by Lynn Hagen
When he looked up, one of Keller’s brows was raised. “I was wondering how long you were going to struggle.”
“I at least get points for trying,” Horace said. He engulfed the head of Keller’s cock, creating a suction as he lashed his tongue over the swollen head, licking at the pre-cum and moaning at the taste.
“Fuck, Horace. You’re being very naughty.” He used his right hand to grip Horace’s hair and punch his hips forward in tight, short strokes.
Horace had to grab the base in order not to choke. Keller wasn’t a small man when it came to dick size. His girth was impressive, too.
But it was Keller’s dirty words that had Horace sucking the cock down his throat. He used the flat of his tongue to trace the length as he relaxed his throat muscles, praying he didn’t gag.
He might not have gotten head before, but Horace had given it. He knew what he was doing and was excited to bring Keller off. His mate’s thighs shook, and his hand strangled Horace’s hair. When Horace looked up again, Keller was still watching him, but his jaw was clenched tight and he had a hungry look in his gray eyes.
When Keller took a step back, his cock slipping from between Horace’s lips, Horace didn’t know what to think and whimpered his displeasure.
Until Keller finished undressing.
Horace started to get off the bed and help. Keller’s right arm was tight at his side, and it looked hard to undress with just one hand. But Horace waited, allowing his mate to do this on his own.
Keller would feel more accomplished if he did, though helping him get naked would’ve been a lot more fun.
Neither said a word until Keller was fully undressed. Horace pushed to his knees and clapped, grinning like an idiot.
“So not funny.” Keller tossed his underwear at Horace, and Horace jerked to the side to dodge them. “Glad I could entertain you.”
He didn’t say it harshly, so Horace knew his mate was being good-natured about it. Some men might’ve turned bitter after what had happened and losing some use of an arm. Keller didn’t seem to be one of those men. He’d gotten bitten, survived, and was now pushing forward.
That was hot as hell in Horace’s opinion.
“A slow striptease is always entertaining.” Any kind of nudity that involved having Keller’s gorgeous body on display would be a thrill for Horace.
“Now can I have my treat back?” Horace licked his lips as he stared at Keller’s long and hard cock. The shaft glistened from the moisture of his mouth.
“You promised me dessert.” Keller spun his finger in the air indicting that he wanted Horace to turn around. “And my appetite is ravenous for your ass, sweetheart.”
A thrill shot through Horace. His skin tingled, and his hole pulsed as he did what Keller wanted. He jutted his ass in the air, wiggling it. “It’s all yours.”
Keller slid his hand over Horace’s twin globes, groaning as he looked down at him. Horace was looking over his shoulder, watching his mate’s every move, the raw need in his gray eyes, and how his canines were still protruding from under his lip.
He’d never seen anyone look at him like that before, as if Keller needed him just as much as Horace needed his mate.
Horace hissed and moaned when Keller brushed a finger over his hole. “So fucking beautiful.”
He was also a bit embarrassed to have someone staring at the most intimate part of his body. He’d never been examined so closely, and by a doctor no less. No, by a lover, no less.
When Keller dropped to his knees and bathed Horace’s entrance with his tongue, Horace cried out, curling his fingers into the bedding. He spread his legs wider, pushing back as Keller drove his tongue forward. The room became ten degrees hotter. Horace’s skin felt sensitive and alive, buzzing with pulses of excitement as his lips parted and he mewled his pleasure.
Keller pushed a thumb inside him, and Horace lost the ability to think. He curled his toes and tried to keep his breathing even, but he was panting too hard and too fast, his cock thick and heavy, brushing across the bedding as he thrust back and forth onto Keller’s mouth.
His orgasm was close, cresting to the point that Horace was desperate for release. The sensations at his backside mounted, making him bite his lower lip.
“Keller,” Horace said in choppy pants. “I…I…oh, god.”
His pleading voice seemed to only spur Keller on. Keller sucked and licked, driving Horace mad. Horace pressed his forehead into the mattress, rocking his head back and forth as Keller worked his tongue and finger in and out of Horace’s body.
How could anyone feel this much desire and need and not die from the sheer pleasure? Horace wasn’t even touching himself, and he was ready to explode.
He closed his eyes and counted to ten, trying to make this last, but his body wouldn’t calm down enough for him to catch a breath. Keller ate at him like he was dining on his favorite meal, thrusting his tongue, jerking his finger in and out of Horace’s hole. His beard only added to the thrill, scraping along Horace’s already sensitive skin.
It all became too much, and Horace stiffened, strangling the cover as he shouted Keller’s name. His body erupted, and he saw stars as he came so hard his balls actually hurt. He jerked and twisted as Keller fucked Horace’s ass with his mouth and finger, pushing him higher and faster until Horace collapsed, feeling boneless.
Keller nipped one of his cheeks then the other. “We’re far from done, sweetheart.”
Horace wasn’t sure he could take anymore. He wasn’t even sure he could move a muscle. But one touch from Keller, a kiss to his inner thighs, and Horace was flipping over and scooting backward.
Keller climbed onto the bed and lay next to him. He wiped at his mouth before he placed a blazing kiss on Horace’s lips. He cupped Keller’s face and sipped at his mouth, teasing his mate’s lips with his tongue and taking tiny bites.
It was the most amazing sex he’d ever had, and Keller hadn’t even fucked him yet.
“I love you.” Horace stilled. The words had slipped past his throat before he knew they were there. He stared into Keller’s gray eyes, worried his mate wasn’t ready to hear him say that.
A slow smile curved upward, and Keller’s eyes shined. “Say that again.”
Horace felt himself blush, which was ridiculous after what Keller had just done to his body. His backside still tingled, and his limbs were still as limp as wet noodles. Yet his face felt as if it had caught fire.
“That just slipped out.” Horace was still cupping Keller’s face, still looking into his pretty eyes. “But I meant them.”
Keller placed a kiss on Horace’s nose. “Say that again.”
“I love you.”
Keller’s smile was blindingly beautiful. “You mean it.”
“Of course I mean it,” Horace said. “I don’t throw those words around casually. In fact, I’ve never uttered them to anyone before. Well, I’ve told Layne, Stevie, and Stanton that I love them, but not in that way.”
“You’re babbling.” Keller kissed his chin. “I know what you mean.”
His mate settled his hand on Horace’s stomach. “I tried to fight any thoughts of you. I’d already been hurt enough,” Keller confessed. “I just couldn’t seem to stay away from you, no matter how hard I tried. There was something about you that I couldn’t resist.” He kissed Horace’s jaw. “I was afraid to open myself up again, but I’m glad I did, or I would’ve missed out on this…us.” He looked Horace in his eyes. “I love you, too, sweetheart. Got that feeling stuck right in my chest, in my heart, and I never want it to go away.”
They kissed for what felt like forever, Keller’s hand skimming over Horace’s chest, arm, hip, and stomach. His mate didn’t seem able to stop himself from touching Horace.
Horace turned, tossing his leg over Keller’s hip, elated that his declaration wasn’t one-sided. With concentrated effort, Keller used his left arm to align his cock to Horace’s hole. Horace felt the spurt before his mate thrust inside him.
They lay chest to chest, H
orace’s leg still over Keller’s hip, as they made slow love. Keller cupped Horace’s ass, drawing him in closer, devouring his mouth.
While still impaled, Horace shoved at Keller’s chest until his mate rolled to his back, taking Horace with him. He straddled his mate, pressing his hands against Keller’s swollen pecs, tweaking his nipples as he rode his mate’s cock.
Keller threw his head back, hissing, cupping Horace’s backside with one hand, the other lying limply at his side. Horace gloried in the fact that Keller was still alive. The only important thing was that his mate was living and breathing and still there. The cythraul hadn’t succeeded in killing him, and Horace held on to that thought as he rose and fell, impaling himself over and over again.
His mate slid his hand to Horace’s hip, planted his feet, and thrust upward. Horace had never felt so close to anyone, ever. It was as if they were in sync, body, mind, and soul. He was starting to understand what being mated truly meant.
“I love you,” Horace said. He bent down and fused their lips together, letting Keller take over. His mate spun them, using his good arm to brace himself above Horace.
Horace curled his legs around Keller’s waist, holding on as his mate punched his hips forward, driving his cock deeper.
Then Keller sank his canines into Horace’s shoulder, making him cry out as he came for the second time, Keller joining him with his own release.
They cuddled next to each other, spooning. Horace laid his hand over Keller’s arm, which was draped over him. Never had he felt this content. Horace had started to drift off to sleep when nausea hit him so hard he didn’t think he’d make it to the bathroom.
This was not how he wanted to end his evening, hugging a toilet as he emptied whatever he had on his stomach.
Keller came into the bathroom and wet a cloth, swiping it over Horace’s forehead and neck.
“I thought it was called morning sickness,” Horace whined. “It’s not morning.”
“Sorry, hon. Nausea usually comes in the morning, but it can hit at any time.”
He flushed the toilet as Horace sat on the floor and burped, unsure if he was done yet.
“Just rest right there until you feel like getting up.” Keller handed the cloth to Horace, and Horace wiped his mouth.
He needed his toothbrush.
Keller hunkered down next to him. “Feeling any better?”
“A bit.” Horace tossed the cloth at the sink. “I was hoping to skip this part of the pregnancy.”
“Some women do.” Keller brushed his hand over Horace’s hair. “Most don’t.”
Horace wanted to argue that he wasn’t a woman, but Keller was only drawing on the knowledge he had, and that was from “normal” circumstances. Horace now had a new respect for females who did this more than once. Who did it at all, because feeling nauseous sucked.
“I still want to run a blood test just to confirm,” Keller said. “I also want to start you on prenatal vitamins.”
It seemed Dr. O’Brien had taken over. “Fine, Doc. Do whatever you think is necessary. Just make this nausea go away.”
“Crackers and apples,” Keller said. “That’s about all you can do, sweetheart.”
Horace’s mate helped him get up. Horace brushed his teeth and gargled before heading back into the bedroom. “Now I’m starving.”
Keller winked at him. “You worked up an appetite.”
Horace playfully shoved at his mate. “And enjoyed every second of it.”
They dressed and headed downstairs. Horace was thrilled that Nomad had cooked. He was at the stove, plating some food before he turned and looked at them. “Hungry?”
“Ravenous,” Horace said. “It smells like heaven in here.”
Nomad gave them a rare smile. “Have a seat.”
Horace hurried to the table, wondering what Nomad had cooked. Keller joined him, his left arm tucked at his side.
Nomad brought over their plates, and Horace’s jaw dropped. Pan-fried pork chops breaded with breadcrumbs and cooked to a golden perfection. The creamiest mashed potatoes Horace had ever seen, topped with gravy, and steaming broccoli, too.
Horace wasn’t much of a vegetable eater, but he tried a piece, and his eyes rolled back. “This is orgasm on a plate.”
His eyes widened when he realized what he’d said. Keller chuckled, and Nomad winked at Horace. “Glad you approve.”
The others filtered into the kitchen, grabbing a plate and praising Nomad’s cooking. They all sat at the table, but Nomad took his food and walked out.
“Why isn’t he eating with us?” Horace took a bite of his pork chop and drooled. Nomad needed to open his own restaurant. The food was to die for.
Keller wiped a napkin at the corner of Horace’s mouth. “You’ve got gravy leaking. Slow down before you choke.”
Horace noticed that no one answered his question, and he let the subject of Nomad’s departure drop. He’d ask his mate when they were alone.
For now, Horace enjoyed his meal, as well as the company. They ate, talked, and laughed, making this the best dinner he’d ever had.
* * * *
It was one in the morning when Keller slipped from bed, quietly dressed, and met Hayward in the backyard. Quinn had still been awake and promised to keep an eye on Horace while Keller and Hayward hunted down the demon.
Quinn was already keeping an eye on Layne and Connor since Nash was still at the pub. He was also awake because Stevie was raiding the fridge.
Keller hadn’t answered Horace’s question of why Hayward hadn’t joined them at the dinner table because Keller was still trying to figure his brother out. He had no idea what haunted Hayward, and it seemed his brother wasn’t going to tell him.
He was always quiet, pensive, as if he had a million secrets buried in his skull and didn’t want to let any of them out. Keller still didn’t know what Hayward had done in the ten years they’d been apart. Of course Keller was curious, but he didn’t want to pry.
Hayward walked over to some potted plants on the side of the back door and pulled out a long, sharp blade. The metal gleamed in the moonlight. Keller knew what it was for.
To remove the cythraul’s head.
Hayward grabbed a can of lighter fluid and handed it to Keller. “Got a lighter?”
Keller shook his head. Hayward pulled one from his pocket and handed it over. The guy should’ve been a Boy Scout because he was definitely prepared.
Keller looked at the can in his hand and grimaced, unsure he could set a living being on fire. True, the cythraul was an embodiment of pure evil, but he always took the form of a wolf, and Keller didn’t know if he could set an animal on fire.
He looked down at his left arm, the damage the cythraul had done, and thought about how it had tried to take Keller’s life—tried to take him from his mate and unborn child.
“Hold on to that anger,” Hayward said as if he could read Keller’s thoughts. “Use it when we have to kill the creature.”
“How’re we gonna find it?” Keller looked around the backyard. All he heard was crickets and a few frogs in the distance. There wasn’t even a breeze to help bring them a scent that would enable them to track the wolf down.
“You’ve been out of the game too long.” Hayward looked over at him.
They’d played tracking games when they were younger, their aunt insisting that they hone their skills. Hayward had been best at it, Quinn a close second.
Nash had been better at the fighting part. He could twist out of a headlock, swipe his leg out so fast that he took his opponent down before the other person knew what was happening, and throw a mean uppercut.
Keller always had his nose stuck in a book. He’d been fascinated with medicine and its healing components even back then. He’d aced all his science classes in school and was a damn good doctor.
Even if Marcus hadn’t thought Keller had reached for his full potential. But Keller loved interacting with people in the ER, the noise, the rush of emergencies, the thrill of r
acing against the clock or taking his time to make sure his patients fully understood what was going on with them.
Although he never liked seeing a child come through the doors, they were his favorite to interact with. They were so small and vulnerable, putting their trust in his hands without question.
And now Keller was about to become a father, about to have his very own family, and that made his chest swell with pride.
Hayward smacked him on his stomach with the back of his hand. “Get your head in the game. Moon over Horace later.” He made a noise in the back of his throat. “You really have been out of this for too long.”
“I heal, not hunt,” Keller defended. “Sorry if I’ve gone soft.”
Something passed through Hayward’s blue eyes. He turned to face Keller. “I can do this without you. You don’t have to put yourself in harm’s way again. You got a family now, so why risk that? Are you out to prove something?”
Keller gritted his teeth. “I’m here because I need to protect our family. That cythraul was sent after me. It tried to take my life, if you’ve forgotten.”
Hayward’s gaze shot to Keller’s arm as anger filled his eyes. “I haven’t forgotten.”
“Then stop trying to give me a pass and let’s hunt the damn thing down and end it.”
Chapter Ten
Horace stirred then opened his eyes. He stared into the darkness before he reached for Keller. When his hand landed on the empty spot where his mate should’ve been, Horace sat up. Where on earth was Keller?
The clock on the nightstand read 3:17 a.m. Horace looked toward the bathroom, wondering if his mate was in there. He got up and checked, but no Keller, although Horace made a mental note that the bathroom could use a good scrubbing.
He’d worry about that later. Right now he wanted to know where in the heck his mate was.
Horace pressed a hand over his mouth when he felt a bit queasy. He pulled in a few deep breaths and let them out slowly. When he was satisfied he wouldn’t throw up, he headed out of his bedroom. Maybe Keller was in the kitchen.
Voices drifted toward him, and Horace made them out. Quinn and Stevie. They were talking from down the hallway, clearly having forgotten to close their bedroom door. He felt better knowing people were awake. Horace wasn’t overly fond of the dark, and the middle of the night made the darkness eerier.