Stenley paused, letting the silence give weight to his words before continuing. “Eva also knows that I am going to take her down. Hard.”
Zeke’s stomach twisted in a knot, not over what the sheriff promised to do to Eva, but over the tapes Zeke foolishly hadn’t bothered to listen to. All that mattered, all that really hit Zeke was that she had threatened Brendon. Visions of his lover beaten and broken, or worse, swam before his eyes. Fury pulsed through him, over him, trembling in his muscles.
“Nothing, no one, is going to hurt Brendon.” Zeke rose out of his chair. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but he had a vague notion of finding Eva and doing…something. Brendon jumped up to stop him as Sheriff Stenley bolted from behind the desk. Neither of them were what made him stop in his tracks, though. No, it was the scent that assailed him, right before he smacked into an invisible force. The impact was hard enough that he bounced backwards into Brendon, knocking him into Stenley in turn. Three grunts hit the air as arms flailed with men trying to keep upright.
“Goddamn it!” Zeke shouted, frustrated and…trapped. It wasn’t something he enjoyed at all.
“Zeke.” Brendon reached for him, grabbed his arm and pulled him around, holding on tight.
Zeke’s eyes met Stenley’s over Brendon’s shoulder. The man looked a little spooked and a lot confused.
“What the fuck,” Stenley grunted out, “just happened?” He and Zeke glared at each other, pissed and ready to burst with it. “And what is up with that smell again?”
Sheriff Stenley narrowed his eyes at Zeke, as though he were somehow responsible for this. The fact that he was, in a way, took some of the air out of Zeke’s sails. All the years of hurt and anger had finally boiled to the surface, putting Zeke in a dangerous mood. Suddenly he was very glad his mama had smacked some sense into him. He took a deep breath to steady himself, then actually managed to smile at Stenley.
That smile grew bigger the narrower Stenley’s eyes got. “Well…” Zeke placed a kiss on Brendon’s neck, watching the Sheriff the whole time. “How do you feel about spirits, Sheriff Stenley?”
Chapter Eight
Brendon managed to wait until Zeke had put the truck in park behind the house before he reached for his man. They stumbled through the door, wrapped around each other, bucking and pulling their clothes off as they made their way down the hall. When they finally reached the bedroom, Brendon found himself pinned to the closed door, Zeke pressed up hard against him, devouring his mouth in an almost violent kiss. Brendon locked his arms around Zeke’s shoulders and his legs around his lover’s waist, grinding their cocks together. The friction had him groaning into the kiss, everything inside him burning with the need for release.
Pulling his lips away, Zeke latched onto Brendon’s neck, to the purple bruise already there, sucking and biting at the sensitive skin. Brendon’s head fell back, thumping against the door hard enough to make him see stars, or maybe it was from the pleasure shooting throughout his body. Zeke’s hands were everywhere—stomach, cock, ass, back—Brendon couldn’t keep up and didn’t even try, the lips tugging at the skin on his neck taking the last of his senses. All he could think about was how good it felt, and how much he needed Zeke inside him.
“Ah, fuck, Zeke, need you in me now!” Brendon needed so badly he was trying to seat himself on Zeke’s dick, lube and a condom the last things on his mind. Zeke’s arms clamped around him, stopping Brendon from accomplishing his goal. “Goddamn it! Zeke!”
Zeke just grunted as he started walking, Brendon wrapped around him. Zeke fumbled for the lube on the nightstand, bringing it to his mouth to flip the cap open, and Brendon finally found a measure of relief as two big lubed fingers pushed into his hole, burying deep and bringing a burn of pleasure-pain.
“So fucking tight.” Zeke added a third finger and brushed against Brendon’s prostate. Brendon howled and jerked his hips. “More, baby?” Zeke asked through gritted teeth, lowering them both to the bed before he removed his fingers from Brendon’s tight channel.
“Zeke, yes. Please.” Brendon reached for his lover as Zeke pushed himself back up and stepped away. A firm shake of Zeke’s head had Brendon dropping his arms back down by his sides. He watched impatiently as his lover dug a foil package out of the nightstand drawer. The package was ripped open and the condom rolled down Zeke’s enticing length in a quick, smooth stroke. A coating of lube followed, then Zeke was moving back toward Brendon.
“Legs on my shoulders,” Zeke ordered, sliding his hands under Brendon’s ass, tilting his hips. Zeke lined his cock up with Brendon’s snug pucker and clasped his big hands around Brendon’s wrists. With two quick, hard thrusts, he buried his prick to the hilt, groaning as a tremor worked over him. Brendon felt his cock leak, the fullness in his ass and the look on his lover’s face drawing his balls tight. He tried to move his hips, needing Zeke to thrust.
“Stop. Lock your legs around my neck, baby, trust me.” Green eyes burned, watching until Brendon nodded. Legs locked, Brendon found himself being dragged off the bed as Zeke stood, still clasping his wrists, holding him suspended at a downward angle. Gently, Zeke lowered Brendon’s shoulders and head to the floor while widening his stance so his dick was still buried fully inside Brendon. Zeke nodded at Brendon, then released his wrists.
Brendon braced his weight on his elbows and forearms, shoulders and neck as Zeke gripped his hips firmly, locking them together. Slowly, he began moving, barely thrusting, watching Brendon’s face intently. Zeke’s cock stroked his gland with each thrust, and Brendon’s vision blurred with sheer ecstasy. Damn, Zeke was going to kill him like this. He groaned as Zeke started moving faster, harder, jarring thrusts that had Brendon’s elbows and shoulders sliding across the floor. Zeke clamped an arm down across the tops of Brendon’s thighs, keeping him from slipping away as Zeke pumped into his ass with a ferocity that Brendon thought might have scared him, if it hadn’t felt so damned good. His eyes rolled back as the strokes on his gland continued. Brendon had never been fucked like this, and wasn’t sure how much more of the pleasure he could take.
“Guh…gonna…” He gave up on being coherent when Zeke wrapped his other hand around Brendon’s dripping dick and tugged.
“Ah! Godddd!” Brendon shouted, back arching and vision blackening as his orgasm ripped him inside out, hot cum hitting his cheek and God only knew where else. Zeke cursed and released Brendon’s cock as his own orgasm hit, ramming his dick in deep and biting the inside of Brendon’s leg as hot jets of cum filled the latex. Zeke pumped his hips over and over, groaning and grinding through his climax.
“Shit,” Zeke muttered once he’d stopped trembling, bracing Brendon’s legs as he pulled out from Brendon’s hole. He held on, sliding Brendon’s hips down until they rested on the floor, then Zeke reached down and helped Brendon to stand. Grabbing him by the back of the head, Zeke leaned in and kissed Brendon, a sweet, heart-melting kiss that brought tears to his eyes. Jesus, this man had him, Brendon knew it. Zeke was it for him, and that was pretty much that. He watched his lover’s gaze heat up as their kiss became harder, needier.
Brendon nipped, then pulled back just enough to whisper, “I love you,” across Zeke’s lips. Part of him was really afraid to share that information with his lover, but his heart just wouldn’t let him hold those words in any longer.
Zeke paused, froze actually. All except for his eyes, because something in them seemed to just melt, going happy and soft, and Brendon knew it was fine. He saw the words there, swimming in those gem-colored eyes, before Zeke ever said them back.
“I love you, too, baby,” Zeke murmured, pulling Brendon closer, “and I’m gonna show you just how much.”
* * * *
He had to wake up, now. The urgency pounded in his head, sure and strong, as his mama’s subtle scent enveloped him. Beside him, Zeke felt Brendon wake, knew his man’s eyes had just flown open with the same sudden awareness. Zeke felt a nudge on his bare shoulder, and judging from Brendon’s jerk besi
de him, Zeke figured his lover had received the same warning.
“We need to get up, now.” Zeke rolled quietly from the bed, felt Brendon sit up and press against his back. Hands linked, they rose, letting go of each other only long enough to slide on their jeans, all the while being gently battered by the invisible force. Zeke picked up his cell phone with his free hand and passed it to Brendon. Leading them stealthily into the bathroom, Zeke locked the door and pulled his lover behind him as Brendon sent off a text to Sheriff Stenley. When Zeke didn’t get an immediate reply, he called him, unwilling to wait a second longer to get help. Stenley’s voice was rough with sleep but loud over the cell phone, giving both Brendon and Zeke a moment of worry.
“Get here now,” Brendon whispered, then disconnected and turned the phone’s volume off. An eerie silence fell over the house. Zeke felt his heart slam in his chest, the tell-tale signs of a panic attack setting in as his breathing started to come in spastic little jerks. Not now, he couldn’t have this happen now. Brendon wrapped his arms around Zeke, head resting on his shoulder.
“Breathe, baby, breathe with me.” The words, so soft, spoken into Zeke’s ear as hands caressed his chest, soothing and loving. Brendon drew in deeply, urging Zeke to follow his example. “Concentrate on me, Ezekiel,” he pleaded softly.
Zeke forced his muscles to relax, refusing to let the panic take over. Air reached his lungs, filling them so he no longer felt like he was suffocating. Breath for breath, he followed Brendon, trusting that his man was right, that he could do this. The creak of the bedroom door sounded loudly in Zeke’s ears, causing his breath to hitch for a second before resuming. That sound finished what Brendon had set out to do—the panic attack vanished and fury took its place.
Enough. He’d had enough of being afraid, of feeling hunted and hated. It was time for this to end. Zeke started to step forward, only to find he was caught tight in Brendon’s grip. He turned to glare at his lover, meeting his eyes.
“No, Zeke. If she has a weapon, a gun, we could both be killed. Both of us.” Brendon’s eyes bored into his just as the words he spoke almost stopped Zeke’s heart.
He hadn’t thought of that, of Brendon being hurt, possibly…worse, even. What kind of idiot was he? Zeke’s chin dropped to his chest just as a loud thump came from the bedroom. Guess his sister hadn’t seen the footlocker he kept at the base of the bed. That thought had his lips tilting up despite their precarious situation. The sound of muted footsteps approaching the door knocked the amusement right out of him. Another sound sent a chill through Zeke—a second set of footsteps. The significance of those unexpected sounds had Zeke pushing Brendon tight behind him up against the bathroom cabinet. Brendon wasn’t happy about it, judging by the squirming the man was doing, but he was wise enough to know he couldn’t do much about his situation without letting the intruders know exactly where they were. Zeke knew, however, that the bruising grip Brendon had on his upper arm was a promise of retaliation for later. That was fine with him—he’d be pretty pissed if their positions were reversed.
The quiet turning of the doorknob almost caused Zeke’s heart to stop. For one frightening moment, Zeke thought maybe he hadn’t locked the door even, though he knew he had. He shook his head to push away the irrational doubt and fear. There would be no giving in to it, or to panic, not now. When the knob stopped turning, proving the door was locked to everyone on both sides of it, Zeke heard what he thought were muffled voices coming from his room. Yes, he thought, now you know that we know you’re out there, fuckers. He stood perfectly still, not willing to chance Brendon being shot or injured in any way. The assault he was expecting on the door didn’t come, though. Instead, there were slight thuds that eventually filtered through his brain as sounds of retreat.
Zeke dove for the door, intending to put an end to this harassment. He wanted it over and done with so he and Brendon could get on with their lives. Brendon’s hand, still clamped around Zeke’s upper arm, prevented him from grabbing the doorknob and following the intruders. He tried to spin around and break Brendon’s grip, but the man was surprisingly strong, locking both arms around Zeke to hold him in place.
“I don’t think so, love.” Brendon’s voice carried a hint of anger. “Not until we get the all-clear from Sheriff Stenley. I know you heard two sets of footsteps, just like I did. It could be a trap—lead us out, jump us, and since neither one of us can outrun a bullet, we both wait right here. You better understand something, Zeke. Where you go, I go. We stay together.”
“Damn it, Brendon.” Zeke slumped against his lover, knowing he was right. “I wasn’t going to confront them, just slip out and try to determine for sure who it was.” He wouldn’t endanger Brendon any more than he already had by forcing a confrontation. Opening the bathroom door and giving chase when he didn’t even know how many intruders there were—what if there were more than the two they’d heard? Added to that, he and Brendon had no way of knowing what manner of weapons were waiting for them through that door. Zeke did know Brendon was right—again. Trying to follow whoever was in the house was every bit as foolish as confronting them. He would have to stop letting his temper overrule his common sense.
“Fine. Fine, you’re right. I won’t touch the damned doorknob.” Brendon muttered a few choice words Zeke felt him relax his hold. Stepping back, he pulled the cell phone out of his pocket and fired off a text message, no doubt to Stenley, giving the sheriff an update. That done, he stepped back up to Zeke and poked him in the chest, hard enough that Zeke slapped a hand over the stinging spot right above his heart. He opened his mouth to sound off but Brendon beat him to it.
“If. You. Ever”—Brendon stabbed his finger into Zeke’s chest, punctuating each word with a jab, startling and pissing him off at the same time—“Pin. Me.”
Zeke caught the finger before it could stab at him again. “Stop with the whole finger thing, babe.” Because really, it was stoking his temper something fierce, and Zeke didn’t want to snap at his man—much. Brendon jerked his finger back out of Zeke’s grasp. Instead of poking, he leaned in close to Zeke. The scent of Brendon, all man and anger, filled Zeke’s senses. Everything was blotted out except that smell, which flowed through Zeke and had his cock filling with need. God, Brendon could turn him inside out in a heartbeat. Zeke’s lips quirked and he sincerely hoped his lover wouldn’t see them in the dark bathroom.
“Don’t ever do that again, Ezekiel, or I will kick your ass. You can stand beside me, but not in front of me, got it?”
Zeke could have argued that Brendon would have done the same thing, but he was aware that his lover was talking about their relationship as a whole, not just this one instance. In that context, Brendon was right. He’d do his best to make sure and remember that.
“All right, babe, but you know it’s natural to want to protect the ones we love. It doesn’t mean I think you are any less capable than me, it just means that I would rather die than have you hurt.” Zeke might have said more, but Brendon grabbed his head and pulled him down for a searing kiss.
“Same goes, Zeke, same goes.”
* * * *
Brendon sighed as they pulled into the parking lot of the sheriff’s office. At this rate, they would be assigned their own parking slot. After the early morning break-in and Sheriff Stenley’s subsequent interviews and inspection of the premises, there hadn’t been time to go back to sleep. Frankly, he felt like cold shit and knew Zeke couldn’t feel much better. Glancing over at the man he loved, Brendon noted the dark smudges under Zeke’s eyes, the pronounced lines around his tightened lips. He reached across the seat and took Zeke’s hand.
“Hey”—he waited until Zeke looked at him,—“at least nothing was damaged at the ranch, including us, Zeke.” In fact, the only damage had been the jimmying of the front door lock and a lamp that had been knocked over. Sheriff Stenley was quick to point out it could have been much worse, and that next time, it might very well be. The fact Brendon and Zeke had heard two intruders was extremel
y troubling. Some partial footprints the sheriff had found also backed it up. Stenley, along with Zeke and Brendon, was determined to bring this insanity to a swift end before someone got hurt.
Watching the emotion swirling around in Zeke’s eyes, Brendon had to fight his instinct to slide across the bench seat and hold the man in his arms. While they hadn’t had a problem the few times they had come into town, it wouldn’t do to give anyone a chance to raise a ruckus. The inability to show his lover affection out in public was the only thing Brendon regretted about being gay. Not that he would change who he was. No, the change needed to be on the part of society as a whole, and that was a long way off. Certainly too far off to do him any good right now.
Zeke gave Brendon’s hand a slight squeeze, then turned back to look over the parking lot. “Doesn’t look like Stenley’s cruiser is here. Must have gotten an emergency call.”
Brendon glanced around and realized that the Sheriff’s cruiser was, indeed, gone. Well, hell, maybe the man would be back soon. It wasn’t like there was a lot of crime out in this area…unless it was directed at Zeke and himself.
A Subtle Breeze Page 10
