CHAPTER THREE
Casey was half asleep and half awake, desperately trying to understand what was happening to him.
Someone found them, and they were being carried.
Kyle was there. Kyle wasn’t awake. He heard the man speaking to him, asking his name, touching his face, and it felt nice. The fog in his brain was too thick.
He could feel that he was lying in a bed, covered with a blanket.
Kyle was there; he could hear him breathing, but he had no idea where he was or why.
Someone was talking; it was the man he was with.
His voice was smooth, easing his fears and the tension cramping his muscles.
This man, whoever he was, gave him peace simply with his presence.
It was likely a hallucination or dream, but it was comforting, and he really needed comfort right now.
He tried again to reach the surface to pull out of the dream state that was holding him, but he could not.
Utterly frustrated, Casey resigned to rest, catch his breath, and listen to the room.
He wasn't afraid of anything in his environment, so he was resolved and eased back, letting go of the tension that had gripped him.
Bram could feel the agitation coursing through Casey.
It was obvious that he was trying to force himself awake.
Bram took his hand and spoke to him softly, trying to calm him.
Gradually, the tension eased, and he could feel himself drifting back under.
There came a quick, hard knock at the door, and Bram called for them to come in.
He kept his eyes on his beloveds to see if the sound of others in the room would bring them around, but so far, they remain asleep.
The doctor immediately went to the bedside and started checking Kyle. Bram remained close by, feeling intensely possessive. "You lucky dog." Rainey patted his shoulder and then pulled him in for a side hug. “First day on patrol and you walk away with not one but two beloveds.”
“It was quite the shock," Bram remarked while never taking his eyes off the doctor and his beloveds.
The doctor finished with Kyle, administering a few shots, and then walked to the other side of the bed and did the same with Casey.
“Casey and Kyle, I don't know their last names or anything about them, really, apart from being found unconscious in the woods.”
“You said there were two older men with them when you first spotted them.” Rainey prompted.
“Yes, they were out there earlier as well.
I saw them, just the two older men, around three this morning, walking, talking, and pointing as if planning their hunt.
I couldn't make out what they were saying apart from one statement.” Bram thought about that for a moment, then turned his attention to Rainey as he spoke.
“One of them said it was too bad the winery didn’t shoot trespassers; it would make everything so much easier." He paused. “I thought they were just cocking off.”
"Maybe they were making plans," Rainey spoke Bram’s thoughts, glancing over at the men lying motionless on the bed.
"Yes," Bram remarked softly. “Why would they leave them on their own?”
“Who drugged them?” Rainey added.
“Exactly.” Bram let out a slow breath. “So many questions and so few answers.”
“I’ll head out and see if I can find the men who were with them," Rainey said, and Bram gave him a description of what they were wearing and how they looked. The doctor stepped away from the bed and started to speak.
“As you suspected, they have been drugged. I believe it started yesterday and has been building up in their systems. The water was contaminated as well. I believe it is phenobarbital. I’ll let you know for sure when I have it tested.
” The doctor was sympathetic but also clear and concise with his findings.
"They just need to sleep it off, and they should be fine.
" That was the information Bram was hoping for.
"If they'd remained out there,” he gestured outside, “in the cold and wet, things would not have gone well for them.
They may not have survived, considering how cold it gets at night.
" That comment hit Bram hard, and his hands became tight fists at his sides.
“Should I do anything other than watch over them?” He asked and walked over to stand at the side of the bed.
“It could get a bit rough in an hour or so as their bodies purge this toxin. They will sweat and possibly convulse, but they will be okay. Just hold them and make them as comfortable as you can." The doctor left with instructions to call him if anything changed.
Bram received a call from Truce just after the doctor had left. Bram sat back down next to the bed and took Casey and Kyle’s hands in his. He needed the contact and the close proximity. “Hello, what did you find out?” He prompted.
“I searched everyone staying at the Jack Pine Lodge last night and found your two beloveds, Casey and Kyle Cork; they're brothers, but you already know that.” He gave a short laugh.
“They were checked into room 104 by their stepfather, who was also there. His name is Bradly Stillman, who occupied room 123 along with another man, an unknown relation named Hank Avenly. All four of them are from Ann Arbor.”
“Bradley and Hank were the other two men in the woods.” He had no idea what was going on, but he wasn't going to let those guys anywhere near his beloveds.
"Yes, most likely. They're here on a hunting trip, according to what was heard and observed at the Lodge.” Truce paused for a minute before continuing. "I’ll see what I can find on them and get back with you.”
“Thanks.” He said and closed the call.
He stood, slipped off his jacket, and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. The two of them lay there like absolute angels, so peaceful, so beautiful, so perfect. Unable to resist, he traced his fingertips down the side of Casey's cheek and then did the same to Kyle.
They were twins and nearly identical, but there were differences, such as the deep crease between Kyle's eyebrows and the deep laugh lines around Casey's mouth. They spoke to their personalities and dispositions, which Bram looked forward to learning more about.
He noticed the discomfort hit Casey first, squirming, groaning, and shaking uncontrollably, then it was Kyle.
Bram kicked off his boots and grabbed another blanket before getting into bed with them.
He lay between them, his arms around them, pressing them tightly to him.
The shaking was violent at first, but he held them close, talking to them, calming them with his voice and his touch.
They held onto him, digging their fingers into his sides and burying their faces into his shoulders and chest. They were attracted to reaching out to him for comfort, even if they were not fully aware of what they were doing.
They could sense the connection between them and were looking to him for peace and safety.
It was after four in the morning when they started to come around, although they'd done a lot of talking through the night, little of it was intelligible.
They spoke of cutting grass and finding melons, none of which made any sense, but they kept answering each other.
One of their nonsensical discussions had captured his attention and brought a fully satisfied smile to his face.
Kyle mumbled that the man was heavenly and pressed his nose against Bram’s throat and kissed him. It was a kiss that went straight to Bram’s core and softly exploded through his system. Then Casey rambled that he tasted good and licked Bram’s cheek several times, eliciting a delicious shiver.
The attraction was definitely coming through. Their hands were a story all on their own, running from his thighs to his upper chest and everywhere in between. Their needy, explorative touch was affecting him, but he forced himself to remain settled even as his true nature fought to take over.
They were small, rather delicate men, and just perfect for Bram.
They were soft and beautiful, and Bram could not take his eyes off them.
Fate was generous beyond measure, and he would honor and treasure this gift forever.
He kept running that thought over and over in his mind as he resisted the fire they were stoking and what his body was craving.
Around seven, they started to wake in earnest. It was Kyle first who stirred and lifted his head to stare at Bram.
He then looked over at his brother, who was still asleep with his head on Bram's other shoulder.
“I know you, but I don't know who you are," Kyle said and then looked embarrassed by the contradiction in his sentence. Bram understood him.
"Familiar stranger," Bram said with a gentle smile. Kyle nodded, and they both looked over at Casey as he, too, began to wake. His expression of confusion was similar to Kyle’s.
"Who are you, not that I'm complaining or anything." He smiled, trailing his hand down Bram’s chest and placing a kiss behind his ear, and then, suddenly, the tension broke, and they all chuckled softly. Bram tightened his arms around them, and they tucked into his warm, welcoming body.
“I’m Bram Ferdinand, a security guard with the Cabot Winery.
I was patrolling the border, making sure no arrant hunters were trespassing, when I noticed something was off.
When I investigated, I found you, Casey, at the base of a tree, barely conscious, and you were asking me to find your brother.
” He felt them tighten their arms around his waist, holding on as they listened.
Their distress was clear, but it had nothing to do with him.