Chapter 2
Chapter
Two
Milo was a little worried he was going to pass out. He was shaking like an aspen in the wind, and the only thing keeping him from just collapsing to his knees was the lovely warm feeling of Warrick's hand around his.
But he was going to do this. Warrick was right. He needed to get out of the room. He needed to be brave and work up to seeing his brothers again. He was staying at Warrick's house because he couldn't bear the pity from either of his brothers. Or the guilt, for that matter.
He loved Nolan and Race more than life. He really did, but this wasn't on them.
They had all had their trauma. They all had to go their separate ways and leave behind the family who had sold them out to people like the alpha who had kept Nolan prisoner for so long, or the people who had been hunting Race down to try to sell him off to the highest bidder somewhere across the world.
He shuddered, the metallic taste in his mouth, making him realize how thirsty he was.
He got to the kitchen, and Warrick got him settled on a bar stool just as he’d asked.
“May I have some water?”
Warrick turned to face him and there was no pity in his eyes, only approval. “Of course. Would you like ice in it?”
“In this first glass, no. I think I want to be able to gulp it down.”
Warrick only nodded. No argument, no weirdness. He poured some water from the filtered pitcher in the fridge, and then he handed it over to Milo.
Milo really did gulp it, just sucking it down in about three swallows.
It hit his stomach with a splash that felt like water slopping down into a bucket from a rain chain.
He swallowed convulsively a couple more times because he didn't want everything to come back up, but then his stomach settled and he was able to breathe.
He glanced at Warrick, who was watching him closely but not with any kind of intent, he thought, just checking on him. “Better.”
“Good I'm glad. Would you like to start with just a piece of bread and some honey? Test the waters and see how your tummy is today?”
Somehow the incongruity of Warrick saying "tummy" made him incredibly happy. It was like suddenly the big grizzly was a Pooh bear. It made him far less intimidating, not threatening, because he'd never found Warrick threatening. In fact, the big guy made him feel safe. Confused, but safe.
“That sounds great, thanks.” He loved honey. Of course he didn’t know a bear who didn’t, but then again most of the bears he’d known had been in captivity, and they hadn’t had a chance to have something wonderful like that.
“Perfect. Would you like it toasted?”
It almost made him tear up, how nice Warrick was being to him. Perhaps because kindness had been in short supply in his life thus far. Or maybe it was the way Warrick watched him, those golden-brown eyes so careful and cautious and ready to support him no matter what.
“No, I think I’d like it soft.”
Warrick got busy slicing bread and putting butter and honey on it.
Those big hands seemed like they would be able to crush whole small cars with one grip, but they were so gentle and careful with the bread.
He felt like he could trust hands like that not to hurt him, to keep him safe, instead. It was an odd feeling.
Once he had the bread in front of him, and Warrick had given him a glass of water with ice in it, he felt as if his stomach was settled enough to eat.
He still did it cautiously, tearing little chunks off the bread and popping them in his mouth.
The warm sunshine flavor of the honey hit him, and he closed his eyes, smacking his lips to savor it.
When he opened his eyes, Warrick was still watching him, but there was a difference in his expression, something almost predatory but not scary, more heated, he guessed. It made goosebumps rise on his arms, made his throat feel tight, and it made his belly clench.
Warrick was standing close enough that Milo could feel the heat from that big body, and he had the crazy urge to reach out and touch Warrick’s chest, to feel that heartbeat under his palm.
He wanted to lean in and put his nose against Warrick’s neck or maybe collarbone, where he could reach, and take a deep breath, dragging in his scent.
He hadn’t felt something like this since he was a teenager, and the first alpha he’d been super-attracted to had taken him out to the barn where they’d made out like crazy.
He had been pretty sure he couldn’t get aroused any more than he could shift, but maybe he was wrong.
“Is it good?” Warrick asked, jerking his chin toward the half piece of bread Milo was still gripping, probably too tightly.
“It really is.” He stuffed another piece into his mouth so he wouldn’t babble, and this time he really focused on the bread and not the honey. It was so good, a little dense but not heavy, and the butter flavor was just the tiniest bit sour against the super sweet of the honey.
“I’m glad.” Warrick turned back to the counter and sliced up another couple of pieces of bread, slathering them with butter and honey. He devoured one in about three bites, his white, even teeth flashing as he did. He really was a devilishly attractive bear.
Milo ate another piece of bread after Warrick handed it to him, and by then his belly was feeling full, and he was kind of feeling dozy. Maybe he could have a nap.
When he nodded off, his head jerking like a baby’s, Warrick came to wrap an arm around him.
If anyone else had touched him just then, he might have jumped and run but Warrick made him want to lean in.
“Would you like to go to the den to have a nap? There are lots of places to just curl up and sleep.”
Milo expected his pulse to race at the idea, but it didn’t. “Will you stay with me?”
“If that’s what you want.” Warrick gave him a blinding smile.
Milo stared up at that handsome face, which was becoming very familiar very quickly. “I do. Please.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” Warrick steered him out of the kitchen and into a big open area, but they passed right through the airy living room with all of its windows and headed to the back of the house.
There was a warm, log-paneled room with creamy wainscoting, pillows, low couches, and curtains blocking out the sun.
He let out a deep sigh of relief. This was a place he could relax in.
There were windows but they were high up on the walls, where no one could just crawl in, and they were covered right now.
No one could get in without him and Warrick noticing them.
And there were two doors so if one got blocked, they could get out the other.
So, he smiled at Warrick, then grabbed one big hand in his and led Warrick to the pile of cushions and blankets in a corner away from the windows. “I’m ready for that nap.”
“I’m glad. How do you want me to do this?” Warrick’s honey gaze was so warm. “I don’t want to trigger you.”
“Just don’t hold me down.”
Warrick studied him for a few more seconds. Then he nodded before moving to lie down on the cozy nest. “Why don’t you hold me down?”
His eyebrows flew up. “What?”
“You heard me.” Warrick patted his chest. “You can use me as a mattress.”
“Oh…” He felt a little hot and lightheaded at the idea. Wow. Okay. Milo cleared his throat. “Sure. Sounds good.”
“Only if you want to. You can just lie down anywhere you want. I won’t push.” That deep, rumbly voice soothed him, and Milo nodded, moving his feet so he could walk over to stretch out on top of Warrick, squirming around until he got comfortable.
Once he found a place where none of his joints or muscles hurt, Milo melted, relaxing so profoundly he thought he might sink into Warrick permanently.
“That’s it.” Warrick put a hand on his hip, but only on the side, no pressure on his butt or back. And he sighed, happy to be where he was. “Sleep now, little bear. I’ll protect you.”
“Thank you,” he breathed, and he fell asleep as if he was falling off a log.