If Alden could ask him any question, he would ask him if the blood from Gannon had tasted sweeter after Gannon had had his first taste of Alden. He’d heard all manner of speculation from the other thralls about why gentrymen needed far more blood than any other class, but none of the answers he’d heard made sense. To Alden, it seemed to be something physiological. Genetically, the landed gentrymen were much bigger than the average slammer, and practically gigantic compared to most thralls. The Morgan brothers were the exception to that idea, though. They were almost as big as McBride.
His gaze went again to Caleb. He was exactly as big as McBride. That notion got him to wondering about where the brothers had come from. All men were decanted now that there were no women, and the Genetics Board was careful to keep a balance between the classes so that there wouldn’t be a glut of one that could possibly lead to unrest. Keeping everyone happy in their place was a tricky business. Which begged the question of the massive Morgan brothers. And seven? The more Alden considered, the more he thought they’d been special ordered. That could be the solution.
Perhaps some landed gentryman had wanted to leave his son a solid set of slammers that could work his fields, feed him well, and generally support him all the way into his old age. That would certainly explain the Morgan brothers. Alden wanted to ask his mate, but he doubted that Gannon would know. Moreover, he probably wouldn’t care. Gannon didn’t seem to be too concerned with what other men were doing. Alden wasn’t, either. He was just curious. He thought it had something to do with his need to make order out of chaos. He hoped the longer he was here and the safer he felt, the less driven he would be to straighten everything up.
Alden turned at a tap on his shoulder.
Caleb was behind him, staring at his neck. “Where’s your collar?”
Reaching up, Alden realized they had forgotten to put his yellow strip of leather back on. Since they hadn’t followed the ritual, they had neglected to put Gannon’s mark of ownership on him. By going around bare, Alden was essentially offering himself to any hungry slammer.
“Go up to the house and put it on.” By the motions behind his closed lips, Alden knew that Caleb was massaging his canines with his tongue. It was the same motion McBride had made last night while watching him and Gannon. How curious that Caleb was mimicking the hunger of a gentryman.
Out the corner of his eye, Alden saw movement, and the next thing he knew, Gannon was on top of Caleb. His fists were flying. After hours to plant perfectly even and well-spaced rows, the brothers destroyed his efforts in seconds.
“Stop!” Alden wasn’t foolish enough to get between them, but he tried to get them to quit fighting. He wasn’t sure what prompted Gannon to attack, but he was fairly certain he thought his brother was doing something in appropriate with him. “He didn’t touch me!”
The other brothers gathered around, giving Alden his first good look at Gannon’s twin. Ollie was a carbon copy but for the way he wore his hair and the fact he didn’t have a scar on his face. But it was the youngest, Bailey, who managed to get the brothers apart.
“Do you want to ruin your chances of getting your own thrall?” Bailey asked Caleb.
“He started it!” Caleb pointed at Gannon, and Alden had to admit that was true.
“He was trying to cut in on my mate!” Gannon yelled, thrusting an accusing finger at Caleb.
“I was not. I was telling him to go put on a collar so he wouldn’t be flashing his neck all around.”
Gannon’s eyes got big as he looked at Alden. Without another word and no apology to his brother, Gannon hustled Alden back to their tiny home. He toed off his boots and left Alden on the porch since his shoes were muddy. After a moment, Gannon emerged with Alden’s collar.
“I’m sorry.” He slipped it around his neck then kissed the area above the scar. “I forgot that you can’t go without one.”
“I forgot, too. And your brother didn’t touch me.”
“He was looking at your neck and drooling.”
“Even if he was, he didn’t touch me.” Alden reached out and clasped Gannon’s hand. “Please stop.”
Gannon took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I know I’m getting angry for no reason. I just don’t trust Caleb.”
“I know, but I’m okay.”
“And me getting angry scares you.”
“It does. But not when it makes sense.” Alden was a little edgy about the situation, but it was nothing like the outright fear he’d felt yesterday. “I really do understand why you’re upset, but there isn’t any reason for it to go any further than it has.”
Gannon drew another breath, but he said nothing.
“Let’s go back to work.”
They returned to the field. Alden righted the damage then returned to planting the row. By the end of the day, he had done an entire row all by himself. The brothers had all done twice to three times as much, but that was okay. They were experts, and he was new.
“So, what did you think of your first day?” Gannon asked as they walked side by side back to their house.
“My arms and back ache, but overall I feel really good.”
“You’ll get used to it after a few weeks.” Gannon slipped his clay-encrusted boots off on the porch, and Alden followed suit. “Picking is a little easier, but you’re on your feet all day and your hands get tired.”
“What do you think about while you’re working?”
Gannon blushed a bit.
“Never mind.” Alden knew exactly what he’d been thinking about all day. It became even more obvious when the front of Gannon’s trousers swelled.
“That was just today. How could I help but think about you?” Gannon realized that Alden was having trouble untying the knot on his boots, so he dropped down to his knees to assist him. Despite the tiny size of the knot and how big Gannon’s fingers were, he managed to work it apart almost effortlessly. “…don’t you think?”
“I’m sorry, I was watching your hands. What did you ask me?”
“We could really make this work, don’t you think?”
“I do.” Alden crouched down so they were eye to eye. “I really, really do.”
“Good.” Gannon looked around. “Now, let’s go in the house, clean up, and then make each other messy.”
“You read my mind.” Once they were behind closed doors, they stripped each other out of their clothes and tossed them on the floor. When Gannon reached down to pick them up, Alden tossed them back on the floor. “We’ll worry about them after.”
“Are you sure? That’s how my house got into the state it was when you moved in.”
“I promise we’ll clean up the house, but I really want to clean up our bodies first.” Alden went off to the bathroom with Gannon hot on his heels.
“I guess you’re not used to being dirty.”
“In the thrall house, we never really got messy.” Alden turned on the water and then stepped in. The area seemed roomy until Gannon joined him. “I keep forgetting how big you are.”
“How could you after last night?” Gannon cupped his cock.
“I meant more than just there.” Alden grabbed the soap and started cleaning Gannon’s massive chest. The hair that began below his belly button made sudsing the soap much easier. When his hands were good and slippery, he slid them down and wrapped them around Gannon’s cock. He didn’t have to hear to know he made a low, grumbling growl of need. Alden was able to feel the vibrations through his hands. “I love the sounds you make.”
Gannon’s eyebrows rose.
“Oh, I don’t hear them, but I feel them. The vibrations. When you groan and it’s all low like that, I can feel it deep inside my body.”
“It makes you hard.” Gannon moved just a bit closer so he could cup Alden’s cock in return. He groaned again, making sure that Alden could feel the sound through his hand and around his cock.
“Just looking at you makes me hard.” Alden tightened his fist, but when he realized Gannon was far too close to climax, he
moved with a softer touch. “I don’t want you to find release until you’re inside me.”
“Then we better hurry up and get out of the bathroom.”
They were in the bedroom before either one of them had fully dried off. Before he knew it, Alden was seated on the edge of the bed with Gannon between his legs. Lifting them up, Gannon proceeded to tongue him until he was moaning and wiggling. Alden had never imagined it would be like this to give himself to a slammer. Frankly, he never thought that would happen for him. He thought the other thralls would go too far one day and they’d kill him long before he could ever be sold. He’d never been so happy to be wrong. Gannon was so much more than he thought he would ever have. Truly, Alden felt blessed.
On the verge of climax, Alden was stunned when Gannon disappeared and then returned. Alden knew why when he felt a greaser slide up his ass. As it slowly melted, Gannon teased his mouth over the tip of Alden’s cock, but he wouldn’t let him climax.
“How do you know when to pull back?”
“You make this high-pitched keening noise.” Gannon swiped his tongue from the base of Alden’s prick right to the tip. “Very sexy and also a very clear indicator of just how close you are.”
Alden tried to control the sounds that he made, but he was woefully unsuccessful. After he was practically in tears with need, Gannon rose up and planted his prick against his hole. Everything slowed down as their gazes met and held. With amazing care, Gannon pressed into him. Bit by bit his cock slid inside Alden. Just like last night, there was no pain at all because he refused to rush. It was so sweet and beautiful Alden felt his eyes water.
“Am I hurting you?” Gannon stayed so perfectly still that for a moment, Alden was able to feel his heartbeat in his cock.
“No, no. It’s not that kind of pain. It’s not pain at all. I’m just so overwhelmed by how intense this is. I didn’t think it would be like this.” Alden envisioned pain and shame that would end up destroying what little of his self-esteem was left. But this was beautiful and sweet, making him feel cherished and desired.
“I didn’t think it would be like this, either.” Gannon reached up and removed Alden’s collar. “I really don’t like this thing.” He tossed it over his shoulder.
“It’s supposed to show that you own me.”
“I don’t want to own you.”
Now it was Alden’s turn to lift his eyebrows.
Gannon lowered himself down so their bellies were pressed together, trapping Alden’s prick between their bodies. He balanced his weight on his elbows and cupped Alden’s head. “I want you to be with me because you want to, not because you have to.”
“But you literally own me.” Alden didn’t mind because that was the way of the world.
“I know, but I don’t want to think of it that way.” Gannon hesitated. “Do you feel like I own you? I mean if it were up to you, would you want to be with me?”
Alden was so emotional he couldn’t talk, so he nodded, entwined his arms around Gannon’s neck, and pulled him close. How in the world had he gotten so lucky? In his passion, he rocked up, digging his heels into Gannon’s buttocks, which caused him to thrust forward.
Kissing, they worked their bodies together faster and faster until Gannon got close to climax. Knowing what he wanted, Alden turned his head to the side, exposing his neck. Gannon kissed him and licked the scar, readying him for when he opened wide and bit him. Alden climaxed as soon as his teeth sank in. He bucked and released again when Gannon tightened his mouth and drew firmly as he thrust deep and came so hard Alden could feel each powerful jet.
Alden realized he was completely pinned down, but he wasn’t afraid in the least. He trusted Gannon completely. He realized again how lucky he was when he felt the first strong bonds of love wrapping around his heart.
Chapter 10
Hunger caused McBride’s canines to extend and itch. He wanted to sink his teeth into Caleb’s neck while Caleb fisted his thick prick, but he knew if he did that he was only going to make matters worse. Not only did he want Caleb, but apparently, from what Caleb said yesterday in the barn, he wanted him back just as much. In some ways, that actually eased McBride’s mind because at least his obsession wasn’t one sided, but in other ways it compounded his self-loathing because he shouldn’t have ever let things get as complicated as they were.
Their relationship was doomed before it ever got started.
He could never offer Caleb more than a secretive relationship. Their encounters would be furtive, and in the long run they would be unfulfilling. Neither one of them would be truly satisfied. Worse, since McBride owned Caleb, he would be in a subservient position to McBride and not a true equal like a companion would be. That would chafe Caleb’s pride. Caleb could play at being submissive, and he could make the appropriate sounds to make McBride crazy, but he would need his turn at being in charge.
For a moment, McBride imagined Caleb taking control of him. If only Caleb were a landed gentryman, they could make it work. McBride could give and take with a member of his own class. But with Caleb as a slammer? No. McBride couldn’t see himself relaxing enough to allow that to happen. Not being permitted to fully express his sexuality would eat away at Caleb. The anger that simmered just below the surface would rumble under pressure and eventually he would blow.
Moreover, sooner or later every one of his brothers would realize what was going on. It would be obvious if McBride didn’t buy him a thrall. But even if he did, and they somehow conspired to continue their illicit affair despite Caleb’s bond with a thrall, they would just make getting caught even faster. Just the thought of buying Caleb a man to share his bed twisted McBride’s gut.
Even last night, when he should have fully enjoyed the unique moment he shared with Gannon and Alden, McBride found himself wondering if he could handle a similar situation with Caleb. To drink from Caleb’s neck while his cock was buried in his mate and he took his first draw of his thrall’s blood…no. McBride realized he would not be able to handle that. Gannon’s offering last night had been exquisite but he’d never be able to focus if Caleb were with another man.
Frustrated, McBride strode purposefully out of his house and across the center of the cul-de-sac, intent on drinking from Ollie. But his feet wouldn’t carry him that direction. As if they knew that wasn’t what he really wanted, McBride’s feet automatically drew him toward Caleb’s house. He stepped on the porch but found the lights were off and the door was partially open.
Curious, he pushed the door in.
“Finally.” Caleb was sitting at the table in the dark. The sun wasn’t fully set, but house was much darker than the outside yard. “I’ve been waiting since I quit work.”
“Waiting for what?”
“You.” Caleb grasped his hair and pulled it to the side, exposing his neck.
McBride’s teeth no longer itched. Now they ached. In fact, his whole body started to throb. Lust, longing, and need bundled up, pushing him toward Caleb. Hesitating, McBride turned and closed the door. Even as he was telling himself not to, he did it anyway because he didn’t want to be interrupted. Compounding his error, he went over to the window and peered out at the other houses. Since Caleb’s place was at the end, he had a clear view of all the other brothers’ homes.
“I turned the lights off so they wouldn’t see.” Caleb was right behind him, his voice sexy and so damn compelling McBride thought with his voice alone, Caleb could lower his jeans. He wouldn’t have to use his hands at all. Just his wicked voice would compel McBride’s pants to unzip and slide down to his ankles all on their own.
“I’m only here—”
“To feed. I know. I’m ready for you.” Caleb moved behind McBride, and as he spoke, his hot, moist breath caressed the short hairs on the back of McBride’s neck. “I’ve been thinking of you since I saw you in the barn yesterday.”
“You realize this can’t go anywhere.” McBride didn’t really pitch it as a question, and even if he had, he wasn’t sure if he was askin
g Caleb or reminding himself that this was going to end badly because there was no way in hell it could end well.
“I know.” Caleb lowered his mouth to McBride’s virgin neck and placed the most delicate kiss above his carotid artery. “But I want you even if I can only have you once, in the dark, with neither one of us able to tell anyone.”
“You would tell. You’d love to have something over me.” McBride refused to tilt his head to the side to give Caleb free access.
Unfazed, Caleb didn’t mind maneuvering his head in the tiny space between McBride’s shoulder and head. Tenderly, he tugged on his shirt collar, exposing his neck.
McBride braced himself for a vicious bite, but it never came. Caleb licked and kissed the spot where he obviously wanted to make his mark, but for whatever reason he chose not to.
Big hands gripped McBride’s shoulders, urging him to turn around, which he did. He thought Caleb would grab him and push him where he wanted him to go, but he did the opposite. With care, and the slow seduction of a man with nothing but time, Caleb moved close, lowered his head, and kissed McBride.
Firm lips pressed so gently against his the contact was almost fleeting. Afraid if he didn’t respond Caleb would stop, McBride opened his mouth. He told himself if Caleb swiped his tongue against his tooth, McBride would instantly pull away. But Caleb did nothing but kiss him. McBride was furious when all Caleb did was ease his tongue into McBride’s mouth. His taste was sunshine and raw earth, hunger and need.
All too soon, Caleb pulled away.
For a long moment they stood in the darkened house, looking at one another. McBride knew he had to walk away. He knew he should walk away. But he found he couldn’t.
“I thought you wanted a mate?”
“I do.” Caleb leaned close and nipped McBride’s lips. “I want you.”
“I can’t give you that, and you know it.”
Gannon Morgan [Seven Brothers for McBride 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Page 9
