Loving Styles [Brac Village 12] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (8 page)

Opening the car door, Styles squatted down. “It’s going to be okay, Robby.” He wasn’t sure what else to say. The guy’s home had been broken into and trashed. Styles was pretty sure that Robby felt violated. A home was a person’s safe haven, their oasis.

“I just don’t get why someone would do that to me.”

Styles reached out and grabbed Robby’s hand, giving it a small tug. “Come on.”

His mind was working overtime. There was a spare room in the house. Spencer had moved out when he mated Bear. Should Styles put him in there or in his own room? What really, really bothered him was the fact that he was no longer thinking of Robby as a wolf, but a friend. He wanted to help, to comfort the man.

He should have been taking Robby to the bed and breakfast, setting him up there, not bringing him home. Hadn’t Styles sworn that
all
wolves were his mortal enemies? Once again, Styles found a battle waging inside of him.

It would be easier to let the man in if only…

“I don’t want to be alone tonight,” Robby murmured behind him. “I’m not trying to encroach on your space, but I just—”

“It’s fine,” Styles said before he thought about his words. Was it fine? Could he allow Robby to stay in his bedroom? Styles set the suitcase by his dresser, unsure of what to say when they were both in his room.

Robby sat at the edge of Styles’s bed, his hands in his lap. His head was tilted down and the guy looked on the verge of crying again. Styles wasn’t sure what to do. He’d never had to console anyone before. The concept was foreign to him.

“My life’s belongings are in that house,” Robby said. “All the memories I’ve gathered my entire life.”

Styles glanced around his bedroom. There were no pictures on the walls or dresser. There was nothing there to make his room personal. He had a bed, two nightstands, two lamps, and a dresser. That was it. He hadn’t collected a damn thing.

And then he thought about the ribbon in his front pocket. He also thought about the flowers sitting in his bathroom. The flowers Robby had been sending him. Those were the only things he had saved. Styles didn’t believe in hanging onto mementoes. They had never been worth hanging onto before.

“We’ll get it all put back together.” Styles wasn’t sure why he had offered to help the man, but having something taken away was a feeling he was well acquainted with. Styles could identify with Robby on that subject.

“Thanks for helping me out,” Robby said as he lifted his head, and then he cocked it to the side. “Why were you at my place?”

Styles cleared his throat, unsure of what to say. He had just wanted to drive by and maybe catch a glimpse of Robby without the man knowing what he was doing. He hadn’t planned on stopping. “I was heading someplace.”

God, even to him that sounded lame.

Robby gave him a look that said he knew Styles was lying. But the man didn’t call him on it. He just nodded and then stood. “Bathroom?” he asked, pointing toward the door on the far end of the room.

Styles held his breath as Robby walked over to the door and then stepped inside. The guy was going to see the flowers. Every single bouquet that Robby had sent him sat in its own individual vase. They were scattered all over his bathroom. There was no way he wouldn’t see them.

When Robby emerged from the bathroom, Styles braced himself for the teasing, for the man to say that Styles was a wuss for wanting to keep something that was very precious to him. But Robby didn’t say anything about the flowers as he sat back down. “You have an awesome shower.”

His bedroom and bathroom were his oasis. The bathroom was the one place Styles had splurged. He had contracted Roman Lakeland to remodel it into Styles’s dream bathroom. “It is pretty cool,” he admitted.

“Do you mind if I take a shower?” Robby asked as he bounced his blondish-brown eyebrows. “I need one, but honestly, I am dying to check it out.”

For the first time since they had been around each other, Styles laughed. “Be my guest.”

Robby moved over to Styles, leaning down to grab his suitcase, and Styles could do nothing but hold his breath. The man was so close, his face right there at Styles’s crotch. He could feel himself growing hard as Robby took longer than needed to grab the handle before he pulled away and knelt on the floor.

The guy was torturing him in ways that had his cock pulsing. He was kneeling there, unzipping the case, still so damn close that Styles’s body was heating up to nuclear meltdown. When Robby tilted his head back and gazed up at Styles, he thought his cock would explode.

“Do you keep the towels in there?”

Styles daftly nodded, his lungs hurting from holding his breath. Robby gave him a teasing smile before he grabbed a pair of pajama pants from the suitcase and then headed into the bathroom.

Styles needed to get away, to put space between them. He didn’t think he could handle it if Robby stepped from his bathroom, his body glistening with sprinkles of water clinging to his skin. He headed toward the door, making a quick exit and then walked briskly down the stairs.

When he reached the kitchen, Styles felt as if he could breathe again.

“I see Robby’s car is out back,” Kenway said as he stood at the counter, making himself something to eat. The tone wasn’t accusing, but questioning.

“Someone broke into his place and trashed it.” He felt compelled to explain Robby’s presence. That was something he never felt the need to do. Styles explained himself to no one. But here he stood, babbling nervously to Kenway. “The cops asked if I would let him stay here for the night until they could dust the place down for fingerprints.”

Kenway cocked his eyebrow, but didn’t say anything about Styles’s loose lips. “Is he all right?”

“He’s a bit shaken up, but he wasn’t hurt.” Styles went to the fridge and grabbed a bottled water. He cracked the lid and drank half the bottle. His throat was so fucking dry that it felt like sandpaper.

“Do they know why someone would break into his place?”

Styles shook his head. “No one knows. Robby says he doesn’t have any enemies.”

Kenway studied him for a moment as he shoved his plate in the microwave. “Do you think he should come into work tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” Styles answered. “He should be somewhere where he can be protected.” Styles was acting so out of character. Not only was he looking out for someone other than himself, but a wolf no less.

It had to be a shocker for Kenway. But hell, it was a shocker for Styles as well. Never in his life had he thought to protect his sworn enemy. Yet here he was, keeping Robby safe.

“You know he is welcome to stay here for as long as he needs.”

Styles headed toward the side door. “I know.” He needed air. He walked to the back deck, standing there as he tried his best to compose his frazzled nerves. Fuck! Robby was in his bathroom, naked, lathering soap all over his—Styles pushed the thought away.

Robby was here. Styles just couldn’t believe it. This was a far cry from the way he had acted when he first realized that Robby was his mate.

His chest hurt, really fucking hurt. He had acted like an insane animal that day, rebelled against the idea that a wolf was his mate. And then Styles felt ashamed because his mind had refused to accept that fact and he had never allowed himself to think of Robby as his mate.

He had even agreed with the cops that Robby was a friend…not a boyfriend…not his husband…just a friend. He gazed up at the sky, wondering if letting the man in, letting go of his rage, would be a betrayal to his parents’ memory. He was conflicted.

The air stirred around him and Styles scented bear. “What do you want, Reese?”

The man moved closer, bumping his shoulder with Styles. He hated that there was a riff between them. Reese had been there for Styles through thick and thin. The man was hell of a friend to have and he had taken his anger out on the guy.

“I see Robby is here.”

Styles nodded.

“Kenway told me what happened.”

God, could that guy keep any kind of secret? He had the loosest fucking lips around. If he ever wanted to commit a crime, Styles would have to make sure Kenway was nowhere near him.

Reese moved over to the table and took a seat. “Nice night out.”

Styles joined him, sitting back and staring at the woods behind their home. He thought about Robby, the flowers he had sent, the keychain, and the witty cards. He smiled when he thought about the chicken, and how he held the man’s heart…joint custody.

He’d never met anyone like Robby before.

“He seems like a really sweet guy,” Reese said, breaking into Styles’s thoughts.

“You can’t watch us have sex.”

Reese chuckled. “Aw, come on. You won’t even know I was there.”

Styles cut his eyes at Reese, giving the man a look that said his answer would always be no. It didn’t slip his mind that he had just admitted out loud they he was going to have sex with Robby. When he spoke the words, they had felt natural.

“Fine,” Reese said and then sighed. “I swear, everyone in this house is turning into prudes. At least Paine still lets me watch.”

“That’s because Paine is a true-to-the-heart freak,” Styles answered. “The man would have sex in the middle of town if he thought he could get away with it.”

Reese nodded. “He’s pissed that Steele has mated. Not that he doesn’t like Diablo and love his nephew, but the days when both of them fucked the same guy are over.”

Styles thought about the random sex he had over the years, the quickies, or the times when he got off and left. He couldn’t even remember any names. It had always been just an act for him, nothing more. His feelings had never been invested.

Glancing up toward the balcony that led to his bathroom, Styles knew that was about to change. His feelings toward Robby were changing in ways he never thought possible. Styles
wanted
to be with the guy.

Maybe he would play hard to get a while longer. He really did like getting flowers sent to him and he absolutely loved he ransom notes. God, he was a twisted fuck.

But twisted or not, Styles knew he was fighting a battle he wasn’t going to win. Robby had wormed his way into Styles’s life and he honestly couldn’t imagine himself pushing the man away any longer.

“You’re going to mate him, aren’t you?” Reese asked with a shitty ass grin on his face. “Mates will do that to you.”

Reese wasn’t mated, but Styles knew the guy was on the lookout. Every shifter wanted a mate. From what he had heard over the years, a mate was like having the other part of a person’s soul given to them.

Styles wasn’t sure if that was true, but he could say that having Robby close, he was starting to feel as though the man had become an integral part of his life.

God, who knew that Styles would fall just from having flowers sent to him and chicken sent with a ransom note?

Styles walked upstairs, inhaling a deep breath and blowing it out slowly. He knew what he was walking into. Robby was naked in his room, or mostly. The only thing the man took out to wear was a pair of pajama pants, and those were thin as hell.

It was a balmy night and Styles was hot himself, but it didn’t help that some of that heat was from the need burning in his loins. Styles could feel the heaviness inside of him to take Robby, to fuck the man until the hunger for the guy abated.

His steps slowed until he was just standing there on the staircase, curling his fingers around the wood as he tried to get his libido back under control. Styles still couldn’t believe that Robby was a wolf and he was thinking about having sex with the man.

Had Robby gotten to him that badly? Had those mementoes meant that much? Styles knew they had. Those damn flowers meant the world to him, even though they shouldn’t. Turning, Styles took a seat on the step, rubbing his hand over his jaw.

“I thought you would be running up there.”

Tilting his head back, Styles glared at his approaching friend. “Stop stalking me.”

“You wish,” Reese said as he took a seat next to Styles. “What’s on your mind?”

Styles’s left eyebrow rose a fraction. “What, are you my damn shrink now?”

“Nope,” Reese replied as he leaned back and rested his arms on the steps. “Just wondering why you’re leaving Robby in your room while you sit here like a man in conflict.”

Styles hated that Reese could read him so well. He had been around the man too damn long. Stretching his legs out, Styles wondered how to say what he wanted to say without actually saying it. “Robby is a wolf.”

Reese’s lips curved upward. “Yeah, I kind of scented that on him.”

“I hate wolves,” Styles reminded Reese as he set his chin in a stubborn line. “Why would fate give me a wolf for a mate when the fucking breed has done me so wrong?”

Reese sat forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Has Robby done anything wrong to you?”

“No.”

“Then I think it’s about time you start blaming the ones responsible and not the entire race. I’ve meet some pretty damn decent wolves since I’ve been here. Place the blame where it belongs.”

“But my parents—” Styles turned away, hating that he was so fucking confused.

“Would be happy that you found your mate, Styles.” Reese bumped shoulders with him. “I wouldn't give a fuck if Robby was an elephant with five tusks. He’s the one person fate thought would fit perfectly with you. Maybe they gave you Robby to help find your way. Who knows. But making him pay for something he didn’t do is asinine.”

Reese was making perfect sense, but Styles had hated wolves his entire life. It wasn’t that easy to let it go. He wanted to make those responsible pay, but Reese was right, Styles was making the
entire
wolf breed pay for what had happened to him and his parents. Robby was his mate. Being a wolf did not define who he was. It was just a part of him.

He knew he was trying to talk himself into this. Everything sounded so logical, so easy. So why was he hesitant to leave the steps and go to his room?

“And since I’m the voice of reason, I think I should be rewarded.”

Styles shoved his hand against Reese’s leg. “You’re not watching, perv.”