Page 19 of The Buck Stops Hare

“Why?” It was the only thing I could think to ask. Why did it matter that he liked one thing or the other? I knew things had changed. I knew some people had issues with it, had made Cliff feel like he should have reservations.

“Because I’m not—I’m… I don’tlook gay. I don’tsound gay. I don—” Cliff ran a hand through his hair and took a shaking breath, leaning into the side of his SUV as he stumbled back. I cut him off by pinching his defined chin, sinking my thumb into his dimple there. He swallowed hard, that prominent bulge in his throat moving with a wavering note of fear.

“What does gay look like? What does gay sound like?” I leaned in to brush my lips over his ear. “Do Ilookgay? DoIsoundgay?” I pinched my fingers tighter, keeping him fromturning his head away. I gave him a gentle nudge, refocusing his spinning mind.

“No.” His breath shuddered.

“Then what is gay? You just seem to not want to be part of a culture or element of the lifestyle. That’s fine.” I brushed my nose along the shell of his ear, inhaling his gentle scent. For all his fear, my presence had arousal budding, masking worry, and worse. “And I told you. You’remine.”

His breath hitched, and posture sagged. “Rayne is— He’s gonna make fun of me.”

“There’s no shame in being loved by a god. And it may bring you some joy to know your brother only recently gave birth. He has no ground to stand on.” I laughed and nipped his ear, relishing his tremble and hitching breath.

“Was he big and fat at least?” Cliff stifled a breath as I ran a hand up his side, fingertips lifting the hem of his shirt to brush his skin as earthen toned as the light stones of the cliffs that came to mind when I thought of his name. The warmth that exuded from his flesh.

“And miserable. And his mate loved every moment of it. And if we try for a child, when we feel like it, if we ever, you’ll be loved every moment of it.” I slid my hands around his waist and cupped him to me, halting as I opened my mouth to nuzzle down and suck his neck as a sharp bark broke the moment.

Jacque.

“Once we’re someplace with a bed, then…” I pulled away from a trembling Cliff. And took the keys from his pocket. “You hold Jacque for a while. You’re unsteady, so I’ll drive.”

He melted into my order and nodded before taking Jacque’s leash and picking him up. The strange hare fidgeted to get onto his back like a baby in Cliff’s arms and chittered happily.

“Wait, are we getting a hotel or something, or are we staying with Rayne and his boyf—husband?” Cliff hesitated.

“Mate, and I’m sure we can borrow an empty house in the packlands or something. That won’t guarantee any privacy as far as the wolves are concerned though.” I shrugged. When hearing was that good, people learned to ignore enthusiastic fucking.

“Wolves… Like wolves that would eat Jacque?” His eyes widened, and I smiled.

“If Jacque is a friend, they will leave him alone. I promise.” I guided him back into the car to hook in and at the heralding click of the seat belt, I leaned over to place a little kiss on his trembling lips. As I withdrew, I trailed my fingers over his solid jawline and offered Jacque a little headbutt of acknowledgement that satisfied the creature. I enjoyed the gentle rasp of Cliff’s skin on my fingertips, reassurance the presence with me was firm, masculine, and heartier. Cliff would be one I could feel secure with. He would keep up with me, built with the natural sporty physique of the males I preferred in my younger days.

He turned his head away, cheeks pinkening. “Promise me he’ll be safe?”

“I promise you he’ll be safe. And you’ll be safe, too.” I started the vehicle and pulled onto the highway, content with myself. “Because if you aren’t, I’ll go with you.”

Chapter Ten

Cliff

Buck didn’t need to rest, it seemed, but his promise sat with me while I rested, snoozing lightly in the seat with Jacque nestled against my chest.

I woke a few times, blinking over at him with a half smile, checking the road signs and my phone for directions. Buck seemed to know where he was going at any rate.

He poked me awake at one point to stretch my legs and use the restroom. He didn’t seem to need to use it, but he assured me he’d alleviated himself in a less civilized way on the side of the road when I was sleeping.

So, when I jostled awake at the rumble of tires spitting gravel, I snorted myself awake and stared out at sprawling fields half flooded with pre-spring rain. The murky ripples reflected muggy skies, and I yawned, blinking out around us before checking my phone. With a swipe of my thumb, I turned my phone on and checked the directions, finding us less than fifteen minutes from our destination. Fifteen minutes from utter humiliation.

I took a deep breath, my vision blurring as my head spun. Nausea rose in me, and I demanded Buck pull the car over.

He did so in an instant, pulling into the mouth of a wide, long driveway for someone’s farm long enough for me to stumble from the car and retch into the weeds. “I’m not pregnant! This is totally normal!”

“Well, yeah. You’re nervous,” Buck said, leaning against the steering wheel as I took deep, gulping breaths.

“I’m not nervous! It’s just a lot to handle. I can’t like… Rayne is going to—” I pawed at my face before Buck’s gentle laughter drew my glare.

“There are far worse things than one’s brother teasing them, I swear. And if you like, I’ll call ahead and tell him not to.” Buck gave me the sweetest smile and my heart melted in a gross sort of gushy way. I wanted to wretch again but found the nausea in the pit of my stomach ebbing.

“Nah. Just like…let me whip his ass if he’s mean to me. I’m still bigger than him, I think.” I wiped my mouth and shuffled back toward the car and shimmied in, letting Jacque bark at me happily. “Daddy’s okay, lil dude. I’m just overwhelmed.”

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