot spunk fill him inside, the man holding him still growling and pounding his ass. Edward’s cock twitched, his hands tugging, wanting to touch and hug. Tripp let Edward’s wrists go, his thrusts slowing. The bear of a man panted. Edward brushed the back of his knuckles over Tripp’s left nipple, then tweaked, smiling as the bear growled and gave another deep thrust before groaning and landing on top of him. At this stage, he didn’t care if he got squashed, he wanted the man as close as possible and doubted there was anyway closer. He wrapped an arm around Tripp’s neck and wiggled his hips, loving the feel of that big cock in his ass.

  He was going to be sore for days, but hell, being with Tripp was worth it. Though he may have to wear a plug for a while as the captain was massive down there!

  Tripp slid out and rolled off Edward, removing the condom and placing it in the bathroom bin. Returning to the bed, he had a warm cloth. A little surprised, and momentarily embarrassed, no one had cleaned Edward after sex. He stayed perfectly still and even managed to suppress a few small groans caused by the warm cloth making contact with his cock, balls a
nd then sore, puffy hole. Once finished, Tripp went back to the bathroom, but was out a second later and lay on the bed on his side facing Edward.

  He gazed at the man fate said was his. That was still overwhelming, and admittedly a little frustrating, for who had the right to tell him who he should be with? But, he had to say he liked Tripp…a lot. Must be the mating pull. As soon as he thought that, Edward was annoyed at himself. Tripp was a good guy, regardless of the mate pull drawing them together. He needed to hold onto that and find out for himself whether this would work or not, and he had two weeks to do it. Smiling, he leaned over and picked up his phone that’d been tossed onto the bedside table.

  “Yeah, unless you’re taking a picture of me to post on Instagram to gloat about what you just scored, picking up your phone after I just rocked your world…” Tripp raised his brows, leaving the rest unsaid.

  So Edward snapped a full frontal of what he just ‘scored,’ grinned and probably squealed like a girl when Tripp mock growled and tried to take his phone, tickling him in the process. Edward was incredibly ticklish.

  “Uncle! Uncle!”

  “Fine, but phones don’t belong with us in bed.”

  “I guess we have something in common. You’re cynical, too.” Edward commented as he opened his phone’s diary. “I was actually going to look at my calendar to book our next date, but if you’re going to be like that—”

  “You got me.” Tripp practically dragged Edward onto his big, hard body. “Sorry, cutie.”

  “You’re a suspicious man, Tripp Croggen.” Edward made himself comfortable. “You’re hard again?”

  Grinning cheekily, the big man winked and squeezed Edward’s ass cheeks. “‘Course I am! You’re hot and my mate, I just want to roll you around in honey and lick you up, then fuck you until you can’t walk and do it all again. I’m not sure about the photos, though, that’s a bit too kinky for me, unless we’re keeping the photos just for ourselves. As a cop, I know how easy it is for pricks to hack into anything and download personal information and pictures. I don’t want anyone seeing you.”