by DJ Bryce
“I’d love that, and, you could stay in my apartment, since I’m not using it,” Gilly said, then placed her hand over mine and added, “I just want to make sure this is the right thing for you.”
“How ‘bout this,” I began. “I’ll hang around until things die down around here, and I’ll contact the school and see if I can get everything situated. If not, I’ll go back and finish, but if I can finish online, then I’ll stay here and do that.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Gilly said, then came around to lay her head on my shoulder. “It may be selfish, but I’d really love it if you were back for good.”
“Me, too,” I replied. “Plus, now that you and Max are in full on mate mode, I need to be here when you start popping out a pack of your own. Uncle Brick is going to be the fun uncle, who buys them pretty things and teaches them to jump and climb.”
Gilly laughed and slapped my arm.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” she said, but her tone was somewhat wistful.
Plus, I thought, there was no way I could leave without trying to convince Mateo to come out and claim me as his mate. Now that I’d had a taste of him, of what we were like together, there was no way I wanted to live my life without him.
Chapter 7
Mateo
“Where are the women?” I growled at Josiah and the fourteen members of his pack who surrounded him.
We were standing on Threehorn land, surrounded by their pack. When I’d learned it was Josiah and his pack responsible for the damage to our land and equipment, I’d been livid. After my meeting with Josiah, when I’d welcomed him and his pack to the area, and we’d discussed having our packs so close to each other, he’d assured me that they were peaceful, and just wanted a place to grow roots.
Obviously, that had been a lie…
But, holding Natasha and Heidi, and threatening them harm, had my wolf calling for blood.
I just needed to make sure the women were safe first.
Max, Calin and I had left Howlers as soon as Gilly had told us that Natasha and Heidi had come to Threehorn land to be the welcome wagon, so we were the only members of our pack currently facing off against the Threehorn pack.
“I have to say, Alpha, I don’t like the tone of your voice. Considering you are currently guests on my land, I’m thinking you should be a little more respectful. I am, after all, your elder,” Josiah said haughtily, a smirk on his lips.
“We had a deal,” I bit out, not giving one shit that Josiah was my elder. He’d lost all right to respect and had effectively started a war between our packs.
“Yeah, well, things change,” Josiah said as he walked down his steps, his men flanking his movements. “I’ve decided that I like it here, and although your little town and pack are but a small annoyance, I think we’d like to settle down. Do a little, expanding. And to do that, we’re gonna need you and yours to relocate.”
My body shivered with the need to shift, but I knew shifting right then would lead to a fight, and I needed Tasha and Heidi safe before that could happen. So, I beat back the urge, and replied, “This is our land, our home, and we aren’t going anywhere. If you need more space for your pack, it’s you who needs to relocate.”
Josiah chuckled, which only fueled my anger.
“We’ll see, young Alpha,” he spat rudely. “But for now, I’m going to need you and your boys to get off my land.”
The men facing us shifted, leaving only Josiah standing before us in human form, surrounded by wolves.
“We aren’t leaving without our women,” I said, not moving a muscle, the struggle to keep from shifting was almost painful.
Before anyone could say another word, a loud crash, followed by pounding, had us all turning toward the woods just in time to see Logan’s bear come crashing through. He stopped on the edge of the tree line and stood on his hind legs.
He had to be almost ten feet tall.
He roared ferociously, and when the wolves answered back with snarls and gnashing teeth, he dropped back down to all fours and ran straight for the pack.
“Logan,” I shouted in warning, worried that even though he was a ferocious beast, he’d be no match for a pack of wolves.
“Heel,” Josiah commanded his wolves, probably realizing he’d lose at least of couple members of his pack before they brought Logan down.
Logan didn’t even pause, he just continued to charge the pack.
Josiah turned to me and said, “Make him stop and I’ll bring out the women.”
“Logan, he’s letting them go,” I shouted, hoping my words would register.
Logan ran until he was in front of Josiah and stood on his hind legs until he was towering over the older Alpha. Then he roared in Josiah’s face, his spittle landing on the man’s jaw.
Behind them, an older woman opened the screen door and usher Heidi and Natasha out onto the porch.
The women started to make their way through the wolves slowly. Heidi had started crying, but Natasha’s eyes were rapt on Logan. When they were almost to us, and out of the wolves reach, Logan dropped to all fours and moved toward Natasha, holding her gaze.
Calin reached for Heidi and she collapsed into his arms. Logan stopped in front of Natasha, grabbed her gently and lifted her into his arms, then turned and carried her back to the woods.
“Logan,” I called, but he didn’t stop his progress.
“He’s got her. Let’s get out of here,” Max said, his hand on my bicep, urging me to go.
I nodded, took one last look toward the tree line where Logan and Natasha had disappeared from sight, then turned to leave.
“This isn’t over,” Josiah called after us.
“You’re fucking right, it isn’t,” I replied without looking back.
I dropped Max and Calin back at Howlers, then headed home, too furious to deal with people right now.
I needed to think.
I pulled into my house and went inside. Logan wasn’t there, and neither was Natasha, but I wasn’t worried. I knew he’d keep her safe, and that was the most important thing right now.
“Fuck,” I growled, crossing to my kitchen and pulling a bottle of whiskey out of the cupboard.
How had I gotten things so wrong? Was Josiah right, was I too young and naïve to be Alpha? Had I left us open for an attack with my gullibility?
A knock sounded on my door, and I prowled toward it, drink in hand, expecting to see Logan or Max on the other side. But, when I swung the door open, it was Brick waiting, watching me, his face full of concern.
Chapter 8
Brick
I walked into Mateo’s house, shut the door behind me, and wrapped my arms around him.
At first, he stood there, stiff and unsure of how to react, then, slowly, Mateo’s arms came around me, and I felt his cool glass against my shoulder.
Even though there were a million things I wanted to say, I simply held on, giving him the support I knew he needed, even if he didn’t, until I felt him sigh against me.
“I heard about… everything,” I said as he pulled away. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fucking pissed,” Mateo said, lifting his glass to take a big swallow of amber liquid. “I’m frustrated, annoyed, worried, and feeling like a fool, but mostly… just pissed.”
“Gilly said Logan’s got Tasha, and Kevin will be okay,” I said, following him into the living room, and sitting on the edge of the couch, while he paced. “I know there was damage to the fields and the silo, but those can be repaired, right? The important thing is that everyone is okay.”
Mateo stopped and turned to face me.
At first, I worried that I’d gone too far and would only make him angrier. Obviously, everything I said was stuff he already knew, and I didn’t want him to think I was trying to make the events of the last twenty-four hours less important than they were. I knew he was dealing with a lot, and I just wanted to be there to ease his burden a little.
When his face cleared and he sat on the ne
arest chair with a thud, I let out a relieved breath.
“You’re right,” Mateo said softly, turning his glass in his hand, his eyes on the liquid sloshing inside. “We’re very lucky that everyone made it out alive, and mostly, unscathed. Things could have been a lot worse. It’s just…”
“What?” I encouraged, so eager to be his sounding board.
His green eyes hit mine.
“I can’t help but blame myself. I’m the one who met with Josiah. I’m the one who took what he said on faith, and I’m the one who asked the women to put together a welcome wagon for his pack.”
“You couldn’t have known,” I assured him, standing and crossing to kneel in front of him on the floor. I placed my hand on his knee and looked into his exhausted face. “None of this is your fault. It’s all Josiah’s. You had no way of knowing he was such an asshole.”
Mateo dipped his chin slightly, then leaned back and let his head fall against the back cushion.
“Thanks, Brick,” he whispered, eyes closed.
Wanting, no… needing, to make him feel better. To ease his stress, and give him some relief, I took the glass from his hand, took a sip, then placed in on the coffee table behind me. Then, I ran my palms up his thighs, my body tightening when I saw his cock come to life and strain against his fly.
“You’ve had a rough time,” I said softly, keeping my eyes trained on Mateo as my fingers worked his button, then zipper. “Just relax, and let me make you feel better.”
He didn’t protest, or slap my hands away, instead, he seemed to be staying completely still, barely even breathing, as he waited to see what I’d do next.
Poor baby is so afraid of getting what he wants, he doesn’t know how to react, I thought, putting pressure on his hips to urge them up. Mateo obliged, lifting them enough so I could pull his pants, and boxers, down, until his beautiful cock was bare and before me, on display.
No, I’d never given a blow job before, but I’d watched a lot of videos, and was sure I’d learned enough to bring him pleasure.
I’d spent the last few years researching and learning everything I possibly could, so that if this glorious moment ever actually occurred, I’d be prepared. I’d learned all I could about blow jobs, hand jobs, sensual massage, butt plugs, lubricant, anal penetration, and sexual positions.
Now that I was actually in front of Mateo, about to perform my first blow job on the only man I’d ever wanted to be with, my cock was so hard is was almost uncomfortable.
Using my hands once more, I put gently pressure on his thighs, urging him to open his legs so I could settle more comfortably between them. Mateo obliged immediately, eyes still closed, breath still caught.
I placed one hand on the base of his cock, causing it to jump against his stomach, and the other I slid under his balls so I could cup them gently. Mateo gave a grunt, then a long moan when I rolled his balls in my hand, then kissed the leaking tip of his swollen cock.
His lips parted and the look of pure pleasure on his face had my hips thrusting involuntarily, my cock rubbing against the front of the chair, causing me to groan around his cock as I sucked it into my mouth.
Mateo moaned, and his hand dropped to my shoulder, where he squeezed, urging me on.
Eager to please, I licked him from tip to bottom, then back again, pausing to suck his head into my mouth, before opening wide and taking as much of him in as I could. All the while, I pumped his dick and toyed with his balls, and thrust my cock against the chair.
The sounds Mateo was making, coupled with the smell of sex, and friction of the chair, drove me crazy, and I fought to hold off my orgasm before bringing Mateo to his. Luckily, it didn’t take long, and soon, he was coming in my mouth with a shout, while I came in my pants like a teenager.
Chapter 9
Mateo
I should feel guilty, at least, that’s what my brain told me, but in my heart, I knew I had nothing to feel guilty about. So, I pushed the thought aside, and decided, at least for tonight, to do what I wanted for once.
Going on instinct, I entered the kitchen, walked up behind Brick and put my arms around him. Immediately, he leaned back into my embrace and brought his hands to my arms. Placing my chin lightly on his shoulder, I whispered, “Thanks.”
I wasn’t just saying thanks for giving me my first blow job, which had been the most amazing thing, next to my first shift, that I’d ever experienced. But, I was thanking him for being there for me, for coming when he knew I needed someone, and for having my back at a time when I’d questioned my role as Alpha of this pack.
I wasn’t quite ready to express all of that in words, but I hoped Brick understood what I was trying to convey.
When he replied, “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” I knew that he did.
I squeezed him tightly one more time, then let go.
“What are you up to?” I asked.
“I thought I’d make something to eat,” Brick replied, turning to smile at me over his shoulder. “Why don’t you refill you glass, then go sit in front of the TV and allow yourself to do nothing, while I cook.”
I blinked.
Not only was it the first time since I’d left my parents’ house, that someone wanted to take care of me, but… “You can cook?”
“Guess you’ll find out,” Brick said with a wink, then placed his hand on my chest and shoved gently. “Now, get out of here and let me do my thing.”
Going with my gut, I leaned down and brushed my lips softly against his, then smiled and said, “You got it.”
Brick’s eyes were a little dazed as he watched me, then he turned and opened the cupboards.
I couldn’t remember what I had as far as groceries went, but I knew, no matter what he made, I’d love it. Grabbing my glass, I went back in and grabbed the bottle, watching as brick grabbed a box of noodles, then opened the fridge.
“Out,” he ordered, without turning around, causing me to chuckle.
“Just getting my drink, like you said,” I reminded him, then went into the living room and turned on the TV. I flicked through the channels until I landed on a baseball game, then settled back to lose myself in the pleasure of having a drink while watching my favorite sport.
“How’s the game?” Brick asked about thirty minutes later, as he peaked in from the kitchen.
“Great, they’re up by three,” I replied. “It’s almost over.”
“Do you want me to bring the food in there, or eat at the table?”
I turned off the TV and pushed up out of my chair.
“We can eat at the table,” I replied. I’d only been half dialed into the game, my thoughts going back to Kevin, Natasha, Logan and Josiah, no matter how I tried to relax.
I followed him out of the living room, then stopped, surprised, when I saw the table. It was set, with my dishes, silverware and glasses, with a heaping bowl of spaghetti, a platter of garlic bread, sautéed green beans, and a vase filled with wildflowers in the middle.
“I had all that?” I asked, amazed at what he’d accomplished while I’d been sitting on my ass in front of the TV.
“Yeah,” Brick replied with a small smile as he watched my reaction. “Well, I went outside and picked the flowers, but everything else was right in this kitchen.”
“Wow, it looks amazing.” I crossed to him and placed my palm on his cheek, then lowered my lips to give him more than a quick peck. A few seconds later, I pulled reluctantly away, leaving us both panting softly. “Thank you.”
Brick’s thumb came to his mouth and brushed across his lower lip, then said, “You don’t have to keep thanking me. I want to do things for you.”
My heart clenched, because even though I was going on instinct tonight, I knew that nothing had changed… not long term. We still couldn’t be together like other mates, and I didn’t want to get Brick’s hopes up that I’d changed my mind.
“Brick…” I began, my tone wary.
Brick shook his head, as if begging me not to ruin things now,
and said, “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
I nodded and took my seat, then watched as he poured himself a glass of wine.
“Do you want one?” he asked, tilting the bottle toward me.
“No, thanks, I think I’ll grab a water.”
I started to rise, but Brick held up his hand and said, “I’ve got it. You sit.”
I sat back down, and, grabbing one dish at a time, I filled first his plate, then my own. When he placed my water in front of me and took his seat, I picked up my fork and said, “Let’s eat.”
A few seconds later, I was moaning around a mouthful of spaghetti.
“Did you make this sauce?” I asked, because I knew I didn’t have a sauce that tasted like this in my pantry.
“Yeah,” Brick said shyly, his cheeks tinted pink. “I found some amazing fresh vegetables in your drawer and just had to use them. I hope that’s okay.”
“Yeah, Tasha actually brings me stuff from her garden every week. Depending on what’s in season is what I get, but that woman has the greenest thumb I’ve ever seen.”
Bringing up Natasha made me pause and ask her brother, “Have you heard from Natasha? I haven’t heard from her or Logan, and I’m wondering where they may have gone.”
“No, I haven’t, but I’m not worried,” Brick replied. “Not only is he a badass bear, but, being Tasha’s mate and all, I knew he’d defend her life with his own.”
“What? Mate?” I stuttered. “When did that happen?”
“When they met at your party, they both just knew. I’ve talked to each of them about it, so I know she’s safe as long as she’s with Logan. I mean, your mate is always supposed to be there for you, to have your back, especially when you’re in trouble.”
