Page 73 of Cross To Bear

“What the fuck…?” Crash hissed.

I was up and out of my chair, grabbing the truck keys as I went out the front door. I put the pedal to the metal, the tyres screeching as I sped over to the bar. The bouncers at the doors had become guards, keeping the doors locked to ensure no one went in, but they looked relieved when they saw me.

“Razor and Maddie… They’re mated,” one said in a reverent voice.

I just nodded, indicating they needed to get out of my way before I stepped inside the bar.

The place was empty and a fucking mess, as per usual, but as I stepped over fallen chairs and around puddles of what I hoped was beer, all I could focus on was them. Razor was bent over her like a bear might his prey, though his mouth was considerably softer on her. Kisses, slow, sensual kisses as his hips moved in gentle pulses.

“Rafe, I can’t…” Maddie whimpered, and that had my steps quickening. If he fucking hurt her…

“Yes, you can. Come again for me, just one more time. That’ll squeeze the baculum out and I’ll be able to pull free and clean you up. Just one more time, love.”

I’d heard Razor angry, sarcastic, cocky as fuck, but never like this. Like he’d been broken into a million pieces and then put back together. Not in the same configuration, because something had changed. I saw that in the harsh red bite mark on Maddie’s neck.

“Did she want this?” The growl came out of me before I even had a conscious thought as I looked around the bar in growing alarm. “Is this what she chose?”

“Hawk.” Maddie reached up for me, her fingers trailing through mine, right as her pants started to pick up. “Rafe, I’m gonna…”

“I know. I can feel you strangling my fucking cock, babe. Just one more. Just one more.”

My brother sounded like he was making a deal with the devil for his soul, not fucking our mate through yet another orgasm, but her fingers gripped mine as she crested that wave. I held tight, my mouth going dry as her tits popped free. Urges rode me hard, to bend down and suck each rosy nipple until they were red and swollen, or to push Razor away and take over. I didn’t get to do either, as my brother pulled free.

“Fuck…” My eyes followed his as he stared down at the place he’d so recently vacated. “Bjorn might’ve marked you today, but I got to lay my claim in two places.” She shuddered as his thumb rubbed lazily across her clit, then the other covered the bite on her neck.

“No more…” She shoved him away with arms made of rubber. “That last time almost hurt.”

“Fair enough.” He pulled his t-shirt off over his head with a smile then wadded it into a ball to clean her up. Gently, carefully, my silent snarl made clear he’d better, and he just nodded my way. “You heard the news?” I nodded slowly. “Well, we better get our mate home, then.”

Not my mate, not yet. She hadn’t claimed me in a public place, riding my dick like she owned it. I wondered at that as I picked her up in my arms, nestling Maddie against my chest as I carried her towards the truck, Razor meeting me out there. But when he went to jump in the passenger side seat, I shook my head.

“I understand, brother,” he told me, taking the keys from me and starting the truck.

I barely noticed the drive home. Maddie’s head lolled against my shoulder, her breath coming in long, slow whistles. I thought she was asleep, but when I carried her into the house, she stirred when the others met us at the door.

“She needs to drink a bottle of water or two,” Crash asserted, brandishing the cold ones in his hands.

“We need to check to see if she’s physically OK.”

Bjorn’s eyes raked over her, as if he could see something we couldn’t.

“She needs to rest.”

I silenced the lot of them with four words then turned and walked down the hall. Water, a health check, whatever, it could all wait until after. Razor followed me down, opening the door to his room and looking at me expectantly.

I didn’t want to. I wanted her in my bed, in my space, preferably with the door locked so I could just watch her breathe, until the tight feeling in my chest eased. Then in the morning, after she’d had a good night’s sleep, I’d sit down with her and…

What? I barely talked to our girl, each word struggling to fight its way free, so what was I going to say? Heard you fucked Razor in front of everyone last night. How was it? I snorted and brought Maddie into Razor’s room, laying her down on the bed. I joined her soon afterwards, kicking off my shoes and lying down beside her, watching her sigh, then snuggle into my side.

“Go right ahead, brother.” Razor swept a hand wide.

“I will.”

“You know that whatever’s rattling around in your head right now, it’s not gonna happen tonight. Maddie’s trashed.”

“I know.”

My hand rose, my fingers flexed, but the automatic prohibition to not touch kicked in right before I pushed past it. I was rewarded instantly by the feel of her soft, soft hair, of her little murmur of pleasure as I stroked her cheek. Any need for sleep on my part was instantly banished, but right as I touched her, Razor moved in behind Maddie.

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