Johnny's North Star

by Lynn Hagen

  Harmon looked hesitant for a moment and then gave Brady exactly what he wanted. His mate grabbed the headboard and pistoned into Brady, setting Brady on fire. The hard thrusts and loud snarls shot Brady’s lust higher. Then Harmon yanked Brady to his powerful chest and sank his canines in.

  Brady shouted as his orgasm shook him hard, emptying his balls as his cum shot between them. Harmon snarled as he continued to punch his hips, and then he stiffened and came inside Brady’s ass. He eased his sharp teeth free, licked the wound, and nuzzled Brady’s throat.

  “It’s been so long since I could be so rough.” He lifted his head and looked Brady in his eyes. “Too rough?”

  Brady chuckled as he shook his head. “That was perfect.”

  * * * *

  Harmon slid his arms around Brady as they stared at the Christmas tree. “I think it’s leaning too far to the right.”

  They’d spent all morning decorating it. They’d had their mugs of coffee and shared some of Harmon’s famous coffee cake, and now they stood by the front window admiring their work.

  “That’s because you put all the decorations on the right,” Brady said. He tilted his head to the right. “You’ve made that side too heavy.”

  Harmon let his mate go and fixed the problem. Brady was right. Harmon had gone a little too crazy putting things on only one side. He evened everything out then gave a satisfied sigh. “How’s that?”

  “I liked it crooked,” Brady teased. “It gave the tree personality.”

  “It also pointed the tree too close to the fireplace,” Harmon said. “We don’t want to take any chances.”

  Harmon stepped back and looked around the room, which was festively decorated. Normally Harmon was the one who did all the work. His late wife had never been that much into Christmas. He’d put the tree up himself, decorated everything himself, and bought most of the presents. Now that Brady was here, helping him, Harmon was starting to feel the Christmas spirit.

  “We need to go shopping.” Brady turned to him. “I have to get presents for my parents and Ronny.” He leaned up on this toes and gave Harmon a sweet kiss. “And of course, I have to get something for you.”

  Harmon blushed. “You don’t have to get me anything. We just met a few days ago. I understand it’s last minute, and besides, we’re still getting to know each other.”

  “Hush your mouth.” Brady grabbed his cup of coffee and took a sip. “I love Christmas shopping. Besides, finding something for you will give me a chance to spend time with Ronny. I’ve been neglecting the poor guy since he showed up.”

  Harmon didn’t like that idea. He still had a bad feeling about the guy, but he kept those thoughts to himself. He didn’t want his mate thinking he was trying to come between their friendship. Harmon wasn’t that type of person. Brady could be friends with whoever he wanted. Harmon just wanted to make sure none of them were psychos.

  “I think we did an amazing job.” Brady looked around with an approving nod. “Ronny and I never really decorated for the holidays. I was always bummed out that I was so far from home around this time of year.” He gave Harmon a coy smile. “But it looks like I’m making that up in spades. I decorated a tree and got a hot new boyfriend.”

  “Mate,” Harmon corrected. He slid his arms around Brady. “Big difference.”

  Brady gave him a peck on the cheek. “No heavy hugging. If we start now, we’ll spend the rest of the day in the bedroom, and I have shopping to do.”

  Harmon held his hands up. “God forbid we fuck like bunnies, and for your information, we’ve never technically made it to the bedroom.”

  Brady threw his back and laughed. Harmon was dead serious. But he smiled and slapped Brady on his ass. “Go get ready while I clean up our breakfast dishes.”

  He watched Brady walk down the hall. Harmon was still wearing a goofy grin that he couldn’t seem to get rid of. That was how it was around his mate. He was always smiling, which was a change for him. The last few years of his marriage, Harmon hardly ever smiled. He suspected Ellen had known about his “other” cravings, but she’d never said anything. She hadn’t been the type of woman to talk about such things, having had such a strict Catholic upbringing.

  Harmon hadn’t talked about it, either. He never wanted her to feel as though she wasn’t enough for him, that she didn’t make him happy. He would’ve been content for the rest of his life if she hadn’t passed away, but it had been Ellen who’d started to slowly withdraw from him, and no matter how happy he’d tried to make her, she’d grown increasingly distant.

  Harmon rubbed his jaw, forcing those thoughts away. He cleaned up the kitchen and got dressed. Brady had taken a shower and put on the clothes Harmon had once again laundered. No matter how much Brady’s dad hated the idea of them being together, he knew his mate needed to go to his parents’ house and get his luggage. Wearing the same outfit over and over again just wouldn’t do.

  “I do have a rental I can use.” Brady stood in the bedroom doorway grinning at Harmon. “Or do you just like driving me around, like my own personal chauffeur.”

  “I don’t mind.” Harmon winked. “There’re some things I need to take care of in town, anyway.”

  Like grocery shopping. Harmon hadn’t expected company, so his cupboards were pretty bare. He wasn’t sure if Brady would be there for Christmas, either. What if he wanted to spend the day at his parents’ house or with Ronny? Harmon wasn’t going to assume that just because they were mated that Brady would automatically spend it with him.

  Even so, he needed to buy things for a holiday meal. Christmas was only a few days away.

  Brady strutted across the room and gave Harmon a quick succession of kisses then backed away. “Come on, chauffeur. We have gifts to buy and friendships to mend.”

  Harmon prayed it was that easy.

  * * * *

  Brady met Ronny at the local diner, although he’d already had breakfast. But Ronny had insisted he needed to eat, and this would be the perfect opportunity to talk to his best friend about his weird and clingy behavior.

  Not one to beat around the bush, Brady got straight to the point once they were seated in a booth and given coffee.

  “Tell me what the hell has gotten into you,” Brady demanded. “Since when do you go all stalker on me, Ronny? You’re acting like…I don’t know, like you’re obsessed with me or something.”

  Ronny clenched his jaw as he looked out the large window. His hands were on the table, and he curled them into fists. For a moment, Brady didn’t think Ronny would talk to him. There was a lot about his friend that he didn’t know. Ronny had never been the type to talk about his past, which was mostly a blank to Brady.

  They’d lived together for five years, and for the first time since they’d met, Brady realized he really didn’t know Ronny. Not like best friends should know each other. He knew Ronny’s favorite foods, his habits, and when he was pissed, like now. But that was all surface stuff. Brady didn’t know what actually made Ronny tick.

  “I’m not gonna give you some sad story about how I grew up as an only child. How my dad ditched us when I was five. How my mom always made everything about her and acted as though I had no needs.” Ronny finally turned and looked at Brady. “I’m not gonna tell you that I’m an attention whore because of her selfishness. That I clung to you because you needed me and I could be your hero. That I’m so jealous that you found a mate and are going to kick me to the curb. I’m not going to tell you any of that.”

  Brady sat there stunned. He had no idea how to respond. His mom and dad weren’t perfect, and Brady hated the fact that they refused to accept a huge part of his life, but they’d mostly doted on him, mostly made him feel loved. When they weren’t trying to actively ignore the fact that he was gay.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “See.” Ronny glared at him. “That’s exactly what I don’t need. Your pity.”

  “But I’m not going to kick you aside,” Brady said, trying to reassure Ronny, but he could te
ll his friend wasn’t listening to him.

  “And I’m not obsessed with you, Brady.” He looked back out the window. Brady waved off the waiter when he approached their table to take their order. “I panicked when you told me you found your mate. I was desperate to save our friendship, but I can see now who’s more important to you.”

  Wow. Just…wow. “So you’re saying that if you can’t be my first priority…what?”

  Ronny pressed his forehead into the tabletop and groaned. “I’m the worst best friend ever, and I’m also a wreck without you. I never realized that I needed you as much as you needed me.”

  True, Ronny had been a godsend when Brady needed a friend, but Ronny was making it seem as though life couldn’t go on unless they went back to the way things were. And that would never happen. He valued their friendship, but life constantly changed. They weren’t going to be running around Tampa club hopping, getting so wasted that they woke up with hangovers. Brady and Harmon were together now. But that didn’t mean he and Ronny could no longer be friends.

  Unfortunately, that was what Ronny made it seem like, that Brady had to choose between his friend and his mate. At least, that was the impression Brady got.

  He reached across the table and touched Ronny’s hand. “You can still move here. Just because I’m with Harmon doesn’t mean—”

  Ronny snatched his hand away. “It’ll never be the same.”

  “Of course not,” Brady said. “We get older, and our priorities change. But that doesn’t mean our friendship is any less important to me.”

  “So important that you made me go back to my room while you and him had dinner and then went home, completely forgetting I was here?”

  “You’re being completely unreasonable,” Brady said. “It’s like when you started dating that guy from the dry cleaners. You spent so much time with him that I hardly saw you.”

  “Don’t you dare make this about you,” Ronny snapped. “This is about me, how I’ve always been there for you, how I was the one who picked up the pieces every time some asshole dumped you. How I was the one who helped you move on to the next jerk. You wouldn’t have made it in Tampa if I hadn’t been there for you.”

  Ronny’s voice had gotten so loud that people were staring at them.

  Brady saw now that there was no reasoning with Ronny. How had he never known his friend was so selfish? How had he not seen the signs? Maybe Brady had and just chose to ignore them. But he couldn’t ignore them now.

  Ronny scowled. “I’ve booked a flight home. You’ve found another jerk to cling to, and I’m obviously not needed.”

  “Harmon isn’t a jerk!” Brady curled his lips in, angry with himself that he’d allowed Ronny to get under his skin.

  Ronny shrugged. “You’ll see. He’ll use you like all the other guys used you, except I won’t be there to pick up the pieces. You traded our friendship for a stranger.”

  Brady was slack-jawed as he watched Ronny storm from the diner. He blinked a few times and looked down at the cup of coffee he’d yet to touch. Tears stung his eyes. The loss of Ronny as a friend hurt, but Brady was angry as fuck, too.

  Clearly their friendship had had conditions, and Brady hadn’t met them. He wiped at his eyes and tossed a few dollars onto the table before walking out.

  Now more than ever he needed Harmon. Brady pulled out his phone and dialed his mate as he walked down the street.

  “Hello, sunshine,” Harmon said when he answered. “Miss me already?”

  Despite the mixture of emotions Brady felt boiling inside him, he grinned. “Yeah, I do. Where are you?”

  “The grocery store. Anything you want me to pick up while I’m here?”

  “You already have the most important thing.”

  “And what’s that?” Harmon asked.

  “My heart. I’m on my way. Don’t finish shopping without me.” Brady picked up his pace. He knew his friendship with Ronny was over. Brady was ready to close that chapter of his life. If he was being honest with himself, Ronny was never a true friend to begin with. But he would cherish the good times they’d had. He just hoped his friend found someone who could mend him.

  His relationship with his father would always be strained. Brady knew that and accepted that fact. As long as his parents didn’t cut Brady out of their lives, he’d consider them a work in progress. He’d make them see how happy Harmon made him feel. Sooner or later they had to come around, right? If not, so be it.

  Brady refused to give another thought to the negativity in his life. He had Harmon, a sweet, gentle man who had made him happy. Anyone who didn’t like what Brady and Harmon had could kick dirt.

  He made it the grocery store and found Harmon poking fresh fruit. There was a turkey in his cart, along with side dishes for their Christmas dinner.

  Harmon was the best gift Brady could’ve received. He walked up behind his mate and slid his arms around him. “You keep poking at those melon balls and I might get jealous.”

  Harmon chuckled. “Your balls are the only ones I’m interested in.”

  “You’re such a charmer.” Brady grinned when Harmon turned in his arms, those blue beauties shining with humor.

  “How’d your breakfast with Ronny go?”

  “We’ll talk about that later.” Brady rose up on his toes and kissed Harmon in the produce section, his heart expanding as he realized he’d fallen in love with the guy. “Is it too soon to say I love you?”

  Harmon gave a little growl and curled his arms around Brady. “Never, just as long as it’s not too soon to say I love you, too.”

  As they shopped, Brady noticed a short guy peeking at them from the end of the aisle. The guy gave Brady a thumbs-up, grinning like an idiot. There were also candy canes on the floor by the guy’s feet, as if he dropped them wherever he went.

  “Harmon, isn’t that the guy from outside your house?”

  When Harmon turned to look, the guy was gone. Whoever he had been, Brady had a feeling the short shit had something to do with bringing him and Harmon together, and for that, Brady would be forever grateful.

  He let Harmon’s hand go when his phone rang. Brady wasn’t sure he wanted to answer it when he saw that his dad was calling. But he did. “Hello?”

  His dad cleared his throat. “Hi, son. Can we talk?”

  Brady chewed his bottom lip. “Now’s not a really good time.”

  “I know, but I just had to let you know that I love you.” He cleared his throat again. “I was just wondering if you and Harmon wanted to come over for Christmas.”

  Right there in the aisle, tears filled Brady’s eyes. “We would love that.”

  Harmon slid his arm around Brady and smiled, kissing him on his temple. This, by far, would be the best Christmas Brady had ever had.

  Chapter Eleven

  Hawk looked around the Den. When he was told his mate was in an alternate reality, he had no idea…fuck. He felt as though he was in a Tim Burton house. Everything seemed opposite here—no brightly colored walls, clean carpet, dust-free surfaces, or light.

  “What the hell did we just step into?” Hawk asked as the warriors moved through the house.

  “Our worst nightmare,” Maverick said. “Or Nero’s.”

  Hawk agreed. Nero probably had a heart attack when he saw this place. His pretty baby wasn’t going to be doing much better. This version of the Den was definitely nightmarish.

  “Johnny!” Hawk didn’t care if Krampus came at them. He was determined to find his mate and kill the creature who had trapped him. He was also worried about North. No child should have to experience this. She would more than likely be traumatized by this ordeal.

  Hawk shouted again then spun when he heard his mate scream. The warriors took off toward the library, but when they reached it, the doors were locked.

  Montana tried to ram into them with his shoulder, but they wouldn’t give. This time Montana and Hawk tried together, but they still didn’t budge.

  This time it was North who screamed,
and Hawk was frantic to get inside and save her. “North! Hang on, sweetheart.”

  Honest to god, Hawk hadn’t known her that long, but already she’d wormed her way into his heart, just like Johnny had when he’d first laid eyes on his mate. Hawk had a tender heart when it came to mates and anyone else who needed protecting, and if her parents showed up, Hawk would find a way to keep her in their lives. There was just something about her. Maybe it was because Johnny loved her so much, or that she seemed so shy, but he would make sure she was well taken care of.

  When their third attempt failed, Hawk took a step back and brushed his hands over the wood. The library door had a simple lock. They should’ve busted it down on their first try. What was holding it?

  “He’s using magic,” Maverick surmised. The alpha looked at Tinsel. “Can you counter it?”

  Tinsel was about four feet tall, but stocky, reminding Hawk of someone military. He had a crewcut hairstyle, dark emerald green eyes, and wore black fatigues. Even though he was a shrimp, he still appeared intimidating.

  Tinsel shook his head. “His magic equals Nick’s. No one at the workshop can rival that. If none of you can break the door down, we’re gonna have to wait on Nick to get here.”

  “Then where the fuck is he?” Kota snapped. “He should’ve been here by now.”

  Hawk paced in front of the doors, his hands tucked behind his back. Johnny’s cries for help were gutting him, but until they could get the doors open, there wasn’t a fucking thing he could do.

  Feeling helpless wasn’t something Hawk was used to.

  This time it sounded as if all the mates were screaming. Hawk was about to lose his shit as he rammed his booted foot into the door, shouting Johnny’s name.

  * * * *

  “Will you guys stop freaking yelling,” Cecil said. “It stopped coming at us.”

  Johnny looked toward the door and saw that Krampus had turned its back, sliding its hand over the wood. It cocked its head to the side, as if studying it.