Chapter Eleven
“Can’t we take him to Kalen’s?”
Ryker asked.
The Everharts and Noah stood in their kitchen at home. And that was how Noah saw it now. This was his home.
He just wished he hadn’t paid his rent and bills six months in advance for a place he refused to ever step foot in again.
There might have been good memories there—of hanging out with Harris and of Quinton and his sons—but he couldn’t live where a dead body had been on his floor.
“They have kids now,”
Hyett reminded him. “ We’re not bringing trouble to their house.”
“I keep forgetting,”
Ryker admitted. “They’re just the first people I think about when trouble rears its ugly head.”
Noah sat at the table pushing his food around his plate, too worried about Harris and what Toro planned to have an appetite.
Quinton lounged, resting his arm on the back of Noah’s chair. “We do what we always do, boys. Defend our home and lives.”
Noah glanced at Wesley. So far, he hadn’t had a chance to get to know the guy and felt guilty for getting him involved.
“I’m sorry I pulled you guys into this.”
Noah stabbed the tines of his fork against his plate, accidentally scraping it.
“Ow.”
Killian scowled. “Sensitive ears, remember?”
“You have nothing to apologize for,”
Quinton said. “We all make mistakes. It’s no reason for a psychopath vampire to come after you.”
The pads of Quinton’s fingers grazed lazily over the back of Noah’s neck, causing him to shiver. The guy did it again. Glancing up at Quinton, Noah saw him smiling, adoration in his steel-gray eyes.
It was the sweetest, most beautiful look ever aimed toward him. There was nothing sexual about it. It was just pure affection.
“We’ve been in deeper trouble than this, Noah,”
Hyett replied. “And we’ve dealt with Toro in the past.”
“That’s one of the reasons we’re even in Midnight Falls,”
Killian added. “Came to town to help the Frosts with a vampire problem and decided to stay.”
Quinton had said not all vampires were bad, but Noah was finding that hard to believe.
Damn. Hadn’t he and Quinton just had an argument about judging someone? And now Noah was doing the same thing.
Though, to be fair, their argument had been about prejudging people.
“I just feel bad for—”
Noah glanced around the table when he heard a collective rumble of deep growls, yet another reminder the men weren’t human. But it was their menacing expressions that made fear sink into Noah’s bones like lead.
The bear shifters could sense something he couldn’t. Some kind of danger. Time felt like it stretched out, making minutes feel like hours.
Then Hyett’s chair scraped, and he was out of it, reaching for Wesley as Quinton rose to his full height, his razor-sharp claws sliding free from his fingers. He moved his bulky frame in front of Noah in just three steps.
“What is it?”
Noah asked, even though he knew the answer.
“Where is he?”
Killian’s voice was low and dangerous as everyone looked around.
The tension in the room was thick, like a weight pressing into Noah’s skin. Ryker and Killian took off, heading out of the kitchen toward the living room. Noah curled his fingers into Quinton’s shirt, clinging to him while trying to breathe. He glanced over at Wesley, who was doing the same, holding on to Hyett, his eyes closed.
Noah’s trembling worsened when he heard something crash in the next room as snarls erupted, followed by loud hissing. A blur shot around the kitchen so fast Noah had a hard time following it. He could hear the growls from Quinton, feel the vibration of the noise as he touched his mate’s back.
Then Quinton was yanked forward by the blur and thrown across the room. Whatever had the strength to hurl someone Quinton’s size was not someone Noah wanted to face.
He started to scramble around the table but stopped when he gazed at Wesley. Noah didn’t want the blur going near the guy. None of this was fair to Hyett’s mate.
Something gripped Noah’s shirt and yanked him backward, the fabric now tight around his throat, making it impossible to breathe.
“Did you think you could escape me?”
Toro’s voice rang hot and heavy in Noah’s ear, a foul smell reaching his nose. He imagined the vampire feeding off of someone, leaving behind the noxious scent on Toro’s breath.
In an attempt to stop the fabric from strangling him, Noah curled his fingers into the collar of his shirt. “Where’s…Harris?”
he choked out.
A roar filled the room. Noah couldn’t turn his head to look, but he didn’t have to. It was Quinton’s bear. The floor trembled as the massive bear stormed forward, causing Noah to brace himself for the impact.
Hyett shoved Wesley under the table then jumped on top of it and ran toward Noah, snatching the front of his shirt and yanking him back just as the bear slammed into the vampire.
Noah shouted as Hyett rolled them down the center of the table, away from the fight, and then landed on his feet before setting Noah down. “Get under the table.”
Hyett shoved him to his knees, but not before Noah saw Quinton shift back into his human form and power-drive his fist into Toro’s jaw.
Noah sprang back up as soon as Hyett sprinted around the table to tackle a stranger who entered the room.
Just how many people had Toro brought with him? Ryker and Killian had yet to return, and the fighting in the other room could still be heard.
His gaze swung to his mate, flicked over his nakedness, at all those corded muscles flexing as he exchanged blows with Toro. How had the vampire survived one of those blows, let alone several dozen?
Someone yanked on the bottom of Noah’s pants, causing him to shout until he saw it was Wesley peering up at him. “Get under here!”
The panic in the man’s voice told Noah that he didn’t want to be alone under there. One demented glare from Toro was enough to make Noah drop and scramble under the table to join Wesley. The guy huddled in Noah’s arms, his eyes squeezed shut.
Noah shouldn’t have been the one comforting Wesley considering he was just as terrified. He watched legs moving around and knew the identities since Toro was still fully clothed and Quinton’s legs were bare.
And very hairy.
Even his mate’s calves were well defined, muscular, and as powerful as the rest of his body.
Noah and Wesley huddled under the table, both of them trembling as chaos ensued around them. They screamed when the table was lifted off of them, the opposite end smashing toward the floor.
The two hurried from under it, moving toward the corner. Noah saw what had caused one end of the table to flip upward. Quinton had crashed onto it, that side of the table turning to kindling under his massive weight. Their end looked like jaws opening up, the legs resembling teeth.
Thank god the entire table hadn’t collapsed on top of them.
Toro glared at Noah. “Hang tight, human. I’ll be right there as soon as I kill this piece of shit.”
The vampire’s face was a swollen mess, blood oozing from his nose and the side of his mouth. Even through the cacophony of fighting, Noah could hear how badly Toro was wheezing, as if Quinton had broken a few of the man’s ribs.
Noah was unable to hold Toro’s gaze. It was too evil, filled with too much hatred. Just glancing at him made Noah want to take a scalding-hot shower to scrub the gross feeling off his skin.
Quinton rose up from the floor, towering over the vampire. “That’s the last fucking time you threaten my mate.”
Spinning, Noah yanked Wesley’s head to his chest, holding him tight when Quinton’s hand punched through Toro’s chest. The sound of breaking ribs made him want to vomit.
“Hyett isn’t going to let anything happen to you,”
Noah found himself saying repeatedly to Wesley in an effort to stop the man from trembling so badly.
“I know, but it’s still scary as hell, especially since I just went through something similar with a demon,”
Wesley replied.
Noah was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that demons existed.
“The noise stopped,”
Wesley pointed out.
Noah glanced over his shoulder. Quinton’s hand was bloody, and Hyett stood over a prone body, breathing heavily. Ryker and Killian returned, seeming no worse for wear.
Hyett charged across the kitchen, and Noah let Wesley go, stepping aside so the bear shifter could seize his mate and haul Wesley into his arms.
Quinton went to the sink and washed his hands. Noah’s gaze slid down to his nicely rounded ass, focusing on the strength in those buns so he wouldn’t focus on the dead bodies lying around him.
Then Quinton charged toward him and scooped Noah into his arms. “Close your eyes, Noah.”
He did as his mate asked, feeling Quinton walking. He didn’t open them again until they were in their bedroom, away from the carnage.
“Is Toro really dead?”
Noah refused to let go when Quinton tried to place him on his feet.
“Yes.”
Quinton kissed his forehead. “Now we’re going to discuss how much you owe.”
* * * *
Quinton hung up and set his phone on the nightstand.
“Well?”
Noah asked from beside him.
Lying back, Quinton slid his arm around his mate, pulling Noah into his side. It had been a week since he’d killed Toro. The following morning, Quinton had tracked Raphael down and paid him the fifty grand Noah owed.
He’d also gone to Harris’s and found the human just sitting on his couch, staring off into nothingness. Quinton and his sons had called Prince Christian and explained the situation. Since Toro was the only person who knew exactly what had been done to Harris’s mind, asking just any vampire to undo the damage might cause further harm.
That was why Quinton had gone to the firstborn vampire, the most powerful, to try and untangle the mess Toro had made.
Christian had sent someone to retrieve Harris, and Noah’s best friend had been with him for five days now.
“Christian said he’s still working on him.”
Quinton kissed the top of Noah’s head and wondered if even the prince could undo the mess Toro had left behind. Although Quinton hadn’t met Harris, his mate cared about him.
Even if Christian was successful, Harris would never be the same. Who would be okay after a vampire had not only bedazzled him but violated his mind in such an intrusive and nefarious manner?
Noah glanced up, his eyes filled with such sadness that Quinton could practically feel gray clouds forming over his mate’s head. “Harris didn’t deserve what happened to him.”
He rested his cheek on Quinton’s bare chest. “Because of my stupid decision, he paid too high a price while I got off pretty much scot-free.”
“Hey, none of that.”
He pulled Noah up, bringing him closer. “You can’t blame yourself for what a deranged vampire did. Wallowing in guilt isn’t going to accomplish anything.”
But Quinton knew that no matter what he said, Noah would blame himself. If it had been Noah who’d had his brain scrambled because of Quinton’s actions, he would feel the same way. A hundred times worse, even.
He ran his hand down Noah’s slim back then rested it on his mate’s hip. Noah tried to covertly twist his ass so Quinton could cup it. The guy wasn’t fooling anyone.
So Quinton made sure to keep his hand away from Noah’s backside, just to see what his mate would do next.
A low, frustrated grunt rumbled in Noah’s throat.
“Is something wrong?”
Quinton asked curiously, hiding his smile.
They’d had sex not even an hour ago, and Noah wanted him again. Quinton loved that his mate couldn’t get enough of him, that he wanted to feel a hard dick in his ass constantly now.
The virgin had turned into a dick fiend.
Noah glanced back up at him with so much need in his green eyes that it stole Quinton’s breath. His heartbeat quickened when Noah pushed up then slid a leg over his waist.
Since the first time they’d had sex, Quinton had let Noah set the pace and the position since it was all new to him. So far though, his mate hadn’t ridden his cock.
He looked beautiful perched on top of Quinton, his green eyes drowsy with lust. Quinton’s cock instantly hardened as he placed his hands on Noah’s hips.
“Finally ready to ride the Polar Express?”
Quinton teased, sawing his cock up and down the crease in Noah’s ass. His mate groaned, dropping forward and placing his hands on Quinton’s chest.
“You’re a grizzly,”
he sassed, his voice rough with arousal. He lifted his ass higher, pushing back on Quinton’s cock as it slid up and down his cleft.
“Does my sweetheart need fucked again?”
Quinton grabbed the base, squeezed it tight to hold back his orgasm. He couldn’t get enough of Noah either. His mate was the first man in Quinton’s life to bring him so close to release in such a short amount of time.
With Noah, he had to fight to maintain stamina. Every time he slid his cock into his mate’s ass or mouth, Quinton was ready to shoot off within the first few minutes.
Totally embarrassing at his age, but that was how aroused Noah made him.
“Bring your ass closer,”
Quinton groaned a shuddering, breathy sound. Then he jerked slightly when Noah’s lubed ring of muscle touched the tip of his cock.
His mate was still slicked up, his hole loosened from their sex not even an hour ago.
“Push your ass onto my cock.”
Quinton could barely get the words out.
Noah cried out, instinctively riding back, impaling himself on Quinton’s cock. “God, yes.”
“Shit. Ride my dick, Noah.”
He kept a steady grip on his mate’s sides, captivated as he watched Noah bounce backward. “Sit up…”
He panted out the words. “Sit up and ride me.”
He planted his feet on the bed, his fingers flexing against Noah’s hips as his mate rose upward, his palms pressed like iron against Quinton’s chest.
But Noah didn’t move. He sat there breathing heavily, his fingers curling and uncurling.
Quinton waited for Noah to adjust to the girth, his cock throbbing deep inside his mate’s tight heat. If Noah didn’t move soon, Quinton would embarrass himself. The ring of muscle was still tight, even after the two dozen times they’d fucked already.
“Let me figure this out,”
Noah groaned, staring down at him.
“I won’t move,”
Quinton promised. “But please, do something soon before I bust a nut in your sweet ass and end this too soon.”
Noah wiggled his ass, driving Quinton insane. He loved trying new things with his mate, loved that Noah wanted to explore Quinton’s body, but if his mate kept wiggling his ass, Quinton would take over and pound the man raw.
“Bounce, Noah. Lock your knees into my sides and bounce your beautiful ass on my cock.”
Quinton involuntarily thrusted. “I can’t hold back much longer.”
Whenever Noah found a rhythm during their lovemaking, he went all in. He began to bounce like Quinton’s hips were made of rubber, driving his ass down hard on the cock buried in his ass.
Quinton matched his pace, punching upward, lost in the sensations and the gorgeous sight sitting atop him. “That’s it, baby. Ride my dick.”
Watching Noah’s hard cock bobbing up and down was too tempting to pass up. Quinton curled his fist around the hard flesh, stroking the pre-cum out of the slit.
“Oh god…Quinton…”
Noah gasped, his body jarring every time Quinton thrust hard and deep. “I-I love this position.”
“About to go fast,”
Quinton warned, locking one hand on Noah’s hip so his mate wouldn’t fall forward and hit his head on the wall.
He pistoned his cock into Noah’s ass, cursing at how good it felt. It was even better when Noah’s nails cut into his skin. His mate’s jaw clenched then fell open as his eyelids fluttered closed.
Hot jets of cum hit Quinton’s chest as Noah shouted. His ass clamped down on Quinton’s cock, refusing to let go. He yanked Noah down to him, sank his canines in, then buried himself as his body convulsed with his release.
As tiny aftershocks pulsed through Quinton, he extracted his teeth and licked the wound closed. He curled his arms around his mate when Noah settled in, their breathing ragged.
“I love you,”
Noah murmured, his voice drowsy with exhaustion.
Quinton tightened his arms when Noah tried to jerk upward. He was just as shocked at the declaration, but he wasn’t going to let his mate run from it.
“I love you, too.”
He kissed Noah’s temple then whispered, “Just stocked up on pretzels. Care to play a game with me?”
Noah’s body slightly shook with laughter. “As long as you don’t ask anything personal.”
Quinton grinned, hugging Noah tighter, never wanting to let his mate go. The guy had survived so much, including dealing with his brother when Layne had shown up at the door, pissed off, until he learned the truth.
Noah hadn’t lost his mind with a biker gang. He’d found his mate in a family of bear shifters. Quinton would throw down to keep his mate safe and happy and right where he belonged.
THE END