Hagen, Lynn - Hunter [Zeus's Pack 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting ManLove)

by Lynn Hagen

  Zeus’s Pack 5

  Hunter

  Hunter owns a hardware store in Pride Pack Valley. He is thrilled when he learns that Alpha Zeus is rebuilding and wants to use his store for most of the supplies. Little does he know that one of the workers is his mate.

  Quinn works at the construction site, watching as the foreman finds love and wishing he could be so lucky to find a love of his own.

  Tristan is running for his life. His ex, Xavier, is out to get him back, but Tristan would die before falling back into Xavier’s hands.

  When Tristan finds himself in the hands of two very handsome and dominant males, old habits die hard. His submissive ways and knack for dressing to his own taste leaves a bad taste in a few townsfolk’s mouth. When Xavier finds him, Tristan must choose the men he loves or his master.

  Note: Each book in Lynn Hagen’s Zeus’s Pack collection features a different romantic trio. Each title stands alone and can be read in any order. However, we recommend reading the series in sequential order.

  Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Vampires/Werewolves

  Length: 36,788 words

  HUNTER

  Zeus’s Pack 5

  Lynn Hagen

  MENAGE EVERLASTING

  MANLOVE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting ManLove

  HUNTER

  Copyright © 2011 by Lynn Hagen

  E-book ISBN: 1-61034-635-1

  First E-book Publication: September 2011

  Cover design by Jinger Heaston

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Hunter by Lynn Hagen from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Lynn Hagen’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Hagen’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  HUNTER

  Zeus’s Pack 5

  LYNN HAGEN

  Copyright © 2011

  Chapter One

  “I can get that for you, sir.” Tristan ran ahead of Quinn and opened the bedroom door for him. Quinn watched Tristan’s hand tremble as he turned the knob, his eyes quickly lowering.

  “You don’t have to get it for me, and for the hundredth time, please stop calling me sir.” Quinn was becoming extremely frustrated. Not at Tristan, but at the situation. Tristan was a kind and sweet man, but his subservient behavior was driving Quinn nuts. The man had been here for two weeks now, and he still couldn’t get him to break the sir habit.

  “It’s okay, I’m used to it.” Tristan stepped aside and pulled the door open for Quinn to walk through. His right foot scratched the back of his left leg as he stared at the floor.

  “I’m going from the bedroom to the kitchen. That’s all. I’m not royalty, so please stop,” Quinn said softly as Tristan shifted from foot to foot. “What do you like to do?”

  Tristan’s eyes grew wide and his lips parted. He began to sputter. “I–I don’t know. No one has ever asked me that before.”

  “Give it some thought, and let me know. A hobby would help you.” Hopefully. Quinn had tried everything he could think of to coax Tristan out of his shell. The man had been abused. He knew that much from the scars that littered the thin man’s back.

  He had to convince Tristan to put some clothes on because the guy had walked around naked constantly, refusing to cover himself up. He said he wasn’t allowed clothes and wasn’t going to break the rules.

  Just what in the hell had he been through?

  “I like to draw, sir.” He spoke in a weak and tremulous whisper. Quinn almost had to ask him to repeat himself.

  “Drawing is good. Why don’t I take you to buy some clothes, and then we can get some art supplies for you?” Quinn had also been fighting a losing battle, Tristan refusing to allow Quinn to buy him clothes. Maybe the art thing would be an incentive.

  “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.” Tristan sang off-key with his voice breaking on every other note.

  Quinn quirked a brow as he ran his hand over his chin. What the hell? “That was, uh, nice.” When Tristan began to sing it again, Quinn held his hands up. His ears could only take so much. “Why don’t you find some shoes to wear while I use the bathroom? I should have something you may be able to fit.”

  Tristan nodded, never raising his head. Good. Quinn finally won one battle. Tristan was going to allow him to buy clothing so he could stop walking around naked or in Quinn’s oversized outfits. Not that the view wasn’t pleasant. Hell, it was more than pleasant, but Quinn wasn’t going to take advantage of the guy.

  They were going to continue to work on the submissive manner, along with the sir thing.

  When Quinn came back into the room, Tristan had on a pair of his sandals. They were at least two sizes too big, and he had purple socks on, too. “I don’t think people wear socks with sandals.” And that is my favorite pair of socks.

  “But I like it, sir.” Tristan twisted his feet back and forth, staring at his socked feet with scrutiny. “What’s wrong with them?”

  This was the first thing the man had admitted to
liking since being here. Quinn wasn’t going to rain on his parade. “It looks fine. Come on, jellybean, let’s go get you some clothes.”

  “What do I have to do to repay you, sir?” Tristan took a step back. The anxious look on the man’s face told Quinn to tread carefully. He definitely had his work cut out for him. A tense silence filled the room as Quinn thought of how to proceed.

  “How about you relax and be yourself?”

  Tristan glanced up this time, a look of uncertainty and mistrust in his eyes. Quinn wished he could erase that look. “Is that all, sir?”

  “You can stop calling me sir.” Quinn suggested.

  “I’ll try, si—okay.”

  “Come on, jellybean.” Quinn walked out of the bedroom, Tristan following close behind. There was a clothing store across from Theo’s Bar and Grill, and Quinn planned on making sure Tristan acquired everything he would need to make his stay more comfortable.

  Tristan hesitated at the front door. “Is it safe, sir?” he asked nervously.

  “It’s very safe, jellybean. No one is going to hurt you on my watch.” Quinn checked outside nonetheless. “Come on.”

  Tristan poked his head out, his eyes scanning the front yard and street, and then he stuck his sandaled toe out onto the porch. He ran to the car, nearly tripping as the large sandals flapped loudly on the brick walkway. Once he was inside the car, he slammed the door, engaged the lock, and buckled his seatbelt, scanning the area the whole time.

  The man’s nervous jitters were making Quinn jumpy. “Who’s after you, Tristan?” He started the car and waited for a reply.

  “A very bad man, sir.” Tristan’s lips curled in as he fidgeted around, brushing a stray lock of red hair from his eyes. Quinn left the subject alone for now. He had a feeling Tristan wasn’t going to be forthcoming if he pressed the issue.

  “Let’s go get you some clothes.” He grinned at Tristan, hoping to make the man feel more at ease. It worked. Tristan’s body visibly relaxed.

  Quinn pulled the car from the driveway and headed into town. He needed to call his boss soon. Dino was nice enough to give him time off to take care of the man sitting next to him, but he knew the foreman was anxious to get him back to work.

  Quinn parked in front of Lassiter’s clothing store. It wasn’t as large as the ones he was used to shopping in, but it would have to do.

  “Come on, jellybean.”

  Tristan got out and closed the car door. His eyes darted around, and his fingers clung desperately to the large shirt Quinn had given him to wear. He twisted it around in his fingers as he looked at Quinn with a lost and pleading look. Unsure what that look was about, Quinn scanned the area.

  “Follow me.” He held his hand out once he joined Tristan at his side, but the man shied away. Awkwardly, he cleared his throat. “We’re going in there.” Quinn pointed to the shop at the end of the strip.

  Tristan nodded and stepped up onto the sidewalk, tripping when one of the sandals caught on the lip of the curb. Quinn grabbed him in time and helped steady him. “I guess I didn’t see that.” Tristan blushed and then hurriedly walked to the shop door. He held it open for Quinn, his eyes once again downcast.

  Quinn growled. The little redhead was going to drive him nuts. “Go on in, Tristan.” He reached up and grabbed the top part of the door, holding it open for the man. Tristan stared up at him, his fair skin magnified by those brilliant green eyes of his.

  Tristan took a tentative step in and then waited on him.

  “Let’s see what this store has.” Quinn walked around, Tristan following obediently behind him. “You have to pick something out. What do you want to wear?”

  “Anything you choose for me, sir.” Quinn could see the shorter man’s eyes roaming around. He was looking overwhelmed and excited all at once. There had to be a way to get Tristan to shop for himself without Quinn picking out every stitch of clothing. There was a restless energy about Tristan’s movements as he reached out and fingered one of the shirts hanging on the rack, but quickly pulled it away when he saw Quinn watching him.

  He decided to turn this into a game. “What’s your favorite candy, jellybean?”

  Tristan’s eyes grew wide and then a slight smile pulled at his lips. “I tasted Skittles once, sir. I have to say, they were delicious.”

  “I tell you what. For every piece of clothing you pick, I’ll buy you a pack. Sound good?” Let’s see how big the man’s sweet tooth is.

  “I’m not sure where to start.”

  Quinn splayed his hands wide. “Anywhere in the store. But if that’s too much to handle, then why don’t you start with shirts, and then you can match pants with them.”

  Tristan’s hand touched the shirt on the rack once more. “I can pick this one?”

  “Anything you want. I’m going to go talk with the sales clerk, so start shopping.” Quinn walked over to the counter but kept an eye on the redhead.

  “Can I help you gentlemen with something?” the man asked as Quinn leaned against the counter.

  “I’m just waiting on my friend to shop. Name’s Quinn.” Holding his hand out, he introduced himself.

  “Lassiter.” The man shook it. “He seems a little lost. Should I help him?”

  Quinn watched as Tristan grabbed a loud lime green shirt and tried to match it with a pair of light blue shorts. “Nah, let him pick what he likes.” He chuckled. “As far as I know, it’s his first shopping trip.”

  “This should be interesting,” Lassiter stated when Tristan pulled a few hats from a shelf and tried them on. The one in hand was a large straw hat with small fake flowers attached to the brim. Didn’t Tristan know it was a woman’s hat? Quinn wanted to say something but didn’t want to interfere. The guy was shopping for himself and choosing his own clothes. Quinn was sure it was a monumental feat in the guy’s life. Why burst his bubble?

  He walked over to Tristan, seeing the pile of clothing growing in his arms. “You want me to take some of those to the counter?” His jellybean’s arms were loaded with the most outrageous shirts, ranging from the lime green one to something that resembled a crayon box throwing up on it. Tristan must be colorblind.

  “Am I allowed to pick a hat, sir?”

  “Whatever you want, jellybean. You can pick four or five if you’d like.” Being single with no dependents, Quinn had managed to build a nice savings. This shopping spree wouldn’t even put a dent in it.

  He watched Tristan try on one hat after another, smiling when he went back to the straw one. “I like this one.” He placed it on his pile of clothes and then reached for a red fedora with a white side feather, a very long and wide side feather. Quinn held back the laugh as Tristan tried it on. It looked good on him, complementing his pale complexion and big green eyes.

  They finally made it to the counter, Quinn dropping the pile of clothes for Lassiter to ring up. From the amount of clothes Tristan picked out, they would be going to the dentist soon.

  “Why don’t you pick out an outfit, give me the tags, and go put it on.” He was tired of looking at the large shorts hanging from Tristan’s slim body with a belt cinched tightly around his waist to hold them up.

  “The dressing room is right over there.” Lassiter pointed to a small room in the back of the store. Tristan looked hesitant, his fingers strangling the lower half of his shirt again.

  “Come on, jellybean, I’ll stand guard outside the door.” Tristan’s coiled body relaxed as he grabbed a few items and hurried to catch up with Quinn. “No one is going to get in while you change.”

  The wiry man slipped through the door, and Quinn could hear the lock engage. A few moments later, he emerged and handed him the tags.

  “I like this, sir.” Tristan gave Quinn his first grin, and it was stunning. His whole face lit up, and those emerald green eyes sparkled like the stars in the sky at night.

  But the outfit?

  Tristan wore the lime green shirt he had first admired upon entering the store. He matched it with a pair of orange golf sh
orts that came to his bony knees. If that wasn’t bad enough, he still wore the purple socks, but had a new pair of flip-flops on…and they were brown.

  And the cherry on the cake?

  He had the red fedora hat on with the white feather sticking out. He looked like the bag of Skittles had exploded on him. And Tristan couldn’t have looked more pleased with his choice of style.

  He heard Lassiter choking from across the store. Quinn knew the man was fighting a laugh. His head turned as he gave a low growl, narrowing his eyes on the clerk. Lassiter turned and gave a pretense of stocking the shelf behind the counter.

  Quinn gave his attention back to Tristan. “Looks good, jellybean.” Oddly enough to Quinn, it did. He still couldn’t figure out the pull Tristan had on him. From the moment he saw him standing in Dino’s bedroom, Quinn had an overwhelming need to protect the guy.

  “So how many bags of candy do I get, sir?”

  Quinn chuckled. “Let’s go count your clothes and see.”

  Tristan peacocked through the store and ended at the counter, looking pleased as punch with himself. As Lassiter rang the clothes up and put them in a bag, Tristan counted. “That’s twenty-four, sir.”

  Lassiter’s brows rose, but Quinn ignored him. “There’s a grocery store a few doors down. We can stop there and buy them.”

  “Your total is six hundred and ninety-two dollars and thirty-six cents.”

  “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy…”

  Quinn grabbed Tristan and pulled him into his arms. The man stiffened, but Quinn held on, rubbing his hands up and down Tristan’s back. The only thing he could think of was that the man sang when he was nervous. “That’s not a lot to me, jellybean. I would have spent more. Never worry about the cost.”

  The slim redhead pulled from his embrace and nodded. At least the singing had stopped. Tristan grabbed the bags and struggled to the door as Quinn paid for the lot. “Come back any time.” Lassiter smiled warmly at Tristan as the slim man dropped bag after bag. As soon as he picked one up, another slipped from his fingers.

  “Thanks. I think I need to go help him. You have a nice day.” Quinn grabbed the receipt and jogged over to the door to help Tristan.