Devon Morgan [Seven Brothers for McBride 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (14 page)

Without seeming to be aware of it, Devon increased his pace.

Karsten kept on with his sly encouragement, upping the rhythm in such small increments that Devon didn’t notice until he was going almost twice as fast. Once he realized, he tried to slow down, but the urge to find release was too great. Karsten could see the struggle clearly as emotions moved across Devon’s expressive face.

“Fill me. I want to feel you all the way inside me.”

Devon kissed him then, teasing his tongue against the fresh scar. Karsten bucked below him. In his frantic need, he spread his legs wide, embracing Devon’s hips. He dug his heels into Devon’s buttocks, using his body as leverage to rock his own. Faster they went until Devon pushed himself over the edge. He bit gently into Karsten’s lip, spilling his blood at the same time he spilled his seed. Karsten joined him, spilling between their bodies, loving the way Devon used the slickness to his advantage and plunged just a bit deeper.

They clung together, motionless, for a long time. The room’s luminescence faded, granting entrance to night’s darkness. In the rich black, the only sound Karsten could hear was the sweet music of their matched breaths.

McBride had fed from Caleb, and he’d found his release against his powerful body, but it wasn’t enough. Lifting his head, he kissed Caleb, growling when Caleb returned his passion in equal measure. Longing to bind him fully, McBride swiped the tip of his tongue against the cutting edge of Caleb’s canine.

Caleb’s reaction wasn’t what he wanted at all. Rather than drink deeply of his blood, Caleb flinched back, spitting out what had spilled into him. Glaring at McBride, he palmed some water, rinsed his mouth, and exited the shower before McBride could do anything to stop him.

McBride’s instinct was to chase after him, but he quashed that urge. What he’d done was wrong, and they both knew it. He didn’t need to see Caleb’s disapproving face to remind him he’d tried to force a bloodbond on him. Shaking his head, McBride had no idea what the hell was wrong with him. He knew better, and yet something about Caleb made him toss his morals aside. Just because he wanted something didn’t mean he could have it, especially since it wasn’t a thing but a living, breathing man.

He finished up his shower, wishing he could wash the dirt from his soul away as easily as filth from his body. When he stepped out of the bathroom with a towel slung around his hips, he was surprised to find Caleb sitting on the edge of his bed.

“That was a dirty trick.”

“I know. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Caleb nodded.

McBride had a feeling he’d never be close enough to Caleb to attempt anything so asinine again.

“I’m not doing this just to torment you.”

Knowing that anything he said would be a waste of time when Caleb had already made up his mind, McBride simply nodded. He wanted to get dressed, but he didn’t want Caleb to think he was trying to seduce him again, so he decided to wait until after he left. That he had to stand and have a conversation wearing only a towel wasn’t as odd a feeling as it should have been.

“I can’t forget who I am and what matters to me just so I can have the man I—” Caleb cut himself off and stood. “Just don’t do it again.”

“I won’t.” McBride swore he’d lock up his face before he’d try to feed Caleb his blood against his will. Then again, he’d sworn off Caleb a half a dozen times, and not a vow he’d made yet stuck for longer than half a day. Caleb’s cutting himself off at that precise moment was very telling. McBride knew then that his depth of feelings—longing, lust, and even love—were fully reciprocated. But Caleb couldn’t let go of the wrong he thought he’d committed by not protecting Ollie. “Punishing yourself won’t change what happened between Ollie and Jonas.”

“I’m not—we are not hashing that out again.” Caleb had pulled on his shorts, and now he was tying up his boots.

“I need you to do me a favor.”

“What’s that?”

“Stay away from me.”

A look of deep hurt transformed Caleb’s proud stance. He slumped, and his sparkling eyes seemed to suddenly dull. “I think that might be for the best.” After a moment, Caleb met his gaze. “But you have to feed.”

“I will.”

“Tell me which brother.”

“It’s not your concern.”

“It is if you’re going to go after one of them.”

McBride bristled. “I don’t owe you an explanation, a justification, or anything else. If I want someone other than you, I’ll go after him.”

“Not one of my brothers.” Finished with his boots, Caleb rose.

“My choices are a little limited.”

They stood glaring at one another in silence.

“Please go.” McBride pointed to the door.

“And what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to get dressed and get to work.”

“You need to get back in bed.”

“I’m fine.” Considering how thoroughly ill he’d been this morning, he was feeling practically on the top of the world now. “Apparently, all I needed was a good meal, a nap, and some blood.”

Grimacing, Caleb seemed to be assessing him, so McBride stood for inspection. “I still think you should stay here. Everything is taken care of, so you can relax.”

“There’s no point if I’m fine.” McBride looked pointedly at the door, but Caleb wasn’t going. He stood almost in the center of the room, his indecision clear. “Give me something and I’ll wait for you.”

Up came Caleb’s head.

“Something. Anything. But if you’re really serious, then I have no choice but to move on.” McBride knew better than to issue any man an ultimatum. Nine times out of ten, the man would do the opposite of what the issuer wanted just because of being cornered. He hoped Caleb would be different, but he wasn’t.

“I’ve told you how I feel. I won’t change my mind.”

“Then I’ll be moving my sights elsewhere.”

“Fine.” Caleb nodded. “I’m going to make sure everything is running smoothly, and then I’ll be leaving.”

McBride’s heart skipped a beat, but he said nothing. Everything had been said. It was over now. Even though he’d taunted Caleb with the idea that he might turn to one of his brothers, McBride wouldn’t. Not that they weren’t handsome, because they were, but he couldn’t go down that road again. He was going to find a man of his own station. Even though the world had changed, that didn’t mean he had to. Keeping traditions alive was what would get the world back to law and order. If he kept the peace and stuck to the rules on his land, then he could slowly rebuild society.

Turning away, McBride pulled fresh clothing from his drawers and closet. He tried not to listen for the sound of Caleb leaving his room, but his ears picked up the soft click of the door being unlocked. When he looked over his shoulder, Caleb was gone. McBride drew a deep breath and held it for as long as he could. Eventually, he had to let go, and it all came out in one big whoosh. If only he could let go of Caleb so easily.

As he dressed, McBride ran through all the things he needed to get done. Even with everyone pitching in, there was no shortage of chores. Losing Caleb was going to hurt, especially when it came to repairing the various machines. Caleb had a knack for knowing what had broken and how to fix it with whatever happened to be around. That skill would be worth a fortune now that all the repair shops were closed and spare parts eventually dried up. But McBride couldn’t get him to stay so he had to find someone else.

And then he hit on a potential solution to all his problems. Quintus, his crimetech, was quick on his feet and seemed to be able to anticipate issues, correcting them long before they worsened. Not only did he have those stellar qualities, but he was of McBride’s same class. Quintus was a gentryman. He wasn’t landed, but that was okay. McBride had more than enough land for the both of them.

McBride had never looked at Quintus in terms of pursuing him as a companion, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t do so now. Quintus had dirty blond hair and very unusual gray eyes. He was focused, driven, and quite handsome. He wasn’t as tall or as big as McBride himself, but he was still powerful. At the Larsden crime scene, McBride had gotten a glimpse of him in the biohazard shower in the back. His chest was bare, but that might be because he shaved. With some encouragement, he might let his body hair grow. He’d look better with hair. Caleb certainly—

“No.” McBride shook his head. He had to stop with the comparisons or even the notion of trying to make Quintus fit what he wanted. Accepting him for who he was would be the only way to go. Had there been a spark at the crime scene? McBride had been so focused on the horror that he hadn’t really paid his coworker much attention. However, that didn’t mean he couldn’t do so now.

But where was Quintus? McBride had invited him out what felt forever ago and then hadn’t heard from him since. His worry was somewhat mollified by the fact the communication system went down. If Quintus could contact him, he would. Quintus must just be getting all his things packed. That was all.

As soon as McBride was dressed, he left his room behind and tracked down the butler. He was in the kitchen cleaning, as was Ollie. It seemed to McBride’s untrained eye, Ollie was retrofitting the kitchen so that it would be easier for him to use rather than organized for the convenience of the cookbot.

“How’s everything going?”

“Good, sir. Did you need something?” Ollie was covered in random smudges and sweat beaded along his brow, but he’d never looked happier. It was amazing how quickly he’d turned into a strong, confident man once he had work that he enjoyed and a mate he loved.

“I was just about to ask you that.”

“I think we’re set in here.” Ollie rose up and looked out the window. “Looks like Jonas has things handled in the garden.”

It was on the tip of McBride’s tongue to ask where Caleb was, but he curbed himself at the last second. “I think we should tell your brothers the truth about you and Jonas.”

“Now?”

“Not right this moment but sooner rather than later.” McBride looked out the window, and against his best efforts, he searched for Caleb. He felt a sting of disappointment when he wasn’t there.

“I’m not sure if I’m ready. Given how Caleb feels about Jonas…”

“Caleb already knows.”

Ollie’s eyes widened, and his attention darted back to the garden.

“He swore to me he wouldn’t hurt Jonas.”

“And you trusted him?”

“I do.” McBride left out the rest. There was no reason to dump all of that on Ollie’s shoulders. “The reason I want to clear the air is because I’d like to pursue a mate of my own.”

Ollie frowned as he continued to look out at the men working the land.

“My crimetech is coming.”

“Oh.” Ollie shook his head. “I thought—never mind.”

McBride knew what he’d thought. If things were different, McBride would have been happy to announce he was claiming Caleb as his mate regardless of the law or anything else. Since that dream was now utterly destroyed, he had to move on.

Turning to the butler, McBride asked, “Has the valet seen any movement on the road?”

“No, sir. Not since Devon retrieved Karsten.”

“Karsten?”

“The man who was coming up the road yesterday?” the butler prompted.

“Oh. Right.” McBride had forgotten all about him. “Are they still quarantined in Devon’s house?”

“Yes, sir.”

“No one has checked on them?”

“I don’t know. I will endeavor to find out.” The butler made to go but stopped at the kitchen doorway. “Should I reactivate the communication link with you?”

“When was it deactivated?” McBride felt like he’d missed everything critical that had happened in the last few days.

“Caleb instructed me to remove you from the chain of notice when you were ill. You confirmed this in your bedroom earlier.”

“Of course.” McBride tried to sound confident, but he felt confused. How long had he been out of the loop? It was foolish for Caleb to sever McBride’s link when Caleb didn’t have one. The butler or valet would have to find him, and that wasn’t always easy on a farm this big. “Please reestablish the link.”

“Very good, sir.”

“And the valet is still keeping watch?”

“Yes. Should I tell him to contact you if he sees anything?”

“He should do so immediately. I’m expecting my crimetech, Quintus. Please have Ollie’s mechanical house freshened for him.” Even though McBride wanted to woo him, he would keep him quarantined for safety. Or perhaps he would accidently expose himself to Quintus so they were locked up together. That would give them time to get to know one another and let love bloom. However, before he did that, he might check on Devon and Karsten first. If they were at each other’s throats, he would ditch the idea. “I’m going to go check on Devon and his thrall.”

“I will get to work on preparing the house for our guest.”

As McBride went toward the yard, the butler went up the main staircase. McBride was about halfway across the yard when he saw Caleb. He was inside his house with the door open, giving McBride glimpses of him whenever he crossed the main room. From the way he was moving, he was packing things up. Determined not to care, McBride kept on his path to Devon’s house. Unfortunately, it was close to Caleb’s house. Renner’s house stood between them, but there was no distraction there since the drapes were all closed. McBride couldn’t remember a time when Renner’s shades were open.