Hagen, Lynn - Remi's Pup [Brac Pack 4] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (8 page)

“Hush, pup, before I use this line in a more inventive way.” Remi managed to get the last of it off of him, throwing it down.

“No, thanks. My bits and pieces can only take one traumatic experience a year, and that stunt in my apartment was enough to last a lifetime.” Remi saw his mate visibly shudder. “My cock is shriveling just thinking about it.”

Remi laid his hand on the back of Drew’s neck, pulling him in for a kiss. “Smart ass.”

They returned the poles as Remi led his mate around to the different stores. Drew stopped in front of the book store. “Can I get a book? Don’t tell anyone, but I’m a closet nerd.”

“You can get anything you want, love, and your secret’s safe with me.” Remi held the door open as Drew stepped through, excitement lighting up his face. He would give his mate anything to keep him happy. To see his face with a smile instead of the sadness or pain, he would buy the bookstore.

“Can I help you, gentlemen?”

Remi turned to see a man an inch taller than himself. He had a very friendly face.

“I was wondering if you had books on chemical dependency.” Remi was shocked and proud of his mate’s choice to learn about his addiction. Seemed his pup wasn’t fooling around. Remi had to fight the urge to buy all the books on drugs and help his mate with whatever he needed, but he knew he had to step back and allow Drew this. He would be there though, anything his mate needed.

“Sure, any chemical in particular?” He led Drew to the back of the store, showing him the section he needed. Remi stayed close by but gave his mate the space he needed.

“No.” The clerk pulled two books out, handing them over to Drew.

“Anything else?” The guy’s eyes softened when he asked Drew. Remi wondered if the clerk had guessed it was his mate. Or maybe he thought Drew was trying to help someone else? Whatever the case, Remi was glad that Drew was finally acknowledging the support surrounding him.

“How about any good gay romance novels?” Drew blushed at his request as the clerk chuckled.

“You’d be surprised at how many women buy those books.”

“Really?” Remi asked. What could be so interesting about gay love that would have woman reading them? Sure, this small town didn’t seem to care about the gay men who lived here, but the overall acceptance was still not up to par.

The clerk nodded as he took Drew to the adult only section. Remi joined him then, curious at Drew’s selection. Drew leaned into Remi’s ear. “Never hurts to get some good ideas,” he whispered as he waggled his brows.

Remi smiled as Drew picked three books and headed to the front of the store. He laid his purchases on the counter as Remi fished out his wallet.

“I haven’t seen you around here before.” The clerk extended his hand. “I’m Murphy.”

“Drew. And this is my partner, Remi.” They shook hands. Murphy inclined his head at his mate.

“Thank you, Drew. Hope to see you again.” He smiled and waved as Drew and Remi stepped out of the door.

“Nice guy.”

“Yeah. Wanna grab some hot chocolate?” Remi held his hand as they made their way to the café. Drew took a seat on the soft red couch, peeking inside his dirty novels. He giggled as Remi brought their drinks over.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. I’ll show you later.” Drew stowed his book back in his little brown paper bag.

* * * *

Drew ran into the den, pulling Cecil and Johnny off to the side. “Look what Remi bought me.” He pulled the three books from his bag, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one could see.

“Wow, are those smut books?” Cecil tried to grab one from Drew’s hand, but Drew pulled back. He nodded his head in quick bursts. “Uh-huh, gay ones. You can read them after me. Okay?”

“What’s a smut book?” Johnny looked from Cecil to Drew, his brows drawn down.

Cecil threw his arm over Johnny’s shoulder, “Johnny, my man, you have a lot to learn.”

* * * *

Blair sat off to the side, watching the three chat in hushed tones as though they were afraid of being caught with porn magazines by their parents. He smiled sadly, wishing he was as innocent as those three. Blair would give anything to redo his life, but fate had chosen a different path for him. Arms snaked from behind him as Dakota pulled him from the couch.

“And what has got my sunshine feeling so down?”

Blair nuzzled Dakota’s neck. If redoing his life meant not meeting Dakota, he wouldn’t change anything.

“Nothing now.”

* * * *

Cecil, Johnny, and Drew crept along the hall. It was after midnight. They didn’t want anyone to catch them. It would be too embarrassing to be caught looking at a porn sight. Drew’s book had mentioned something that they were clueless about, and they were dying to find out what it was. . They knew the wolves had exceptional hearing, so even a creaking floor board would give them away.

Cecil put his index finger to his lips as he slowly turned the doorknob. They crept across the carpet as the white light illuminated their faces. Cecil began clicking away as Johnny bounced from foot to foot with his fists shoved at his mouth. Drew waved his hand for Johnny to get his butt over by them before he gave them away.

“Got it.” Johnny ran around Maverick’s desk as all three stood there with their jaws hanging open looking at the computer screen.

“What’s going on in here?” Maverick asked as Hawk and Remi walked in behind him.

“Oh god! We’re busted. Run!” Johnny shot around the desk, trying to run out of the office. Hawk grabbed him around the waist and swung him up into his arms. He pulled him close as he walked around the desk, looking at the monitor.

Cecil shook his head and chuckled at Johnny’s paranoid reaction to their warriors finding them on a pornographic website. He was such a neophyte.

“Uh, guys. I think you need to see this.”

Maverick and Remi hugged their mates as they came around the desk.

Maverick’s eyes bugged as Remi tilted his head to the side, brows furrowed.

“Cecil, why were you and the other mates on this website?” Maverick couldn’t take his eyes off of the screen.

“The book mentioned hermaphrodites, and we wanted to know what it was. Please, get it off of the screen.” Cecil shuddered in Maverick’s arms.

“If you wanted to know, all you had to do was ask. These images are disgusting.” Remi clicked out of the website.

“Believe me, with images like that, I will.” Drew shuddered.

* * * *

Remi immediately shifted into his wolf form as he entered the kitchen, circling around Tank, jaws snapping.

“Whoa, Remi, I’m not hurting Drew. Calm down.” Tank lowered Drew from above his head, holding him in his arms. “Back the hell up, Remi.”

“I’m okay, Remi.” Drew reached a hand down to pet his mate. This was the first time he had seem Remi in his wolf form. He was beautiful. “I just needed Tank to lift me to reach a bowl, and I got scared of the height. I’m okay, mate.” Drew cooed at him.

Remi backed up, shifting his form. He pulled Drew from Tank‘s arms, nuzzling his neck and rubbing his back.

“Dude, chill. The squirt needed a large bowl for snacks. I didn’t know he was going to freak out when I lifted him. Sorry.” Tank walked out, leaving Remi and Drew alone.

“You okay, pup?”

Drew chuckled, “I’m fine, knight in shining armor. Didn’t realize how damn tall Tank really was until I was above his head.”

Remi pulled a chair to the counter, stepping on it to retrieve the bowl his mate had been after. “I’ll make sure it’s stored
under
the cabinet for you vertically challenged mates.”

Drew swatted at him with the large plastic bowl. “I’ll give you short.”

“Well, babe. You’re only five six in a house full of men over six feet. You’re vertically challenged.” Remi jumped back as Drew swung the bowl again.

“Be nice, pup. I’ll have to spank you.”

“Promises, promises.” Drew poured the snacks as he nibbled on the nachos.

“You and the boys have big plans tonight?” Remi grabbed a handful of chips as he watched Drew grab soda’s from the fridge. He loved seeing his mate with his new friends. Drew’s confidence was lifted and his cravings were almost nonexistent.

“Yeah. Cecil got a horror movie for us to watch. Wanna join us?”

“Nah. It’s your night with the fellas. Have fun.” Remi kissed Drew. “I’m going to get dressed then to find Tank to apologize.”

* * * *

“I can’t watch.” Johnny covered his eyes as the killer hacked his victim into tiny pieces. Bloodcurdling screams bounced off the walls in the den from the surround sound.

“I gotcha, buddy.” Blair pulled Johnny close to his chest as the female ran through the abandoned warehouse, falling a gazillion times.

“Will you stop falling, you idiot.” Drew threw popcorn at the large flat screen television. “Why do woman always fall?”

“Guess their boobies tip them over.” Johnny giggled.

They all burst out laughing as the killer locked her in, cutting the power to the warehouse.

The lights cut out in the den. Cecil screamed, panic seizing him. It was dark, too dark. He felt his way around the couch as he screamed for Maverick, sobbing.

Two big strong arms pulled him up and held him tight. “It’s okay, baby. You’re not in the tunnels. Power’s out is all. Calm down. Someone go see what happened,” Maverick barked out. He didn’t like to see Cecil this frightened. Maverick knew he was having flashbacks, and he wanted them to stop immediately.

“On it,” someone said as he carried Cecil to a window, pulling the curtains back so the moon shown down on them.

“Think of it as a romantic night. Just you, me, and the moonlight.” Maverick rubbed his mate’s back as he waited for the power to be restored.

* * * *

“Is he going to be okay?” Drew whispered to Remi.

“Yeah, he just had a traumatic experience that involved pitch-black tunnels. He’s terrified of the dark now. Maverick has him.” Remi pulled Drew in his arms, keeping him close. It may be a power outage. It may not be. He wasn’t taking chances with his mate. Remi saw that Hawk had Johnny wrapped tightly in his arms while Kota held onto Blair. He knew Micah had Oliver safely upstairs.

Remi could hear Loco whispering into Maverick’s ear. “It wasn’t a power outage. It was cut.”

The mates were immediately escorted into Maverick’s office as the Sentries went on alert. Even Oliver was pulled downstairs and thrust into the office with them.

“What’s going on? Micah woke me and pulled me down here.” Oliver looked from one face to the next for an answer.

“The killer came out of the movie to eat you.” Johnny pouted at him.

Oliver rolled his eyes. “Whatever, dude.”

“Power outage,” Blair offered his brother. Drew saw the way Oliver curled his lip at Blair. What was wrong with the guy? What had caused Oliver to be so black-hearted?

“I heard Loco tell Maverick that it was cut.” Cecil moved closer to Drew. He pulled the mate closer to him. Cecil's eyes radiated pure terror. Remi had told him about Cecil's ordeal, so he could understand why the mate was this way.

“Why would someone cut it?” Johnny looked confused.