Blue Moon: Too Good to Be True (34 page)

“I want to shower and wash my hair.” Angel groaned. His throat was still raw from the pepper spray he swallowed.

Max stood next to the bed and put a staying hand on Angel’s chest.

“Baby, your ribs are all bandaged…you can’t get them wet.”

“I can rebandage them when he gets finished. He can shower. I’m sure it would make him a lot more comfortable too,” Jackson said, entering the room with his large medical duffel bag draped over his shoulder.

“Thanks, Jackson,” Max said as he went to assist Angel with getting up.

Zander rushed over and asked Max if he wanted him to carry Angel to the bathroom.

“Max, sweetheart, I can walk.” Angel patted Max gently on his cheek as he rose up very slowly.

“Yes, you can. Just move slowly Mr. DeLucca, and no twisting and turning. You may not want to raise your hands above your head either,”

Jackson spoke as he laid out bandages, vials, and syringes on Angel’s nightstand.

“Max, if it’s okay with you, I will help him get cleaned up and wash his hair.” Jazz looked at Max pleadingly. Her large brown doe eyes were free of mascara and eyeliner. Her soft lips were naturally pink and full. She looked like a little China doll. Max put her small chin in between two fingers and

tilted her head up, placing a brotherly kiss on her forehead. “Of course that’s okay. Thank you, Jazz.”

Max told Angel he would be out front with his dad, and that he wasn’t leaving the house, not even to get the newspaper off the driveway. He placed his forehead against Angel’s and whispered that he loved him before leaving the room with Zander and Jackson on his heels.

Jazz helped Angel limp slowly into the spacious bathroom. “Angel, I’m so happy for you. You’ve finally got your knight in shining armor. David told me how Max swooped in to get you. It sounded like something straight out of a Disney fairytale movie.” She grinned wide as she moved to turn on the taps to fill up Angel’s oversize Jacuzzi tub. He carefully discarded his clothes, throwing away each piece. “I didn’t know Max was on the SWAT team.” She gave Angel a confused look.

He comically rolled his eyes at her as he slid down ultraslow into the tub, hissing at the heat. “Jazzie, that man is a lot of things.” Angel laid all the way back letting the water jets do their thing on his aching shoulders as Jazz brought his tresses back to life.

Max showered in the guest room. He traded in the SWAT uniform for some thin sweats, a VBFD T-shirt, and flip-flops. He walked into Angel’s living room and saw that all the Beastmasters had changed into comfortable clothing as well and were now sitting around drinking coffee. Max was shocked that his Captain was still there…it was almost six in the morning.

He sincerely thanked him for all his support and sent the man back to his day job.

Max yawned hard and went into the kitchen to get some juice and saw the SWAT Leader and Pierce at the large island making ham-and-cheese omelets. Max grinned and cocked his head to the side silently asking, “What the hell are ya’ll doing?” Pierce simply winked and shrugged, turning back to the counter. Max came up behind his best friend and kissed him hard on his

cheek. Pierce shoved him away playfully. “Hey, hands off, you’re already taken.” Pierce exaggeratedly blew kisses at Max.

Max was in the living room, relaxing in the large recliner when he heard Angel’s front door fly open, hitting the wall hard. Shot and Fox stood and pulled their Desert Eagles so fast, the movement was a blur. Max already knew exactly who it was. “Guys, whatever happens right now, no one intervene.” Max braced himself for his very angry older brother.

Fox huffed and put his hand over Shot’s, asking him to lower his weapon.

“Max, where the fuck are you?” Ryker yelled in the large house. “I’m gonna kick your selfish ass…answer me goddammit!”

Max heard Ryker stomping from room to room. Max stood stock still in the middle of the large living room. Shot gave him a concerned look as they heard another door slam so hard it made Max flinch. “He’s my brother, Shot.

He was scared. He just needs to vent. No one interfere…please.”

The men nodded their understanding as they moved back.

Ryker turned the corner into the living room and stopped suddenly as soon as he noticed Max standing among the sea of men. His brother didn’t bother to acknowledge anyone else. Ryker’s eyes were bloodshot and the clothes he’d had on for the last thirty-two hours were in complete disarray.

He stood there staring at Max, not moving as his breathing picked up and he began to shake.

Max put his hands up in a surrendering gesture. “Ryke, I’m okay.” He spoke slowly, pronouncing each word.

Ryker snarled.

“Ryke, please…look at me. I’m okay. I had to leave like that. You never would’ve le—”

Max’s words were cut off as Ryker charged into Max’s midsection, propelling them both backward and onto the solid oak coffee table, shattering it with their weight. Ryker rose up, grabbing two fistfuls of Max’s T-shirt as he screamed in his face. “You’re fucking right I would’ve stopped you. You could’ve gotten yourself killed, Max. What the hell were you thinking?”

Max’s heart was breaking as he watched streams of tears flow down his brother’s face. He grabbed Ryker’s shoulders and held on as his brother slammed him back down into the hard wood. “How dare you do that to me?” Ryker was crying so hard his words were barely audible. “How could you do that, after all we’ve been through? I can’t lose you Max, don’t you fucking get that!”

Max held on to his brother as he sobbed uncontrollably in his arms.

Max’s own tears were soaking his brother’s collar. “I’m so sorry, Ryke. I had to get him back. Oh God, please forgive me. I’m so sorry.”

Ryker could see that Max was sorry, but it didn’t do anything to soothe the pain in his heart. How could Max do that to him after everything he’d sacrificed?

“I’ve never left you, Grunt…ever. Why would you leave me?” Ryker was already exhausted from grief. He thought his baby brother was out fighting a war he wasn’t trained for. The thoughts of Max getting shot crippled him.

The thoughts of his Master getting killed devastated him. No one was there for him when he needed them…ever. More sobs racked his body as he rolled off Max.

Ryker felt massive arms scoop him up like a wounded child. The scent told him it was his Master. Ryker held on tight as Bass whisked him to one of the bedrooms. He laid Ryker on the bed before climbing in beside him and wrapping him up tight.

“No one’s ever there for me,” Ryker moaned, his tears still falling steadily. He was too hurt to stop crying but too tired to continue. His entire body ached.

“My sweet boy, I’m so sorry you’re hurting like this. I’m not doing my duty as your Master by leaving you uncared for.” Bass sighed into Ryker’s neck.

“Master…no.”

“Shhhh. Hush now. I got you boy. No one’s ever going to hurt you again…I promise you. I will never leave you again.” Bass peppered kisses on Ryker’s forehead and eyelids while he tried to take deep calming breaths.

“I’m telling Angel that I’m resigning as his chief of security.”

Ryker raised his head from his Master’s chest and looked into his eyes.

Bass placed a slow, soft kiss on his lips as they curved up into a smile. “I don’t think Angel will be having any more serious problems. I will choose and train my replacement. It’s time for me to settle down. I swear to you my sweet boy, you will never again be forced into the position of worrying for your Master.” Ryker let out a huge sigh, and his body fully relaxed in Bass’s arms. He took Ryker’s mouth in a passionate kiss as he rolled on top of him, giving him his weight, making him feel secure.

“Mmmmm. Thank you, sir,” Ryker whispered after letting out a lazy moan. He didn’t remember any of the other comforting words his Master spoke in his ear because the exhaustion was too much for him to fight any longer. He finally slept.

Chapter Thirty

Max stood outside the bedroom Bass had taken his brother into. He couldn’t believe he’d hurt his brother like that. There was no excuse. Ryker was right. He’d never left Max behind but at the first opportunity Max had turned his back on his brother. He felt sick. Max slid down the wall and dropped his head between his knees.

He didn’t know how long he’d sat there until he was startled awake by the bedroom door opening. Bass stood tall in dark sweatpants, with his arms crossed over his very large naked chest. He waited for Max to stand before speaking in a low voice. “Ace, I understand why you did what you did tonight. I truly do. If it was your brother that had been taken, I would’ve done the exact same thing. However, Ryker still feels that you’re that little Grunt that still needs protecting. You should reassure him once and for all that you don’t, and let him know that it’s time for him to start receiving what he’s missed out on his entire life.”

“Can I speak to him, Bass?” Max whispered.

“Your brother is resting comfortably…you can see him later. He has his Master to care for him right now. You should be with Angel, comforting him, making sure he sleeps peacefully. Everything will work itself out, Ace.”

Bass gave Max a comforting pat on his shoulder before turning to walk down the hall.

“Hey, Sebastian,” Max called after him.

“Yeah, Ace.”

“Take care of my brother, man. He deserves it.”

“I’m on the job,” the big Dom replied easily before closing himself into the bathroom.

Chapter Thirty-One

Six months later…

Max fondled Angel’s ass as he stood in his bathroom trying to straighten his silk tie in the full-length mirror.

“Darlin’, we are never going to make it in time if you keep that up.”

Angel spoke into Max’s mouth.

Max moaned louder as he pushed his hard cock against Angel while sucking hard at the skin peeking out above his collared shirt.

It’d been six long, therapeutic months since the abduction and Max had become a monster in and out of the bedroom. He couldn’t keep his hands off Angel. He would attack him while they ate dinner. Or in the movies or a baseball game or visiting with friends, the list went on and on. Max meant it when he said Angel would feel loved every day…and he most certainly did. If he ever forgot that Max loved him, his deliciously sore ass would usually remind him.

One night Max had fallen asleep early and Angel thought he might actually get a full night’s sleep. Making sure not to risk waking his sex maniac, Angel went to the guest bedroom to get some much-needed rest. Angel was well into his deepest realm of sleep when Max literally kicked in the door and dragged Angel out the bed. He fireman carried him back to their now shared bedroom and body slammed him on the bed.

He half laughed and half begged Max to let him sleep and furthermore let his ass recoup for one night. Max just grunted and yanked Angel’s pajama pants off, tossing them on the floor. Max was courteous enough not to take his ass that night, but he’d sucked Angel’s cock until it was too tender to touch. Max had refused to stop until he’d made him come three times. Prying Max’s mouth off his sensitive prick was like trying to take a dying man’s last meal.

“Maximus, don’t you dare put another hickey on me. I’m not in high school.” Angel pulled his flesh from Max’s mouth.

Max chuckled softly as he righted his clothes and adjusted his rock-hard cock. “Fine, let’s go. But the way you’re looking in that suit I make no promises after I’ve had a couple of drinks tonight.”

“Fair enough,” Angel said as he set the alarm, grabbed his keys, and pushed his lover out of their home.

Max had sublet his apartment to Zander and moved in with Angel right around the same time Bass sold his townhome and moved into Ryker’s oceanfront condo. It had taken a couple of months before Ryker would speak to Max. It was torture for both of them. Their entire lives they’d never even gone one day without talking, much less sixty.

Bass eventually commanded Ryker to hear Max out, convincing him that it was time for them to clear the air once and for all. Max and Ryker both knew it was going to take a few trips to the baseball field to settle this one.

They talked about everything. It was very important to both of them to not have any secrets between them. Max told Ryker in detail the entire chain of events that transpired on that horrific night that Angel was taken—up until he was rescued.

Ryker explained to Max what it was like to be cared for and protected by his Dom. Max had never seen his brother so happy…the man practically glowed as bright as the diamonds around his neck.

Max found himself shuddering at some of the details of Ryker and Bass’s play sessions. Of course Ryker was tasteful enough to leave out a few things.

“Dude, I like to get a little rough, maybe do some role playing with Angel too…but what you’re describing sounds a hell of a lot more than that.” Max threw a curve ball to Ryker.

Ryker laughed heartily. “Because it is, Grunt. We aren’t playing a role, it’s who we are to the tenth power.” Ryker threw a fastball back.

“And you get off on this.” Max grinned.

“Max. The slightest kiss of my Master’s whip can have me coming for hours.” Ryker let out an exaggerated shiver and caught Max’s curveball.

They were both quietly sitting on the pitcher’s mound watching the sunset in the distance. Everything was peaceful and serene, when Max turned and noticed silent tears streaming down Ryker’s face.

“Brother, what is it? Why are you so upset?” Max held the side of Ryker’s face.

He put his hand over Max’s and turned into the rough palm. “I never thought there’d come a time when you didn’t need me anymore, or where I’d be pushed out of the way.”

Max scooted closer and put his arm over his big brother’s shoulders.

“Ryker, I owe you everything. You raised me from the time I could walk.

Look at me Ryke and see what you did, look at the man that I am. You did this on your own. You were my brother and my father. Nothing will ever come between us. I’m not going anywhere…ever. And I do need you, Ryker.