Summer, Bellann - Paulie's Protector [The Men of the Crazy Angle Ranch 4] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove)

by Bellann Summer

  “That still doesn’t explain why he was stalking Paulie,” Nolan said.

  “I asked Travis that when I was waiting for the police last night in the hospital,” Steve spoke up. “For some reason only known to Pennington, you became his obsession. He had elaborate plans to keep you at his side on a leash.”

  “That’s just wrong,” Paulie interrupted.

  “When Travis said that, at first I thought he was talking about a version of BDSM doggie play. Then he explained that Pennington decided it would take some time before you would want to stay with him voluntarily.”

  “You think?” Paulie said.

  “So,” Steve continued, “he had an elaborate collar made up that would shock you if you tried to hurt him or run.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Nolan put his arm on the back of Paulie’s chair. Paulie’s face was flushed, and at any minute Nolan thought sparks were going to shoot out of his eyes, he was getting so angry.

  “Travis was particularly pissed off that Pennington had some kind of thick velvet pad made for the floor next to his bed so you could be near him. I guess because of the cancer, he can’t stand for anyone to touch him. Sometimes just the movement to the bed, when Travis would turn over in his sleep, would make Pennington cry out in pain.”

  “Why did that make Travis so angry?” Nolan asked. There was something he was missing. He just couldn’t figure it out.

  “Let’s start at the beginning,” Graham continued, “Pennington sees Paulie at the shop he was working at. Instantly he becomes obsessed with him. He sends Travis to the shop to get different kinds of small machinery repaired, so then he can watch Paulie for him.”

  “But Travis was flirting with Pat,” Paulie said.

  “Pennington told him to. He didn’t want you to realize Travis was watching you,” Graham answered. “So then Travis watches as Pennington’s obsession grows even stronger as time goes on. Pennington decides you’ll be together forever, and he has that special pad made for you to sleep next to his bed. The kicker is that he calls his lawyer to discuss changing his will.”

  “That’s when Travis knew he had to do something about you, Paulie,” Steve said. “Travis fell out of love with Pennington years ago. But when he was diagnosed with cancer, Travis stayed with him for the money.”

  “According to Travis, the cancer seemed to slow down when Pennington became fixated with you,” Graham said. “Personally I think the street drugs gave him short-term strength and stamina. And that pissed Travis off. He hadn’t put in all those years, just to have you get the money. When your fancy pad was put next to Pennington’s bed and Travis’s was moved to the corner of the room, Travis decided it was time to get rid of you.”

  It was quiet in the room for a moment as everyone thought about what was just revealed.

  “Did Travis tamper with the ramp in the shop?” Paulie asked.

  “No, that was Hank.”

  Nolan and Paulie looked at each other in surprise. When Nolan looked back at Graham, he saw Graham nod at Stan.

  “I noticed Hank was missing the day the bullet went through Paulie’s window. I also saw him watching you two all the time,” Stan confessed. “I went to Graham and told him.”

  “What Stan didn’t know was your good friend, Detective Stillen, sent Nate here to keep an eye on you,” Graham said, nodding toward Nate. “Nate immediately knew that Hank was up to something. Yesterday he caught Hank with the hacksaw that he used to cut the ramp with. The police searched his room and found the gun he used to shoot out the bedroom window. He’s in custody, probably in a cell right next to Travis.”

  “Why did Hank do it?” Nolan asked.

  “Money,” Nate said. “Pennington saw him at the bar with Stan and heard them talking about the Crazy Angle. Pennington knew Paulie was here and approached Hank with an offer of a lot of money if he got rid of Nolan. Apparently he had someone following Paulie ever since he left the hospital.”

  “What about Penny?” Paulie asked quietly.

  “Pennington told Travis he had one of his hired goons take out Penny. I’m sorry Paulie,” Graham answered.

  “What now?” Paulie asked. His voice was so sad.

  “Now we wait and see Pennington’s next move. He’s got to be under a lot of pressure. Travis and Hank are in custody, he’s failed to get to you, and the authorities are closing in on him.”

  Chapter Twelve

  With his hand held securely, Paulie moved fast to keep up with Nolan’s long-legged strides out of Graham’s office. The man didn’t stop until he was through the kitchen and into Paulie’s rooms. In the bedroom, Nolan began taking off his clothes and Paulie knew there was a huge smile on his face as he joined the naked party. Sometimes Nolan had just the best ideas. Except, this time, Paulie had an idea of his own.

  Being unhampered by an injured arm as Nolan was, Paulie was naked way before Nolan and quickly lined up the bed pillows end to end across the bed. With deft movements, he climbed onto the bed and crawled over to the pillows. Paulie maneuvered himself until he was lying on his back on top of the pillows with his head hanging off the side of the bed.

  Paulie looked upside down at a now-naked Nolan standing just inches away. The pillows had him at just the right height that all he had to do was open his mouth and Nolan inserted the prize for all his efforts.

  Paulie was no fool. With all the craziness that happened over the last twenty-four hours, they both needed the connection of lovemaking. And as protective as Nolan was, he had to be feeling the need to assert some control, as Paulie desperately needed to feel it.

  Unfortunately, Nolan’s body was not up for anything intensely physical. So Paulie pulled out a daydream he might have had a time or two.

  Paulie reached up and encircled the base of Nolan’s beautiful cock that had to be almost ten inches long in all its glory. Nolan started tentative, shallow thrusts into Paulie’s mouth. Tipping his head back, Paulie found he could take even more of Nolan’s iron length down his throat comfortably.

  Nolan reached one long arm out and encircled Paulie’s cock in a firm grip. Stroking him from base to tip, Nolan set up a rhythm that matched the now deep thrusts into his mouth. Paulie let go of the base of Nolan’s cock and grabbed onto his rock-hard, muscled thighs for balance. Never had Paulie felt so dominated.

  Laid out before Nolan on the pillows like a sacrifice, his mouth stretched wide and his cock engulfed in warm squeezing strokes, Paulie’s mind went to that place where he could do nothing but only feel what Nolan was doing to his body.

  Paulie pulled his knees up and spread his legs, instinctively letting the cool air touch his tightening balls and needy hole. The cock in Paulie’s mouth pushed in until it hit the back of his throat and then paused. On the downward stroke on Paulie’s cock, Nolan twisted his hand and pressed the tip of his finger against Paulie’s hole.

  The next moment the cock in his mouth withdrew until just the head was in his mouth and Paulie could take a breath. Unfortunately, the finger also withdrew and started teasing the slit on the tip of Paulie’s cock.

  Nolan kept mastering Paulie, easing even further into Paulie’s throat and ass with every stroke, until Paulie’s body went into overload. Crying out around Nolan’s thrusting cock, Paulie came. He clung to Nolan’s solid thighs, afraid his body was going to break apart as it shook and shuddered through his orgasm.

  Nolan’s cock seemed to grow even bigger, stretching Paulie’s jaw as far as it would go. Pulsating jets of cum burst down his throat as Nolan reached his own peak. Paulie loved it, and his own cock gave up another volley of spunk.

  It took a few moments for them both to calm down. Regretfully, Paulie released Nolan’s now softening cock from his mouth. Paulie moved the pillows and shifted until he was lying length-wise on the bed with Nolan joining him.

  Paulie could feel his eyes widen in surprise when Nolan casually lifted his hand and started cleaning the remains of Paulie’s cum from it. Nolan’s sparkling green eyes met h
is and Nolan held out his hand for Paulie to taste.

  A mixture of bitterness and salt burst on Paulie’s tongue as he took a tentative taste. Nolan’s mouth covered his in a deep kiss. Paulie put his arms around Nolan’s neck and felt Nolan’s arm come around his waist, pulling him closer. Tongues mingled and mated together. Paulie felt their love surrounding them, enveloping them in its secure hold.

  When the kiss ended, Paulie looked into Nolan’s warm green eyes. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” Nolan responded.

  Together they relaxed back onto the pillows, both men perfectly happy to be entwined around one another and enjoying the moment. A finger would gently run itself through the light dusting of the hair on an arm or leg. A different finger would softly trace the topline of a shoulder.

  “What do you think Pennington is going to do next?” Nolan’s deep baritone voice quietly broke the silence.

  Paulie took a moment to think about Pennington and how his actions had steadily gotten bolder. It almost seemed like Pennington now thought himself invincible. The man was totally crazy.

  “I think he is going to do something so outrageous that it takes everyone by surprise,” Paulie stated.

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. Take an advertisement out for a reward for my capture. Send a group of thugs in here to take me away. I really don’t know, but the hair on the back of my neck is starting to stand straight up.” Paulie looked at Nolan in panic.

  * * * *

  Graham opened the double wooden doors to greet his guests, who were just pulling up to the front porch. Mr. Jedidiah Colburn was interested in taking a look at Starburst. If things went well, Mr. Coburn could very well have a tentative agreement to purchase one of the nicest draft horses Graham had ever bred and trained.

  Graham, of course, had Colburn checked out. Colburn was new to the draft horse world but everything seemed to be legitimate. He certainly had enough money. Graham was waiting for a callback from a friend to verify Colburn’s references. After they were verified, things should go through pretty smoothly.

  The front passenger door of the BMW sedan opened and Graham watched a large man in a dark suit step out. He turned and opened the back car door. Reaching in, he grabbed hold of a man’s long, thin arm and helped him out of the vehicle.

  If Graham guessed right, this must be Colburn. The very tall, skinny man was wearing a dark-brown western-style business suit. His light-brown hair, though professionally styled, didn’t look quite right to Graham. Frowning, he tried to figure out what was off.

  His attention was caught by the driver getting out of the car. This guy was as large as the first and also wearing a business suit. Colburn had said he and his associates were coming to the ranch to see the horse, but to Graham, the other two men looked like bodyguards.

  The three men walked up to the house, Colburn between the other two.

  “Mr. Colburn, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Graham greeted.

  Shaking Colburn’s bony hand was not a pleasant experience. Graham had to suppress a shudder as the cold clamminess wrapped around his hand.

  “It is good to meet you also, Mr. Conner.” Colburn’s voice was weak and raspy.

  Graham nodded to the other two men, who returned his nod but didn’t offer any greetings. “Let’s all go into my office and discuss what you’re looking for in a horse and how Starburst might fit your needs.”

  Once they were all seated, Graham was able to get a good look at Colburn. The guy was emaciated, with sickly gray, paper-thin skin. Now that Graham was studying him, he could see Colburn was wearing a wig. Looking at his long, thin face, Graham suddenly realized who he was looking at.

  Phen Pennington had glassy, washed-out, pale blue eyes that were so drugged out that Graham wondered if the man even knew what reality was. Those eyes also showed him that Pennington knew Graham had recognized him.

  “I see that you know why I’m here, Mr. Conner. I’ve gone to a lot of trouble over this last year and I don’t have much more time to waste. Please have Paul come in here, so we can leave and I can die in peace.”

  Graham was astonished that Pennington really thought that he was going to call Paulie into the office so he could leave with the delusional man.

  Graham went to stand up. “I’ll go get him,” he said. He needed to go get backup.

  “I don’t think so, Mr. Conner,” Pennington said. The men on either side of him pulled out a small handgun and pointed them at Graham.

  Just then, there was a brief knock on the office door and it was opened. Graham watched in horror as both guns were turned toward Paulie, who had just stepped into the office with a piece of paper in his trembling hand.

  “Graham, I have that order for those parts we needed,” Paulie said. Paulie looked up from the paper, his hazel eyes staring straight at Graham, full of steely determination.

  “Duck!” Paulie yelled.

  Graham didn’t hesitate and dropped to the floor. He heard the window of his office shatter, and multiple gunshots rang out as the smell of gunpowder filled the air. There was a lot of shouting and a few cries of pain. Then there was utter silence.

  Graham carefully looked over the edge of his desk. The two bodyguards were lying on the floor, each holding a hand to a rapidly spreading bloodstain. Pennington was in a crumpled heap on the floor and wasn’t moving.

  Standing over the three men were Nate, Dees and Steve, the guns in their hands pointed straight at the downed men’s heads. None of the men took their eyes off their targets.

  Nolan was completely blanketing Paulie’s curled-up body. At the doorway, Graham saw Adam’s head take a quick peek at the room and then disappear. His head appeared again, this time surveying everything more thoroughly.

  “The police are on their way. Are you okay, Graham?” Adam asked. He stayed outside the room, not coming anywhere near the men with the guns.

  “Yeah,” Graham managed. The situation suddenly hit him and his butt hit the floor as he lost his balance. His body started to shake uncontrollably as reality set in.

  “Shit, are you shot, Graham?” Adam asked.

  “Graham! Adam, let me go.”

  Graham looked up to see Adam holding Tyler back just outside the office door. The struggle continued for a few moments.

  “Knock it off.” Dees’s voice rang out, stopping everyone in their place. “Everybody stay where they are until the police get here. Graham, yes or no, are you hurt?”

  “No,” Graham said. He could hear police sirens and, thank goodness, the distinctive ambulance sirens getting closer. He really didn’t want anyone dying in his office, even if they were the scum of the earth.

  “Good. Now somebody get those EMTs in here quick. Pennington isn’t looking so good,” Dees said.

  * * * *

  Two hours later the core group of men of the Crazy Angle Ranch sat on the overstuffed chairs and sofas around the family room, each with a small glass of whiskey in their hands.

  Graham had Tyler plastered to his side and he didn’t plan on letting him go any time soon. Trace had Xavi snuggled on his lap, as Nolan with Paulie. Zaiden and Adam were sitting as close as possible with Elliot on both their laps.

  Stan was sitting on one of the sofa’s with Dees next to him and Steve on the other side of Dees. Graham was too tired to contemplate what he thought might be happening with Stan and Dees. Callum was sitting in a chair looking exhausted as usual. Graham knew after things settled, he was going to have to sit the vet down and have a long talk with him.

  “It’s over, right?”

  “It’s over, Paulie,” Graham answered. “Pennington and those two goons are on the way to the hospital and then to jail. You’re free, Paulie.”

  Looking at the now-smiling Paulie, Graham smiled back. Then he asked, “How did you know Pennington was in my office?”

  “I saw Pennington step out of the car from the window,” Paulie answered. “I immediately told Adam who was in the kitchen. H
e called Steve and Dees, while Nolan called the police. Elliot texted nine-one-one to the rest of the guys. By the time Pennington was in your office, everyone was in the kitchen, making a plan.”

  Graham’s phone rang. Answering it, he listened to the sheriff for a moment, before almost dropping his phone. Ending the call, he looked at Paulie.

  “Pennington’s heart gave out in the ambulance. He’s dead.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Paulie lay on his back, enjoying the coolness of the luxurious deep-blue sheets against his naked body. If he planned this right, soon the sheets were going to be steaming. It had been a month since Pennington died, and Paulie had his life back.

  The first thing he did was move out of the rooms next to the kitchen and move into Nolan’s suite at the farmhouse. Life had become a routine of working every day at Nolan’s side in the machine shed and loving Nolan in his big bed on its platform at night. In between, there was horseback riding, four-wheeling and going to the local bar. Nolan tended to stay in the corner, but his shyness didn’t stop him from going.

  Travis and Hank were in jail awaiting trial, and it turned out Pennington had an estranged son who ended up getting all of his money. Paulie was glad, because all his attention was on a certain mechanic who had stolen his heart.

  The door opened and Nolan stood in the doorway of the bedroom. Paulie put his arms over his head and stretched, arching his back just a little, giving Nolan a show.

  By the time Nolan was at the edge of the bed, all of his clothes were on the floor and Paulie’s eyes were feasting on his naked splendor.

  Nolan climbed up onto the bed and lay down at his side facing him. Paulie felt his body being pulled like a magnet, and he couldn’t stop moving until he was pressed tightly along the length of Nolan’s warm body. Paulie rubbed his legs along Nolan’s, loving the feel of the coarse hair against his skin.