To Have A Human (11 page)

Carey easily caught the vial.

“You know, for a human you have really good reflexes,” John commented.

“Thanks. Harris, grab Broden,” Carey ordered.

Harris put the rifle strap across his chest, then walked over and picked up Broden. The bear shifter easily flipped the unconscious cat over his shoulder. A flash caught Carey’s attention.

Isaac shrugged. “What, you didn’t think I’d get a picture of that? It’s perfect blackmail material.”

“Send me a copy,” Carey said. With a nod to John and a wave to his kitty cohorts, Carey led his group back to the van.

“That was disappointingly bloodshed-free,” Denton said with a pout.

“One guy died,” Harris pointed out.

“Yeah, but it was all tidy and neat,” Denton protested.

Carey laughed. “Sorry, next time I’ll request more blood splatter.”

Shaking his head, he got in the car and they drove home.

Chapter Seven

Broden woke up to a blinding headache in the most comfortable bed he’d ever lain in. Like sleeping on a cloud, the mattress cushioned his body and the covers cocooned him in a cozy nest. He could easily stay there forever.

“Good morning, lazy cat.”

Broden’s favorite voice in the world added to his pleasure and he began to purr. “Morning, mate,” he replied. His voice sounded rusty to his ears and his throat dry.

“Here’s some water,” Carey slid an arm behind him and pressed a glass to his lips.

Broden happily drank the cool liquid as he soaked in his mate’s scent. The whole bed smelled like him—hell, the whole room did.

“I’m in your home,” Broden said, amazed.

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Carey asked.

“Someone stabbed something into my neck,” Broden replied.

“John Greben had you drugged and kidnapped in order to get to me,” Carey informed him.

Broden blinked up at his mate. “But you’re here and I’m here. What happened?”

“Let’s just say things didn’t work out for him like he thought.”

Looking around the room, Broden soaked in the architecture. Unlike his modern, cold building, Carey’s room had interesting moldings and pale yellow walls with vibrant artwork. The furniture had the feel of solid wood and the window treatments blended with the colors in the room. Overall, it oozed home from the very core.

“No wonder you don’t like my place,” Broden mused.

Carey laughed. “You’ve slept for a few days, want to take a shower and get some food?”

“Sounds good,” Broden agreed. He didn’t really want to get up
—
he’d never been so comfortable in his life, but he did need to use the bathroom and he might as well shower while he was there.

“Come on,” Carey held out hand to help Broden up.

Broden let Carey pull him out of bed before wrapping an arm around his mate and dragging him toward the door he pointed to.

“I think it would be a better idea if we shower together. Water conservation and all,” Broden declared.

“Hmm, very wise idea,” Carey agreed. “You go ahead and use the bathroom. I’ll come in when you start the shower.”

Broden did his business, brushed his teeth with a new toothbrush he found on the sink and started the water. With some food and another session in that heavenly bed, he’d be good as new.

Carey appeared as if on cue.

“Get in and I’ll wash your back,” Carey motioned Broden inside.

“That’s probably the best offer I’ve ever had,” Broden agreed, stepping into the tub. It was one of those old-fashioned claw-foot tubs with the amazingly high sides. A curtain ran all around it, but when Cary moved the curtain away from the window, it exposed a private rose garden.

“My grandmother planted that garden in tribute to my mother. She died having me, but apparently loved roses,” Carey said.

“Is your grandmother still around?”

Carey shook his head. “No, we lost her a few years ago. She left me this house.”

“From what I’ve seen of it it’s beautiful,” Broden said.

“I love it and I love you,” Carey said, soaping up his hands.

Broden smiled. “Does this mean you’re going to agree to become my mate officially?”

“Someday. There’s not any hurry, is there?” Carey asked.

Broden sighed as his mate’s hands ran across his body, stroking and soothing him with each pass. “No hurry as long as everyone knows that I have you.”

“I’ve thought about adding another tattoo,” Carey said as he wrapped his hand around Broden’s erection.

“Whatever you want,” Broden agreed. “As long as you keep me.”

“Would you like to move in with me?” Carey asked. “My friends won’t be moving out.”

“I wouldn’t ask them to,” Broden reassured him.

“Good, then let the negotiations begin.” Without warning, Carey dropped to his knees and Broden realized his lover had no intention on playing fair, a fact that became less and less important against the skill of Carey’s talented mouth. In no time at all his orgasm rushed through him only to be greedily sucked down by his lover.

His knees wobbled and he was more than a little relieved when Carey stood up to help support him.

“Come, cat man. Let’s go back to bed and I’ll tell you a bedtime story about the boy who grew up in this house,” Carey coaxed.

Eager to go back to bed, Broden let Carey lead him back into the other room only to stop at the sight of a pair of fully automatic machine guns with white bows around them. They looked like the sort of bows you’d put on a wedding package.

“Aww, Dad must like you,” Carey said. “He only leaves guns for people he likes.”

“Um, that’s sweet?”

“Welcome to the family, Broden,” Carey said with a grin.

Exhaustion wore Broden down. “Let’s get the guns off the bed and take a nap. After that we can explore all the things two grown men can do in such a big comfy bed.”

“It’s a date,” Carey agreed.

Broden climbed into bed and cuddled his mate close. Today he just wanted to lie there and be with Carey. Tomorrow he’d worry about the details of meshing their lives together.

About the Author

Amber Kell lives in Seattle, WA with her husband, two sons, one cat and one extremely stupid dog. She loves to hear from her fans at [email protected]