Page 58 of The Bull's Head

“Enjoyed that?”

“Oh Maker, that was beyond amazing. Where’d you learn that?”

“I discovered much watching and listening to Ivan. He always had a parade of beautiful men and women who hovered around him, and more often than not, I was in the house when he got laid. My brother must be a skillful lover, because the sounds that filled the place were louder than yours.”

Byk’s cheeks heated. “I’m sor?—”

Teddy squeezed Byk’s chin gently. “Do not dare apologize to me, Byk. Never. Especially not about this. I loved your sounds, because they made me want to pleasure you even more. I love everything I’ve learned about you, and I look forward to an entire lifetime of learning more.”

No matter how short that life might be.

“Teddy? Could you…. Would you claim me?”

“Are you sure? We don’t have to do anything else.”

“No, I want you to. I want to be yours.”

Teddy stroked a hand over Byk’s cheek. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll claim you, but then you have to do the same for me. This world? It got so much brighter after I met you, and I can’t see myself being in it without your light. Will you claim me?”

That had never been a consideration. Being smaller and weaker, Byk always assumed he would be claimed, and that would be it. Teddy was asking him to make a claim as well.

“I’d love that.”

Teddy smiled. “I’m glad. I want to be yours from now until forever. When the Maker calls us home, I want to spend that eternity learning new things about you.”

It occurred to Byk then. Teddy was a romantic. He wasn’t like anyone else Byk had ever met, all macho swagger and loud talk. He could be quiet, peaceful, contemplative, relaxed. He smiled more and didn’t act like he had to be dominant all the time. Teddy simply let things be, and that calm wrapped around Byk.

“I love you,” Byk whispered, his throat tight.

“And I you, my beautiful bull,” Teddy replied as he carded his fingers through Byk’s hair. “Though I have realized a problem. We have no lube, and I won’t hurt you.”

Byk’s eyes widened. “Oh. I—wait.” He reached over for the nightstand. “I thought I saw…. Yes, here.” He held up a bottle to Teddy. “Will this work?”

Teddy grinned. “That will work just fine, though I’m not sure where it—Ivan. That bastard.”

“Your brother? He’s a good man. He… talked with me, I think. He told me things about you. He truly cares for you.”

“I know he does, and I love him dearly.” Teddy removed the plastic wrapper from the top of the bottle. “Especially now.”

Byk was kind of happy with him too. Especially now.

Chapter 19

Uncertainty flooded Teddy. Byk had been released from the hospital only a few hours ago. He should be sleeping, building up his strength. Was it wrong for Teddy to try to claim him, especially now? Then he looked down into the hopeful gaze, and his resolve melted like snow.

“Byk, I?—”

“Please, don’t say no,” he implored. “I…. I can’t explain it. I know what I mean in my head, but it won’t translate well.”

“Try. For me.”

A heavy sigh slid out of Byk. “My whole life I’ve been nobody. Cooper was the cool one, the funny one, the beautiful one. I was everything else. When Coop was around, no one saw me and it was easy to fade into the background. Then Hyde took us, and I spent years alone, praying to the Maker to save me or let me die. She chose to send you to me. The day I met you, my bull knew there was something it wanted, and it took my brain a while to catch up. You made me feel safe. After so many years of being alone and scared, you made me feel whole. My bull fell in love with your kindness and caring. It wasn’t long after that I followed behind. I want nothing more than to belong to you, and?—”

He wanted to, Maker knew his bear certainly did, but Teddy wasn’t ruled by his beast. “But you’re supposed to be resting. If we do something, it could hurt you.”

“And I could die, but at least I’ll go to the Maker knowing I belong to the most amazing man I’ve ever met. I know it would suck for you, but?—”

His heart full to bursting, Teddy bent down and kissed Byk. He held his face tight, unwilling to let go. He couldn’t lose this man, but he knew the choice wasn’t his. Everything came down to whether the Maker would allow Teddy and Byk a bit of happiness. If she wouldn’t, then he had to take it where he could find it, and that was in Byk’s arms.

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