He pulled his gun out of his shoulder holster and listened carefully, concentrating hard on the sounds of the woods. He couldn’t hear anything that indicated Dean was near, so he cautiously walked deeper into the wood. His heightened cat hearing wasn’t picking up any unusual sounds so he used his other senses to try to discover the wolf. He focused on the smells in the wood, hoping to catch a trace of Dean’s scent. His eyes followed every leaf blowing in the wind and every beetle scuttling across the ground.
He didn’t notice anything at first, but then rustling behind him caught his attention and he spun around and pointed his gun. He wasn’t fast enough. Dean knocked him from his feet and landed heavily on top of him. In the tussle, the gun fell from Gregory’s hand and landed on the ground out of reach. Dean roared and tried to get his hands around Gregory’s neck to choke him, but Gregory’s lighter weight made him more agile and he was able to grab Dean’s arm, twist it and throw him off. He made a dive for the gun, but Dean grabbed him around the waist and dragged him back.
They scrabbled on the floor, each trying to gain dominance over the other. Gregory wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold out against the much larger shifter. Dean’s weight was heavy on top of him and, even though it was clear he was not in full health, he was still incredibly strong. Gregory managed to pull his arm back and throw a punch that landed right where he wanted it to. He heard Dean’s nose crack under the pressure, broken. Dean growled and fell back, holding it gingerly and trying to stem the flow of his blood.
Dean’s retreat lasted long enough for Gregory to stretch out and grab hold of the gun. The second Dean realised what he’d done, a low growl tore from his throat and he shifted his hand into a claw. Gregory had just managed to point the gun when Dean struck out with his claws, aiming them at his face. Gregory didn’t have time to think before he reacted. He squeezed the trigger and shot Dean, the bullet hitting the wolf in the centre of his forehead. As Dean fell backwards and hit the ground with a thud, Gregory felt nothing but relief.
“That’s for Hayden,” he whispered. “And for Ashton and for Tania and for everyone else that died because of you.”
* * * *
“Baby, wake up. Can you hear me?”
Hayden cracked his eyes open and tried to focus on Gregory’s face. His mate was leaning over him, wearing a worried expression.
“Hey,” he whispered hoarsely.
Gregory’s features relaxed into a relieved smile. It took Hayden a moment to remember where he was and what had happened to him, but when his memories finally returned, his eyes widened and he sat up abruptly, searching the woods around him. “Dean…he got away.”
“It’s okay,” Gregory soothed, stroking Hayden’s cheek with the back of his fingers. “Dean is dead. I killed him. He can’t ever hurt anyone again.”
“He’s…” Hayden couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “He’s dead? You mean, it’s all over?”
Gregory nodded. “Yes, it’s finally over.”
“Where’s his body?” Hayden asked, nervously looking past Gregory into the trees beyond. “I mean…are you sure?”
Gregory’s face softened and his lips curved up into a tender smile. “You’ve been asleep for nearly two hours. The council has already been here to take Dean’s body. Kelan got a lift back with them, but he left his truck so we can get home. I didn’t want to wake you, because I knew your body would need the rest in order to heal, but when you didn’t wake on your own, I started to worry.”
When Hayden’s hand lifted to feel his face, Gregory nodded, confirming, “It’s healed. The scar is gone.”
Hayden closed his eyes and drew in a long, deep breath, tracing the now smooth skin of his cheek. “Then you’re right. It is finally over.” He opened his eyes and met Gregory’s gaze. “I thought I’d never see you again. I thought—”
“Shh.” Gregory pulled Hayden into his arms and crushed him in an embrace. “I’m here.”
“You’re here.” Hayden echoed. He pulled back, took hold of his mate’s face and pressed their lips together gently. The soft kiss was meant to ease his mind. To reassure him that they were both alive, both safe, but as soon as their lips touched, the relief and tension poured from his body only to be filled with an insatiable, almost primal need.
When Gregory grabbed Hayden around the waist and hauled him closer, deepening the kiss, Hayden gasped, the sound somehow lost in the depths of his mate’s mouth. Their bodies melded together, Hayden reached up and grabbed a fistful of Gregory’s hair, holding on tight as though it were the only thing keeping him grounded. The kiss became frantic, a wild frenzy of teeth and tongue, of nipping and biting, licking and sucking. Hayden was so lost in the desperate need that filled him that he nearly missed the sound of Gregory tearing at the button and zipper on his jeans. But there was no way he could miss the cool air that hit his ass as they were pulled down his hips. Gregory wrapped his hand around his rock-hard cock.
“Fuck me,” Hayden said against Gregory’s mouth. “Please.”
Hayden nearly groaned when the hand on his cock disappeared, but when he broke the kiss and looked down, he saw Gregory fighting with his own jeans and his heartbeat skyrocketed. His eyes had shifted to their cat form and immediately Hayden’s shifted to match, his incisors scratching at his gums.
“Hurry,” Hayden pleaded.
Gregory pulled his jeans down and began stroking his cock, but when his hand stilled and he met Hayden’s gaze, there was disappointment in his eyes. “We haven’t got anything.”
Hayden turned and knelt, resting his forearms on the ground and pushing his ass towards Gregory. “Improvise,” he said over his shoulder.
“Fuck.”
Hayden’s need was spiralling out of control. He worried at first that Gregory would back out, but then he heard his mate spit into his hand and a moment later his cock nudged at Hayden’s entrance. He couldn’t wait, couldn’t remember when he’d been this desperate. Never. He pushed back.
“It’s gonna be rough,” Gregory warned.
“Good!”
No further words were needed. His mate pushed in and they both groaned when Gregory slid all of the way inside until his groin was pressed snugly against Hayden’s cheeks.
“Do it,” Hayden begged. His need thrummed through his body, so much so that he was barely aware of the small bite of pain. All he could feel was the intense pleasure, the relief, the absolute rightness of his mate filling him. Hayden had never felt so alive.
The fuck was brutal and without finesse. Gregory had a bruising grip on Hayden’s hips and he used it to drive deeper, to push harder until they were both grunting and shouting out their pleasure into the otherwise quiet woods.
When Gregory’s hand reached around to grab Hayden’s cock, it was all over. It only took a couple of strokes before Hayden cried out, his orgasm barrelling through him in an endless wave of dizzying pleasure.
“God, yes!” Gregory shouted and Hayden felt the cock in his ass giving up its seed, filling him so deliciously with liquid heat.
Hayden’s arms gave out and he collapsed to the ground, Gregory coming down heavily on top of him, his cock slipping free from his body.
“I’m here,” Gregory whispered in his ear, “and I promise you, as long as I’m alive, no one will ever harm you again.
Epilogue
“Hayden, hurry up or we’ll be late for dinner! Aaron and Cary are already on their way over.”
“Be out in a minute!” Leaning forward with his hands resting on the white ceramic tiles, Hayden took a good look at his face in the bathroom mirror. He’d been doing that a lot in the past few weeks. And sometimes it still surprised him when he unexpectedly caught sight of his reflection, often doing a double take. He wasn’t used to seeing himself without the scar. It was like looking at a stranger. He still frequently caught himself trying to hide the left side of his face from someone when he spoke to them. It was a difficult habit to break, but he was getting there.
Ever
y day Hayden saw the changes in himself—changes for the better. He was becoming more and more confident, more outgoing and he was more receptive to meeting new people and making friends. For the first time since his parents had thrown him out, Hayden felt happy about putting down roots and calling somewhere home. Gregory had noticed the changes, too, and commented on them.
Hayden had moved out of the bunkhouse three weeks ago and into Gregory’s house, and since then their relationship had gone from strength to strength. Now that Dean was dead and things had finally settled down at the council, Hayden and Gregory didn’t have to hide their bond anymore. Riley hadn’t been pleased with Gregory for lying to him about losing Hayden in Vegas, but in light of everything he’d learnt about Dean, he could understand why Gregory had done it.
“Hayden!”
Hayden grinned and pulled open the bathroom door. “There some reason you got your fur in a knot today?”
When Gregory lowered his gaze and walked back into the bedroom Hayden frowned and followed in his mate’s wake. “Okay, spit it out. What is it? What’s bothering you?”
Gregory lifted the legs of his pants so as not to crease them then took a seat on the edge of the bed. “It’s been a stressful day today at work, that’s all. The investigation into the corrupt council members has shaken the place up. Everyone is on edge.”
“Well, if they’re not guilty they have nothing to worry about, do they?” Hayden asked.
Gregory nodded. “Yes, but the wolves the elders brought in are ruthless. They questioned me about Ashton, Dean and Deveraux for three hours today. Three goddamn hours! I told them the same story over and over again, but they kept asking the questions like I was going to suddenly confess to knowing about Dean’s game all along.”
“I’m sure they just want to be thorough.”
Gregory shook his head. “It’s over the top. You know they have wolves working for the elders that can tell if you’re lying? From what I understand they’re like empaths that can sense shifters’ emotions. They had one in the office today yet they kept going over the same damn questions like a broken record. It’s ridiculous.”
Hayden sat down beside his mate. “Well, they can tell you aren’t lying, so hopefully that will be the end of it.”
“Yeah, let’s hope so.”
“Has there been any news on Deveraux?”
“No. They haven’t sentenced him yet. But it will go in his favour that he gave himself up and confessed after he found out Dean was dead. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who have come forward and confessed to doing something for Dean. He was blackmailing a lot of people to get what he wanted. Most of them would have got away with what they’d done, too, but they couldn’t live with the guilt.
“At least it’s all out in the open now. There should be no more secrets at the council anymore.”
“Yeah. It’ll be a relief to go into work and know I can trust the people I’m working with. I haven’t had that luxury for a long time. How was your day at the ranch?”
“It was good, but Nate has been a nervous wreck all day.” Hayden giggled, but when he realised he’d just said something he shouldn’t have, his hand flew up to cover his mouth.
“Hayden, what’s going on?”
“Uh…nothing?”
“You know you’re no good at lying. Why has Nate been nervous?”
“Aww, crap. Okay, fine, but you can’t let on you know, okay?”
Gregory grinned broadly. “My lips are sealed. Unlike you, I can keep a secret.”
Hayden scowled at Gregory, but he couldn’t stay angry with his mate. Truth was he’d been desperate to tell Gregory ever since he’d found out. “Nate is going to propose to Jared tonight.”
Gregory threw his head back and laughed.
“Hey! It’s not funny!” Hayden said, poking Gregory in the side. “It’s romantic.”
“Well, sure, but…Nate? This I’ve got to see.”
“Now I wish I hadn’t told you. You’re going to make fun of him.”
Gregory looked as though he was trying not to laugh. “I promise I will not make fun of him, okay?”
“Fine.”
“Did you talk to Mac today?”
Hayden couldn’t stop the smile that formed on his lips at the mention of his former boss. “Yeah. I called just before you got home.”
“How is he?”
“He sounded good. He was complaining about the new guy he hired to wash dishes. I think he keeps smashing plates. Mac said he’s going to fire him.”
“Damn. Poor kid.”
Hayden chuckled. “Nah, the fact that Mac kept grumbling about him meant he likes him. He kept threatening to fire me for the first couple of months I worked there, too.”
Gregory laughed. “So Mac bought the story about you having to go into the witness protection programme?”
“Yeah, but I hate lying to him.”
“I know, but we’re shifters, Hayden. Sometimes we have to lie to humans to keep our secret. It’s not a pleasant thing to have to do, but it’s necessary.”
“I know. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“You know you can go see Mac anytime you like, right? I know he’s like a father to you.”
Hayden nodded. “I was thinking about visiting him for Thanksgiving, maybe taking him a gift to say thanks for everything he did for me.”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Gregory said, kissing Hayden softly on the lips. Hayden quickly deepened the kiss but the sound of a horn honking outside made him pull back, already breathless. “Aaron and Cary?”
“Sounds like it,” Gregory confirmed. “Come on, let’s get this dinner over with so we can come home and have dessert.”
Hayden chuckled. “Could you be any cornier?”
Gregory grinned. “Apparently not.”
Hayden followed Gregory to the door and felt in his pocket to make sure he had his key. He took a look around the now familiar living space then let Gregory take his hand and drag him from the house. There was a smile on his face as they made their way down the path. He was so happy to be finally home where he belonged.
Also available from Total-E-Bound Publishing:
Bollywood Desires
Lavinia Lewis
Chapter One
“All-Star Security, how can I be of service?” Brent rested his elbows on the desk and used his thumb and forefinger to massage his temple. “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t understand Hindi…or Punjabi. Do you speak En—?” Brent stared at the handset open-mouthed before slamming it down in its cradle. He cursed under his breath.
“Another hang-up?” Jessie leant back in her chair and applied bright red polish to the nails of her left hand.
“Fifth time today and it’s only ten in the damn morning. Do you have any idea how much work we’re losing because Jack won’t get his head out of his ass and hire us a secretary who speaks Hindi?”
“We have a secretary who speaks Hindi.” Jessie held up her hand to the light and admired her newly painted nails.
“Yes, and Jameela is great, but she only works three days a week. What about the rest? I’m a bodyguard, not a damn receptionist. I’m tired of this shit, and don’t you have any work to do?”
“Tea break,” Jessie explained.
Brent looked at the clock on the tiny office wall. Jessie had been at work precisely forty minutes, and he hadn’t seen her do a damn thing. And when had he started using the word ‘damn’ so much?
He tugged on the collar of his white linen shirt and groaned out loud. The lousy air-conditioning unit in their small rented office only worked when it felt like it. Mumbai had two temperatures, it seemed. Hot…and ridiculously hot. Brent wasn’t a fan of either.
“Can you remind me again why we moved to this piss-poor excuse for a city in the first place?”
Jessie put down the nail polish and stared at Brent, eyebrows raised. “I’d be delighted,” she deadpanned. “My idiot husband got you drunk one night and convinced you the pam
pered princes and princesses of Bollywood would pay top dollar for experienced British security personnel. You, like the jackass you are, agreed with him. And here we are. So thanks for that. I owe you one.”
Brent grinned. It was a good thing he’d known Jessie most of his life. If they’d just met he could have been easily offended by her sarcasm. But despite her dry wit, she was absolutely right. Brent had no one to blame but himself. He’d been working as a bodyguard in London when his best friend Jack had come up with the idea to move to Mumbai. Jack was convinced that Bollywood, India’s version of Hollywood, could do with a few more bodyguards and before Brent had time to think seriously on the idea they were already on the plane. That would teach him not to be so damn impulsive.
“Watch your mouth,” he joked. “And if you value your life I wouldn’t let Jack hear you call him an idiot either.”
Jessie snorted. “It’s nothing he hasn’t heard from me before. Besides, he happens to like my mouth.” She grinned salaciously. “Especially when I use it to—”
“Please, God, don’t give me any details,” Brent interrupted. “I only ate breakfast an hour ago and I’d like to keep it down.”
Jessie chuckled. “Come on, Brent, you love hearing about my sexploits…admit it.”
Brent was about to argue the fact when the phone on her desk started ringing. Jessie smirked and quickly picked up the handset. Witch.
“All-Star Security, how can we help?”
Brent’s eyebrows all but disappeared behind his hairline when Jessie began nodding and speaking to the caller in English. How the…?
“Slow down, sir, and start again. How exactly can we help you? Your client has been receiving death threats? I see, and has he reported the matter to the police? Yes, okay, yes. Oh, well, that does sound like something we can help you with. Yes, sir. I can get one of our top security experts to come out and have a chat to you about some of the services we provide.” Jessie looked at Brent and rolled her eyes. “No, sir—the consultation would be free of charge.”
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