Page 9 of Blood of the Damned: Thorn (Vaughn Winery #1)

Ledger

The music was so much better than Ledger had expected that he danced right along with everyone else, and even though the ache in his chest at being separated from Thorn was strong, he was having a good time.

Everyone was friendly, and he felt included in ways he hadn’t in his last job.

They’d all been rather snooty, and if Ledger was honest, he’d done his best to fit in.

Those who worked for Thorn and his brothers had no airs and graces.

They didn’t appear to care who he had as a mate, something Ledger had worried about.

They made a point of joking with him about the brothers, including Thorn, proving they were unconcerned he would go back and share what they’d said.

The easy way they were around him had him dropping his guard as the night progressed.

Rowen moved in close enough to shout in his ear. “The guitar player, fuck, he’s hot!”

Ledger eyed the man objectively, as he worked his guitar with an expertise he envied.

He had dark good looks and the facial scruff was just enough to give him a rugged appeal.

The head-to-toe denim worked too. Yet, whereas in the past Ledger would have found the guy attractive enough to maybe flirt when their gazes locked, his total absorption in Thorn made everyone else a lacklustre shade of gray.

There was nothing appealing about a washed out gray, absolutely nothing.

Instead of saying that, he nodded at Rowan and shouted back, “You should go for it.”

Rowan’s lopsided grin appeared as he glanced back up to the man, now bent at the knee and playing for all he was worth as the lead singer sang of heartbreak.

“Think so?” he shouted when he looked back at Ledger.

The music notched up another decibel as the drummer went wild, so Ledger nodded.

A second later, an odd, prickly sensation started at the back of his neck and got him raising a hand to rub at his hairline.

A sense of alarm chased hot on its heels, and he inhaled.

His brows shot up as he caught a familiar scent in the crowd, and then his gaze narrowed as he glanced around.

Except, with how tall everyone was, he couldn’t see beyond the throng of folks crowding the stage.

He tapped Rowen on the arm, and when he had his attention, he pointed toward the bar, shaking his near empty bottle to check if he wanted another drink.

This excuse gave Ledger the chance to check if his nose was mistaken, and he was just smelling his mate off himself.

He didn’t think so, because before he met Thorn, he hadn’t had such an acute sense of smell.

Heck, all his senses had gotten a steroid boost which seemed very beneficial—or not, if his mate was spying on him.

Because if Thorn was spying on him, he was going to kick his ass, despite how the ache in his chest eased noticeably at thoughts of his mate being close once more.

When Rowen shook his head distractedly, Ledger followed his nose through the crowded bar.

Being so short in a bar full of cowboys that averaged six feet and towered over him, Ledger didn’t notice Thorn until he was nearly on top of him and the massive guy stood in front of him.

It wasn’t the shifter who had interrupted their first meeting.

No, this one was different, but the similarity to the other dude couldn’t be ignored.

Nor the way he was eye fucking his mate when Ledger shoved in between the crowd.

Ledger wanted to say that he wasn’t insecure, but that would be a lie. He understood that Thorn was his fated mate, he did, it was just hard to compare himself to the massive shifter lurking over Thorn with a familiarity that went right along with the way he eyed Thorn.

Not usually one to pry into his mate's thoughts, Ledger did just that. He got annoyance and his heart thudded painfully hard with regret. Was it because he was mated to Ledger and disappointed not to have someone like the big lug in front of him?

Ledger had to take a second when the pain in his chest returned and his animal, who had gone into hiding when they’d come into the noisy bar, roused and started deep, guttural barks, a sign of mating and a warning to any other animal.

Go and show that dumbass Thorn is already mated! Do it now.

Ledger released a shuddery breath, all the enjoyment of the evening slipping away as he rolled his shoulders and moved closer to Thorn, who didn’t appear to have noticed his appearance.

“So come on then, aren’t you gonna introduce me to your mate?”

Ledger slammed his bottle down on the bar, his furious gaze on the ass in front of him. “I’m right here!” Ledger made sure to project his voice, so it carried over the music while he slipped an arm round Thorn’s waist, hammering home his point.

Who’s the asshat? he demanded as he clutched at the soft blue sweater.

There was a definite pause but Ledger couldn’t worry about that when the huge shifter in front of him started to laugh. It wasn’t a happy sound, more spiteful to match the look of disdain he wore when he looked Ledger up and down. “How can this… this miniscule thing satisfy your needs ?”

Not prone to violence, the smugness made Ledger want to punch him in the mouth.

Thorn’s whole body tensed and Ledger felt a surge of pure rage before Thorn carefully removed his arm and stepped right into the huge shifter's face. Their size difference was more obvious, and despite the shifter being bigger, Ledger understood who was the more fearsome of the two.

A shiver ran through him, his body awakening in ways that weren’t fitting for a crammed bar.

“Leave town now and never return,” Thorn growled, low and mean.

The compulsion had no effect on Ledger, but on the huge shifter it worked a damn treat. He turned wordlessly and walked through the crowd, not once looking back as he aimed for the door.

When Thorn met Ledger’s gaze, his eyes were blood red and there was a hint of fang.

Dear Gods!

Ledger’s body went into overdrive. The scent of his arousal made Thorn release a very familiar sound, causing Ledger to tremble in anticipation before he realized exactly where they were.

“No! Behave!” He wasn’t sure who he was warning, himself or Thorn. It was too close a call to say.

Worriedly, he grabbed Thorn by the elbow when the intention he felt coming from him didn't decrease. If anything, it challenged his mate. Ledger guided Thorn towards the toilets, not wanting to go in the direction the shifter had gone in case he came to his senses outside. Ledger wasn’t sure how long the effects lasted, so he didn’t take any chances when it came with Thorn’s rage and arousal in equal measure.

Thorn came willingly and Ledger didn’t have to guess why, when his mind was full of how much Thorn wanted to bite him and…

We are not doing that here!

Want you.

Yes, well, you should have thought about that before you got cosy with the giant!

Thorn’s silence allowed Ledger’s insecurity to resurface.

The crowd thinned the closer they got to the restrooms, and Ledger didn’t breathe any easier until he reached them.

The first door was locked, and the noises and scent coming from inside suggested someone was having a good time.

By the smell, it was the bar owner, Trey.

As Rowan had said the guy lived above the bar, Ledger couldn’t figure why he’d use a restroom to get his rocks off.

Was this the type of place where bathroom sex was a thing?

If that was the case, had Thorn done that here with that giant shifter?

Ledger didn’t like that idea as it burrowed into his brain, or the one that came after.

Had he had something serious with the guy?

That thought got his mind spiralling into the similarities between the other big shifter, who had clearly been intimate with Thorn at some point.

Was Thorn all about the big fuckers who could shift?

I can explain.

Really? They are massive and shift, what’s there to explain. You most definitely have a type and it’s not me!

Ledger heard the angry snap in his voice, but also the fear of not being good enough.

He had to work to hold onto his temper at his own lack, dragging Thorn to the next door and unceremoniously pushing him inside the cramped space.

He wriggled past Thorn to turn and lock the door; the sound dropping enough that he could hear his labored breathing.

Ledger leaned against it to give himself a little bit of breathing room because, with how Thorn was eyeing him, he wasn’t sure they’d be joining the couple getting it on in a restroom and he was too mad for that.

It would also be a first for Ledger, not one for having sex in places like this.

Though, as he eyed Thorn, he wasn’t convinced it would be a first for his mate.

That reality was enough to dampen down the sexual energy buzzing over Ledger’s skin.

His hands went to his slim hips, and he tapped his foot on the sticky floor, glaring.

“What was that all about?” he demanded, working to keep the sulky tone to a minimum.

He failed when he carried on, “I came out to have some fun with the guys at work and you’ve spoiled it with… whatever his face—”

“Louis,” Thorn supplied, the red of his eyes not lessening as he held Ledger’s gaze.

“I don’t care what his name is! What was going on with you two? Clearly you have… history with him. Do all your exes look like that?” he questioned, because he was stupid. The red of Thorn’s eyes receded and Ledger felt the barrier drop between them.

He jabbed a finger into Thorn’s chest. “No, you don’t get to block me.

If you don’t answer me, I’ll go and find that dumbass and get him to tell me what the hell his problem was.

” Ledger knew what his problem was, he was neither big nor a shifter.

That was what the dumbass was laughing about, because he knew his mate had a type.

“I… it… really… I… yes.”

Ledger’s eyes narrowed and the ball of unease occupying his stomach got much bigger. “Yes, what?”

Thorn’s shoulders slumped, coming with a sense of resignation, making Ledger brace for what was coming, despite knowing it already in his gut. “Yes, I have a history with Louis, but it wasn’t anything serious.”

There was nothing but truth coming from Thorn. Did it make a difference when Ledger had the picture of what his mate preferred in a bed partner rammed right into his face better than the shifter’s enormous fist? No. Not one little bit. The stark contrast revealed just how different he was to them.

“You are everything I want,” Thorn declared, the fangs brushing his lower lip.

Ledger hated how the ball of anxiety in his belly didn’t dissipate at Thorn’s statement. Tears pricked the back of his eyes as he gave an undignified sniff.

“Am I?” he questioned quietly. “Am I really?”

Pinned against the door before he’d finished speaking, Thorn claimed his lips in a kiss that melted the very bones of him.

He was defenceless against the power and hunger of the mouth devouring his.

He didn’t even have the wherewithal to lift his arms, which hung useless at his sides as Thorn took apart the doubt and replaced it with a depth of emotions that left no room for anything but their connection.

A hammering sound sank past the frantic thumping of Ledger’s pulse beating in his ears from the lack of breath. He got his arms working to push feebly at Thorn’s chest. “Someone wants to use the bathroom,” he gasped against Thorn’s mouth when he kept right on kissing him.

A dazed-looking Thorn stopped and glanced about; a look of confusion appeared that didn’t hurt Ledger’s feelings, realizing that Thorn had lost track of where they were. “What?”

“We need to leave.” Ledger eased Thorn back so he could turn around to open the door.

Thorn barely moved and plastered himself to Ledger’s back as he attempted to concentrate on sliding the lock open.

Normally a simple task, except with the feel of Thorn’s arousal pressing against his back like a branding iron, it felt impossible.

It took two attempts to get the door open, only to be greeted by a grinning Rowen and a wall of sound.

“This explains where you got to,” said Rowan, smirking at them.

Ledger stood to his full height, going with a cocky swagger he didn’t feel. “It seems Thorn decided to follow us here.”

Rowan glanced past Ledger, his eyes alight with humor. “I wondered how long you’d last, boss man, before comin’ after ya mate.”

“Seriously?” Ledger asked, his head tilting. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the guys figuring Thorn would show up when Ledger hadn’t himself.

“Yep, I had a bet going with Costa. He reckoned an hour, I opted for two. Looks like Costa was closest.” The grin grew wider. “But I bet you’d end up…” he coughed and eyed the stall behind them, “here.”

Blushing at being so obvious, Ledger stepped out into the passageway and didn’t look at those milling around, showing lots of interest in the conversation. “Great,” he muttered under his breath, “just what I wanted to be gossiped about.”

Rowen must have heard him because he laughed hard enough his shoulders shook.

Ledger groaned internally and asked, “Still want that beer?”

Rowan looked at Ledger, seeming to hesitate, and then shook his head. Confused by the sudden change in demeanour, Ledger glanced at Thorn and caught the pointed look of warning he was giving Rowen. Suddenly the reason for his friend’s hesitation became clear.

This would not do.

Ledger might want to jump his mate but fuck it, he’d come out to have a good time, and he would not let Thorn stop him.

“I’m staying and you’re going home right now!”

And I wouldn’t argue unless you want a scene right here?