Chapter Three #2
He wasn’t sure who he was supposed to be unable to deny, Aaron or the pup, except Carter couldn’t say no to either. “I’ll need help.”
Aaron beamed.
“I have work,” Carter added.
Aaron nodded.
“We need supplies for them too,” Carter said.
“I bet Hudson and Bas would love to help. I can make them a list,” Aaron responded.
The brave little guy climbed clumsily off the edge of the blanket to jump on Carter’s leg.
Carter sighed.
“They’re going to be the best babies ever!” Aaron said cheerfully.
Carter was not naive. He knew that Aaron was working him hard. He just didn’t mind. With Hudson staying with Bastian the last few nights, the house had been quiet. And Carter did have the room, a nice backyard, and time. So much time. “Fine. As long as you promise to help.”
“I will!” Aaron kissed the little female pup on the top of her head then set her back down.
“We should get them out of here.” Carter didn’t feel the same creepy feeling as in the dream that they were being watched, but he also didn’t know what was out there.
“Okay.” Aaron started to gather the two pups close to him and Carter picked up the brave boy.
“I hope I can find my truck again,” Carter muttered. He had the map, not that it had done him much good—it wasn’t until he’d allowed himself to think about Aaron that he’d stumbled into the right area.
“Did you park on the main lot?” Aaron asked, rising. “How did you even find this spot again?”
“I did,” Carter said. “And I Googled the state park and where water was. I don’t work today so I wanted to get an early start.”
Aaron nodded, holding his bundle close to his chest.
The brave boy seemed content being in Carter’s arms, so he kept him nestled in the crook of his elbow.
“I think it’s this way.” Carter pointed behind him.
“If we get lost, I’ll call one of the others, as long as we have reception,” Aaron said.
“This does seem safer than just popping in from a dream,” Carter teased.
“No kidding,” Aaron agreed.
“What happened after I…woke up?” If that was what happened. He’d been so close to kissing Aaron.
“I backtracked like we said we would do,” Aaron told him. “I found a rock and marked the trees that would lead me back. I wasn’t sure how far I was from the house.”
“How far is it?”
“Pretty much on the opposite side of the state park. You were smart to drive,” Aaron answered.
It hadn’t occurred to Carter to even go to the house first. He knew the pack or family was there. Hudson was there. Aaron. Carter had just felt a need to make sure Aaron wasn’t stuck in the woods and to see if the pups really were there.
The pup in his arms started to chew on Carter’s sleeve. “We’ll get you some real food,” Carter promised the little thing. “Let’s just get you home.”
“Did you hear that, babies? You have a home,” Aaron said behind him.
Carter nearly groaned. Three small pups couldn’t be that hard to care for. Could they?
* * * * *
Aaron
Aaron laughed as Carter chased the rumbustious little pup again. The brave little boy was a master of getting out of the makeshift kennel that Carter had put together. Like, Carter had actually used tools and boards that had been lying around the house. Who did that? Carter, apparently.
Carter building a kennel might have unleashed a new kink for Aaron.
A handyman kink, because it had been sexy as hell.
The pups had fallen asleep after getting their tiny bellies full and Aaron had been put in charge of watching over them.
Aaron had watched something, all right. Maybe just not the three precious little souls that he was supposed to keep his attention on.
At least Aaron didn’t have an audience for his drooling over Carter. Hudson and Bastian should be there soon, and Aaron needed to get control of his unruly cock. He did not want Bas near him when Aaron was this turned-on. Aaron would never hear the end of it.
Hudson had been thrilled to run into the city close by that had a pet store. Bas hadn’t been quite as excited, but since Bas would do whatever Hudson wanted, Aaron had called Hudson and asked.
Aaron had no experience with brand-new pups so that was where Google had come in handy. He might have gone overboard with his list as Aaron added anything it seemed like they needed. He also gave Hudson full authority to add things which Carter had groaned and grumbled about.
What?
It wasn’t like they couldn’t return what they didn’t use.
It was better to be prepared. And Aaron had kind of tricked Carter into taking the puppies home just to spend more time with the other man.
Although he had been concerned about how the pups would react with such strong shifter animals around. That just wasn’t his main concern.
He had sent some of the guys from the family to check out the area.
Some kind of animal had gotten to the mama dog and the puppies.
If it was a natural animal, it was sad and the fault of whoever had dumped the dog.
But if it wasn’t…which was what Aaron feared, then Aaron wanted the culprit tracked down.
The scents in the area hadn’t been familiar. Maybe one of the shifters would have a better idea. Aaron could just feel the evilness to the area where he’d found the mama dog. Something had not been right. Unnatural.
“How is he getting out?” Carter complained as he stomped back into the living room carrying the brave boy.
They really needed to name the pups.
“I turned my head for like a second to answer a text,” Aaron said. “He just wants you.”
Carter handed Aaron the puppy. “And I’m trying to make us dinner.”
“You need one of those harnesses that goes around your front to hold him close,” Aaron suggested. That was an amazing idea! Carter would look so cute with a puppy tethered to his chest. He eyed his phone. Maybe Hudson could find…
Narrowing his eyes, Carter pointed at him. “Don’t even think about it.”
“But—” Aaron pushed out his bottom lip. It would be adorable. Aaron totally wanted a picture of that.
“No. Not going to happen,” Carter said firmly.
Aaron grinned in return. Just spending one day with Carter had shown Aaron that Carter had a soft spot for him. Maybe not just him. Carter could just be a softy in general. He might seem imposing for a human, but that smile. Aaron was hooked on Carter’s smiles.
Not that Aaron was thinking of claiming Carter as his. He knew that having a mate was different for him. Aaron couldn’t drag someone into what was a mess of a life. With a power that might be dangerous and he had no hope in controlling. That didn’t stop Aaron from wanting.
This whole thing might be a mistake.
Spending time with Carter would only lead to heartache for Aaron.
And still he was sitting on the floor, holding one puppy as the other two slept in the kennel that Carter had built.
Carter had declared it was time for dinner and offered to make homemade cheesesteaks for them.
The man shaved the steak before he started to cook the meat.
It smelt so damn good in the house and Aaron wasn’t dumb.
He was at least getting dinner. Who even cooked like this?
Not him, that was for sure. It helped to have a chef in the family back at the big house.
Otherwise, Aaron just stocked up on frozen dinners.
“Are you sure you don’t want another beer?” Carter asked.
There was no way that Aaron could drink another beer and stay awake. Not only was he lacking sleep, but he was also warm and cozy, and happy that the puppies were safe. “I’m good.”
“Tired?” Carter brushed the hair from Aaron’s forehead.
Leaning his head back against the couch, Aaron stifled a yawn. He was trying so hard to be good. Carter’s tendency to touch Aaron messed with his mind. Made him want and need. “Yeah.”
“Just rest. Dinner will be ready soon,” Carter told him.
“I appreciate you cooking for me,” Aaron said sincerely. And everything else Carter had done. Allowing Aaron to hang out with the weak excuse of helping with the puppies. Carter could probably handle them just fine.
“I love to cook,” Carter said. “Hudson and I take turns, but on my days off I try to stock up on meals that can be made easily on his nights.”
“That’s great. Normally there’s something left over in kitchen since Drake is an actual chef. That’s on the nights that there isn’t a formal dinner. There usually is. Although the cabins all have a small kitchen, so I have a freezer filled with frozen meals.”
“Family dinner sounds nice. Family is important,” Carter said quietly. “Hudson is my everything. I just don’t know how I’d handle having that much family around.”
Aaron shrugged, because he could see Carter’s point.
It was different for him. Aaron was considered part of the family, loved being around the guys, yet it was hard to trust anyone except Leo and Bas.
The three of them had been through so much that there was a bond that couldn’t be broken.
“That’s why some of us stay in the cabins and not the main house. ”
Carter shook his head. “It’s interesting. Anyway, I’ll go finish dinner.”
Watching Carter walk away was a pure pleasure. The way that Carter’s jeans hugged his amazing round ass made Aaron’s mouth water. He closed his eyes with the back of his neck still against the couch to block his view of Carter’s impressive body.
The pup climbed up Aaron’s chest to stuff his little snout under Aaron’s chin.
Aaron patted the little one’s back, and the pup let out the longest sigh.
Yeah, Aaron knew exactly how the brave little puppy felt. Being warm, safe, and comfortable was highly underrated. Unless someone had lived the kind of life that Aaron and those sweet puppies had, they just couldn’t understand how much feeling safe meant.