Love and Payne

by Charlie Cochet

  A gasp escaped him when Zach added a second finger. The intrusion was odd and uncomfortable, at least until Zach did something with his finger and a jolt went through Austen’s body as if he’d been struck by lightning.

  “Holy fuck!” Austen arched his back up off the bed, stars in front of his eyes. “Do it again,” he demanded, panting. Zach happily obliged, and Austen’s body wracked with shivers at the delicious pleasure that rolled through him. Before he knew it, he was being stretched and opened by three of Zach’s thick, long fingers. Austen was ready to come apart.

  “You’re so damn beautiful.”

  “Zach, please.” The mix of pain and pleasure was enough to have Austen vibrating with need. If he didn’t get Zach inside him, he was going to lose his shit. “I need you to fuck me. Right now.”

  “I won’t hurt you,” Zach promised, lining himself up. Austen tried to turn over onto his stomach, but Zach stopped him. “Don’t. Please. I want to see you.”

  Austen wanted to argue, but he didn’t. The intimacy, the closeness, it was almost too much, but he stamped down his growing panic. He wanted this so bad he could taste it. The head of Zach’s cock pushed in, and Austen cried out at the painful intrusion.

  “It’s not going to work. You won’t fit,” Austen said thickly, closing his eyes when Zach leaned in and ran a thumb over his brow.

  “Just relax. Breathe.”

  Austen didn’t have time to reply before Zach’s mouth was on his, stealing the breath from him. They kissed hungrily, their tongues tangling, teeth nipping, lips tasting. Austen dragged his nails down Zach’s back, and Zach hissed. Something seemed to snap inside Zach, and he bit down on Austen’s shoulder. Austen cried out just as he felt Zach finally breaching him, sinking inside him. Zach licked at where he’d bitten him. It was sore, but he hadn’t gone as far as to pierce the skin. That would have started the bond between them, and Austen couldn’t begin to worry about what that would mean when he couldn’t even admit to Zach that he was in love with him.

  Oh God.

  He was in love with Zach.

  Panic began to rise inside him, and then, as if sensing something, Zach sank down inside Austen to the root and started moving.

  “Holy fuck. Oh fuck!” Austen dug his fingers into Zach’s beefy arms as Zach slowly pulled out, then pushed back in. Sweat beaded his brow, and it was obvious he was desperately trying to restrain himself from hurting Austen. Knowing Zach was controlling himself, and the fact Zach’s gaze remained locked on Austen’s, had his heart ready to explode, and his body started to shake. It was too much. He was feeling too much. Austen squirmed, pushing to get up, when Zach laid his palm over Austen’s heart.

  “It’s okay,” Zach said softly, his smile almost shy. “You’re safe with me.”

  Austen let out a deep breath and nodded. “I need you to let go.”

  “You want me to stop?” Zach asked gently, and Austen knew at that moment if he asked Zach to stop, he would, because Zach cared about him. He was a good man who for some crazy reason cared about Austen.

  “I don’t want you to stop,” Austen replied, cupping Zach’s face. “I trust you. I know you won’t hurt me. Now fuck me like you mean it.”

  Zach’s smile was brighter than the sun. It brought butterflies to Austen’s stomach and made his heart flip. Zach pulled out, then plunged in, and Austen cried out at the delicious sting. He was so damned full. Zach held Austen’s gaze as he snapped his hips, and Austen sucked on Zach’s bottom lip, bringing it in between his teeth to give it a bite.

  “Fuck, Z. You’re so damn sexy.” Austen cupped Zach’s neck, holding him close as Zach did as Austen asked, pulling almost all the way out to plunge in over and over. “That’s it, baby. I want to feel you down to my soul.”

  Zach opened his mouth, and Austen feared the tender words or proclamations that might tumble out; Austen couldn’t hear that right now. He was too raw as it was. Too exposed. Placing his fingers to Zach’s lips, he nodded. “Make love to me, Z.”

  Zach pulled away, his arms around Austen to bring him up with him as he sat on his heels. They were as close as any two people could be. Their arms wrapped tight around each other, their sweat-slicked skin pressed together as Austen rode Zach. He cupped Zach’s face and crushed their mouths together as he undulated his hips before pulling up then plunging down on Zach’s rock-hard cock, making Zach cry out in surprise.

  “Fuck. Fuck. Just like that, baby. I’m so close,” Zach said, his fingers digging into Austen’s skin at his back, and the thought of him leaving bruises thrilled Austen. As their bodies moved together as one, Zach pressed his head to Austen’s, and Austen forced himself to keep his eyes open, to leave himself open, hoping Zach could see what was in his heart, to hear the words Austen couldn’t bring himself to speak. Austen nodded, and Zach moved his hands to Austen’s hips, taking hold of them before his movements became erratic. Austen pushed his hand in between them and pumped his cock as Zach’s hips lost their rhythm and he plunged himself into Austen over and over, crushing his mouth against Austen’s to muffle the roar that ripped through him as he came.

  A heartbeat later, Austen’s orgasm slammed through him like nothing he’d ever felt before. He dug his nails into Zach’s shoulders, his body shaking, muscles trembling as he coated his hand and their stomachs with his come. They clung to each other, as if the other was their only lifeline, their panting breaths the only sound in the room. Zach placed a sweet kiss on the tip of Austen’s nose, then on one cheek, followed by the other cheek. He continued brushing feather kisses against Austen’s cooling skin. Austen didn’t know how long he sat wrapped around Zach, but when he shivered from the cool night air, Zach stirred.

  “We should get cleaned up.” He leaned away and lifted Austen’s chin so their eyes could meet. His gentle smile and beautiful face made Austen’s heart hurt. “Shower with me?”

  Austen’s first instinct was to refuse, but he found himself nodding instead. Zach placed a kiss to Austen’s brow before turning them and standing up, Austen still wrapped around him. He winced when Zach’s soft cock slipped from his body, but that only made him wrap himself tighter around Zach. In that moment, he felt ridiculously possessive. Every inch of his body was plastered to Zach’s, his head on Zach’s shoulder. Unwilling to think about his stupid emotions, he concentrated on Zach’s hand rubbing soothingly down his back. When they reached the bathroom, Zach carefully put Austen down on his feet. He turned on the water in the shower, tested the temperature, then stepped inside, where he held out a hand. Austen went without hesitation. He’d never taken a shower with anyone before.

  Austen didn’t speak. He was too afraid of ruining the moment. It all felt like a blissed-out dream, and if he opened his mouth, reality might set in, and he didn’t want that. For now, he just wanted to feel Zach’s hands on him as he bathed Austen, his big, strong hands washing him, ever so tenderly massaging his scalp as he washed Austen’s hair. They took turns bathing each other, and it was as if they were making love again. They caressed, explored every curve, every dip. Zach down on his knees almost undid Austen, and he unraveled when Zach brought him to climax with his mouth and those skillful fingers. Austen allowed Zach to dry him off, and once Zach was dry, they headed out into the bedroom, where reality began to creep into the darkened room, the only light coming from the moon in the night sky outside the window.

  Austen swallowed hard and moved toward his clothes, when Zach wrapped his arms around him, murmuring softly in his ear. “Don’t go. Not yet.”

  Don’t do it, the little voice in his head tried to warn him, and Austen opened his mouth to tell Zach he couldn’t stay. He turned, Zach’s smile turning sad. But it was the gentleness with which he spoke that told Austen he wasn’t going anywhere.

  “It’s okay.” Zach brought Austen’s fingers to his lips for a kiss. “Thank you for tonight. It was amazing. You were amazing.”

  Zach never pushed. He went out of his way to make sure Austen never felt guilty
or bad about not giving in to what Zach wanted.

  Austen wrinkled his nose and huffed. “I’m cold.”

  Zach blinked at him before quickly jumping to action. Austen had to stifle back a laugh, especially when Zach almost tripped over his own feet on the way to the bed. He caught himself and straightened, his cheeks a deep pink.

  “I’m okay.”

  “Good,” Austen replied oh so seriously, despite his heart doing annoying little flips. Is this what happy felt like?

  Zach swiftly pulled the duvet back and fluffed the pillows before returning to take Austen’s hand. Austen climbed into bed, and Zach joined him, wasting no time in drawing Austen into his arms. He wrapped a leg around Austen’s, and instead of feeling stifled or suffocated as Austen had feared, he felt… safe. He snuggled up as close to Zach as he could get, drawn to Zach’s warmth. Zach radiated heat, and it was as if Austen were curled up to a furnace where the temperature was perfect. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to give in to the moment and placed a kiss to Zach’s heart. A soft sigh escaped Zach, and he tenderly ran his fingers through Austen’s hair. Before Austen realized, he was being lulled to sleep by Zach’s feathery caresses and the sound of his steady breathing.

  What would it be like to be loved by this amazing man? To fall asleep in his arms night after night, wake up to his smile, be entitled to ask for kisses and caresses? Man, he was turning into a sap. The strangest thing about it was he didn’t care. For once he wasn’t thinking about all the things that could go wrong. He simply remained in the moment, soaking up Zach’s affections. For the first time since he could remember, he fell into a peaceful sleep with a smile on his face.

  JUST BEFORE dawn, Austen woke up as he did pretty much every day. Carefully he pulled away from Zach, who stirred, his sleepy eyes half-open.

  “It’s okay, baby,” Austen purred, running a finger down Zach’s jaw. “Go back to sleep. Going for my morning run. I’ll see you at breakfast.” He kissed Zach’s cheek, and Zach hummed, a sweet smile spreading across his face despite his obvious struggle to keep his eyes open.

  “Okay, sweetheart. Have a good run.” With that he was fast asleep, and Austen stayed where he was for several more seconds, studying Zach’s sleeping form. No one had ever wanted to keep Austen. The closest he’d gotten to a relationship ended after the guy got fed up and told Austen he wasn’t worth the trouble. Looking at Zach, his long lashes resting on his cheeks, his square jaw, and handsome face… Austen wondered if Zach would ever turn to him and decide the same. It was that possibility that had Austen second-guessing Zach, and he hated it.

  After slipping into his clothes, he quietly left the room so he could change into his running clothes. When he closed the door behind him, he turned and found a naked Brayden slipping out of Edan’s room. When he saw Austen, he froze.

  Austen straightened, his narrowed eyes on his friend. “Brayden.”

  Brayden narrowed his eyes in return. “Austen.”

  They stood peering at each other, neither saying a word until Brayden cleared his throat and motioned past Austen. “I’m, uh, I’m going to go to my room now.”

  Austen nodded.

  Brayden held his head high, his clothes covering his boy bits and his ass bare as he strolled by. Austen held back a smile.

  “See you at breakfast,” Austen said as he headed for his own room.

  “See you,” Brayden replied, giving him a salute before opening his door and slipping inside.

  Man, they were both so royally fucked.

  CHAPTER 11

  IT WAS all a dream.

  It had to be. What else could explain Austen in Zach’s bed for the fifth night in a row? Not only had they had mind-blowing sex, but Austen slept curled up against Zach each night, waking up only at dawn to go for his run. During the day, between Austen making rounds on the property, sparring with Brayden, and calling his boss, he popped out of the shadows at random intervals to jump Zach and maul him.

  Zach couldn’t get enough of Austen—of his mouth, his tongue, his kisses, or his hands all over Zach. Wherever they were, Austen would pull him into an empty room and have his way with Zach. Between the blowjobs, the hand jobs, the quickies, and the nights spent making love or fucking each other’s brains out, Zach walked around blissed-out and in a constant satiated state to the point his siblings had noticed and started teasing him, not that Zach cared. He’d had more sex in the last few days than he’d had his entire life; it was also fun and playful. Zach had never seen Austen look so… happy, and he prayed it was exactly how Austen was feeling.

  A sharp tug to Zach’s nipple made him jump, and he laughed at Austen’s arched eyebrow. “I’m sorry, am I boring you?” Austen asked, flicking the offended nipple and making Zach groan.

  “No. Sorry, I was just thinking.”

  “About what?” Austen asked, narrowing his eyes.

  “About you,” Zach said with a smile, bringing Austen’s fingers to his lips for a kiss. “About how incredible these last few days have been and how happy you’ve made me.”

  Austen’s expression softened. “Oh.” A shy smile curled his lips as he dropped his gaze, and Zach kissed him.

  “You’re so fucking adorable.”

  “I’m a highly skilled TIN operative. I can take you out before you blink,” Austen said with a sniff.

  “Doesn’t stop you from being adorable.” Zach kissed the tip of his nose, laughing when Austen scrambled over him, straddled him, and pinned his wrists over his head.

  “We’ll see how adorable you think I am when I have you begging me to fuck you.”

  Zach groaned against Austen’s lips, but Austen went still. “What’s wrong?”

  “Get on the floor!” Austen threw himself off the bed, and Zach rolled on instinct, dropping hard onto the floor just as the glass door shattered and the pillow he’d had his head on exploded, feathers bursting in every direction. He cursed under his breath and took cover by the desk, which was away from the windows.

  “What are you doing? Take cover,” Zach growled at Austen, stunned when Austen reached under the bed and dragged out the long black duffel bag he’d brought with him. When had he put that under Zach’s bed? Despite the situation, it brought a little thrill to him because it meant Austen intended to spend more time in Zach’s room than his own. Now is not the time.

  Austen swiftly undid the lock, unzipped the bag, and pulled out a sniper rifle. “Stay down,” he ordered as he darted over to the fireplace and put out the fire, throwing the room into complete darkness—not that it would stop a Therian from seeing, but it would make things more difficult, especially with all the furniture in the room, and the curtains mostly drawn.

  There should have been lights on just outside the balcony, which meant someone had tampered with the lights on the property. Using the armchair for cover, Austen crouched behind it and appeared to be scanning the area with his rifle. Zach had never seen a rifle like that. It certainly wasn’t THIRDS issued.

  “Where are you, you fucker?” Austen murmured quietly. His body was completely still, something Zach had never witnessed before in the fidgety cheetah Therian, but then he’d never seen Austen in TIN-operative mode. His expression was stern, his body stiff and poised for action. “Fuck! Get in the bathroom!”

  Zach made to get to his feet, but a bullet whizzed by his arm, grazing his skin. He cursed at the sting and dropped back behind the desk as Austen landed on his stomach in front of the large broken glass door, his rifle propped on its stand in front of him, the butt against his shoulder as he looked through the scope and fired in quick succession, not flinching even once at the rifle’s kickback. One. Two. Three. The thing about silencers was that they weren’t nearly as silent as the movies portrayed. Then there was the pop, pop, pop happening in the distance, the sound of bullets tearing through the room, and the flashes of light bursting through the trees.

  “Zach!” Colin shouted through the locked door.

  Shit. His brothers were going to c
ome through that door any second now.

  “Sniper,” Zach shouted. “Get away from the door!”

  A second rifle fired, the sound much closer, and Zach looked at Austen. “Where the hell did that come from?”

  Austen grinned from behind his rifle. “That would be my boy Brayden.”

  As Brayden fired, Austen scrambled into a crouch and headed toward the door. He opened it and motioned Zach over. Waiting for Brayden to draw the fire to himself again, Zach made a break for the door, diving through when another bullet hit the wall near the doorjamb. He was grabbed, and found himself tucked up against Colin.

  “What the hell is going on?”

  Austen pressed himself to the wall on the other side. “There’s a small group of hostiles. From what I could tell, four active shooters, but who the hell knows how many more are out there. Your mom said the property has a bunker?”

  Alastair nodded beside him.

  “Okay. Get everyone who’s not a THIRDS agent down there.” Austen motioned to Zach. “Take him with you.”

  “What?” Zach couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

  “You’re staying here,” Austen ordered.

  “You’re going out there after them?”

  Austen’s eyes turned hard. “No. I’m going out there to kill them.”

  “I’m coming with you,” Zach insisted when Austen got to his feet, hissing at him.

  “No, you’re fucking not. They’re here to kill you. I’m not letting you go out there to make yourself an easy target.”

  “I can handle myself,” Zach said through his teeth as he stood, ignoring Colin’s hand on his shoulder. He was not going to stay behind. His family was in danger because of him, and Austen expected him to just hang back and do nothing?

  “Like you did with that armored truck?”

  Zach gasped, hurt by the nasty jab. “That’s not fair.”