Page 16

Mika

“ O h, shit,” Gabe groans, his hips jerking into my hand. “You keep that up, and we’re not making it to Silver City.”

I pull my hand back, dragging it deliberately down the length of his thigh. My fingers press just enough to tease, and I smirk at the way he squirms in response. It’s so tempting to push him further, but I let him focus on driving. For now.

Gabe steps on the gas, his eyes locked on the road. I glance at the clock. Thirty more minutes. Not too bad. But as the sun dips below the horizon, I give in. I reach over, popping the button on his jeans, my fingers working to loosen them.

“Mika,” he growls, but there’s no real warning in his voice. And hey, turnabout is fair play, right?

I slide my hand inside, wrapping it around his cock. It’s hard and hot, already slick at the tip. My thumb drags over the slit, and he groans loudly, his hips bucking into my palm.

His eyes flick to the rearview mirror. “Nothing but dark,” he mutters. “That’s it!”

He pulls the truck onto the shoulder, veering farther off the road until we’re well out of sight. Shutting off the engine and lights, Gabe twists toward me.

“Glove compartment. Lube,” he orders, already climbing out.

I grin, reaching into the glove box to grab the tube. I slide off the seat, undoing my pants as I go, freeing my cock as I stand. When Gabe rounds the truck and sees me waiting, his gaze locks on me, dark with lust. His jeans are loose around his hips, hanging low enough to tease but still hiding everything I want.

“Fuck,” Gabe mutters, his voice thick with need.

He grabs me, crushing our mouths together in a kiss that’s all teeth and heat. My wolf is still close to the surface after spending time with the pack, and I growl into his mouth as I press him back against the truck. My hands fall to his waist, tugging his jeans lower until they drop to his knees. He breaks the kiss, turning and leaning over the side of the bench seat.

“Fuck me now, Mika,” he grits out, grabbing his ass and spreading himself for me.

I curse under my breath. “Goddamn, Gabriel. Look at you.”

I pop the cap on the lube, squeezing a generous amount onto my hand and stroking it over my cock. The sight of him bent over like this, offering himself to me, makes my dick throb.

“Now,” he demands, his voice sharp and desperate.

I grip his hips, lining myself up and pressing against his entrance. I try to go slow, easing in, but Gabe has other ideas.

“Fuck. Me. Now,” he grunts, thrusting back and taking me all the way inside.

“ Jesus, Gabe,” I moan, my fingers digging into his hips. His heat surrounds me, so tight and perfect it’s almost unbearable. I pause, giving him a second to adjust, but he pushes back again, grinding his ass against me.

“Move, Mika. I need it hard.”

His demand snaps the last thread of my control. I pull back and slam forward, burying myself deep. Gabe cries out, his hands clawing at the seat for purchase. I set a brutal rhythm, my hips driving forward, each thrust wringing moans and curses from both of us.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” I pant, leaning over him and biting his shoulder lightly.

“Yes, Mika,” he shouts, meeting every thrust with a sharp push of his hips.

The sound of skin slapping fills the truck, the scent of sweat and sex thick in the air. Gabe reaches between his legs, fisting his cock and stroking it in time with my thrusts.

“Come for me, Gabe,” I urge, my voice rough with need.

Gabe yells as I reach around and grab his dripping cock, my hand gripping firmly as I stroke him. His body jerks, his muscles locking up as I milk him, drawing his release from deep inside. He’s clenched so tightly around me, clamping down hard as his orgasm tears through him. The sight, the feel of him, sends me over the edge. I thrust harder, my hips slamming against him, my balls slapping with each desperate movement. Gabe’s cum splashes over my hand, and I lean forward, sinking my teeth into the junction of his shoulder and neck.

The bite grounds me, pinning him beneath me as I bury myself as deep as I can, my cock pulsing and spurting my release inside him.

“Goddamn,” I groan against his skin, my voice rumbling through both of us as I shudder.

We collapse onto the truck’s bench seat, spent and gasping for breath. Neither of us moves, too wrecked by what just happened. My head rests against his shoulder, my chest rising and falling in time with his.

Eventually, the haze clears enough for me to nudge Gabe, urging him to shift forward so I can pull out. He groans, shivering as I withdraw slowly, careful not to hurt him. He starts to straighten up, but I place a hand on his lower back, keeping him down.

“Fuck, babe, I’m sorry,” I murmur, staring at the mark I’ve left on his skin.

The bite stands out starkly against his sweat-slicked shoulder, red and raw. My stomach twists at the sight. God, what if I hurt him? What if I left bruises or worse? Scratches, maybe. Gabe loves it rough—I know that—but what if I went too far?

“God, Gabe,” I say again, my voice breaking. “I’m so sorry. Too rough—”

Before I can spiral any further, Gabe laughs, the sound husky and warm. He turns his head to look at me, and the soft curve of his lips eases some of my guilt.

“Uh-uh, Mika-mate,” he says, cutting me off. “Don’t go getting all angst-ridden on me. You were just what I needed.”

He reaches back, grabbing my hand before straightening up and turning gingerly to face me. He cups my jaw, leaning in to press the gentlest kiss to my lips.

“You were just what I wanted,” he whispers, his breath brushing against my mouth. “You’re the one who said we were made for each other. That means what you give is what I need. If you’re planning to feel guilty about it and promise never to do it again, I’ll do something way worse than pinch you. Got it?”

Rel ief floods through me, and I laugh, pulling him into a strong hug. “Gabriel, you’re so fucking perfect for me. With me. I love you.”

The words come easily now, but they still hit me with the same intensity every time. I feel him shiver in my arms, and I know he loves hearing it as much as I love saying it.

“Damn straight you do, caveman,” he teases, pulling back just enough to smirk at me. “And I love you, too. Now, let’s get our asses to Silver City.”

I chuckle as he kisses me, his lips soft and sweet against mine. It’s tender, not sappy, but it still sends warmth flooding through me. When he pulls away, he slaps my ass, grinning before heading around to the driver’s side of the truck.

We climb back in, and as Gabe starts the engine, his phone rings. He glances at the screen, and I see Todd’s name flash across it. The shift in Gabe’s demeanor is immediate. His easy smile fades, and his jaw clenches.

Something’s wrong.

Todd wouldn’t call unless it was important, especially not while on shift. A chill creeps up my spine as Gabe taps the screen to answer, putting the call on speaker.

“Todd?” he says, glancing at me. I can tell he’s trying to stay calm, but I see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands grip the steering wheel just a little too tightly.

“What’s wrong, Todd?” Gabe asks, his voice strained with urgency. There’s no time for pleasantries. But the voice that answers isn’t Todd’s.

“Ah, actually, this is Adam,” the vet says. His tone is shaky, and unease settles deep in my chest. “Todd’s been hurt out at your place. He’s —”

“Is he okay? What happened?” Gabe cuts him off, his panic rising sharp and raw. I grip his hand, trying to steady both of us.

“He, ah, he should be fine. Hopefully. I mean, the doctor said he’ll fully recover.” Adam’s voice wavers. “That’s what I’m trying to say, Gabe. I stopped by to check on things, to make sure, um, he and the dogs were okay, you know?”

The stammering gives him away. He stopped by for Todd. That much is clear, but I shove that aside for now.

“What happened, Adam?” I growl, my voice low and rough. I can’t keep the frustration out.

“Uh. I got there and found…Todd. He was out at the kennels, and he was…on the ground. Bloody, unconscious.” Adam’s voice cracks, and my fury spikes as I feel Gabe’s grip on my hand tighten. “S-someone had b-b-beaten him with…” Adam’s voice breaks, followed by a quiet sob.

Gabe slams his foot down on the gas, and the truck roars as it picks up speed. “What the fuck!”

Adam takes a shaky breath, trying to pull himself together. “There was a pipe near him,” he finally chokes out. “It was covered in blood…”

I snarl through the link, my rage spilling over. “If I was there, I could scent out who did this.”

Gabe shakes his head, keeping his eyes on the road. “Only if you knew the scent, right?” he replies, his voice calmer than I expected.

I hate to admit he’s right. I grit my teeth and turn my focus back to Adam’s trembling voice.

“Adam.” Gabe’s tone is firmer now, though I can sense his worry just under the surface. “We’re heading back. Still in New Mexico, so it’s at least fourteen hours, but we’re hauling ass. What condition is Todd in? Were the dogs hurt?”

“ He, uh, he has some broken ribs, a fractured jaw, and a pretty bad concussion. He hasn’t regained consciousness yet. The doctor said that’s normal, given the extent of his injuries. They’re running an MRI to check for brain bleeding—it should be happening any moment now.” Adam’s voice shifts, adopting a clinical tone that barely conceals his emotions. “The dogs are…they’re fine, Gabe. I should have said that sooner. I don’t know if Todd finished everything he needed to do before…” Adam trails off, his voice thick with guilt. “I can’t leave him alone up here—”

“It’s okay, Doc,” I say, though it’s anything but. My chest aches with helplessness. I glance at Gabe, who looks ready to break the steering wheel with how hard he’s gripping it.

“We’ll be back as soon as we can,” Gabe promises. His voice is steady, but I know him well enough to see the storm brewing just beneath the surface. “Just stay with him, Adam. Keep him safe until we get there.”

“I will.” Adam’s words are quiet, but there’s steel in them.

The helplessness in Adam’s voice makes me grit my teeth. I can’t imagine the pain or fear he must be feeling, finding Todd like that. If anyone hurt Gabe like this… I shove the thought away before it can fully form.

“We appreciate what you’ve done, Doc,” I say, keeping my voice calm, though my wolf is thrumming beneath my skin, itching for action. “It isn’t your fault some son of a bitch went psycho. Just stay with Todd and be alert. I can’t stress that enough. We’ll get there as soon as we can and call you when we hit town.”

I can feel Gabe watching me, sensing the control I’m barely holding on to. He’s smart enough to leave it alone, though. For now.

“Yeah, just listen to Mika, Adam,” Gabe says, his voice quieter now but still firm. “We’ll handle the dogs when we get back, and…whatever else, ok ay?” He ends the call, staring straight ahead for a long moment before turning to me, the tension in his face almost painful to look at.

“What the fuck, Mika? Why Todd?” His voice is raw, filled with worry and frustration. I don’t blame him. None of this makes any damn sense.

I shake my head. “I don’t know, babe. I wish I did. Seems crazy, even for that fucking batshit insane asshole, to attack Todd. I’d be more inclined to expect him to hurt the dogs.” I pause, considering. “Does Todd have any enemies that you know of?”

He frowns, thinking it over, and I detest how helpless we both feel. He finally shakes his head. “No. Everyone likes Todd. I mean, how could they not? He’s always polite, friendly, but he keeps pretty much everyone at a distance.”

“Because he doesn’t want people to know he’s gay?” I ask, but I already know the answer.

Gabe nods. “I think so. He knows how my family reacted, and his folks are… You know how they are. Besides being pretty religious, you know, the spare the rod, spoil the kid religious way. I’ve already told you Todd wasn’t spoiled, either.” His voice softens, turning reflective. “Added to that, it’s harder for him because he grew up here, and everyone knows him, ya know? Me being gay, well, I was pretty much an outsider anyway, and I didn’t exactly rent a billboard announcing it. I just didn’t hide it, or deny it. Plus, I’ve never, uh…”

He trails off, looking sheepish. I can’t help but smile. “You’ve never…what, babe?” I tease, and I’m genuinely curious.

He glares at me, and I almost laugh. “Smart ass. I meant I’ve never had a…partner…not in Shasta, not anywhere. I always kept my personal life private, so no one in town ever saw me with a man. Easier, probably, for them to pretend I’m not gay, although that isn’t why I did it.”

I t ilt my head, studying him. “Why did you do it?”

He lets out a frustrated growl, the tips of his ears turning red. “Because I just…there wasn’t anyone… Goddamn it, Mika,” he snaps, his words spilling out in a rush. “There wasn’t anyone I wanted, okay? If I got too, uhm, desperate for something other than my hand, well, that’s where the adoption trips came in handy, understand? But…” His voice softens, and he glances at me, his green eyes burning with something that makes me emotional. “But those one-night hook-ups just made me feel worse in the morning. You’re the first, the only man I would want by my side. And to stand beside.”

Goddamn it, this man. I lean closer, running my tongue over the curve of his cheek, to his ear, tracing its shape. The way he trembles under my touch sends a bolt of heat straight to my core. “I know exactly what you mean,” I whisper, letting my lips brush against his skin, “and I love you, too.”

His breath hitches, and I can feel the shift in him, the raw emotion he’s trying to process. Gabe isn’t one to gush, but I don’t need flowery words to know how he feels. His love is there, in every glance, every touch, every moment he stands with me.

I settle back into my seat, trying to focus on the road ahead. The truck hums along, but my thoughts are still tangled with his words, his emotions, the bond between us that feels unbreakable. Even with everything happening, Todd lying hurt back home, the tension of not knowing who’s behind it all—I feel anchored by Gabe. By us.

And so we drive, the miles stretching out before us, the weight of what waits at home heavy in the air.