by Maggie Walsh
Jasper smiled as he thought of all the people he would never see again, but then his mate’s face popped into his vision and tears burned his eyes. His mate hadn’t wanted him and Jasper knew the shifter wouldn’t miss him when he was gone. If Agent Snow even noticed. His mate would just go on with his life as usual and Jasper would just be a memory.
His body began to tremble again as his heart broke thinking about his mate and how he wasn’t wanted. If only fate had given him another mate, or hadn’t let them find one another to begin with, then his agony wouldn’t be so deep.
Tears rolled freely down his cheeks as Jasper let all the pain inside him bubble out. The loss of his mate, the fear of finding himself trapped on that yacht, the things his captors had done to him. It all came to a head and Jasper was lost within it.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Silas’s head spun and his heart filled with pride when Kalen had told them what his B.B. had done. Kalen had been able to rewind the visuals the satellite had taken of the day and had seen B.B. escape from the yacht, but then he had turned and gone back. Then Kalen had told them that about two hours later B.B. reappeared and had Jasper with him. Not that Kalen was able to actually see Jasper’s face, but from the way B.B. and the other man with him had looked with the other man all wrapped up as if protecting him from the sun, Kalen was sure it was Jasper, and so was Silas. He just felt it in his gut.
Once Kalen was able to tell them in which direction they had taken off in on a jet ski, Devlin had called the Fremm ship closer, then they had all climbed on board taking their captives. Devlin’s men stayed behind to drive his yacht back, but once the man who had told them about B.B.’s escape had also opened his mouth and informed them that they were supposed to meet another boat that night to drop of the little vampire with Diego’s brother, Devlin placed more men on the yacht and gave them orders. He told them he would join them again later once they found B.B. and Jasper.
To think that they had come so close to never seeing Jasper again, to losing him forever, just killed Silas inside. There was no way him or any of his brothers would have rested until they found Jasper.
“We’re coming up on the grouping of rocks Kalen told us about,” Devlin said, bringing Silas from his thoughts. He was grateful too, because they were leading him down a path he didn’t want to go and was thankful he didn’t have to.
Silas looked out over the ocean and spotted the light from the lighthouse Kalen had told them about. Its spinning light like a beacon in the night calling them home. Silas smiled as he thought about that. Calling him home. If his mate was there, then it was calling him to his home, because that’s what B.B. was.
“We can’t get any closer, so we’ll be taking the Zodiacs out again. Everybody load up,” Devil announced, and moved toward his men. He and the others joined him and they all climbed onto the rescue boats.
The large ship had to stay back about a mile, so it took them a little time to get to the their destination, but as they approached, a sense of dread once again gripped him. As Silas’s gaze ran over the area before them, he watched the waves violently crash against the rocks and his stomach twisted in knots. How had they ever gotten through there?
Something caught his attention and Silas took a step closer to the front as he focused harder. “What is that?” he asked to no one in particular.
“It looks like a jet ski,” one of the soldiers replied.
Silas turned his head to peer over his shoulder at the man and saw that he was looking through a pair of binoculars. His stomach twisted further as he thought about what the guy had said, a jet ski. Fuck.
Slowly they crept forward as they approached, everyone searching intently for any signs of life as their craft cut through the water and they headed into an opening that would bring them between the large formations.
It took them another ten minutes before they reached the end and could no longer move forward. With some of Devlin’s men holding onto the Zodiac, they had climbed onto one of the rock formations.
Spreading out, they walked along, Silas praying to the gods above and Fate herself to let them find Jasper and B.B. safe. As the minutes passed, thoughts of holding his mate in his arms again flooded him and Silas’s arms felt empty.
B.B.’s smiling face came to him and Silas smiled. His mate was a spitfire and he loved that about him. B.B. would always put him in his place without hesitation, and Silas found he loved it and had so much fun when they teased each other. He had known right from the start of meeting B.B., that the man was fierce and very protective. The way he fought to find Atticus and had made contact with him and Fabian, even though B.B. was afraid, told Silas just how incredible and brave his mate truly was. And now to find out that he had managed to get himself and Jasper off that boat and all the way here to this point off the coast of Washington, filled him with so much pride, and only solidified his belief in how amazing B.B. was.
“There!” River announced, drawing everyone attention, and the man took off at a run.
Everyone instantly followed, Silas’s heart beat faster, pounding in his chest as he got closer. His gaze landed on two figures lying on the ground at River’s feet and Silas stilled as all the air in his lungs seemed to be sucked out. Jasper lay pressed to B.B.’s back, his arms wrapped around him, and neither of them looked like they were breathing.
River squatted down and pressed his fingers to Jasper’s throat, then reached over and did the same to B.B. The vampire’s chin dropped to his chest, and Silas’s world spun and everything began to go black. He couldn’t live in a world without his mate, or his brother. They were too late. He hadn’t gotten to them in time and now his mate and his brother were lost to him forever.
River’s head rose and Silas gasped when he saw the smile on the man’s face. His eyes were brimmed with tears and when their gazes met, River nodded at him. “They’re alive. B.B’s pulse is weak, but he’s alive.”
CHAPTER 16
Where was he? B.B. tried to stretch out his limbs, but found that he couldn’t move. When he tried to open his eyes, his lids felt too heavy. Concentrating on his body and the environment around him, B.B. could feel that he lay on something soft and comfortable, which meant that either his mind was playing tricks on him and was trying to ease him from the hell he was in on that yacht, or he had actually gotten away and was... where?
The last thing he remembered was dragging Jasper into the shade of a cliff, and then giving his friend some of his blood, then everything just... he couldn’t remember. Refocusing his attention around him, B.B. could smell salt on the air, but he would smell that on the boat, on that rock, or back at home in Clearnight Haven, so there was no real clue there. But then the scent of oranges and man tickled his nose, and B.B. sighed happily. It smelled like his mate. Silas.
“I’m right here, sweetheart. Open those pretty eyes for me. Tell me off. Insult me. Just... just do something that tells me that you’re okay.” Silas’s words sounded like a desperate plea and came out choked with emotion.
Had he actually said Silas’s name? He was sure he just thought it, but maybe in his foggy state of mind he had called to his mate. Mate.
“Yes, baby. Mate. And I’m right here,” Silas replied, as B.B. felt something warm encase his hand. It felt good, like he never wanted to let go.
“Where am I?” he asked, hoping the words spoke from his lips like the others seemed to.
“You’re here with me, safe, and in our room at home,” Silas replied.
“Home,” B.B. whispered happily, the word sounding like a prayer.
“Yes, baby, home. You’re home and you’re safe.”
Suddenly, Jasper’s face came to mind and worry filled him. Was Jasper okay? The last thing he remembered was giving Jasper some of his blood. “Jasper?” he asked, his voice coming out raspy.
“Ssh, sweetheart. It’s okay. Jasper’s okay. Thanks to my very wonderful, very brave mate, my brother is home and safe where he belongs. Just like you. You’re where you bel
ong,” Silas replied, then B.B. felt warm lips press to the back of his hand.
B.B. struggled to open his eyes, and felt his lashes flutter against his cheek. A large hand rested against his face and a jolt of electricity raced through him. Desire began to build and B.B. could feel his cock twitch.
“You can do it, my sweet B.B., open your eyes,” Silas encouraged.
Trying harder, he fought against the heaviness of his lids and there was a sudden glow of light that pierced his eyes and hurt, so B.B. closed them again.
“Hold on. Let me lower the lights,” Silas said, and released his hand. Instantly B.B. missed its warmth and the connection he felt to his man. His man.
That hand was back as it took his again and another brushed against his cheek. B.B. sighed happily as contentment swept through him, and he leaned into the touch, luxuriating in its warmth.
Soft lips pressed to his and B.B. moaned. He loved the feel of Silas’s lips against his. He really liked the feel of Silas’s lips against his body, but this was just as good. As those lips pulled away, B.B.’s eyes fluttered again. He wanted to see Silas’s handsome face, but he also wanted to know why his mate had taken away those naughty lips.
The light hit him again, but this time not as harsh and he could see Silas’s face. His eyes showed his concern, but there was also love there and it made B.B.’s heart flutter. God he wanted Silas inside him, thrusting deep and claiming him with his cock. To be filled again with Silas was something he needed more than air. B.B. wanted Silas to claim him, bonding them together forever. If anything, his ordeal had taught him that he never wanted to spend another day without Silas. He wanted to belong to the sexy vampire.
“There you are, beautiful,” Silas said, his lips spread out with a smile.
“I’m home?” B.B. asked.
“Yes, baby. You’re home. You and Jasper are both here and both safe. You were just out of it and needed some rest and time to replenish. Jasper said you offered him your blood to help him, but that he took too much. He’s been so worried about you, baby.”
“Is he okay?” B.B. asked, as his eyes focused.
Silas smiled again. “He’s okay. After we got him home he drank a couple of pints of blood, then passed out. He slept for almost thirty-six hours straight.”
“Good,” B.B. replied, as he nodded. “He needed it and deserves it. Have you spoken to him? Did he say anything?”
“I spoke with him a little on the helicopter ride back here. He told us all about how you saved him, everything you did for him, and how grateful he is to you for rescuing him and then saving his life.”
B.B. shook his head. “No, he saved his own life. He saved mine.”
Silas brushed a strand of hair away from his face as he looked at him lovingly. “You helped and saved each other, but I must say, I agree with my brother. You’re a hero, baby, and I am so grateful for what you did for Jasper and for yourself. You were so brave to do everything you did.” Silas stopped speaking, and B.B. saw tears brim in his strong mate’s eyes, and the sight tore him apart.
Silas swallowed hard, then cleared his throat. “Don’t ever do that to me again, baby. Don’t ever leave like that on your own and put yourself in danger. I don’t know what I would do without you. I panicked when I found you missing. I was ready to run out there and rip Clearnight apart looking for you and may the sun be damned.”
Silas’s words struck him and fear filled his heart. He gripped Silas’s hand tighter as he said, “No. No, don’t say that. If anything was to happen to you, I couldn’t live, Silas. Especially if it was because of me. Please, don’t ever even think about running out into the sun again.”
Silas smirked and the look had B.B.’s cock filling. “I’ll promise if you do.” Then Silas’s face changed and became serious and B.B. could see the fear and intensity in his gorgeous violet orbs. Silas swallowed again, and this time his voice came out husky and full of emotion as he said, “You scared the hell out of me, baby. When I thought I had lost you my life lost all meaning. I didn’t want to live anymore if you weren’t here with me. Then, when we found out that those monsters had taken you, my heart damn near stopped. I have never felt that kind of fear, ever. Everything inside me wanted to find you, find them, and tear them apart. I swore that if they hurt you, or laid one hand on you, that I was going to spend eternity torturing them. I love you, Barnabas, and I can’t imagine my life without you. I love you so much, baby.”
The tears that brimmed Silas’s eyes finally broke free, spilled over, and ran down his cheeks. The sight of his big, strong, vampire mate crying, tore B.B. apart inside, and tears of his own sprang from his eyes.
B.B. sat up and took Silas’s face between his hands and pressed their foreheads together as he confessed. “I love you too, Silas and I can’t imagine my life without you either. While I was there, all I thought about was you and coming home to you. I yearned to feel your arms around me, making me feel safe. I craved to have you inside me, making me feel loved and wanted, like you always make me feel. I fought for you, Silas. I fought to come back to you. When I woke up there and realized what danger I was truly in, all I thought about was how it would affect you. You were already suffering with everything that had happened and were blaming yourself for Jasper being taken, and Atty being hurt again, and I knew you would blame yourself for my stupidity as well. I’m sorry I just left like that without telling anyone, or taking someone with me. I didn’t think. All I wanted to do was go talk to that bartender and see what part he played in Atty’s disappearance. I thought I would be okay in a crowded club, but I should have known better after what happened to Atty. I’m so sorry, mate, and I promise not to be so stupid again. I love you, Silas, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
B.B. leaned in and kissed Silas softly, then pulled back, but kept their heads together. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose, taking in Silas’s scent, using it to calm him.
“I know all you wanted to do was help, baby, and I love you for it. For your big heart. I understand why you did it, and as much as it scares me to think how much worse things could have been, I am so grateful to you for doing what you did. You know how hard we have looked for Jasper and Diego and how slow everything was going. But, because of your actions, we were able to find the link we were missing, which gave us more information for Kalen to track down, and we were able to find out so much, including finding you both. From now on we’re in this together, though, right?”
B.B. smiled as he nodded. “Yes. Together.”
“Good,” Silas said on a sigh, and kissed him softly. “Because, we’re partners now. A team.”
“I love the sound of that,” B.B. replied, with a smile.
He played with the neck of Silas’s shirt as he softly asked, “What about those guys, Diego and Kane, and any others?”
“We took care of them, baby. Diego and some of his men are dead, and the others are on their way to Raven now as we speak. You don’t ever have to worry about them again. You, Jasper, and Atty are safe from them,” Silas replied, his voice and words a promise.
“Good,” B.B. said, then looked up and met Silas’s gaze. “I want you to claim me, Silas. I want you to make me yours completely. I mean, I’m already yours, but I want us to make it official.”
Surprise and hope shone in Silas’s eyes. “Are you sure, baby? I told you I would wait for as long as you needed.”
B.B. smiled bright. “I know, which is one of the reasons I fell in love with you to begin with. Your love and understanding, your patience, and your sincerity when you spoke those words. Yes, Silas, I’m sure. I’m sorry I made you wait, but... my parents... they spent my whole life fighting and cheating on one another, and I was afraid I would be just like them, and I didn’t want to do that to you. I didn’t want to hurt you like that. But, then I realized as I sat there in that engine room, that we were nothing like them. You were nothing like them, and I knew you would never do to me what my parents did to each other. I
knew we had something so much more than they ever had. I want you to claim me and bind us together forever. I want to officially be your mate and wear your mark proud.”
“Gods, baby, do you know how happy you’ve made me?” Silas said, as more tears fell from his eyes and Silas wrapped his arms around him, holding B.B. close.
“As happy as you make me I hope. I love you, Neanderthal, so kiss me, then fuck me right through this mattress,” B.B. teased as he rubbed his chest against Silas’s. Silas growled deep, the sound going right to his dick and had him throbbing with need.
“Fucking hell, baby. I love the way you talk to me. You have my cock so hard, I think I can drive you into next week,” Silas replied, then licked a long path up his throat to his chin, then ended at his mouth.
Silas licked over his lips and B.B. opened to his mate. Silas swept his tongue inside, then thrust it deep, making B.B.’s head spin. He wrapped his arms around Silas’s neck and slid his tongue against his mate’s, meeting Silas’s passion.
Silas leaned in, causing B.B. to lie back, taking Silas with him until his man lay over him, Silas’s weight pressing him into the mattress. It felt so damn good to be under his mate. B.B. loved feeling like Silas’s love and protection surrounding him.
Silas released his lips, leaving B.B. panting and hungry for more. Silas’s lips moved across his cheek to his neck and his mate started to lick and nibble his throat. B.B. turned his head, lifting his chin and giving Silas all the room to explore that he desired. He gave himself over completely to Silas and their love.
Silas nibbled his earlobe and whispered into this ear, “I’m going to fuck you so hard, my drama queen, that you won’t be able to walk tomorrow. Then I’m going to fuck you again, so that you feel how much I want you. Then, I’ll claim you as mine, so that you will never have a doubt of how much I love you, and can’t live without you.”
“Oh, fuck yes! Fuck me, Silas. Fuck me, claim me, and make me yours,” B.B. panted, as he ran his fingers through Silas’s silky hair.
