Page 7 of Sex and Suspicion (Bay Harbor Wolves #9)

J ake felt the sun filling the room and felt the warmth of the body next to him and the arms holding him close, tucked in like a treasure.

He ran his fingers across Hayes' arm and then held his hand, bringing it to his lips and peppering it with kisses. “I don’t know how this has happened to me, but I will forever be grateful.” He spoke softly on a hushed breath, fearful that the spell would be broken and he'd find himself back in his own bed alone and utterly ordinary once again.

“You have never been ordinary, my love." Hayes voiced his thoughts and surprised Jake with his accuracy.

“You read my mind?”

"Not exactly, but I'm beginning to know you and your fears, and you wear your thoughts on your sleeve." Hayes placed a kiss on his lips, lingering and exploring their softness and depth. "You taste lovely, like the sweetest candy and the most decadent dessert.”

Jake joined in the kiss, giving as good as he got, taking Hayes' lips in an embrace that surprised him with an intensity that shocked even him. This love affair was explosive but also felt solid and sure.

It was a relationship that would get better and better with every hour, every day, every year, and he planned for many, many years.

Hayes had explained the life span of the shifters hundreds of years on this earth, and Jake felt that even a century with his gorgeous lover would not be close to being enough.

He felt a thrilling sensation when Hayes brushed his lips across the mating scar on his shoulder.

“That feels wonderful.” He gushed and squirmed.

“Your bonding scar will always be sensitive to my touch.” Jake looked at Hayes, taking in every aspect of his handsome face, and wondered what wonderful things lay in store for him.

He’d had relationships before, but no one ever touched him physically, mentally, and emotionally like Hayes can touch him with just a glance.

His heart completely opened to this man, and he welcomed him.

The connection was perfect, and it was genuine.

"I'm falling in love with you, Hayes. At first, it was pure lust and a burning inferno of desire, but the raging emotions that took me have blossomed into something that has pierced my heart and touched my soul.” His declaration was lovely and Hayes ate it up.

Hayes held him tenderly and rained soft kisses on his face and neck.

"I love you too.” His words were spoken deeply, his tone like gravel, but the love in his eyes was clear as day.

"Every minute I spend with you, what I feel for you grows and expands. The power of a Fated bond is beautiful.” Jake had all his focus on his breathtaking mate, his attention completely swallowed by the overwhelming satisfaction of being held and loved by such a man.

Hayes slid his hand down Jake’s body and gripped his hard cock in his strong hand. It caused Jake to arch and moan sensuously, releasing a soft breath as the pleasure spiked through him. “I’ve never experienced a good morning quite as good as this.” He crooned softly against Hayes’ cheek.

“I'm only getting started, my love." He said and then slid down the length of Jake's body, tossing the blankets aside and baring them both to the cool morning air. Hayes removed his hand and abruptly took all of Jake’s hard length down his throat.

The gasp that caught Jake had him doubling up until Hayes eased him down and held his legs.

Hayes then took him in a harsh, merciless rhythm and pressure that about turned him inside out.

Jake reached out and took hold of the blankets on either side of him, digging his fists deep and holding on.

The ride was epic, and the blast-off was mind-blowing.

Hayes brought him to the edge and dangled him over several times before finally allowing him to come.

Jake came hard, filling Hayes' throat with stream after stream of his seed, sending sharp sensations of exquisite pleasure shooting through his nerves and veins. Hayes played him until Jake was spent, completely spent. With a breathless moan, he reached out to him.

Hayes finished and, with a satisfied smile, crawled up Jake's body and took his lips in a kiss that conquered and owned every inch of Jake. "I love you, Jake." He said and then settled beside him once again as Jake calmed and brought his breath and his pounding heart back under control.

“I love you too.” He managed between ragged pants and then wrapped himself around his wonderful mate. They dozed off for a while and then woke to the sound of Jake’s phone.

"Where is my phone?" He asked, still half asleep but feeling the need to check the call.

"Right here." Hayes reached across him and grabbed it from the bedside table. He handed it to Jake, who immediately began cursing. "What's wrong? What is it?" Hayes demanded.

“Aidan has been calling and texting. I forgot to let him know I wasn’t coming home. People are searching for me." Jake felt himself begin to hyperventilate, but Hayes held him and talked him down, calming his fears and settling his panic.

"Text him or call him and let him know you are okay."

"Yeah, yeah, I need to text him.” Jake sent a quick text stating that he stayed overnight at a friend’s and that he would call him soon and to not worry that he was okay. "There, that should calm the situation." Aidan was protective, and Jake was kicking himself for not texting him sooner.

The number of texts he received and their tone told him that Aidan was worried.

He appreciated his brother's concern, but right now, with all the wonderful things coming his way and the changes entering his life, he'd just as soon not have to deal with an upset Aidan. He also didn’t want to have to go into a lengthy explanation.

His private life was his own, and Aidan didn't need to know everything.

Aidan and Barlow followed the man called Derek through the compound, passing neatly manicured lawns and well-maintained homes. There was nothing out of the ordinary that Aidan could see, but still, the place left him feeling off and wary.

They had just reached the main house, which Derek called the Pack House when Aidan's phone went off. When he checked it, he saw that it was a text message from Jake. That was too convenient to be credible. He glanced over at Barlow. “Jake just sent me a text telling me he spent the night at a friend’s and that he’s okay.

” Barlow’s expression told him that he didn’t believe it either.

“What friend?” He shot back a text to Jake and waited. The response came quickly.

“I met him on the beach last night.”

“Are you in the main house of that sketchy cult?”

"It's okay, I'm okay." Aidan passed his phone to Barlow, who read through the exchange and maintained his skepticism.

They climbed the stairs to the broad and expansive porch, and Derek paused at the door and turned around to regard them with a blank expression.

He just stood there saying nothing. The moment was heavily charged.

Even the air seemed to snap between them.

“I’m not leaving here until I see him.” Aidan made his stance very clear.

“I know he's here, and no convenient text messages will make me believe that all is well and fine in his world," Aidan spoke, holding Derek’s gaze and matching the weight of it with all the pent-up anger he felt at being lied to and distracted.

“Bring him to me, or I will do everything in my power to fuck you up. I will not stop, and I will not falter, and I will spend every hour of every day coming for you in every way possible.”

Derek stepped forward, coming within inches of Aidan, but Aidan held his ground.

Everything he said was true. He would do whatever he had to in order to keep his brother safe, and no fucking cult was going to stop him.

Barlow stood next to him in full support but let Aidan do the talking.

“You’re a scary guy, Derek, but I'm too fucking mad to care, so keep that in mind as you practice your intimidation on me.”

“I’m beyond practice.” He gave a terrible laugh and then continued.

“You’re brave for a mere human," Derek stated without emotion, still looking like he couldn't care less about them or the situation.

He opened the door, and standing there was Henrik Vaughn, the leader of this group.

His presence caught Aidan by surprise, and the fact that he was dealing with them told Aidan that his fears were on point, and his concern for Jake skyrocketed.

He asked to speak with Barlow or, rather, Deputy Katz, and they moved further into the large entryway, leaving him with Derek by the door. Derek kept his eyes on him, but gradually, the hatred abated, and his expression, although unreadable, seemed softer.

Aidan was tying himself in knots as he stood there and waited. They had Jake, and they were still jerking them around, and Aidan felt an unbearable helplessness begin to take him.

“Be careful.” Derek’s words were sharp yet kind.

It was a warning that he did not have to give.

Even so, Aidan found it all irritating beyond endurance.

The seconds ticked by, and Jake was not there.

The feeling that he had to get to him was building to an explosion.

He turned and looked at Derek, piercing his gaze with his own, holding that darkness and not cowering. He would never cower to these people.

“I am well beyond the point of caring." He said, as ice cold as the man before him. Aidan slowly swung his gaze around the area, taking in the grand entrance and the wide staircase before him off to the right and the rooms that connected.