Memphis

Zeus’s Pack 8

Memphis Romano Tiziano thought owning a landscaping company was better than the bodyguard work he used to do, but who knew shrubbery and lawn care would have him on the run? After witnessing a prominent lawyer being killed, Romano thinks that Pride Pack Valley is the safest place to run. Memphis thinks that he can handle anything after being under Jackson’s thumb…until he meets Romano. The man is arrogant, stubborn, and Memphis is going insane trying to deal with the man. And to top that, his other mate, Tabby, can’t seem to stay out of the tavern. Tabby has landed in jail twice now for DUI. And he wasn’t even behind the wheel! After his second arrest, he finds one tall and dark stranger trying to bail him out…and take him home. Can the three get their act together long enough to claim one another, or will their differences and blinding ways make them part company? Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves Length: 35,922 words

MEMPHIS Zeus’s Pack 8

Lynn Hagen

MENAGE EVERLASTING MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting ManLove

MEMPHIS Copyright © 2012 by Lynn Hagen E-book ISBN: 1-61926-495-1 First E-book Publication: March 2012 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Memphis by Lynn Hagen from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Lynn Hagen’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Hagen’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

MEMPHIS Zeus’s Pack 8 LYNN HAGEN Copyright © 2012

Chapter One Romano grabbed his cell phone from his coat pocket as he cautiously scanned the area around him. The streets were busy and there was a lot of traffic, but he knew what car he was looking for. So far he hadn’t spotted the black car, but Romano knew they were close. He had already missed two meetings with his cousin Dino’s friends. Twice they had come out here to pick him up, and twice he had to ditch the meeting because he was being followed. It hadn’t been safe to make contact. He knew Dino was probably worried about him right now, but it couldn’t be helped. The men after him had spotted Dino’s friends at the pickup point both times that he had attempted to make contact with them. Romano was not going to risk being caught. Romano had witnessed with his own two eyes what these men were capable of, and he didn’t want to be the next victim. He may be dark, deadly, and able to take care of himself, but a fool he was not. He knew when it was time to fight, and he knew when it was time to run. Running looked pretty damn good right about now. He punched in his cousin’s phone number as he kept his eyes roaming over his surroundings, searching for that distinctive black

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car, the same car that he had spotted over and over again during the past week following him, trying their best to get Romano alone. It wasn’t going to happen. He had been a bodyguard at one point in life, and Romano knew how to get rid of the unwanted. He just didn’t know how to make them stop chasing him without killing the bastards. It just might boil down to that. “Hello?” “It’s me,” Romano said as he looked over his shoulder again. “You fucking ugly bastard,” Dino snapped. “Why weren’t you at the pickup point either time or answering any of my phone calls?” Romano could hear the tension in Dino’s voice. It was thick with worry. He hated making his cousin worry, but Romano couldn’t risk Dino’s safety if the men knew who he was. Having hired goons come after him was one thing. Having them go after people Romano cared about was something he wasn’t willing to risk. “Had things to do,” he lied as he leaned back against his truck and rubbed a hand down his face. Fuck, he was tired. “I’m on my way. I figure I’d come to you.” And maybe he could shake loose the tail on him somewhere along the way. “I’ll see you in a few.” He could hear Dino grunt in frustration as Romano ran his hand over the back of his neck. Gods, he missed his cousin. He hadn’t told Dino why he was in need, but then again, Dino wouldn’t pry. The less everyone knew the better. It kept them safe. “You better be here.” God love my cousin. Dino was worried but never said he couldn’t come. Romano knew Dino’s life was unique, even by Romano’s standards, but Dino never once questioned him when he asked if he could come visit for a little while. He just said come on out. “See you soon, Dino.” Romano hung the phone up, sliding it back into his coat pocket as he climbed into his truck. He had a hell of a ride ahead of him, but hopefully with enough miles, he could lose the bastards trying to kill him.

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Romano adjusted his mirror, cursing when he spotted the black car watching him a few cars back. He smiled. They sucked at this. At least they sucked at tailing someone at Romano’s skill. He spotted them every damn time. Romano turned the key, the engine roaring to life, before he pulled out into traffic, going at a leisurely pace. There was no need for a chase and crash. No, no need at all. He would take his time until he hit the mountains, and then lose his tail around the winding roads leading to Pride Pack Valley. Until then, he obeyed all the traffic laws, not letting his tail know that he knew he was being followed. He would let the men after him become complacent, relaxed. That was exactly what Romano wanted. It would make it easier to lose them when the time came. He wasn’t the bad guy in all of this. They were. And he had every intention of making damn sure it was hard to kill him. Romano made the turn onto the back roads after a few miles of driving through the city traffic. Once he was free and clear of the city, he floored the gas pedal, taking twists and turns up into the mountains that would make a sane man scream in terror. They certainly made him swallow hard and grip the steering wheel a little tighter. Twice he had come close to driving his truck over the edge, but Romano knew what he was doing. There was little room for error on these winding back roads, but he was a pro at driving. Thank god for bodyguard training. It didn’t involve just learning to shoot a gun. There was also this wonderful little thing that had been taught to him called evasive driving. It paid to listen to the instructor. It hadn’t hurt that the instructor was a drop-dead gorgeous muscle-bound ex-marine, either. He’d had Romano’s attention from day one, even if it was just to look at and dream a little. By the end of his training, Romano hadn’t had a new lover, but he was at the top of his class. And it was paying off in spades right now.

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Glancing in his rearview, he saw the black car trying to keep up, but the turns were deadly, making the men hired to kill him shy back. Romano’s head jerked down as the back window of his truck suddenly shattered, raining glass everywhere. Damn it, he liked this truck. Romano took the sharp turn once last time, nearly losing control as he climbed higher into the mountains. He didn’t see the black car in his rearview mirror any longer. He wondered briefly if they had fallen over the edge. It wouldn’t surprise him. The mountain roads were treacherous and not for the faint of heart. Although he didn’t see his tail any longer, Romano kept up his speed, just in case they were somewhere close behind. When he started to descend down the other side, Romano began to slow. Not even he was brave enough to race down the incline. He navigated the roads carefully, watching for any rocks or debris. The mountains were known for their rockslides, and he didn’t want to become another statistic. As he reached the bottom, Romano breathed a sigh of relief. He’d made it. Glancing back up the mountain, Romano didn’t see anyone behind him. The black car was no longer in sight. Good. Now it was time to get to his cousin. No one knew where Dino lived now, and Romano hoped like hell the bad guys didn’t find out. It was his only bet at lying low until he could get the hired men off of his back. He had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and seen things he shouldn’t have witnessed, and now he feared the only way he was going to get free of those bastards was in a coffin. Romano didn’t agree with that. There had to be another way. He owned his own landscaping company, and Romano was very proud of the way his company had grown over the past year. The problem was that jobs weren’t coming in the way they used to. He

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may have bid on a few jobs that put him in places he shouldn’t have gone, but it kept his small landscaping company from folding. It actually began to prosper. Now Romano wasn’t so sure that he should have fought so hard to keep the company afloat. His clients consisted of lawyers, doctors, business owners and whatnot, but one lawyer in particular had a nasty reputation for gambling. And apparently, Reginald, the lawyer, had dealt with the wrong kind of people. Or hadn’t paid his debt. Whatever the case was, Romano had seen what happened when the wrong people were pissed off. He had been out to check on the manicured lawn, shrubbery, and plants that his crew had laid because Reginald had said that his crew did a fucked-up job. Romano didn’t like that. His company prided itself on the best lawn care possible. So he had gone out to take a look when he spotted Reginald on the side of his home arguing with some men in suits. The next thing Romano knew, the men shot the lawyer. He hightailed it out of there and hadn’t looked back. The problem was he was in a company truck with his logo on the side, announcing who he was. So whoever the bad guys were had tracked him down. Now he was on the run, just trying to stay alive. And Romano thought owning his own business was better than the bouncing and bodyguard work he used to do. Who knew taking care of lawns could be so deadly? He shook his head as he neared his destination. Romano knew there were apartments above Theo’s Bar and Grill, and that was exactly where he was headed. He had come here to check the place out when his cousin had told Romano that he was going to be living here permanently. Romano never told Dino that he had come into town and checked everything out. He wasn’t stupid. Dino would have strangled him. But, he had to make sure everything was cool.

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Family was everything to him. Romano parked his truck behind the tavern when he finally made it into town and crept out, staying out of sight as he entered through the kitchen. The place seemed to be busy with people running around the kitchen, paying him absolutely no attention. He walked through the door and into the tavern itself. It was pretty packed. Spotting the bar, he made his way over to it and took a seat on one of the stools. One of the bartenders saw him and immediately walked over to him, giving him a seductive smile. Romano wasn’t what he would consider classically handsome. He was rough cut, with a deadly look that had men falling over themselves to get into his bed. Maybe it was the bad-boy look. Maybe it was the silence he carried with him. Whatever it was, the way he looked got him plenty of ass. And he was thankful for that. He didn’t have time for anything else. “What can I get for you besides my phone number?” The bartender flirted openly as a seductive smile played at his lips. The side of Romano’s lip pulled up into a smile. As much as he’d love to take this man up on his offer, he needed to secure an apartment first. Maybe he’d come back later for the invite. “I need to see Theo.” The man leaned over the counter, resting his chin in his hands, giving Romano that dreamy-eyed look that said he wanted Romano to bend him backward and fuck him hard. “Theo doesn’t work here anymore. Tell me what you need, and I’ll make damn sure you get it.” Romano rubbed his jaw, wondering what he was going to do now. There had to be someone in charge of the tavern and apartments above. “Who do I speak to about renting one of the apartments upstairs?” The man batted his eyes as he straightened, pointing over his shoulder. “That would be Taz. Let me go get him for you.” Romano nodded as the guy sauntered away. He glanced around the bar, taking in the faces around him and memorizing each and

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every one of them. Everyone looked like they were in their own little world, paying him no attention. That was the way Romano wanted it to stay. His eyes stopped on a short blond sitting at the end of the bar, staring into the bottom of his glass. Now he was more of Romano’s type. Romano stood and walked down toward the end of the bar, taking a seat next to the sexy little man that looked like a lost soul. Romano had fucked every different type of man around, but the twinkish type had always been his favorite. “What’s your name, honey?” he asked as he rested his arms on the wood of the counter. The man looked so innocent and sweet that Romano wanted to eat him alive. He shivered inwardly at the thought. Yum. “Pudden Tane,” the man replied dryly without glancing Romano’s way. This made him smile. The guy was feisty, too. Romano could just see they were going to have one hell of a time in bed. “Well, Mr. Tane, how about you and I go out back to my truck and work off some of our aggression?” The blond slowly turned his head, his eyes raking over Romano with such a lack of interest that he just knew the small blond was going to turn him down flat. He had never had a man look at him in such an uninterested manner before. Romano wasn’t sure how to take it. It actually intrigued him. The way the blue eyes raked over him had Romano hard as hell. “Five minutes,” the guy said as he hopped off of his stool and walked out back without waiting for Romano. Fuck, he was about to come in his jeans just from the short twink’s tone. Romano glanced around the tavern and then followed right behind the guy. The man was standing by Romano’s truck, his head tilted sideways as he studied the broken back window. Now that he was standing here taking a good look at the missing glass, his truck looked like it needed to be scrapped.

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“What the hell happened to your truck?” the guy asked, curiosity pulling at his brows. “I sneezed,” Romano replied and then opened the driver’s door. Deep anticipation built in him as he watched the twink jump up into the driver’s seat and then crawl over to the passenger’s side. Romano pressed the palm of his hand against his hardened cock and then climbed into his truck, slamming the door closed. Romano wasted no time as he pulled a packet of lube and a condom from his front pocket. He shoved his jeans down his leg, tore the wrapper open, and then rolled the condom down his hard shaft. He grabbed the lever on the side of his seat, making his seat fall all the way back into the extended cab. The twink kicked his pants off and then climbed onto Romano’s lap. Reaching behind the short man, Romano squeezed the lube onto his fingers and then spent the next several minutes stretching the man. No words were spoken. No words were needed. They were in the alley satisfying their sexual needs. There was something so damn primitive about it that Romano almost came before he even felt his cock shoved deeply into the twink’s ass. Romano pulled his hand free and then grabbed his cock as the twink lifted his ass and then impaled himself, his lips parting and his eyes fluttering closed as he seated himself. Romano didn’t receive a name, and he didn’t give one either. It didn’t matter. He thrust his hips, shoving his cock deep as he fucked the small guy until he felt his balls draw close to his body. Romano reached down, grabbing the guy’s cock as he began to stroke the length, trying to bring the man off. Mutual satisfaction was his goal. Romano always made sure his partner got off. It was something he wholly believed in. Besides, he loved the look of pure bliss on another man’s face, knowing he was the one placing it there.

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He pressed his thumbnail into the slit in the twink’s cockhead until the man was crying out, hot jets of cum filling Romano’s hand. Romano was satisfied that the twink had gotten off. Now it was his turn. Romano grabbed the man’s hips in a death grip, hammering into the guy’s ass rapidly before he grunted out his release. To Romano’s surprise, the orgasm was explosive. When was the last time he felt this sated? Romano couldn’t even remember. All he knew was that his entire body was humming and his head was spinning from pure satiation. He laid his head back on the seat, blowing out a breath before the man slid from his lap, yanking his jeans back on. It was a damn shame the guy was covering such a perfect little body. Romano took in his fill as he watched the denim slide back into place. The man exited his truck without a word, and for some strange reason, that bothered Romano. It never had before, but he found himself watching closely as the man hurried back into the tavern. “Fuck.” Romano blew out as he rested his arms over his eyes. Maybe being on the run was getting to him. Since when did he care what his sex partner thought of him afterward? He didn’t, until now. Romano pulled the condom from his cock, tossing it close to the Dumpster before he pulled his jeans back into place. He closed his truck door and walked back into the tavern, looking for the man named Taz. Romano spotted the flirtatious bartender. He was glaring daggers at Romano as if he knew what had just taken place in Romano’s truck. The bartender huffed before turning to speak to some darkhaired man standing next to him and then pointed in Romano’s direction. He assumed the dark-haired man was Taz. “I hear you’re looking for a place to rent,” the man said as he approached Romano. Romano nodded. “I am.”

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“Follow me then,” the man said as he led Romano to a set of steps at the far corner of the tavern. Romano climbed the steps behind Taz as the dark-haired man unlocked an old, paint-peeling door. The door squeaked open as Taz stepped aside and nodded at the entrance. “Here it is.” Romano stepped past Taz, looking around. He didn’t care what the place looked like honestly. It was just somewhere to rest his head as he gathered his thoughts and decided what he was going to do next. But he had to keep up the impression that he was apartment hunting for long-term use. He gave a nod of approval as he turned back toward his new landlord. “I’ll take it.” “Name’s Taz,” the man said as he stuck his hand out. “Romano,” he replied as he shook Taz’s outstretched hand. “Thanks.” After getting everything into his new apartment, Romano set up his equipment from his days as a bodyguard, angling his cameras to cover the front and back of the building. He also wired his windows and the door with an alarm to warn him of any uninvited guests. He wasn’t taking any chances. The men after him shouldn’t be underestimated. Romano may have lost them back in the mountains, but he had a feeling they were good at what they did—even though he had spotted them on their surveillance of him. It wasn’t that they were that inept. He was just good at keeping himself alive. Emptying his duffel bag, Romano stacked his clothes on the lone dresser in the bedroom. He’d put them away later. Right now he was after his guns. Walking into the closet, Romano found a loose floorboard where he quickly stored his personal items and guns. Once that was completed, he took a shower. It felt good to let the water pound into his muscles as the miles of grime and the weeks of tension faded from his body. Showered and everything in place, Romano jogged back downstairs, heading out back to his truck. He needed to let Dino know

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he was in town. Romano’s eyes scanned the bar, seeing that the twink was gone. Too bad. He pushed the man from his mind as he got into his truck and drove to Dino’s home. He pulled the cell phone from his pocket, punching Dino’s number, scanning the area as he drove. “Your ugly ass here yet?” Romano smiled. “In your driveway,” he replied as he pulled into the long winding driveway. The front door flew open, his cousin standing there staring at him as a wide smile cut across his face. “Get your ass in here.” Romano motioned for Dino to come over to his truck. He wasn’t ready to go into a house full of wolves just yet. And he knew wolves were inside Dino’s house. When he came here the first time, checking on his cousin, Romano had witnessed a few of the men turn into wolves. It fucked his head up for some time, but he eventually got over the fact that some really wicked and weird shit actually existed in the world. There were a lot of things in life that couldn’t be explained, and he wasn’t going to waste his time trying to figure those things out. “You made it,” Dino said as he reached Romano’s truck with a gait. Romano rested his arm on the frame of the opened window. “I just wanted to let you know I’m in town. I’m in an apartment over the tavern if you need me.” Dino looked hurt as his smile wavered, but he quickly covered his disappointment. “You can stay here.” That was a risk Romano wasn’t willing to take. Being in the same town as Dino was risky enough. “It’s cool. I’m gonna head in for the night. We’ll catch up tomorrow.” “You bet your ugly ass we will.”

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“Keep calling me ugly, and I just might start believing it.” Romano winked as he pulled from the driveway, heading back to his hidey-hole.

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Chapter Two Tabby rested his chin in his hands as he sat on the side of the cot. This was the second time he had been arrested for DUI. And he hadn’t even been behind the wheel this time! The sheriff had spotted him weaving his way out of the tavern and hauled him in here. “I want my lawyer!” If he had one. The sheriff walked back toward his cell. He had a resigned look on his face as he rested his shoulder on the wall and stared between the bars at Tabby. “I haven’t charged you with anything, Tabby.” Tabby blinked his eyes a few times, staring up at two sheriffs leaning against the wall. Man, maybe he was a tad drunk because he could swear there were two Jesses leaning there staring at him. “Then why am I in here?” “So you can sleep it off,” the sheriff stated blatantly before walking back down the long hallway and leaving Tabby by himself once again. He could sleep it off in his own damn bed! Tabby stood, swayed a little, and then sat back down. That was it. He wasn’t drinking anymore. It was doing nothing but getting him into trouble these days. He was sick of looking at cell bars. It was becoming a habit lately. He sighed as he lay back, the room swimming around him. Maybe he shouldn’t have had that last drink, or the fifth one. Hell, who was he kidding? He couldn’t even remember how many he had had. But he did remember the hot scene in the truck behind the tavern. Tabby was still racking his brain trying to figure out what possessed

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him to do something so slutty. That wasn’t like him. Normally he took his time getting to know someone before turning into a harlot. Tabby couldn’t figure out what was so special about this man that made him drop his damn pants at the first invite. Maybe because the guy is smoking ass hot. Still, he’d never acted that way before in his life. It was something he had seen plenty of other men do all the time. It had just never interested him—until the man with the lethal looks had sat next to him. Tabby had been so embarrassed by his behavior that he practically ran from the truck once it was over. He prayed he never ran into that man again. Maybe. Tabby rolled over, his arm falling from the side of the cot, dangling over the edge as his stomach lurched. He quickly forgot about the man with the air of danger as he thought that maybe he should have eaten dinner before his bout of drinking. That would have been the wise thing to do. “He needs to sleep it off.” Tabby turned his head and listened closely as the sheriff argued with someone. His voice was so deep that it carried down the hallway and into his cell, making Tabby strain to listen. Was the sheriff talking about him? “I will take full responsibility for him, Jesse.” God, that voice! Ever since he had heard the deep timbre a few weeks back, that was all Tabby dreamt about. He wasn’t sure what the guy meant when he had yelled mine, but the voice had drew him in like a moth to a burning building, making Tabby run in fear of becoming addicted to the damn sound. Tabby had tried his best to steer clear of the man since then, but damn if that voice wasn’t something he could listen to all day long. It was jack-off worthy in his opinion. It was deep, commanding, and downright earthmoving.

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“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Memphis.” Tabby glanced up to see the man who had broken into every damn dream he had since that night. He stood there looking good enough to eat. His black T-shirt stretched across ripped muscles that flexed when he waved at the cell. Tabby was going to come in his drunken state just by staring at the man! “Open it up.” Tabby rolled onto his back, staring at the guy as the sheriff opened the jail cell. He wanted to ask what in the hell was going on, but his mouth was as dry as the desert. He needed something to drink. “You’re in my custody now,” Memphis said as he approached the cot, his lean and fierce figure looming over Tabby. Tabby shook his head, regretting it as he lay back down, grabbing his temples and praying the insistent throbbing stopped sometime soon. “I can’t be. I’m not under arrest. Just let me sleep it off.” He wasn’t as crazy as everyone thought he was. There was no way he was going to let a stranger take him out of here. And what kind of sheriff allowed one of his prisoners to be taken away by a stranger anyway? When he had gone to the hospital because the sheriff had claimed that Tabby had knocked his head into the bars on purpose, that was the farthest thing from the truth. He had slipped and fell, hitting his head on the bars. Everyone he had ever known had always exaggerated things about him. Tabby hated it. He hated being known as the crazy man wherever he went, and it seemed this town was no different from the rest. Tabby had hoped it was. The town was beautiful, but the sheriff was determined to be like everyone else. Memphis cocked his head, staring down at Tabby, and then reached his hand out, waving it toward his body. “Come on, Tabby. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.” “No, I’m not going,” Tabby argued as he slapped at Memphis’s hands. “Leave me alone.”

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Memphis stood, staring down at him in disbelief. “What is your problem?” His problem? Was the guy serious? “Maybe my problem is that I don’t know you. Maybe because I only know your name because I heard the sheriff say it. And maybe I’m freaking out because you tried to make me yours a few weeks ago without even learning my name!” Yeah, okay. So he fucked a guy last night without getting his name. Hell, they hadn’t spoken a single word while the man rocked his world. But that was different. Tabby had gone into that knowing full well it was just a hookup. This psycho was trying to make things permanent. It was inconceivable to Tabby that a total stranger was taking so much interest in him. What were his motives? What was Memphis up to? The words crazy stalker were running through his head as Tabby turned toward the wall, feeling the entire room spin with his action. God, he wished he was sober right now. He closed his eyes, praying the dizziness subsided. His stomach was doing flips, and he wasn’t too sure that he could hold his stomach content down. What had he eaten today anyway? Tabby felt himself drift off to sleep, only to feel someone trying to lift him from the cot. “Don’t even try it, buddy,” he growled without opening his eyes. Memphis’s alluring and deeply masculine voice washed over him, almost soothing Tabby. “I promise, Tabby. You’re safe.” “And I promise to kick your balls up into your throat if you take me from here.” It was a promise he wasn’t too sure he could deliver in his current condition. He could barely hold his head up as it was. But he had to make the attempt at letting Memphis know what he would do. Even if Tabby knew for a fact that he couldn’t kick a wet noodle’s ass at the moment. Memphis was three times his size with at least one hundred more pounds over Tabby—all straining muscles, lickable, touchable, straining muscles. Damn.

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Tabby growled as he covered his head with his arm. He just needed to sleep it off as the sheriff had stated. He’d be fine once he was sober. And maybe had something to eat. A shower would definitely help. “Now why would you want to do that? All I’m trying to do is help you,” Memphis asked from beside the cot. Tabby could hear the amusement in the other man’s voice, and it pissed him off. No one ever took him seriously. Ever. He was tired of people thinking him cute and innocent, someone to pat on the head and treat as an imbecile. He wasn’t crazy, or slow, or even cute and cuddly. He had feelings just like everyone else, and he was tired of people dismissing him just because he was a meager five foot three. “Fuck off.” “That’s no way to talk to someone, now is it?” Tabby rolled back over, regretting the move as his head swam. “Who are you?” Besides an annoying, sexy beast. On a scale of one to ten, Memphis rated a damn twenty. What the hell did he want with Tabby? The man crouched down next to the cot, giving Tabby a smile to rival the stars. “I’m Memphis.” “I already knew that,” Tabby said irritably, hating the fact that he felt drawn to the stalker. “I mean, who are you?” Memphis’s thick brows pulled down, confusion evident in his sultry grey eyes. “I’m someone who wants to make sure you’re taken care of, Tabby,” Memphis answered him gently. Tabby could see the honesty in Memphis’s eyes. He wanted to believe that Memphis meant him no harm, but Tabby had been burned before by someone who had only wanted to help. And he wasn’t going to be fooled again. “Piss. Off.”

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Memphis stood, hitching his thumbs into his front pockets as he stared down at Tabby disapprovingly. “You can sleep it off here. But we’re not done with this.” Oh, yes they were. “I’ll be here when you wake up.” Tabby rolled over, giving Memphis his back once more. **** Memphis sat in the chair across from Jesse’s desk, wondering just how long his mate was going to sleep it off. He wanted to talk to Tabby, get to know him—which was odd for one of the soldiers considering what they had been through. Most soldiers wanted to run in the opposite direction when finding out they had a mate. But Memphis took another perspective on the situation than the other soldiers. If he could survive Jackson’s reign of terror, then he could survive anything. What was one small mate compared to Jackson? It would be a breeze. “Tell me about him,” Memphis said to Jesse as he leaned back, tossing his arm over the back of his chair. He was dying to find out about the man fate paired him with. The man was short, sexy, and…drunk. Memphis didn’t care for the last part, but he should be able to work around that. Everyone had their little idiosyncrasies. Tabby’s was drinking. It didn’t seem to be out of control, but then again, Memphis was just getting to know the guy. Jesse sat forward, laying his arms on the desk in front of him as he gave Memphis an annoyed look. “You’ve asked me to do that already, and I’ve told you all I know about him, Memphis. He’s trouble in designer jeans.” Jesse sat back, waving a hand toward Memphis. “Which means he’s all of our trouble now since he’s your mate.”

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Jesse didn’t look too happy about the whole situation, but Memphis felt his blood pumping faster as he thought about the small man in the jail cell. Tabby fascinated him. He was feisty, vulgar, and hardheaded. And he did look damn good in designer jeans. Damn if Tabby’s attitude didn’t turn Memphis on. He liked his men with a bit of an attitude. It made life more interesting. “Are you going to stick around until he wakes up?” Jesse asked. Memphis had nothing else better to do. If he went home, Zeus would only put him to work. Not that he minded working. He just had a mate to woo. His thoughts turned back to Tabby. The man seemed unapproachable, frosty. But Memphis wasn’t going to give up. This was his one shot at happiness, and he was going to grab it by the balls and twist the bitches. “I’m staying,” Memphis said as he stretched, pushing his legs out in front of him and crossing his ankles, resting his hands on top of his head. “Suit yourself,” Jesse said as he chuckled and walked toward his office door. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Memphis was half tempted to go back down to the cells and check on his mate, but he knew Tabby was going to be asleep for a while. Maybe he could go get a bite to eat for breakfast and pick something up for his mate as well. Maybe Tabby would be all sorts of grateful? Memphis grinned. With that thought in mind, Memphis walked out of the police station and headed down Trenton Street until he arrived at Harold’s deli. They had started making breakfast sandwiches, which meant the shop was open for business earlier. After grabbing some breakfast and coffee, Memphis headed back toward the station. He felt odd trying to please someone else. It wasn’t like he was in the habit of doing something like that. The soldiers had looked out for each other, but as far as trying to please

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each other, that didn’t happen. Everyone was too busy just trying to cope with life in the aftermath of Jackson’s storm. A strange sense of pride filled him knowing that even though he was only getting a sandwich and a coffee, he was doing something for his mate. It was a foreign feeling, but one Memphis hoped to feel over and over again. He liked it. “What the hell?” Memphis said as he entered the police station. It seemed everyone was running toward the jail cells. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he set the breakfast sandwiches and coffees down and raced toward his mate. “Get me out of here!” Tabby shouted as he screamed at the top of his lungs. “Get me the fuck out of here now!” Memphis’s eyes grew so wide that they actually hurt when he saw Tabby standing in his cell with his arm laced out between the bars and wrapped around one of the officer’s neck. His first reaction was to kill the cop for being anywhere near Tabby. Memphis took a deep breath, stopping his wolf from emerging as he stood there studying the scene. “Let him go, Tabby!” Jesse shouted. “Have you lost your damn mind?” Memphis could see the tears straining not to escape from Tabby’s troubled eyes. Something wasn’t right here. His mate didn’t seem the type to go off the deep end for no reason. But then again, he really didn’t know him at all just yet. Whatever the case was, Memphis was going to be on Tabby’s side. He was Memphis’s mate, after all. “Talk to me, Tabby,” Memphis said as he approached the cell. The officer being held was turning an odd shade of red as he pulled at Tabby’s arms, but his mate was stronger than he appeared. Memphis wasn’t going to allow his mate to become a murderer. “Tell me what happened.” “He’s fucking crazy!” the officer garbled out as he yanked at Tabby’s arms, trying desperately to free himself.

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Tabby’s mouth thinned until his lips could no longer be seen as he tightened his hold on the officer. “I’m not crazy.” “Then tell me what happened, Tabby,” Memphis said as he laid a hand on Tabby’s outstretched arm. He wasn’t going to lie to himself. Even with the situation looking as bleak as it did, Memphis felt his stomach tighten at the feel of his mate under his hand. The connection was making his head spin. “He—” Tabby bit his bottom lip, glancing around at everyone standing outside the cell. “They’ll never believe me.” “Try me,” Jesse replied. Tabby shook his head as he glanced up into Memphis’s eyes. “They’re cops. They’ll stick together and call me a liar.” “I won’t,” Memphis reassured him as he slowly, gently pried Tabby’s arm from around the officer’s neck. The cop sputtered as he rubbed his red and swollen neck, glaring at Tabby as he shot daggers at Memphis’s mate with his eyes. “I want to file charges against him!” Tabby slammed his hand against the bars as he growled. “Then I want to file charges as well!” Memphis reached into the cell, curling his fingers around his mate’s, trying his best to calm him and get his attention. “Tell me what he did.” Tabby’s eyes snapped back up at Memphis, fear, anger, and hurt echoing in them. “He tried to rape me. That sad, sorry excuse for a cop crept in here while he thought I was asleep and began to grope me.” “Liar!” the officer in question shouted. “Fuck you!” Tabby shouted back. “Tell them the truth. Tell them how you had your grubby ass hands all over me!” Jesse turned to the officer, his brow raised. “Well?”

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Chapter Three Romano walked into Theo’s Bar and Grill and scanned the place for the soft little twink he had fucked the night before. No one had ever made him look back, but for some damn reason, the small man had Romano trying to find him. He had tried to figure out what it was about the man who had his dreams filled with blond hair and kissable lips, but Romano was at a loss to explain it. Those deep and troubled blue eyes seemed to haunt him even in his damn sleep. He was determined to have a conversation with the twink and find something repulsive about the guy just so he could get the man out of his mind. No one had affected him to the point that he practically tossed and turned all night. There had to be something about the man that would turn Romano off and free him to go about his merry fucking way. Now all he had to do was find the guy. “What can I get for you?” the bartender who all but threw himself at Romano the night before asked. The flirtation was back, and the man was laying it on thick. He had to admit that the man was cute, but Romano only had one man on his mind as he took a seat. “Coffee.” “Coming right up,” the man said and then licked his lips slowly, seductively as he glanced over his shoulder while he walked away. Romano almost rolled his eyes. He laid his arms on the counter, glancing around. He didn’t see his point of interest anywhere. Maybe that was for the best. He didn’t need any entanglements right now. His life was already complicated enough without dragging someone else into the mix. Besides, Romano had never stuck around long

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enough to take a higher interest in someone he fucked besides making sure his partner got off. He shook the feeling of wanting to get to know the twink a little better off as the bartender brought him his cup of coffee. Romano wanted to find something off-putting about the man, but at the same time prayed he never saw him again. The conflict was making him batty. “So, are you single?” The man almost purred the question. Romano nodded as he spun around, pushing from the bar. He didn’t want to be rude to the guy, but he wasn’t in the mood for flirting. God, what the fuck is that twink doing to me? Romano ran a hand down his face as he saw Dino, along with a few other men, step into the bar. It was early morning, but Romano knew Theo’s served breakfast. His stomach rumbled at the thought of getting a bite to eat. When was the last time he ate something? Romano couldn’t even remember that last time he had food, well, anything that didn’t come out of a vending machine. Maybe he should get some breakfast. A grin broke out on Dino’s face when he spotted Romano. His cousin sauntered his way, holding his hand out. “Glad to see you’re still here.” So was Romano. He knew the men following him weren’t as good as him, but Romano believed everyone had dumb luck once in a while. They wouldn’t be far behind, and they would pick up his trail. It was only a matter of time. A smart man would have fled the country, but Romano had this fucked-up need to be near family. A need that might just get him killed. “How long do you plan on staying?” Dino asked as he took a seat at one of the tables. Romano grabbed a seat as well, watching the men Dino came with sit down.

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“Not sure,” he said as the flirtatious bartender came over to take their orders. “Romano, this is Torem and Sidney.” His cousin introduced him to his boyfriends. Romano would have never guessed Dino for the type to have two lovers. But Romano was the last person to judge. Romano knew who the men were from his conversation with his cousin and from the one time he had come here to make sure Dino was safe, but this was his first formal introduction. He nodded at the two. “You know you’re welcome to stay up at the house with me,” Dino said as the bartender brought them their drinks. He had an orange juice, and the others had coffee. Romano, as well as the other men, put their breakfast orders in. “So, how long have you been on the run?” Sidney asked. Romano stiffened at the question. How the hell did Dino’s boyfriend know Romano was on the run? He cocked his head, studying Sidney intently. Just how well did Dino know Sidney? “Don’t mind Sidney,” Torem replied. “He gets a little ahead of himself. He thinks everyone is in trouble and everyone is hiding from someone. He watches too many late-night movies.” Torem had no idea how right Sidney truly was in his case. “Thanks for the offer,” Romano said to Dino, ignoring Sidney’s question as he leaned back, allowing the bartender to serve their breakfast plates before continuing. “But you know I like my own space.” Dino nodded. “That I do. But the offer is open anytime you want to take me up on it.” “Appreciate it.” Romano was already in deep shit. He didn’t want to drag his cousin into it any further. He had to figure out what he was going to do. He knew he should report what he saw, but Romano wasn’t in the mood to go through any witness protection programs. He just wanted a simple life, but that seemed to get tossed out of the window when he witnessed the murder of a high-profile lawyer.

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Now the only thing he could do was keep a low profile and try his best to stay hidden until he could figure out how in the hell to get out of this situation. “How’s the company doing?” Dino asked as he scooped some eggs onto his fork and shoved them into his mouth. “Good, real good.” If Romano considered watching someone getting shot to death a part of the job. “What do you do?” Torem asked as he looped an arm around Dino’s shoulders. It was a possessive gesture. Even Romano could tell that. Torem was silently laying claim to Dino. Romano could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up when the man just stared at him, eyeing him as a potential threat. He shivered, wondering if Torem knew how much of a threat he really was. He wasn’t sure what Torem was thinking, but he must have seen the dark and deadly look everyone else saw in Romano. The man just didn’t know how truly safe Dino was. But Romano had a feeling Torem was also letting him know that although they were cousins, Dino was his now. Romano wouldn’t stand in the way of his cousin’s happiness, but if he ever found out that Torem mistreated Dino, he’d bury the body. “My cousin owns a landscaping company,” Dino boasted proudly. “Tiziano’s Lawn Care and Landscaping.” Romano smiled at the pride on Dino’s face. He loved the hell out of his cousin, and that was why he didn’t want to get him involved in all of his bullshit. It would tear at his gut to see that prideful smile turn into loathing if something happened to Dino. He knew coming here might not have been the brightest idea, but Romano didn’t know where else to go. It seemed like the logical place to hide, but Romano was starting to reconsider his choice when he saw the love between the three men as they talked with each other. It would kill him if anything were to happen to any of these men. Romano decided right there to keep his contact with Dino to a

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minimum while he was hiding out in this small town. No matter how much it made his stomach clench, it was for the best. **** Tabby glared at the men around him, including Memphis. He knew no one believed him. He was the one behind the bars, so what credibility did he really have? He wasn’t lying to them, and he hadn’t imagined the slimeball officer’s hands all over him. The thought of that repulsive man touching him still made Tabby want to run to the nearest shower and scrub his skin with a scouring pad. “You’re on paid leave until I can get this sorted out,” Jesse said to the cop. “You’re fucking kidding, right?” the man spurted as his face turned a bright red. “This is insane!” Tabby could see the hate brewing in the man’s eyes. “You believe a worthless drunk over me? I was never in his fucking cell. He’s lying.” Tabby’s eyes snapped over to Memphis when the man gave a low growl. No one had ever defended him before. Tabby’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head when Memphis stepped up to his cell door. “Jesse, open the door.” Without a word, Jesse stepped over and opened the cell door. Tabby backed up when Memphis stepped into the cell. He suddenly realized how small the cell actually was once Memphis was inside. Damn, that man was huge. “Jesse, can you clear the room?” Memphis asked, and then turned to look at the officer who had groped Tabby. He wagged his finger at the man. “Except him. I want him to wait in your office.” Who the hell was Memphis, and why was the sheriff listening to him? Tabby scratched his head, confused as hell. He was even more confused, and just a little intrigued, when Memphis stepped closer and started sniffing at him. Okay, scratch that. He was wigged out.

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Tabby frowned then lifted his arm and gave it a small sniff. It wasn’t too bad. He might need a shower, but he didn’t stink. What in the hell was Memphis doing? “Jesse?” Memphis waved his hand at the sheriff. “Come over here. I can smell the officer on Tabby.” “Well, yeah,” Jesse said. “Tabby was trying to strangle him through the bars. There is sure to be transfer.” “Not back here, there’s not. Tabby was pressed against the officer’s back. The officer’s scent is on the back of Tabby’s jeans near his ass and along the cot. If the officer was never in the cell like he said, then his scent shouldn’t be in here. It certainly shouldn’t be on Tabby’s ass.” Tabby swallowed hard and stepped back, pressing himself against the cold stone bricks of his cell when the sheriff stepped into the cell. Tabby might not have minded Memphis sniffing him, but he drew the line at the sheriff. “Hey, that’s enough of that!” Tabby shouted. He wasn’t that drunk. “Just hold still, Tabby.” “You hold still, damn it,” Tabby snapped. “Better yet, let him sniff you.” Jesse chuckled but Memphis growled, and both reactions freaked the shit out of Tabby. He held up his hands, trying to ward the two men off. “Okay, look, maybe I was making a mistake. I really did have a lot to drink. I’m sure he was just in my cell to check on me or something. It was just a misunderstanding.” “Tabby, tell the truth,” Memphis said. “If the officer touched you, we need to know. What happens if he tries to do it with someone who can’t protect himself?” Oh sure, appeal to my sense of injustice. Tabby sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Yes, he groped me, and no, I didn’t ask for it. Happy?”

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“Delirious,” Memphis growled as he turned and started to storm out of the cell. Jesse jumped forward and grabbed Memphis’s arm, pulling him to a stop. “Not this way, Memphis.” Tabby blinked when he saw Memphis turn and curl his upper lip. The fang that appeared had to be the booze. It was long and white and so damn sharp it looked like it could shred steel. Tabby swallowed past the sudden knot of fear that clogged his throat. He really needed to stop drinking. Or go get his eyes checked because there was no way he was looking at a damn fang. “Fine, but I want him brought in front of Zeus,” Memphis bit out before he turned back to Tabby, his dark grey eyes almost boring into Tabby’s. “I want you to come with me.” “Not even on a sober day,” Tabby snapped. There were too many men around him, and after what the cop did, he didn’t trust anyone. Besides, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be sniffed again. That was just weird. Memphis walked back into the cell, his size towering over Tabby. “We’re going before the mayor, and I need you to tell Zeus what happened.” Tabby could see the restraint Memphis was using. He didn’t understand it. Why did Memphis care what happened to him? It didn’t make any sense to him at all. It was like the guy had spotted him a few weeks back and had a hard-on for him since. Fuck if that wasn’t a classic stalker move. “I’ll go, but I’m going home afterwards,” Tabby said as he slinked by Memphis, trying his best not to touch the man even though he was built like a god. Under any other circumstance, Tabby just might have been all over that. But the sniffing and the groping from this morning were wigging him out. Big-time. He followed Memphis out of the cell area, watching everyone around him as he exited the police station. Tabby

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was leery about going somewhere with Memphis, but he wanted to put all of this behind him. Tabby climbed into Memphis’s truck, snapping his seat belt into place as they drove to the mayor’s home. He wasn’t too sure about any of this. Why would a case like his be held in front of the mayor? It didn’t make sense to Tabby. He sat quietly as Memphis drove, sneaking peeks at the large man beside him. He had to admit, Memphis was a delicious morsel. If the man hadn’t acted like a stalker, they might have had a chance. Memphis pulled into the drive, parking the truck as he cut the motor. He turned toward Tabby, his eyes warm. “Now don’t be afraid of Zeus. He’s a fair man.” Yeah, Tabby would hold his judgment until he saw what happened inside. If Zeus started sniffing him, Tabby was so out of there. He took a slight whiff of his arms again just to make sure he wasn’t on the stinky side. Nope. “Come on, Tabby.” Tabby hopped from the truck, following Memphis inside. Damn, the place was laid out. Tabby gawked at the lavishness of the mayor’s home. The guy must be stinking rich! Now he really felt awkward as he stood in the foyer. His eyes rounded until they hurt when he saw the biggest man he’d ever seen in his life heading his way. He never met Zeus before, but he prayed this man wasn’t going to eat him. The man looked like he had been formed from the damn earth! “Zeus, we have a problem,” Memphis said as he told the mayor about what happened back at the jail. Tabby listened, but he couldn’t help but stare at the hulking man. Did men really come in that size? Tabby turned his head when the front door opened. He groaned when he spotted the man he had had sex with last night in the back of

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the tavern. Was this his fucking day or what? Tabby glanced around, wondering if there was someplace he could hide. This wasn’t going to be good. Not at all. “You,” the man that Tabby fucked said as he spotted him standing next to Memphis. “I wondered where you’d run off to.” Oh crap. Memphis spun around, growling as he grabbed Tabby in a tight hold. “Mine!” Really? “What makes you think he’s yours?” the guy that rocked Tabby’s world asked. “I think he can decide who he wants to be around.” Tabby smacked a hand over his face. This could not be happening. He could feel his entire body flush as he pushed Memphis away from him and took a step back, ready to bolt. “Tabby?” Memphis asked. “Do you know this man?” Tabby nodded. What was the use in hiding it? He lowered his hand, looking from one sex god to the other as he shrugged. “I kind of slept with him.” His hands flew to his ears as Memphis howled. Howled?

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Chapter Four Memphis was livid. He knew Tabby had a past. Who didn’t? But his mate’s past didn’t need to be standing in front of him smirking. Memphis’s fingers itched to pound that smirk right off of the guy’s face. “What’s wrong?” The man’s dark eyebrow arched. “Jealous?” Okay, he was going to pound the guy into the ground. There was no lingering doubt now. Memphis took a step forward, ready to show this arrogant human what a wolf did to protect his mate when Zeus’s hand landed on his chest, stopping him. “That’s Dino’s cousin you’re about to cremate.” Memphis growled as he stared at Romano. So this was the man that had stood them up twice when Memphis and Eagle had gone after him? Memphis raked Romano with a sneer, letting the man know what he thought of him. His emotions were running high. His anger flared, and he was ready to kick—Memphis stilled as he sniffed the air. “There he goes with that sniffing thing again,” Tabby mumbled as he took another step back, glancing between the two men. Memphis inhaled deeply and then felt his cock harden and his heart sink at the same time. This arrogant asshole was his second mate. Fuck! Memphis ground his back teeth as he glared at Romano. Even though he was relieved that Tabby had slept with their mate, it still didn’t excuse Romano from acting like an ass.

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“I think we need to talk,” Dino said as he glanced around at everyone standing in the foyer. “Things seem to be getting a bit tense around here.” “I’m fine,” Romano said as he smirked once again at Memphis. “But I’m not so sure about hothead over there.” One…two…three…four. Memphis took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He was not going to strangle his mate. Nope, he wasn’t going to do it. But damn if the man wasn’t asking for it. “Am I free to go?” Tabby asked. “No!” Memphis and Romano said in unison. Tabby threw his hands up in the air as he looked at Zeus. “Can I go now?” Memphis shot Zeus a daggered look. He knew he was playing with fire looking at his alpha that way, but no one was going to interfere with him and his mates. “Go ahead,” Zeus said as he gave Memphis a challenging look. “No one is holding you prisoner here.” Tabby headed for the door as if his ass were on fire. Memphis watched helplessly as Tabby slammed the door behind him. “Why did you do that?” Romano growled at Zeus. Even Memphis knew his mate was about to get his ass handed to him. He stepped between Romano and Zeus, praying the alpha didn’t dust Romano off. “He doesn’t know,” Memphis said to Zeus. “Then he better learn,” Zeus warned as he walked away, his jaw clenched tight. “I can defend myself. I don’t need you taking up my battles,” Romano bit out as he stalked toward the front door. Memphis felt like pulling his damn hair out. And he thought everything would be a cakewalk after Jackson? He must have been fucking insane. “Let him cool off,” Dino said. “Romano has a temper. If you let him cool off, he’ll see reason.”

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“He’s not the only one with a temper,” Memphis snapped as he headed toward the door. He had to make sure Tabby was okay. He still wanted to go back to that damn jail and beat the shit out of that cop. The need to kick someone’s ass was riding him hard as he slammed the door behind him. He was quickly losing his ability to care who it was. Memphis groaned when he saw Romano leaning against Memphis’s truck. This was so not his day. “Do you mind?” “Not at all,” Romano replied as he waved a hand down the driveway. “But if you’re going after Tabby, I’m riding along.” “Why?” Memphis asked as he walked closer to his truck, his nerves frayed. “I don’t have a ride back to town, and since you’ve been so hospitable, I thought maybe I could catch one with you.” “Stop thinking then,” Memphis said as he grabbed the door handle and opened the driver’s side, sliding in. He didn’t like Romano’s attitude, and just because they were mates that didn’t mean he had to like the man. Romano was arrogant, cocky, and had one smart ass mouth. Memphis wasn’t used to being talked to that way, and hell if his mate was going to start. He’d kick his ass before he allowed him to treat Memphis any kind of way. He may like his men with a bit of an attitude, but Romano’s attitude sucked. Memphis gripped the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles turned white when Romano climbed into the passenger side. “Get out of my truck,” he said between clenched teeth. He had to remind himself that Romano was his mate. “Just give me a damn ride. That’s all I need.” Memphis could think of a few more things his mate needed as he started his truck and headed back into town. Too bad he really wouldn’t hurt his mate because Romano was that close to seeing just how ticked off Memphis truly was.

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**** Taz couldn’t believe that Zeus had made him owner of Theo’s Bar and Grill. It had shocked the hell out of him, but he wasn’t complaining. There were plenty of eligible men who came through the doors, which meant plenty of ass. He was all for that. When Tabby walked through the door, looking around before walking over to the bar and taking a seat, Taz groaned. That little guy was going to be the death of him. The man drank like a fish and was more trouble than he was worth. It was days like these that he wished Theo were still around. But the previous owner was off somewhere with his mate, living the life. “What can I get for you?” he asked Tabby. “The usual,” the man replied with a tired look. Tabby didn’t look his usual happy-go-lucky self. Taz could tell something was bothering the man. Was he supposed to ask? Weren’t bartenders backup psychologists or some shit like that? Taz slid the glass over to Tabby and waited. When the guy didn’t say anything, he shrugged. Guess he doesn’t want to talk. Oh well, he tried. Taz wasn’t very good at that psychobabble anyway. What advice could he give anyway? He was just as fucked-up in the head as every other soldier that lived at Zeus’s. He may not have been as tortured as Eagle had been, but they all had their nightmares to deal with. “Let me know if you need anything else,” Taz said as he walked around the bar, taking care of another customer. **** Romano sat next to Memphis, sneaking peeks at the guy. How the hell could someone so damn hot be so fucking annoying? Memphis

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made him want to drive his fist into that gorgeous face but at the same time shove his cock down the man’s throat. Had he ever been this conflicted before? Oh right, with Tabby’s hot ass. Romano knew it was a bad idea coming to Dino’s house, and now he knew why, the sexy aggravating man beside him. “Do you know where Tabby lives?” Memphis cut a glare at him before he gave a slight shake of his head. “Not a clue.” “You know him, but you don’t know where he lives?” Romano asked irritably. “Do you know where everyone lives who you just met?” “You just met him?” Romano wasn’t sure why, but that pissed him off. He wasn’t sure about a lot of things lately, but he knew that giving Tabby up was becoming the hardest thing he ever had to do. He no longer wanted to figure out what fucked-up qualities the man had to help turn him off. No, Romano wanted to know what great qualities Tabby had to turn him on. The man seemed to have crawled inside of him, taking up permanent residence. “Yes.” “Then how in the hell can you lay claim to him if you just met him? I thought you two were dating or something.” Romano clenched his fists on his thighs, angered that Memphis could lay claim to the man he wanted, to a man he just met. Now he knew exactly how possessive Memphis truly was. But Romano wanted Tabby, and Memphis couldn’t have him. What angered him the most was the fact that, as annoying as Memphis was, Romano wanted him as well. The shit didn’t make any sense to him. “Because, okay?” “What the hell kind of answer is that?” Romano asked as he turned toward Memphis, staring at his profile and feeling his cock begin to fill. “Can you be a little more specific?” he asked as he

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ignored the lust coursing through his veins for the most irritating man to ever walk the earth. “Not really.” Romano ran his hand over his face, trying his best not to reach over and strangle the man behind the wheel. He didn’t need to get into a car wreck. But he did want answers. Memphis’s jaw was too rigid to not have a reason for his insane claim on Tabby. “Elaborate.” “No.” Romano tapped his thumb on his thigh, counting to ten very slowly…twice. “He’s mine.” Memphis gave a low chuckle from beside him as he shook his head. “He’s ours, Romano.” Romano could have sworn he heard the word unfortunately under Memphis’s breath. “I don’t share my men, Memphis. What makes you think I’d sleep with you anyway?” Although the thought wasn’t displeasing, he’d never tell Memphis that. “Because—” “Are you one of those wolves?” Romano grabbed the dash as the truck swerved and then came to a sudden stop, Memphis gaping at him. “How?” “I’m not as dumb as I look,” Romano replied as his balls unclenched. Memphis gave Romano a look that said he seriously doubted Romano’s claim. “Then you should know why Tabby is mine.” “He’s mine!” “And if you know anything about wolves, as you claim, then you should know why you are mine as well.” Romano’s jaw dropped and then he slowly started shaking his head. “Fuck you,” Romano spat as he turned away from Memphis. He never claimed to know anything about the wolves, just that he knew

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they existed. He wanted to mug that arrogant look right off of Memphis’s gorgeous face. “Is that the best you can come up with?” Romano had had enough. He got out of the truck and slammed the door. He’d rather walk back to town than deal with Memphis for another minute. The man was driving him crazy! “Get back in, Romano. You know it’s too far to walk.” Romano flipped Memphis off as he began his trek to town. He didn’t care if it took him until nightfall. He wasn’t getting back into the truck with that prick. That sexy, muscular, hotter-than-hell prick. Goddamn it, Memphis was screwing with his brain. As Romano walked, Memphis slowly rolled next to him. He could hear Memphis snickering inside the truck. Never in his life had he wanted to strangle and fuck someone at the same time. “Get in, Romano.” “Fuck off, Memphis.” “Fuck is a good word. I’d like to fuck you right now.” Romano’s head snapped around as he saw the gleam of lust in Memphis’s eyes. The fucking man was serious! “Not even if it would save my life,” he replied. “Might save mine.” A smile tugged at Romano’s lip, but he wasn’t going to let Memphis see it. The man was annoying enough already. If he knew the way he affected Romano, he would never hear the end of it. “You know you want to.” “Hardly.” Yes he did. “Your lips say no, but your body knows it wants to feel me sink balls deep into it.” Romano let out a small groan. What the hell was with this guy? One minute he was biting Romano’s head off, the next he was sexually teasing him? The man had to be bipolar or something.

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He stopped walking and gave Memphis a challenging glare. “Fine, come suck my dick.” He heard a chuckle from inside the truck. “You have to bring it to me.” Really? Romano shook his head. He shouldn’t be getting excited at the prospect, but fuck if his cock wasn’t hard as a brick. He glanced over at Memphis, seeing the man wiggling his brows. “What has you so damn nice all of the sudden? You were ready to take my head off not too long ago.” Memphis shrugged as he put the truck in park and scooted across the seat, resting his arm on the frame of the window. “We’re mates. Since I can’t kill you, then I might as well fuck you.” It sounded perfectly logical to Romano. No, it doesn’t! “What’s a mate?” Romano asked as he walked closer to Memphis. “A fuck buddy,” Memphis replied. “Now are we going to be buddies or what?” Romano took a step closer. “You’re not fucking me.” “Why not?” “Because I don’t bottom.” Romano gave Memphis a pointed stare. “Ever.” “We’ll see about that,” Memphis mumbled under his breath as he pushed the passenger door open and then scooted back over to the driver’s side. What was it with trucks and sex lately? It seemed Romano was getting more action in trucks than in his own damn bed. Not that he was complaining. Maybe if he shoved his dick into Memphis’s mouth, it would shut the arrogant bastard up for more than five seconds. Romano shook his head as he climbed back into the truck and closed the door.

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Chapter Five Memphis panted hard as he tried to bring his breathing under control. He wasn’t sure why he had said the things he had to Romano, but the need to fuck his mate into compliance had hit him hard. Romano closed the door, his eyes looking away from Memphis. The tension in the truck was thick as Memphis reached over and ran a knuckle over Romano’s strong features. “Take your cock out if you want me to suck it.” As Romano’s mouth opened to say something Memphis was sure to be flippant, he moved swiftly and took those overconfident lips in a mind-blowing kiss. The sparks were instantaneous. Memphis knew he made a grave error in judgment when he thought he was going to be high-handed with Romano. His mate’s lips were too soft, too giving. Romano was resistant at first, but then he seemed to take over, pushing his tongue into Memphis’s mouth, tasting him, possessing him. Memphis let out a small groan as he pulled at Romano’s jeans, trying to get the damn things to cooperate. Memphis hadn’t thought he would want to fuck Romano into the side of the dashboard until his mate became aggressive, demanding Memphis open wider as his tongue dueled with Memphis’s. His hands shook slightly, and Memphis prayed the strong man beside him hadn’t noticed. He didn’t want to show any signs of weakness. Romano was a powerful force, and Memphis knew that if he showed any weakness, Romano would be the one mastering him. He wasn’t going to allow that to happen.

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He finally got the snap open and the zipper down, palming the hot piece of flesh that was hard, weeping. Memphis broke the incredible kiss as he glanced at Romano before lowering himself and then quickly engulfed Romano’s straining cock. “Shit!” Romano shouted as his fingers curled into Memphis’s hair. Memphis worked the flesh mercilessly, sucking the cock hard as his free hand slid up Romano’s chest and circled around his mate’s neck. Romano slapped his hand aside, but Memphis wrapped his fingers around Romano’s neck, daring him to move with his action. “Fuck, Memphis!” Romano said between clenched teeth. He wanted, needed Romano’s seed in his mouth. Memphis needed to taste Romano’s surrender. Memphis wanted to feel Romano sated and compliant. His tongue probed insistently, drawing out the precum that was flowing from Romano’s cock. “Make me come,” Romano begged as his fingers tightened in Memphis’s hair. That was exactly what Memphis wanted, to have his mate reduced to unintelligible sounds of unbridled passion. His wolf growled at the surrender he heard in Romano’s plea. Memphis licked a long line down Romano’s cock, feeling the soft sac on his tongue, then trailed back up his mate’s length, enjoying the pure pleasure of the slow and torturous action. “Damn you, stop teasing me,” Romano snarled, but the pleading in his eyes belied the vehemence in his voice. Memphis ignored his mate’s pleas as he took his time. He wanted his mate unglued, begging, and losing control. But most of all, Memphis wanted Romano to know who the dominant one was in this relationship. He wanted Romano to shut his mouth and lose his sharp tongue. He was the alpha of the three, and Romano was going to learn his place. “Memphis, make me come or I’m going to slug you.”

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Memphis’s tongue took another swipe at Romano’s angry purple cockhead before looking up at his mate. “Say I’m in charge.” Romano’s eyes narrowed down to slits. “Fuck you.” Memphis sucked the head back into his mouth, rubbing the flat of his tongue over the bundle of nerves just under the head, humming. “Fuck,” Romano shouted as one hand let go of Memphis’s hair and slammed against the dashboard. “Finish this.” Plunging forward, Memphis swallowed Romano all the way down until he felt wiry hairs at his nose, using his throat muscles to massage Romano’s cock. Just as he felt the buildup straining to release, he backed off. Romano cursed, grabbing the back of Memphis’s head, trying to force his cock back down Memphis’s throat. Memphis gave a low warning growl as he smacked Romano’s hand away. “Then make me fucking come, you bastard!” Memphis let his mate’s erection slide past his lips as he glanced up at Romano’s angry eyes. “Say it.” Romano howled as his hips snapped, but Memphis moved his head away. “Say it.” His mate looked like he would rather eat glass. “Suck my cock, Memphis.” “That’s not it,” he said before he swallowed Romano’s heavy length again. Memphis quickly pulled his head back before his mate could grab hold. “You’re in fucking charge, you arrogant bastard. Now make me come!” Memphis smiled and then attacked Romano’s cock savagely, taking him down to the root as his tongue slid around the length. “Fuck!” Romano shouted as hot, quick spurts of seed shot down the back of Memphis’s throat. He drank every last drop before allowing his mate’s softening cock to slide from his lips. He could see the hateful daggers Romano was throwing at him with his eyes, but Memphis ignored them.

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He had won. Romano sat up stiffly, shoving his assuaging cock back into his jeans as he stared out of the window, his brows pulled down angrily. Memphis pulled the truck back onto the road, staring straight ahead. “Now we go find Tabby.” **** Tabby blinked a few times as he glanced around the tavern. He tried to focus, but the room was a complete blur. How much had he drunk? He tried to remember, but his mind was a liquid blur. Pushing from the stool, Tabby stumbled but managed to right himself at the last minute. His could feel his eyes drooping, trying to close on him as he glanced around the bar. “I think you’re at your limit, Tabby.” Tabby swung his head around, the room swimming as he tried to focus in on the bartender. He didn’t remember drinking that much, but his sluggish brain was arguing otherwise. “Do you need a cab?” The voice was distant, as if echoing from a long tunnel. It was distorted as well. Tabby waved his hand at the bartender as he stumbled toward the door. There was no way he was getting into a cab. The sheriff would only try and arrest him again. Which was odd considering he wasn’t driving. Tabby wasn’t going to chance it. He bumped into a few things, but kept on going. When he pulled the tavern door open, the fresh air smacked him in his face, a wave of nausea almost dropping him to his knees. Something wasn’t right. He shouldn’t be feeling this way. “Are you okay?”

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Tabby looked up at the man standing in front of him. He squinted his eyes as he tried to make out who the man was, but nothing wanted to stay focused. The person was one big blur. “Memphis?” “Close enough,” the man said as he slid an arm around Tabby’s waist. His instincts told him that the man wasn’t Memphis. He didn’t even feel like Memphis. Not that Tabby knew what Memphis felt like. But… “Let me go,” he slurred as he tried to push the man away without success. Tabby knew he wasn’t winning the struggle when the stranger pulled him even closer. “Get the hell off of me,” he cried as he once again pushed at a solid chest. “I’m only trying to help you.” Somehow Tabby doubted that as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. This man wanted to do more than help Tabby. Alarm bells were ringing in his head as he tried to focus, but the man became all hands, groping all over Tabby. “I want Memphis,” Tabby said, although the name Memphis was coming out more like men-fist. The hands quickly disappeared as Tabby heard a low growl. A smile lit up Tabby’s face as he recognized that growl. He had heard it just this morning. “Memphis.” “I’m right here, Tabby.” Now that was Memphis. The strong body next to him even smelled like Memphis. As much as Tabby fought the attraction, Memphis was constantly on his mind. “Romano is here, too.” Tabby blinked, his gaze slowly rising as he looked at the man that was haunting not only his dreams, but even his waking hours. “Who?” “The man you fucked in the truck,” someone growled. “Oh him,” Tabby said as he giggled. “He was so goooood.” He heard a chuckle as another arm wrapped around him. “Let’s get you home. Tell me where you live, Tabby.” “In a house.”

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“I need a little more than that,” Memphis said as he led Tabby to his shiny truck, which was parked right outside the tavern. “Can you give me another clue?” “It has a mailbox,” Tabby said matter-of-factly as he tried to take a step, but his feet wouldn’t move. He stared down at them, willing them to take a step, but the damn stubborn things refused to take a step. “What about an address?” Tabby nodded as he looked up at Memphis’s handsome features. “Yep, that too.” “How much have you had to drink, mate?” Tabby held up his hand, waving it in front of his face. “Seven.” “He’s wasted,” Romano said with a chuckle. Tabby didn’t find it funny at all. Honestly, he didn’t remember drinking that much. He hadn’t even been there that long to have gotten this drunk. Only it didn’t feel like he was drunk, more like he was floating along, everything around him swaying. “Something’s wrong,” Tabby sputtered as he was lifted into Memphis’s truck by two strong hands. He’d never felt this way before, and Tabby didn’t like it. His mouth was dry, and his ears were ringing, making Tabby feel like he was going to be sick at any moment. No, something was definitely wrong. “Yeah, you need to sleep it off.” “Leave him the hell alone. He’s suffering enough already, Romano.” Tabby smiled at the way Memphis was defending him. But it wasn’t necessary. Romano could say whatever he wanted. Tabby knew he wasn’t drunk. Something was wrong with him, though. He could feel it in his head, the way it pounded, and everything around him was way out of focus, more out of focus than just alcohol should cause.

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Things swam in front of him, and Tabby couldn’t focus on just one thing. As hard as he tried and as many times as he blinked, nothing was clear to him. He laid his head back and closed his eyes, praying that his stomach would stop rolling. The feeling was sickening. **** Romano really didn’t like the flush of Tabby’s skin. His cheeks were a bright pink, but he felt a little clammy. Romano reached behind the seat and placed his hand over Tabby’s forehead. The small man felt cool to the touch. He wasn’t an expert, but Romano didn’t think this was from drinking. “Maybe he should come upstairs to my apartment,” he commented to Memphis as Tabby nuzzled his hand. He found the move endearing, making him want to put Tabby in his bed and keep a watch over the smaller man. “I don’t think so,” Memphis said as he pulled the truck from the parking spot. “I need to get him back to my place.” Romano was getting pretty damn tired of Memphis arguing with him at every turn. This wasn’t about them. This was about Tabby. He felt he could keep a better eye on the man in his apartment with all the surveillance equipment watching the surrounding area. He still hadn’t seen any of the men after him, but it was only a matter of time. Romano didn’t want to be in a house full of people if shit got funky. The less people involved, the better. “Do you have to argue everything I say?” “Yep,” Memphis answered as he drove back toward the large mansion. Romano gritted his teeth as he kept an eye on the guy snoozing in the backseat. He wasn’t one for arguing, but Memphis was seriously pissing him off. “Then I’m staying,” he said, knowing it wasn’t the wisest move. Romano would just have to make sure no one saw him enter

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Memphis’s home. As badly as the man irritated him, Romano didn’t want anything to happen to Memphis. Romano was the first to jump out of the truck when Memphis parked it in his driveway. He reached back and gently pulled Tabby into his arms, carrying the sleeping man to the front door. Memphis didn’t say a word, but he could see the man’s jaw tightening as he opened the front door. Did the guy always have to be in charge? Just as Romano began to step into the front door, he could have sworn he saw movement on the side of the house, just past a cluster of trees. He stood there for a moment, his eyes scanning the area intently. “Something wrong?” He wasn’t sure, but there was no way Romano was going to tell Memphis that he had thugs after him. The man already tried to control every damn situation. He could just see Memphis locking down the house, refusing to let Romano or Tabby leave. The idea was ludicrous considering Romano was a trained bodyguard. He didn’t need Memphis to protect him from the shadows of the night. But somehow he had a feeling Memphis would try to do just that. He gave the shadows one last look before shaking his head and walking inside. Memphis led him up an impressive set of stairs and then down a lavishly decorated hallway. They reached a room at the far end of the hall where Memphis stopped to open a door. Romano peered inside, seeing that it was a bedroom. “Just put him on the bed.” “Thanks, Captain Obvious,” Romano replied. He didn’t like the tone Memphis was using with him, as if he were one of the servants. Did Memphis have servants? Probably in this expansive home. Romano was starting to feel out of his depth as he gently placed Tabby onto the soft and thick comforter. The small man groaned, but

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didn’t open his eyes. Romano pulled Tabby’s shoes off and then pulled the blanket back, tucking the man in, and then stood, wondering what to do next. It wasn’t like him to feel awkward, but then again, he’d never been in a bedroom with a man that he wanted to strangle and fuck at the same time. He sat on the side of the bed, watching Tabby sleep as he tried to think of an excuse that would keep him here. He was having a lot of firsts today, and it was throwing him for a loop. How was he supposed to keep a clear head if Memphis and Tabby kept fucking with it? “There’s room for all three of us,” Memphis said as he grabbed a pair of sleeping pants from a dresser drawer and tossed them to Romano. “I don’t feel like driving you back into town tonight.” That was the best Memphis could come up with? Romano rolled his eyes as he headed toward a door next to Memphis. He was assuming the door to be a bathroom. If it wasn’t, he was going to get undressed in the closet. All he wanted to do was curl up around Tabby and get some shut-eye. The last few days had strained his nerves to the point that Romano felt drained all of a sudden. He was glad that the door led to a bathroom. Once he was changed, Romano folded his clothes and sat them on a shelf in the bathroom before returning to the bedroom. His brows shot into his hairline when he saw Memphis standing there gloriously naked and palming his erection. “Care for another round?” Damn.

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Chapter Six Memphis could see the lust practically dripping from Romano’s eyes. He could even see how the front of the man’s sleeping pants started to tent. But what captivated his eyes the most was the lean, masculine cut to his abdomen. Memphis’s fingers itched to trail over that sun-bronzed skin and then sink his hand below the waistband. His eyes snapped up to a face so roughly cut that Romano reminded him of a Spanish soldier back in the days of the Roman Empire. His jaw was strong and defined, his lips lush and kissable, and his jaw had just enough stubble to make Memphis’s skin tingle if Romano were to rub up against him with his face. In Memphis’s opinion, Romano rivaled every single man in this house, in this town. The problem was, if he told Romano this, the man would probably say something smart, making Memphis want to smack the shit out of him. The guy’s mouth may have been made for kissing, but it was also lethal when words spilled from it and Memphis wasn’t in the mood to argue. He glanced over at Tabby and then crawled into bed, spooning around his smaller mate as he tried to act as though he were too tired for conversation. He was used to doing his own thing, coming and going when he pleased, but now he had two men to look out for. And one of them was out to drive him insane. The bed dipped with Romano’s weight as his mate slid under the covers. Memphis was shocked the man didn’t say a word to him. He cracked his eyes to see Romano staring up at the ceiling, his hands tucked behind his head.

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Memphis studied Romano with one eye, taking in the strong features as his cock grew increasingly hard. No matter how much Romano rubbed him the wrong way, Memphis wasn’t going to deny that he wanted to fuck the man until pleas were falling from his mate’s lips. While Romano lay there studying the ceiling, Memphis slid his hand over Tabby until his fingers touched Romano’s tight stomach. “If you want me to fuck you, just ask.” Memphis gritted his teeth as he pulled his hand away. He had already asked Romano if he wanted another round and the man had ignored him. Hell if he was going to submit. But still Memphis wanted something to happen as the three of them lay in bed, but there was no way he was going to ask. “Who said I wanted you to fuck me?” And he sure as fuck wasn’t going to be on the receiving end of things. Memphis was pretty sure if he bottomed for Romano he’d never hear the end of it. He needed the upper hand with his mate. Always. Romano was dangerous, both to Memphis’s libido and his sanity, and didn’t that suck? Memphis knew if he let Romano be in charge, he’d never get the upper hand back. Romano would rule him. Memphis couldn’t allow that. He’d experienced being under someone’s thumb once before and never thought he’d get away. Now that he had escaped, he was never going to allow anyone to have that control over him again. Not even his mate. “You sure as shit aren’t fucking me.” Romano’s singsong voice grated on Memphis’s nerves. He had a strong urge to reach across Tabby and smack the guy. Of course, he also had a strong urge to reach across Tabby and palm the tent in Romano’s pants. Damn, the man was hot. Every slick valley and cut of muscle was on display for Memphis, even through the fabric covering Romano. There was just nothing left to the imagination.

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Memphis could feel drool pooling in his mouth. He desperately wanted to lick all of the hard ridges and deep dips covering Romano’s smooth body. Memphis wanted Romano so bad he was almost willing to give in to the man. Almost. There had to be a better solution that would give both of them the relief they desired. Memphis’s eyes shot over to the bathroom door. Maybe…He climbed off the bed and walked around the bottom of the bed to Romano’s side. His breath caught in his throat when Romano’s lust-filled brown eyes snapped up to him. He felt like the weight of the world sat on his chest. Memphis held out his hand, wondering if Romano would take it, hoping that he would, but fearing he wouldn’t. Hell, part of him feared that Romano would. When Romano just continued to stare at him, Memphis felt himself start to lean in the other direction—the fear that Romano wouldn’t take his hand. Rejection sucked, on any level. Memphis clenched his jaw and started to drop his hand when Romano suddenly reached and grabbed it as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. Memphis was so stunned for a moment that he just stood there, gawking down at Romano. “What did you have in mind?” Romano asked. Memphis cocked an eyebrow. He had a million things in mind, and he’d like to do every last damn one of them to Romano’s gorgeous body. “I want to fuck you.” “Uh-uh.” Romano stood, shaking his head. “Not happening.” “I’d make sure you enjoyed it.” Romano pulled his hand away then crossed his arms over his chest. “Nope.” “Come on. You know you want me.” Gods, he hoped Romano wanted him. “So?” “Then let me fuck you.”

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Memphis almost let loose the deep growl growing in his throat. He was desperate and achy. He needed his mate now that he had found him, and yet he felt like Romano was slipping away from him with every breath he took. “Is it always going to be this way between us?” “What way?” “Fighting for dominance.” “No, honey, the moment you understand that I’m top dog, we’ll be fine.” Memphis let loose his growl and lunged at Romano, pushing him back into the mattress as he straddled the man’s lap. He leaned in closer until his nose almost touched Romano’s. “I will not spend the rest of my life fighting my mate.” “Then don’t.” The slow grin that started to work its way across Romano’s lips scared and fascinated Memphis at the very same time. “Let me fuck you, and this won’t be a problem.” Memphis’s eyes dropped down to Romano’s lips—Romano’s full, plush, kissable, suck-the-chrome-off–a-trailer-hitch lips. Damn, he wanted to feel those lips against his hot skin so fucking bad. He needed them almost more than he needed air. Memphis could feel himself wavering. Would it be so all-fired bad to give in to his mate? The bond between mates was supposed to be sacred. Romano might not feel for him yet, but surely he would in time? He had to. Right? “I—” Memphis glanced up to Romano’s brown eyes as he started to speak the words that would give someone control over him again. His heart thundered in his chest at the momentous step he was about to take in his life. “Maybe—” Memphis snapped his mouth shut when he saw the triumph in Romano’s eyes. No! He wasn’t going to do this. He didn’t care who Romano was. He would not allow another man to have control over him again. Never.

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“Fuck you, Romano!” He growled as he pushed away from Romano and started to stand. His heart ached for what should have been, and that made him angry. Memphis gasped as he felt his claws extend, raking across Romano’s chest as he began to leave the bed. Memphis’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline when Romano groaned and arched into the air instead of screaming in pain. What the fuck was going on? “Oh gods, do that again,” Romano groaned. Memphis blinked. Seriously? He settled back down and slowly trailed one sharp claw down the center of Romano’s chest, not hard enough to draw blood but enough to leave a red streak in his wake. Romano groaned and arched again. The cock trapped in his pants jerked. Memphis’s eyes widened when a wet spot appeared in Romano’s pajama bottoms. He carefully watched the tent in Romano’s pants as he raked all of his claws down Romano’s chest. It seemed like the more pressure he used, the bigger the wet spot. His mate had a kink, one that he could readily fulfill. Hot damn! “More!” Romano panted heavily. “Harder!” Memphis swallowed hard then used both of his hands to drag his claws down Romano’s chest and sides. When Romano started grinding his erection up against him, Memphis scooted back and yanked the edge of the man’s pants down far enough to expose his hard cock. He kept one hand on Romano’s chest and wrapped the other one around Romano’s hard length. Memphis spread his fingers as far as they would go then scratched a trail down Romano’s chest. The cock in his hand leaked so much, huge drops of pre-cum dripped down over his fingers. Memphis groaned as lust shot through every fiber of his being. Damn, that was fucking hot. “Watch me, mate,” Memphis snapped. He tilted his thumb slightly and raked the edge across the top of Romano’s cock.

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“Please!” Romano cried out as he pushed his chest up toward Memphis’s claws. Both the sound of desperation and the word itself shocked Memphis. For a man who swore he would never give up his dominance, Romano was begging. And Memphis could no more deny his mate than he could stop wanting him. Memphis tweaked one brown-hued nipple with a claw. “Let me fuck you.” Romano’s eyes were dazed and glassy when they met Memphis’s gaze. He stared for a moment. Memphis tweaked Romano’s other nipple then dragged his entire hand down Romano’s chest. “Let me fuck you,” Memphis repeated. “Yes!” Romano whimpered. Elation and triumph filled Memphis. He started to scoot farther back on Romano, prepared to pull the man’s pajama pants all of the way down his long legs and then bury his cock in Romano’s ass when he caught Romano biting his lip and turning his head away. Romano’s cock was still hard as cement, but there was a loss of desire in his eyes. Memphis suddenly felt so ashamed of himself that he could barely swallow past the lump in his throat. He had unexpectedly tapped into a kink that Romano had and then tried to use it against his mate to get what he wanted. He was no better than Jackson. Memphis’s desire to feel his cock sink into his mate’s gorgeous body suddenly seemed all wrong. Memphis scooted off the bed and dropped to his knees between Romano’s legs. Before Romano could protest, Memphis leaned forward and swallowed his cock down to the root. He kept his claws on Romano’s chest as he sucked the thick cock in his mouth, bobbing his head up and down with as much vigor as he could, considering he felt lower than dirt. The least he could do under the circumstances was make sure his mate got off. Memphis’s desires no longer seemed to matter. He had

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taken something that should have been sacred between them and used it for his own selfish desires. He didn’t even qualify as dirt. “Memphis!” Romano shouted. Memphis winced when Romano’s fingers fisted in his hair. They tugged and pulled when Memphis raked his hand down Romano’s chest just as he swallowed the man’s cock down his throat as far as it would go. Romano’s hips started to buck, his body quivering. Memphis scraped his claws along the underside of Romano’s nut sac, and that was all it took. Romano’s shout of release filled the room as hot ropes of cum shot into Memphis’s mouth. Memphis swallowed down as much as he could then licked the rest of the evidence away as Romano’s body slumped back into the bed. Memphis gave one last good rake of his claws then retraced them and stood to his feet. He stared down at Romano for several moments, too overcome to speak. Romano would be within his right to tear into him for what he had done, so why did the sated look on Romano’s face hurt so much more? **** Tabby kept his eyes closed as he tried to steady his breathing. That was the hottest thing he had ever witnessed in life. To see the two strong men that he was attracted to fight for dominance was right up there with chocolate. It was simply delicious. The problem with faking sleep was that he had to use the bathroom. As badly as he wanted to pretend that he hadn’t witnessed something so intimate between the two men, nature was calling. He slid from the bed, only opening his eyes when he had passed the two men and refusing to look at either of them as he padded across the room and hurried into the bathroom.

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Once he closed the door, Tabby leaned against it, taking in a deep breath. His skin was tingly, and his cock was hard and aching from witnessing such an aggressive sexual act. Who knew he liked being a voyeur? Steadying his nerves, Tabby made quick work of his needs before rinsing his hands and then staring at his image in the mirror. There was no way he could compete in the looks department when it came to those two men. His looks paled in comparison. Hell, his stomach was so flat and concave that he looked as though he could be a poster child for an eating disorder. On the other hand, Memphis’s and Romano’s abs were works of the gods. Every ridge was visible to the naked eye. Tabby felt extremely self-conscious as he opened the bathroom door, wishing with everything in him that he could just run from the room. The problem with that idea was that Memphis and Romano were blocking his exit as he walked back into the bedroom. “Feeling better?” Romano asked. Tabby nodded, wondering if he was going to be allowed to walk right out of the room. His face was flushing as he remembered seeing Memphis suck Romano’s dick. He wanted to do the same, but wasn’t sure he would be allowed into their dominant circle. As badly as he fought his attraction for the two, Tabby would give his left nut to be loved by one of them. Against his will, his eyes trailed over to Memphis’s naked groin, locking onto the hard shaft. He licked his lips and then his eyes darted up. Tabby wondered if Memphis was going to sneer at him. Most men used Tabby, looked at him as someone to fuck and then toss aside. No one respected him for the man that he was, and no one ever stuck around long enough afterward to make Tabby feel as though he was truly wanted. That fear kept him from telling these two gorgeous men that he wanted one, or even both, to fuck him. He’d never been with two men

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before and the idea frightened him, but the thought also turned him the hell on. He’d even settle for watching these two gods fuck each other as he jacked off. Tabby jumped nervously when he felt a strong hand glide down his back, cupping his ass. “How much better do you feel?” Romano practically purred the question. Tabby’s eyes snapped up to see Memphis staring at him with lust. He was seriously reconsidering his thought of being with both of them at the same time. It was a bit intimidating. Both of these men were powerful forces, and Tabby was a damn pipsqueak. His body shook as he glanced down at Memphis’s straining cock. “A lot,” he answered Romano’s question. As soon as the words left his lips, he was lifted from the floor and taken to the bed where Romano stripped him of his clothes. “Wait!” Tabby shouted as both men converged on him. It was too much. Everything was happening too fast, and Tabby needed room to breathe and think about what was happening to him. The men were smoking ass hot and Tabby wanted both of them, but he felt as though he were being swallowed whole as the two men towered over him. “Problem?” Romano asked with a quirk to his brow. Tabby pushed at Romano’s chest as he scooted back against the headboard. Enough was enough. First Memphis got all stalkerish on him and then sniffed him like a damn piece of meat, and now he was being manhandled. “Take it slow,” Tabby said as he tried to cover his body. Why he was being shy, he wasn’t really sure. “I’ve never…” He waved a hand between Memphis and Romano. “Me either,” Memphis admitted as he backed away. “If this isn’t what you want, we’ll back off. No one is forcing you, Tabby.” Tabby didn’t want them to back off. He just didn’t want them to toss him around like a damn salad. He wanted a say in this. Tabby

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wanted some control in what was about to happen to him. “Just go easy on me, okay?” To his surprise, both men drew away. That wasn’t what Tabby had wanted. He wanted to get fucked and suck someone’s cock, but they just needed to slow down, not stop altogether. Pulling bravery from down in his toes, Tabby pushed to his hands and knees and crawled over to Memphis, taking the gorgeous man’s cock into his mouth. “Tabby!” Memphis sucked in air between his teeth as his hips snapped. Tabby’s eyes watered as the large cock rammed into the back of his throat, but he didn’t pull away. His fingers curled around the hard shaft as his tongue swiveled around the angry purple head. “Fuck if that doesn’t look good,” Romano groaned as his hand glided over Tabby’s naked ass. He jerked from the contact, feeling his nervousness start to kick in at a high rate of speed. “Easy, baby, easy,” Romano crooned as his hands stilled. “It’s just me.” Tabby knew who was behind him. It just felt strange having both of them in the bed with him at the same time. He whimpered when a volley of light nips and licks were placed all over his back, Romano’s hands gliding over his sensitized skin. Tabby gave a low, deep moan to vocalize his pleasure. “Like that?” Memphis asked as his hands ran over Tabby’s hair and shoulders. There was something sensual about both men touching him, paying him attention. His legs spread wide, his hips canting upward as Romano entered Tabby with his wet fingers. “Someone wants to get fucked,” Memphis stated breathlessly. Tabby wanted to shout me, but his mouth was full with thick, succulent flesh that he refused to release. Memphis tasted better than chocolate, which was saying a lot considering Tabby was addicted to the cocoa. Tabby could feel his entrance pulsating as Romano fitted another finger inside of him. He moaned around Memphis’s cock as Romano

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filled him with yet another thick finger. The pressure was making Tabby’s cock throb for fulfillment. “Ready?” Romano asked from behind him. Tabby nodded as he glanced up at Memphis, who was staring down at him in an awed fascination. He dug his fingers into Memphis’s thick thighs as he felt the hard cock press inside of him. Tabby quickly reached behind him to feel the condom at the base of Romano’s cock. He breathed a sigh of relief as he attacked Memphis’s shaft with vigor. The dual sensation of having a heavy cock in his mouth and a dick in his ass made Tabby’s head spin. Memphis stroked his fingers over Tabby’s cheeks as Romano gripped his hips, impaling Tabby harder, faster, and deeper. His own cock was throbbing as pre-cum dripped onto the bed. Tabby had a feeling he was going to come just from the eroticism of the moment alone. He’d never been with two men before, but hell if he didn’t want to try it again. It was fantastic! Memphis’s hands cupped the sides of Tabby’s face as a long groan fell from his lips. Seconds later Tabby’s mouth was filled with Memphis’s seed. He swallowed until Memphis’s balls were empty. As Romano shouted his release behind Tabby, he felt a searing pain in his neck. Tabby jerked as Memphis latched onto him, his teeth sinking deeply into his shoulder. Tabby shouted, hot spurts of cum jerking violently from his cock as Memphis released his sharp teeth from Tabby’s flesh and licked the wound. Romano slid from behind Tabby and fell onto the bed as Tabby rose up onto his knees, his hand covering where Memphis had just bit him. “What the hell did you bite me for?” Memphis lay back, averting his eyes to the bed as he shrugged. “I couldn’t help it. My wolf wanted to claim you.” His wolf?

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Chapter Seven Romano stood in his apartment reviewing the camcorder he had set up to record the streets below. He cursed when he saw the small black car drive by the tavern very slowly. He rewound the scene and played it once more, in slow motion. It was the car that had followed him into the mountains. So they had found him. Or at least tracked him here to this small town. A need to protect Tabby and Memphis hit him hard as Romano set the camcorder down. He knew he hadn’t been spotted yet, and he was planning on keeping it that way. He needed to cut his ties with the two men before his association with them got both men killed. But the thought of letting either of them go didn’t set well with him. Romano wanted both men with a hunger he had never felt before. Tapping the recorder with his finger, Romano walked away to take a long hot shower when he heard someone knocking on the door. He immediately froze. No one knew he lived here. He hadn’t told a soul. He doubted it was the men after him. What hit man knocked on the fucking door? Wait a minute, Romano had told Dino where he lived. His cousin could have asked Taz which apartment. Damn, the list of people who knew where he lived was growing. Romano was slipping. No one was supposed to know, yet too many people did already. Romano crossed the room and looked out of the peephole, seeing a tuft of blond hair. He smiled. Tabby.

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Romano smiled as he leaned back from the door and grabbed the handle. The door swung open, and Romano immediately knew something was wrong. Tabby wasn’t smiling. His face was drawn back in agony as his hands wrung in front of him. And that was when Romano saw the gun shoved into Tabby’s side. “I’m so sorry, Romano,” Tabby cried out as he was pushed aside, hitting the floor of Romano’s apartment hard. Romano growled as he grabbed Tabby and pulled him to his feet. His growl deepened, and he sent the gunman a hard glare when he saw the large bruise marring Tabby’s beautiful face. He quickly pushed Tabby behind him. He felt Tabby’s hand come to rest in the middle of his back as he faced the guy holding the gun. “You’re a hard man to find, Tiziano.” “If I wanted to be found, I would have given you directions.” Romano crossed his arms over his chest, trying to look as menacing as he could and create a bigger target between him and Tabby. The dark-haired gunman chuckled. “You know why I’m here.” “To invite me for a playdate?” Romano took a step back, pushing Tabby behind him as the man’s features darkened. He cast a quick glance around the room, both to look for an exit and to find a weapon of some sort, neither of which came readily to mind. There was a window behind him, but he had nailed that shut to keep people out. It sucked that it was now keeping them in. Romano didn’t see any way out of this. “Look, I know why you’re here, and I’ll go peacefully if you let Tabby go.” “You know that’s not how this works.” “Tie him up and leave him here. We can be out of town before he has time to warn anyone.” The man shook his head. “He’s seen my face. He can identify me.”

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“He’s a drunk. No one would believe him.” Romano winced when he heard Tabby whimper at his words. He wished that he had time to explain to Tabby what was going on, and especially that he didn’t mean what he was saying. There just wasn’t time. “Ask anyone. Tabby spends more time in a jail cell sleeping it off than he does out of it.” “I’ve seen him coming and going from the local sheriff’s station.” “Then you know I’m telling the truth.” “No, all I know is that he has a lot of contact with cops.” Romano swallowed hard as the gun pointed at him moved closer. “Come on, man. I didn’t do anything wrong. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I haven’t been to the police. I left town. I haven’t said a word to anyone. Not even Tabby knows what this is all about.” “That’s too bad since he is in the wrong place at the wrong time as well.” Fear welled up inside Romano as the thug raised the gun higher, aiming it right at his face. He knew he was going to die but damned if he was going to drag Tabby down with him. Romano made a splitsecond decision that he knew wouldn’t end well, but he had to try and save Tabby, give him some sort of chance. Romano crashed back into Tabby hard enough to send the man to the floor then dove forward and grabbed the hand of the bastard holding the gun. He heard a wild shot go off as he wrestled with the gunman and hoped Tabby hadn’t been hurt. “Run, Tabby!” Romano shouted as he raised one fist into the air then pounded it into the thug’s face. He knew that wouldn’t keep the man down for long, but he needed a distraction to get the gun out of his hand. He leaned forward and sank his teeth into the guy’s hand. The bitter taste of blood filled his mouth, and he heard a loud shout. He hoped it came from the person holding the gun. He aimed his knee at the man’s groin and drove it in as hard as he could. He heard a very satisfying grunt. The gunman’s body started to

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fold in on itself. Romano used the same knee to crack the man in the face as he went down. This time, the only sound he heard was that of the gunman dropping to the floor. Romano scrambled for the gun, picking it up off the floor where the man had dropped it and aiming it at the guy. He backed up, not wanting to take his eyes off the man on the floor but needing to know if Tabby was okay. “Tabby?” he asked, keeping his eyes straight ahead. “You okay, baby?” Romano frowned when he didn’t hear anything. “Tabby?” Desperation made Romano take his eyes off the gunman and turn to look at his lover. Romano’s heart fell when he saw the splotch of red blossoming across Tabby’s chest under the hands he had pressed to his body. “Tabby?” he whispered. “Fuck me.” Tabby’s blue eyes slowly rose up to meet his. “I’ve been shot.” The growl that left Romano’s lips was animalistic as he slammed the butt of the gun into the hit man’s head. The guy instantly closed his eyes as a large red mark appeared where Romano had hit him. Once he knew the man wasn’t getting up, Romano ran for Tabby. “Just hold on, baby.” He swung Tabby up into his arms as he ran for the door. When he saw the second man standing at the bottom of the steps, Romano didn’t think twice as he squeezed the trigger. He had to get past the guy. Tabby needed a hospital and fast. The man ducked and then ran. Romano wasted no time as he raced down the steps and ran through the kitchen of the tavern. He was out the back door and running to his truck before anyone could stop him for questioning. Gently laying Tabby on the passenger seat, Romano closed the door quickly and then shot around to the driver’s side. The tires of his truck squealed as he backed out of his parking spot and tore down the street. His heart pounded with fear as he drove much faster than the law allowed. Within minutes he was slamming

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on the brakes in front of the emergency room. “Just hang on, Tabby. We’re at the hospital.” “I’m okay,” Tabby said with a weak smile. Romano knew Tabby was trying to be brave, but he saw the sheer terror in the man’s baby blues. “It’s just a nick.” Romano wished that was all it was. The bloodstain on Tabby’s shirt was growing, and Tabby’s fingers were becoming redder by the second. An attendant ran out and took one look inside the truck before running back for a stretcher. Romano tossed his keys into his pocket before getting out and gently lifting his lover from the seat. He wasn’t going to lose the man who had come to mean so much to him. Tabby was the first person Romano had sought out. He craved the man more than he wanted to breathe. “You’ll be okay,” Romano said, more for his own comfort than Tabby’s. He had to believe the small man was going to be all right. If Romano lost Tabby, he would blame himself for the rest of his miserable life. “What’s going on?” a doctor asked as he helped Romano place Tabby onto the stretcher the attendant had brought out. “He’s been fucking shot!” Wasn’t it obvious from the pints of blood Tabby was losing out of the hole in his damn chest? “Any other wounds?” the doctor asked as Tabby was rushed inside. “No,” Romano replied. “He was shot once in the chest.” “Do you know who did this?” the man asked. “He’s still in my apartment.” Romano growled as he followed the stretcher into the ER. The doctor pushed Romano back as the elevator doors began to close. “He’s going into surgery. Go find a cop and let him know about the gunmen while I work on your friend.”

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“My lover,” Romano corrected the doctor, feeling the need to clarify who Tabby was to him. Sympathy entered the man’s eyes as he nodded. “I’ll do my best with him.” “Thank you,” Romano whispered as he cast one last look into Tabby’s blue eyes. “He means the world to me.” “What’s his name?” “Tabby.” “I’m taking him straight to surgery. Once you’re done with the police, wait in the surgery waiting area. I’ll let you know as soon as I know something.” Romano nodded. He felt helpless as the elevator doors closed, taking Tabby away from him, stealing the one man from him who Romano had grown to love in just a short period of time. Romano froze at his thoughts. He loved Tabby? How? It had only been a few days. How in the hell could he love the small man in such a short period of time? Things like that just didn’t happen, not in real life. “Where is he?” Memphis asked as he came running into the ER. That was fucking fast. “In surgery.” Memphis glanced at the elevator for a second before turning back to Romano. “What happened?” Fuck if this wasn’t going to turn into one big ass disaster. Romano could see it coming. There was no way he could get around the fact that all of this had been his fault. From what he had learned of Memphis and his sparkling personality, the man was going to hate him. It made sense. Romano was hating himself a whole lot right about now. He waved his hand toward the chairs against the wall. “Have a seat.”

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**** “What are you going to do with him?” Taz asked as the paramedics loaded the unconscious man into the back of the ambulance. The guy who had been at the bottom of the steps had gotten away, but Taz had found this shithead out cold on Romano’s apartment floor. He had heard the gunshots. Hell, the entire tavern had run out of there when the shot sounded. Taz wasn’t sure what was going on, but he knew Romano was Memphis’s mate, and they protected their own. Jesse cocked his head at Taz, giving him the duh look. “Taking him to jail?” “I say we take him for a long drive on a dark country road,” Rave said from beside Taz. “We’ll make sure he won’t wake up.” “I didn’t hear that,” Jesse warned as he walked to his patrol car. “And he’s going to the hospital.” “I say you tackle Jesse while I grab the fucker from the back of the ambulance,” Rave said under his breath. Taz cocked a brow as he stared at his nutty friend. “And I’ll make sure I take Jesse’s gun so I can shoot Craig and Avanti when they gut me for touching their mate.” Rave shrugged. “It’s a diversion. Take one for the team.” “Fuck you,” Taz said as he turned back toward the tavern. “You take one for the team while I take fuckhead for the drive.” “I called it first,” Rave pouted as he followed Taz back inside. Taz walked back around the bar, grabbing the bar rag and tossing it over his shoulder. “If I thought you were serious about all of this I’d beat you over the head with a beer bottle, moron. We don’t harm mates.” “It was just a thought,” Rave argued as he joined Taz. “I may have said it, but you know you were thinking it.”

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There were days when Taz wondered how screwed up Rave’s mind truly was. They clicked as friends, but the man had some strange ass thoughts sometimes. “Go bus some damn tables or something before I tell Avanti your diabolical plan.” Rave shot him a glare as he left from behind the bar. Taz really wouldn’t say anything about what he and Rave talked about, but it got his friend moving. He shook his head as he walked over to a waiting customer. Some days he really wondered about the guy. **** Memphis gritted his teeth as he listened to Romano. He was trying really hard not to slug the guy. The more his mate divulged, the angrier he became. Memphis stood, walking away from Romano so he wouldn’t actually hit the guy. “I’m sorry, Memphis. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” Memphis knew in his heart that Romano didn’t want Tabby to be hurt, but the man could have told him what was going on so all three could have watched their backs. “Keeping it from us is what hurt Tabby.” Romano shot from his seat, his hands fisting at his side as pain filled his eyes. “I own what happened. I do, but I won’t have you making me feel like dog shit about it.” Memphis stared at Romano incredulously. “Are you fucking kidding me? You should feel like shit. Had you told me what was going on, I would have protected him and you.” The steam deflated from Romano right before Memphis’s eyes. He cursed himself for being so harsh with his mate. It really wasn’t Romano’s fault, and he knew that. The guy couldn’t be blamed for witnessing a murder or running scared. He just wished Romano had told him. But he just met you. Do you expect him to trust you off the rip?

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Memphis sighed as he pulled Romano into his arms, holding tight as his mate struggled and then settled against him. Instead of getting mad at Romano, Memphis should be going after the man who had pulled the trigger. Eagle and Chey’s mate, Max, had called him the minute he recognized Tabby. Memphis was thankful for that. But he needed to go down to the jail and deal with the bastard who had harmed, and possibly killed, his mate. Memphis felt a sob catch in his throat at the thought of losing the small man. Tabby had his issues, but he was falling hard for the little blond. “That’s him.” Romano growled as he pushed Memphis away. “That’s the man who shot Tabby.” Memphis turned to see a paramedic wheeling a stretcher in with a handcuffed man shouting as he tried to wiggle free. He shot across the ER, slugging the guy before he was pulled off of the man. “If he dies, I’m going to fucking kill you!” The man licked his busted lip, his smile cold, as he stared up at Memphis. “And I’ve just added someone else to my list now.”

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Chapter Eight Tabby smacked at Romano’s hand as the irritating man once more tried to fluff his pillow. If it got any fluffier, Tabby would be able to float away on the damn thing. “I told you I don’t blame you for what happened. Now stop trying to do everything for me.” “Just let me do this for you, Tabby,” Romano argued as he tried once again to grab Tabby’s pillow. Tabby smacked his hand away again as he played tug-of-war with the large man. “Let it go,” he said as he yanked hard. Romano let go, sending Tabby backward on the bed. Romano looked horrified, but Tabby was fine. It had been two weeks since he left the hospital, and both Romano and Memphis were treating him like spun glass. He hadn’t even had sex in those two weeks! Every time he brought up the subject, one or both of them mysteriously had something to do. It was starting to make his ego smart. Tabby straightened in the bed and then threw the blanket back, showing off his goodies. “I need to get you some water,” Romano said quickly as he ran toward the bathroom. Tabby grunted in frustration. Neither man had allowed him to leave the bed either. Every time he attempted to get up, he was forced back down. He was ready to plot his damn escape. Sliding from the bed, Tabby tiptoed to the bathroom where he peeked in. Romano was standing at the sink, pressing the palm of his hand into his erection as he took in deep gulps of air. So he was horny!

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At least Tabby knew it wasn’t him, but his condition. Hell, he felt fine. But telling either lughead that he was ready to go home was falling on deaf ears. “What are you doing out of bed?” Memphis asked from behind him. Tabby spun around, showing off his jutting erection as Memphis stood there glaring at him. Memphis’s demeanor changed the moment he spotted Tabby’s woody. Now he looked like he was ready to bolt. Damn it! Tabby did what any horny man would do under the circumstances. He walked back over to the bed, grabbing the lube from the drawer, and then crawled onto the mattress, wetting his fingers and then reaching behind him, sliding one into his entrance. “Tabby.” Memphis moaned the warning. “If neither of you will fuck me, then I’ll fuck myself.” He could see he struck a chord when the front of Memphis’s jeans became tight with a large bulge. Now they were getting somewhere. “And while I’m fucking my own ass, you can explain to me what a mate is and why you bit me.” Tabby had never gotten a real explanation from Memphis. The man seemed to avoid the subject like the plague every time Tabby brought it up. He was tired of being brushed off. If these two men wanted him to be a permanent fixture in their lives, he wanted some damn answers. They were treating him like a less-than-intelligent man, and Tabby was sick to death of it. Memphis shook his head, as if refusing to answer Tabby, but his eyes were glued to what Tabby was doing to himself. Please let him fuck me. Tabby inserted another finger, mewling loudly as he rocked back onto his fingers. He heard a sharp intake of breath and knew that Romano had joined them. “Damn, that looks hot.” “He can’t have sex yet,” Memphis warned. “I’m tired of waiting, Memphis. The doctor says he’s fine.”

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They were talking as if Tabby wasn’t right there in the same room with them. It was really starting to piss him off. “Get your heads out of your asses and do something to me or I swear I’ll kick both your behinds.” Tabby was shocked at his threat, but he was also tired of waiting. “That’s what I’m talking about,” Romano said with happiness in his voice as he began to strip. “We can’t,” Memphis warned. “Then don’t,” Romano replied. “But I’m getting some of that tight ass.” So Memphis was the one making everyone wait. Tabby knew the man had his best intentions at heart, but he was horny. “Fuck me, Memphis.” He could see Memphis wavering as his lover began to slowly undress. He looked as though he was terrified of hurting Tabby, but the only thing hurting was his damn erection and lack of sex. Tabby watched as Romano eased sinuously onto the bed, his hard cock in his hand. Tabby flipped to his back, carding his hand through the thick blond thatch of hair at his groin before palming his own erection. Biting his bottom lip, he matched Romano stroke for stroke as his smooth, hot skin hardened further. His head fell back on the pillow, his lips parting to suck in gasps of air as Romano reached over and slid one thick finger inside his ass. Every breath was audible in the room as Memphis’s weight made the bed dip. Memphis ran his fingers up and down Tabby’s shaft, his hand gliding slowly, taking his time. It was nearly Tabby’s undoing. Shivers raced over his body as both men attended to him, to his needs. It was as if the two weeks they had made him wait were going to be made up to Tabby in tenfold. And he was looking forward to every moment. “You better tell us if you’re hurting.” Memphis squeezed Tabby’s shaft to make him look up at the large man. “I mean it.”

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Tabby nodded quickly, his tongue sliding over his dry lips as he moved closer to his release. Having both men in the bed with him was exciting, and he wasn’t sure he would last very long. It had been two whole weeks, after all. Memphis stretched out beside him, stealing a heated kiss as Romano continued to stretch him. His legs lifted higher, his knees falling to the sides, giving Romano enough room to do whatever he wanted down there. Tabby moaned when Memphis broke the kiss and then used his kiss-swollen lips to suck at one of his nipples. His tongue played wicked little games with the throbbing nub. It rolled the peak, nipped it, and then he sucked it between his teeth. Tabby was writhing under Memphis’s masterful mouth as Romano took Tabby’s cock into his heated mouth. “Oh god,” Tabby cried out. The oral assault from both men had Tabby wailing. To Tabby’s shocked and thrilled mind, Memphis licked down his glistening body until he joined Romano at his throbbing erection. To see two powerful men between his legs was too much for Tabby to handle. His back arched as he reached his crescendo. Tabby’s body contorted as his cum shot out of his cock so brutally that Tabby’s head began to pound with too much blood coursing through it at a high rate of speed. That only seemed to make both men go crazy. Romano swallowed his seed as Memphis pushed his legs back, attacking his sac with his wet and skillful tongue. Tabby was a boneless mess by the time his balls were dry. “Now you can watch us,” Romano said as he released Tabby’s cock with a wet pop. ****

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Romano knew Memphis wasn’t going to let him top, but one of them had to relent sooner or later, and he was willing to give Memphis what he had never given any other. To say he was nervous as fuck was an understatement, but he was falling just as hard for the stubborn man as he was for Tabby. Never in his life had he ever contemplated bottoming before, but for the first time in his life, Romano was in love. The tall, powerfully built, dark-haired man had wrapped himself around Romano’s heart, and he was helpless to stop it. Romano just wondered if Memphis was going to rub it in later that he had given up control, had relented in what seemed to be an ongoing power struggle between the two of them. “Fuck me,” he said to Memphis before he lost his nerve. Heat was pooling at his groin, making Romano’s cock even harder at the thought of Memphis’s hard and rigid body behind him. For a top, he was turned the hell on by the thought of having Memphis take him. “Are you sure?” Memphis asked, hesitation swimming in his deep grey eyes. Romano knew that Memphis had tried to use his lust last time as a tool to get what he wanted. But backing off and pleasing Romano instead had gone a long way in helping Romano trust him. It has shown him that Memphis cared about him. Romano nodded as he crawled over Tabby’s sated body. He smiled down at the smaller man, seeing the large-eyed wonder on Tabby’s face. “You like to watch, so watch.” Tabby’s blue eyes darkened with lust as he nodded, his small hands exploring Romano’s body as Memphis began to kiss Romano’s back, working his way down to Romano’s mounds. Memphis sucked slowly and sensually at one and then the other mound as his hand slid between Romano’s legs. He licked his way down until he was practically lying under Romano, licking him from root to tip of his hard, hot flesh, and then ran his tongue all the way back up Romano’s ass until he kissed each cheek.

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Romano’s arms shook as he lowered his head, running his tongue along Tabby’s kiss-swollen and plump lips. The smaller man opened for Romano as Memphis gently inserted one long and wet finger into his never-before-touched ass. Romano groaned even though it felt so damn strange to have something invading him. Tabby’s lithe fingers wrapped around Romano’s cock, pulling at his painfully hard shaft as Memphis bit lightly into Romano’s cheek while inserting another finger. He kissed Tabby unhurriedly as he forced himself to relax. Memphis’s fingers weren’t small, and the burn in his ass was intensifying. “Trust me,” Tabby said as he nibbled along Romano’s stubbled jaw. “It’s worth it.” Romano gazed into Tabby’s darkened eyes as he nodded, trusting what Tabby was telling him, but fuck if pain wasn’t associated with Memphis’s probing fingers. He tilted his head to the side, losing himself in Tabby’s skillful tongue when his body jerked uncontrollably. Pleasure like he’d never felt before shot through his body like a lightning storm. “Found it,” Memphis said with amusement in his voice. Romano’s cock shot a spurt of pre-cum into Tabby’s soft hand as his eyes grew round. Tabby smiled up at him. “Told you.” Romano groaned his agreement. Memphis pulled his hand free, and Romano knew what was coming next. He moved to suck at each taut teat of Tabby’s chest, taking his time, rushing nothing as he felt Memphis line his cock up, the head pressed against his pulsing hole. With a nod, Memphis’s powerful thighs snapped, sending his cock fully into Romano’s ass. “Fuck!” Romano shouted into Tabby’s flesh. His eyes watered as his fists gripped the sheets tightly. As Romano tried to breathe his way through the pain, Tabby slid down the bed and wrapped his lips

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around Romano’s cock. He slowly enveloped the whole length as Memphis stayed very still behind him. Slowly, Tabby’s tongue gained Romano’s attention as the smaller man licked his way around Romano’s hair-dusted thighs, kissing and nipping as he palmed Romano’s balls, which were tight and hard. He groaned when Tabby slid his tongue into the slit at his cockhead, drinking the nectar that was spilling. Memphis pulled back, his cock grazing along nerve endings that made Romano shiver. Tiny explosions were going off inside Romano as Tabby sucked his cock and Memphis fucked his ass. The dual sensation had Romano’s blood on fire. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, staving off his orgasm, wanting this time with the two men that he loved to last forever. His body was thrumming and his cock was thickening as Tabby sucked his length further down his hot, moist throat. “I’m close,” Memphis said as he pressed his fingers into Romano’s hips, his cock sliding in and out of Romano’s ass with greater speed as a growl ripped from Memphis’s chest. “Mine, this is mine,” Memphis said with such authority in his husky voice that Romano could only nod. He knew what was coming. Romano had seen Memphis’s canines when he had bitten Tabby. He had also seen Tabby’s reaction to the bite and wanted to feel that all-consuming release that he had witnessed with their smaller mate. Romano didn’t have to wait long. Memphis blanketed his back, sweat trapped between their strong and hard bodies as Memphis grazed his lips over Romano’s shoulder, sending shudders of pleasure throughout his body. “I want to claim you,” Memphis whispered into his ear as he licked around the shell of it. “Do it,” Romano found himself begging. “Bite me, Memphis. Make me yours.” Romano had no idea what he was asking for as Memphis’s sharp teeth sank into his giving flesh. He glanced down briefly to see Tabby

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pull Romano’s cock from his lips, his cum splattering over Tabby’s face and hair as he shouted his release. Something inside of him snapped, making him feel as though Memphis was right there inside of him. Romano wasn’t sure what was going on, but he never felt closer to another human being before. It was as if they were one now. And strangely enough, the thought of being closer to Memphis didn’t bother him as much as he thought it would. The man was arrogant, irritating, argumentative, and downright bossy, but Romano couldn’t find it in himself to deny that he liked this new feeling. Memphis held on as his hips snapped with unbelievable speed. His cock continued to graze over his nerve endings before Memphis released his teeth, his tongue gliding over his skin as he growled his release. Romano had been so caught up in the moment that he realized too late that he could feel every spurt of Memphis’s hot seed in his ass. The man had no condom on. “Fuck,” Romano shouted as he pushed Memphis off of him. “Are you fucking crazy?” Memphis looked lost as he landed on his back, staring up at Romano with confusion in his deep grey eyes. “You fucked me bareback.” Memphis’s confusion cleared as a smile played at his lips. Romano wanted to punch that smug smile right off of Memphis’s face. This was no laughing matter. Besides oral, he had never fucked anyone without a condom, and he had forgotten the first time he entrusted his health to someone else. “You have nothing to worry about, Romano.” “That’s easy for you to say,” he grunted as he slid from the bed. “I’ve never had sex unprotected before.” He wanted to shout, to let Memphis know how seriously he took his health. Romano hated to ruin the moment, especially with Tabby lying on the bed with

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Romano’s seed all over the smaller man’s gorgeous face. His eyes snapped back to Memphis as his anger mounted. Memphis left the bed, his features pinched as he crossed the room, getting directly in Romano’s face. “I said you’re safe.” “And I’m just supposed to take your word for it?” Was this guy serious? He was supposed to take Memphis’s word that the sex they had was safe? Romano trusted no one when it came to his body, his health, and damn if he was going to just nod and say okay. “Yes,” Memphis replied as he glanced back at Tabby. “Both of you have nothing to worry about.” “And why is that?” Romano asked heatedly as he moved toward the bed, sitting on the edge as he pulled Tabby up into his arms. “Why should I believe you?” “Romano, don’t,” Tabby begged as he curled his slim body around Romano. He wanted to reassure Tabby’s fears, but the thought of Memphis’s carelessness had him seething. The man hadn’t even asked Romano. He’d just taken it upon himself to fuck him without a condom, condemning both of them if things weren’t kosher with Memphis. Tabby curled his fingers into Romano’s shoulder, pleading with his eyes for the arguing to stop. He felt like shit, but Romano wanted answers. “Because I can’t catch human diseases,” Memphis stated angrily. “I can’t catch them nor can I give them.” “Human?” Tabby asked, confused as he glanced over at Memphis. Ah shit… In the blink of an eye, Memphis had shifted into his wolf form. Seeing it from a distance and seeing it up close were two totally different things. “What the hell?” Tabby shouted as Romano rolled his eyes. Leave it to Memphis to be so damn dramatic.

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Chapter Nine Tabby took another drink as he tried to figure out what in the hell was going on. Memphis had actually shifted into a damn wolf right in front of him! His mind was having a hard time processing that shit. It wasn’t every day he saw a man transform into a damn wolf. He still wasn’t sure he saw what he saw. How could he? Things like that didn’t happen. Memphis had explained that he was a wolf shifter and that Tabby and Romano were his mates. Which didn’t go over so well with Romano. But it had taken every ounce of control for Tabby not to freak the fuck out. And people wondered why he fucking drank. Gee, I wonder why. “Ready for another?” the bartender asked as he shoved another drink toward Tabby. It was only his second drink, but Tabby was starting to feel a little woozy. He had never had such a low tolerance before, and he wondered why beer was making him feel as though he were drunker than a skunk. Tabby pushed the thought aside as he handed the bartender his empty bottle and grabbed the fresh one in front of him. He had snuck out of the house. Staying in that room was driving him crazy. He knew he didn’t have much time before Memphis and Romano came after him. He was well aware that one of the gunmen was still on the loose, but he was in a bar full of witnesses. What could the guy do? Really? The gunman couldn’t do a damn thing while all these people were around Tabby. Not if he wanted to remain free.

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And that thought alone drove Tabby from the house. Taking a long draft from his beer, Tabby looked around the bar. He may have convinced himself that he was safe in here, but he wasn’t foolish enough to let his guard down. As he spun around on his stool, Tabby felt dizzy. The music was loud, the different televisions were playing different sports, and a small crowd was over by the pool table. Everything seemed normal to him. No dark and sinister person was lurking in any corners that he could see. Of course, his vision was getting a little blurred as he tried to scan the tavern. He glanced at the bottle in his hand, knowing for a fact it was only his second drink, but he felt as though he had finished off an entire twelve-pack already. He turned back around, resting his arms on the counter to steady himself as his head spun. What in the blue blazes was going on? “At it again?” Tabby looked over his shoulder to see Jesse standing there with a disapproving look on his face. “Where’s Memphis?” Tabby shrugged, refusing to answer the sheriff. He was still sore over the groping scene back at the jail. He didn’t trust Jesse, even though Memphis had told him that the sheriff was a mate. He was still a cop. “Minding his own business,” Tabby replied with a slight slur. He blinked a few times, trying to figure out why his speech was impaired. It was only his second damn beer! Jesse stepped closer, irritation marring his face as he dipped his head and lowered his voice. “Just to let you know, I’ve already called Memphis.” “Snitch,” Tabby replied as he held his empty bottle up, the bartender replacing it with a full one immediately. “You’ve had enough, Tabby.” Tabby snarled at Jesse as he held the bottle close to his chest. “You’re not my father. Fuck off.”

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Jesse nodded, backing away. “Fine, it’s your life you’re throwing away.” Tabby wasn’t throwing anything away. He enjoyed drinking beer. He wasn’t a damn alcoholic. He didn’t have a drinking problem. There were plenty of people out there that enjoyed kicking back with a cold one. And he was one of those people. Jesse took a seat a few stools down, watching him as Tabby sucked down his third beer, feeling drunker by the second. He slid from his stool, leaving the empty bottle behind as he weaved his way to the door. Jesse was hot on his heels, dogging his every step as Tabby walked out into the fresh air. Instantly his head began to swim and bile rose to the back of his throat. Three. He had had three stinking beers, and he was ready to pass out. Tabby couldn’t understand it. “There’s your ride,” Jesse said as he jerked his chin toward the street. Tabby tried to make his eyes open wider as he stared at the large truck parking in front of the tavern. He smiled when Memphis and Romano climbed from the truck, menacing glares shooting toward him. Let them be mad. Tabby hadn’t done anything wrong. “You’re in trouble,” Memphis bit out as he stepped up onto the sidewalk. “You put yourself in danger for what, a beer?” “Looks like he had more than beer,” Romano commented as Tabby swayed. Tabby held his hand up, waving it in front of his face. “I had three.” “Then why are you holding up five fingers?” Memphis asked as a strong arm wrapped around Tabby’s waist, guiding him toward the truck.

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“Don’t know,” Tabby said as he glanced down at his hand. He counted three fingers. What was Memphis talking about? He shrugged as he let Memphis lead him to the truck. “Just remember,” Jesse said as Tabby was led away, “there’s still a bad guy out there gunning for you men. Keep him safe.” Tabby waved his hand at Jesse in dismissal as he climbed into the truck. Neither man looked happy with him as Tabby laid his head on Romano’s shoulder, letting his eyes close. It had only been three beers. **** Memphis took the road home at a leisurely pace. He could see that Tabby was green around the gills, and there was no way the guy was going to throw up in his truck. It disturbed him that his mate would take off from the security of their home just to go have a drink. He had thought that Tabby was just a social drinker, but he was really starting to think the small man had a drinking problem. It seemed every time he turned around Tabby was stinking drunk. That disturbed him. If Tabby needed help with his drinking, Memphis would help him, but the small man had to admit he had a problem first. “He’s asleep,” Romano said with a sigh as he wrapped one arm around Tabby’s small frame. Memphis was going to have a long talk with Tabby when he was sober. Something had to give. His mate couldn’t keep going down this path. “Do you think he’s an alcoholic?” Memphis asked as he kept his eyes on the road. He had to ask Romano what he thought so he knew if he had his larger mate on his side or if he was going to be fighting both of them to get Tabby the help he needed. “He does seemed to get shitfaced a lot,” Romano answered. “I’m not sure what to think at this point.”

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Neither did Memphis. Maybe he should talk to Max, the resident doctor, to see what his opinion was. Memphis was out of his territory when it came to addictions. He knew firsthand about abuse, but alcoholism wasn’t something he knew about. “I think we should leave him alone,” Romano added after a moment of silence. “He seems to be more of a social drinker to me.” Memphis gaped at Romano for a second before training his eyes back on the road. “Social drinker? Are you kidding? The man stays drunk more than he stays sober. Get your head out of your ass, and see the problem for what it truly is.” “Oh, I see plenty of problems around here for what they truly are,” Romano bit out. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “You,” Romano replied. “Me what?” Romano turned sideways, cradling Tabby close as he narrowed his brown eyes at Memphis. “If you want Tabby to admit he has a problem, then I think you should admit that you have one as well.” Memphis was confused. He didn’t have a damn problem. His problem was solved the day Zeus took over as Alpha. “And what problem do I have, Romano?” “Never mind,” Romano huffed as he turned his head back toward the road. “No, you brought it up, so spill.” “Fine,” Romano growled as he looked back at Memphis. “You’re an arrogant bastard who thinks he has to control everything around him. You want to be top dog all the time, never giving anyone a sayso in anything. You act as though your word is law, and you push the fact that you have to have your way to the point that you’re almost bullying people around, namely me.” Memphis was stunned. Was that how Romano saw him? A bully? Memphis remained quiet for a moment as he digested everything Romano had just said in his outburst. Was he really controlling? Sure,

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he was dominating, but he didn’t think he was controlling. “You’re full of shit.” “Whatever.” “You’re no Sammy Sunshine yourself, mate,” Memphis pointed out. “You’re just as combative with me.” “But I know how to compromise. Do you?” Did he? Memphis didn’t like the fact that Romano had him examining himself. Hell, he had survived Jackson. What more to life was there? Sure, he wasn’t going to let anyone else run over him or rule over him, but a bully he was not. Romano was talking out of the side of his damn neck. When their truck was hit from behind, Memphis grabbed the steering wheel, trying his best to keep the truck from skidding off of the road. “It’s them,” Romano shouted as he pushed Tabby down. “They’re trying to run us off the road.” “Them?” Memphis asked as he sped up. “I thought one of them was in jail?” “Apparently they sent for backup.” Well, shit, that wasn’t good. The black car that had hit them sped up as well, getting on the side of Memphis’s truck and then smashing into it from the side. The truck jerked left, but Memphis managed to straighten the wheel in time before they ran into the ditch. “Gun!” Romano shouted as Memphis hit the brakes, sending the black car careening ahead of them. “Take the wheel. Get Tabby home.” Romano looked furious as Memphis jumped from the driver’s seat. “What in the fuck are you doing?” “Getting them off of our trail,” Memphis answered as he glanced at the black car that was down in the ditch ahead of them. “Get the fuck back in here,” Romano shouted. “Take Tabby back to Zeus, now!”

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“Don’t leave us,” Tabby cried out from the passenger side. The wild ride must have jerked him awake. “I have to. I won’t have them coming after either of you.” “There you go again.” Romano growled. “Do you always have to be in charge? Why can’t you just get in the truck and go home with us?” Memphis ignored Romano as he shifted into his wolf form. “Don’t leave us,” Tabby begged again as he cried. Memphis was torn between going home with his mates and ending this bullshit once and for all. The need to keep his mates safe won out as he took off toward the black car. **** Romano punched the dashboard. There was no way he was leaving Memphis to handle this on his own. This was his mess, and Memphis shouldn’t be the one to clean it up. He glanced at Tabby, torn between helping Memphis and getting the smaller man to safety. “I want you to stay in the truck. Do not get out. Do you understand?” Romano asked Tabby. Tabby’s eyes widened as his head began to shake back and forth. “You can’t leave me, too,” his voice begged as he crawled across the seat, fingers curling into Romano’s shirt. Romano gently uncurled Tabby’s fingers, and then he climbed from the truck. “I can’t leave him.” Tabby’s face went from panic to anger within the span of a second. Romano had never seen the man angry before, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. He had a feeling that a pissed-off Tabby was worse than an irritating Memphis. “Oh, but you can leave my ass?” The question fell from his lips bitterly. “Fine, you both want to leave me? Then I know where I truly stand.” Romano wanted to tell the smaller man where he truly stood, but Memphis had reached the black car. He knew the hired gunmen

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would kill Memphis if he didn’t go help the stubborn man now. As arrogant, irritating, and as thickheaded as Memphis was, Romano truly cared about him. He slammed the palm of his hand into the truck door. “Just get your ass down on the floor. Don’t get out for anyone!” Romano took off to see what fucking mess Memphis had gotten himself into. It was a shame. Memphis was a good man, a strong man, and from what Romano could see, Memphis truly cared. But there was one problem with all of that. The problem was that Memphis couldn’t see his own problem. He needed to learn to accept Romano as his equal, his partner, and to trust his judgment. Instead, Memphis ran into danger headfirst, without considering the consequences. If something happened to Memphis, didn’t the guy know how it would affect Romano and Tabby? The loss would hurt Romano. He knew Memphis was only trying to protect them, but Romano was damn good at protecting as well. Romano didn’t need someone dominating and controlling him. He needed a partner. Romano needed somebody at his side, not somebody he had to walk behind. As he reached the car, he saw Memphis pulling the passenger out, wrestling with the injured man, biting into the hand that held the gun. Romano cursed, running around the car. As he drew closer, he saw Memphis spin, putting the hit man underneath. Romano kicked the guy’s hand, sending the gun flying away from them. “You bastard, you’re going to get us both killed!” Memphis turned around growling at Romano, snapping his jaws. “What, am I supposed to be fucking afraid of you?” Romano shouted. He glanced at the car, seeing that the driver was unconscious, a trail of blood running down the side of the man’s temple. He turned back toward the wolf, fisting his hands at his side. “You don’t have to be a fucking hero in all of this. You don’t have to risk your damn life to prove who you are to me or to Tabby. I think you’d be more valuable to both of us alive than dead, you dumbass.”

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Memphis growled again, snapping his jaws, but Romano ignored him. He was too mad, he was too pissed, and he was beyond reasoning at the moment. Memphis had risked his life unnecessarily. “If you’re that stuck on being a hero, on risking your life, and being in control, then do it on your own fucking time!” Romano knew that all of this had started because he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and he had witnessed a murder, but he wasn’t about to witness the death of Memphis. That was too much for him to handle. For a man who had gone it alone his entire life, Romano had finally found two men who he truly cared about and loved, and Romano wasn’t about to stand aside and watch one of them act suicidal. He spun around, walking down the road toward the truck. Romano could see that Memphis wasn’t in any danger from the gunmen, and right now he knew that if he stuck around, he would say some things that he would surely regret. Halfway to the truck, Memphis ran up next to Romano, slowing his pace so that he could walk alongside Romano. The grey wolf was gorgeous, but Romano was too pissed right now to appreciate its beauty. Romano was tired, so damn tired of fighting Memphis. All he wanted…Romano really wasn’t sure what he wanted, but he knew that he loved Memphis and Tabby. He had never thought beyond his love. He had a life with his landscaping business, and that life wasn’t in Pride Pack Valley. Was he willing to relocate to be with these two men? Was he willing to make that sacrifice when all Memphis wanted to do was control everything? No, damn it! Romano was not going to make that move if Memphis wasn’t willing to be his equal partner. He wasn’t even sure if Memphis wanted him around. And that gutted him.

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Memphis hadn’t declared his love. Memphis hadn’t told Romano how he truly felt about him. Nothing made sense to him any longer. Romano was starting to regret the day he drove into this small town to find refuge. Everything was a mess. Nothing made sense. Everything was upside down. Romano prided himself on knowing who he was and what he was, and what he wanted out of life. And now Memphis had him questioning everything. “I don’t need you to walk me back to the truck. I think I can manage it on my own.” Romano could hear a small grunt coming from the wolf, but Memphis kept at his side. “You know, it would be nice to know where I stood with you. It would be nice to know where my future was going. And it would also be nice to know if you and I even had a future. You claim that we’re mates, but you treat me more like I’m beneath you,” Romano ranted on. “I know how to handle myself. I know how to take care of myself. I want somebody who can respect that. I want somebody who can respect me.” He knew he had Tabby, and Romano wasn’t going to let the small man go. If he had to take Tabby with him when he left, then Romano would. Tabby deserved to be happy, and Romano knew he could make the small man happy. Romano watched as Memphis shifted, standing in the middle of the road totally fucking naked. Now if that wasn’t a total distraction, then Romano wasn’t sure what was. How was he supposed to concentrate when Memphis was standing there gloriously naked, his golden skin begging for Romano to touch it? His cock instantly filled, but Romano refused to acknowledge his traitorous body. His body may be betraying him, but Romano was pissed beyond belief. He wasn’t going to let Memphis’s sexy ass body that made him want to lick every inch clean sway him.

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“You don’t know where you stand?” Memphis asked incredulously. “I already told you that you were my mate. There’s no question about where you stand.” His brow inched up as Romano tucked his hands over his chest. “Yeah, you told me I was your mate. But am I standing beside you or behind you? That’s the question you need to figure out.” “Why are you so damn impossible?” Memphis asked. “I don’t understand you, Romano. All I’m trying to do is protect my mates.” “No!” Romano shot back. “You’re not trying to protect us. You’re trying to control us. Those are two totally different things.” “How?” Memphis asked. “How am I trying to control you, Romano?” Just then Tabby came walking down the road. Romano threw his arms up into the air, frustrated as hell. Even Tabby didn’t listen. “Damn it.” Tabby came to a stop in front of them, slapping his hands on his hips. “Are you two done being assholes?” Romano actually chuckled at the question. Tabby looked so serious. “Yeah, I’m done. I don’t know about Memphis.” “That was the dumbest damn move I’ve ever seen in my life,” Tabby said. “I think you two are in some sort of competition to see who had the bigger balls. It’s starting to get on my damn nerves. You’re both alpha, big fucking deal. Get over it. If you keep this up, you’re both going to be alone and miserable. I swear to god that both of your egos are so big that it’s starting to suffocate me. There’s no room in that truck for me, both of you, and your egos. Climb in the back,” Tabby snapped as he walked back to the truck and rolled the window up, grasping the steering wheel as he stared straight ahead, his lips twisted to the side. There was no way he was letting Tabby drive. Not after they just picked his ass up from a bar. Breathing a sigh of relief, Romano saw Dino and Sidney driving down the road. He flagged them down and asked his cousin to drive

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them home. There was no way in hell he was sitting up front with Tabby. Romano had never seen him that pissed and he wasn’t going to be around the man until he calmed down. As soon as Dino climbed behind the wheel, Romano could hear the door locks engage. He looked at Tabby and then at Memphis, shocked. “Is he serious?” Memphis shrugged. “I think so.” Romano shook his head as he walked around to the back of the truck, climbing into the bed. He pressed his back into the cab, looking over at Memphis. “Well, are you getting in or what?” Memphis waved a hand at his naked body and then waved at the truck. “Seriously, I have to ride in the back? I’m going to freeze my balls off.” Romano wiggled his brows as he rested his arms on the edge of the bed. “I can keep them warm for you if you want.” He could see the heat instantly shimmer in Memphis’s deep grey eyes. There was no way he could hide his reaction to Romano’s offer as he stood there naked, his cock growing right in front of Romano’s eyes. He heard the window roll down. “Um, maybe Memphis should ride in the front with me,” Tabby said with a whine. Romano chuckled. “I don’t think so. First of all, Dino is up there and I don’t think Sidney would be too happy about that. I wouldn’t be too happy about that either. Secondly, you relegated us to the bed of the truck, remember? I’m the one who’s going to enjoy that boner.” “Well, damn it,” Tabby complained. “I can’t seem to win for losing around here.” “Oh, believe me,” Romano said as he curled his finger at Memphis, indicating that he wanted the naked and hard man to climb into the back. “You’ll be winning big-time once we get back to the house.”

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“Yeah, yeah. But in the meantime, you two are going to be in the back fondling each other.” Tabby pouted. Romano roared with laughter as Memphis hopped into the bed of the truck, cuddling close. “Am I really that controlling?” Memphis asked as Tabby closed the window and Dino pulled onto the road, following behind Sidney. Romano held up his hand up, his index finger and thumb an inch apart. “Maybe just a tad.” Memphis leaned his head back, blowing out a long, tired breath. “You know, I thought after Jackson I could handle anything. I thought I didn’t have any issues. But it seems I do. It seems I have problems I never knew I had before.” “Who’s Jackson?” Romano asked. Memphis shook his head as he grabbed Romano’s hand, twining their fingers together. “It’s a long story. If I’m going to tell you, then I might as well tell Tabby, and I don’t want to repeat the tale twice. So it can wait until we get home.” Home. Memphis kept using that word. He used it with Romano and with Tabby. Was he inviting Tabby and Romano to move in with him? “You still haven’t told me where I stand with you,” Romano reminded Memphis as he traced his thumb over their entwined fingers. “At my side,” Memphis replied as he leaned over and kissed Romano on his cheek. “When I start acting like you need to walk behind me, just kick me in my ass.” Romano chuckled. “I wouldn’t mind doing that since you have one fine-looking ass as it is.” He smiled when he saw the blush creep across Memphis’s face. “Have you ever been in love before?” Romano asked offhandedly. “Never,” Memphis replied. “You and Tabby are the first.” Romano snuck a peek at Memphis from under his lashes, biting his bottom lip. “So you’re admitting that you love me?” he teased. He

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may be teasing Memphis, but Romano was serious about the question. He held his breath as he waited for Memphis to answer. “Well, duh,” Memphis replied as he bumped his shoulder into Romano’s. “Do you think I would be going through all this bullshit if I didn’t love you or Tabby?” Tabby slid the small back window open, smacking Memphis on his shoulder. “I love you, too, babe. You’re both still in big ass trouble when we get home for leaving me and making me sit up front with Dino.” “Hey!” Dino shouted from the front seat. “I’m sitting right here, you know.” Memphis grinned at Romano as they ignored the driver. “I may be bossy and irritating, but I think we both know who the boss truly is.” “You got that right,” Tabby replied. “And as long as both of you remember that, we’ll all get along just fine.” Romano chuckled as he settled back. He had a feeling that they would be able to work out their problems if all three of them survived each other.

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Chapter Ten Tabby bounced from foot to foot, biting his nails as he shook his head. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.” “How do you not know?” Memphis asked with an amused look on his face. “You like to watch. We all know you like to watch, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But you’re going to stand there and tell me you don’t have a choice in who you want to see top?” Tabby threw his hands up into the air as he walked around in a circle naked. The thought of watching these two men fuck turned him on, but he just couldn’t decide who was going to fuck who. Why were they leaving that choice up to him? “Come on,” Romano said seductively. “Do you want to see me fuck Memphis, or do you want to see Memphis fuck me? Either way it goes, you’re going to get fucked, baby.” Tabby slapped his hands onto his hips, tapping out a rhythm with his feet. “Okay, fine. One of you can fuck me. Is that good enough?” Memphis and Romano rolled their eyes. “That’s not answering our question,” Romano pointed out. “Okay, okay, okay, somebody give me a quarter, and I’ll flip for it.” “Seriously?” Romano asked. “Yes,” Tabby answered like a brat. “If you’re going to make me decide, then you can’t complain about how I decide.” “Sounds fair to me,” Memphis said as he reached into his pants and then tossed a coin at Tabby. “Who’s head and who is tails?” Romano asked.

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Tabby snorted. “Another choice you’re handing off to me? You guys call which one is which.” “Memphis has tails!” Romano shouted. “You’re not supposed to call for me,” Memphis said. “Yeah, babe, but you have such a nice tail.” Tabby snickered as he watched Memphis blush. It was amazing to him to see such a strong man turn beet red. He had to admit, it only added to Memphis’s already-sexy features. “Okay, here we go.” Tabby took the quarter, flicked it up into the air, and then grabbed for it, hitting it instead, knocking it to the floor, and watching as it rolled under the bed. He growled, dropping to his hands and knees, chasing after it, trying to get to the quarter. Tabby reached his hand under the bed, feeling around. Just as he curled his fingers around the coin, he felt a wet finger enter him. “Damn, baby, stay just like that,” Memphis’s deep and lust-filled voice growled. “You want me to stay under the bed while you fuck me?” Tabby asked incredulously. “I don’t how that would work,” he called out. “I think it would get complicated and crowded under here.” Tabby could hear Romano chuckling above him. But Tabby soon forgot what they were talking about when another finger entered him. He wasn’t sure which man it was, and right now he didn’t care. All he knew was that those thick, long fingers were filling him, making him pant as his pre-cum dripped to the carpet. His legs spread a little wider as he canted his hips up. To hell with it. If they fucked him under the bed, then they fucked him under the bed. Who cared where either one fucked him just as long as one of them shoved his cock into Tabby’s ass. He wasn’t moving one inch. “Ready to come up here?” Romano asked. “In a minute.” Tabby panted out his answer. He didn’t want the fingers to leave him. They felt too damn good.

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Tabby protested when he felt the fingers leave his ass and then strong hands gripped his hips, pulling him backward from under the bed. He held the quarter up. “I found it!” Both men looked at him strangely, but Tabby ignored them as he threw the coin into the air. This time Romano reached out and grabbed it and then slapped it onto the back of Tabby’s hand. “All right, call it,” Romano said as he lifted his hand away. Tabby glanced down and then smiled widely. “Tails.” His cock got even harder thinking of Romano fucking Memphis into the headboard. He wasn’t going to deny that the thought of watching both men had his cock straining painfully. His pre-cum began to flow from the head of his cock as he licked his lips, shooing his hands, telling the men to get on with it. “He really is a true voyeur.” Memphis chuckled as he grabbed the lube and handed it over to Romano. He glanced behind him, his eyes flickering over Romano. “Just remember to take it easy on me, bub. This is my first time, after all.” Tabby watched as a smirk formed on Romano’s lips. “I got you covered, babe,” Romano said to Memphis as he winked at Tabby. Tabby’s fingers curled around his hard length, his hand beginning a slow and sensuous stroke as Romano opened the tube of lube and wet his fingers. Tabby moved an inch closer, watching as Romano placed one hand on the small of Memphis’s back and the wet finger slowly pushed past the ring of muscles, burying itself deep into Memphis’s ass. Pinching the skin under the head of his cock, Tabby fought to stave off his orgasm at the erotic sight. This was like his own private porno playing out in front of him. Tabby moved in closer, trying to get a better view as Romano slid his thick finger in and out of Memphis’s tight entrance. “Got a good view?” Romano asked as he shifted to the side, gifting Tabby with a full and unobstructed view.

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“Better now,” Tabby said as his hand began to stroke his cock again. “Watch this,” Romano said and then kissed both cheeks of Memphis’s ass before inserting a second finger. “Easy back there,” Memphis called over his shoulder. “Remember, never done this before.” Tabby bit his lip, his hand stilling as Romano scissored his fingers. It was becoming too much. Tabby was going to come, and he knew it. Circling his fingers around the root of his cock, Tabby tightened his grip to prevent his orgasm from exploding as Romano inserted a third finger. Never before had Tabby seen anything like this. He was always on the receiving end, making it impossible for him to witness the erotic play. But there was one thing that Tabby knew. He wanted to see this over and over again. He would never tire of watching these two strong men together. Tabby loved when Memphis and Romano tag-teamed him, but this, this scene right here was well worth the wait of him joining in. Tabby sucked his lip in between his teeth as his fingers tightened even more around the base of his cock as Romano slicked his cock with lube. Romano’s shaft glistened with the lube, making it all the more sensual. The head was an angry purple, telling Tabby that Romano was just as excited as he was. The man’s hands actually shook as he grabbed his cock and pressed the mushroom-shaped head at Memphis’s hole. Romano glanced over at him, and Tabby gave a nod. Romano’s lip lifted into a sexy half smile as he popped the head past the ring. Okay, okay, Tabby couldn’t do this. Oh shit. His orgasm was right at the edge. Tabby slammed his eyes closed, concentrating, stopping his body from erupting.

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“Get under Memphis,” Romano commanded, and Tabby was quick to comply. He knew that if he didn’t get fucked within the next five seconds that he was going to be spurting his cum all over these two. Tabby crawled up onto the bed, smiling up at Memphis as he spread his legs wide. “I should have recorded it,” Tabby said to Memphis. “Fuck if that wasn’t hot!” Memphis had a tight grin on his handsome face as he stared down at Tabby. “I’ll let you know when it gets better.” “As I told Romano, just wait for it.” Tabby felt like he was conducting how-to-get-fucked class with these two. Memphis actually smiled as he leaned forward. “I want you on your hands and knees, Tabby,” Memphis said as he tapped Tabby’s hip. “Turn over.” Tabby was all for that. He wiggled around until he lay on his belly and then jutted his ass into the air. “Good enough?” “Perfect,” Memphis replied. His lips parted and his eyes rolled to the back of his head as Memphis’s thick, long cock entered him. Tabby knew he wasn’t going to last long after witnessing Romano take Memphis for the first time. The image played over and over in his head as all three found a rhythm. Memphis’s cock filled Tabby as he mewled and whined, rocking back onto Memphis’s shaft. Tabby looked over his shoulder to see pure pleasure on Memphis’s face. “Feels good, doesn’t it?” Tabby snickered. Tabby yelped when Memphis smacked him on his hip. “Better than good,” he growled. Tabby couldn’t agree more. Getting fucked was the best feeling in the world, right next to watching someone get fucked—or better yet, watching one of his mates fuck the other. Tabby wasn’t sure which one turned him on more. He grabbed the headboard, holding on as the pace picked up, Memphis’s cock stretching him wide with each rapid thrust. Tabby

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cried out, his cock exploding, his cum erupting and hitting the mattress below him as his hole pulsed out his release. Memphis growled, his teeth biting into Tabby’s shoulder. Tabby cried out once more, another orgasm ripping through him as he felt Memphis pounding his ass with his pelvis. It was almost like Memphis was inside of him, emotionally and mentally. The pleasure was blinding him. Tabby didn’t think he was going to survive this. It was too damn much. He heard Romano roar out his release as Memphis pulled his teeth from Tabby’s shoulder, licking at Tabby’s neck before shouting out his orgasm. Tabby’s limbs gave out as he fell forward, landing in the cooling pool of his cum. Yuck! “I need a shower,” he said to no one in particular, but Tabby was too boneless to move from his spot. He smiled as Memphis scooped him up from the bed and carried him into the bathroom, Romano right behind them. He could so get used to this. **** Rave watched as Federal Agent Monroe pulled his unmarked car in front of the tavern. Zeus had told him that the agent was coming into town. “You must be Monroe. Agent Muldane’s uncle,” Rave said as the agent climbed out of his car. If this was Muldane’s uncle, then this man knew about shifters. Agent Muldane was Harold’s cousin, the agent who had taken care of Craig’s little problem some time ago. Damn, the man looked a little young to be a grown woman’s uncle. What was he, in his late twenties, early thirties? “I wasn’t aware this was a federal case.” The guy grunted as he slammed the car door shut. “But apparently your alpha called in a favor.”

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Rave shrugged, his eyes studying the agent intently. “Zeus has got it like that.” The man snorted. “Zeus may have it like that, but I’m the one that has to travel my ass here to help out with this case.” Rave ignored the irritation in the agent’s voice. He didn’t care too much for the guy being here in the first place. Pack could handle their own without outside interference. Rave wasn’t sure why Zeus called the guy here, but he was told to cooperate so that was what he was going to do. But nobody said he had to like it, and nobody said he had to be nice about it. “I’m supposed to meet Sheriff Jesse DeKalb at Theo’s. Have you seen him?” Rave shrugged. “I’ve seen him.” The agent raked Rave with his eyes, a sneer pulling his lip back. Rave wasn’t impressed. “Do you mind telling me where you’ve seen him?” Rave grinned. “Everywhere.” “Never mind,” Agent Monroe said as he walked into the tavern. Rave chuckled as he followed behind him. Rave loved walking into the tavern. Although he had been here thousands of times, the place always smelled like something was grilling or sautéing and it always smelled like barbecue sauce in here. The smells made him hungry every single time he stepped foot in here. “Are you always this irritating?” Agent Monroe asked over his shoulder. “What day is it?” Rave asked. Agent Monroe waved a dismissive hand at Rave as he walked up to the bar. Rave watched Taz approach Monroe. Taz glanced at Rave curiously before he set his eyes on Monroe. Taz leaned forward, resting his arms on the bar. “Can I help you?” Rave held back the snicker as he took a seat on one of the stools. “I’m looking for Sheriff Jesse DeKalb. He’s supposed to meet me here.”

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“Haven’t seen him yet,” Taz replied. “Have you tried the station?” Monroe rolled his eyes, looking as though he wanted to throttle someone. Rave watched his reactions, his moves, and his body language. He rubbed his jaw as he listened to the man talk. “What the hell is up with you two?” Monroe asked as he glared between Taz and Rave. “I would think that you want this case solved so that these assholes can get out of your town.” “And I think we can handle our own,” Rave snapped. “We don’t need outside help.” “Too fucking bad,” Monroe replied. “It’s not like I volunteered for this shit. I’m here, so deal with it.” He turned toward Taz. “Let me know when Jesse gets here so I can get this taken care of and return to my normal life.” “Get out of here now,” Taz said, “and we’ll take care of it.” “You two are impossible,” Monroe snapped then threw his hands up in the air. “Fine, if you want gunmen running around your town shooting up everybody, that’s on you.” Rave winked at Taz. “I know where Jesse is.” Irritation was tight on Monroe’s face as he placed his hands on his hips. “Where would that be?” Rave jerked his chin toward the door. “Right behind you.” Agent Monroe growled as he turned, and he walked toward Jesse. “Mind telling me what that was about?” Taz asked as Jesse and Monroe walked out of the tavern. “Not really,” Rave replied as he leaned back, resting his elbows on the counter behind him. “That’s a first,” Taz said. “Fine, keep it to yourself. Nobody wants to know about your twisted little reindeer games anyway.” “They’re more than reindeer games, my friend.” “Really?” Taz asked as he leaned in closer. “Okay, I give. You have me curious as hell. Now tell me why you were messing with the agent.”

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“Because,” Rave replied with a smile as he grabbed the beer Taz handed him. He saluted the door with the bottle before taking a long draft and then smacked his lips as he sat the bottle down. “I just wanted to see how much bullshit my mate could take before he exploded.” “You are one truly twisted man, my brother.”

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Chapter Eleven Memphis kept his arms wrapped around Tabby as Agent Monroe talked with Jesse and Zeus in the alpha’s office. He didn’t care much for Monroe, and he didn’t like the fact that their alpha had called outside help to deal with a pack problem. “I want to set up perimeter blocks, here, here, and here,” Monroe said as he tapped the map of Pride Pack Valley laid out on Zeus’s desk. “We already know who we’re after. The lawyer that the bookie killed was working on a case for us. So whether you like it or not”— Monroe turned toward Memphis, his eyes telling Memphis that that agent didn’t care too much for him—“we’re involved.” As Agent Monroe talked over the plan with Zeus, Memphis felt a cold chill race down his spine. Romano had gone to the apartment above the tavern that he had rented to gather his belongings, but his mate was taking too long. Memphis knew Romano hadn’t brought much with him. Hell, as far as he knew, Romano had only a handful of clothes. It shouldn’t have taken over an hour just to pack a few items. “I need to go check on my mate. He’s taking too long,” Memphis said to the men in the room. “When did Romano leave?” Jesse asked. “He’s been gone over an hour,” Memphis answered Jesse. “Shit,” Monroe growled as he and Jesse raced out of Zeus’s office. Memphis was hot on their heels. “Stay with Zeus,” Memphis said to Tabby as he raced for the office door.

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“Hell, no, you are not leaving me behind!” Tabby protested. “He’s my mate, too.” “It’s not safe, Tabby. I’m not trying to command you or control you, but, baby, please listen to me. I don’t know what’s going on, and I would feel much better knowing you were here, safe.” Tabby didn’t look too happy about being left behind, but he finally conceded. “Okay, but if you take over an hour, I’m coming after you.” Memphis took a deep breath, trying to control his nerves. The thought of Tabby coming into the unknown made his gut clench with fear. He snapped his eyes up to Zeus, the alpha giving a slight nod to let Memphis know that Tabby wasn’t going to be allowed to leave the house. “I’ll be back, babe.” Memphis leaned forward, kissing his mate on his soft lips before he rushed out of the office. Memphis kept in mind that Romano had argued the point over and over again about being able to take care of himself. Memphis just wanted to check on Romano. He wasn’t going to lose his mind. He wasn’t going to try and control the situation. Memphis realized that maybe Romano was right. Maybe he was trying to control everything around him. He know knew the need to control everything around him came from being controlled himself. He was fighting inside himself to control the situations around him now. The problem was he was being too controlling. He had to find balance, and he knew Romano and Tabby gave him that balance. Memphis thought he could handle anything after Jackson, and he didn’t think he had any scars. But Memphis had been wrong. All the soldiers had been affected in some sort of way, and Memphis wasn’t the exception like he thought he was. Memphis realized this. Not everyone showed the signs of abuse like Eagle had. Some, like him, didn’t show any signs until mates started popping up, and then Jackson’s abuse reared its ugly head. It was a scary ass thought. Memphis wondered if there were more surprises that would

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surface now that he was mated. But right now Memphis had to push that aside and concentrate on Romano and believe that his mate was safe. There were hired hit men after Romano, after him, and after Tabby. Memphis wanted desperately for all of this chaos to be over. Memphis had seen that the agent and Jesse had already left the driveway. He jumped into his truck, the motor roaring to life as he pulled out of the drive and shot down the road. Worry and gutclenching fear filled Memphis as he drove to town. He wasn’t going to overreact if Romano was fine. Please let Romano be fine. Memphis was going to be casual about the whole situation if his mate was in his apartment packing. He was going to have a cool head. Yeah, right. Who was he kidding? Memphis couldn’t help who he was. But what he could help was how he handled himself. Equal partners. Walk beside each other. He chanted the mantra over and over again as he raced toward the apartment Romano had rented. Memphis’s brows pulled together when he didn’t see Monroe’s or Jesse’s vehicles out front of the tavern. They left before him, which meant they should have been here by now. Where could they have gone? Memphis pulled his truck behind the tavern, parking next to Romano’s truck. Seeing his mate’s truck let him know that Romano was close by. He just prayed his mate was up in his apartment, safe. He cut the motor, staring up at the apartment windows. Memphis didn’t want to rush up there and piss Romano off, making the man think that Memphis didn’t trust his judgment and that Romano couldn’t take care of himself. But he needed to know that his mate was safe.

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Memphis took a deep breath and then reached for the handle of his truck, climbing out. He walked into the kitchen of the tavern, looking around, but saw nothing suspicious. As he walked into the main part of the tavern, Memphis spotted Taz behind the bar. He gave the wolf a slight nod. Taz looked at him curiously, so Memphis walked over. He leaned in close, his eyes flickering around the room as he spoke in a lowered voice. “Romano is taking a long time to gather his things. Have you seen him?” Okay, so he was a chickenshit. Memphis didn’t want to rush upstairs if there was no emergency. Romano had made it very clear about taking care of himself, and Memphis rushing to his rescue kind of nixed that idea. Taz leaned back, shaking his head. “No, I haven’t seen him, Memphis. I haven’t even seen him come in yet.” Memphis forgot his mantra as he shot up the steps and stopped in front of Romano’s door. He ran a hand over his head to steel his nerves and then tried Romano’s door. It was unlocked. This could not be good. Memphis eased the door open quietly, performing a quick head check before stepping inside. The place seemed empty, but he spotted Romano’s belongings still strewn about the apartment. Which meant his mate hadn’t even made it to his apartment. Memphis quickly checked each room and saw that Romano wasn’t there. Shit! He raced back down the steps and into the tavern. Memphis wasn’t sure where to look or where to go. He felt lost, helpless, standing in the middle of the tavern with no clue where to look next. Frustrated, Memphis ran his hands over his head repeatedly, fear like a lead weight sitting in his gut.

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Walking out of the tavern, Memphis climbed back into his truck. He bit his thumbnail as he wondered what he should do next when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to see Romano creeping along the building, his back pressed firmly into the brick wall. Memphis stilled, not moving a muscle as he watched Romano come into his line of sight. What froze Memphis, what truly horrified him, was seeing the man that he had attacked on the side of the road coming in the other direction, his gun aimed at Romano’s head. Unsure of what was taking place or why his mate hadn’t been in his apartment, Memphis knew he had to save his mate. Reaching over, Memphis opened the truck door as quietly as he could when Romano’s head snapped in Memphis’s direction. Their eyes locked. Romano looked confused. Memphis snapped his eyes toward the gunman and then back at Romano. His mate’s eyes followed in the same direction. His eyes widened when he saw the gunman coming his way. Just as Memphis thought his mate was going to die, Agent Monroe and Jesse came around the corner, Monroe’s gun raised. “Freeze,” Monroe shouted. The gunman raised his hands to his shoulders. “Drop your weapon,” Monroe commanded. Memphis was actually impressed. The gunman dropped his gun, Memphis hearing it clattering to the ground. “Kick it away from you,” Monroe said as he moved closer. The gunman complied. “Where’s your partner?” Monroe asked, his gun still aimed at the bastard’s head. “What partner?” the man replied. “Don’t play stupid with me. Where is he?” Monroe snapped. “I have no clue what you’re talking about,” the man argued. “It’s just me.”

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Memphis could tell the man was lying. His eyes scanned the area, but Memphis didn’t see a second man. This worried him. He slid from the truck, closing the door quietly as he stood there. And that was when he saw the second gunman. The guy was on the roof, high-powered rifle aimed down at his mate. Memphis didn’t think. He didn’t have time to think. He only had time to react. Memphis shifted and then leapt toward Romano, knocking his mate onto the ground as a bullet whizzed by his head. Memphis covered his mate’s body as gunfire exploded. The man on the roof fell, landing right next to Romano and Memphis. He whimpered as he nuzzled Romano’s neck. His mate reached up and ran his hands over Memphis’s fur. “It’s cool. We’re fine. You saved my life. Thank you.” Memphis licked a long line from Romano’s jaw to his temple, trying his best to convey how scared he had been. “Now that’s just gross,” Romano complained, squirming underneath him, but never let go of Memphis. He finally backed off, allowing his mate to get to his feet. Romano looked from one man to the other. “Damn, both of them?” Memphis turned his head to see the other gunman lying on the ground in his own pool of blood. “They left me no choice,” Agent Monroe said, looking a bit shook-up. He ran a hand over his face and then turned to leave. “Now I’ll be going after the bookie that killed the lawyer and called the hits.” “Sure, leave me the damn mess to clean up,” Jesse complained. Romano walked over to Agent Monroe, shaking his hand. “Thanks.” Memphis growled. Monroe may have killed the gunmen, saving Romano’s life, but he didn’t like any man touching his mate. Monroe raised both hands in surrender, taking a step back. “No harm, no foul,” he said before turning around and walking away.

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Memphis nuzzled Romano’s hand. When his mate opened his hand, Memphis licked the other man’s scent off of him. “You’re such a jealous bastard.” Memphis sniffed indignantly as he trotted toward the truck, Romano right behind him. When Romano opened the door, Memphis jumped up into the seat. Once they pulled away from the tavern and headed toward home, Memphis shifted. “I wasn’t trying to be controlling,” he quickly defended himself, trying to cut off any pending agreement. “I—” “I know,” Romano cut Memphis’s defense off. He placed his hand on Memphis’s naked thigh. “I’m glad you were there. Thank you.” Memphis nodded, relieved that his mate wasn’t about to get in his ass about his heroic tactics. “By the way…” he said as he placed his hand on top of Romano’s. Romano looked in his direction, curiosity in his eyes. “What?” “Er, Tabby’s not going to be in the best of moods when we get back.” Romano groaned. “What did you do?” Memphis had the decency to blush as he shrugged. “I might have ordered him to stay behind.” Romano chuckled as he shook his head. “This should be interesting.” **** Sometimes Rave was a total fucking idiot. He had taunted his mate, messing with him big-time, for no other reason than to test him. Now Rave stood there in the parking lot of the police station, watching as Agent Monroe opened his car door. He knew that Agent Monroe had to wrap up this case. But as bad boy as Rave always acted, it was hurting to watch his mate leave. “Are you coming back this way?” Rave asked as he shoved his hands into his front pockets and leaned against Monroe’s car. The

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most screwed-up part about this situation was the fact that Rave didn’t even know his mate’s first name. “I hadn’t planned on it,” Monroe said as he leaned over the frame of the driver’s door. “Why? Do you have another case you need me to solve?” he asked with a touch of arrogance. Okay, Rave would miss him, but he also wanted to throttle the guy. But he had to admit, he did have that one coming. “Something like that,” Rave replied. “I’m not following you,” Monroe said as the fingers on his right hand tapped the top of his car. “What exactly does that mean?” Before he knew what he was doing, Rave pulled his hands from his front pockets, walked around the driver’s door, and settled his body between Monroe’s and the car. He cupped his mate’s face, kissing with a hunger that belied his outward calm. Rave was shocked at his own eager response to Monroe’s soft lips. The agent fought him at first, pushing his hands into Rave’s chest, and then began to pull Rave toward him, responding just as hungrily. Pleasure radiated outward as Rave’s cock filled, throbbing painfully as he regretfully broke the kiss, his lungs burning for air. Rave knew he heard a small whimper escape Monroe’s lips as he took a step back, steadying his breath. His eyes locked onto his mate’s wet, kiss-swollen lips. Rave was dying to take them again. Rave wanted to explore every inch of Agent Monroe’s body. He wanted to lick every inch of the man’s flushed flesh. “So again,” Rave said unsteadily. “Are you coming back here?” Agent Monroe pressed his fingers to his lips, looking at Rave like he wanted another kiss. Rave knew he couldn’t do that. It would only make it harder to watch Monroe leave. A smile pulled at his lips as he sat down into his car. “I’ll be back, honey.” Monroe winked at him before closing the car door and driving out of the lot.

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Chapter Twelve Tabby reached into his pocket, making sure he felt the pennies that he had shoved in there earlier. Feeling the coins at the bottom of his pocket, Tabby stepped into the tavern. Damn if he was going to get drunk this time off of two or three beers. He planned on placing a penny on the counter for every beer that he drank. He was going to prove that he wasn’t a lush or an alcoholic. Tabby was going to prove that after drinking only two beers that he got drunk off of his ass. And once he proved that, he was going to find out what in the hell was going on. Okay, Tabby had to admit to himself that maybe he needed to slow down. But something strange was going on and he was going to get to the bottom of things. He walked over to the bar, sitting on one of the stools as the same bartender walked over to him, a tight smile on his face. “Same thing?” the bartender asked. Tabby nodded, determined to prove everyone wrong. “Same thing. One cold beer, please.” He reached into his pocket, grabbing one penny and placing it next to the peanut bowl. Damn if he was going to have all ten pennies on the counter before he got drunk. Something was going on, and Tabby intended to prove that. The bartender walked around the horseshoe-shaped bar, digging into the cooler under the bar to grab a beer. Tabby looked around, seeing who was in the tavern. There were a few men playing pool, some people kicked back in a booth laughing and talking, while

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others sat at the bar watching various sport games on the many televisions. He turned back around when the bartender sat his beer on the counter. “Bottoms up. I’ll have another one ready for you when you finish this one.” Tabby nodded, grabbing the beer as he watched the game. He really wasn’t into sports, but he wasn’t here to watch them either. He was here to prove a point. Tabby enjoyed a beer just like the next guy, but for some reason, his tolerance had dropped down to zero. Within twenty minutes, Tabby had his first beer drank, the bartender immediately replacing his bottle with a fresh one. Tabby reached into his pocket and grabbed another penny, placing it next to the first one by the peanut bowl. He counted that he had two pennies sitting there and noticing that he was already feeling slightly dizzy. By the third beer, Tabby felt drunk as a skunk. He glanced down by the peanut bowl and saw that there were only three pennies. He knew he hadn’t forgotten a penny when he was given a fresh beer. Something was definitely wrong. There was no way three beers should affect him this way. He had been a social drinker his whole adult life, and never before had he gotten shitfaced from three stinking beers! He pushed away from the bar, feeling his stomach roll and lurch. Tabby needed fresh air. Swaying back and forth, Tabby staggered as he made his way to the tavern door. People around him were staring at him openly, some with pity and others with amusement. Tabby didn’t like people looking at him that way. He wasn’t a drunk! When Tabby pushed past the door, Memphis immediately snaked an arm around his waist, hauling Tabby’s smaller frame to his mate’s solidly built body. “We need to talk, mate.”

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Tabby blinked a few times, trying to focus on Memphis’s pretty grey eyes. He smiled as he reached up and patted Memphis on his cheek. “You’re soooo cute,” he said and then giggled. “He thinks you’re cute.” Romano chuckled. Tabby’s head lolled around so he could focus on his other mate. “Hey, you’re cute, too,” Tabby said with a slur. “Gee, thanks.” Romano winked at him, making Tabby blush. “That’s not why we’re here,” Memphis growled at Romano. “But he thinks I’m cute,” Romano teased. It took some hard concentration, but Tabby managed to turn his head back around and look up at the man holding him in his strong arms. “Why are you growling, Mr. Wolfy?” Tabby could hear Romano snickering next to him as Tabby tried his best to stay focused on Memphis’s face. It wasn’t easy. Memphis grimaced. “Because, babe, we need to talk about your drinking problem.” Tabby’s head bounced back and forth as he shook it. “But I don’t have a drinking problem.” Romano ran his hands over Tabby’s cheek, making Tabby lean into the touch. It felt good having two men love him, but he needed to let them know that he wasn’t a stinking drunk. Their opinion of him mattered to Tabby, and he didn’t want either of them looking at him as a lush. Romano’s eyes softened as he smiled gently at Tabby. “Yes, mate, you do.” Tabby tried to push away from Memphis, but the struggle was fruitless. The man was too strong, and Tabby was too drunk. But he shouldn’t be drunk. Not after three stinking beers! He had left the three pennies on the bar inside, and Tabby was determined to get to those copper coins to prove something was

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amiss. He needed his mates to see that he had only drunk three damn beers. “Take me back into the tavern,” Tabby demanded as he waved a hand at the door. Romano shook his head. “I think you’ve had enough.” “No, take me into the tavern.” Tabby’s voice became more solid as he fought to clear his fuzzy head. “I think I need to take you home so you can talk to Max,” Memphis said as he started toward his truck, Tabby in tow. “No!” Tabby protested as he pounded Memphis’s solid chest. “Take me into the tavern. The pennies are in there.” “Pennies?” Romano asked. “Yesss!” Tabby drew out the S longer than he intended to, only further cementing the fact that he was indeed drunk. “He’s telling the truth.” Tabby, along with his mates, turned to see Taz standing in the tavern doorway. “What are you talking about?” Memphis asked. Taz jerked his chin toward Tabby. “He only had three beers.” He knew it! “How can he only have three beers and be drunk like this?” Romano asked as he waved a hand toward Tabby. Yeah. How the hell could he be drunk off of three beers? Tabby wanted an answer to that question. “Come inside,” Taz said to the three men. “There’s something that you should know.” Taz glanced down at Tabby and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Tabby. I didn’t catch it until now. I am truly sorry for treating you as a drunk.” Tabby’s head bobbed up and down as he nodded. “Thanks. But I’m not a drunk.” “I agree,” Taz said as he opened the door, holding it as Memphis carried Tabby inside, Romano following close behind.

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They took a seat at the booth, Memphis still clutching Tabby in his arms as Romano sat across from them. “Now tell us what’s going on,” Romano demanded just as Jesse and Craig walked into the tavern. Tabby saw Taz pause as he waited for the sheriff and deputy to join them. Tabby looked between Jesse and Craig, wondering what was going on. He knew something wasn’t right, and he wanted answers. “I saw Tabby come into the tavern,” Taz began. “So I kept an eye on him as I called you, Memphis.” Memphis gave a nod. “Thanks.” Taz shook his head. “But that’s not the problem. I watched your mate, but I also watched my recently added bartender, Patsy, every time he gave Tabby a beer. What I witnessed was Patsy putting something into the beer before he handed it to Tabby.” “He what!” Romano and Memphis roared at the same time. “I’m not sure what it was,” Taz said and then turned toward Jesse. “You’ll have to take the beer bottle that Tabby drank from and have it examined over at the hospital lab.” Taz glanced back down at Tabby. “But I’m positive I saw him adding something to your drink.” Romano jumped to his feet, stalking toward the bar. Tabby saw the enraged look on his mate’s face as his eyes narrowed in on the bartender. Taz jumped in front of Romano, stopping him as Jesse walked around the bar and handcuffed Patsy. “What in the hell are you doing?” Patsy demanded as Jesse brought him back around to the booth. “This is about you drugging one of my patrons’ drinks,” Taz replied, pushing at Romano’s chest to hold him back. Tabby grinned at the way Romano was defending him, ready to tear a new asshole in the bartender. God, the man was hot! “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Patsy claimed his innocence. Tabby rolled his eyes.

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“No?” Taz asked as a thick brow arched. “You are aware I have closed-circuit cameras in this place?” Patsy’s face paled as he glanced around. Tabby looked as well, spotting a few cameras above the bar. One was facing the register, and another was facing the stools where Tabby had been sitting. “I do have proof of you putting something into Tabby’s drinks. I’m sure the lab at the hospital will identify what it is.” “You lousy son of a bitch!” Patsy shouted at Tabby. Tabby had no clue what he had done to the guy. The only thing he had ever done was come in to have a drink…or three. They barely spoke, and the two never really had a conversation. He couldn’t think of anything he had done to offend the man. “What did I do to you?” Tabby asked as he lay in Memphis’s arms. He rubbed his temples, trying his best to clear away the fog that shrouded his brain. “I saw him first!” Patsy jerked his chin toward Romano. “And then your whorish ass had to fuck him right out back of the tavern. What chance did I have then?” “So you drugged him?” Romano roared. Patsy shrugged, looking unrepentant. “I figured that if I made him look like a drunk, a lush, a fall-down disgrace, that you wouldn’t want him or be interested in him.” Patsy laughed bitterly, his eyes taking on the look of a true madman. Tabby couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This bastard was actually drugging his damn drinks. If he wasn’t so damn drunk right now, he would get up and kick the man’s sorry and pathetic ass. “But lucky me”—Patsy sneered as he continued, shooting daggers at Romano—“you had to be one of those dumbass men that fell for a fucking drunk. What did you think, you could save him?” “I think I’ve heard enough,” Jesse said as he starting pushing Patsy toward the door.

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Taz turned toward them as Romano’s and Memphis’s eyes followed Patsy as Jesse and Craig led the bartender away, both glaring menacing daggers at the man. “Sorry about all of this,” Taz said. “I had no clue the man was a nut job. It seems I need to hire someone to hire someone. My judgment in employees sucks. You know I was handed this mess, Memphis.” Taz chuckled. “Had I known, I would have kicked the shit out of his sorry ass from day one. Free beers for you, Tabby.” “Forever?” Tabby asked. “You got it, buddy.” Tabby wanted to raise his hands and clap them because he had proven that he wasn’t a drunk. If he could only feel where they were. Memphis pushed from the booth, carrying Tabby toward the door, Romano at their side. “By the way,” Memphis said as they walked outside. “Jesse tells me he had to fire the cop that groped you. It seems the guy came back from leave only to repeat his offense with another prisoner. But this time Jesse caught him in the act.” Tabby felt horrible that someone else had to feel that slimeball’s hands on them, but he was glad the guy was no longer in a position to abuse his power of authority. He settled back on Memphis’s lap as Romano drove them home. “Told you I wasn’t a drunk.” “But you do need to slow down, mate,” Memphis said as he pulled Tabby tighter to his chest. “You may not be a drunk, but you’re heading down that road pretty damn fast.” Tabby nodded as he rested his head against Memphis’s chest. “I know. Trust me, I know. I’ll be slowing down to a crawl.” “How about you let it go for a while?” Romano asked. “Believe me, Memphis and I have better things you can do with your time.” “Perv,” Tabby teased but knew Romano was right. “Fine, I’m giving up my beer.”

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“Thank you,” Memphis said as he kissed the top of Tabby’s head. Tabby grinned. He’d rather have these two men any day over a beer. Fuck it, he was going to be sober now. To hell with counting how many he had. Zero sounded like a good number to him. **** Romano looked around the room, seeing his belongings littering Memphis’s bedroom. He had made the choice to move his business to Pride Pack Valley to be with his mates. Memphis and Tabby were on the bed, wrestling around, laughing with each other. Every time he looked at the two, his stomach gave the strangest flip as he felt the love and the bond between them grow. How he had lucked out with the two most handsome men he’d ever seen, Romano would never know. The attraction and desire he felt for both men immediately made itself known as his cock thickened while Romano watched the two naked men roll around. “I pinned him. I pinned him,” Tabby shouted with glee. Romano snickered. He knew Memphis had let Tabby win, but the joy on Tabby’s face made them both smile as Memphis winked at Romano. It was a reaction like no other he had ever experienced. Romano wanted that smile, that joyous bliss on Tabby’s face forever. “I give,” Memphis conceded as he tapped his hand on the mattress. “You won, babe.” Tabby air pumped his arms. “I kicked your butt. I kicked your butt,” he sang out triumphantly. Romano crossed the room, skimming his hands over Tabby’s small mounds. “I’d like to do something to this butt,” he said as his fingers trailed down the valley between Tabby’s globes, his finger tapping at Tabby’s entrance. Tabby groaned, canting his hips into the air. “You can do whatever you want to it.” Oh, Romano planned to.

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“And I plan on doing something with that fine ass,” Memphis said, employing his best puppy dog expression toward Romano, making Romano smile in delight. He wasn’t going to deny the fact that it felt damn good having Memphis’s cock buried deep in his ass, and he was looking forward to feeling it again. A devious smirk played on his lips as he grabbed the lube and tossed it on the bed. Tabby seemed to bounce with excitement, his eyes ablaze as he rolled, giving Romano room to climb between the two. With a feral smile, Romano swallowed Tabby’s straining erection. Tabby shouted as Romano pushed his smaller mate’s legs back toward his slim chest, engulfing Tabby’s entire length. “Ah fuck,” Memphis said from beside them. “Now I see why Tabby likes to watch. That is one hot ass scene.” Romano chuckled around Tabby’s throbbing shaft. His tongue slid from root to tip, suckling at the head as he felt Memphis behind him, stretching him. His eyes flew up to Tabby as the smaller man smiled down at him, his eyes hooded. “Suck it harder,” Tabby said as his fingers curled around Romano’s ear, tugging slightly, encouraging Romano to take him at his word. Romano’s lips formed a tight suction around Tabby’s length. “Yes, yes. That’s it,” Tabby cried out as his hips shot forward. He could feel the wiry blond curls at his nose as his mate’s cock slid down his throat. Romano began to hum, knowing that he was intensifying Tabby’s pleasure as his fingers stretched his mate, who writhed underneath him. Tabby mewled as small spurts of pre-cum shot to the back of Romano’s mouth. He drank it down as his tongue swirled around, sucking out even more of the erotic nectar. He stilled when he felt Memphis’s cock enter him.

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Memphis was gentle but insistent as he worked his cock into Romano’s ass, inch by excruciatingly pleasurable inch. Romano glanced up when he felt Tabby tapping on his cheek. “You have to fuck me, and you have to fuck me now because I’m not going to last much longer.” Romano released Tabby’s length as his smaller mate scooted down the bed, situating himself perfectly under Romano. Tabby hooked his hands behind his knees, pulling his legs to his chest, showing Romano his tight, glistening, and pulsing entrance. He damn near shot his load from the sight alone. “Take him now,” Memphis warned, “because I’m just as close as he is.” Romano quickly lined his aching shaft to Tabby’s wet hole and then pushed in to the root. Tabby cried out, his head thrashing from side to side as a low and husky groan sounded in Romano’s ear. “Damn, he sounds good,” Memphis said as he slammed forward, shoving his cock deeper into Romano’s ass. “Fuck him. Fuck me,” Memphis begged as he leaned back. Romano propelled his hips forward and then thrust his ass back, impaling his ass on Memphis’s thick manhood. Each thrust, each cant drove Romano closer and closer to falling over the edge. Tabby’s widespread thighs shivered and shook as Romano pounded his giving flesh. “Romano,” Tabby gasped as he was raised and lowered by Romano’s demanding body. “Do it, Tabby,” Romano growled. “I want to see you come all over me.” His words barely left his lips as Tabby cried out, his hot seed shooting between the two of them, painting both their bodies with his release. Romano couldn’t hold out, the pulsing hole milking his cock as he rammed his shaft deeply into Tabby’s ass, his seed bathing his mate’s tight channel.

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He nearly came unglued when Memphis bit into his shoulder, pinning him as Memphis’s pelvis jetted forward, his cock hammering into Romano’s sore and tender flesh. Romano wrapped his arms around Tabby, raising his hips higher, giving Memphis what he needed as his mate took his pleasure from Romano’s body. Memphis soon released Romano, licking the wound closed as a loud and sensual roar filled the room, indicating Memphis’s release. Romano, Memphis, and Tabby collapsed on the bed, all three trying desperately to pull in lungs full of air. He smiled as one of his hands landed on Memphis’s hips, the other arm still curled around Tabby’s body, knowing in what started out as a place to hide, Romano had found his two true loves. And there was no doubt that Romano loved both Memphis and Tabby with every beat of his heart. His flight to Pride Pack Valley had given him more than just a place to hide. It had given him the two men beside him, who Romano would fight to protect with his last breath. No matter how much Memphis fought for control.

THE END WWW.LYNNHAGEN.COM HTTP://FACEBOOK.COM/LYNNHAGEN.MANLOVE HTTP://LYNNHAGEN.BLOGSPOT.COM HTTP://GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/GROUP/LYNNHAGEN

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart. You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.

Also by Lynn Hagen Ménage Everlasting ManLove: Zeus’s Pack 1: Jasper Ménage Everlasting ManLove: Zeus’s Pack 2: Avanti Ménage Everlasting ManLove: Zeus’s Pack 3: Knox Ménage Everlasting ManLove: Zeus’s Pack 4: Torem Ménage Everlasting ManLove: Zeus’s Pack 5: Hunter Ménage Everlasting ManLove: Zeus’s Pack 6: Sully Ménage Everlasting ManLove: Zeus’s Pack 7: Bald Eagle

For all other titles, please visit www.bookstrand.com/lynn-hagen

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