Take My Hand [Brac Pack 28]

by Lynn Hagen

  Shit.

  Darcy stopped walking, running his hands through his hair as he cursed under his breath. The guy thrilled him and scared him at the same time, and Darcy just didn’t know how to handle that.

  “Because, Sterling, he scares me,” Darcy confessed.

  “Why?” Sterling looked surprised.“Why does Raven scare you?”

  “Because I have his heart.”

  Darcy spun around to see Raven standing behind him.

  How the hell did Raven do that?

  “Oh,” Sterling said as he looked between the two. “This is awkward.”

  If Darcy wasn’t so damn confused he would have laughed. Sterling hit the nail right on the head. Raven always managed to hear the things Darcy didn’t want him to know about. Darcy knew he should just walk away, just leave Brac Village and never return. But his body betrayed him. He wanted nothing more than to run into Raven’s arms.

  But he was scared.

  So many what-ifs ran through his mind that Darcy didn’t know what direction to turn to.

  “Are you really that afraid that I’ll hurt you?” Raven asked as he took a step closer.

  Darcy glanced over at Sterling, biting his bottom lip as he shoved his hands into his front pockets and shrugged.

  “Give the guy a chance,” Sterling said.“You’ll never know if you don’t at least try.”

  Yeah, but trying entailed trusting. Did he dare?

  “Darcy.”

  Darcy turned toward Raven, getting lost in the man’s beautiful black eyes. He could drown in them, and Darcy knew it. He saw the fear in Raven’s eyes and knew for the first time that Raven was just as scared he was.

  Was the man afraid of being hurt as well?

  “Darcy, just take my hand,” Raven said as he reached for Darcy. “Whatever it is, we’ll walk through it together.”

  “Awww,” Sterling said as he pushed at Darcy’s shoulder.“You better give him a damn chance.”

  “I’ve found that sometimes little brothers know what they are talking about,” Raven said.

  Darcy glanced at Raven’s extended hand and knew he couldn’t walk away. He knew he couldn’t leave his heart behind.

  He was terrified.

  Terrified of it all.

  He was not only scared of loving Raven, but of putting his heart out there and trusting it with someone else. He’d never been in love before, and it scared the shit out of him. He saw how his mom was never the same after their father died. How she mourned his loss until the day she died. He used to hear her crying in her room at night for him, and there was nothing Darcy could do to comfort her.

  He didn’t want to know what that aching hole in his heart felt like.

  Through the craziness that he had witnessed here in this sleepy little town, or of the fear that had wrapped its claws around him when he thought Sterling was in trouble, or when Raven had disappeared and he had no clue if his mate—Gods, my mate.

  Darcy knew without a doubt that trying to leave Raven had been the dumbest move of his life. He had nearly thrown away what could amount to a happy life, crazy as hell, but happy.

  He couldn’t let his fear of losing Raven to death stop him from living.

  Darcy lifted his arm, placing his hand in Raven’s. His mate gave a small tug, and Darcy, god help him, fell into Raven’s arms. He rolled his eyes when Sterling started clapping and whooping behind him. The man had no damn sense. He could feel Raven chuckling from the vibrations in his chest.

  “Come on, babe, let’s get you home.” Raven’s breath tickled Darcy’s ear.

  Home.

  Darcy liked the sound of that.

  “And as for you,” Raven said,“there is one angry bear looking for you.”

  Darcy turned to see Sterling with the biggest grin on his face. The smile damn near split his face in half.“Then I say we get moving.”

  Darcy rested his head on Raven’s chest, inhaling the man’s musky, manly scent, and feeling like he was already home.

  Chapter Nine

  Raven ran his hands over Darcy ’s bare back, relieved that his mate was safe and lying in their bed. He had used the blood call more in one damn day than he had in his entire life. The house was back in order, the cubs back where they should be, and the shifters had wiped out most the wolves that had attacked—although Maverick had to tackle Tryck and stop him from setting the house on fire. Raven had never seen Malcolm that pissed either when the big bald-headed guy aimed the bazooka at one of the wolves on the porch.

  From what Raven had heard, the timber wolves had the remaining grey wolves and were taking care of the little problem. Thank fuck the house hadn’t been set on fire or blown to pieces.

  Crazy damn shifters. “ Am I boring you?” Darcy asked as he pushed at Raven’s shoulder, bringing him out of thought.

  Raven chuckled, grabbing Darcy around the waist and pulling his mate back into bed.“You can’t escape me that easily.”

  Darcy laughed as Raven straddled his mate’s hips.“You’re not letting me go, are you?”

  Raven leaned forward, pressing his lips to Darcy’s cheek, caressing his skin more than kissing it, and then whispered in his mate’s ear,“I want you to breathe me in every time you close your eyes.” His tongue slowly descended down Darcy’s jaw, feeling his mate shiver as he kissed the other cheek, again, whispering,“I want you to crave me like an addiction, sweet, sweet Darcy.” Raven brushed a kiss over Darcy’s forehead, each eyelid, and then dipped his head to his mate’s neck, inhaling the now-familiar scent of the man he loved. He leaned back, placing a kiss over Darcy’s heart.“But most of all, Darcy, I want you to love me.”

  Darcy cupped his face and drew Raven’s mouth to his, his mate’s lips warm and sweet as the gentle massage of their lips sent currents of desire through Raven. His emotions whirled and skidded as Darcy took the kiss deeper, sending a shockwave through Raven’s body.

  When Darcy released Raven’s face, Raven’s head was spinning from such a passionate kiss.“I already love you, Raven.”

  Raven reached out, caressing his knuckles down the side of Darcy’s firm jaw. A hard, rough breath shuddered through him as Darcy looked up at him with sexual heat glittering in his copperybrown eyes.“Then why do you fear me, Darcy?”

  Darcy gave a light shrug and then kissed Raven’s palm.“You already know.”

  “Because I have your heart.”

  “Don’t sound so cocky.” Darcy softly chuckled.“But you have to admit, you scared the crap out of me last night.”

  How had Raven forgotten about that?“That’s because your blood smelled so damn sweet that I was afraid I’d jump you right there in the hallway.”

  “Really?” Darcy asked, sounding surprised. “You chased me away because you liked the way I smelled?”

  “No,” Raven said as he slid his hands under Darcy’s shirt, luxuriating at the feel of his mate’s soft skin, and then pinched Darcy’s nipples. He smiled when his mate moaned.“I didn’t like the way you smelled. I loved it. It was driving me crazy. It made all of my senses come alive.” Raven nipped Darcy’s neck, giving a small growl. “And it still does.”

  “So I have what you desire,” Darcy teased.

  “I crave all of you, Darcy, not just your blood.” Raven was so tightly wound right now that he felt like he was going to shed his own skin. It was tight and achy.

  “You just want me for body.” Darcy chuckled and then jackknifed, taking Raven by surprise and putting him on his back. “Two can play at that, my addictive vampire.”

  Raven was stunned. He never would have pegged Darcy as aggressive, especially not in bed. He lifted his head, placing his hands on his chest as he watched Darcy unsnap his jeans and then peel the zipper down. Damn, the man was sexy as fuck when he was in charge. Raven could live with that.

  Darcy tugged at Raven’s jeans until Raven lifted his hips. Slipping his jeans off, Darcy went for Raven’s shirt next.“Now you’re the one who is naked while I’m still dressed.”

/>   “I’m at your mercy,” Raven said as he spread his arms wide.“Do your worst.”

  “I sure as hell hope I don’t do badly,” Darcy said as he dipped his head and pulled Raven’s cock into his mouth.

  “Darcy!” Raven saw stars as Darcy worked his mouth down Raven’s shaft. Slowly, Darcy’s hands moved downward, skimming either side of Raven’s body until he reached his inner thighs. Raven gasped in sweet agony as Darcy cupped his balls, his fingers playing over Raven’s tight sac as his tongue swirled around Raven’s cock, making Raven moan his approval. His mate explored Raven’s body as he tightened his lips around Raven’s shaft and then pulled upward.

  “Gods, Darcy.” Raven threaded his fingers through Darcy’s hair, tugging on the strands as Darcy took Raven’s cock back down his throat.“D–Darcy.”

  Darcy leaned back and began to suckle at the head of Raven’s shaft. Raven shattered into a million glowing stars as his seed shot to the back of his mate’s mouth. Raven breathed in soul-drenching drafts of air as he slowly came back into his body.

  He felt boneless, unable to move as Darcy straightened, smiling down at Raven.“Ready?”

  Raven only had enough energy left in him to quirk a brow.

  Darcy chuckled and then pushed from the bed, undressing. Raven’s jaw dropped when Darcy tossed his shirt aside and then pinched his own nipples, moaning like a harlot. His soft cock jerked, trying its best to come back to life.

  His mate licked his lips and groaned, and then pushed his jeans down his legs, palming his cock, stroking it a few times before kicking his pants aside.“Don’t look so surprised.” Darcy crawled across the bed on his knees, and then slid his hand under the pillow, pulling out the tube of lube.

  Oh. Hell.

  Was Darcy…

  Oh. Hell.

  “My turn,” Darcy said as he popped the cap, lubing his fingers. Raven swallowed hard as Darcy set the bottle of lube aside and then dipped his hand down between Raven’s legs. His eyes crossed when Darcy rimmed his hole. His legs began to quiver as he breathed out slowly, trying his fucking best to relax.

  “Trust me, Raven. You are going to love this.”

  “I trust you,” Raven said as he glanced back down, feeling Darcy’s finger pushing inside of him.“I’ve just never—D–Darcy. Oh, gods, Darcy.”

  Raven could hear his mate chuckling as he slowly inserted a second finger, scissoring them apart. Raven raised his legs, and then planted his feet on the bed, letting his legs fall to the sides.

  “That’s right, just turn yourself over to me.”

  Raven lifted his head, his eyes narrowing.“Who are you, and what have you done with my mate?”

  Darcy laughed…and then plunged a third finger into Raven’s ass.

  “Um, oh, yeah, shit.” Raven was making absolutely no sense, and he could care less. What Darcy was doing was fucking fantastic! Raven sucked in a quick breath and then let it out slowly as the burning eased and the real pleasure spanned over his groin, making Raven hitch his hips, wanting Darcy’s fingers deeper inside of him. “I told you.” Darcy grinned.

  Raven would forever be dazzled by his mate’s smile. He reached up, running the pad of his thumb over Darcy’s lips.“There it is.”

  Darcy’s grin wobbled as he looked confusedly at Raven.“What?”

  “The shine,” Raven said. He smiled when Darcy blushed deeply. “Don’t ever lose it again. It’s stunning.”

  Darcy pulled his hand free, and then leaned over Raven, taking his mouth in a sweet and devouring kiss. Raven felt as if he were being lifted up to heaven as the taste of his mate spilled into his mouth. Darcy licked over Raven’s teeth, nipped his lower lip, and then pulled back.“Ready?”

  Raven nodded.“Have your wicked way with me.”

  Darcy’s copper-colored eyes sparkled as he grabbed the lube, coating his cock before settling between Raven’s legs. Raven couldn’t tear his eyes away from Darcy’s. His mate finally looked happy. He was smiling like a loon, which only made Raven smile.

  Raven spread his legs open as the head of Darcy’s cock probed at his hole. Raven wrapped his legs around Darcy, planting the heels of his feet on his mate’s ass, and then shoved, plunging Darcy’s cock all the way to the root.

  “Raven,” Darcy whispered as he lowered his head, closing his eyes.

  “Don’t close your eyes,” Raven said, although he had to admit, that fucking hurt. He had to remember not to do something that stupid again. Taking a cock all the way into his ass the first time was a very dumb move.

  Darcy opened his eyes, the brown bleeding out to smolder like liquid heat. Raven reached up and pulled his mate down, pulling his hair as he took Darcy’s lips with his. Darcy began to move his hips, and the pleasure was pure and explosive.

  Raven curled his fingers into Darcy’s hair as his mate’s hands landed on either side of Raven’s head.“Raven,” Darcy whispered into Raven’s mouth.“I love you, Raven.”

  Raven’s head fell back, his lips parting as his back arched. Darcy thrust deeper, with longer strokes, making Raven feel as if his body was half ice, half flame.

  “You are so damn breathtaking,” Darcy said as he pulled his cock almost all of the way out of Raven’s ass and then shot his hips forward.“I want to grow old with you. I want to love you so much that I can’t live without you.”

  Raven growled and rolled, placing Darcy underneath him. He straddled his mate’s hips, which made Darcy’s cock go deeper into his ass.“I’ll never let you go, Darcy.” Raven dropped forward, planting his hands on the bed. He rocked back and forth, picking up the pace. He had held out as long as he could.

  Raven bit into Darcy’s neck, the taste of his mate’s blood exploding in his mouth as Darcy cried out. Raven growled, slamming his ass down on Darcy’s cock, pulling every damn last seed from Darcy’s dick.

  Raven grunted when he felt Darcy’s fingers curl around his cock, tugging on the skin until Raven was drinking in Darcy’s blood and coming at the same time. He licked the wound closed, breathing heavily as he slowly pulled from Darcy’s flagging cock.“Damn.” Raven panted and then fell sideways, wishing there was a fan in the room because he was sweaty as hell.

  “Mmm,” Darcy murmured as he curled up next to Raven.

  Raven turned his head, kissing his mate on the top of his head as he closed his eyes, smiling as he drifted off to sleep.

  “Can I see you in my office?” Darcy quickly dried his hand on the hand towel and then followed behind Cody. This was it. Either Cody was going to hire him or tell him to beat feet. He was praying he got the job. He had worked his ass off yesterday and today. Darcy had even gone above and beyond to make sure Steven, and then George, never lacked for anything while cooking. And Steven was right. George didn’t mess around in the kitchen. The guy was really nice, but very demanding.

  “ Have a seat.” Cody waved a hand toward the chair on the other side of his desk when Darcy walked into the office.

  Darcy sat obediently.

  “I watched you all day yesterday,” Cody began.

  He had? When? Darcy didn’t remember seeing Cody at all yesterday. But then again, he had been so busy that a tour bus could have crashed into the front of the diner and Darcy wouldn’t have noticed.

  “You performed well under pressure and helped Steven out tremendously. George tells me that he is impressed with you. That’s something coming from the cowboy. I’m going to hire you. But I’m warning you, Darcy, no daydreaming. I know I’m hot, but you can lust after me when you clock out.”

  Darcy’s jaw dropped to his chest. Was the guy serious? When did he give his boss the impression that he wanted him? Darcy racked his brain, but couldn’t think of any time where Cody might have gotten the wrong impression.“I…what?”

  Cody laughed.“I’m joking. Go back to work.”

  Darcy scratched his head, wondering what in the hell he had just gotten himself into. Well, at least his boss had a sense of humor. That was a good thing, he hoped.

 
Cody walked out of the office, whistling. Darcy chuckled to himself, shaking his head. He could see he was going to have one hell of a life here in Brac Village. The people were as nutty as hell, but they were nice. He was so glad he hadn’t walked away. Not only would he have missed out on the best thing in his life, but he genuinely liked this town.

  Even though he still thought it was just a little too perfect.

  Darcy jumped back, grabbing the back of the chair he had just been sitting in when a man just appeared in the office out of thin air. He didn’t think he would ever get used to that. It was weird as hell.

  “Who are you?” Darcy asked as the man just stood there, looking over Cody’s office. The guy ran his fingers over the back of Cody’s cushioned office chair, sliding his fingers together as if he had found an inch of dust.

  “I have a proposition for you.” His eyes snapped up, boring right into Darcy’s. A cold chill slithered down Darcy’s spine. The man’s eyes were filled with hatred and loathing. Darcy had never seen anyone look so damn coldhearted in his life.

  “Where I’m from, that could get you arrested.” Darcy mentally shook his head. He was becoming as crazy as the residents in the village and he’d only been here forty-eight hours.

  The corner of the man’s lips turned up into what should have been a smile. Darcy shivered.

  “I will pay you one million dollars to leave town.”

  Darcy stood there stunned. Had he heard the man correctly? One million dollars? American?“Can I ask why you want to pay me to leave town?” Darcy asked cautiously. He had an urge to ask if the man wanted him to leave by sundown. That was what this whole situation felt like. Maybe he should run and get a six-shooter along with George’s cowboy hat.

  The man clasped his hands behind his back, raking his eyes over Darcy like he was dog poo under the man’s shoe. Darcy’s hackles rose, feeling the slow edges of anger build in him. He may not be wealthy like this guy apparently was, but that was no reason to look at Darcy as if he were worthless.