Keaton felt the explosion of heat from Kade’s mouth to his as his mate leaned down and took Keaton’s lips in a passionate kiss. Keaton moaned, harsh and wild into Kade’s mouth as he began to grind his body against his mate’s.
Kade held still, watching Keaton as he writhed and twisted. Keaton could tell his mate was enjoying the feel of their cocks rubbing together…so was he. His blood began to thunder through his veins, making Keaton whimper.
“Does my little kitty cat want to get fucked?” Kade asked in a rough and raspy voice. Keaton couldn’t still the twisting of his hips as he fought to get closer. His blood was heating, burning through him, surging to all places south.
“Don’t tease me, Kade,” Keaton murmured under his breath, body taut with expectation. “I need.”
“And I will always give you what you need.”
Keaton’s whole body jerked and began to shake as Kade reached down, his fingers slipping into the crease of Keaton’s ass.
“Mother fuck,” Kade said with a growl, and Keaton knew that his mate felt the plug that Keaton had inserted. His mate grabbed the hard plastic and jostled it, making Keaton arch his back off the bed.
“Please,” Keaton shamelessly begged. From his throat came a low, tormented sound of need that surprised even Keaton. Kade easily kept Keaton’s wrists pinned to the mattress with one hand, brushing kisses over Keaton’s eyelids and down his cheek, back to the corner of his mouth.
“You never have to beg me.” Kade leaned back and Keaton kept his arms high above his head as his mate snagged both of Keaton’s legs over his arms. “Remove the plug for me, Keaton. Take my cock into your body.”
Reaching down, Keaton extracted the well-lubed plug and tossed it aside before he reached again, this time grabbing Kade’s cock and pressing the swollen head against his pulsing ass.
Kade drove deep, his cock stretching Keaton wide, the burn blazing inside him. Kade’s eyes held Keaton’s, the teal glowing, living with emotions, brighter, darker than he had ever seen. The contrast was amazing. “I love you, Kade.”
“I love you, too.” His mate’s voice was thick and raspy. Keaton knew that his mate had never uttered those words before and felt like a king as the man stared at Keaton like he was everything to him.
Keaton could feel the muscles inside, flexing, milking Kade as the hunger built and flowed against the heavy shaft invading him.
“Tight and hot,” Kade crooned, lowering his lips to Keaton’s as Keaton’s lashes fluttered closed. Kade brushed his lips over Keaton’s, kissing the parted curves. “Like a hot mouth sucking me deep and tight.”
Keaton jerked, cried out at the stab of pleasure that struck him. His lashes lifted, wanting to watch everything that Kade was doing to him. Kade’s hips jerked, pushing forward with a hard, deep stroke, and a thin, ragged wail tore from Keaton’s lips. Keaton nearly exploded. He felt the vibrations slam inside of him before Kade stopped, a ragged snarl falling from his lips as Keaton screamed his name.
“Fuck, yes. Scream for me. Scream my name.”
“Kade,” Keaton shouted as Kade began to move again. Keaton’s body moved with serpentine-like jerks under Kade, twisting as his mate fucked him harder.
“Yeah. Oh yeah. Scream my name, baby. Kade’s fucking you. Taking you.” Kade pulled back. “Who does the sweet ass belong to?”
Kade impaled Keaton, pressed hard and fast inside him, as he screamed his mate’s name again.
“Damn right. Kade. Kade’s fucking you.”
Keaton watched as Kade’s eyes burned brighter, his canines elongating as he wildly took Keaton. He fought to breathe as he watched Kade’s nostrils flare. His mate’s cheekbones appeared flushed beneath the dark tan, his lips fuller, more sensual.
Keaton had never seen Kade like this, so wild, so possessive. It was like nothing he had ever known. Kade’s hands gripped Keaton’s legs harder, more fiercely as he thrust, plunging into Keaton’s, throwing Keaton higher with each stroke into an orgasm that threatened to destroy him.
Keaton arched his back, trembled and shuttered and fought to be free of the intensity of sensation racking his body.
And then he began to fly. Colors exploded behind his eyes as lightning struck through his veins, thundering through his body. The ride was like being thrown into the heart of an exploding nova. Keaton melted under Kade as he felt the hard, heated throb of Kade’s release right before his mate sank his canines into Keaton’s shoulder. The bite sent Keaton higher, making him scream Kade’s name once more.
His skin was sensitive to the touch as Kade slowed his strokes, releasing Keaton’s legs. His mate stroked Keaton along his stomach as a purr rumbled in the man’s chest. Keaton was shocked when he saw the heavy intent in Kade’s eyes.
He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Kade loved him.
Maverick walked into Christian’s office, furious. “You told me you were sending your most
trusted
. How the hell do you explain your vampires attacking my residents? Three, Christian, three people were attacked.”
“I cannot predict when any of my vampires will go rogue. Just as you cannot predict when one of your shifters has given in to their dark side. It was an unfortunate event. But the job was handled.”
Maverick curled his fingers in as his jaw tightened. He knew what Christian was saying was true, but it didn’t stop the anger that was seething inside of him. The residents of Brac Village were
his
responsibility.
Maverick felt like he had let them down, and that did not sit well with him. The only good that had come from the attacks was that Kevin was now getting the mentoring he needed. Maverick had sent him to Pride Pack Valley. There was a mated resident there named Logan who could help Kevin.
Kevin’s father had finally agreed after hours of arguing with Maverick. He understood the father’s reservation about sending his son to strangers. Maverick had given Rocco his word that Kevin would be safe.
If anyone made Maverick break his promise, he was going to bring them untold pain.
“Now, if we are done shouting,” Christian began, “we can start our meeting.”
* * * *
Kade stood in the middle of the shop, hands on hips, smiling as the supply of wood that he had ordered was being delivered. His fingers were itching to start on his very first order. Cecil had asked Kade to build an armoire with great detail so he could give the gift to his daughter, Melonee.
For now the storefront was empty, but Kade planned on filling it with his woodwork. Aside from the wood, the rest of his equipment was supposed to be delivered later this afternoon. A great sense of pride filled Kade, knowing that he was now a proud business owner.
The gloomy depression that had washed over him the moment he returned Brac Village was now gone, replaced by hope for a better life not only for him but his mate as well. Keaton had gotten a lot better at shifting and learning to differentiate scents.
But his mate was still having a hard time keeping his leopard at bay when he became highly emotional—especially during sex. Kade could live with that.
“Looks good, bro,” Bishop said as he walked into the back of the shop. “Looks like your inventory is finally arriving.”
Kade smiled at his older brother as he nodded. “It’s all coming together.” Kade was referring to more than just the shop. His life was finally coming together as well. He had an amazing mate, a wonderful house with plenty of room to run, and he and Keaton had a nice group of friends—although Kade wasn’t too sure about Cecil.
There was just something about that guy that made Kade feel as if he were hanging around with Satan.
He really wasn’t
that
bad, but the man definitely held a wicked gleam in his amethyst eyes.
As far as Kade could see, Oliver was doing all right. Whenever Kade visited the hut, Oliver was laughing and chatting with Keaton. He wasn’t an expert, not by a long shot. But it seemed that Oliver was going to be okay. The guy had even befriended Kade, asking him if Kade and Keaton wanted to hang out with him and Micah.
He had no problems with that. He was glad when Oliver told him Blair was doing fine. He really hadn’t meant for the brothers to find out. Kade didn’t hold the slipup against Keaton. The secret was out in the open and it looked like the brothers were going to be okay.
“Let me know if you need any help,” Bishop said. “I’m not that bad at carving.”
“Dude, I’ve seen your work. You carve just about as well as I drive.” Kade chuckled.
Bishop’s eyes softened. “It’s good to see you laughing again, Kade. It’s good to have you home, too.” His brother rubbed the back of his neck, as if telling Kade how he felt was like pulling teeth from a lion. “I’m proud of you,” his brother muttered.
Bishop had no idea how much that compliment meant to Kade. He had always looked up to his older brother and Bishop’s opinion always mattered to him. The anger and resentment that had festered inside of Kade for so many years over the injustice was almost gone, nonexistent. He had heard that his friend who had accused him of setting up the rape had passed away a few years back.
Kade couldn’t find it in himself to mourn the loss. But he had a life to look forward to now so he wasn’t going to dwell on his past.
He had a bright future and a sexy mate, and that was all Kade focused on. Keaton had taught him a valuable lesson about life, love, and forgiveness. He would forever be grateful to his sexy little leopard.
He directed the delivery men on where to put the supply of wood, feeling at ease and content for the first time in his life.
* * * *
Ahm returned to the ranch after his meeting with the Ultionem. His back was killing him and all he wanted to do was lie down. Bryce was standing in the living room, watching as Ahm shimmered in.
The damn bear was always watching him lately, as if Ahm was going to drop his load at any second.
“How did the meeting go?” Bryce asked as he ran his hands over Ahm’s swollen belly. Okay, admittedly Ahm enjoyed the attention. He loved when his bear rubbed his belly. During his pregnancy, he had found that the act turned him on. The doctor said that it was natural, normal since his hormone levels were so high.
Ahm thought it was weird as hell.
“Boring, my little ray of psychotic sunshine, but I have to attend nonetheless.”
Bryce growled. “You’re not supposed to be shimmering. The doc says it can add stress.”
Ahm inwardly groaned. He and Bryce had had this argument many times. With his back hurting the way it did, he was in no mood to rehash the valid points he had already made. “I’m fine.”
Bryce cupped Ahm’s face, his grey eyes searching. “You don’t look fine. You look pale and sweaty.”
Ahm pulled his head back in aggravation. “I’m pale by nature if you hadn’t noticed.” He opened his mouth to tell Bryce to back the fuck off when a strange noise fell from his lips. The sharpest pain he had ever felt in his life circled around his stomach and intensified right by his navel.
Bryce’s forehead creased. “What was that?”
Ahm’s hand flew to his stomach as his eyes snapped up toward Bryce. “I think you need to call the doctor.”
Bryce looked momentarily confused, cocking his head to the side. “Why would I call—Oh…oh yeah! Oh shit! Now? Right now?”
Ahm wanted to laugh and smack Bryce at the same time. He doubled over, crying out as the pain became worse. “Yes, now!”
Bryce ran toward the kitchen, pivoted on his heel, and ran back toward Ahm. “What can I do? Do you need anything?”
“A fucking doctor would be nice right about now!” Ahm grabbed the back of the couch, panting through the pain. His mate ran from the room and Ahm tried to move around the couch to sit down but the pain was too much.
He heard loud footsteps coming down the stairs and then Chauncey appeared. “What the heck are you doing? Why are you crawling on the floor? Bryce is going to be pissed if he sees you like this.”
“I’m in labor, you fucking moron.” Ahm was grateful for the small reprieve when the pain eased, finally giving him a chance to breathe.
“Bryce!” Chauncey shouted at the top of his lungs, his eyes panicked. The big bear began to backpedal, quickly retreating. “I’ll—I’ll go…uh…boil some water.”
Ahm ignored the nutty bear as the pain started to build again, wrapping around his stomach, centering at his back, and then shooting up his spine. He shouted, curling his hands into fists as he braced himself.
“I’m right here, snuggle puffs. The doctor is on his way.” Bryce scooped Ahm off of the floor and raced upstairs. He kicked their bedroom door open and quickly placed Ahm on the bed. “Tell me what you need me to do.”
Ahm rolled to his side, breathing heavily. “Since this is our first child, the first time I’ve ever been pregnant, how the fuck should I know?” Ahm didn’t mean to be such a prick, but he had never been in this much pain. “I swear to god, if you ever get me pregnant again, I’ll shoot you between the eyes.” Ahm delivered the threat as he ground his teeth.
“Uh, yeah…okay.” Bryce began to pull Ahm’s pants down his body and then tossed them aside. He grabbed a small blanket at the end of the bed and covered Ahm’s groin. “Doc said to get you ready.”
“I’m ready. I’m ready.” Ahm nearly cried the words as he felt as if a hole were opening up along his abdomen. “What is happening to me?”
Bryce’s eyes grew wide as he glanced at Ahm’s belly. “I think your body is creating a way for our child to be born.” His mate crawled onto the bed, situating himself between Ahm’s legs. “I don’t think she or he is going to wait for the doctor.”
“You need help?” Pa asked as he walked into the room. “Holy mother of grace,” he said as he glanced at Ahm. “Son, what is wrong with your stomach?”
Ahm was getting tired of everybody looking at his belly as if an alien was about to pop out of him. The only thing he wanted right now was relief from the pain. He didn’t give a shit at this point if he sprouted two heads. He just wanted this over with. “I don’t know.”