Page 37 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

CRANK HATEDhimself for being so mean-spirited. Everyone in the house was buoyed by the news that Brick and Aric had finally made contact with Seth, even if it was in a dream. And while Crank smiled and congratulated them, while he said all the right things, only one thought consumed him.

I miss Vic.

He wasn’t used to this. His adult life thus far had been a series of hot encounters, one-night stands, maybe the occasional relationship that lasted two or three months, tops. Having someone whose absence left a gaping hole in his existence was new.

What shocked him even more was how quickly Vic had become a part of him, as vital as a limb, and how much Crank yearned to have him back where he belonged—in Crank’s arms.

In their bed.

Close enough to hear him breathing, to smell him.

He stood at the patio doors, staring out at the lake, recalling some of their many swims, him and Saul frolicking in the water, hurtling through it as they held on to Vic’s fin.

Video calls might have been meant to bridge the distance, but for Crank all they did was emphasize how far apart they were.

Behind him, Aric retold the events of the previous night for maybe the third time. Crank couldn’t blame him for that. It sounded amazing, and Crank was overjoyed for them.

He was also jealous as fuck.

What would I give to hear Vic in my head right now?

Except Vic was on his way to Europe, putting even greater distances between them. Crank couldn’t deny he’d achieved a helluva lot in the short time he’d been away. The coalition force was growing by the day, and that was down to Vic. But that didn’t lessen the ache inside him.

A hand touched his lower back. “I miss him too. You’ve still got me, though.”

Crank turned his head to gaze at Saul. He smiled. “Thank God for that.”

He meant every word. Saul had also become part of his life, a rock Crank could cling to.I never thought I needed anyone.

Vic and Saul had proved him wrong.

Saul leaned closer. “If you don’t make a move soon, you’re going to miss out on Mrs. Landon’s cookies. They’re disappearing fast.”

“Fuck that.” Cranklivedfor her baking, even though he had to work out twice as hard to keep the pounds from piling on. He hurried over to the kitchen table, where Brick, Aric, Dellan, Horvan, Rael, Hashtag, and Roadkill sat, the plastic box in the center emptying before his eyes. Crank grabbed a couple of the raisin cookies, then handed one to Saul.

“Be thankful you did that,” Saul muttered. “You wouldn’t have liked the consequences.”

Crank rolled his eyes. “Gee, I’msoscared. What would you have done?”

Saul’s lips brushed his ear. “Put you over my knee and spanked your ass.”

His dick gave a twitch.

Brick leaned back in his chair. “So how come we can hear our mates’ thoughts?”

Rael chuckled. “Don’t ask us. We don’t know how it works any more than you do.”

“We’re just glad it does,” Dellan added before biting into a cookie.

“Well,mostof the time, we’re glad.” Horvan arched his eyebrows when both Rael and Dellan jerked their heads in his direction. “Oh, come on. When you two are in heat—”

Dellan coughed. “Male felines don’t experience heat.”

“Maybe it’s a territorial thing,” Rael suggested.

Horvan rolled his eyes. “Okay, then, when you two ‘feel territorial’”—he air-quoted—“it can get pretty—”

“Hot?” Rael offered.

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