Chapter Eight
CRANK HATED himself for being so mean-spirited. Everyone in the house was buoyed by the news that Brick and Aric had finally made contact with Seth, even if it was in a dream. And while Crank smiled and congratulated them, while he said all the right things, only one thought consumed him.
I miss Vic.
He wasn’t used to this. His adult life thus far had been a series of hot encounters, one-night stands, maybe the occasional relationship that lasted two or three months, tops. Having someone whose absence left a gaping hole in his existence was new.
What shocked him even more was how quickly Vic had become a part of him, as vital as a limb, and how much Crank yearned to have him back where he belonged—in Crank’s arms.
In their bed.
Close enough to hear him breathing, to smell him.
He stood at the patio doors, staring out at the lake, recalling some of their many swims, him and Saul frolicking in the water, hurtling through it as they held on to Vic’s fin.
Video calls might have been meant to bridge the distance, but for Crank all they did was emphasize how far apart they were.
Behind him, Aric retold the events of the previous night for maybe the third time. Crank couldn’t blame him for that. It sounded amazing, and Crank was overjoyed for them.
He was also jealous as fuck.
What would I give to hear Vic in my head right now?
Except Vic was on his way to Europe, putting even greater distances between them. Crank couldn’t deny he’d achieved a helluva lot in the short time he’d been away. The coalition force was growing by the day, and that was down to Vic. But that didn’t lessen the ache inside him.
A hand touched his lower back. “I miss him too. You’ve still got me, though.”
Crank turned his head to gaze at Saul. He smiled. “Thank God for that.”
He meant every word. Saul had also become part of his life, a rock Crank could cling to. I never thought I needed anyone.
Vic and Saul had proved him wrong.
Saul leaned closer. “If you don’t make a move soon, you’re going to miss out on Mrs. Landon’s cookies. They’re disappearing fast.”
“Fuck that.” Crank lived for her baking, even though he had to work out twice as hard to keep the pounds from piling on. He hurried over to the kitchen table, where Brick, Aric, Dellan, Horvan, Rael, Hashtag, and Roadkill sat, the plastic box in the center emptying before his eyes. Crank grabbed a couple of the raisin cookies, then handed one to Saul.
“Be thankful you did that,” Saul muttered. “You wouldn’t have liked the consequences.”
Crank rolled his eyes. “Gee, I’m so scared. What would you have done?”
Saul’s lips brushed his ear. “Put you over my knee and spanked your ass.”
His dick gave a twitch.
Brick leaned back in his chair. “So how come we can hear our mates’ thoughts?”
Rael chuckled. “Don’t ask us. We don’t know how it works any more than you do.”
“We’re just glad it does,” Dellan added before biting into a cookie.
“Well, most of the time, we’re glad.” Horvan arched his eyebrows when both Rael and Dellan jerked their heads in his direction. “Oh, come on. When you two are in heat—”
Dellan coughed. “Male felines don’t experience heat.”
“Maybe it’s a territorial thing,” Rael suggested.
Horvan rolled his eyes. “Okay, then, when you two ‘feel territorial’”—he air-quoted—“it can get pretty—”
“Hot?” Rael offered.
“Sexy?” Dellan’s eyes sparkled.
Horvan snorted. “I was thinking more along the lines of exhausting.”
Roadkill cackled. “Some of us would love to be in your shoes. So don’t expect sympathy.”
Horvan stroked his chin. “Maybe Doc Tranter knows.”
“Why him?” Saul asked.
“Because he usually knows more than we do. You can always give him a call and ask.”
“That’s a call I wouldn’t mind overhearing,” Crank confessed.
“Then let’s do it.” Horvan gestured to Hashtag’s laptop. “Do your stuff.”
Hashtag tapped on his keyboard. “Calling him now.” A moment later, he smiled. “Hey, Doc, you got a minute?”
Doc’s voice emerged from the speaker. “For you? Several minutes. What’s up?”
“Hang on.” Hashtag turned the laptop so everyone could see.
The first thing that struck Crank was the fatigue etched across Doc’s face, appearing more strongly in the late afternoon sun that lit up his study.
“You okay, Doc?” Horvan clearly saw it too.
Doc waved a hand. “I’m not sleeping too well, that’s all. And before one of you says ‘Physician, heal thyself’ and suggests I self-medicate with sleeping pills? Don’t waste your breath. I hate those things. Now… what can I do for you?”
“We’re discussing telepathic connections between mates,” Horvan told him. “Brick and Aric connected with their mate, Seth, last night for the first time, in a dream.”
“That sounds familiar. Didn’t Dellan do the same thing with Rael?” Doc asked.
“Yeah, that’s right, he did.” Rael gave Dellan a smile as bright as the sunlight that poured into the kitchen.
“I see. Then I’m happy for you, Brick, Aric—” Doc gave a tired smile. “—but all I can tell you is… it works.”
Crank burst out laughing. “Yeah, thanks for that, Doc. Really informative.”
Brick let out a noise of pure frustration. “But Doc… how does it work?”
Doc’s salt-and-pepper whiskers were stark against his pale skin, and Crank estimated he’d lost about twenty pounds since the raid on the Bozeman camp.
Not sleeping my ass . There was more to this than Doc seemed willing to share.
Doc cleared his throat. “Until recently, no one even understood the concept of mates . As far as telepathy is concerned, there are theories, but no one has any definitive answers. It could be biological, psychological, or, hell, even mystical.” He gave an apologetic shrug. “I’m sorry, but it’ll take people far smarter than we are to suss out an answer. For now, at least for me, it’s enough that it does work.” He peered at Brick. “I’m sure you’re grateful for it.”
Brick smiled. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Horvan, are we any closer to locating more Geran camps?”
Horvan let out a wry chuckle. “No, Doc, we are not. The well of information seems to have run dry. Vic’s met with dozens of Fridan leaders in the last week, and he’s going to meet with more. The coalition is growing.”
Crank loved the note of confidence in Horvan’s voice.
“Then all we need is somewhere to deploy these ever-growing forces. And when we do?” Doc straightened in his chair. “I want in, Horvan. Okay? Include me on any medical teams.”
“You sure?”
Doc huffed. “It worked out well with the raid on the camp in Bozeman, didn’t it?”
“More than okay. We couldn’t have dealt with all those people without you.”
“Then that settles it.” His gaze focused on Horvan. “I want to do my part.”
Horvan nodded. “I’ll let Duke know.”
Doc gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“Hey, Doc?” Brick turned the laptop toward him. “You knew Jake Carson, right?”
Doc’s smile widened. “Yes indeed. He was a dear friend, both him and his wife, Miranda.”
“Well, he’s still alive. He’s with his son Seth—mine and Aric’s mate.”
Doc’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful news. Thank you for that. You’ve just made my day.”
“Take care, Doc,” Horvan said. “I’ll be in touch when I have news about the next mission.”
“I’ll be waiting for your call.” Doc disconnected, and the screen went black.
Horvan helped himself to another cookie, and Rael coughed. Horvan grinned. “Don’t worry. I’m sure you can think of a way to help me burn off the calories.”
“Several ways,” Dellan murmured. He gave Horvan a hard stare.
Crank had never thought to see the day when Horvan appeared discomfited, but those flushed cheeks were a revelation.
Horvan’s phone pinged, and he glanced at it. “Saul? Hashtag? Duke says he’s lined up recruits for you to interview. You’ll be starting next week.”
Saul frowned. “Not here, surely.”
Crank snorted. “Of course it won’t be here. And don’t call him Shirley.”
Aric’s brow furrowed. “I don’t get that. Is it supposed to be a joke?”
Brick leaned across and kissed the top of his head. “You don’t get it because you’re too young to have even seen the movie Crank’s referring to, and because Crank’s an old fart.”
Crank glared. “Hey. Less of the old, if you please.” He smirked. “I can’t comment on the fart bit, though.”
“Much as I hate to interrupt this banter,” Horvan hollered, and the room fell silent. “Thanks. The interviews will take place at the new barracks. The fewer visitors we have here, the better.”
Crank frowned. “Still not sure about this, H. Why the hell would we let Gerans join forces with us?”
Roadkill gaped. “What the fuck?”
Horvan rolled his eyes. “Don’t give me that surprised act. We talked about this in the transport home from the last mission, remember?”
“I must’ve blotted it out.” Roadkill narrowed his gaze. “You know, dismissed it as a bad dream?”
“More like a nightmare,” Crank muttered. He peered at Saul. “Be careful, okay? You don’t know what’s in a person’s mind. They could be a plant. They could be trying to infiltrate us.”
Saul snorted. “Gee, that hadn’t occurred to me.”
“Hey, Crank?” Rael gazed at him with obvious amusement. “Ever heard the saying ‘Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs’? All that military experience you have?” He pointed at Saul. “ He has just as much. Saul knows what he’s doing.”
“Hey, what am I? Chopped liver?” Hashtag retorted.
Saul patted him on the back. “No, Peppermint Paté, you’ll be there because I trust your judgment.”
Crank frowned. “I don’t get it.”
Hashtag said nothing, but his face glowed.
Damn, Saul’s good with people. Crank’s chest swelled with pride.
“And now I need to go work off all that sugar,” Saul announced. “If anyone wants me, I’ll be in the gym.”
“Isn’t that a bit excessive? I only gave you one cookie,” Crank remonstrated.
Rael cackled. “Sure, but he’d already eaten three before that one. And a slice of Mrs. Landon’s coffee and walnut cake.”
Crank glared, and Saul made a run for the door. “Your ass is mine when I catch you,” he yelled after Saul.
“Promises, promises,” Saul shouted back.
And now that he came to think about it, the prospect of Saul pumping iron, covered in sweat, muscles rippling and thighs bulging?
“Wait for me. I’m coming too.” Crank followed him, heading down to the gym in the basement.
“We don’t need to know that part!” Hashtag hollered amid laughter from the others.
A thought slipped into Crank’s mind, and he sighed.
Vic would’ve watched. Hell, he’d have brought popcorn.
CRANK LAY on the bed, naked, enjoying the warm breeze that wafted in through the open window, playing over his skin. Saul had just finished his shower by the sound of it, which only meant one thing.
It was time to fuck.
Since Vic’s departure, they’d gotten hot and heavy a couple of times, but it had mostly been reciprocal blow jobs, which was fine by Crank. He was fast becoming an oral addict, and every encounter became a challenge to see how much of Saul’s girth he could take.
Crank was always up for a challenge, and with Saul around, his dick was permanently up.
“Are you gonna put some clothes on, or do you intend going to dinner like that?”
Crank glanced toward the doorway where Saul stood, rubbing himself with a towel. “It’s a thought,” he quipped. “I don’t mind showing off what God gave me.” He gave his dick a lazy tug.
Saul walked slowly to the bed, his gaze drifting up and down Crank’s frame. “You’ll only make ’em jealous.” He tossed the towel onto a chair and climbed onto the mattress, which dipped with his weight. Saul crooked his finger. “Come here.”
Crank knelt up, and to his surprise, Saul put his arms around him and drew him close, ignoring Crank’s erect cock. Their lips met, and a shiver trickled down his spine.
Something’s different.
Saul kissed him, slow and sensual, while he stroked Crank’s back, one hand going lower to squeeze his asscheek. He dipped a finger in Crank’s crease, rubbing it over his hole, and Crank’s shivers multiplied.
“I hate it when Vic’s away,” Saul murmured against his lips. Then he pulled back. “But then I realized… you and me? We’ve never been alone before.”
A frisson of excitement swept through Crank. “No, we haven’t.”
“And Vic did say he wanted us to get to know each other,” Saul added.
Crank snorted. “If I remember correctly, the exact term he used was ‘manhandle.’” Saul kissed his neck, and Crank let out a low moan, his dick rising, harder than ever. “This doesn’t feel like manhandling.”
“Good.” Saul’s breath tickled the delicate skin around Crank’s ear. “Because I had something else in mind.” He met Crank’s gaze. “On all fours, sweetheart.”
Crank arched his eyebrows. “ Sweetheart ?”
Saul nodded slowly. “Don’t argue. Do it, facing the pillows.”
Crank turned himself around, hands and knees planted on the mattress. A groan escaped him when Saul spread his cheeks and licked a leisurely path over his pucker. Crank rocked a little, wanting more.
Saul chuckled. “Patience. We’re not in any hurry, and I wanna enjoy you.”
Crank bowed his head, his eyes closed as he relished Saul’s tongue dancing over his hole. “You can do that all fucking day as far as I’m concerned.”
Saul laughed. “Yeah, I’d noticed that about you. You sure love getting rimmed, don’t you?” Then he resumed his licking, and Crank reached back to urge him deeper.
Fuck, this was amazing. The wet sound of Saul sucking Crank’s balls, sucking his cock, probing Crank’s hole with his tongue…. All of it conspired to send Crank’s need into the stratosphere.
“Toss me the lube,” Saul instructed.
Crank grabbed it from the nightstand and held it out to him. He stared at the headboard. “You know what this needs? A mirror.”
He wanted to watch Saul pleasuring his hole.
Saul’s rough chuckle sent vibrations through him. “We’ll have to see what we can do. Something to bear in mind, though, when we get our own place.” He leaned over Crank, his chest warm against Crank’s back. “I was thinking more along the lines of mirrors on the ceiling.”
Crank opened his mouth to tell him fuck yeah , but the words were lost when Saul smacked Crank’s hole with the heavy, slick head of his dick.
“Ready for me?”
Crank twisted to stare at him. “I was ready when you strolled out of the bathroom.”
Saul smiled. He gave a gentle push of his hips, his hands gripping Crank’s waist as he eased his shaft into him. Saul leaned over to kiss the back of Crank’s neck.
“Fuck, that feels good,” he whispered. “Tight, but good.”
Crank gasped. “I thought tight was always good.”
Saul tilted Crank’s head back, his hand on Crank’s throat, and they kissed, lingering kisses that served as the perfect accompaniment to Saul’s unhurried movement in and out of his body.
Crank loved it when Saul went to town on his ass. He loved it when Saul pounded him into the mattress.
Saul’s languid thrusts and sensual kisses took Crank’s pleasure to new heights.
“Roll over,” Saul told him.
Crank flipped onto his back, and Saul raised his legs into the air, rolling his ass up off the bed and holding on to Crank’s ankles as he filled his hole with that thick cock. Saul gazed into Crank’s eyes, his face framed by Crank’s calves as he drove his dick all the way home.
Then Saul paused. “How does that feel?”
“Fucking awesome.” Crank’s voice cracked. He waited for Saul to sit back, to fuck him the way he usually did, both of them ending up covered in sweat.
Except it didn’t happen.
Saul covered Crank with his body and kissed him while he slid in and out, like they had all the time in the world. Crank held on to Saul with his legs, making him a prisoner, desperate to prolong this blissful experience that went far beyond their usual sexual encounters.
What made it all the headier were the smoking-hot looks Saul gave him as he made love to him, the constant kissing, the touching, the emotion in every gasp, every cry.
He was connected to Saul, body, mind, and soul. And in that moment, Crank knew he truly loved his mates.
Saul raised himself up on his hands. “I’m close, but I want you with me when I come.”
Crank could only manage a nod before Saul picked up speed, and then both of them were hurtling toward the precipice, their breathing harsh, their chests heaving, Saul’s thrusts short and quick. Crank groaned as Saul filled him to the hilt, reveling in the delicious throb of Saul’s cock inside him. It was enough to push him into his own orgasm, warmth pulsing onto his belly, his body trembling.
Saul lowered his head and kissed him, his cock still wedged in Crank’s ass. He locked gazes with him. “That wasn’t exactly manhandling, was it?”
Crank smiled. “Fuck no. It was way better.”
“So it’s okay if we do this again?”
He chuckled. “More than okay.” Saul eased out of him, and Crank was aware of feeling emptier than he’d ever done before. Saul stretched out beside him, and they kissed and touched, kissed and stroked, talking in low voices, neither of them, it seemed, in any hurry to get dressed.
Crank could get to like this.
“Vic will be calling us in a few hours,” he murmured.
Saul kissed him. “We get to do this all over again, show Vic what he’s missing.” His eyes sparkled. “You never know, that might bring him home to us all the faster.” A soft sigh rolled out of him. “I know things were a little… prickly when you and I first met.”
Crank cackled. “And the rest.”
“Vic telling me we were mates? I have to admit, it knocked the wind right out of my sails.”
“And now?”
Saul cupped Crank’s chin. “Now, I couldn’t imagine my life without you. Either of you.”
Crank cradled Saul’s head in his hands. “Ditto.” He kissed Saul on the lips, a sweet, lingering kiss that seemed the perfect end to their coupling.
Never thought I’d see this day.
A man had just made love to Crank, not to mention made his ass ache in the most delicious way ever , and he wouldn’t change a fucking thing about it.