by Lynn Hagen
All Mercy could manage was a moan. Ford’s fingers were working him over, but soon they weren’t enough. Mercy clenched his ass around Ford’s fingers, feeling a primal need to be stretched wide. “Ford, I need more.”
Ford’s fingers disappeared, and Mercy felt the head of Ford’s cock rubbing over his hole, teasing him until Mercy was close to threatening the bear’s life.
“Want me to shove my dick into your ass, handsome?” The words were asked in a kind of low rumble, slutty and dirty, just how Ford probably intended them to be. He trailed kisses over Mercy’s shoulder, bit his jaw, and then licked his way down Mercy’s neck. “Do ya?”
“God yes,” Mercy pleaded. “Yes, fuck me.”
Mercy blew out a puff of air, hissed, and curled his toes as Ford entered him. The head of Ford’s cock was thick, stretching Mercy wide.
“Beg me to give you more.”
A flood of hot, sensual pleasure spread through Mercy. “I want more.”
“More what?” Ford hadn’t moved. The head was lodged inside Mercy’s ass, but that was it. He felt the hard flesh throbbing, and Mercy was on the verge of sobbing.
“I want more of your dick in my ass.”
Ford pressed forward, but just an inch. He gripped Mercy’s waist in a brutal hold. “Want all of my hard length inside of you?”
Sweet baby Jesus.” Yes!”
“Yes what?”
Mercy just might murder Ford and hide his body. “Yes, I want every inch of your dick inside of me.”
Ford made a ragged sound and then shoved all the way in. He let go of Mercy’s hips and grabbed his thighs, spreading them farther apart and lifting Mercy slightly into the air as he eased out until only the head remained.
Mercy panted heavily, waiting to see what Ford would do. The man had no qualms about fucking Mercy any way Mercy wanted to be fucked. The guy had a dirty mouth, too. Mercy loved that.
Ford had one hand on Mercy’s hip, the other holding Mercy’s shoulder. “Come on, baby. Beg me for it. Those lips were made for begging and sucking dick.”
Mercy wanted to be drilled, split open by the man’s enormous cock. He’d do whatever Ford wanted. He heard the man’s labored breathing. This was turning Ford on. His cock felt even larger inside Mercy’s hole, as if the dirty talk made him harder. Ford’s breathing was labored as he waited. The man had incredible self-control. Mercy tried to jerk backward, but Ford’s grip was too tight.
Mercy’s eyes slid shut. His fingers closed around the cushions. “Ford, fuck me like you’ve never fucked anyone else before. I want to feel that hard, fat cock nailing me.”
Ford unleashed on Mercy. His hips punched forward at lightning speed, forcing drool from Mercy’s mouth. Then he began to move slowly, his hands running up and down Mercy’s back, and then he moved faster again.
Mercy’s arms buckled from the onslaught, and his upper half crashed against the back of the couch, making him think Ford would make good on his promise to fuck Mercy over to the other side. “Oh fuck!”
“You wanted rough,” Ford reminded him. “Tell me to slow down, and I will.”
Thing was Mercy didn’t want Ford to slow down. He wanted to feel the pounding days afterward. He wanted his body deliciously sore so he could remember the best fuck he’d ever had. He clenched the bundle of muscles at his hole, and Ford cursed, sped up, and then reached around Mercy to grip his bobbing cock.
What Ford was doing to him was so hot, so erotic that Mercy could concentrate on nothing else but Ford’s cock punishing him.
“Oh god!” Mercy kept his face pressed against couch, drool drizzling from his mouth in pools. “That’s it. Nail my ass!”
Ford chuckled. His fingers gripped Mercy’s waist tighter. Pulling one hand away, Ford grabbed a handful of Mercy’s hair and yanked his head back, exposing his throat. Mercy whimpered and groaned when Ford nibbled on his shoulder. For reasons beyond him, Mercy wanted to beg Ford to bite him.
And then the man did. He sank his teeth into Mercy’s shoulder. Mercy let go of a guttural cry as his cock erupted. Spurts of semen splashed the couch as his ass clenched. He felt something move inside him, like his heart was being plucked. The connection he’d already felt toward Ford deepened.
They were mated. Mercy just knew it. Their souls were now soldered together. There was no going back. Ford was it for him.
He’d also made a complete mess and didn’t care. His orgasm had rocked his foundation, and Mercy never wanted it to end.
Ford pulled away from his shoulder. “Shit.” He wiped his sweaty forehead on Mercy’s back. “About to fill you with my cum, mate.”
“Do it,” Mercy begged. The words were electrifying and more than likely had Ford close to release.
Sweaty hair clung to Mercy’s face as Ford hammered into his hole. The man grunted, stiffened, and Mercy felt his mate’s cock pulsing with his release. “Mine!” Ford snarled.
They collapsed into a sweaty mess. Ford rolled, probably so he wouldn’t crush Mercy, and gasped for air. Mercy had turned to cuddle into his mate when he saw a shadow across the room.
It was the man from Cresting Moon.
The one with the dark and malevolent glare.
Chapter Seven
Mercy shouted when he was thrown over the couch. He scrambled to his feet to peek over the back, shocked to see that Ford had already shifted into his bear.
And he was huge.
Mercy had never seen a bear before. Not in real life. If he hadn’t known it was Ford, he might have pissed himself before passing out.
“I have no issues with your human companion,” the stranger said to Ford. “He is free to dress and leave. No harm will come to him.”
Mercy didn’t believe him. He still felt that malevolent vibe coming off him.
The stranger, now that Mercy had a closer look, was very handsome. Dark hair and eyes, which Mercy had already known, but the guy also had a five o’clock shadow, great cheekbones, and he smelled rather nicely.
The guy waved toward the couch. “Please, dress.”
Ford took a step closer to the intruder, growling a warning.
“It would be unwise to attack me,” the guy said. “Try and I’ll make it to your lover before you come near me. I’ll snap his neck and be out the door before his body hits the ground.”
Was he one of the enemies Ford spoke of or the vampire Ford was hunting? The guy said he could move fast, so to test his suspicion, Mercy said, “I’m just getting my clothes, Vladimir. I’m not making any sudden movements.”
The side of the guy’s mouth curled upward, but the flat coldness in his eyes remained. “So you know who I am.”
Ford gave another deep, throaty growl. Mercy had heard that vampires existed, and Ford had confirmed it when he’d said he was hunting one, but to be in the same room, looking at a real-life vampire, was terrifying.
His breath sawed in and out as Mercy stared at the stranger. He had to get his breathing under control before he fainted.
Mercy eased around the couch, trying to keep his cock from showing as he bent and gathered his clothing. He even put his sneakers on and tied them.
“You are free to leave,” Vladimir said.
Mercy wasn’t going anywhere. He wasn’t leaving Ford with the deranged vampire. He was also afraid that if he tried to make it to the door, Vladimir would come after him.
He also didn’t believe Vladimir when he said no harm would come to him. Instead, Mercy remained behind the huge bear, his back to the wall.
“Very well.” Vladimir shrugged. “Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance to leave.” He looked at Ford and smirked. “By the way, I went back a month later and finished what I’d started with that family you tried so desperately to save. Too bad you didn’t stick around to help them.”
Ford shifted into his human form, taking Mercy by surprise. Mercy stumbled back, shocked, and also blushing from just how nude his mate was. Sue him. Mercy was under a lot of stress. He couldn’t help his mind
had gone there.
“You killed the Rankle family?”
Mercy not only heard the rage coming from Ford but felt it roll over him like a thunderstorm. But Ford didn’t move, didn’t attack the vampire. He stood between Vladimir and Mercy.
“The same thing I’m going to do to you and your pet,” Vladimir said. “You should’ve never interfered in my business. Be forewarned, bear, I’m coming for you.”
One second Vladimir was standing by the window, and then he was gone. Mercy hadn’t seen him move. Yet he was no longer there.
“This was exactly what I was talking about.” Ford ran a hand over his face. “Exactly what I’d feared. Now I’ve pulled you into this mess, which was what I’d wanted to avoid.”
Mercy stood by the wall, afraid to say anything, trying to ward off the chill creeping into him. Ford was livid, and rightly so, but it was his anger that scared Mercy. He didn’t think Ford would raise a hand to him, but he wasn’t going to test that assumption either.
Ford was twice Lloyd’s size, with ten times his strength. Mercy prayed he hadn’t been foolish enough to let down his guard around someone who might lash out. Hell, Mercy didn’t really know Ford. Not well enough to know how he behaved when he was riled.
“Go get some rest.” Ford walked over to the window. He wouldn’t even look Mercy’s way. “I’d go hunting for him, but I’m not leaving you alone.”
Mercy held his head up and pulled his shoulders back. No. He wasn’t going to let another guy make him feel worthless. “Take me home.”
They’d driven Ford’s truck into town.
The demand got Ford’s attention. He turned and scowled. “What?”
“Take me back to the ranch. If you don’t want to, I’ll call Lincoln or Red to come get me.”
Letting his anger guide him—not his common sense—Mercy stormed from the apartment and headed down to the bakery. He was so furious that he dared Vladimir to try something.
Mercy exited the bakery, stopping on the street. Cresting Moon was still lively, people still on the patio, talking, drinking, and laughing as music poured from the restaurant.
Before Lloyd, Mercy had enjoyed a social life. He’d had a few friends, partied, and hadn’t had a care in the world. Not many that disrupted his life.
Then he’d met Lloyd, and his life hadn’t been the same since. Mercy had hidden on the ranch, too afraid to live again, stuck in limbo. Ford had given Mercy an opportunity, a second chance.
Although Mercy was grateful for it, he wasn’t going to let his mate snarl at him. Those days were over.
What really bothered Mercy was the fact that Vladimir had taken off. He knew why Ford hadn’t attacked the vampire. Because he had been there. That was easy enough to figure out. But why hadn’t Vladimir attacked? Was this some kind of sick game? Did he get a perverse thrill out of taunting them?
Mercy wasn’t a detective and wasn’t trying to be one. He would’ve been completely happy remaining unaware of Vladimir’s existence. Just from their brief encounter Mercy knew the vampire was pure freaking evil.
Just like Lloyd was.
Mercy looked toward Bent Spoon just as Lloyd was walking out the door. He appeared haggard, his hair disheveled. If Mercy didn’t know what a monster he was, he might have felt sorry for Lloyd.
Sooner or later Lloyd would know that Mercy had opened a bakery. But until then, he wanted to be left alone. He didn’t want his ex coming around while the bakery was under remodeling. Mercy didn’t want him coming around at all. Too bad Lloyd hadn’t stayed away. That would’ve been one less headache to deal with.
Mercy spun to go back inside when he ran into a wall of hard flesh. Ford curled his arm around Mercy and pulled him close. For a moment Mercy had forgotten about the strain between them. He wanted nothing more than to curl into Ford and take comfort in his mate.
“I’m an asshole,” Ford said against Mercy’s hair. “A straight-up asshole who let his fears overtake him.”
Mercy tilted his head back so he could look up at Ford’s handsome face. “You’re not getting an argument from me.”
“Do you still want to go back to the ranch?” Ford was fully dressed, prepared to take Mercy home. “I know my life is crazy, and having an enemy show up scares you, but I swear I’ll protect you with my life.”
Mercy looked sideways and saw Lloyd staring right at him. He didn’t want to go back inside the building, to give his ex any knowledge of his business. Right now it looked as though Ford and Mercy were just hugging on the street.
It was best to keep it that way.
“Let’s go for a ride. I think we could both use the fresh air.” If Mercy told Ford about Lloyd, his mate would pummel Mercy’s ex. After the visit from Vladimir, Mercy didn’t want any more confrontations right now.
He felt Lloyd’s gaze drill into his back, which made Mercy nervous. His ex wasn’t brave enough to confront someone bigger than him. Mercy had figured that out a long time ago when some jerk at Cresting Moon had bumped into Lloyd, spilling Lloyd’s drink, and Lloyd had been the one to apologize.
After that incident, the rest of the evening Lloyd had tried to prove his manliness. Mercy hadn’t cared about Lloyd being the one who had acted like a grownup and defused the situation.
But Lloyd had cared.
The night had ended with Mercy getting his ass kicked.
So no, Lloyd wouldn’t confront Ford. The bastard would wait until he had Mercy alone. That was what cowards did. Mercy never planned on being alone with Lloyd again. If the jerk showed up at the ranch one more time, Mercy would shout for Lincoln and let his stepbrother eat the guy.
He might have been broken in spirit when he’d arrived at the ranch three years ago, but a lot had changed since then. Mercy wouldn’t say he was a stronger person, that he could confront Lloyd without any fears, but he would be damned if he let anyone abuse or bully him again.
And if Ford didn’t get his act together, well, then Mercy would just run his bakery on his own.
Even if that thought made him miserable.
* * * *
Not only had Ford allowed his fears to overtake him but he was also afraid that Mercy was too terrified of what had happened in the apartment and wanted to leave him.
Not that Ford could blame him. This was exactly why Ford hadn’t wanted to reveal their connection to pursue his mate and start anything with him. Right after he’d claimed Mercy, trouble had shown up.
But it was too late for Ford to back out. He had fallen for Mercy and couldn’t imagine his life without his mate in it. Ford knew he’d done a one-eighty from how he’d felt when he’d first discovered Mercy was his mate. Hunting down the worst of the worst had been the only thing he knew, but being around Mercy, helping his mate realize his dream, and the way he’d taken Ford to task when he acted like a fool, had changed something inside him.
Traveling from city to city, town after town, hunting down the most wanted by the Ultionem no longer held the appeal it once had. Not that he wouldn’t take an occasional job, but this was where he belonged. In Fever’s Edge with Mercy, running a bakery.
Ford reached over and slid his hand into Mercy’s once he’d pulled from the curb. “Do you forgive me?”
What made matters more fucked up was the fact that Ford knew Mercy had had an abusive past. Even though he would never raise a hand to his mate, Ford felt bad for letting his fears grip him to the point that he’d snarled at Mercy.
“What are you going to do about Vladimir?”
Mercy hadn’t answered him, but Ford let it go. He wasn't going to force his mate to forgive him. This was a lot for Mercy to deal with. At least now Ford knew who’d been watching him, and he was still torn up over the fact that Vladimir had killed the family Ford had thought he’d saved.
Both Ford and Mercy had things weighing heavily on their minds.
“I truly am sorry.” Ford squeezed Mercy’s hand. “I’m an asshole, but I would never hurt you.” He turned down a backroad, no tru
e destination in mind since Mercy said he just wanted to go for a ride. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do about Vladimir. This is a game to him, and I have to get ahead of him before he destroys more lives.”
“I know you didn’t want me dragged into this part of your life.” Mercy glanced at their entwined hands. “I got so caught up in the bakery aspect that the threat of one of your enemies got shoved aside.”
Ford braced himself. Mates didn’t break up. They were in it for life, but Mercy, if he decided he didn’t want to be a part of the craziness—and who could blame him?—could refuse to be around Ford.
“And now?” Ford wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. He’d tried his best to keep things simple between them when they’d first met, but the pull hadn’t been a joke. He should’ve known he wouldn’t be able to fight against it, no matter how hard he’d tried.
Now he was fearful that Mercy would tell him to go fuck himself.
All Ford had was his work, and now that he’d met Mercy, had mated him, the idea of going back to that lonely existence didn’t appeal to him in the least.
“And now what?” Mercy finally looked up at Ford with those baby blues.
“Now that the trouble I feared would follow me has arrived, now what do you want to do?” Ford gripped the steering wheel harder. “Vladimir is a psychopath, a killer, Mercy. That’s why the Ultionem sent me after him. They don’t want him brought to justice. They want him dead. He’s a very dangerous person and never stops until he’s accomplished whatever goal he’s after.”
Like killing the Rankle family.
God, Ford had been such a fool to believe they’d been safe after he’d chased off Vladimir. Why had he let his guard down? Why had he left that family exposed to the vampire’s cruelty?
The guilt would forever haunt him.
“I have no idea what to do,” Mercy said. “The last time I fled a bad situation, I went to Lincoln’s. But Lloyd is human. He fears stronger men. I don’t think Vladimir fears anyone. So how do you take down someone like that?”