Page 36 of Wild Reckoning

“Frank’s renters,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head. “What kind of idiot moves a kid into a place like that?”

He let out a dark snarl, his eyes narrowing on the road ahead. Time to make some calls. Alonso was out, which meant Tetlow needed new hands. Reliable hands. Ones that didn’t shake or question orders.

The wheels in his mind turned as he considered his options, each name that came to mind weighed and measured. This wasn’t just about moving product. This was about control. Alonso’s mistake had given him a chance—one Tetlow intended to seize fully. Nico might be a demon, but Tetlow knew how to play the game too.

And he intended to win.

Chapter Nine

Instead of soft fur, Stewart felt a hard body pressed into his back when he woke up. Killian had returned to his human form, his body tightly curled around Stewart’s.

The guy’s fingers were drawing lazy circles over the patch of exposed skin just above Stewart’s waistband, his perfect, musky scent everywhere in the room.

“Wasn’t expecting to see you curled in my arms when I woke up.” Killian pressed a kiss to the back of Stewart’s neck. “Tryin’ to spoil me, handsome?”

Stewart cleared the sleep from his throat. “As your doctor, I was merely concerned about your health as you healed.”

Killian shook slightly as he softly laughed. “Why don’t you turn over and see for yourself? Since I’m not medically certified, I’ll need a professional opinion to see if my wound is healed or not.”

Another kiss to his nape.

With his heart beating a little faster, Stewart turned over as Killian lifted his arm to allow the movement then settled it back down.

Stewart swallowed roughly when he saw Killian was buck-ass naked, his entire body on display, from the top of his messy hair down to his sexy toes. It was totally unfair that Killian not only had a rocking body but his feet were actually sexy.

Did the guy have any flaws?

Killian curled an arm around Stewart’s waist and hauled him closer to his hard, straining cock. He lowered his head, their lips brushing. Stewart felt drugged from the need building between them.

When Killian finally kissed him, the full, soft lips taking his, Stewart let his anxieties melt away, let his inhibitions go, and just felt. Felt so wanted. So needed. So fucking desired that he knew he was catching feelings for Killian.

“You taste so sweet,” he said against Stewart’s lips. The way his mate looked at him, like the man worshipped the ground Stewart walked on, made his breath stutter. It was like having a live wire pressed against him, heated, strong, and so damn sexy that Stewart wanted to touch every inch of Killian’s body.

Lifting his leg, he slid it over Killian’s lean waist, wishing he was as naked as his mate.

Stewart tried out the word in his mind and found that he liked it. Mate.

He more than liked it. That single word held so much promise, contained so many possibilities.

And he wanted that more than anything.

Killian held on to Stewart’s hips and then pushed to his feet.

“Where’re you taking me?” He grinned against Killian’s lips, loving how excited his mate seemed as he carried Stewart out of Ethan’s room.

“Not gonna claim you on the floor, babe.” Then Killian stopped and cocked his head, as if listening to something.

“What is it?” Stewart glanced around, looking for anything out of place. Even though he was wrapped around a bear shifter, he was still rattled at having a gun pushed into his side.

“My dad. He and Hyett are taking off, but Ryker is staying behind to watch Ethan.”

“How on earth do you know that? I didn’t hear anything.”

“Shifter hearing, hon.” They headed into Stewart’s bedroom.

Killian closed the door with his gorgeous butt then carried him to the bed before laying him down. Stewart inhaled sharply. Those ripped abs just begged to be touched, to be licked, to be worshipped, flexing with Killian’s movements.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” Killian groaned as he lay halfway over Stewart.

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