Tortured Souls
Page 7
Morning came too soon for Declan. He hated the thought of Bram putting himself in harm’s way. Watching his knight sleep, Declan thought about the future. Maybe Bram could get on with the Styler police department? Maybe they could find something for him to do at the center? Bram smiled and opened his eyes.
“Hey. What are you thinking about so hard?” Bram snuggled his body against Declan’s.
“Just wondering what you’re going to do at the ranch if you move there.” Declan began to play with Bram’s silky hair.
“You mean when I move there.” Bram kissed him. “I’ve got enough money to retire and just volunteer my time at the center or I can help Rex and Gabe out with the cattle.” Bram ran his hands down Declan’s back to land on his butt. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine as long as I’m with you.” Bram ran his finger down the crack of Declan’s ass. “Pass me the lube. I need to love you before I have to leave.”
Declan stretched to the side and snagged the bottle off the table. Handing it to Bram, he switched places. “Which way do you want me?”
“Every way. But for now, get on your back so I can see your face when you come.” Bram squirted lube onto his hand as Declan bent his legs and put his feet flat on the bed. He pushed into Bram’s hand as he moaned his pleasure.
“You’re so sexy,” Bram said, slipping another finger into the tight opening. Scissoring them, Bram slowly stretched Declan’s hole.
“Now. Need you in me.” Declan slipped his legs over Bram’s shoulders, as Bram withdrew his fingers, and pushed his cock in fully. “Fuck, that feels good.” Bram pumped his cock in and out of Declan’s hole.
They were both in such a state of bliss that they didn’t hear someone else enter the room. Declan grabbed his cock and stroked his way to completion as Bram pounded into him several more times. Bram screamed Declan’s name to the ceiling and filled his lover with his seed.
Collapsing on Declan’s chest, Bram turned his head to the side and spotted the intruder. He immediately rolled and dumped Declan onto the floor, on the other side of the bed. “Stay down, Declan.”
Looking at his brother was like looking into a mirror. Brier was holding a very large hunting knife. “Brier?”
Brier’s eyes rounded. “Brier, it’s me, Bramble. I was coming to look for you today. I thought you might need my help.” Bram slowly sat up on the bed, his eyes never leaving Brier’s.
Bram couldn’t keep his voice from cracking as tears began to trickle down his face. The man in front of him looked so confused, lost, angry. “I didn’t know about you until yesterday, Brier. You have to believe that. If I’d known, I would have found you earlier.”
Brier shook his head and began to pace back and forth in front of the bed. He absently scratched his head with the knife as he began talking to himself. “Left me. Alone too long. Left me.”
“No. I didn’t leave you. Lucky and Doreen left you. I was coming to look for you. You’re my brother. My twin. We’re a part of each other. You and me.” Bram slowly moved to the edge of the bed. He could see rivulets of blood running down the side of Brier’s face and neck. Just then, he was more afraid Brier would hurt himself with the knife and Bram knew he had to get it away from him. The more agitated Brier became, the deeper the knife cut into his own scalp.
“We have another brother, Thorn. Lucky beat him with a pipe and now he’s in a wheelchair. Did you know about Lucky? About me testifying against him? Is that why you’re angry with me? Because I put Lucky in prison for beating me and Thorn?” Brier stopped for several seconds and looked at Bram.
“I was supposed to kill them. I worked it out. Me, not you. They deserved it. They left me there.”
Standing, Bram held out his arms. “You’re right. They did deserve it. And you deserve to be loved. Let me love you, brother.” Bram could barely see through the tears clouding his vision.
Brier looked sideways at Bram and shook his head. “Brother?”
“Yes, Brier. I’m your brother and I love you. Put down the knife and give me a hug.” Bram held his breath until a completely different look crossed Brier’s face. He dropped the knife to the floor and slowly walked toward Bram. “That’s it,” Bram coaxed. “Let me be your brother.”
Brier walked into Bram’s arms and wrapped his own around Bram so hard he thought he’d pass out. “Not so tight, Brier. Like this.” Bram held Brier at a comfortable pressure. Brier’s arms slowly loosened to match Bram’s.
“Brother. I’ve been so lonely.” Brier pulled back and looked wide-eyed at Bram. “I found my records in the doctor’s office at the hospital-home. It told me who I used to belong to. I’ve been looking for my family.” Brier suddenly gasped, as if he’d just remembered something. “I killed our mother. She kept calling us names. I wanted to find her for years, so she could be my mommy again, but when I found her she called us names.” Brier scrubbed his hands across his face. The rivulets of blood still oozing from the cuts on Brier’s head smeared across his face. “She told me about you. Where to find you. She said it was all your fault that they left me.”
Bram closed his eyes and pulled his brother back into his embrace. “No, that’s not true. I was just a baby, like you. I didn’t even know I had a twin until yesterday. I was going to go to Lucky’s house this morning and look for you. I want to make it up to you. I want us to be brothers. But I need to get your cuts looked at. And we need to call the police. But Brier, listen to me.” Bram turned Brier’s head so they were looking into each other’s eyes. “I will never leave you again. We’ll figure something out with the police. You’re my brother and Thorn’s brother. Brothers stick together, no matter what.”
Brier looked over toward Declan, who was now standing on the other side of the bed. “Didn’t want to hurt you. I was confused. I thought Bram did this to me.” Brier shook his head. “I should have known better. Will you be my brother too?”
Bram knew Brier didn’t quite know what he was saying or asking for. It was obvious he’d never been loved by anyone, until now. And Bram did love him. He couldn’t explain it but it was deep and immediate upon seeing his twin face-to-face. It didn’t matter what Brier had done. Shit. Bram’s eyes searched Declan’s. Just because he could forgive Brier didn’t mean the man he loved could. What would he do if Declan rejected Brier?
Bram’s questions were answered as Declan smiled at him. “It’s okay, Bram. I understand. Don’t forget, I loved someone despite his mental state. Love overcomes everything.”
Holding out his arms, Brier silently asked Declan for a hug. Declan blushed and pointed toward his clothes. “If you don’t mind, let me put some jeans on first.”
Bram started to chuckle as Brier looked at Declan like he was crazy. Bram’s chuckles turned into full-blown belly laughs as the past finally released him.
Epilogue
Three months later
Bram pulled his SUV into the parking lot. He climbed out and went to the back to get Thor’s chair. Getting Thor unloaded, Bram smiled down at him. “Hope you don’t mind me just dropping you off here but I’ve got someone to see.” Bram took off at a run toward the rehabilitation center. He pushed the doors open and scanned the large room. No one seemed to be present except Kelly. “Hey, Kelly,” Bram said, waving to Thor’s fiancée. “Where’s Declan?”
Kelly smiled and hopped up from behind the desk. “He’s at home on his lunch hour. Is Thor with you?” She looked behind Bram.
Just then his baby brother came wheeling through the doorway. “Come over here, Buttons, and welcome me home.” Kelly ran to Thor and jumped on his lap. As the two of them started kissing, Bram left to find Declan.
Walking into the house, he found his man in the kitchen making some lemonade. “Hey, I’m home.” He stood with his feet spread apart waiting for the inevitable welcome home he received every time he went away.
Declan’s eyes lit up, and he bounded his way over to Bram and jumped into his arms. Without saying a word, Declan pressed his lips to Bram’s. The kiss was long an
d deep, until both men had to come up for air. “Missed you.” Declan rubbed his nose against Bram’s.
“Missed you too. But it looks like we won’t have to be gone every couple of weeks again. The judge has okayed Brier’s transfer to the state hospital in Norman.”
Declan wrapped his legs tighter around Bram. “That’s fantastic. How is he?”
Bram walked over to the sofa and sat down with Declan still clinging to him. “He’s fantastic. He’s even managed to amaze his doctors. They think eventually he’ll be well enough to leave the hospital.” Bram kissed Declan again. “I can’t tell you how much he reminds me of…me. We have the same facial expressions and the same mannerisms. It’s downright scary. I’ve always heard about the weird woo-woo between twins but I never thought that much about it.”
Declan kissed him deep and hard. Their tongues dueled in a dance of passion. “You’re happier than I’ve ever seen you. It looks good on you.”
“Yeah.” Bram smiled. “It feels pretty damn good on me too.” He thrust up against Declan. “And speaking of feeling good…” Bram’s voice drifted off as he laid Declan down on the couch. “We’re gonna have to invest in a slipcover for this couch.”
Declan laughed as Bram attacked his mouth again.
About the Author
I’ve been a reading fanatic for years and finally at the age of forty decided to try my hand at writing. I’ve always loved romance novels that are just a little bit naughty so naturally my books tend to go just a little further. It’s my fantasy world after all.
When I’m not being a mother to a five-year-old and a six-year-old, you can usually find me in my deep leather chair with either a book in my hand or my laptop.
Carol welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at Comments@EllorasCave.com.
Also by Carol Lynne
Feels So Right
Finnegan’s Promise
Men in Love 1: Branded by Gold
Men in Love 2: Ben’s Wildflower
Men in Love 3: Open to Possibilities
Men in Love 4: Completing the Circle
Men in Love 5: Going Against Orders
Riding the Wolf
Sex With Lex
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com