by Zoey Marcel
“The pastor’s baby boy is all grown up and marrying this sweet, innocent confection.” Greta touched Danielle’s hand.
Brighton stifled a snicker. “She is definitely sweet.”
Danielle threw him a playful glare.
“That she is,” Greta agreed.
“Greta, she’s engaged to David and Brighton, too,” Trudy informed her.
Heath’s eyes closed.
“What?” Greta rubbernecked between them. “Three husbands?”
“Five,” Trudy corrected her. “The Enos brothers, too.”
“Five?”
Heath gripped Trudy’s arm and walked her a few feet away. “Percy wants to talk to you.”
At this rate the whole guest list would end up being sent over to the chatty wedding planner.
“Five men to cook for?” Greta shook her head. “I don’t condone such things, neither spiritually or for your mental health.”
“I love them,” Danielle said softly.
“Well, you would have to, wouldn’t you? Don’t you know men leave dirty socks lying around? Think of all the socks, dear girl.”
Danielle smiled. “It sounds like I’ll have my hands full.”
“You most certainly will,” Greta agreed, “and don’t even get me started on the toilet seat. It goes down, Frank.”
Her husband, Frank, grinned and smoothed his hand over her back. “I didn’t know that.”
She sniffed at him before smiling when she felt his eyes teasing her. “Oh, stop it.”
She lightly pushed him, smiling bigger. When her eyes fell on Brighton, her expression became scolding again. She pointed a weathered finger at him. “You’d better put the toilet seat down for her, young man.”
Brighton smirked. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Maybe I need to keep you around, Greta,” Danielle joked.
“You just call me if you need someone to help you keep your men in line. I taught Frank to behave. Yours shouldn’t be too much trouble.”
Frank shook his head, smiling. “Want some punch, hon?”
“Yes, thank you, dear.” Greta watched him walk toward the buffet table with a sappy sparkle in her eyes. “It’s those sweet little gestures that make the dirty socks worthwhile.” She frowned. “Even if the hamper is three feet away. Or the way he dirties the mirror while brushing his teeth. I swear he spits right on it.”
Danielle laughed.
Greta smiled. “He makes a mean beef stroganoff, though. And the candles.”
“Yes, the candles.” Trudy let out a dreamy sigh.
A reminiscent silence was broken by Greta bickering. “Five men? Have you lost your mind? You can only legally be married to one.”
“Way ahead of you, sister,” Brighton said. “She’s gonna take Heath’s name.”
“What?” Heller growled.
Heath jumped in his skin. Percy wasn’t doing his job.
“Is that so?” Heller asked.
“It was David’s idea,” Heath muttered.
“Cole’s,” David countered.
Heath shrugged.
“Let’s take a walk, Heath.” Heller slapped a hand on his back.
The others started conversing again.
“Please don’t embarrass me,” Heath mumbled.
“Now,” Heller demanded in a low hush.
Swallowing, Heath followed him away from the others and down an empty hall. He knew he was in trouble.
Chapter Ten
Heller practically dragged Heath down the hall. He was so fucking pissed.
“Just calm down and let me explain,” Heath said like the guilty shit he was.
Heller stopped walking with him, releasing his arm angrily. “Yeah, why don’t you do that?”
“We were all gonna share Danielle anyway. What does it matter whose name is on the marriage certificate with hers?”
“What did I tell you, Heath?”
“You want to be the one legally married to her?” Heath gave a shrug of his hand. “Fine by me.”
“That’s real cute, you conning bastard. Don’t pretend you don’t know why I’m pissed off at you.” Heller stepped toward him, crowding him. “The deal was that she would take the McAlisters’ name. You’re my bitch. I told you that.”
“Well, maybe I want to be married.”
“I told you before, if you tie the knot it’ll be with me. No exceptions.”
Heath shrugged, guilty eyes wandering. “This way Brighton and David don’t have to fight over her. I was being charitable.”
“No, you were being a sneaky son of a bitch.” Heller glared at him. “We both know what this is really about.”
Heath tried to step off. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t want your dad to know you like sucking my dick!”
“Shh!” The cowboy blushed hard. “Keep your voice down. They’ll hear you.”
“High time everybody knew what a fucking fake you are.” Heller gave him a shove.
Heath got all fired up and shoved him back.
Heller rammed him up against the wall. “It’s the end of the road, cowboy. You either tell everybody about us, and I do mean everybody, or I walk.”
Heath’s features twisted with indecision. “It’s not that easy.”
“You want me to do it for you, I will.” Heller shifted to leave, stopping when Heath gripped his arm in panic.
“Heller, don’t. I’m gonna tell them.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
Heller scoffed, giving a derisive shake of his head. “I’ve heard that before.”
“I will. Just give me time.”
“You’ve had enough fucking time! Quit being a coward and grow the fuck up.”
Heath licked his lips. “Just let me make this up to you.”
Heller scowled down at him when Heath stepped forward and started pawing at his chest. It pissed him off that the guy thought he could use sex to shut his brain off. The effect was only temporary anyway.
Heath placed a hand on his crotch. The touch felt good, but fury eclipsed it.
Heller moved his hand away. “You think you can control me with sex?”
“I just want you to know I love you.”
“I might believe you if you’d go out there and confess to your obsession with my dick.”
Heath grimaced, then quickly put on a smile. “Not today. I want to wait for the right moment.”
Heller gave him a black look that made the cowboy’s eyes lower, betraying his lie. “There’s never gonna be a right moment for you. I know what you’re thinking. Somehow in that complicated head of yours you actually think that you can hide the fact that you’re bi and sharing Danielle with four other men, five if you count that classy bastard that keeps looking at her. How the hell do you think holidays are gonna go? You and Danielle visit Daddy while the rest of us are left out in the cold, pretending to be your friends and that we don’t know what you look like naked?”
Heath shot him a morose glance, rubbing his nape. “I don’t know.”
Heller crossed his guns. “I’ll tell you how it’s gonna go. If your dad ever comes around, we’re all gonna visit him with you. He’s gonna know what a twisted little fucker you are and you’re not gonna hide who you are, or be ashamed of us.”
“That would be great, but it’s not reality. You don’t understand how he is.”
“Oh, I know exactly how he is. You’re just like him.”
“I am not. I’ve changed.”
“No, you haven’t. You’re still the same jackass who outed me a decade ago.”
Heath winced. “I thought you were over that.”
“I’m as over it as you are your homophobia.”
“I’m not homophobic. I let you do filthy things to me. I do everything you ask.”
“Except tell your dad about us. I’ve been out for years. I’m not going back in the closet for anybody. Make your fucking choice already.”
“I want you,” Heath
murmured.
Heller invaded his personal space. He knew Heath loved it. “Put your money where your mouth is, or better yet, my cock.”
“You want head? I’ll give it to you when the party is over.”
“No, now,” Heller growled, “in your daddy’s office.”
Heath became uneasy. “That’s risky.”
“It’s that or you can watch my hot ass leaving you.”
“All right.” He brushed Heller’s arm affectionately. “We’ll have to be quick.”
“Meet me there in five.” Heller strode away from him.
He’d tried to be patient with the cowboy, even relinquished his revenge plan just to be with Heath. And still the defiant man kept stringing him along. No more games. No more bullshit. Heath Brodie was going down.
Heller found Heath’s father, Malachi, mingling in the mob. “Hey ya, preach. You have a minute?”
The man was civil to him, but Heller knew Malachi didn’t want to talk with him. “What do you need?”
“You know, all these years of being a thug I figure it’s time to call it a day.”
“You want to make restitution for all the wrong you’ve done?”
“Nah, man, I’m talking about the whole church stint. I figured I’d join. You got a minute? Maybe we could go somewhere and talk.”
“Of course.”
Someone walked up to Malachi and greeted him.
Heller pointed his thumb behind him. “Tell you what. I’ll just meet you in your office.”
“I’ll be right there,” Malachi agreed.
Heller walked briskly, shutting the door behind him when he entered the office. Heath stood immediately, seeming aroused as Heller prowled toward him.
“I’ll get around to working something out,” Heath said unconvincingly.
Heller put an arm around him and fisted his hair, tugging his head back. “Show me how sorry you are.”
Heath’s breath caught and he trembled in his arms when Heller’s mouth crashed against his. Heath panted into the kiss, groping him fiendishly. Heller devoured his hot, hungry mouth. He was already hard even though he was still upset. Something about the anger fueled his lust.
He pulled Heath against him, swallowing his needy moan. Grabbing his ass, he hoisted the shorter man up in his arms. Heller walked him into the wall, pinning him there with his body. Heath gasped upon collision.
Heller ate at his lips again, drawing Heath’s tongue into his mouth. He ground against Heath, getting harder when the guy whimpered and clawed at his shirt, nails digging into his shoulder blades.
He broke the kiss and swiftly carried the man over to the desk. Upon laying Heath on it, he climbed on top of him and started mauling his face again. Heath groaned and wrapped his legs around him, smashing his groin against him while Heller ground into his crotch.
He pulled back and ripped open the front of Heath’s shirt.
“Ah, Heller,” Heath whined.
He had an undershirt on, so there was no point in bitching. He wasn’t having Heath claim that this had just been a make out.
“Quit your griping.”
Heller rocked back a little and stripped off his T-shirt, nipples firming when Heath petted his chest in admiration. The cowboy reached for his belt, but Heller smacked his hand away and unfastened Heath’s instead.
He was about to lie down on top of him again when Heath reached for his own fly. Heller knocked his hand away.
“Goddamn it, touch me.”
“What if someone comes in and sees you with a man’s hand down your pants?” Heller sassed, picturing it with a shitload of smugness.
“I don’t care.”
“Yeah, right.”
“It’s okay. We’ll be quick. Just come here.” Heath jerked him into an animalistic kiss.
Heller growled and worked Heath’s fly open. He wasn’t pulling anything out, though. The clothes were staying on. Heath needed to be punished, not scarred for life.
He rolled Heath with him so they were on their sides and the cowboy had his back toward the door. Heller nibbled on his earlobe, watching the door. Heath grabbed his wrist and directed Heller’s hand down his pants.
Hearing footsteps, Heller breathed a hot gust into his ear. Heath gasped and arched into his body.
“You like that, don’t you?” Heller murmured.
“God, yes.”
Heller jacked him faster, making sure to keep Heath’s parts hidden in his clothes. This strange shitty feeling came over him when he saw the doorknob turning. A strong surge of vengeance combated it. He slowed the tempo, completely ripped in half.
“Oh fuck, don’t stop!” Heath begged him.
Heller jerked his throbbing erection faster, plastering his mouth on Heath’s when the door opened. Heath cried softly in his mouth.
You love him.
Heller stopped stroking him because the guy was too close to finishing.
Heath’s head jerked toward the door when he heard a noise. His eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped when he saw Malachi standing there. The preacher looked disgusted as he turned and walked out.
“Shit.” Heath swiped his hand down his face. “He’s gonna take this wrong.”
Heller laid a hand on his chest to press him back down when he tried to get up. “There’s only one way to take it.”
“He’ll assume I’m like Carsten.”
“Shut up,” he growled, slamming his mouth down on Heath’s.
The cowboy’s muted squeal became a wild moan when Heller’s grip on his cock tightened and he rubbed the swollen flesh really fast. He cradled Heath’s neck with his other arm and feasted on Heath’s mouth, swallowing his cries of ecstasy. Heath put his arms around him.
Heller absolutely dominated him. His heart and ego inflated over the way Heath forsook his worry and just lay there reveling like an addict.
He made the mistake of letting go of Heath’s erection, giving his brains a chance to kick in.
“I can’t face him,” Heath panted while Heller groped his ball sack.
“You’re gonna face him,” Heller said reproachfully, “just as soon as we’re done here.”
“This is his office, you pig. God!” Heath choked out when Heller fisted his dick again. “The door’s still open.”
“Good. This is what you were made for—getting played with by a bigger, stronger man.”
“You don’t need to gloat you, smug bastard.”
Heller smirked at Heath’s breathlessness, relishing the way he quivered.
“I...h–have to go.”
“Nobody’s stopping you, cowboy.” Heller grinned when he saw someone peeking in through the partially open door. “It’s okay, he’s bi. His fiancée knows.”
Heath shot a horrified look at the older woman standing there. “Greta!”
She touched her fingers to her lips, eyes huge.
Heath muttered something unintelligible that was cut off by a piercing outcry as he came hard in Heller’s hand.
“Heller!” he ground out.
That hot little plea made his dick ache.
Heath convulsed and shot off in his hand. It was positively thrilling to think about him having to walk around soaked in cum all day.
Greta’s cheeks tinged a scandalized shade of pink, but if she had any intention of leaving, she was taking her damned sweet time.
Heller licked Heath’s cheek, grinning at her gasp. When she seemed to realize the show was over, she waddled off.
“Fuck,” Heath breathed, palming his own face. “She’s the town gossip.”
“Ain’t that a bitch?” Heller sucked his fingers clean, grunting deeply.
Heath’s eyes sizzled with arousal before he sat up and buried his face in his hands.
Heller rocked up and then retrieved his shirt from the floor. He pulled his shirt on and then studied the other man in silence.
“Don’t worry about your dad. He’ll come around.”
Heath gave a slight shake of his head, eyes glazing s
traight ahead. “You don’t know him.”
“You’re his son.”
“I was.” He stood and tried to button his outer shirt before pausing when he recalled the buttons had been sent scattering. Heaving a sigh, he headed out.
Heller followed him. The cute vet was exaggerating. Sure, there would be tension for a while between the guy and his old man, but Heath had the fortune of being the baby and the good one. Malachi would come to terms with Heath’s reality. The preacher was already as good as estranged from Carsten. He wouldn’t want to lose Heath, too.
Malachi glared at Heath when he saw him and then gave him his back. Heath hurried over to him, shirt blowing behind him with the hustle.
“Dad, wait!” Heath chased after him into the empty hall away from the crowd.
“I have nothing to say to you,” Malachi said coldly.
Heller moseyed out into the hall after them, hands in his pockets and leaned up against the wall, watching them.
“Just hear me out,” Heath said desperately.
“I’ve heard enough.” Malachi shifted away from him.
“Just hold on.”
“No, you hold on,” the preacher snapped, spinning to face him again. “I never expected you or Carsten to be perfect, but you’re a disgrace, both of you.”
“I’m not gay. I just—”
“You’re an embarrassment is what you are. I told you years ago that your biker friend was trouble. If you’d listened to me, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Heath bowed his head. “I have feelings for him.”
Heller’s brows popped up. So the fiery cuss finally admitted it to Brodie?
“Yes, I know exactly what sort of feelings you have for him,” Malachi sneered. “You’re supposed to guard your heart, not defile the house of God. And your fiancée? You broke faith with her at your own engagement party?”
“No.” Heath’s head shot back up. “I didn’t cheat on her. She knows about Heller and me.”
“So she’s your beard.” Malachi wiped his eyelid, scoffing. “You’re even more deceptive than Carsten.”
“She’s not my beard. I love her.”
“You don’t even know what love is.”