by Jools Louise
Noah watched Mercury take the file, then follow his brother from the ward, stalking from the place like an angry cat.
“Mercury has a little more explaining to do, yet,” Pace said with a fierce look on his face as he, too, observed the cheetah shifter’s exit.
“What explaining?” Noah asked, his heart aching for his mate’s distress.
“He knows far more than he’s letting on,” Ryder said darkly.
“Do I need to go and help him?” Noah asked, already getting out of bed. His leg buckled beneath him as his foot hit the floor, and he tumbled with a grunt of pain.
“He’s not in danger from Mercury, if that’s what you’re asking,” Cullen said, as Mikhail came over to help Noah back into bed.
“Then why are you talking in riddles?” Noah asked angrily, frustrated with his gimpy leg. “I’m so sick of being in a damned hospital bed. I can’t even go back to work until this heals again.”
“We’ll let the brothers sort things out between them,” Cullen said gently. “They still have a lot of catching up to do. And Mercury is not as he seems. He’s pretended he was incarcerated for the past ten years…he wasn’t.”
Noah eyed Cullen in shocked amazement. Who the fuck was Mercury?
Chapter Nine
Fly headed for the park in the center of town, running swiftly, wanting to get away from the thoughts pummeling his brain, knowing that was impossible. He reached the leafy green tranquility of the oasis that sat a couple of blocks away, and made for a quiet area, surrounded by large trees, underneath a rose-covered arbor. Taking a seat, he sat with his back to the arm of the wooden bench seat, resting his chin on his knees.
He glared as his brother wandered up a few minutes later, carrying a file in his hand and looking pensive.
“What?” Fly asked irritably, scowling. “What else are you hiding? Because I’m not buying the whole act you’ve been showing to the rest of them. This isn’t you. You were never rebellious because of me. That’s a fucking lie.”
“It’s true,” Merc said mildly, stalking over, his body rigid, returning Fly’s angry stare with mutual animosity. “You were always the more vocal of us. I just played the fool.”
Fly ignored him, turning his head to stare at a honeybee sucking nectar from a huge pink rose. The gentle buzzing sound soothed his senses, but didn’t eradicate the rage welling up inside. He knew when he was being played. Merc was pretending, and Fly had just about had enough of the bullshit. His brother had forgotten who he was talking to. Playing the fool? No, that wasn’t Merc’s style. He was not a fool, but a danger addict. He’d done those pranks because he loved the adrenalin kick that went along with them. The rush from getting away with cheating death. A thought occurred to him.
“I don’t think that Mother was the only agent,” Fly said, turning his head suddenly, catching the flare of surprise in his brother’s eyes. “I’m right, aren’t I? You’ve been playing at James Bond, while I was dealing with Mother’s fucking mind games.”
“I’ve been assisting the British government’s Shifter Affairs Department,” Mercury admitted.
“Did you know that I’d been taken to that mine?” Fly asked, studying Merc’s face intently.
“I knew that Daniel had employed you for something,” Mercury said, his face carefully blank.
“And you didn’t think to help me?” Fly flung back.
“I was trapped, too, by then,” Mercury retorted. “You weren’t the only one in trouble, you know. Those bastards from Flashpoint are good at what they do. They outplayed us all.”
“How long were you really at the house?” Fly queried.
“For about six months,” was the reply.
Fly stood up, fists clenched. “So, you knew I was working with that bastard in Colorado, you knew that Mother sent me there with no knowledge of who he was, or what he was doing, and you didn’t think to tell me? That was three years ago. You and Mother deserved each other.” He moved across the grass, heading for the woods, away from his traitorous brother.
“I told you, I was trapped,” Mercury shouted after him. “I couldn’t contact you. They would have hurt you if they’d known I was related to you.”
“You had ten years to let me know you were alive,” Fly called over his shoulder, dismissively. “Don’t use that as an excuse. You and Mother were just protecting yourselves. I lived with her bullying and vicious insults for years, while you did your thing. You’ve told me lie after lie, nearly got my mate killed, and my friends, too. You’re not my brother, Mercury. Because a brother doesn’t throw their family under the bus.” Then he shifted and began to run, leaping fallen logs, branches, and ducking between shrubs and trees. He headed out of town, toward the ranch, and the one place he could run forever—the track.
He didn’t want Mercury near him, not now. He’d grieved for Mercury, buried him and they’d lied to him, his mother and only sibling. Protecting him? That was a fucking joke. Who gave them the right to think for him? Who made them his keeper? Mercury needed a reality check.
The edge of the sports complex came into view, and Fly aimed right for the main stadium, its flags fluttering in the breeze. Dark clouds gathered overhead, gunmetal grey, matching his mood. He would have to apologize to Noah later. He’d pushed him away again, in his need to get away from the revelations that just kept on coming. A mother who he’d thought had been killed recently, after finding out she was linked to the bastards who’d nearly killed him. Then, the brother he’d thought long dead, showed up at a house that was booby-trapped, and now admitted he had lied about being imprisoned there, and was really a secret agent, too. What a clusterfuck of a family he was born into. Not a one of them had a shred of loyalty, only excused their cowardice by trying to pretend their actions were for the greater good. What a crock of fucking shit.
Fly’s paws hit the dirt of the track, and he built up speed, his cheetah snarling in delight at being free to run again. With a yowl of joy, Fly powered up, and was soon running at full tilt, pelting along the lane, his muscles stretching and bunching, literally flying over the ground. He felt another presence, and glanced to the side, seeing his brother there, grinning at him in cheetah form.
In no mood to make up, Fly launched at his brother angrily, tumbling over and over, and tearing into the man with his claws and teeth. Mercury hissed and snarled, fighting back, fur flying everywhere as they tussled.
The heavens opened above them, and cool rain emptied from the sky, dousing them but not stemming the tide of pent-up anger that raged between the pair. Fly let loose on his temper, wanting to pummel his brother into the ground. Mercury, never one to walk away from a fight, fought back until they were both exhausted, soaked to the skin.
Fly fell onto his side, panting hard, still trembling with the force of his ire. He heard Mercury’s rasping breaths, as he tried to suck oxygen into his lungs. Getting to his feet, Fly sent a final glare at his brother. He shifted briefly into human form.
“Don’t come near me again,” he warned his brother. “All you do is lie, and I’m not here to be treated like a fool,” he said angrily. “This is my home, and you won’t ruin it for me. I thought I’d lost you. I cried for you. You treated me worse than she did,” he added, referring to their mother. “At least she was honest in her dislike. She admitted she didn’t care if I lived or died. But you…you’ve hurt me ten times more. You let me believe you were dead. Whatever reasons you’ve come up with to justify that, you should have come to me, trusted me to support you, and supported me. We were brothers. Now…I don’t know what the hell to call us.” Then Fly shifted back to his feline form, and limped off, bruised and bloodied, from the inside out.
* * * *
Noah let himself into his apartment, using his crutches since his knee was playing up again, but not sorry he’d discharged himself. He hated hospitals, with a deep-seated loathing, after the many months he’d spent languishing there. He had a home, now, and nothing was going to stop him from enjoying a nice, so
ft bed.
He made his way slowly inside, gagging for a mug of coffee and a slice of John’s homemade apple pie. He drooled, just thinking about it as he placed the take-out carton from John’s bakery onto the counter, inhaling the delicious aromas emanating from the box.
He paused, his nostrils quivering as they encountered another scent, and he glanced at the couch, seeing a familiar gold and black-spotted feline lying there, fast asleep. Fly had finally returned. Letting his mate rest, Noah busied himself getting the coffee machine filled up, and then cut the large slice of pie in half, placing the slices on two plates.
Fly shifted suddenly, and Noah stared at his mate’s nakedness, feeling that twinge of desire that always hit him when he saw his lover’s lickable bod.
“Hey, honey, I’m home,” Noah said teasingly, bringing the plates over and handing one to Fly. His lover gave him a grateful look and dug in, demolishing the pie in about five seconds flat, licking his lips and eyeing Noah’s half greedily. Handing that over, too, Noah grinned as Fly finished it, as well, patting his flat belly in satisfaction.
“That was delicious,” Fly said with a happy sigh.
“So are you,” Noah said gruffly, perching on the couch, and leaning in to kiss his mate, licking crumbs from his lips, then diving in for a deeper taste. They groaned in unison, reaching for each other urgently.
Noah ripped off his shirt, and Fly helped to divest him of his pants, carefully negotiating the bandage around Noah’s knee. Lying back, his cock rigid and pointing straight up, the big bear shifter watched with hungry eyes as Fly grabbed for a tube of lube, hidden beneath a cushion, smeared Noah’s fat cock with the stuff, then clambered aboard.
“Wait,” Noah urged. “I’ll hurt you.”
“Prepare me,” Fly pleaded desperately, crouching with his butt toward Noah, his hands resting between Noah’s spread knees as he balanced.
Noah let out a low, feral growl, and reached for his lover, grabbing the man’s smooth cheeks in his large hands and dragging Fly back toward him. The man’s little pink rosebud winked at him temptingly. With a groan, he kissed each pert globe, then dove for the motherlode, licking at the treasure buried in Fly’s shadowy crease. Fly whimpered, his claws digging into the cushions, as Noah ate him out, probing his hole with his tongue, and loving him with sensuous skill.
“Please,” Fly cried out, undulating desperately. He ducked his head, his ass moving in time to Noah’s tongue thrusts, as the bigger man fucked Fly’s ass, his tongue acting like a mini penis.
Noah probed Fly’s succulent hole with a thick finger, nailing the man’s gland with each gentle thrust until his mate was whimpering continuously. Grabbing the lube, Noah turned Fly carefully, and then lifted his own legs, presenting his ass to Fly’s avid gaze.
“Claim me properly,” Noah invited, seeing the flare of hunger in his lover’s eyes. Then the lust sharpened, and Fly shuddered delicately.
“You want me to fuck you?” Fly asked incredulously. “I thought you were a top, all the way?”
“I need to feel that big cock of yours, opening me up,” Noah replied, fingering his own hole as Fly watched intently. “You need to take back some of the control that’s been stolen from you. Everybody wins.”
Fly snorted out a laugh at that, and shoved his finger into Noah’s ass, alongside Noah’s, helping to stretch his mate.
“Fuck me, baby,” Noah pleaded, arching his back in supplication, feeling his cock bouncing against his abs.
Fly stroked his cock, fisting it firmly, then got into position after smearing his dick liberally with lube. “I’ll be gentle,” he whispered, pushing against the quivering ring of muscle guarding Noah’s hole.
“No, love,” Noah contradicted. “Hard. I need you to pound me into the floor.”
Fly snarled viciously, his eyes sharpening with lust, then thrust hard, punching through Noah’s sphincter, then thrusting again until he was fully seated. They both cried out in tortured bliss before Fly took control, grabbing Noah’s thick thighs for balance, then began to give Noah what he’d asked for. With hard, sure strokes, Fly came unglued, fucking Noah with abandon, his thick cock spearing Noah over and over, his body flushed with sweat and passion, looking like a golden god as he lost himself in Noah’s body.
“More,” Noah grunted, shoving his hips back with each instroke, feeling the heat through his body, needing Fly to let go entirely. Fly needed to get rid of all that pent-up emotion, and Noah needed Fly to own him completely. He loved bottoming, and Fly’s dick was a thing of beauty, a weapon that was driving Noah right out of his mind.
“Noah!” Fly wailed, his hips moving like pistons now, crouching in between Noah’s legs and thrusting back and forth like a battering ram. Suddenly, he came apart, shooting warm cum down Noah’s hungry chute, fangs bared, his face contorted in ecstasy. A second later he lunged forward, still lodged deep within Noah’s clenching hole, and bit deep into Noah’s shoulder. Noah cried out, and flung his head back, feeling their bond strengthen even more. His ass quivered around Fly’s semi-hard dick, and he panted with need, wanting a second pounding.
“Take me again, baby,” Noah murmured, as Fly disengaged his fangs. They kissed, tongues playing languidly in the aftermath.
“I need your cock inside me first,” Fly begged, lifting up and impaling himself on Noah’s rigid dick. They grunted, Fly leaning down and kissing Noah again as he rode Noah skillfully, fucking himself on Noah’s prong until they were both crying out again, as Noah came hard. Biting into Fly’s slender neck, Noah made sure to cement their bond again, clutching his lover to him, cuddling him lovingly as their breathing slowed again.
“I love you, darling,” Noah said softly, feeling Fly’s body relax by increments, warm and moist against him, his ass secured by Noah’s slackened dick. “So much. You’re so strong, and feisty, and you have the biggest heart.”
“I love you, too,” Fly replied drowsily. “I’m sorry I ran from you.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Noah responded, stroking his mate’s back gently. “They dropped one hell of a bombshell on you. I’m not surprised you left. I’d have done the same, except you know, gimpy knee troubles.”
“We need to get that knee fixed,” Fly said, kissing Noah’s jaw.
“I need to stop getting kidnapped and blown up,” Noah retorted dryly, hearing Fly’s giggle.
“No more Plan B?” Fly said impishly, earning him a smack on his succulent ass.
“Definitely not,” Noah said with a grin. “John’s injuries are worse, though. I shouldn’t be so pleased, but he did sort of jinx us, at the end. Glad he’s okay.”
“He’s already planning a welcome home party at Café Anglais,” Fly laughed, yawning widely. “Apparently, this is the first time he’s actually blown himself up. Although technically, it was Ghost and his crew who rigged the house.”
“Mick says John’s losing his touch,” Noah chuckled, feeling drowsy, enjoying the warmth of Fly’s body draped over him.
“Mick won’t let him hear the end of it.” Fly giggled. “He’s been threatening to shoot off fireworks when John is discharged finally, in celebration.”
Noah grinned at that, then laughed outright. He could just imagine John’s expression at that suggestion. Fly lifted his head, kissing Noah again, content to snuggle and canoodle for a while. Noah felt his cock thicken as the lazy passion hit his sweet spot, and he groaned as he sipped from his lover’s lips. Rocking Fly back and forward on his dick, he amped them up some more, squeezing his mate’s ass, then quickening the tempo.
“I love you,” he repeated, moving Fly firmly now, controlling the pace. “I can’t get enough of you, baby,” Noah groaned, bouncing Fly up and down, watching as his slender lover was impaled again and again, his ass taking Noah’s thick cock like a champ. Fly cried out, then leaned down to suck at Noah’s nipples, fisting Noah’s hair firmly as he was power-topped from below. Noah flipped him over, resting his good knee on the couch, Fly on his knees beneath him, Noah’
s injured leg dangling to the floor. Thrusting hard, Noah was soon seated deep within Fly’s ass again, hearing Fly’s cries of encouragement as he pounded his mate’s sexy hole into submission. Gripping Fly’s hips firmly, Noah fucked his mate with powerful strokes, losing control as he felt his lover shove back against him with each hard thrust. With a loud roar of completion, Noah came again, loosing his load for a second time, then jacking Fly off all over the couch. The acrid stench of spunk filled the air as Noah bit deep into Fly’s neck again, blanketing his body, then collapsed on top, moving to his side to stop him suffocating Fly.
“Hmmm, that was some homecoming,” Fly murmured drowsily.
“Who needs fireworks?” Noah agreed, closing his eyes.
Within moments they were both firmly asleep.
Chapter Ten
A knock on the door woke the lovers a few hours later, as darkness fell, and Fly grumbled as they were forced to get up. He left Noah to answer the door, wanting to shower before he faced whoever it was. Noah didn’t seem too bothered that the apartment reeked of sex, telling Fly that they were newly mated, so whoever it was could just go fuck themselves if they were offended. Fly smiled at the gruff retort, loving that Noah just didn’t care who knew. Fly had still sprayed some air freshener before he went to shower, though.
Rinsing off, Fly got dressed into a pair of soft harem pants, bright green with jungle leaves all over them, and a simple white T-shirt. He decided to dress down tonight. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was nearly eight o’clock, and yawned, feeling worn out. Emotions had run high that day, and he tensed as he heard voices from the front room, Mercury’s among them. His brother obviously didn’t think he’d been serious earlier. Ryder was there, as well, and Cullen, his leg in a cast and walking on crutches, Mikhail, and if he wasn’t mistaken, Joe McKellar from the ranch. What was this, an intervention?
“Before you get all riled up, please let me explain,” Mercury said, then screwed his face up. “Geez, bro, what’s that smell? Gardenias?”
