Page 8 of Blood of the Damned: Thorn (Vaughn Winery #1)

Thorn

“It’ll be interesting to see what is in town,” said Ledger.

“I hardly got the chance to look around when I arrived and I’ve been so busy.

I can hardly believe I’ve been here for two months and not gone into Bayfield.

Although, I probably won’t see much tonight when the plan is to head straight to Ranch Down. ”

Thorn stared at Ledger’s naked back, a sinking feeling growing inside him at what his mate said. This conversation had started after Ledger had gotten out of the bath they’d been sharing. Thorn had ideas about how the evening was going to end, just not with Ledger going out—alone.

“Why do you want to go to Ranch Down?” he asked sulkily, hating himself for it but finding he could not stop.

Standing in the closet, searching through his clothes, Ledger didn’t look at Thorn as he answered, “Why wouldn’t I want to go? The guys working in the winery were telling me they go to Ranch Down when the owner, Trey, has bands playing.”

He turned holding a T-shirt with something written on it that Thorn couldn’t read with it being washed out.

Ledger gave it a grin of approval before he looked at Thorn.

“I love live music and, okay, country music might not be my favorite, but it’ll be good to go out and cut loose a little with everyone. ”

“Cut loose?” Thorn asked slowly, unsure exactly what Ledger meant by that. Why did he want to cut loose? Couldn’t he cut loose with him? The answer added to the heaviness growing in his gut.

So far, work and having sex on every available surface had kept them occupied. This was the first time Ledger had insisted on accepting one of the many invitations he’d received from those in the winery to go to town. Up to now, he’d somehow persuaded Ledger that staying home was a better idea.

Tonight, not so much, and Thorn’s senses were telling him this was not a good idea.

Why, he suspected, had a lot to do with his possessiveness and the huge possibility of Ledger bumping into some of Thorn’s conquests who frequented the bar Ledger was planning to go to.

There’d been no mention of Brigg after the day they’d met, but most of his sexual partners in town were built much the same as Brigg.

“Yep.” Ledger skipped past him, running his free hand down his arm, which was still a little damp from the bath.

Thorn had gotten out of the bath to follow Ledger so quickly, he hadn’t had time to dry his hair, so the towel around his waist was catching more than a few errant drips that ran down his chest.

“Cutting loose on the dance floor.” Ledger wiggled his butt at him, distracting him long enough that Ledger had time to finish dressing in the far too tight T-shirt.

He tucked the front of it into low-slung jeans, leaving the silver belt buckle uncovered.

It was a look that differed from the smart slacks and pressed button-down shirts that Thorn was used to.

Desire, which hummed through him continuously, ramped up and the towel got a rather impressive bulge against the front.

Ledger seemed intent on ignoring it as he continued chatting.

“Rowan said they have a small dance floor in front of the stage area. I feel like for them to fully accept me, I need to go out with them. It will put them more at ease when they see I can be a fun guy, not just some stuffy guy spouting off about wine.”

He came back to where Thorn remained standing and gave him a hard kiss. Before Thorn could think about deepening it, Ledger stepped back, ruffled his hair and was heading for the door.

“What… wait, don’t you want me to come?”

Ledger paused in the bedroom doorway, his brows merging as he frowned.

“You said you were tired,” he pointed out, because that was exactly what Thorn had said when he’d gotten in the bath, intending to have an early night ravishing his mate.

“Don’t worry, you have an early night. Rowen is driving us. ”

With a quick salute, Thorn watched Ledger slip out the door, unsure what the hell to think or feel about his current situation.

If he chased after his dhampir to stop him from leaving, then he’d surely piss him off.

He’d felt so excited about being accepted by the people he worked with, having been concerned that those who worked in the vineyard and the winery believed he’d only gotten the job because they were mates.

He’d worked hard to disprove that theory, and it seemed this time when they asked him out, he’d felt compelled to say yes.

Thorn wanted to feel happy for Ledger but with how his gut was churning, that wasn’t what he felt.

“What’s got you spooked?”

Calvert’s voice penetrated past the worry and Thorn glanced at his brother, who stood in the open doorway wearing sweats that said he was about to head to the home gym they had upstairs.

Calvert was the one who used it most and Thorn often wondered if that was to burn off the frustrations he rarely showed.

“Ledger got another invite to go to Ranch Down with some of the staff from the winery and he’s decided to go with them.”

Calvert’s head tilted to the side as he scrutinized Thorn. “That’s a good thing, so why am I getting the feeling from you like the end of the world is coming?”

Thorn walked to the bed and plonked himself down, despite the wet towel. He raked his hands through his wet, messy hair. “’Cause…”

“You can’t see him? That he might have fun without you? There will be a few shifters there you’ve fucked before? Someone might hit on him?”

Calvert voiced every thought Thorn had, and he scowled at his brother. “Stop that!”

“I can’t help that you’ve blocked Ledger and are bombarding me with your thoughts right now.” Calvert leant against the doorjamb, crossing his arms over his impressive chest. “Don’t you think you’re being a little over dramatic? Ledger is a sensible man. And he seems real happy here with you.”

“Is he?” Thorn fired back, his own insecurities growing. “If he was, why would he want to go out without me?”

“Are you hearing yourself? The crap coming out of your mouth?” Calvert rolled his eyes heavenward. “He’s going to want to do things alone and with friends. Any relationship you’ve had before, weren’t you happy to have the freedom to do as you wanted?”

“This is different.”

“How so?” Calvert held up his hand, stopping Thorn before he could reply. “And I don’t mean the dhampir thing. The intensity doesn’t mean you have to hang off him every second. You’ve proven that over the last couple of weeks.”

“What do you mean?” Thorn demanded indignantly, his lips thinning.

“By allowing Ledger to do his job. And the time between visits to find him has grown longer. You went a whole afternoon the other day.”

Thorn stuck up his middle finger, and fake laughed. “You’re so fucking funny!”

Calvert moved away from the doorjamb grinning. “I know. Now, as I can see it’s not a genuine crisis, I’ll leave you to it.”

“Asshole,” Thorn called after Calvert, who roared with laughter.

Aren’t we all?

Thorn felt Calvert block him before he could answer.

Alone, Thorn’s shoulders slumped as he eyed the empty, too quiet room. Ledger tended to chatter when they were chilling in the evening after sex, and Thorn had gotten used to it.

He hated the quiet… or he did now.

He got up and stomped to the closet. Dropping his towel, he reached for the first clothes he laid his hands on. Dressed in a pair of loose jeans and a deep blue sweater, he grabbed a pair of sneakers. In his haste to get out the door, he didn’t bother running a brush through his hair.

He was in his SUV before he could talk himself out of heading after Ledger.

Wasn’t make up sex supposed to be the best kind? He kept that thought in his mind as he drove into town, humming along to the radio. He liked to dance, and he was going to show Ledger he had some moves to make him forget his annoyance—if he felt any towards Thorn for following him.

He will! Dacian laughed loudly in his head.

Fuck you!

Predictable as always.

Thorn blocked Dacian and grumbled the rest of the way to town.

The car lot outside the bar was packed, so Thorn had to drive down main street to find a space.

He walked down the sidewalk, keeping his eyes forward as he sensed curiosity at his appearance.

It had been some time since his last visit into town, and he’d heard folks had noticed his absence.

The brothers were well known in these parts, so Thorn expected the gossips to be chatting about him.

He wasn’t sure if anyone from the vineyard had mentioned that he now had a mate. He would soon find out.

“Thorn! Hey, wait up,” a deep voice called from behind him.

The groan was all in his mind as he swung around and plastered on a fake smile. There, eagerly coming down the sidewalk, was a huge shaggy haired rhino shifter, wearing tight denim that left little to the imagination and a check shirt that looked ready to burst at the seams.

Thorn struggled to figure out what he’d seen in the shifter when he considered how different he was to Ledger. “Louis, nice to see you.”

It wasn’t. It was awkward. They hadn’t parted on the best of terms the last time they’d seen each other because Thorn had been hitting on Brigg and Louis had gotten pissed because he thought Thorn was his.

A misconception he’d not bothered to dissuade Louis of, though now he realized just how much of a mistake that had been given the flirty, eager smile Louis now wore.

“It’s been a while. I missed you,” Louis said, sidling up to him. His sexy swagger did nothing for Thorn.

A tiny, sassy mate had changed everything. Changed Thorn in ways he’d never be able to explain, especially to the dude in front of him. He stepped out of reach when Louis went to touch his arm. He’d tolerate no one touching him but Ledger.

Louis’s brows drew together to form a solid line, his eyes narrowing as he once more reached out.

Thorn held up his hand, warding Louis off. “I’ve a mate,” he said, keeping his tone friendly.

“W-What? Is this some kind of joke?” Louis demanded prissily. The point got made by Louis glancing up and down the sidewalk before looking pointedly back at Thorn, who immediately bristled.

“Ledger is no joke,” he stated through gritted teeth, working to keep his fangs in his gums. He never allowed his fangs to drop in front of causal fucks, but he was damn sure his eyes were glowing red, judging by the alarmed look he witnessed on the man in front of him.

“He’s in Ranch Down enjoying the band tonight. ”

A determined light came into Louis’s eyes as he glanced in the direction Thorn had been headed. “Then let’s go and you can introduce me to the shifter who captured your heart,” he sneered, already moving past Thorn at a quick pace.

The assumption Ledger was a shifter added to the pissed off feelings growing and he gave chase.

Louis had made off-hand comments about divergents before, something that Thorn had chosen to ignore.

Now he could see it was going to come and bite him on the ass.

His gut feelings seemed to be coming true.

He was right behind Louis as he entered the bar. It was busy and loud. The band was playing and the floor in front of the small stage was packed. His gaze swept the bar and he scented Ledger before he spotted his blond head at the front of the crowd by the stage.

As Louis had no clue what Ledger looked like, Thorn headed to the bar, nodding at Trey, the owner.

Trey had visited the winery when he’d first arrived in town and bought the bar, around twenty years.

He’d come to suss out what wines he could add to what they offered in the bar.

And though he sold little of their wines to the local cowboys, they’d developed a friendship.

“Yo, to what do I owe the honor, Thorn? It’s what, six months since I’ve seen you in here?” Trey leant on the bar, despite those waiting for a drink.

Kendrick, who worked for Trey, thumped the bar to get his attention. “Y’all wanna shoot the breeze, then do it when the bar ain’t heavin’! We need to keep servin’ customers before this lot starts a revolt.” He nodded to the folks crowding the bar, waving dollar bills to gain attention.

Trey grinned at Kendrick, flipping him the bird. “What’s it look like I’m doin’?”

“Sorry, Kendrick,” Thorn said, raising his voice to be heard over the band.

Kendrick gave him an absent wave and continued to the next customer.

“You better serve me before he decides to quit again.”

Trey’s deep laughter got lost in a guitar riff, but his wide grin said he wasn’t worried as he grabbed a bottle of ale that Thorn favored. Taking the cap off, he placed it on the bar in front of him. “On the house.”

Thorn nodded his thanks. Picking it up, he swung around to find Louis right there.

“So, where’s your mate?” he demanded.