by Lynn Hagen
He roared as his shaft pulsed into his mate’s channel, grabbing Gabby’s cock quickly, pumping it a few times before Gabby mewled under him, giving up a second explosive orgasm to Montana.
They both panted as Montana rolled to his side, taking his mate with him. How? How had feeding his mate turned into the hottest sex he had ever had? He ran his hands over Gabby’s stomach, pinching at his little pooch.
“You’re not allowed to play with my fat after mind-blowing sex.” His mate tried to push his hand away.
Montana chuckled at his mate’s words. “You’re not fat, just healthy.”
“That’s a polite way of saying I’m fat.”
Montana growled as he rolled his mate to his back. “Not fat.”
“I say I’m fat. You probably won’t say it because I’m your mate, and you don’t want to hurt my feelings, so I can…”
Montana covered his mouth, stopping the river of words before his mate got a good lungful of air and made Montana’s eyes cross. He lifted his hand slowly, waiting to see if Gabby was going to pick up where he’d left off. When he didn’t, Montana leaned down and pecked him on his lips. “Not fat.”
Gabby reached up and ran his hands over Montana’s bald head. Montana reveled in the touch. He kissed his mate’s chest, then his neck, and then his lips before pulling back.
“Do you need another shot?” Montana realized there was a lot to taking care of his mate. He would have to learn his schedule to ensure his mate was properly taken care of.
He hoped Maverick was able to obtain his pumpkin’s medical records. His mate needed the best care possible. Although the thought of anyone else providing for Gabby made Montana’s teeth hurt. No one was donating blood. Gabby would get all his needs from his mate.
“No, I’m okay.”
Montana pulled him close, thinking of Tank’s advice earlier. Could he still hate so much with his mate lying in his arms?
No, he couldn’t hate his fireball.
He still held a great deal of hate for the one who had killed his best friend, but not Gabby. All he felt was warmth, a bond with the little orange-haired beauty.
“You must be Gabby?”
Gabby fidgeted around on the couch, brushing his thighs off out of habit. Montana insisted he get to know the other mates in the house. It was kind of hard when his hours of operation were different from everyone else’s. Most people were sleeping when Gabby was awake.
“Yes.” Meeting new people was alien to him. Growing up in the coven, he knew everyone. No new faces popped up. He hoped he didn’t ruin it with his speed talking.
“Hi, I’m Blair.” The man with the long black hair stuck his hand out. Gabby shook it, looking around to see if Montana was anywhere in sight. Was Blair a shifter?
“I hear you’re a vampire. Cool.”
Cool wasn’t exactly the word Gabby would use, more like disease. Nothing about being who he was had ever been cool. From being picked on, to being kicked out, to almost losing Montana. What was so cool about that?
“I guess.” Gabby bit his tongue. The urge to tell Blair everything that was wandering through his mind was trying its best to burst out. He had to control his jabbering. That’s what got him into trouble before. He didn’t want to be taunted here for his inability to shut his trap.
Blair walked across the room and then came back over to where he was sitting. “Come on, let’s play.” Blair handed Gabby a controller.
Gabby turned it over in his hand, staring at the large device. What the heck was it? Well, he knew what it was. He’d seen it on the television before. In the coven he didn’t have luxuries though. Sure, he watched television, but games weren’t something he was permitted.
Should he confess this to Blair? He didn’t want to seem like he wasn’t cool to hang around. He wanted friends so desperately that he was willing to fake his knowledge. But he knew that starting a friendship off with a lie wasn’t good.
Blair watched him stare at the controller. “Haven’t you ever played before?”
Gabby shook his head. He tried to hand the device back, but Blair hit a button on the remote. Colorful graphics appeared on the large-screen television, drawing Gabby’s attention immediately.
“Okay, this is how it works.” Gabby listened to Blair, watched the demonstration, and then played around with the controller himself.
“Ready?”
“No.”
Blair laughed and started the game. He tried his best to figure out what the hell he was doing.
Gabby noticed he was gaining an audience. He became self-conscious. There were at least a dozen people now gathered in the den. Where was Montana?
“Kick his butt, Gabby!” Gabby snuck a quick peek over to a man with blond curls jumping up and down with his arms in the air.
Was someone really rooting for him? Gabby pulled his attention back to the game, trying even harder now that he had a fan. His fingers slipped off the toggles a few times, but he managed to get his car back on the road.
He glanced at Blair’s fingers, watching how he was maneuvering his. Gabby parroted it, zooming past Blair’s car and crossing the finish line first.
“Yeah, Gabby.” The man with the blond hair high-fived his hand. Gabby couldn’t help the grin that split across his face. No one had ever been on his side before. It felt really good.
He dropped the controller and ran as soon as he spotted Montana. “I won!”
Montana laughed and pulled him into his arms. “I see.”
Gabby blushed when his wolf kissed him in front of everyone. He never had anyone openly claim him before.
His sex experiences were behind closed doors, the partner at the time too embarrassed for anyone else to know he had slept with the outcast. This was a new experience for him and one he quickly liked.
Gabby reveled in the affection. “I wasn’t sure I could play, but once Blair showed me how I kinda got the hang of it. But when the blond man started cheering me on I was determined to give my new fan a reason to believe in me, so I hurried my car up and watched how Blair was playing and copied it, and the next thing you know, I won.” Gabby laughed with pure joy in his heart.
Montana chuckled, kissing Gabby then setting him down. Gabby backed away when the whole room was staring at him. What had he done?
“Holy, shit. Did you even take a breath?” Blair laughed.
Gabby felt his cheeks burn. He mentally chastised himself for being a motormouth again. If he didn’t stop it, soon the men here would start picking on him, too.
He reached over and slid his hand into Montana’s, needing to feel some sort of safety net. His palms were sweaty, but he didn’t care. He needed Montana’s touch, his mate’s reassurance.
“They’re not making fun of you, pumpkin.” Montana squeezed his hand and smiled down at him.
Gabby looked over at the men again. They all were wearing smiles. That must be good, right? None of them were sneering or whispering to each other as he stood there and watched them.
“Come on, let’s play another round. I have to beat you.” Blair held out the controller. He smiled from ear to ear as he took the controller, ready to race Blair once again. They liked him, really liked him.
Gabby froze in place as his mind fogged when the sweetest smell imaginable wafted past his nose, even sweeter than Montana’s.
His heart was hammering behind his ribs as he turned and hissed, baring his fangs as Montana grabbed him and pulled him off of his feet. The aroma was making him go crazy as Gabby tried his best to get at the little girl standing behind him.
Chapter Four
“Gabby!” Montana squeezed his pumpkin tighter, wondering what in the world had come over him. He’d never seen someone fight so hard to get to another. It was downright disturbing.
His mate was fighting to get to Melonee. He thrashed and squirmed, hissing once again. Montana was having a hard time holding him. “What’s wrong?” he shouted as he almost lost his grip but caught Gabby in time before his mat
e hit the floor.
“Want her,” he whimpered. “Help me, Tanny. Stop me.” His fireball’s chest was expanding and contracting at a rapid rate. His heart was going crazy under Montana’s hand.
Montana tightened his hold, making his mate look at him. “Why do you want her?”
His pupils were dilated and his fangs were mashing against his bottom lip, making it bleed. “Just a taste, she smells so good.” He begged Montana, tearing at his shirt as he tried to get free. Montana wasn’t going to lie to himself. The sight scared the shit out of him.
Montana knew something was terribly wrong. The idea of feeding from anyone had repulsed Gabby. He wasn’t sure what he should do, so he did the only thing he could think of. He sunk his canines into Gabby’s neck, shoving his wrist into Gabby’s mouth.
Gabby bit into him, drinking deeply as he whimpered and clung to him. His hands shot up, holding Montana’s arm tightly to his lips.
The fight was slowly leaving his mate’s body. Too bad Montana was hard as a rock now. He wanted to fuck his mate into the wall. He took a deep breath, trying his best to still his raging hormones. Gabby came first, so figuring out what had triggered this was more important than his own libido. He sealed the wound but allowed Gabby to take his fill. He turned his back, giving his mate as much privacy as the scenario could afford them. Gabby whimpered, smashing his eyes closed as he licked around the wound in Montana’s wrist. He looked as though he was fighting to get his mind back under control.
Montana nodded at Maverick as the Alpha picked Melonee up into his arms. “Is he okay?” Maverick asked as he soothed the little girl’s back. Montana felt terrible about the frightened look in Melonee’s eyes. He knew Gabby hadn’t scared her intentionally. His mate didn’t seem the type.
Montana turned slightly, once again trying to give his mate privacy as he drank. He could feel Gabby’s heart starting to return to normal. “He’s calming. I don’t know what just happened here.” Montana kissed Gabby on his temple. Gabby finally released him then buried his face in Montana’s neck. He could feel his little pumpkin shaking.
“I think I do. Her scent. That’s what’s making the rogues crazy. Now we know.” Maverick handed her off to her brother. “Take her to your room.”
Tangee nodded and carried his little sister away. Maverick approached them. “Gabby, what just happened? In detail please.”
Gabby dug his nails into Montana’s back as he shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“No one is mad at you. I just need to know,” Maverick reassured him.
His mate took a deep breath. Montana chuckled. He knew what was coming. He would bet, excited or scared, Gabby’s true personality would come shining through.
“I was in the den and Blair wanted me to play a video game, but I’ve never played one before. I became really nervous when I saw that there was a crowd watching me, until the blond man cheered me on. I’ve never had a friend before, so if he wants to be my friend I would be more than happy to.” Montana patted Gabby’s back, getting him back on track.
“Oh right, sorry. Anyway when the blond man cheered me on I was determined to show my new friend, that’s if he wants to be friends.” Gabby turned to look at Johnny. Johnny smiled and nodded, and then Gabby smiled as well. “I was determined to show my new friend that I could win.”
“So I beat Blair, and I hope he doesn’t hate me for it.” Again Gabby turned.
Blair laughed as he waved Gabby off. “I don’t hate you, Gabby.”
Gabby smiled then turned back to Maverick. “He wanted to play again, so I reached out to take the controller when the most delicious smell hit me. My mind went all foggy. I couldn’t control it, I swear. All I thought about was that sweet smell, and I wanted it. I swear I wasn’t going to hurt her, I think. I’m not really sure.” Gabby hid his face back into Montana’s neck.
Maverick blinked at Gabby. A smile stretched his face as he began to chuckle. “I like him.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Cecil shot out of the den and stomped his foot in front of his mate. He stuck his hand out as he ticked off on his fingers. “You already have Johnny, Keata, Melonee, and Nero. Enough with the misfit adoptions.” He pouted crossing his arms over his chest.
Maverick pulled his mate into his arms, cupping his face in a loving gesture. “But you’re my number one misfit.”
Cecil blushed, looking around like he just noticed what a brat he must look like. “I better be.” He leaned up and kissed Maverick. The Alpha pulled Cecil closer, proving to him where he stood. Cecil began to moan and Montana knew it was time to remind everyone why they were standing here in discussion.
“People, off track here,” Montana reminded them.
Maverick looked like he didn’t want to let Cecil go but parted lips. He spun his mate around, pulling Cecil’s back to his large chest as he wrapped his arms around his mate’s shoulders. “I don’t want Melonee playing outside anymore or going to the recreation center. Her aroma is apparently lingering in the air, the breeze carrying it to the rogues. Why didn’t you smell her right away?” Maverick asked Gabby.
Gabby looked up at Montana. “I was more worried about losing my wolf.”
Montana felt his chest tightened at the truth in Gabby’s eyes. He was a rank bastard for the way he had behaved. He squeezed his mate in his arms letting Gabby know how honest he was being. “I’m not going anywhere, pumpkin.” He stared into his mate’s jade-green eyes, feeling like he was falling into an abyss. No, he could never hate the little fireball.
“Well, we need to find a solution because the two of you will be residing under the same roof,” Maverick said.
“Really, you want me to stay? I thought Tanny was just being nice about it, but I really get to stay here? I promise not to be a nuisance. Okay, I’ll try not to be on—” Montana covered his mouth. He knew if he didn’t stop Gabby, his mate would go on until he was out of breath. “Okay, with that, I’m going to check on Melonee.” Maverick smiled and shook his head, leading his mate away with him.
“Did I make him mad?”
“No, pumpkin, you can’t make anyone here mad.” Montana carried his mate upstairs. “Time to see Nicholas and have your blood sugar checked.”
Gabby smiled up at him as Montana walked down to the exam room. “You really do care about me?”
Montana kissed his mate before stopping at the door. “With everything in me.”
Kyoshi tilted his head. “Was I the only one having a hard time keeping up with him?”
“Nope, I caught ‘friend’ and ‘sweet smell,’” Caden answered with a laugh.
“I understood him.” Johnny beamed. “He wants to be my friend.”
“Me, too,” Keata added.
“Figures you two would,” Kyoshi teased.
“He’s one of us now. You have to be nice to him.” Johnny crossed his arms over his chest. He liked Gabby. The man had orange hair, his favorite color. It used to be pink, but after seeing the vampire’s hair, Johnny had a new favorite color. He’d have to go find Hawk and have a coat and boots ordered in that color. It better be sparkly.
Now all they had to do was stop Gabby from trying to eat Melonee.
“I’m okay.” Gabby wiggled around in Montana’s lap. He felt totally embarrassed at the way he had reacted to the little girl. He wanted to put it behind him and forget about it as quickly as possible. “The urge to drink from her is gone. I think feeding from you helped.”
“You better be lucky I have restraint. I almost took you in the den when you drank from me.” Montana nuzzled Gabby’s neck.
“Can we finish his exam before you two decide to go at it?” Nicholas took another tube of blood and then placed a bandage on Gabby’s arm. He blushed at the doctor’s knowing look.
“I seem to remember a mated pair that was trying to give everyone a free show. You had all the mates running around trying to catch you two in the act.” Montana laughed.
Nicholas blushed as he stepped back. “We
didn’t do it on purpose. We just forgot anyone else existed.” The doctor walked over to his desk, turning his back on them. Gabby had a feeling he was trying to hide how red his face had become.
“I know what you mean.” Montana kissed Gabby’s bandage.
“Did they really do that?” Gabby whispered. He would be horrified if anyone saw his fat ass sticking out somewhere. It was bad enough Montana had to see it. Gabby shuddered at the thought of the entire house seeing him naked.
“Yep, nearly gave Tank and George friction burn.” Montana chuckled.
Gabby didn’t understand the joke. He guessed he had to be there. He pressed his palm into his erection. What he hadn’t told the wolf was that he got just as horny when he fed. He was still feeling the effects from his last feeding.
It had been a nightmare when he was in the coven. Twice a month he had to find someone willing to engage in the act secretly. They may have picked on him, but a lot of them wanted to fuck him, too. Users.
He was so glad he had Montana now. He didn’t have to be all cryptic when seeking out someone to lie with. And the fact that Montana didn’t care who knew made Gabby start to fall in love with him.
“Can we go to your room?” Gabby whispered. He needed Montana in the worst way now. The feeding from downstairs was still making his blood feel like it was on fire. Gabby needed a hard cock in his ass and soon. Not any hard cock, but Montana’s.
“Our room, and I’m thinking the same thing.” Montana nipped his ear, making Gabby shiver.
Whoo-hoo, Gabby was going to get laid again. He did a mental happy dance. The urge to lick Montana’s bald head had him leaning up, flicking his tongue in the space between them.
“Just a few more minutes.” Montana pulled Gabby back into his lap. He could feel his mate’s erection pressing into him. Yeah, Montana felt the need, too. If only he could pull his pants down and sit on that hard erection poking him in the butt. Why didn’t the doctor hurry already?