by Lynn Hagen
Legend removed his fingers from Gabe’s ass and grabbed the man’s hips, pulling Gabe closer until the head of his cock touched Gabe’s asshole.
Gabe flexed and tightened his legs.
Legend kept their gazes locked, staring into the pale orbs as he slowly pushed until the head of his cock popped inside. He shuddered and stilled, waiting for Gabe to relax. It was like a hot, tight fist gripped his shaft, squeezing the flesh until Legend almost gave in and pounded into the man.
Gabe let out a long breath, winced, and wiggled a bit. “Burns.” The word came out as a grunt as Gabe’s hands curled into fists. His face was flushed and Legend could see the pinch of pain in the man’s expression.
He slipped forward a little more, easing gently inside. His gut clenched and his legs shook as he went as slow as humanly possible. If he went any slower, he wouldn’t be moving at all. But he wanted Gabe comfortable. Or as comfortable as he could be while Legend’s dick was spreading the man open for the first time.
His fingers gripped Gabe’s side with a crushing intensity as he pulled Gabe even closer, sliding the man down his shaft, feeding Gabe his cock a little at a time.
And when he bottomed out, they both took a ragged, steadying breath.
Legend grabbed the fabric that held Gabe’s legs in the air and yanked on it as he pulled out and then pressed his thick shaft back inside Gabe’s unbelievably tight ass. He did it again, only faster this time.
Gabe squirmed and grunted and then sighed.
As his fingers gripped the fabric tighter, Legend moved with sure, deep strokes, watching where they connected, feeling how hot and tight the man was around him.
Gabe sucked in a quick breath, let it out, and then tried to match Legend’s thrusts. But the man was immobile and all he could do was raise his ass higher.
Legend released the fabric on the right side and pulled his hand back, smacking Gabe on the ass.
Gabe yelped.
Legend did it again, watching as a red imprint of his hand appeared. “Are you going to run from me again, Gabe?”
Gabe didn’t answer. The only sounds that left his lips were moans, whimpers, and pleading for Legend not to stop. Legend’s hand landed on Gabe’s soft, pliable ass two more times. Gabe’s eyes glazed over and Legend’s cock pulsed inside Gabe at the noises the man was making.
He pumped his cock into Gabe harder and then slowed. “Do you want to come, Gabe?”
“Yes!”
“Then answer me. Are you going to run from me again?”
Gabe wiggled and squirmed as he tried to get closer, but Legend pulled back slightly, denying the man any further pleasure.
The man growled, and the sound was sexy as sin. “No, I won’t run.”
“Promise me, Gabe. Tell me you’re a man of your word.” Legend thrust hard and then stilled. Gabe jerked and tried to kick his legs out, but the fabric prevented him from doing anything other than moving his legs an inch.
Gabe tilted up and tried to move his ass toward Legend, but Legend grabbed Gabe’s hips and stopped him. “Promise me.”
His voice had gone rough and he was hanging on by a thread. His body vibrated and his bear growled for Legend to bite the man, to claim him. But Legend held out. He had to. He needed Gabe to say that he wasn’t going to run again.
“I promise.” Gabe’s words were given with heat. Legend knew the man meant what he said. He wouldn’t run again. But it had irked Gabe to give in.
Legend dug his fingers into Gabe’s flesh as he pistoned into the man’s ass. Sweat trickled down his spine, his scalp, and glistened over his body as he hammered into Gabe.
“Legend,” Gabe cried out. “Make me come…please…make me.”
He’d tortured the man enough for one night. Legend gripped Gabe’s cock and stroked him until the man was shouting, his back arching as ribbons of seed spurted onto his chest. Gabe’s ass clamped down on Legend, milking his cock.
Legend released Gabe and bent forward. He yanked at the man’s neck, pulling Gabe closer as he sank his canines into his lover’s shoulder. Legend felt like a beast unleashed. His body was no longer his own.
He thrust hard and deep as his orgasm swept over him. Gabe shouted as he lifted his ass higher. Legend took and gave, claimed what was his.
And Gabe Summerville was his.
He knew it.
His bear knew it.
And soon, Gabe would know it as well.
* * * *
Gabe sat on the edge of the bed after Legend had given him a phone to use. His fingers trembled as he dialed his father’s number. He brushed his hand over the back of his neck, wondering if Maxwell was all right. He still felt like shit for leaving the guy.
“Son.” Maxwell’s voice was a deep baritone and Gabe felt like crying at the sound. “How are you?”
Gabe cleared his throat and was thankful that Legend had stepped outside and given him some privacy. Gabe was a clusterfuck of emotions right now, but all he wanted to know was that his father was safe. “I’m good.”
“How is Legend treating you?”
That was a loaded question. Gabe stuck to the basics and left out all of the intimate details. “He knows what he’s doing.”
Wasn’t that the truth.
“But how are you? Are you staying safe?” Gabe asked. “What happened after I left?”
“I’m fine, son. It’ll take more than the cartel to bring me down. I don’t want you worrying about me. Just do as Legend says and behave. I know how willful you can be sometimes.”
Gabe smiled at his father’s chastisement. Something settled inside of him and his stomach finally untwisted. “I wouldn’t be me if I behaved.”
His father chuckled. “No, you wouldn’t.” The man cleared his throat. “I love you, Gabe. I only want what’s best for you. So don’t give Legend too hard of a time and know that I’m safe and working things out on my end.”
“I love you, too,” Gabe said. “Just be careful.”
They said their good-byes and Gabe didn’t want to hang up. He cradled the phone in his hands and prayed that both he and his father made it out of this mess alive.
* * * *
Gabe was exhausted from the night before. His body was listless and all he wanted to do was go back to bed and sleep for the rest of the day. Legend had done things to him that had Gabe blushing as they checked out of their room.
The elderly gentleman behind the desk smiled at Gabe as if he knew exactly what he and Legend had been doing. Gabe glanced away, staring at an old calendar on the wall instead.
“Hope you fellas had a restful night,” the man said as Legend returned the key.
“The best,” Legend replied with a touch of humor in his tone. He thanked the gentleman and then they left. Gabe opened his mouth and was about to tell Legend he better not kiss and tell, when his bodyguard stiffened.
Gabe grew still. He glanced around at the wilderness surrounding the motel, but didn’t see anything. “What’s wrong?”
Legend reached out and touched Gabe’s side, moving Gabe behind him as he pulled his gun from the holster hidden under his jacket. “Someone’s watching us.”
How? Aside from the motel, there wasn’t a good place to hide. It was all flat land except for the trees at the end of the two-mile road. There was no way Legend could see anyone that far away.
His bodyguard ushered Gabe to the car, slamming the door once Gabe was inside. He twisted around, trying to see where Legend was looking. The man was scanning the tall grass.
Legend walked around to the other side of the car and got in. “Stay down.”
Gabe slid down his seat as his heart thumped heavily in his chest. This was not the way he had planned on spending his morning. After last night, Gabe had wanted to sleep for the duration of their ride. Instead, he was wide awake, panic setting in.
“Stay low until I tell you it’s clear.”
“Okay.” Gabe wasn’t about to argue with the man. Legend was the expert, not him. He slid
low, his heart hammering as Legend pulled from the motel. The two-mile drive seemed to take forever. The man drove slowly as his eyes continuously scanned the area.
Gabe’s nerves were frayed by the time they hit the main road. He was scrunched low in the seat and his back was starting to ache. He still couldn’t understand how the cartel could be following them. They’d taken a jet out of California. Unless Ortega’s henchmen had followed in their own jet, how would they know where Legend and Gabe had gone?
Gabe felt much better after talking with his father last night, but he was still worried about the man. Fortunately, Legend was the anchor Gabe needed. He just prayed this mess would be over soon so he could get back to his life.
“You can get up now.” Legend seemed a bit more relaxed, as if the danger had passed. Gabe slid up and stretched, yawning. The man chuckled. “Do I bore you?”
Gabe liked Legend’s laugh. It was masculine and deep and he wanted to hear it again. Legend was stunning when he smiled. It made his amber eyes sparkle.
“In the worst sort of way,” Gabe teased, feeling a bit lighter. The great sex could be the reason for his happier mood, but it wasn’t just that. Gabe found himself enjoying Legend’s company, which was a huge turnaround from their first encounter.
Legend reached over and glided his knuckles down Gabe’s cheek. “You were beautiful last night, sweetness.”
Gabe’s entire body flushed with embarrassment. Was he supposed to say thank you? He didn’t think so. He’d never thanked anyone for sex before. But last night had been amazing, and Gabe was aching to do it again.
If he had known letting someone top him would feel so good, he would have done it years ago. But to be honest, he liked the fact that it was Legend who had opened that world to him.
“Where are we going?” Gabe asked, trying to change the subject so he wouldn’t melt in his seat from Legend’s praises.
Legend grabbed Gabe’s hand and kissed it before placing it on his thigh. “We’re heading to Bear County.”
“Where?” Gabe had never heard of the place. It sounded like some backwoods town that had one restaurant and plenty of tumbleweeds.
“It’s where I live,” Legend said. “And where the base of operation is set up.”
“Oh,” Gabe replied. “Sounds so James Bond.”
Legend chuckled and that was exactly what Gabe had been going for. He wanted another smile out of the man. Gabe thought about what his father had said last night and decided to somewhat behave himself. If he was going to be roped to Legend, they might as well get along. The last thing Gabe wanted was to argue with the man for the next four weeks.
Besides, now that he knew his father was okay, Gabe could marginally relax. That was all he had wanted in the first place when he’d tried to escape both times.
Gabe rolled the window down for some fresh air when a slight wave of nausea gripped him. His stomach rolled and bile rose to the back of his throat. Gabe had to swallow a few times before he could speak. “Can we get something to eat?” As Gabe thought about it, he realized he hadn’t eaten yesterday. That could be the reason he was feeling a bit sick—that and the stress of this whole situation. Gabe’s life had been chaotic, but in a good way. He wasn’t used to living under this kind of duress. And after last night, Gabe had worked up one hell of an appetite.
“We’ll stop at the nearest restaurant,” Legend replied. The man seemed bothered about Gabe’s request. Or it could be that he was mad at himself for forgetting to feed Gabe yesterday. But Gabe let it go, unwilling to spoil the buoyant mood they’d just been sharing.
Gabe slapped a hand over his mouth, mortified when he let out a strange, bubble-like burp. It tasted like empty stomach, if there was such a thing. “I guess I’m really hungry.”
Thirty minutes later Gabe spotted a fast-food place up ahead. He normally avoided those types of places because they offered nothing but fattening food, but right now he’d scarf down everything on the menu. “That’ll do,” Gabe said as he pointed at the place.
Legend frowned. “Are you sure?”
He was damn sure, considering his stomach was trying to eat its way out. The nausea hadn’t subsided and Gabe was ready to put something in his belly. “Yep.”
Legend started to go through the drive-thru but Gabe waved him to a parking spot. “I have to use the bathroom.”
The man gave Gabe a hesitant stare. Gabe rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to take off. I promise.”
They both went in—Legend to the counter, Gabe to the bathroom. He walked over to the sink, thankful the room was clean, and splashed some water over his face, trying to dispel the queasiness. He slammed his lips closed, burped, and then raced to a stall where he emptied his already-empty stomach.
It was gross as hell to vomit in a public bathroom. There was no telling who’d sat on this toilet. But Gabe couldn’t have stopped the reflex even if he’d tried. His stomach tightened and his eyes watered and Gabe felt like hell. The room spun slightly as he eased back and swallowed down some air. Could stress make him vomit? He flushed the toilet and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He heard the door open and then someone was at a urinal. Gabe tried to stand but a wave of dizziness had him leaning against the stall wall. His mouth began to water again and Gabe was back over the toilet, retching.
The stall door opened and he felt a hand on his back. “It’ll pass.” Legend smoothed his hand over Gabe’s back. “Let me get you a wet paper towel.”
Gabe could only nod as he clutched his stomach. It hurt like hell. He’d used muscles he didn’t know he had and now they were protesting. Legend returned and handed the wet paper towel to Gabe. He took it, wiping away the perspiration that had continued to form over his face.
“I need my toothbrush,” he said, hoping his body was done killing him.
“I’ll go get it.”
Gabe used the wall for stability as he gazed up at the ceiling, wondering if it was just lack of food that had him sick. Was he coming down with something? He was not looking forward to having a stomach virus while on the road. That wouldn’t be a pleasant experience.
He was going to have to ask Legend to stop at a drugstore so he could get something for his nausea. That was, if the food didn’t help. He wasn’t even hungry anymore. All Gabe wanted to do was lay down in the backseat and rest while nursing his upset stomach.
Legend came back in with a small toiletry bag and handed it to Gabe. He brushed, rinsed, and then brushed again before gargling to get the foul taste out of his mouth.
“Are you still hungry?” Legend asked as he stood behind Gabe. The man was watching him in the mirror and he had a strange look in those amber eyes. Gabe was too fucked up right now to try and decipher what the man was thinking.
“No,” he admitted. “But you might want to bring some food along in case I change my mind.”
Gabe stuffed his toothbrush and toothpaste back in his bag and then used the bathroom before they left. Instead of getting into the front seat, he crawled in back. Legend pulled his own bag from the trunk and gave it to Gabe for a pillow.
It was much appreciated. Gabe silently gave kudos to the man for his thoughtfulness.
“Try and get some sleep,” Legend said. “I’ll put the air-conditioner on low to keep you from getting too hot.”
The man was being awfully accommodating. They might have shared a wonderful night together, but Gabe had a feeling something else was going on.
He closed his eyes as the car started to move, lulling him into a peaceful sleep.
Chapter Seven
Legend was worried that Gabe had been sleeping so much. He’d woken up a few times and then had gone right back to sleep. Legend wasn’t a doctor so he could only guess at what was wrong with Gabe.
It could be the stress of the whole situation. People reacted in different ways when strain and pressure became too much. Gabe could also have a simple stomach virus. There were too many possibilities, and Legend’s mind wouldn’t be
at ease until he had the man examined.
When he passed a sign welcoming him to Bear County, Legend felt some of the pressure ease from his shoulders. He was positive that someone had been watching him outside the last motel that he and Gabe had stayed in. Legend had been enmeshed in danger while in the marines and on various assignments for Executive Bodyguards.
He knew when someone was watching him.
It was well past midnight when he pulled into the driveway. Even though Legend and his friends hadn’t lived in Bear County for long, it still felt as if he were coming home.
The lights in the living room were still on and Legend knew that a few of the guys would still be awake. T-Rex and Stripper were night owls. No doubt T-Rex was up watching some late-night movie. And Legend knew for certain that Stripper was in the communications room, battling somebody online in one of his various video games.
The man was a video game junkie.
Since Gabe was still fast asleep, Legend decided to take the luggage in first. As soon as he walked through the front door, he heard Stripper cursing at someone. Legend shook his head. It really was good to be home.
T-Rex walked out of the kitchen with a glass in his hand. “About time.”
Legend set the luggage down and then stretched. His back was killing him from the long drive. Although he was only twenty-seven, that drive had made him feel old. He was ready to go soak in a nice hot bath. He rolled his shoulders and heard his vertebrae pop. That was better. Legend wanted to work out and loosen his muscles, but he had Gabe to take care of.
“Where’s the package?” T-Rex asked as he eyed the stupid amount of luggage that Gabe had decided to bring along. The human had packed for a freaking summer vacation. Gabe had brought three suitcases, a garment bag, and Legend had no clue what was in the midsize carrying case. He shook his head. He had learned long ago to pack light. Legend also knew how to roll his clothes to conserve room.
Gabe was a walking department store.