Sunshine's Savior [Brac Pack 3] (4 page)

kicked on down the hall and laughter from the next room brought his mind back to the present. Why couldn’t he have had a normal life?

Finally, tired and dirty, he knocked.

Kota paced his hotel room, praying his mate came back to him.

How could he have lost it like that? He should have let Blair handle it.

Instead, he acted just like the hothead he was. He just may have lost his mate because of it.
No.
The possibility was unthinkable.

Kota howled, thinking about what his mate was doing right now, who he was with. Someone was soiling him, using him. He punched the wall and howled again. The cracks spidered out around the huge dent he made. This couldn’t be happening. He wanted to find that guy and rip his throat out. The images assaulted his brain. His mate on his knees in front of a stranger. His mate on all fours getting fucked by a stranger.

Stop, stop, stop
.

He squeezed his eyes shut, wanting to gouge them out.

How had things gone so wrong? His mate was smiling around

him, relaxing his guard, and Kota had to go and lose his temper. The thought of that Tony guy putting his lips anywhere near Blair sent him back into a rage. It brought home exactly what Blair had to do to survive. Knowing it was one thing. Seeing it made him want to kill everyone who had ever taken advantage of his mate’s predicament.

Kota stopped pacing, cocking his head. He heard rustling at his door, a faint inhale then a sigh. His heart quickened at the thought of it being his mate. If it was, he couldn’t lose his temper. He had to stay in control. He stepped closer to the door, listening.

A whisper of a knock echoed. That was all he needed. Kota

grabbed the handle and swung the door open. He growled when he saw the tattered state Blair was in. His mate took a step back, tucking his hair behind his ear and lowering his head. He didn’t make a sound.

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“Are you hurt?” he asked quietly.

Control. Control. Control.
This was going to be his new mantra.

Blair shrugged his shoulders but remained still.

Kota held his hand up, waiting for his mate to take it. Blair’s hand came up but then fell back to his side, his hands fisting. Taking a deep breath, he placed his fingertips on Kota’s palm.

He led Blair into the room, closing the door. Stepping behind him, Kota removed the now ruined coat.

Kota inhaled the musky fragrance of his mate, letting it flow through his nostrils and into his lungs. He wanted to breathe Blair. He set the coat down, bending to one knee. Kota palmed the shoe and slid it off, doing the same with its mate. Standing, he led Blair to the bathroom and sat him on the closed toilet seat.

“Take your shirt off so I can see what damage you have.”

Blair’s hands were shaking so badly he couldn’t get the sweater over his head. Kota helped him pull it the rest of the way off, tossing it to the floor. He ran his hand over Blair’s back then down his chest.

Admiring and examining.

“Remove your pants.”

Blair stood, unfastening them, and then slid them down and stepped out, tossing them to the floor. He sat back down, his head never lifting once. Kota ran him a warm bath, adding Epsom salt. He gently lifted Blair by the waist, helping him step in.

Kota kneeled by the tub as he bathed his mate. He held his neck and dipped him back to wet his hair. The ends had already fanned out, floating in the water. He washed and rinsed the silken strands. Kota lifted him out then wrapped him in a heated towel. The second towel was twisted onto his hair.

Kota picked him up, carrying him to bed and crawling in behind him. He pulled the covers up and pulled Blair close. Kissing his temple, Kota turned the light off.

30

Lynn Hagen

Blair lay snuggled in Dakota’s arms. He had been awake for a while now but couldn’t bring himself to move. Strong arms were wrapped around him, cocooning him in and keeping him safe. Blair snuggled deeper into his warrior.
His?
Whoa, since when did he start thinking the guy was his? In a few days this guy would leave him behind, and Blair would go back to a life that held no appeal in the first place. His chest tightened at the thought of Dakota leaving him.

He didn’t want to be alone anymore. Blair wrapped his hands around the chiseled arms, running his finger up and down, memorizing the dips and curves of tendons.

“Good morning, sunshine.” Dakota kissed the back of his neck, pulling Blair tighter in his arms. He closed his eyes at the tenderness, not wanting to let him go.

“Hungry?” A strong hand rubbed his shoulder as his neck was kissed once more.

Blair shook his head. If he said yes, they would have to get up. He wanted more time. He wanted forever. Life made him a realist, and he wasn’t a fool to wish for things he couldn’t have, didn’t deserve. A few more minutes would do. “I was molested as a boy.”
Oh, my
fucking god.
Did he really just say that out loud? What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he so relaxed with Dakota that he was ready to tell him his whole life history? Guys didn’t want confessions.

They wanted a good time. Then it was “I’ll call you”. Blair mentally slapped himself. He had just messed up a perfectly good cuddle session.

Dakota shifted, pulling Blair tighter into his arms. “You’re safe, sunshine.” He kissed Blair’s hair, gently rocking him. Blair took a deep breath to steel his nerves as he told Dakota all the sordid details.

His warrior just lay there listening, petting him. He told him of his dad sneaking into his room and forcing himself on a much younger Blair. Talked of all the years it had gone on. How his father had called him his “dirty little whore” or asked him to “show Daddy how good

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his little boy is.” He relived how his father had said he was too old now and kicked him out onto the streets.

“I have a little brother. I tried to tell someone. I tried to get him out. No one listened to me. No one cares. He’s seventeen. I don’t know what to do. I’ve been out here for three months now.” Blair wiped at his eyes with the palm of his hands. “I kept him safe, kept my father’s attention on me so he would leave Oliver alone. I don’t know what’s happened since I haven’t been there.” Blair felt as though part of him was cleansed. Even if nothing came of his confession, a weight had been lifted.

“Do you trust me, Blair?”

“More than anyone else. Why?”

Dakota turned him over, staring into Blair’s eyes. “There’s something you need to know. I’ve been struggling with how to tell you and feared you would freak out. But since you have honored me with your trust, I feel I owe you the same.”

Blair searched his face, trying to guess what it might be. Was he married? Wanted by the FBI? Did he have a house full of screaming kids running around? What? “Please. Tell me. I’ll try not to freak out.”

Blair gasped as Dakota’s eyes turned crimson red, like the devil.

“What are you? Are you going to hurt me?

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Lynn Hagen

“Never. I would never hurt you. I am a three hundred and sixty-six-year-old Timber wolf. And you are my mate.”

Blair scrambled out of the bed, slamming his back into the wall. It tore at Kota’s heart to see such fear in his mate.

“Stay away from me. D–don’t come near me.”

Kota rose from the bed, stalking toward Blair. The shock in his mate’s eyes pained him, but now that the smaller man knew he couldn’t be allowed to go.

Blair skated along the wall trying to make it to the door. Kota slammed a hand on either side of Blair’s head, trapping him. “You are my mate. I have waited over three centuries to find you. I will not allow you to leave me.”

Blair was shaking spastically. His mate was whimpering and cowering. This was unacceptable. Kota pulled Blair’s naked body into his arms. “Do you not feel safe with me? Do you not feel the pull to be near me? A blanket of sadness covers you at the thought of us separating?”

Blair nodded into Kota’s chest.

“That is because fate has chosen you for me. For me to cherish and love you. Your happiness and health come before even my own.

Do not fear me, sunshine. I will never harm you.”

“You’re a─a wolf?”

“Yes, my love. I am.” Kota picked him up and carried him back to bed. He lay his mate down and crawled over him, looking down at the man he was going to spend the next six centuries with. “Now that you know, do you still trust me?”

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Kota held his breath. If his mate didn’t trust him, wouldn’t accept his wolf, then how would he convince him to bond with him?

Convince him to come home to safety and love?

Blair nodded.

“Good. There is something among my kind called a claiming. It happens when a wolf finds his mate. I haven’t done this with you because you’re not ready. When you are, I will know.” Kota leaned down, claiming the lips he had been dying to taste. All his senses came alive at that moment of contact.

Blair broke the kiss. “What do you have to do in this
claiming
?”

“When you’re ready, I will make love to you. I will ask you if you accept me.” Kota nibbled further down his neck. “If you say yes, I will bite your shoulder.” He nipped gently to show his mate what he meant. “Binding our souls and hearts for eternity. If you tell me that you accept me and use my name at
any
time, the binding begins. So think carefully before those words leave your lips. The process cannot be stopped once started. Or reversed, sunshine.”

“Will you ever hurt me? Even if I make you really angry?”

“Never. A wolf waits too long to find its mate. Some never do.

You will be cherished and loved. Do not take that as a sign of weakness though. I won’t have you trying to run over me. I can’t and won’t tolerate that.”

Blair cupped his face and pulled him down, stealing another heated kiss. He stared into Kota’s eyes as if searching for something.

His mate had the most mesmerizing eyes. Blair gave a slight nod and smiled, those deep dimples carving into his face. Angelic.

“I didn’t, Dakota.” Blair kissed him again

“Didn’t what, sunshine?” Kota asked as he licked and kissed Blair’s jaw and neck. His mate’s skin was smooth, tempting him to toss away his patience and claim what was his and damn the consequences. Pulling back to break away from the temptation, Kota stared down into forever.

“Didn’t do anything with that guy. I couldn’t. All I kept thinking

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Lynn Hagen

about was you. He wouldn’t let me go. I had to jump out of his window. That’s how I messed up the new coat you bought me. I’m sorry.” Kota leaned down and kissed his mate again, nuzzling his neck. He could get used to this real fast.

“Thank you.” Kota ran his fingers through soft black silk. His mate hadn’t done it, hadn’t been soiled. He didn’t care about anything before he found him. Blair did what he had to do to survive. He only cared about what happened now. The thought of— “I want to be your mate, Dakota.”

Huh? “
No
. What have you done, little one? You’re not ready.”

Kota had wanted to wait, didn’t want Blair feeling bought. He had hated paying him and having his mate feeling degraded. It had been the only way to get him to stay. Kota would have given his whole portfolio for Blair. Man, he just kept jumping from one mess into another.

His plan was to coax his mate to accept a life with him, take him home to get used to the idea of mating a were-creature. Not claim him in a hotel room under the idea of his time and body being paid for.

Kota knew it was too late now. The claiming had started, and any idea of putting it off slipped from his hand when his mate uttered those words.

“Only I can say when I’m ready. I’m ready.” Blair’s grin stretched his whole face. If Dakota spoke the truth, he got to keep him.

“I’m going to have a hell of a time keeping you out of trouble, aren’t I?” Kota chuckled as his mate gave a mischievous nod.

“Fine. Let the claiming begin.”

Kota stripped down, watching his mate lick his lips. “Is my mate pleased?” Kota splayed his hands to indicate his body.

“Does a bear shit in the woods? Hell, yeah. Dude, you’re a god.”

Kota laughed as he crawled back in bed. He pulled Blair under him,

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letting his eyes take in the smaller man’s naked form.

“You’re the god. You’re beautiful, mate.” Kota dipped down and captured his lips, nipping and licking the sweet taste. Blair wrapped his legs around Kota’s waist, running his hands through his hair. “I want you to remember something, love.” Kota kissed and licked his gorgeous man’s neck.

“Anything, Dakota.” Blair moaned.

“Whatever we do together is between two mates. There is no shame.” Kota sucked his skin until he reached a pink little nipple. He lapped and bit, raising it to a peak. His tongue trailed across to reach the other, rolling the flesh in his teeth.

“I’ll try. I promise. Fuck, you’re a biter.” Blair pushed his nipple against Kota’s mouth, wanting the pain.

“Do you mind?” Kota bit the skin under his arm, lapping at the sting.

“Hell, no. Chomp away my big, bad wolf.”

Kota chuckled as he did just that. He nipped his way down Blair’s side, lapping a trail back up. Kota leaned back down and bit Blair’s hip, sucking up a mark on it. He trailed his tongue across his mate’s abdomen as he bit the other, raising a matching mark on it as well.

Kota lapped at Blair’s cock, nipping his way down the shaft. It was a beautiful cock, thick and long. He was definitely well-endowed.

Kota grabbed the prick, nipping his way back up to the head.

Kota stretched the eye open, licking at all the pre-come dripping out. He took it in, sucking in a quick, bursting motion. Blair grabbed his hair, pulling it rough as he snapped his hips, shoving his cock further down Kota’s mouth. “Suck it, Dakota.”