“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.
“Shit.”
Hayden’s need was spiraling out of control.
He worried at first that Gregory might 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 ever 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 barreling through him in an endless wave of dizzying pleasure.
“God, yes!” Gregory shouted.
Hayden felt the cock in his ass giving up its seed, filling him so deliciously with liquid heat. Hayden’s arms gave out then 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 last 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. Slowly.
Every 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 Las Vegas, but in light of everything he’d learned about Dean, he could understand why Gregory had done it and had let him off with a warning.
“Hayden!”
Hayden grinned and pulled open the bathroom door.
“Is there some reason you’ve 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?”
Gregory nodded. “Sure, 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 have a pretty good idea 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 favor 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 realized 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, but he couldn’t stay angry with his mate. The 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 poked 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 if 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 program?”
“Yeah, but I hate lying to him.”
“I know, but we’re shifters, Hayden. Sometimes we have to lie to humans to ke
ep 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 to 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 kissed 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.
“Did I tell you I love you today?” Hayden asked before they reached the car.
Gregory’s expression softened. “You did baby, as soon as you woke up.”
“Good.”
“You know you don’t have to say it every day, right?”
Hayden nodded. “I know, but when Dean had me and I believed I’d never see you again, all I could think about was that I never got the chance to tell you how I feel. I never want to waste the opportunity to tell you ever again.”
Gregory averted his gaze and cleared his throat before speaking. When he next met Hayden’s gaze, there were unshed tears in his eyes.
“I might have got a little distracted this morning after you told me you love me so in case I forgot to say it, I love you, too.”
Hayden didn’t need an empath to tell him that Gregory spoke the truth, the raw emotion in his mate’s eyes told him all he needed to know. He squeezed Gregory’s hand, too choked to reply and as he opened the door to the car and greeted the two young shifters who were becoming his first real friends, he sent up a silent prayer of thanks for the life he had never believed he deserved and had never dared to hope for, but had been granted to him anyway.
The End
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About the Author
Lavinia Lewis is the M/M pen name of British romance author Tammy Thomas.
She also writes contemporary romance as Ava Grace and paranormal romance as Amy Armstrong.
She is a full-time writer and lives in Wales, UK.
She discovered reading at an early age and could always be found with her nose in a book. She loved getting lost in a fantasy world even then. When her parents bought her a typewriter for Christmas at age eleven, her fate was sealed. She spent hours dreaming up characters and creating stories. Not a lot has changed. Now, when she is not writing you can find her with her kindle in hand, reading a romance novel, or binge-watching her favorite shows on Netflix.
She has lived all over the UK but currently resides back home in the little village in Wales where she grew up. She has traveled extensively to places as far and wide Africa, Asia, Australia, America and most of Europe. Although some of her books are set in Texas she has never visited the state but plans to spend time there in the near future.
Tammy welcomes emails from her readers so feel free to get in touch at the following email address.
[email protected]
Gregory's Rebellion (2019 Reissue) Page 13