Protecting Braden (Custos Securities Series Book 2)

by Luna, David

  Cade brought a hand down and fiddled with the ring on Braden’s finger. He looked into Braden’s eyes. “How are you feeling, after what we did?”

  Braden took a deep breath. “I think I needed it. I think it was just one more step toward erasing that stain, toward moving on. It felt powerful, being inside of you…amazing.”

  Cade looked at him for several moments and then came at it another way. “How did it feel, emotionally?”

  Braden looked at Cade as he patiently tucked a loose lock of Braden’s hair behind his ear. Braden shook his head. “I needed it and you wanted it.”

  “But?”

  Braden shored up his courage. “But when you dominate me, I get to just let go and feel and it’s, I don’t know, liberating? It feels natural when you take such utter control of me when we’re in a scene. There’s an intense connection when you’re deep inside of me, watching me, making me shatter or edging me until I’m out of my mind and not allowing me to cum. I sometimes get this floaty feeling, I don’t know, it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt in my life.”

  Cade smiled. “Yeah, when I can get you into subspace, I can see all of that reflected in your eyes just before you fly. I wanted to give myself to you tonight. You’re right about that. I needed to feel you inside of me, to become a part of me, but I also wanted you to be able to feel me that way, in case it was better for you.”

  Braden reached out and ran a hand over Cade’s hair, looking him in the eye. “Nothing is better for me than when we are doing what feels natural for both of us. When I’m in your arms, I feel whole.”

  Cade pulled him in tighter. “I know, baby. That’s how I feel, too.”

  Braden scratched his short nails over Cade’s stubbled jaw. “When you told me that when you look at me you think ‘mine,’ it felt right. Being able to tell you that you own me? There’s strength in that. There’s power in giving myself to you.”

  “Submitting to someone takes bravery and strength. You’re entrusting your mind and your body to me. You can’t do that if you don’t fully trust me. It took time for us to get to this point.”

  Braden nodded and Cade pulled him in for a kiss before he continued, “Remember, if there’s ever anything I’m not providing you, come to me and ask me for it.”

  Braden felt a thrill knowing that the rules they’d established together were for his benefit, and whenever Cade reminded him of them, he felt safe and secure. He nodded. “If I need it, I’ll ask you for it.”

  They kissed for several minutes and then Braden grew serious. “There is something I need to ask.”

  “What is it, Bray?”

  “When we get married, can I take… Um, what happens to our names?”

  Cade stopped breathing and didn’t say anything for several long moments. He rolled them over so that Braden lay pliant beneath him, and looked deep into Braden’s eyes. Just as Braden was about to explain himself, Cade shifted above him and he realized that Cade had hardened at his question. A thrill of excitement shot its way through Braden’s body and his breath quickened.

  Their eyes were fixed on each other and Braden sighed. “I want—”

  “I know what you want.”

  Braden’s features softened. “You do?”

  Cade nodded. “You’ll become Braden McCade.” Cade leaned down and whispered exactly what Braden needed to hear. “You’re mine, so you’ll take my name.”

  Braden’s eyes grew damp, he reached up and held Cade to him and used the words he’d only ever used while they were in a scene, until this moment, when it seemed so much more. “Yes, sir.”

  Cade’s grip on him tightened and then he rose up enough to look into Braden’s eyes which reflected the truth behind those words. What Braden saw as a result made his body flush hot. Cade gripped Braden’s hands in one of his, pulled them up above his head and wrapped them around the slats on the headboard.

  Cade slowly slid his fingers down Braden’s inner arm and watched his fiancé’s eyes dilate as he shivered. He growled out, “I’m going to fuck you now. It’s going to be hard and fast. Don’t move your hands from the headboard. Don’t cum until I give you permission. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Fuck, baby, you’re going to kill me with that.”

  Cade reached for the lube, slicked himself up and was about to slide home when Braden whispered, “Z, I need permission for one more thing.”

  Cade took a deep breath to calm himself down. When he had himself under control, he opened his eyes. “What is it, Bray?”

  “Can I move my hands?”

  Cade only nodded, unsure if he could speak at that moment. Braden took his left hand, clasped Cade’s hand in his and brought it to his heart. “I want your mark on me. Can I get the same warrior tattoo on my chest, above my heart?”

  That was it, Cade lost any semblance of control he’d had. He growled, moved Braden into position, and slid balls deep into his boy. He didn’t have the control to prep him, nor did he have the control to slow down. He heard Braden whimper, but when he looked down in concern, satisfaction flowed through his veins when he saw Braden’s head thrown back in ecstasy, a flush on his cheeks, bottom lip between his teeth. Braden slid his hand down to Cade’s ass and squeezed. Cade knew he was holding on to his control by a very thin thread. As he fucked, he growled. “Hands above your head.”

  When Braden complied immediately, he ordered, “Open up more for me.”

  Braden lifted his other leg around Cade’s hip and pulled both legs back against his chest. He was splayed open and Cade impaled him deeper. “Eyes on me. Oh, yeah, that’s it. You’re so good at following my orders.”

  All of a sudden, that tight grip around his cock tightened even further and he knew Braden was squeezing his cock for all he was worth. “You’re squeezing yourself so tight around my cock. I can’t figure out if you’re being bad and trying to tip me over before I’m ready, or if you’re being good and trying to please me. Which one is it?”

  The grip tightened even more and Braden whispered brokenly, “Please you, Z. I only ever want to please you.”

  He saw the truth in Braden’s eyes and it sent tremors up his spine. He continued to pump himself deep, so deep into Braden that he saw stars and his voice was a caress in Braden’s ear, “You’re so good to me. So good, baby.”

  Cade’s heart lodged somewhere in the vicinity of his throat. He couldn’t believe he was fortunate enough to find a man that wanted exactly what he wanted for their future. Just thinking about how much effort Braden put into pleasing him made a possessive streak rocket through him. He growled, “You’ll wear our mark and you’ll also wear my family crest.”

  “Please, yes.”

  Cade pounded harder and ground out, “By tomorrow night, you’ll be branded as mine, permanently.”

  Braden whispered brokenly, “Oh fuck. Yes, sir.”

  Cade’s pace was unrelenting and Braden was dying to touch him, dying to grip his ass and pull him in faster, harder, but he wasn’t permitted to do so and as much as that killed him, it also sent a thrill of excitement through his veins that couldn’t be ignored. That part of him that wanted, no needed, to submit overrode any other desire he ever had. The complete trust that he handed over to Cade always had a better return than pushing them both for a faster release. Something in Cade recognized exactly what to do for Braden to prolong his orgasms, to build them up into something he never knew he could feel, and he could ride that high for an amazingly long time.

  Cade must have slicked up his hand, because when he gripped Braden’s cock in his tight fist, there was the unmistakable slide of lubed flesh against flesh. He quickly brought Braden to the edge of an orgasm and then idled back, softly gripping him, all while fucking him ruthlessly. Once Braden calmed, Cade edged him close to the precipice again and then backed away. Braden whimpered, “Please, Z.”

  “Beg me for it.”

  Braden moaned and whispered, “Please, can I cum? Please, sir.”

  C
ade gripped Braden’s cock in his hand again and set a quick, hard rhythm; every stroke ended in a twist. Braden’s body tightened and Cade continued to fuck his ass, deep and hard. He cupped the tip of Braden’s cock in his hand and twisted slowly, while squeezing and pulling up around the head. He leaned down and whispered, “Cum.”

  As his thumb tapped on Braden’s slit, he exploded, his body rocketing off the bed and clenching down on Cade’s cock. As Braden’s cock shot ribbons of cum on Cade’s hand and his own chest, Cade grunted as he came deep inside Braden and growled, “That’s it, so beautiful, baby.”

  Braden didn’t hear Cade’s last words, but he couldn’t have responded even if he had. His body was still spasming. Cade lay there, still deep inside of Braden, his body still releasing inside of him. He rested his head in the crook of Braden’s neck, his breath sawing in and out of him. He took his time recovering, knowing Braden preferred that he stay deep inside of him as long as possible.

  He eventually pulled himself from his lover’s body, uncurled Braden’s fingers from the headboard slats, pulled his arms down and rubbed them thoroughly to get the blood pumping back into his cold fingers. He kissed Braden’s temple and chuckled when Braden closed his eyes, sighed, and rolled onto his side, hugging Cade’s pillow. He headed to the bathroom and was back in minutes, cleaning Braden up, and then himself. He managed to get Braden under the covers, to give up his pillow, and tucked him up against him.

  Cade continued to caress his fiancé’s gorgeous face and kiss it all over. He ran his hands through his still damp hair. Braden’s eyes lazily moved to look at him; he smiled and sighed, but didn’t say anything and still didn’t move. With his leg over Braden’s, he used his heel to nudge Braden’s leg between his and he threw his leg over Braden’s hip and settled him in close.

  Braden snuggled into him, loving the feeling of being surrounded. They lay like that for a long while and just when Cade was sure that Braden drifted off, he moved his head from under Cade’s chin. “I never thanked you for such a beautiful proposal. You’re everything to me, Zavier McCade. Everything. And I’m so lucky that you found me.”

  Cade grinned. “I found you and knew almost immediately that I was going to keep you. We’re going to have an incredible life together. I’ll make sure of it.”

  Cade brought his hand from Braden’s hip and placed it carefully over Braden’s heart. He leaned in, kissed Braden’s forehead and then whispered, “Mine.”

  Braden leaned forward and kissed Cade’s new warrior tattoo and whispered back, “Yours.”

  Two years later

  Braden gripped the handle in Cade’s Mercedes G-Class and slammed his hand on the dash. If Cade wasn’t careful, they were going to be dead before they got to the damned hospital in the first place. He said as much to Cade and the only response he got was a grunt. He grinned and looked over at his husband as he moved his hand from the dash to Cade’s leg. Cade saw his expression and sent him an answering grin in response. Someone honked at them and Cade’s face went from a grin to a comical grimace as he got his eyes back on the road.

  Braden snickered. “Really, babe, please don’t kill us. It’s imperative that we get there in one piece.”

  “Mr. McCade, are you questioning my driving skills?”

  “Yes, Mr. McCade, I am. When I have to grab the ‘Oh Shit!’ handle and a honk is the only thing reminding you that you need to keep your eyes on the road, it’s time for me to step in.”

  Cade chuckled. “I’ll have you know, I am licensed to drive a tank, a Bradley, a Cougar H, a Stryker, any military Humvee, and a Growler!”

  Braden raised a brow, got out his phone and pretended to type something on it and asked, deadpan, “So, using my real life translator here, what you’re saying is that you’re essentially licensed to be a farmer and drive agricultural machinery?”

  Cade threw back his head and laughed. “I tell you I can handle almost every heavy artillery military vehicle the army could throw at me, and you liken that to fucking agricultural machinery?”

  Braden laughed. “I’ll be impressed when you tell me you can fly.”

  Cade looked over at Braden, raised a brow and then focused back on the road. “I’ve flown a helicopter before.”

  Braden’s jaw dropped and he blushed. “You… Seriously?”

  Cade recognized the change in Braden’s voice. “Blushing? Shit, baby, how is it that we’ve been married for more than a year, and I’ve never known you have a thing for pilots? I think we’re going to have to do some role playing until I can get my license.”

  Braden’s eyes widened. “Wait, what? What license?”

  Cade grinned as he took a turn too fast, and shrugged. “My helicopter pilot’s license. We’ve been talking about buying one for Custos. I wasn’t planning on learning to fly it, until now.”

  “You don’t have to…”

  Cade interrupted, grinning. “Oh, I do. I really do. I like that look in your eyes and it will be good to have a backup pilot there.”

  They screeched to a halt in front of the hospital valet parking kiosk and jumped out. Cade dealt with the attendant, jogged around the hood, grabbed Braden’s hand in his and kissed the back of it. They walked toward the automatic doors of the hospital and began to jog through the lobby to the bank of elevators.

  They didn’t have long to wait for an elevator as it was nearly 8 p.m. and not many people were around. Cade pulled Braden into a tight embrace, and leaned down to kiss him. “I love you. Don’t be scared. She’s strong as hell and we’re going to help her through this.”

  Braden looked up at him suspiciously and stated, “You were distracting me in the car, weren’t you?”

  Cade smiled softly down at the love of his life. “Did it work?”

  Braden scrunched up his face and then opened his mouth in exasperation. “Wait, were you lying about getting your pilot’s license?”

  Cade’s face grew serious and his eyes glittered and narrowed. He clasped Braden’s face in his palms. “Have you ever known me to lie to you, about anything?”

  Braden sighed and shook his head. “No, Z. I’m sorry.”

  Cade’s face softened and Braden’s body relaxed as Cade kissed his forehead. “You blushed and practically stammered when I told you I’d flown a helo before. Of course I’m gonna make the most of that reaction, and you know I love a new challenge.”

  Braden bit his lip, blushed again and nodded, and then Cade laughed. “It might have to wait for a bit though, hmm?”

  Braden snickered, nodded again and looked up into Cade’s eyes just as the elevator dinged and he huffed. “Dammit, you distracted me again.”

  Cade chuckled, “You’re welcome. Come on, our girl needs us right now.”

  They jogged down the hallway, stopped at the admissions desk, and gave their names, which were checked against a list. They received wristbands for entry and were allowed through the locked doors. They ran to her room and entered into what should have been a quiet, calm and peaceful space, but instead was loud and chaotic as two nurses fiddled with a machine and argued about it, and a third was looking at the computer, all three of them completely ignoring Maya. From the hospital bed, Maya glanced over at Braden and the stress in her eyes and on her face sent his heart galloping in his chest. He squeezed Cade’s hand in a death grip, looked up at him in panic and received an answering squeeze in turn and a whispered, “I’ll handle it. Go to her.”

  Braden crossed the room to her and gathered her in a hug. He whispered, “It’s going to be fine. Please, don’t stress.”

  He glanced up and was confused to see Vaughn, not to mention the fact that he was holding Maya’s hand and she wasn’t trying to pull away. Curious. Braden smiled at Vaughn and received a worried look in return. “Did I miss something? She seemed stressed, but I chalked that up to the reason we’re here in the first place.”

  Maya blushed and Braden looked at her quizzically. “You didn’t tell him why you’re so anxious?”

  When she
shook her head, another tear escaped and he admonished, “Maya, don’t you know enough about him yet to know he’d move mountains for you?”

  Her eyes widened and she looked at Vaughn. “What are you talking about? We’re only on our first date, for crying out loud! He finally wore me down.” She cast a look around the room and then back to him. “This is too much, Bray. Please.”

  Braden smiled, sat down in the chair beside her bed, and held her other hand. “Everything is going to be alright.”

  “But…”

  She was interrupted by Cade’s deceptively soft, steely voice of command. “Who’s in charge in this room?”

  A harried woman, hair falling from her ponytail, looked up. “I am, sir.”

  “Where is her birth plan?”

  “Excuse me?”

  Cade narrowed his eyes. “Where. Is. Her. Birth. Plan? Is it not hospital policy to pull up a woman’s birth plan upon admitting her to the labor and delivery wing and ensuring she is out of immediate danger?”

  Her eyes popped wide. “Yes, let me just…”

  She hit several keys on the computer and brought up the birth plan. After reading it, she made a distressed noise in the back of her throat. “I’m sorry, sir. I see she wants limited staff in the room, no students. I’m going to go talk to the head nurse and see if she can get this sorted. We’re gonna need a new monitor brought in. This one isn’t working properly.”

  As all three nurses left the room, taking the broken monitor with them, Cade pulled an extra chair up near the foot of Maya’s bed to face Braden’s, sat and crossed one leg over the other as he relaxed back and placed his forearm along Maya’s blanketed leg, resting his hand on her knee, “What else can I do for you?”

  At that, Maya burst into tears. “Thank you. I’m so sorry. I was being stupid, but I hate being in the hospital as a patient. I know it’s silly, but it was all too much. I couldn’t…”