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Brac Village 7

Frisco James

Frisco James was a hustler. Plain and simple. Although he was a
bare-knuckle boxing champion in the underground circuit, Frisco

was looking for a change. Maverick Brac owed him a debt and
Frisco headed to Brac Village to collect.

Recker lost his twin when the group of men he lived with was

attacked by the grey wolves. He was angry, bitter, but tried his
best to go on. When he loses control and nearly kills a man,

Maverick steps in, demanding that either Recker agree to anger
management or be deemed unfit to live in society.

Recker and Frisco’s worlds collide. Frisco sees Recker as an
opportunity, nothing more. He whisks Recker away from the Den,

plunging the man into the gritty world of illegal boxing.

But when Recker nearly kills his first opponent, Frisco James
realizes the horrific mistake he has made. Desperate, Frisco does

the one thing that he knows will save Recker’s life and
humanity…he walks away.

But nothing is ever that simple, especially when Frisco James—a
man who has looked out for no one but himself—discovers that his

heart is no longer his own.

Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal, Shape-shifter
Length: 36,795 words

FRISCO JAMES

Brac Village 7

Lynn Hagen

EVERLASTING CLASSIC

MANLOVE

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove

FRISCO JAMES
Copyright © 2013 by Lynn Hagen
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-922-6

First E-book Publication: May 2013

Cover design by Siren Publishing
All art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

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All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance
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Letter to Readers

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FRISCO JAMES

Brac Village 7

LYNN HAGEN

Chapter One

Frisco James roared into town on his sleek black motorcycle,

feeling the business card given to him months ago by Maverick Brac
burning in his back pocket. He had done his time in jail for being
involved in illegal bare-knuckle boxing.

Now that he was a free man, Frisco wanted nothing more than to

start over. He just hoped like hell that the man who had given him this
business card was on the up-and-up.

Frisco was free to go wherever he wanted to make a new life for

himself and he was praying that Brac Village was just the place. As
Frisco rode through at a semi-leisurely pace, he took in the sights,
noticing how quaint the town was. The place was nothing like he had
envisioned. Frisco had been expecting a one-horse town. Instead,
festive little shops lined the sidewalks, and restaurants with patrons
coming in and out dotted the streets.

It looked like a place in one of those magazines a person found in

the doctor’s office. It didn’t seem real to him. There had to be some
sort of catch. He had been a rotten bastard his entire life and had
seized any opportunity he could, regardless of who he stepped on to
get where he had to get.

Lynn Hagen

One moment of weakness in a city jail and now Frisco found

himself in this picturesque little town. In a way, it reminded him of
some sort of fairy tale. Frisco had grown up in the slums, nothing
pretty about it. But this place seemed untouched by life’s hardships.

He drove straight through, heading down a country road to the

address printed on the card. Frisco hadn’t known what to expect, and
was still unsure if he was making the right move. He hated boxing but
it had paid well. He didn’t have a clue what he was going to do out
here. He didn’t have what people would consider legal skills. His
talents leaned more toward using his muscles or knowing how to con
somebody.

That was how he had grown up and Frisco had never been

ashamed of how he made ends meet. He did what he had to do,
nothing more, nothing less.

Making a right, Frisco found himself in front of what looked to be

a brand-new, shiny black gate. The dang thing look like it had just
been installed, the concrete still wet. He spotted an intercom box
mounted on the side of the gate. Frisco swung his leg over his bike
and walked over to the intercom, pressing the button.

“May I help you?” a voice said from the great beyond.
“I’m here to see Maverick Brac.” Frisco’s eyes flickered up when

he saw a camera mounted above the intercom box, the red light
blinking. Just who in the hell was this Maverick guy? How important
was he that he lived behind a wrought iron gate?

“And you are?”
Frisco started to say that he was someone who was getting

irritated as hell, but instead he stated his name. “Frisco James.” He
felt stupid as hell talking to a mechanical box.

“One moment, Mr. James.”
Frisco eyed the camera, wondering if he should put on a show. He

already felt like he was in the spotlight. Why not give a memorable
performance? But before he could come up with something to do to
impress whoever was watching, the gates began to swing open.

Frisco James

Walking back to his bike, Frisco drove over gravel as he entered a

large driveway. What a swank place. Maybe coming here wasn’t such
bad idea after all. He hadn’t a clue how Maverick was going to repay
him, but sharing in some of this wealth was a start.

Just as he parked his bike and dismounted, the front door swung

open. He took in the sheer size of the man standing there and was
thoroughly impressed. Frisco rarely ran into anyone that made him
think twice.

Maverick was the only person Frisco hadn’t immediately been

thinking of ways to con when they first met. He may be a survivalist,
but stupid he was not. He knew a worthy opponent when he saw one,
and ego aside, Frisco knew Maverick could no doubt give him a run
for his money and probably win.

As Frisco walked toward the door, Maverick crossed his arms

over his expansive chest and leaned against the frame. “I see you’ve
come to collect your debt.”

Frisco pulled the business card from his pocket and handed it to

Maverick. “I made good on my end of the bargain. I kept those guys
safe.”

He let his arm fall when Maverick didn’t take the card. He began

to wonder if maybe he had been played. The man stood there, his
light-grey eyes assessing Frisco, making him feel as if he didn’t
measure up.

It was making Frisco angry. Who the hell did this rich guy think

he was? He was no better than Frisco. They both put their pants on the
same way and bled the same color. Maverick might have a shitload of
money, but that didn’t make him any better than Frisco.

Just as he lifted his arm to throw the card at Maverick and walk

away, the side of the guy’s mouth tipped up into a smile. “I had a
dream about you.”

Frisco’s forehead creased, wondering where Maverick was going

with this. He was starting to get a bad feeling. Just what kind of a

Lynn Hagen

household did this man run? For the first time since he was an
awkward teen and couldn’t defend himself, Frisco took a step back.

Maverick scowled at him. “Not that kind of a dream.”
“Look,” Frisco said as he shoved the card back into his pocket,

“we struck a bargain and I made good. I asked for you to give me
something that pays better than boxing and you agreed. I don’t know
about this dream shit, but I came here in good faith.”

“You came here to make a buck,” Maverick said, nailing Frisco’s

intentions on the head. “You came here to see who you could con and
how much of a profit you could make, so cut the bullshit and keep it
real.”

Frisco had never met anybody in his life who assessed him so

quickly and accurately. It was almost like the man could see right
through him. It was an eerie feeling, one that made Frisco very
uncomfortable—and he hated being uncomfortable. “Are you going to
make good on your deal or what?”

“Come on in.”
Said the spider to the fly.
Uncertain that he was doing the right thing, Frisco watched

Maverick as he crossed the threshold. His attention was soon diverted
when his eyes swept over the foyer. In his mind, Frisco gave a low
whistle.

This place was decked out.
Maverick pointed at a room off to the left. “Wait in the den and

I’ll be right back.”

Frisco didn’t like being told what to do, but he did as Maverick

asked. Turning left, Frisco walked into the indicated room. He
immediately spotted the pool table and wondered who he could
hustle.

No, that wasn’t right. He wasn’t here for that. Frisco was here to

collect a debt. Although he never passed up an opportunity to make a
quick buck, he knew hustling Maverick’s family was an idiotic move.

Frisco James

Frisco let his fingers skim over the green felt as his eyes took in

the rest of the room. What would it have been like to grow up in a
place like this? He couldn’t remember a time when he didn’t have to
hustle just to survive. Whoever lived here had no idea just how lucky
they were.

“Come with me.”
Frisco turned to see Maverick standing in the doorway. He

followed the guy through the foyer and then down the hallway. They
ended up in a very posh office, complete with a large desk that looked
like it cost a mint and floor-to-ceiling bookcases.

Maverick waved toward a black couch. “Have a seat.”
Frisco sat and then watched Maverick walk around his desk,

taking a seat and kicking his booted feet up onto the desk. It seemed
strange as hell to see a guy who looked like the leader of an outlaw
biker gang sitting behind an expensive desk.

This house, the furnishings, and the lavishness made Frisco think

that the owner should look more like some yuppie, millionaire
playboy—definitely not…Maverick.

“I gave you my word and that’s not something I do lightly. You

took care of mine when I couldn’t.” Maverick’s expression was filled
with irritation, as if the thought of not being able to take care of his
own galled the man. “I have a business proposition for you.”

Frisco wasn’t sure what to expect when he came to Brac Village.

He wasn’t even sure how Maverick was going to pay him back. All
kinds of scenarios had played in his mind, but a business proposition
was not one of them. Sure, he had asked for something that paid more
than boxing, so he wasn’t sure why the words business proposition
surprised him. “Go on.”

The man rubbed at a patch of hair under his bottom lip, once again

assessing Frisco. It had been a very long time since Frisco felt like
squirming under someone’s scrutiny. He wished the man would just
spit it out. He didn’t like feeling as though he was sitting here being
judged.

Lynn Hagen

“I own quite a few businesses in town.”
“Hold on.” Frisco held up his hand. “I didn’t come here to make

minimum wage. Although I hated boxing, the money was damn good.
I asked you to find me something that pays better than boxing.”

“Are you finished?” Maverick crossed fingers together and then

laid them against his abdomen. “As I was saying, I own quite a few
businesses in town. In exchange for keeping my people safe, I’m
willing to give you one of those businesses.”

Frisco wasn’t sure what to think. What in the fuck did he know

about running a business? Nothing. That was not what he had in mind
when he made the deal with Maverick. Owning a business meant that
Frisco would be stuck in this small town. “No.”

A black eyebrow began to slowly inch up Maverick’s forehead

and once again Frisco felt like squirming. That feeling alone was
pissing him off to no end. For the first time in Frisco’s life, he was
ready to walk away from a debt someone owed him. The very idea of
him owning a business was preposterous.

In the back of his mind, Frisco had honestly hoped that Maverick

would just pay him off with a large sum of cash. That would’ve been
fine with him. Even though the guy looked the way he did, the night
they struck the bargain, Frisco knew that Maverick reeked of money.
He thought the guy would maybe give him a sports team to own, or
something more valuable than a small-town business.

Frisco’s eyes snapped to the office door when it opened.
“Montana said you wanted to see me.” A guy walked in and

Frisco damn near swallowed his tongue at the sheer size of the man.
Great gods and goddesses, had he ever seen anyone built like a
freaking freight train? The man was so impressive that Frisco couldn’t
help but stare.

If this guy had gone into bare-knuckle boxing, Frisco’s title

would’ve been torn from his hands. The man was wearing jeans and a
sleeveless T-shirt, showing off every damn impressive muscle he
owned.

Frisco James

Frisco’s mind began to work overtime. He was tired of boxing,

tired of getting his head knocked in. But who was to say he couldn’t
become a promoter? Whoever this man was that had just walked in to
Maverick’s office would be the perfect guy to start off with.

“I wanted you to show Mr. Frisco James to one of our guest

bedrooms, Recker,” Maverick said as he nodded toward Frisco. “He
will be staying with us until he decides whether or not he wants to
take me up on my business proposal.”

He wasn’t sure why Recker was blushing profusely as he cut his

eyes toward Frisco. Maybe the man wasn’t used to strangers. He was
going to have to get over that shyness if he was going to get into
boxing. There was no room in that world for the naïve or bashful.

“And, Recker,” Maverick began as he stood, “don’t forget our

little talk. No leaving the house under any circumstances.”

He wasn’t sure if Maverick could read his mind, but the man

sliced his eyes toward Frisco, as if he knew what was going on inside
of Frisco’s head.

“I swore to Spencer that I would do everything that you asked,

Maverick,” Recker said, his expression filled with frustration. “I
always make good on my promises.”

Maverick clasped Recker on the shoulder. “And you have been

making good progress, my man.”

Frisco wasn’t sure what they were talking about and honestly

didn’t care. He had come here to collect a debt, nothing more and
nothing less. But as he stared at Recker, Frisco was beginning to
wonder if maybe talking Recker into leaving and getting into boxing
wouldn’t be more profitable to Frisco than whatever Maverick was
offering.

“Recker will show you to your room,” Maverick said before he

turned and glanced at Frisco. “He is under my protection, remember
that.”

The warning was loud and clear. Somehow Maverick knew what

Frisco had been planning and was telling Frisco in no uncertain terms

Lynn Hagen

that it wouldn’t be allowed. He wasn’t sure how the guy knew, but
was Frisco willing to go against the man?

Not really. Again there were very few people that Frisco thought

twice before trying to screw over and Maverick was at the top of that
list of people to back away from. “Loud and clear,” Frisco said as he
walked out of the office.

As he and Recker walked down the hallway, Frisco noticed how

the man kept stealing furtive glances. “Okay, big guy, what’s your
deal?”

Frisco became confused when Recker blushed again. “You’re my

mate.”

His what? Frisco slowed until he came to a stop. If he thought he

was confused about why Recker was blushing, that was nothing
compared to the man’s statement. What exactly was the guy talking
about? What the fuck was a mate?

“Yeah, okay.” Whatever. He had no clue what Recker was talking

about so he pushed the thought from his mind as they walked down
the long corridor. Just how many rooms were in this place? He felt
like they had been walking forever before Recker stopped.

“This will be your room,” Recker said as he opened the door. The

guy’s light-blue eyes flickered over Frisco’s face before they skittered
off into the bedroom. Frisco stared at him strangely and then walked
in.

The room matched the mansion, handsomely decorated and

expensively put together. It seemed Maverick spared no expense, not
even in the guest bedrooms. Since his idea of becoming a promoter
was cut down in its neophyte stage, the offer of owning a business
was starting to look better and better.

Frisco wasn’t used to staying in one place for too long, but maybe

he would give Brac Village a try. The town wasn’t that bad from what
he had seen. When he had made the deal with Maverick, Frisco had
been looking to change his life. But now that the opportunity was at
his feet, the change was a bit intimidating.

Frisco James

His entire life, Frisco had hustled for everything that he owned.

He was used to dealing with underhanded, untrustworthy, and
unsavory characters. This whole Mayberry scene was extremely
foreign to him.

“Do you need anything?”
Frisco turned, forgetting that Recker was standing in the doorway.

He still couldn’t figure out why the guy was blushing like a new bride
and stealing glances at him. Although Recker was built like a brick
shithouse, maybe he was impressed with Frisco’s physique. He did
bust his ass to keep in shape, after all.

What man wouldn’t admire another for their impressive

musculature? “Nah, I’m good.”

But Recker didn’t leave. He just stood in the doorway. Was Frisco

supposed to tip him? He slid his hand into his front pocket and pulled
out a five dollar bill. He handed it to Recker. “Thanks.”

Recker’s chestnut-brown eyebrows dipped heavily. “What is that

for?”

Frisco shrugged. “Your services.” He wiggled the money at

Recker, waiting for the man to take it and leave.

“Are you trying to pay me for—” Recker seemed to become

agitated as his nostrils flared and his jaw turned to granite. “Sex?”

Frisco looked at the money in his hand and then back at Recker.

“For five bucks?” Was the guy serious? Frisco had never paid for sex
in his life, and definitely not for a guy. He wasn’t sure what the hell
this man was thinking, but he was ready to kick Recker out of his
room.

“Then what did you mean for my services?” Recker asked.
Frisco waved a hand toward Recker. “Well, you were just

standing there like you were waiting for me to pay you for showing
me to this room. I figured I was supposed to tip you.”

If anything, Frisco’s words seem to irritate Recker even further.

The man visibly tensed as his hands curled into fists. Frisco coiled his
body, recognizing when a man was about to attack.

Lynn Hagen

“You don’t want to do that,” Frisco warned. “I am a bare-knuckle

boxing champion.”

The tension seemed to drain from Recker as he stared at Frisco in

confusion. “Do what?”

“Attack me.”
“Why would you think I wanted to attack you?”
“What is your deal?” Frisco asked as he relaxed his muscles.

Recker was confusing the shit out of him. The man wouldn’t leave.
He didn’t want a tip. He looked like he was about to attack, but got
offended when Frisco called him on it. He was getting a damn
headache trying to figure the man out.

“I told you already,” Recker said. “You are my mate.”
Frisco felt like he was chasing his goddamn tail. He was tired of

trying to decipher what the hell this guy wanted. “Okay, I’ll bite.
What exactly is a mate?”

Recker looked at Frisco as if he should know the answer already.

“Fate gave you to me.”

Frisco jumped back, throwing his hands up in the air, palms out.

“Whoa, there, buddy. I don’t think you’re cooking with a full strip of
bacon. I don’t belong to anyone.”

“You are my mate,” Recker repeated, a little more forcefully this

time. “I can feel the bond forming between us already.”

This dude had some serious attachment issues. The only thing

Frisco was feeling was wigged out. The guy was pretty big and it
would take a lot of effort to put him down. Frisco remembered
Maverick’s warning and knew that if he hurt Recker, there would be
hell to pay. Maybe Recker was the nutty cousin nobody talked about.

“I tell you what, I’ll pretend to be your mate if you leave and close

the door on your way out.”

“Pretend?” Recker said as he took a step forward. “What the hell

do you mean pretend?”

Frisco’s headache shot straight into a migraine. He was going to

have a talk with Maverick about sending him anywhere with Recker.

Frisco James

The man was nuttier than a fruitcake. The guy still looked like he was
about to charge Frisco. His body tightened again in anticipation as he
pointed toward the bedroom door. “Just get out,” he said in
frustration.

Recker’s fists curled and then his face fell, looking like someone

had kicked him in the gut. “You want me to leave?”

Frisco was five seconds away from walking over to the wall and

banging his head into it. He just knew he was being paid back for all
the crappy things he had done in his life. Someone up there was
getting a damn good laugh right now. “Yes,” he said slowly, trying
his best to keep his temper in check.

“But we are supposed to bond together,” Recker said as he closed

the bedroom door, the blush once again stealing across his cheeks.

“Are you trying to have sex with me?” Frisco asked incredulously.

“Just what kind of a place is Maverick running?” He took a few steps
back when he saw Recker run his hand over his head in agitation.

“I’m not trying to have sex with you,” Recker defended. “I’m just

trying to bond with you.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No. Yes.”
“Well, which is it?” Frisco asked, wondering why he wanted to

smile at the man’s confusion. The side of his mouth twitched, but
Frisco forced the smile away. “Do you want my body or not?” He was
teasing the man and he knew it. But when was the last time Frisco had
run across someone who looked like he could wrestle a bear and win,
but blushed like a little schoolgirl?

Never.
The thought dawned on him that Recker was extremely shy. He

could tell by the ruby-red cheeks and the way Recker would not look
at him. What the fuck? Frisco definitely believed in lust at first sight,
but shyness had never been a part of it.

“Yes.”

Lynn Hagen

Frisco was a little thrown off by Recker’s answer. He had

forgotten what he had asked. “Yes what?”

Recker frowned. “I’m not calling you sir. You can forget that.”
Frisco couldn’t help it. There was no way he could have stopped

the laughter. This was so bizarre, so off the beaten path of normal
conversation that there wasn’t anything else to do but laugh.

“Why are you laughing at me?” Recker asked, taking a menacing

step forward.

Frisco held up a hand. “Because I feel as if I have just walked into

the Twilight Zone. Never in my life have I had a more confusing
conversation. I like you, Recker. You are definitely…different.”

Recker ran his hand over the back of his neck. “Is that a good

thing?”

Frisco threw his arm over Recker’s shoulder, still lightly laughing.

“My man, it’s refreshing to say the least.” Frisco quickly withdrew his
arm when Recker leaned into him. How had he forgotten the whole
mate thing?

“So, does that mean we are going to bond together?”
Oh, boy.

Frisco James

Chapter Two

“This is just what you need!” Spencer said with an enthusiasm

that Recker could not feel. As soon as he left Frisco’s bedroom,
Recker went straight to his and called his best friend. Frisco confused
the hell out of him and he wasn’t sure what to do.

Recker had told Frisco that they were mates. The man had acted

as if he was okay with it, but then backpedaled when Recker tried to
get closer. When he asked Frisco if they were going to bond together,
the man had looked like a deer caught in headlights. “But I’m not too
sure he wants to be my mate.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Recker. What man wouldn’t be lucky

enough to have you as a catch? You and I both know how truly
bashful you are. Maybe you are reading him the wrong way.”

No, Recker was pretty damn sure he read Frisco properly. The guy

acted like he wouldn’t mind being pals with Recker, but nothing
more. He had used every technique that Taylor Tate had shown him
over the past two months when it came to controlling his anger. Twice
while standing in front of Frisco, Recker had felt his anger
skyrocketing.

He wouldn’t hurt his mate. Recker knew this. But Frisco James

was an extremely odd man and figuring him out was frustrating as
hell. Recker wasn’t sure if he was coming or going once he left his
mate.

“I’m pretty sure scowling means no.”
“He scowled at you?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, Spence. I didn’t read

him the wrong way. Frisco James does not want to be my mate.” And

Lynn Hagen

that thought hurt. Recker had been ostracized his entire life, only
finding peace when he joined with a small pack that he now lived
with. But even those men didn’t always cut Recker some slack.

Spencer was the only man—aside from Recker’s deceased twin,

when he was alive—that understood him and didn’t poke fun at him.
Well, there was one more guy. Although Recker didn’t hang out with
Reese that often, they were pretty close. Reese was a polar bear
shifter he lived with.

When Recker had first lost his twin, he had damn near lost his

humanity. Reese had pulled him back, risking his very own life to
save Recker’s.

A debt like that was never forgotten. They had bonded and were

as close as brothers. But their relationship was extremely different
than the one he had with Spencer.

He hated the fact that he had to stay at Maverick’s or face the

consequences of what he had done to one of Spencer’s coworkers.

But Leigh deserved to get knocked out. The man had been

messing with Recker, teasing him about his monochromic sight.
Recker could only see black, white, and grey. And he didn’t really see
the colors so much as shades of dark and light. Recker had been
teased his entire life about his colorblindness. When Leigh had started
in on him, Recker was thrown into his past. He hadn’t meant to break
Leigh’s jaw, but the guy needed to learn when to leave people alone.

“Oh my,” Spencer said into the phone. “It never dawned on me

that when you found your mate, he would be resistant.”

Resistant was an understatement. Frisco had made it clear that in

no uncertain terms was he going to bond with Recker. He may be
colorblind, but he still had his sight, and what Recker saw was Frisco
balking at the idea of becoming his mate. “So what do you suggest I
do?”

“That’s a tough one, Recker. I guess it all depends on your mate’s

personality. Is he easygoing or one of those alpha types?”

Frisco James

Recker paced his bedroom as he ran one hand over his buzzed

hair, remembering the conversation he had with Frisco. The guy was
somewhat easygoing. Frisco had been confusing as hell, but easy to
talk to. Recker wasn’t sure if he was the alpha type, but the man
looked like he didn’t take crap from anybody. “I guess a little of
both.”

Spencer made a throaty sound on the other end of the phone.

“Okay, that doesn’t help. I would suggest getting to know him. Don’t
try to bond with him right away. Since he is human, he won’t
understand the concept. Just take it nice and slow, Recker.”

What Spencer was saying was sound advice, but Recker had a

short temper and an even shorter amount of patience. He was trying to
get better at both in his anger management classes with Taylor Tate,
but Recker had been like this his entire life. He wasn’t sure if
Maverick was expecting miracles. Recker sure as hell hoped not.

“Go talk to him,” Spencer said. “Try to be his friend first.”
That was easy for Spencer to say. His best friend was charming,

witty, and made friends at the drop of a hat. Spencer and Bear had
mated not too long after meeting. Recker just didn’t have the
sparkling personality that Spencer had. Words didn’t come easy to
him, nor did flirting or anything else that might draw a man to him.

But Frisco wasn’t just any man. Frisco James was his mate. That

meant the stakes were even higher. He wiped his hand across his
forehead, feeling the tension coil inside of him. “I’ll try. I’m going to
go talk to him. I’ll call you later.”

“Make sure you call me, Recker. You know I love and care about

you. If that man doesn’t want to be your mate then I’ll beat the snot
out of him.”

Recker chuckled. Although his best friend meant well, Spencer

was a little impala shifter, having the strength of a fly. “I’ll remember
that.” He hung up and tossed his phone onto the bed, feeling his entire
body break out into a cold sweat.

Lynn Hagen

Was he going to say yes to Frisco? The first conversation with the

guy had given Recker a headache. Frisco had talked in circles, making
Recker dizzy. Maybe a second conversation would go a little
smoother.

With that hope in mind, Recker walked out of his bedroom. He

could do this. Recker was going to talk to his human mate without
getting flustered or frustrated. He had to make Frisco see that destiny
had paired them. Spencer said to take things slow and become friends
first, but the need to bond with Frisco was building to an
uncomfortable pitch inside Recker.

Rhino shifters may have extremely bad tempers, but they were

also highly devoted to their mates. There was nothing Frisco could
ask that Recker wouldn’t do for him. Rhinos also had a deep driving
need to bond.

As much as Recker wanted to take Spencer’s advice, he knew it

would be impossible. He hesitated at Frisco’s bedroom door,
wondering what he was going to say to the man. Before he could raise
his hand to knock, Frisco swung the door open. “Recker, my man.
Just the guy I wanted to see.”

Recker was taken aback by the man’s exuberance.
“Come on in.” Frisco stepped aside.
Wondering why his mate was so happy to see him, Recker walked

into the bedroom. Frisco closed the door and then spun around, a wide
smile on his devilishly handsome face. Although the man wasn’t
heavily cut with muscles like Recker, his mate had an extraordinary
body. Recker wished he knew the man’s eye and hair color. All he
could tell was that they were both dark, rich-looking. Recker
especially liked the deep stubble decorating the man’s jaw.

His body tightened at the thought of Frisco touching him,

caressing him, and claiming Recker. He cursed when he felt the blush
heating up his face. That was one trait he wished he had lost when
turning from a boy to a man. Unfortunately, Spencer was right.
Recker was bashful as hell. “What did you need to talk to me about?”

Frisco James

“I have a business proposition for you,” Frisco answered as he sat

on the edge of the bed. Recker wondered if his mate would protest if
he sat next to him. But he didn’t have to ponder for long. Frisco
patted the mattress next to him. “Take a load off.”

Recker didn’t think twice. He immediately sat next to Frisco,

feeling the need to bond with the human growing stronger. “What’s
your proposition?”

Recker shivered when Frisco’s eyes skimmed over his body. His

heart began to beat harder at the thought of Frisco claiming him. He
was all for it and wouldn’t resist. Recker had wanted to belong to
somebody for his entire life and now that he found his mate, he was
going to hold on with both hands.

“Have you thought about boxing?”
The question caught Recker off guard. Out of all the things he

thought his mate was going to say to him, boxing wasn’t even on the
list. “No.”

Frisco jumped up from the bed, turning toward Recker as his arms

spread open. “Look at you, Recker. You are the perfect definition of a
boxer. Do you know how many fights you could win and how much
money you could make?”

He liked the smile on his mate’s face and the way he appreciated

Recker’s body. His palms were already sweaty, but the way Frisco
was staring at him made his body hum with need. “I can’t box,”
Recker said, hating to see the smile fall from Frisco’s face. “That
would go against the anger management classes I’m taking.”

Frisco moved closer and Recker’s breath hitched. “Why are you

taking anger management classes?”

Recker was ashamed to admit what he had done. Although Leigh

may have deserved it, he hadn’t meant to put the man in the hospital.
“I broke a man’s jaw for making fun of me.”

Frisco sat back down beside him. “What was he teasing you

about?”

Lynn Hagen

Recker didn’t want to say. He didn’t want Frisco to know about

his flaw. It was bad enough he had been taunted about his
colorblindness his entire life, but if Frisco poked fun at him, Recker
wasn’t sure what he would do. “Things,” Recker answered evasively.

“Oh, come on. You can tell me.” Frisco backed up his words by

tossing his arm over Recker’s shoulder. That was the second time his
mate had done that. And just like the first time, his cock was getting
hard at the skin contact.

His mate seems sincere enough and Recker was hoping beyond

hope that Frisco wasn’t toying with him. “I’m colorblind. I was
diagnosed with monochromacy at a very young age.”

“Damn, that sounds painful.” Frisco’s arm tightened around

Recker’s shoulder.

Recker chuckled. “It means I can only see black, white, and grey.

And I can only distinguish brightness from darkness.”

“So that means you don’t know what color shirt I’m wearing?”
Recker knocked Frisco’s arm off his shoulder as he pushed from

the bed, his chest hurting at the taunt he remembered Leigh handing
him over and over again. The man had continually asked Recker what
color shirt he was wearing—and now his mate was doing the same
thing.

“Hey,” Frisco said as he stood. “I’m not making fun of you. I just

never met a colorblind man before. I think it’s pretty cool.”

“Cool?” Recker asked in disbelief. “You think me being

colorblind is cool? Are you fucking nuts?” It was anything but cool. It
had been a hindrance Recker’s entire life and he wished to god he had
been born with the ability to see in color like everyone else.

Frisco smiled and Recker’s anger washed away at the brilliant,

straight white teeth. “Yeah, I do. So what do you say, want to box?”

“I already told you—” Recker’s words were cut off sharply when

Frisco moved closer, kneeling between Recker’s legs and batting his
thick eyelashes at what he thought was supposed to be a puppy dog
look.

Frisco James

“Please,” Frisco said. “Just think about it. I would be your

manager to make sure you were properly taken care of.” His mate’s
voice was soft, pleading, and the thought of Frisco taking care of him
had Recker’s heart beating faster. He would do anything for his mate,
but Recker wasn’t so sure about what the man was asking.

He had given Maverick his word. Recker never went back on his

word. But this was his mate. Didn’t that trump everything else?
Would he get into trouble if he was only doing what his mate asked?

In the back of his mind, Recker knew the answer should be no. He

didn’t want to hurt anybody, and he didn’t want to break a promise.
He needed to talk to Spencer. “I’ll think about it. You still haven’t
answered me about us bonding together.”

“You still think that fate put us together?” Frisco stood, and

Recker felt his anger rising when the scowl returned.

“You know what, forget it.” Recker stood, ready to get away from

Frisco. The man had no clue how special a bond was between mates.
He wasn’t going to sit here and listen to Frisco degrade the intimate
act.

Frisco grabbed Recker’s arm, stopping him from leaving the

room. “Whoa, wait a minute. Tell me about this bond.”

Recker wasn’t sure if the man was being serious or not, but he

took mating very seriously. If Frisco was playing with him, Recker
wasn’t sure what he would do. “It’s a deep connection between mates.
Unbreakable. There is no divorce because we take the until death do
we part to heart.”

Frisco stood there, his expression contemplative. Recker wasn’t

sure what the man was thinking, but he held his breath as he waited
for an answer. Even if Frisco didn’t believe him, that wouldn’t make
Recker walk away. Quite frankly, it was understandable. Frisco was
human, knowing nothing of the nonhuman world. It was going to take
the man some getting used to.

Lynn Hagen

“So let me get this straight,” Frisco said. “If we bond”—Frisco

swung his finger between his chest and Recker’s—“then we are,
what, married?”

Recker shrugged. “If that’s how you want to look at it.”
“Does the whole obey thing count?”
Recker wasn’t sure where Frisco was going with his question. It

was a pretty damn odd question. “I’m still not calling you sir.”

Frisco’s eyes sparkled with merriment. “Never asked you to.”
God, the man was so freaking charming. That boyish grin was

going to be Recker’s undoing. He could feel himself falling into that
smile, willing to do anything Frisco asked.

“I’m curious,” Frisco said as he moved closer, his fingers

skimming down Recker’s arms. Recker quickly inhaled his breath at
the soft touch. “How does the bonding thing work? How would you
bond yourself to me?”

Recker shivered at the sensual way his mate was speaking to him.

He could see the desire swimming in the man’s dark eyes and he
wasn’t immune. His cock was hard as steel as Frisco’s fingers
continually drew lines up and down Recker’s arms. “Sex,” Recker
said as he swallowed tightly. “We would have sex.”

“Mmm, you keep going back to the subject of sex. Are you sure

you’re not just trying to get me in bed?” Frisco’s fingers began to play
with Recker’s ears, unknowing that that was one of Recker’s hot
spots. He felt himself melting under the man’s touch, the need to bind
himself to Frisco intensifying.

“That’s what it takes,” Recker answered honestly. Both of

Frisco’s hands gripped Recker’s ass. They clenched, then with a
smooth, powerful motion Frisco began grinding his cock against
Recker’s body, pushing his hard shaft into Recker’s jeans.

“Sex?”
Oh god. Recker wasn’t sure what to think, or if he should even be

thinking right now. All he knew was that his mate was touching him.
Recker’s head fell back as Frisco pulled him closer, yanking Recker

Frisco James

against him as he ground his cock harder against Recker. He began to
tremble in reaction to what his mate was doing. Frisco’s cock felt
wide and powerful, a heated wedge of flesh that Recker wanted to feel
stretching him so badly with delicious pain. He shivered at the
prospect of Frisco taking him.

His mate’s fingers continued to massage Recker’s ass as Frisco

leaned in and began to nibble at Recker’s neck. “Having sex with you
is no hardship. You are one gorgeous-ass man.”

Recker ran his fingers through Frisco’s short, dark hair, growling

as he pressed Frisco’s face harder against him. “Claim me, Frisco.
Make me yours.”

Frisco released Recker and then shoved him backward onto the

bed. Recker had never been handled so roughly and found that it
turned him on. The side of Frisco’s mouth was twisted up into a smile
as his dark eyes raked over Recker. “Take your clothes off, Recker, so
you can feel me pounding into that tight ass of yours.”

Pulling the shirt over his head, Frisco tossed it aside. His fingers

went to his belt as he began to unfasten it, his eyes growing darker as
desire filled the twin orbs. Recker kicked his shoes off of his feet and
then unfastened his pants, shoving them down his legs. He tossed his
socks, underwear, and shirt to the floor as well.

Frisco gave a low whistle. “You are one fine-ass-looking man.

Your body is out of this world.”

Recker beamed at the compliment. His mate’s body was just as

solid, just as glorious to look at. But it wouldn’t have mattered to
Recker at all if Frisco wasn’t solidly built. He wouldn’t have cared if
Frisco had been a beanpole. The only thing that he cared about was
that Frisco was his mate and wanted him.

He was never hung up on looks or anything monetary. Recker just

wanted to live a simple life. He wasn’t so sure he was going to get his
wish with Frisco.

“Stop thinking so hard,” Frisco said right before he knelt on the

bed and crawled over Recker. He leaned back, pressing his back into

Lynn Hagen

the mattress as Frisco’s lips pressed against his and then gently
covered his mouth. Frisco’s lips feather-touched his with tantalizing
persuasion, making Recker sigh as he opened to Frisco, his mate
sweeping his tongue inside.

As Frisco’s tongue explored at its leisure, his large hand gently

squeezed Recker’s right nipple, eliciting a gasp from him and then a
moan. Recker was surprised at how gentle Frisco’s kiss was. It wasn’t
urgent or commanding, but slow and exploratory, drugging Recker.

“Tell me you have some lube,” Frisco said as he kissed a path

from Recker’s mouth to his neck, his fingers still playing at Recker’s
nipple, pulling, teasing.

Recker slid his hand up and reached under the pillow, pulling the

bottle of lube free and handing it to his mate. Frisco wasted no time
squeezing the clear gel onto his fingers. Recker grasped Frisco’s arm
and held on as his ring of muscles squeezed down on the invading
finger. He almost couldn’t breathe due to the pleasure that raced
through his body with the speed of light as Frisco stretched him.

“If I had known you were here, I would’ve come months ago,”

Frisco said, altering his angle, striking Recker’s sweet spot. Recker
groaned loudly, spreading his legs wider. “Oh, do we have a
screamer?”

Now was not the time for Recker’s face to heat with

embarrassment. He was a loud man when it came to sex. He couldn’t
help it. He had never been able to trap those sounds behind his lips
when his partner was making him feel so damn good. “Yes.”

Frisco seem to practically purr with Recker’s confession. “I love a

screamer.” Frisco shoved a second finger into Recker’s ass. A shout
tore from Recker’s throat as Frisco began to play with his prostate.

“Louder, baby,” Frisco growled as he shoved a third finger into

Recker’s ass. Recker ground into the thrust, trying to take Frisco’s
fingers deeper, each inward thrust stretching Recker’s inner walls.

“Fuck me, Frisco.”

Frisco James

“As the man wishes.” Frisco’s fingers disappeared, replaced by

the head of his cock. His mate slowly fucked his way in, stretching
Recker around his thick girth inch by glorious inch. His mate started
to move in a steady rhythm and it seemed like he was trying to nail
Recker’s gland as often as he could with each thrust, each roll of his
hips.

Frisco filled Recker’s ass, drenching the sensitive tissue

deliciously, stroking it as a million bolts of erotic electricity fizzled
along Recker’s spine. Recker fought for breath, as his mate’s hips
plunged hard, driving his cock deep inside Recker, causing Recker’s
body to scream with pleasure, with an overload of sensation that made
Recker cry out as Frisco hammered his ass.

“Scream, baby. Scream my name.”
Recker screamed with what little breath he had left. Recker was

breathing hard, his skin sensitive. The rasp of Frisco’s hairs on his
body caressing him was nearly driving Recker mad. Recker’s head
twisted as Frisco’s strokes became firmer, thrusting harder, and
driving Recker’s arousal higher.

“You ready to come for me?” Frisco asked as he shoved Recker’s

legs back. “You ready to fly?” Frisco drove deep, making Recker beg
for release.

“Yes!” Recker shouted, panting, fighting to keep his sanity. He

looked up at Frisco, seeing the savage lines on his mate’s face, and
the determination in Frisco’s eyes. Fingers wrapped around Recker’s
cock, his mate stroking him until Recker was shouting his release.

“Oh, fuck,” Frisco called out. “Your ass is so fucking tight around

my dick.” His mate moved faster, his cock slamming into Recker’s
ass. “Shit…here comes…oh, yeah.”

Recker could feel the pulsing in his ass as Frisco came.
“Fuck,” Frisco said as he released Recker’s leg and wiped a hand

over his hair. “Damn, that was good…great…” The man laughed.
“Fantastic!”

Lynn Hagen

Grabbing the back of Frisco’s neck, Recker pulled him down for a

heated kiss. Frisco was his mate now. They were bound together for
all eternity.

Frisco grinned into Recker’s mouth. “So passionate,” he said

against Recker’s lips. “So, are we mated now?”

Recker ran his hand down Frisco’s sweaty back. “Yes.”
Frisco gave Recker one last kiss before he pulled free and then got

up from the bed. “Fantastic, now get ready so we can leave.”

Recker turned to his side, propping his head on his hand. “Leave

where?” he asked in confusion.

Frisco turned right before he walked into the bathroom, winking at

Recker. “To start your new life as a boxer.”

* * * *

Maverick gazed out of his office window, staring off into the

darkness of night. Sometimes he honestly hated the dreams that came
to him. He still wasn’t sure how he had gained the ability to see a
person’s future while he slept, but there was one thing that he had
learned over the years and that was not to go against what was shown
to him.

Even before Recker had gotten into that fight, Maverick had seen

the rhino’s future. That was the reason Maverick had brought Recker
to his home. Yeah, the man needed to learn how to control his temper,
but that was only part of the reason the rhino was here.

Maverick knew that at this very moment Frisco was talking

Recker into leaving. He had already instructed his sentries not to
interfere. As he gazed at the quarter moon, Maverick wished he could
say something to Recker, to warn the man of the heartbreak that was
coming his way.

But even if he stopped what was about to unfold, he knew that

fate would find a way. Although he wanted to stop the rhino from the
pain that was yet to come, Maverick knew his hands were tied.

Lynn Hagen

Chapter Three

“I swear to god, Recker, you really have lost your mind!” Spencer

shouted into the phone. “Do you hear what you’re saying?”

Recker was getting pissed that Spencer didn’t have his back. He

knew it was a crazy idea. But if Frisco had confidence in him then so
should his best friend. “I don’t appreciate the tone you’re taking with
me, Spence. I’ll only be gone for a little while.”

“Boxing! You don’t know anything about that damn sport. Plus

you are supposed to be trying to get your anger under control, not use
it as a fucking weapon.” Spencer continued to rant and rave as Recker
looked over at his packed bag. He really wasn’t sure if he was doing
the right thing by leaving, but he was going to be with his mate.

Frisco wouldn’t put Recker in harm’s way. They were mates and

mates looked out for each other. He didn’t care what Spencer said.
Recker was going to follow Frisco wherever his mate led them. “Tell
me you wouldn’t go wherever Bear wanted you to go. Tell me you
wouldn’t follow him.”

“My mate wouldn’t ask me to engage in a dangerous sport!” The

anger bled from Spencer’s tone, replaced with begging. “Please,
Recker. Think about what you are doing. I love and care about you
and only have your best interest at heart.”

“If you love and care about me, Spence, then you will be my

friend no matter what.”

“I’ll always be your friend,” Spencer said with a hitch to his

voice. “But you have to see that what Frisco is asking you to do isn’t
right.”

Frisco James

He watched as his mate walked into the room, a dashing smile on

his face as he winked at Recker. His face heated as he smiled back. “I
gotta go, Spence. I just hope we can remain friends.” Recker hung up
before Spencer could say another word.

“Is everything okay?” Frisco asked as he grabbed his helmet off of

the bed.

Recker grabbed the bag and slung it over his shoulder. “I was just

telling my best friend that I was heading out.”

“I guess we need to hit the road.” Frisco held his hand out and

Recker took it.

“I don’t think Maverick is going to let us just walk out here,”

Recker said. “I’m not supposed to leave the Den.”

Frisco released him and then ran his hand over Recker’s hair.

“You are my mate. You told me nobody can interfere with mating.
Maverick can’t stop us.”

Recker wasn’t too sure about that. It was true that nobody could

interfere with mating, but Recker was paying off a debt. He seriously
doubted that the alpha would let him just walk away.

He was nervous that Maverick was going to stop them and then

make Recker pay for trying to run out on his debt. Not only that, but
Recker respected the man and felt like a heel for leaving. “I don’t
know if I’m doing the right thing.”

Frisco tossed his arm over Recker’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t lie to

you, Recker. Stop sweating things. Everything is going to work out
just fine.”

To Recker’s surprise, no one was in the hallway or foyer to stop

them. They easily walked out of the front door and into the night.
There were sentries that guarded the grounds and Recker was waiting
to see one of the timber wolves come racing around the corner at any
second.

But no one came and no one stopped them.
Recker hesitated halfway to the driveway. “I should talk to

Maverick, let him know I’m leaving with my mate.” His fingers

Lynn Hagen

curled tighter around the strap of the bag as he glanced from his mate
to the house. “It’s not right for me to just leave like this.”

Frisco slid his hand into Recker’s, giving a light tug. “Come on,

baby. You know he’ll only try to keep you here. I’m ready to blow
this town. Don’t you want to come with me?”

More than Frisco would ever know, but it still didn’t sit well with

him that he was breaking a promise. Recker turned and followed
Frisco to his mate’s motorcycle, feeling as if he was leaving who he
was behind.

“I only have one helmet,” Frisco said as he shoved his helmet

toward Recker. “Put this on. I’ll just wear my riding goggles.”

Recker was touched that his mate would give him the only helmet.

He secured his bag to the bike then placed the helmet on his head,
adjusting the straps.

“Let’s roll, baby.”
They took off down the driveway and a large wrought iron gate

that Maverick just had installed loomed up ahead. No wonder there
wasn’t anyone around to stop them. The gate was mechanically
controlled and there was no way they could get out.

Frisco came to a stop, planting his feet on the ground. “Well, this

is a problem.” No sooner had the words fallen from Frisco’s lips than
the gates slowly opened.

There was a small part of Recker that had been hoping the gate

stayed closed. But he was with his mate now and there was no turning
back. Fate had given him to Frisco, and who was Recker to argue with
fate?

Wrapping his arms tighter around Frisco, Recker leaned his cheek

against his mate’s back and smiled. He wasn’t sure where they were
going, but as long as it was with Frisco, Recker knew he would be
okay.

His earlier feelings that he shouldn’t leave the Den were now

gone, replaced by happiness he hadn’t felt since his twin was alive.

Frisco James

Frisco had accepted their mating and now Recker was his
responsibility.

He wasn’t sure how long they were on the road, but Recker could

feel an ache starting in his lower back. His body was stiff and he was
ready to stop somewhere so he could stretch his legs. Frisco must’ve
read his thoughts because he pulled into a small gas station.

He parked the bike in front of one of the gas pumps and then

dismounted. “I have to use the bathroom. Get what you need out of
the gas station before we head out again.” When Recker took off his
helmet, Frisco tucked a knuckle under his chin and gave him a quick
kiss. “I’ll be right back.”

Recker was all smiles when he walked into the gas station. He was

also hungry as hell. He hoped this place had something decent to eat,
although he doubted it. Grabbing a few danishes, a pack of cookies,
and some beef jerky, Recker headed over to the cooler. He wasn’t
sure if Frisco was hungry or thirsty, and he hadn’t a clue what his
mate liked to drink.

Heading toward the door so he could ask Frisco, the cashier yelled

out for him to stop. Recker glanced over his shoulder.

“Do you plan on paying for that stuff?”
Recker glanced down and noticed that he still had the treats in his

arms. He went over to the counter and set everything down. “I wasn’t
going to steal this.”

The cashier began to scan the items. “Tell that to somebody who

wasn’t watching you walk out the door with this crap in your hands.”

Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Recker was trying to remember Taylor’s lessons because this man

had just pissed him the hell off. He had never been a thief in his life
and didn’t appreciate the man calling him one. He had forgotten. That
was all.

Lynn Hagen

“I need to go find out what Frisco wants to drink.” Recker started

walking toward the door, moving aside when another customer
walked in.

“You have got to be shitting me,” the cashier snapped at Recker.

“I already rang you up and I have more customers coming in.”

Recker could see Frisco already standing by the motorcycle,

filling it up with gas. “It will only take a second.”

“You’re a fucking moron,” the cashier said under his breath but

Recker caught the words. He had shifter hearing, which wasn’t
always a good thing, especially right now.

He turned from the door, lowering his head and trying to push the

anger down. It wasn’t working. “What did you just call me?” he asked
in a low tone, enunciating each word. Recker and his twin had grown
up in foster care. The same teenager that had befriended Recker just
so he could make Recker dress atrociously was the same guy who had
called him a moron time and again.

Recker didn’t like being called names. He didn’t like mean-

spirited people. But he was trying. Oh, how he was trying not to get
angry.

“I called you a moron,” the cashier answered, but his voice wasn’t

as confident as it had been when he muttered the words. As a matter
of fact, his voice had cracked when he said moron.

Just walk away.
Frisco walked in and glanced at Recker. “Did you get everything

you needed?”

“I was just coming to find out if you wanted something to drink.”

Recker’s eyes never left the cashier.

“Aw, aren’t you sweet.” Frisco walked to the cooler and grabbed

an apple juice. “I’ll take this.”

His mate walked over the counter and not only paid for his juice,

but Recker’s snacks as well after the cashier had told Frisco that the
stuff belonged to Recker. He was guessing that the guy didn’t want
Recker anywhere near him.

Frisco James

Smart man.
“All right, baby. Let’s hit the road.” Frisco walked past him,

wiggling his eyebrows at Recker and making him smile. He forgot all
about the cashier as he followed his mate outside.

“It’s going to be a beautiful day,” Frisco said as he held his arms

wide open, turning in a short circle. “Can you feel that, Recker?”

He wasn’t sure what Frisco was referring to, but Recker loved

seeing the smile on the man’s face. Frisco was simply gorgeous. He
chuckled as he grabbed his snacks from his mate’s hand. “Thanks for
buying this for me.”

“Anything for you, baby.” Frisco straddled the bike and then

opened his juice. “Take your time. Eat your snacks.” He nodded
toward the small bag in Recker’s hand.

Recker climbed onto the back of the bike and then began to eat the

poor substitute for a meal. He cursed under his breath when he
realized that he hadn’t gotten himself something to drink. There was
no way he was going back in there.

“Done,” he said after a few minutes, leaning sideways to toss the

bag in a trash can that was sitting next to the pump.

Frisco chuckled. “Damn, baby, you sure can eat.”
Recker didn’t take it as an insult, not when it was coming from

Frisco. “That didn’t even put a dent in my hunger.”

“Just as soon as I find a diner, we’ll sit down to a decent meal.”

Frisco placed the goggles on his head and then started the motorcycle.
Recker secured the helmet and held on as his mate pulled away.

* * * *

As soon as they hit Lorain County, Frisco found someplace to pull

over. Being in the bare-knuckle boxing business for years, he knew
that there was only one man he had to go through in order to set up a
fight.

The Wrangler.

Lynn Hagen

No one knew the Wrangler’s real name. From the stories Frisco

had heard, the guy was called the Wrangler because he liked to tie
men up right before he attached a cinder block to them and tossed
their body off the closest pier.

Frisco had never dealt with the business side to boxing. His

manager had always handled that. That kept him off the Wrangler’s
radar. But now that he had Recker, Frisco was going to have to deal
with the man firsthand.

“Thank god,” Recker said as he climbed off the bike and began to

stretch. “That was one long-ass ride.”

Frisco grabbed Recker’s chin and pulled him in for a quick kiss

after the man had removed his helmet. He wasn’t proud of the fact
that he had slept with Recker in order to get him to box. He still
wasn’t convinced of the mate crap, but admittedly Recker was
growing on him.

And he liked kissing the guy. That was something Frisco had

never really gotten into, but with Recker, it wouldn’t bother him in
the least to kiss the guy all day. “Once I make this phone call we can
get a room and then you can rest, baby.”

Frisco pulled his wallet out and grabbed the business card he

needed. After a short stint in jail, Frisco has sworn that he wasn’t
going to go back to boxing. It was a hard life and there were still
moments that Frisco couldn’t remember.

The doc had said it was from all the head pounding he had taken.
But Recker was a sure bet. He just knew it. Frisco couldn’t think

of one single boxer that would be able to take Recker down. After
dialing the number, Frisco pressed the phone to his ear.

“What?”
Frisco tucked his left arm over his chest, using the right to hold

the phone to his ear. “This is Frisco James.”

“Frisco, baby. Where have you been?” the Wrangler asked. “The

boxing business hasn’t been the same since you fell off the scene.”

Frisco James

Fell off the scene his ass. The Wrangler knew damn well Frisco

had been arrested last December. Somehow he knew he was going to
regret dealing with this man.

“I’m surprised you’re calling me,” the Wrangler continued.

“Where’s Ray?”

Ray had been Frisco’s manager. “I’m not coming back to fight.

I’ve decided to become a manager instead.” Frisco’s jaw clenched
when the Wrangler burst out laughing.

“You, a manager?” He laughed some more. “Do you even have a

fighter?”

Frisco glanced over at Recker, who was still stretching. One

eyebrow lifted when Recker bent over and grabbed his ankles, most
likely stretching his back but giving Frisco a very nice view. “I have
someone that can beat anyone you pit against him.”

The laughter died on the other end. “You still owe me, Frisco.

Your little bitch-ass manager never paid up on that last fight you were
in. I’m holding you to his debt.”

Frisco closed his eyes. Fuck! The last thing Frisco wanted to be

was in the Wrangler’s pocket. It was not a place anyone wanted to
find himself.

The Wrangler rattled off an address. “Have your fighter there

Saturday night. I want him to go down in the fourth round. Do I make
myself clear?”

Things were not starting off the way Frisco had planned. After

Saturday night, Frisco was taking Recker and hauling ass out of there.
He knew a few more towns he could take the guy without having to
deal with the Wrangler.

Frisco could also turn this around into his favor. If Recker was

going down in the fourth, he knew a friend that could place a bet for
him and Frisco would have prize money to take care of him and
Recker. Even though he had used less-than-honorable ways to get
Recker here, Frisco planned on taking damn good care of the man.

Recker was his responsibility.

Lynn Hagen

“The fourth, got it.” Frisco hung up, still inwardly cursing that he

had to tell Recker to take a dive.

“We good?” Recker asked.
Frisco smiled at the man. “It’s all good, baby. Let’s go get that

room so you can rest.” Because Saturday was only two days away. He
knew he had a lot of work ahead of him. Recker had never boxed and
Frisco had to make sure that the man not only knew the rules—which
he could count on one finger—but understood how important it was
for him to go down in the fourth.

Frisco drove them to a hotel that he had stayed in many times.

This was his territory and he knew all the locals. When he had gotten
busted up in New York, that fight was just a favor for Ray.

And that was exactly why Frisco had sworn off the boxing

business. The Wrangler didn’t have to tell him that Ray was shysty as
hell. Frisco had already known that fact.

The guy had screwed Frisco out of so much money that he himself

wanted to go after the man and tie his ass up. But he let it go. Frisco
had Recker now and he saw a bright future for both of them.

Frisco rented a room and then got Recker settled in. He kissed

Recker’s cheek before he nodded toward the back of the room. “Why
don’t you take a nice hot shower?”

Recker’s light-blue eyes lit up at Frisco’s suggestion. The man

rummaged through his bag before he headed into the bathroom. Frisco
stretched out on the bed and grabbed the remote, flipping through the
channels as he listened to the shower.

He wasn’t watching TV. Frisco’s mind was replaying the sex he

had shared with Recker. He frowned as he glanced toward the
bathroom door. Now that he thought about it, Recker had been the
only thing on his mind the whole ride here.

That was very odd for Frisco James. His mind should’ve been on

the money, but instead all he could think about was how sweet and
innocent Recker truly was. Did he really want to steal that away from
the man?

Frisco James

Because if Recker stayed in this business, that innocence would be

stripped away, replaced by a harsh and brutal life that not every man
was cut out to live.

He had just plucked a man from his home, tossing him into a

world that was not for everyone. Hadn’t he learned anything in
prison? Hadn’t Frisco sworn to change his life? He might not be
boxing any longer, but that was just a damn technicality. He was still
in the damn business.

It was bad enough that he had fucked his own life up. Now he was

about to fuck someone else’s up? Just how low was he willing to go
in order to make a quick buck?

The answer didn’t sit well with him.
As Frisco thought about the upcoming fight, something inside of

him began to turn, and Frisco realized a little too late that maybe
Recker had been better off staying in Brac Village where Frisco
couldn’t corrupt him.

Too bad the realization hadn’t come before he made the phone

call.

Lynn Hagen

Chapter Four

Recker walked into the dilapidated building behind Frisco. He

hadn’t been able to eat anything all day from his nerves, and now that
the time had come for him to box, Recker wanted nothing more than
to turn around and leave.

The combination of sweat, blood, and a nasty disinfectant he

assumed was used to try and cancel out the first two odors—but failed
miserably—stung Recker’s nose the further he walked into the
building.

“Relax,” Frisco said over his shoulder. “Just remember what we

talked about.”

Recker heard the loud shouts and someone’s bones crunching the

closer he got to the middle of the room. The place was drab and
uninviting, making Recker think that hellhole wasn’t a good enough
description for this place. He could see exposed pipes running the
course of the ceiling and a large boiler on the other end of the room.

Frisco knows what he’s doing.
When Frisco stopped, so did Recker. He could feel himself

becoming agitated as the shouts and cheers grew louder. His mate
began to talk to a rotund man who wore large glasses and had two
muscular men standing behind him, arms crossed over their chests—
no doubt the guy’s bodyguards.

“Very impressive,” the man Frisco was talking to said as he

looked Recker’s way. “I just might try and steal him away from you.”
The guy winked at Recker.

Not in this lifetime.

Frisco James

Frisco placed the palm of his hand on his chest and smiled

apologetically at the stranger. “If only you could, Wrangler.
Fortunately for me, Recker is under contract.”

Recker didn’t remember signing any contract, but he didn’t

contradict Frisco in front of the other men. As the men talked, Recker
glanced around. He didn’t want to be here. This wasn’t who he was
and this wasn’t the kind of life he wanted to live.

But Frisco seemed happy. Recker wanted his mate happy—even if

boxing made him unhappy.

“I’ll see you after the fight,” Frisco said as he turned away from

the men he had been talking to. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you
ready.”

Frisco led him to a semi-private corner, his strong fingers

massaging Recker’s shoulders. Recker gave a low rumble as his head
lolled to the side. That felt so damn good. Unfortunately he had to
move away.

“Get back here,” Frisco said as Recker took another step back.

“I’m trying to loosen you up for the fight.”

Recker glanced down at his growing erection and then he heard

Frisco chuckle.

“Okay, no touching you before a fight. I need you to concentrate

on what you are doing, not what you want me to do to you.” Frisco
was giving him an easy grin, but Recker could see the tension lines
filling in around his mate’s eyes.

Frisco was worried.
“Listen,” Frisco said as he leaned in closer. “I need to tell you

that—”

“Your guy is up,” the stranger Frisco had been talking to shouted

their way. Recker didn’t like the guy. Especially not the way he kept
staring at Recker—like if he had the chance, he would get rid of
Frisco and take Recker for his own.

“Come on, baby,” Frisco said as he pushed his way through the

crowd, Recker following. His mate had taped his knuckles right

Lynn Hagen

before they had gotten here. Recker was ready to tear the tape off. It
was irritating as hell and so were the dumb shorts he was wearing. He
felt naked as hell in front of all these guys.

“Remember,” Frisco whispered to him, “fourth.”
Recker nodded as he walked into the middle of the room, sizing

up his opponent. The man was a lot taller than Recker, but leaner.

Don’t knock him out.
Go down in the fourth.
Make the fight look legit.
A bell rang and the two began to circle each other. Recker could

feel himself sweating already. His nerves were raw and he flexed
when the other guy swung at him. Recker easily dodged the guy’s fist
and then landed a solid punch to the gut.

He didn’t like fighting for sport. Recker was half tempted to ask

the man if he was okay. But Frisco was depending on him, so Recker
had to keep going.

The guy threw another punch and Recker evaded it with a duck,

coming back up with a full swing that connected and knocked the
man’s face sideways.

His opponent shook his head and gave Recker a twisted, taunting

smile. “You hit like a sissy, bitch.”

Recker’s anger hit the roof. He tried to remember Taylor’s

lessons, but the only thing Recker could see was red. He didn’t like
mean-spirited people. Why did the guy have to call him names and
taunt him? Frisco hadn’t said anything about that.

“After I’m done wiping the floor with you, I’m going to go find

your mother and give her a proper fucking.” The guy winked at
Recker.

Recker grunted as he cocked his arm back and swung it into the

man’s jaw. No one talked about his deceased mother! When the man
went down, so did Recker. He kept punching the guy over and over
again, wanting him to pay for what he had just said.

“Recker!”

Frisco James

He could feel hands pulling him off of the guy, but Recker didn’t

want to stop. His mother had died giving birth to Recker and his twin.
He would never in his life let anyone talk crap about her.

“Enough, Recker!” Frisco shouted as he wrapped an arm around

Recker’s neck, giving a hard tug as he tried to pull Recker back. “Let
him go.”

He felt his canines elongate as the shouts all around him

continually grew louder. Recker wasn’t sure if they were egging him
on or pissed that the fight was over within minutes of it beginning.

The room spun as he tried to rein in his anger, his eyes burning

with the need to seek revenge. He tried to jerk out of the grabbing
hands, the room continually spinning faster and faster until he felt as
if he couldn’t get enough air into his lungs.

“Is he dead?” somebody shouted from the crowd.
“This fucking fight was rigged!” another bellowed.
Recker felt his rhino pushing to the surface, fighting to get free

and defend him against the angry threat all around. Finally, after what
felt like hours instead of minutes, Recker pushed to his feet, taking a
few steps back.

Was Maverick right? Was Recker too dangerous for any kind of

populace? His head lowered as he glanced at the man he had just
pummeled. The guy wasn’t moving and Recker feared the worst. Ever
since the mockery and disdain of his childhood, Recker had had an
extremely bad temper.

But was Spencer right, was he only getting worse with time?

Recker pivoted on his heel and plowed through the angry crowd as he
headed toward the exit. He needed air. He needed to get out of that pit
of vipers, away from the foul stenches threatening to make his rhino
burst free.

As his hands slammed into the metal door, he heard Frisco

shouting for him, telling him to wait up. Knowing with every bone in
his body that he needed to leave, Recker paused.

Lynn Hagen

“Come on,” Frisco said as he grabbed Recker’s arm. “If we don’t

get out of here now, we will never make it out of here alive.”

He could hear the gravity in Frisco’s voice and knew the severity

of the situation was life-threatening. They both raced to Frisco’s
motorcycle, his mate fumbling with the keys to get it started. The bike
roared to life and then they were gone.

* * * *

“He was purposely trying to make you angry so you would

become unfocused,” Frisco explained for the fifth time to Recker.
“And good god, how the man succeeded. I just don’t think he
anticipated you going ballistic.”

“I told you I had anger issues,” Recker repeated heatedly as he

paced the small motel room, his large frame encompassing so much
space. “I don’t like mean-spirited people.”

Frisco dropped into the chair, lowering his head into his hands.

Mean-spirited people? How in the hell could somebody with Recker’s
brute strength be so fucking naïve? Frisco wasn’t sure how he was
going to get himself and Recker out of this. Wrangler no doubt had
two ropes ready, anxious to use them just as soon as he found the two.

Thank fuck Frisco was a little savvier with his money and hadn’t

bet his entire savings on that fight. It was bad enough that he had just
flushed ten grand down the toilet, but knowing that the Wrangler had
probably lost more made Frisco feel queasy.

How had a simple plan gone so wrong?
“I need you to find out if I killed him,” Recker said as he wore a

groove in the rug. Frisco could tell that Recker was terrified, not that
he was wanted for murder, but that he had actually hurt the man.

They were fucked six ways from Sunday and Frisco didn’t know

how to get them out of this tragic situation. Going back to Brac
Village was not an option. Wrangler would find them. He had a
feeling that his former manager was already dead. No one fucked over

Frisco James

the Wrangler and got away with it. Ray was probably floating at the
bottom of the sea. Frisco was determined not to let that be his and
Recker’s fate.

Maybe you should have thought about that before you came up

with this brilliant plan.

“I’ll call the local hospital and ask,” Frisco said as he sat down,

letting his head fall back as he stared up at the ceiling. “But until then,
I need to figure this mess out.”

Recker ran his hands over his head as he walked from the

bathroom to the door, and then back again. Frisco had never in his life
seen anyone as murderous as he did earlier in the ring. When Recker
had told him that he was taking anger management classes, Frisco had
thought…no, he hadn’t thought at all. The only thing that had been on
his mind was dollar signs.

Would he still have wanted Recker to fight if he knew the extent

of the man’s temper? Frisco would like to say no, but he knew he had
been a rotten bastard his entire life. The only thing he was skilled at
was hustling.

And now he had just hustled the innocence out of a man who had

trusted him. He would like to think he had some kind of redeeming
quality about himself, but Frisco knew the truth. He made it by hook
or by crook…only now he had pulled Recker into his sordid life.

He was lowlife scum.
But even so, he had to fix this. “We need to find another fight.”

That was the only way to earn enough money to appease the
Wrangler—if that were possible.

Recker slammed his beefy fist into the wall, leaving a gaping hole

in its wake. Plaster crumbled to the floor as the man glared at him
with anger. “No, I won’t fight anymore.”

It was their only option if they were to survive. They had no

choice and Frisco needed to make Recker see the truth of what they
were up against. Somehow he knew that Recker was depending on
him for more than just surviving on the streets. It was a feeling in the

Lynn Hagen

pit of Frisco’s stomach. He had never had anyone to look out for but
himself.

Life was hard. Life was unfair. And all the wishing in the world

wasn’t going to change that fact. Frisco had learned that the hard way
and very early in his life.

But Recker was different. The man wasn’t self-serving, nor was

he a con artist. And somewhere—in a forgotten part of his
humanity—Frisco felt as if he had found someone who understood
the dustiest corners of his mixed-up soul.

Recker had asked for nothing, had given himself freely, and

Frisco had repaid him by screwing the man’s life up, making it just as
treacherous and unsavory as Frisco’s.

Frisco had a deep-seated feeling that if he corrupted Recker, he

would be damned for all eternity. Never before had that thought
bothered him…but it did now. “Look,” Frisco said as he stood and
closed the distance between them, his mind working overtime trying
to figure out another solution. “We’ll find another way out of this.”
And he meant it.

Recker looked hesitant, his light-blue eyes haunted. Frisco knew

he couldn’t do this. He couldn’t trap Recker in the jaded life that he
lived. “You’re not just saying that, are you?”

Grabbing Recker’s hands, Frisco uncurled the man’s fists and

locked their fingers together. He wished he could undo what he had
done, but the damage was already lying at their feet. The only thing
he could do now was keep Recker from getting killed.

Frisco wondered how Recker had gotten under his skin so quickly,

so deeply to where he was actually considering somebody besides
himself. This was a first for him, to care about another person and
how they felt, or even what happened to them.

He pressed his forehead into Recker’s and sighed. “I’m not just

saying that, Recker. I mean it.” Frisco stretched his lips until he was
kissing Recker repeatedly. They were small touches at first, playful,
trying to lighten the mood.

Frisco James

He had Recker’s back pressed into the wall, his hands pressed on

either side of his head as Frisco inserted a leg between Recker’s
thighs. The man had taken a shower, nothing but a flimsy towel
wrapped around his waist.

All the worrying and all the arguing didn’t stop Frisco from

wanting Recker. His carnal lust was taking over—and Frisco refused
to let it be anything but a carnal craving, because if he began to really
care, really want Recker…the man deserved so much better than
Frisco.

But to Frisco’s dismay, he had already started caring.
Who he had been, who he was, and how he had been living was

already starting to unravel as he deepened the kiss. He was trying his
fucking best to lose himself in Recker, to forget, and trying not to fall
for the guy at the same time.

Recker was threatening to make him an honest man. Frisco didn’t

know how to be an honest man. All he knew was deception.

But he didn’t want to deceive Recker. Regardless, Frisco could

feel the change in the air, surrounding him, his life forever changing.
Afraid of what Recker was doing to him, Frisco drove his tongue
deeper, desperate.

What scared Frisco the most was that he felt Recker in his heart,

the feeling threatening to repair what was so broken inside of him.

Yanking one hand free, Frisco tore the towel from around

Recker’s waist and let the material fall to the floor as he skimmed his
hand over rigid, hard muscles. He curled his hips, pressing his thigh
harder into Recker’s balls, eliciting a moan from the man.

Recker’s erection jammed into Frisco’s stomach as he tilted his

head to the side, turning the kiss sloppy. But it seemed no matter how
much he was trying to turn what they were doing into meaningless
sex, Frisco’s goddamn heart kept getting in the way.

He slammed the palm of his hand into the wall, his entire body

jerking as he clenched his jaw, fighting against what he was feeling
for the man in his arms.

Lynn Hagen

“What’s wrong?” Recker panted.
Frisco lowered his head and shook it, closing his eyes as he

fought…struggled, pushing back what he was feeling. “Nothing.”

Feeling out of control, Frisco wrapped his arm around Recker’s

neck and pulled until he had the man dropping onto his back, on the
bed. He stripped his jeans free, tossing his shirt aside, coming
unhinged as he crawled over Recker.

He inwardly cursed when he saw that his hand was shaking.

Frisco curled his fingers in, took a deep breath, and then wrapped
them around Recker’s hard cock. The man threw his head back and let
out a long groan.

Frisco’s head fell to the side as he watched the man he was

recklessly falling in love with take pleasure in what he was doing.
Recker hid nothing. He loudly proclaimed every single noise, his
body writhing from a single touch of Frisco’s hand.

Lowering his hips, Frisco’s cock brushed against Recker’s. He

shivered. Jolts of pulsating fire shot through him. Frisco wrapped his
hand around both erections, squeezing them, sliding his hand up until
he was palming both engorged heads.

Recker’s arms flew out, his hands gripping the blankets as his

head thrashed from side to side. The man’s dark brows furrowed as
his lips parted, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Frisco was utterly
enthralled.

Releasing the shafts, Frisco crawled backward down Recker’s

body. His cock trailed along the man’s heated flesh, leaving behind a
clear path of pre-cum. Frisco leaned forward and licked away his
evidence of arousal before sucking the head of Recker’s cock into his
mouth.

Recker cried out as his hips bucked forward. Frisco straddled the

man’s shin, his aching balls skimming over the wiry hairs of Recker’s
leg. His body was literally hurting to be closer to Recker.

Frisco didn’t understand, and refused to try and figure it out right

now. His tongue slid forward, caressing every pronounced vein,

Frisco James

licking along the silky skin as he rode Recker’s leg. One hand held
the base of Recker’s cock, the other stretched out, his fingers tracing
every inch, every nuance of the man’s body.

Recker’s hips were slowly rocking, feeding Frisco his cock inch

by torturous inch. Using his tongue, Frisco licked his way back up the
steel shaft, finishing his exploration by suckling the soft, spongy head,
drinking Recker in.

Every inch of Frisco’s body was pulsing, humming, the hairs

standing on end as a slow and building sizzle radiated over him. He
pressed his balls harder into Recker’s shin, his lips trailing until he
was lavishing Recker’s hard and firm sac.

Recker’s hands slid over Frisco’s head, massaging the scalp and at

the same time holding him still as he leisurely fucked Frisco’s mouth.
Frisco normally didn’t like feeling as if his head was being locked in
place, but once again, with Recker, Frisco tossed aside his
idiosyncrasies and let the man have his way.

He mouthed each orb, laving at the wrinkled flesh as his hips

circled, dipped, his balls skimming along the friction of hair along
Recker’s leg. Frisco was becoming increasingly desperate to bury his
cock inside of Recker but loathed to give up tasting the man.

“Here,” Recker said breathlessly as something solid touched

Frisco’s shoulder. It was the bottle of lube. As he continued to suck at
Recker’s balls, Frisco held his hand out and Recker poured some of
the clear gel onto his fingers.

As his hand dipped below, Recker’s legs spread wide. Frisco

smiled when he felt Recker’s toes toying with his balls. That was a
first. But it seemed Recker knew that Frisco was enjoying the ride and
didn’t want to take the pleasure away from him.

Separating the man’s cheeks, Frisco circled his fingers around the

tight opening, spreading the lube around generously before plunging
two fingers deep into the man’s ass. Recker bucked, shouted, and then
slammed his ass down onto Frisco’s fingers.

Lynn Hagen

Frisco licked his way under Recker’s balls, flickering his tongue

around the small skin that rested between sac and ass, giving the
heated flesh a small nip.

“Yes…oh, yes…” Recker was babbling, his fingers scraping

along Frisco’s scalp, adding an erotic pleasure that fueled Frisco to
dip his head lower and lick at Recker’s asshole. He twisted his wrist,
crooked his fingers, and pushed them in deeper.

Recker’s muscles clamped tighter around Frisco’s fingers, a fine

tremble making his thighs jerk. Frisco closed his lips over the flesh,
glorying in the very way he was making Recker fall apart.

He flickered his tongue quickly around the stretched skin and then

gave a quick nip before adding a third finger. He used his free hand to
massage Recker’s balls, stroke his cock, and play in the stream of pre-
cum leaking from the tiny slit in the head.

Frisco quickly circled his fingers around the base of Recker’s

cock when he felt the man’s erection pulse. He didn’t want Recker
coming so quickly. He squeezed his fingers, stopping Recker’s
orgasm.

“Frisco”— Recker thrashed underneath him—“let me come.”
Instead of giving the man what he wanted, Frisco pulled his

fingers free, lubed his cock generously, and then speared his erection
deep into Recker’s ass all the way to the hilt. He turned Recker onto
his side, wrapped both arms around the man’s meaty thigh, but kept
his cock buried deep, unmoving.

His body was begging him to move, his thighs and buttocks

straining, coiled muscles, but Frisco wanted Recker to feel every
fucking inch that he owned.

“Move,” Recker begged. “Frisco, please move…fuck me…don’t,

oh, please…fuck me.”

Frisco scraped his nails gently over Recker’s skin, foreign feelings

of tenderness invading him, driving Frisco to show Recker just how
gentle a lover he truly could be. Frisco’s eyelids slowly fell, his eyes
closing as he blew out an unsteady breath.

Frisco James

I can’t care about him. I can’t love him. He is too innocent and so

goddamn sweet. I’ll corrupt him. I am a dark poison that will eat
away his humanity.

But even as Frisco let those thoughts play in his mind, he slowly

pulled his cock back and then pushed his erection back in, gasping at
how good Recker felt wrapped around his cock. His hand smoothed
down the man’s flesh, kissing along his outstretched leg. He knew in
the back of his mind that it could be so easy to get lost in Recker.

Recker moved in a serpentine way underneath Frisco as he fucked

the man, wanting desperately for things to be different, to know that
they had even half a chance together. As much as the thought made
his chest hurt, Frisco knew he had to let Recker go or risk ruining the
man, causing more damage than he already had.

But tonight Frisco was going to fill that loneliness that lived inside

of him. He was going to enjoy his time with Recker and forget the
troubles of the outside world. He stroked his cock deeper into
Recker’s ass.

“I love you, Frisco.”
Frisco’s heart froze at Recker’s words. His mind rejected what the

man was saying. He couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t let Recker
love him. Frisco was a piece of shit and he had to make Recker see
that.

He threw away the gentle strokes and replaced them with hard

poundings, his fingers digging into Recker’s flesh as he showed no
mercy on the man’s ass. He became savage, wild, unhinged as he
ruthlessly took Recker.

“Frisco!”
Frisco didn’t stop, nor did he let up. He hammered his cock into

Recker’s tight ass repeatedly until they were both shouting out their
release. Frisco didn’t allow himself to curl up next to Recker.

He couldn’t. As badly as he wanted to, Frisco denied himself that

pleasure as he pulled free and then walked to the bathroom, closing

Frisco James

Chapter Five

Recker rolled his shoulders as he stared at the man he was about

to fight. It wasn’t that he was enjoying what he was doing, but he
knew it was the only way to get out of the debt they were in. Frisco
had protested Recker fighting again, but Recker hadn’t let up until his
mate had finally conceded.

He was confused and angry, not understanding why his mate’s

mood had changed ever since Recker had confessed his love. The
man was standoffish, quiet, and only talked when Recker spoke to
him.

He wanted to purge his anger on somebody. Why not get paid for

it? Recker was prepared this time, anticipating his opponent talking
shit. It had caught him off guard in the last fight, but now he knew
what to watch out for. He was also thankful as hell when he found out
he hadn’t killed the first opponent he’d fought. That was a weight off
of his mind.

“My, aren’t you a big one,” his opponent sneered. “That will only

make my victory more triumphant when I put your big ass down.”

Recker gave the man what he hoped was an evil smirk. “You

could try.”

The bell rang and Recker threw all thought into focusing. He was

not going to let the man rip his control from him, nor was he going to
allow his opponent to send him into a rage. Although Recker was
dying to see where Frisco was, he knew that it was unwise to take his
eyes off of the man in front of him.

“Are we fighting or dancing?” the man asked angrily.

Lynn Hagen

Recker swung, pulling back his brute force at the last second,

barely tapping the man on the jaw. But it was enough to make his
opponent stumble back. He fought with quick, precise strokes, always
making sure that he didn’t put his full strength into any given swing.

By the fourth round, Recker was not only tired, but strangely,

feeling calmer. It seemed that the more he forced himself to discipline
his jabs and moves, the quieter his anger became.

By the fifth round, Recker knocked the man out. Only this time he

wasn’t afraid that he had killed the guy. The crowd went wild as
cheers rang out.

Recker had fought clean and was the victor in a fair fight.
“You did great!” Frisco said as he grabbed Recker and rubbed his

hand quickly over his head, making Recker grin widely. “I’m going to
grab our money, set up the next fight, and then we can get out of
here.”

Recker knew that Frisco didn’t want to hang around and chance

running into the Wrangler. They still had a long way to go before they
had enough money to pay the man back. As Recker stood there and
listened to the chatter around him, he wondered if maybe boxing
wasn’t a way to release some of that anger he always felt.

He wasn’t so averse to the idea now that he had won his first legit

fight. Okay, this underground fighting wasn’t so legit, but he hadn’t
lost control and put the man in the hospital. He even inwardly patted
himself on the back for not going into a rage when his opponent had
started talking trash.

Recker’s jaw clenched when he spotted Frisco talking with some

guy, but noticed how some of the scantily dressed women were
pushing in close to Recker’s mate. As he headed toward Frisco,
Recker began to peel the tape off of his knuckles.

“Are you ready?” Recker bit out between clenched teeth, giving

the women a withering glare.

“All set,” Frisco answered as he extracted himself from the

adoring fans. More like sluts in Recker’s opinion. They weren’t

Frisco James

wearing much clothing and their faces had so much makeup that they
reminded Recker of Saturday night hookers.

His rhino gave a threatening snort at the women who had pawed

at Frisco. They turned and batted their eyes at him, but Recker gave
them his back as he walked toward the exit.

“You can’t do that,” Frisco said as he quickly walked ahead of

Recker and opened the door. Recker walked through and deeply
inhaled the cool night air, trying to rein in his jealousy. Once he had a
semblance of control, Recker walked over to the motorcycle.

“And you didn’t seem to mind their hands all over you,” he

accused as he reached into his bag and pulled out a pair of jeans. He
changed out of his boxing shorts right there in the parking lot,
uncaring of anyone who saw him. After shoving the shorts in his bag,
Recker pulled a T-shirt over his head and then slipped his boots on.

That was the only thing he hated about boxing. Those places were

filthy and he had to walk around with bare feet. He prayed like hell
that he didn’t get a fungus. Maybe he should invest in some shower
shoes or something to protect his feet when not boxing.

Frisco fished the keys out of his front pocket. “I politely turn them

down, Recker. Women are attracted to boxers, hoping to take one
home for the night or at the very least have sex with one of them in
the bathroom or behind the building. That’s just the way it is. I told
them no. What do you want me to do, shove them onto their asses and
tell them to get the hell away from me?”

Although the word yes was biting at Recker’s lips, he knew it was

only the anger from the way Frisco had been acting lately that was
making him act like an idiot. “I don’t like to see anyone touching my
mate.” Recker admitted the truth. “I had to leash my rhino before he
killed every last person who touched you.”

Frisco’s hands faltered. “Your what?”
Recker had wanted to tell Frisco that he was a shifter. But at first

things were happening too fast and now the moment never seemed

Lynn Hagen

right, Frisco too reserved and too lost in his own thoughts to be open
to the idea.

“Never mind.” Recker zipped the bag up and secured it back onto

the bike. “Let’s just get out of here.” Recker wasn’t sure what to do.
He could feel the rift between them, pulling them further apart, and he
wasn’t sure how to fix it.

He loved Frisco and hadn’t been ashamed to admit it. He didn’t

regret telling the man either. But Frisco had changed after the
declaration. Although he could feel their bond growing deeper,
compelling Recker to be closer to Frisco, his mate felt as chilly as an
iceberg.

They took off from the parking lot and headed west. Recker had

no clue where they were going, but relished having his hands wrapped
around Frisco’s waist. He squeezed his arms tighter, fearing that he
was losing the man.

After riding for an hour, Frisco pulled in to an all-night diner.

Recker dismounted, pulled his helmet off, and then grabbed his mate
before Frisco could walk away. “I’m sorry.”

Frisco’s dark brows furrowed. “For what?”
Recker set the helmet on the bike then ran his hands over his head.

“I’m not sure, but you’ve been really quiet lately and I thought maybe
I had done something wrong.”

Frisco’s eyes softened as he cupped Recker’s face. “Baby, it’s not

you. I just have a lot of shit stuffed inside my head that I’m trying to
work out.”

Recker placed his hands over Frisco’s, soaking in the warmth of

his mate’s touch. “Like what?”

Whatever had been holding Frisco back, whatever had been eating

away at him slowly slipped from the man’s eyes as his mate gave him
a very sexy smile. “You did good tonight, Recker. I knew you had it
in you.”

Question effectively evaded.

Frisco James

Recker let it go for now, happy to see his mate in such good spirits

again. He chuckled and yelped when Frisco swatted him on the ass.
The man wiggled his brows as his eyes dropped down to Recker’s
groin.

Heat suffused his cheeks as Recker walked into the diner. All

Frisco had to do was look at him in that seductive way and Recker
was putty in the man’s hands. He would do anything for his
mate…anything.

They grabbed a booth at the back of the diner. A waitress

immediately walked over and took their drink orders. When she was
gone, Recker began to talk in a low voice. “I think I can get the hang
of this boxing thing.”

Frisco’s eyes cut over at him and Recker wondered what the man

was thinking at that moment. “As in full time?”

The question was spoken low, his mate sounding disappointed.

Recker wanted to bang his head into the table. Wasn’t Frisco just
saying that he was proud of Recker for doing good? He was
beginning to wonder if his mate wasn’t a little off-balance. “Yeah, full
time. Why?”

Frisco shrugged as he sat back, tossing one arm over the back of

the booth. “I thought you were only going to do this until we had
enough money to pay the Wrangler back. You told me you didn’t like
boxing.”

“What’s wrong with me boxing full time?”
Frisco’s fingers twisted the saltshaker around in a circle, his eyes

studying the glass jar intently. “You’re not cut out for this life,
Recker. You saw how you were when those boxing bunnies were
pawing at me. Plus, you’ll have to live on the road, never eating a
home-cooked meal, and always fearing the cops are going to raid the
building you’re boxing in.”

Recker glanced out of the window, staring off into the night as he

listened to Frisco tick off the reasons why he shouldn’t make this a
full-time career. But to Recker, they were flimsy excuses. It sounded

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more like Frisco was trying to keep his options open, to make sure he
could get rid of Recker when the time came.

“I had a twin,” Recker admitted to his reflection in the window.

We grew up in foster care, our mother dying giving birth to us. He
was all I had, a best friend.” Recker paused, feeling the tight knot in
his throat thinking about Roth. There wasn’t a day that went by that
Recker didn’t miss him.

“The family I was living with was attacked, my twin killed.”
Frisco reached across the table, covering Recker’s hands with his.

“Geez, man. I’m so sorry.”

Recker shrugged. He wasn’t telling Frisco to gain the man’s

sympathy. He wanted his mate to know where a lot of his rage was
coming from. He had never truly dealt with the loss, always shoving it
down, putting a lid on it.

“I realized tonight that for some strange reason, boxing helps.

When focused, I don’t know, it’s like I’m not so angry anymore.”

Frisco withdrew his hands. “This is not a life for you,” he

repeated. Recker couldn’t understand why Frisco couldn’t see where
he was coming from. He was spelling it out loud and clear, yet Frisco
was still being resistant.

The waitress brought their drinks and set them on the table, taking

their orders. Recker was no longer hungry but knew he needed to eat.
He had opened himself up to Frisco and the man still wasn’t
receptive, the rift growing.

He was beginning to think that maybe fate had gotten this pairing

wrong.

* * * *

It had been four weeks since they had left the Den and nothing

seemed right between Frisco and Recker. The man sat at the end of
the bed, his hair wet from his shower, and holding a gel pack to his
jaw. The visual of such a primal male nursing a wound after he

Frisco James

repeatedly broke one opponent down after another called to a part of
Frisco.

He wanted to get closer, to touch, to feel. They hadn’t been

getting along, Recker being remote, distant, but tonight Frisco wanted
to bridge that gap, to feel Recker’s body under him, writhing as he
brought the man so much pleasure. “How does your jaw feel?”

Tossing aside the gel pack, Recker shrugged before grabbing the

remote. “It’ll heal.”

The distance in the man’s voice, the coldness was a blow to

Frisco. He knew he had fucked up by bringing Recker into this world,
but he wanted to fix things, to make it right.

But Recker was growing colder, more violent, and Frisco was still

clueless on how to fix things. He reached out to run his hand over
Recker’s short hair, but the man pulled away, scooting up the bed
until his back was against the wall.

More distance, a growing chasm, the rift tearing them apart.

Frisco crawled onto the bed, trying to cuddle next to Recker, but the
guy just gave a grunt, refusing to acknowledge him.

Turning until he was sitting on the side of the bed, Frisco looked

over his shoulder, wondering if things between the two of them would
ever be right again.

But was it ever right in the first place? He was getting what he

deserved. Unfortunately, his feelings for Recker were growing
stronger to the point that it physically hurt for Recker to rebuff him.
Frisco wanted what Recker had offered in the beginning—that
closeness, that fire that he had seen in the man’s eyes.

Now they were dull, filled with something Frisco couldn’t even

decipher. He moved from the bed and headed toward the door. “I’m
going to get something to drink. Do you want anything?”

Recker gave a grunt.
Frisco stood there with his hand lingering on the door, waiting for

his lover to say something to him, to call him over to the bed, to tell
him he wanted out of this life.

Lynn Hagen

But Recker said nothing. He just flipped through the channels, his

eyes fixated on the television.

Opening the door, Frisco walked out. But instead of going to the

machine, he sat on the steps that led up to the second floor. He
cradled his face in his hands, feeling hopeless and so alone.

He had ruined a good man and now he was paying the price.

* * * *

Two months had passed, Recker entering his tenth fight. Frisco

leaned against the wall, his arms tucked under him. It seemed no
matter how much he argued that this life wasn’t for Recker, the man
refused to listen.

Recker had said that boxing was a way to relieve his pain, but

since that night in the diner, after Recker’s first win, Frisco noticed
the man becoming more and more aggressive. He won every fight he
was entered in, Recker’s name circulating around the bare-knuckle
boxing community. Professionally, Frisco was proud of the man.
Recker had found his calling. Privately, personally, their relationship
was a wreck.

They were barely having sex and their conversations were almost

nonexistent. Frisco tried to talk to the man, but when it was time to go
back to their hotel room, Recker immediately grabbed the remote,
tuning Frisco out.

He tried to explain to Recker that this was no way to live. That

they still had the Wrangler after them and being hunted down was no
life for Recker. Frisco wished he could go back to that fateful day
when he stole Recker from Maverick’s and undo what he had done.

Recker had turned cold, remote, and Frisco mournfully missed

that innocent man that Recker used to be. This was exactly what he
was trying to avoid. This life, Frisco, had poisoned the man, stripping
away all that had been good about him.

Frisco James

He had to fix this. It wasn’t too late to save Recker. Frisco was

head over heels in love with the man, but knew he was no good for
Recker. He had turned the guy out, corrupting him. That was
something he was going to have to live with for the rest of his life.

As Frisco watched Recker box, he saw how aggressive his lover

was being. The opponent threw the first punch, but Recker avoided it
with a duck, and then Recker’s fist connected with the opponent’s
shoulder and Frisco knew that the man’s arm was now dislocated.
Frisco’s gut clenched at the power behind Recker’s swing. The crowd
around them watched, enraptured, the sound of cracking bones filling
the air. But Recker didn’t stop. Sweat ran down his body, glistening
off of his skin, but he didn’t have a bruise on him. No opponent could
get near him or touch him. Recker was a beast, like a well-oiled
machine. He kept going until he won the fight and his opponent was
lying on the ground, face on the floor.

A second, third, and fourth man fought Recker, but no one was a

match for the guy’s brutal blows and quick power moves.

There was a time when the man was bothered by the brutality,

when it bothered Recker to hurt someone. But it didn’t seem to faze
the man any longer. The shine was gone from the guy’s eyes. Recker
almost seemed lost and just going through the motions.

The spark between them, in Recker, in both their lives, was gone.
Frisco knew what he had to do.
Later, after the fights were over and they were back in their room,

Frisco waited for Recker to fall asleep. He sat there in the darkness of
the room, only a sliver of light sneaking around the curtains, bathing
Recker’s outline, and watched his lover sleep.

Frisco had never been in love a day in his life. But as his eyes

slowly caressed Recker’s body, he knew that what he was feeling was
a love so deep that he would sacrifice his selfish needs to save the
man he felt as if he couldn’t live without.

He wanted the beauty of Recker’s innocence restored, whole

again.

Lynn Hagen

Grabbing Recker’s cell phone from the nightstand, Frisco quietly

slipped outside. He scrolled through his lover’s contacts until he
found the one name that Recker constantly mentioned. Frisco hit the
send button and wondered if he was doing the right thing.

Lately, he wasn’t sure what the right thing was. But he knew he

had to get Recker out of this life before his humanity was totally
destroyed.

“Recker, is that you?”
Frisco heard the tiredness in Spencer’s voice, but he also heard the

tension, worry, and something inside of him told him he was doing
the right thing.

So why did it feel like his heart was being ripped out and

shattering on the ground? Knowing he was about to lose Recker was
the worst kind of pain Frisco had ever experienced in his life. But
keeping Recker, living this life, was tearing them further and further
apart, destroying them.

He would rather suffer than let Recker continue on this path.

Frisco would rather sacrifice his heart than let Recker grow harder
and meaner.

“Talk to me, buddy.”
Frisco cleared his throat, praying his voice didn’t seize up on him

because of the tight lump growing there. “This is Frisco James.”

“Is Recker hurt?” was the first thing out of Spencer’s mouth.

What Frisco wouldn’t give to have a friend like this, someone who
cared about him and worried if he was all right.

“He’s unharmed.” Frisco looked back at the motel door. “I need

you to come get him.”

Sheets rustled and Frisco knew Spencer was sitting up. “Why,

because you’re done using him?” The venom was clear in the man’s
voice. Frisco deserved no less. He had taken Recker away from the
people who cared about the man the most and plunged him into a
world of unsavory con artists and cutthroats.

Frisco James

“If you love Recker, then I need you to come save him from

himself and”—Frisco smashed eyes closed, rubbing the palm of his
hand into his forehead as the pain of letting Recker go threatened to
tear him apart—“save him from me.”

“Just tell me where he is and I will come get him.”
For a second Frisco couldn’t speak past the pain, couldn’t utter a

word as his heart felt like it was being ripped from his very soul. He
swallowed hard and then told Spencer where they were.

Frisco hung up and then turned, sliding down the wall as he

wrapped his arms over his head and rocked back and forth, wondering
if he was going to survive after Recker left. They were only a few
hours away from Brac Village. Spencer would be here before Recker
woke up.

With that knowledge, Frisco forced himself to his feet and

reentered the motel room. He set the phone back down on the
nightstand and grabbed his helmet, saddlebag, and stole a moment
staring at Recker’s beautiful form.

Recker truly was a breathtaking creature. His heart seized in his

chest and Frisco wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed with
Recker and have those strong arms wrap around him as his lover told
him that they were going to be okay.

But they weren’t. Not while Recker stayed here, in this life. Frisco

felt like the bottom was dropping from beneath him. His insides were
wound up tight and he was shaking from need, want, pain, and
despair. But Frisco knew he had to do this, had to set Recker free in
order for the man to get back his humanity, the shine in his eyes.

His throat tight and his heart aching beyond anything he’d ever

experienced before, Frisco laid the envelope of prize money on the
table before walking out, leaving his heart, his soul, and his very
sanity behind.

He had to go find the Wrangler and clear their debt so his lover

could live in peace and hopefully, once again, become the innocent
man that Frisco had fallen in love with.

Lynn Hagen

* * * *

“Hey, buddy.”
Recker blinked, swearing he heard Spencer’s soft voice in the

dark room. He turned over, looking for his mate, but the bed was
empty. Recker reached over and clicked on the small overhead lamp,
having to blink a few times as the room filled with light.

When everything came into focus, Recker saw Spencer standing

by the bed, Bear over by the door. “What’s going on?” Recker asked
as he tossed the covers aside and grabbed his jeans from the floor,
pulling them over his legs and waist. “Where’s Frisco?”

He didn’t like the look in Spencer’s light-brown eyes. His best

friend refused to look at him, strangling his fingers as he licked his
lips. “He’s gone, Recker. He called me and asked me to come get
you.”

Spencer’s words weren’t registering. Recker’s eyes swept the

room but he didn’t see Frisco anywhere. He cocked his head at
Spencer and then walked to the bathroom.

It was empty.
Recker’s world spun out of control and he was finding it hard to

breathe, to think, even to see. “Frisco!”

Spencer moved closer. “He’s gone, Recker.”
Not even his best friend’s tear-filled voice was registering. Recker

pushed past Bear and swung the motel door open, desperate to find
his mate. He stepped out into the early morning light and knew his
world was coming to a screeching halt. He began to hyperventilate,
his heart racing out of control when not only did he see that Frisco’s
bike was gone, but the Santiago brothers were waiting outside.

This couldn’t be happening. He hadn’t lost Frisco, no, no way. His

body halted in pure shock and anger. Frisco had left him, had
abandoned him.

Frisco James

Recker turned and slammed his fists into the yellow cinderblocks,

becoming light-headed as he struggled to breathe. Where was his
mate? Why would he leave Recker behind?

Recker was angry with himself, with Frisco, with how things had

been growing between them. He hadn’t known how to fix things, so
they kept getting worse and worse. Recker had thought that winning
all those fights would make Frisco happy, but the man continued to
harp that Recker needed to go home.

Frisco might not have said those exact words, but that was how

Recker had taken them. Frisco had been trying to get rid of him for
months.

He wanted to hurt something, the world, the way his heart was

hurting right now. Recker wasn’t even sure how he was still standing
because the pain was so damn unbearable.

It felt as if Recker was going black, his emotions spiraling out of

control and taking him to a place he had been when his twin had died.
It was a place of total darkness and void of any love or happiness. It
was a place of pain and suffering and brutal violence.

“Recker?” Spencer walked out of the motel room, his arms

wrapped around his stomach and his mate standing right behind him.
“Talk to me, buddy.”

From the corner of his eye, Recker saw the Santiago brothers slip

from their bikes and move in a little closer. He swung his arm out,
smashing it into the motel window, the glass shattering everywhere as
Recker felt himself shifting.

His anger, pain, and the feeling of betrayal had reached its

pinnacle and Recker just did not care anymore. If he couldn’t be with
Frisco, what was left?

Nothing.
The thought shot Recker’s anger through the roof as his rhino

began to break free.

“Get him inside!” Tryck shouted as he raced toward Recker.

Lynn Hagen

As the brothers advanced, Recker swung, lashed out, trying to hurt

whoever got in his way. The brothers took him down at the same time
and then Recker felt something sharp jabbing him in his arm. As
everything became fuzzy, Recker could hear Spencer crying, could
feel his body being pulled into the motel room, and then finally,
before consciousness was gone, he wondered why his mate had
abandoned him.

Frisco James

Chapter Six

Maverick stood in front of the newly built town hall and scowled.

He knew this day was coming, but now that it was here he wanted to
protest with a stomp of his foot. Yeah, he was acting immature about
this. So what. He didn’t want to have to come to work every day,
holding down a nine-to-five.

He was running his town just fine from his office at the Den.
Cecil chuckled as he patted Maverick on his lower back. “Do you

know how sexy you look when you’re throwing a tantrum?”

“About as sexy as you are going to look when you’re under my

desk and sucking my cock.”

Cecil laughed harder as he walked up the steps to open the front

door. Maverick glanced at the building, admittedly admiring the
stonework. The building reminded him of a Swiss cottage or one of
those buildings back in the medieval days.

Roman Lakeland definitely had a creative flair. If Maverick was

going to be stuck in here all day, at least he was going to do it in style.

He walked into a large open area, right away spotting a spacious

U-shaped desk. Cecil was already sitting behind it, pulling all the
drawers open, and exploring his new work area. The room was bright
and sunny.

Maverick hated it.
Off to the left was waiting area, tastefully decorated. There were

four cream-colored couches and a narrow coffee table in the middle.
One wall held frames of art, large plants situated on either side.

Okay, so it was nice. Big deal. The Den was nicer.

Lynn Hagen

Walking down the hallway, Maverick stuck his head into what

looked like a meeting room. There was a wooden table in the middle,
covered by a plated glass. Six chairs sat around it, two against the
wall.

He didn’t plan on being in that room too often.
Finally, Maverick walked into what was going to be his new

office.

He didn’t like it.
It wasn’t as nice as the one at home. It looked sterile, unfriendly.

Maverick was ready to stomp his damn foot again in protest. He
didn’t like the monotone walls, or the carpetless floor with its high-
polish shine. The bookcase was too neat and tidy, and that wasn’t his
favorite mahogany desk—even the leather chair looked
uncomfortable as hell.

But at least the office had a black leather sofa. That was one thing

in its favor. Maverick was already planning on how he was going to
lock the door and have hours of fun with his mate on that sofa.

Maybe even on the desk.
“It’s nice!” Cecil said as he pushed past Maverick and walked into

the spacious office. He dropped down on the leather sofa and
Maverick could feel his cock getting hard, Cecil playing right into his
fantasy.

Maverick locked the door and then dropped down onto the sofa

next to his mate, pulling Cecil into his arms. “What a sexy little
secretary I have,” Maverick said as he began to nibble on his mate’s
neck.

“Sexual harassment!” Cecil shouted and then laughed as Maverick

slid his hand under his mate’s shirt, skimming his fingers along the
man’s smooth skin.

“I highly doubt you will protest.” Maverick turned, placing Cecil

underneath him. “I’m willing to bet that you will be the one in here
harassing me.”

Frisco James

“And you know it,” Cecil answered in a singsong voice. He loved

when his mate was like this. After all these years, Cecil was still in
love with him, still wanted him as if they were just newly mated. It
was one hell of a feeling as he gazed down into the man’s amethyst
eyes and saw the sparkle of laughter and love swimming in the twin
gems.

Knowing Cecil wanted him just as badly, Maverick was ready to

pull his mate’s pants down his legs and fuck him into the leather when
his cell phone rang. He ignored it as he unsnapped Cecil’s jeans, but
his mate grabbed his phone and answered it for Maverick.

Maverick still ignored it.
“Hold on. He’s right here.” Cecil tried to hand the phone to him.
“I’m not here right now,” Maverick whispered as he pushed

Cecil’s shirt up and began to plant kisses down his chest until he
reached his mate’s tantalizing navel.

“But I already said you were here,” Cecil whispered back.
Maverick grabbed the phone, hit the end button, and then tossed it

across the floor as he curled his fingers into the waistband of Cecil’s
pants and yanked. His mate’s cock sprang free, hard and weeping.

Just as Maverick swallowed Cecil’s cock, the phone began to ring

again. It vibrated as it rang, moving across the floor. He was five
seconds away from stomping on the fucking plastic and breaking it
into pieces.

Cecil cried out, thrusting his hips forward and shoving his cock

down Maverick’s throat. As badly as he wanted to fuck his mate,
Maverick knew he had very little time before life intruded.

Sliding his hands under Cecil’s tight ass, Maverick lifted his mate

off the couch and swallowed Cecil’s erection to the hilt.

“Fuck me! Oh god, fuck me!” Cecil shouted as he wrapped his

hands into Maverick’s hair, yanking on the long strands.

Maverick dropped Cecil back onto the sofa and used one hand to

cover his mate’s loud mouth, smiling around the erection and

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knowing he was going to have to get soundproof doors. He swallowed
a few more times before Cecil was coming down his throat.

“God, I love this new job.” Cecil panted. “By the way, that was

Ludo. Recker went out back and now they can’t find him.”

Sometimes he hated being in charge.

* * * *

Recker wandered through the forest behind Maverick’s in his

shifter form. He never wanted to be human again. When in his human
form, Recker felt. He didn’t want to feel. Emotions were overrated.
But no matter what form he was in, he couldn’t get Frisco off of his
mind.

He flipped all of the events that had taken place in the last two

months over and over in his mind. He couldn’t figure out where he
had gone wrong. Recker had given Frisco everything, all of him,
holding nothing back.

It had been two months since he’d seen his mate, and when

Recker was in his human form, it hurt just as much now as it did
when Frisco first left him. The hole in his heart was still raw and
gaping, and Recker still felt as if he had died that day.

More and more, Recker stayed in his rhino form. He was well

aware of the dangers of doing that. If he kept on this destructive path,
eventually his beast would take over and Recker would be no more.

But he didn’t care. He didn’t want to feel. He didn’t want to live

without his mate.

“Shift for me, Recker.”
Recker ignored Maverick. He had stopped going to his anger

management classes. They were useless. He hadn’t gotten angry in
months. It was hard to get angry when he was numb on the inside.
When he was first brought back to the Den, Recker was out of
control. The doctor had to sedate him. Not only had his best friend

Frisco James

Spencer tried to help, but his friend Reese came by as well. Only
Reese hadn’t tried to talk to him the way Spencer did.

The polar bear had just sat with him, giving Recker a familiar

face. He knew they both cared and knew they both hated to see him
like this, but Recker was beyond caring. How could he care when he
didn’t have a heart? Frisco had ripped it to shreds the day he had
walked out on Recker.

“Are you trying to go rogue?”
Recker stopped walking, dropping his head. He didn’t want to go

rogue. Spencer was coming by a lot, talking or just giving Recker
company. He loved his best friend, but not even Spence was enough
to heal his broken heart.

“I want to see you in my office in twenty minutes. That’s an

order,” Maverick said before he turned and walked away.

Why couldn’t everyone just leave him alone? He was sick and

tired of everyone sticking their noses in his business. Recker didn’t
want to go inside the Den. Why, so he could see all the happily mated
couples?

None of them knew what it was like to get their hearts ripped out.

None of them understood what he was going through. Knowing that
Maverick was only going to send someone out here to fetch him,
Recker headed back toward the house.

When he reached the back door, Recker shifted. He had left a pair

of jeans and a shirt folded neatly on the picnic table. Recker slipped
the clothes on and then walked into the house, heading toward
Maverick’s office.

As soon as he walked into the room, Maverick walked out and

closed the door behind him. Recker was confused as hell. Why would
the alpha call him in here only to turn around and leave?

“Hi.”
Recker closed his eyes as a kaleidoscope of emotions slammed

into him and splintered him apart. He loathed that voice—a voice that
still had the power to make him want the man in ways that he

Lynn Hagen

shouldn’t—and felt a sense of relief at hearing it for the first time in
months.

There was no denying that he still loved Frisco James. Recker was

terrified of turning around and seeing the man’s face. One look could
send him over the edge, one smile, one sparkle in the man’s gorgeous
eyes.

He steeled his nerves, pulled on every vestige of control he

possessed, and then turned to look at his mate. “What are you doing
here?” he asked between clenched teeth. Recker schooled his facial
expressions, stopping the gasp when he saw Frisco’s condition. The
man looked like hell—total fucking hell. His mate had lost weight, his
facial hair thicker, and he had deep bags under his dark eyes. Frisco
looked like he hadn’t slept in months.

But as badly as Recker wanted to go to him, he stayed rooted to

the spot. Flashes of waking up and finding his mate gone pushed to
the front of his mind. “You’re no good for me, Frisco. I have to learn
to live without you.”

Frisco wrapped his arms around his stomach as he gazed at

Recker. He looked miserable as hell. Recker kept his feet planted in
place, refusing to go to the man and give him any kind of comfort.
“I’m the worst person for you, but please, let me explain.”

Recker didn’t want to hear it. His mate had abandoned him,

thrown him away, and now he was back to cause even more
irrevocable damage. “There is nothing that you can say to me that will
make me change my mind. I would rather live as a dead man, feeling
nothing but anger and bitterness, than let you back in my life.”

“God dammit, Recker! Will you stop being angry long enough to

listen?”

Recker closed the distance, slamming Frisco into the bookcase.

“Explain what? You used me. Don’t you fucking think I know that?
You bonded with me just so I would box. I’m not stupid, Frisco. I
knew what you were doing and I allowed it to happen because my
entire life all I wanted was someone to call my own.”

Frisco James

His mate’s face fell. “You knew?”
Recker released his mate and took a step back, curling his lip back

as he raked his eyes over Frisco. “I knew. I told you, I’m not fucking
dumb. I’m a grown man and I made those choices on my own. I
could’ve told you no, but I didn’t. You were so busy blaming yourself
for what happened that you shut me out. You hurt me, Frisco. You
hurt me real bad. You made a decision that destroyed me.”

Frisco nodded as he raked a hand over his head. “The boxing. I

know and I’m sorry. I should have—”

“No!” Recker bellowed. “Fuck the boxing. I told you that I

consciously made those choices.” Recker moved closer, shoving the
palms of his hands into Frisco’s chest. “You decided to walk away
from us without consulting me. You abandoned me, Frisco.”

Recker was shocked as hell when Frisco pushed him so hard that

he nearly fell on his ass. “I admit that I used you in the beginning. I
thought you were nuts with the whole mate thing and all I could see
were dollar signs. I’ve hustled my entire fucking life and saw you as
an opportunity.”

“Get out!”
But Frisco didn’t budge. “After that first fight I realized the

mistake that I had made. Not in sleeping with you, not in bonding
with you, by taking you away from your safe haven and throwing you
into a pit filled with vipers. I tried to fix what I had done wrong. I
tried to fight against falling in love with you. I knew you deserved
better than me.”

Recker stilled, his fists uncurling as he listened.
“It seemed no matter how hard I tried to fix what I had done,

things only got worse. You became mean and hate-filled. I had
destroyed this beautiful creature, stripped away his innocence and
poisoned him. Do you think I wanted to give you up? Do you think I
wanted to walk away? I died the day I called your best friend and told
him to come get you. But I had to fix what I had destroyed, even if it
cost me my own happiness, my very own sanity. But never, ever did I

Lynn Hagen

think or possibly conceive that you had died on the inside that day as
well.”

“You’re my fucking mate!” Recker shouted as he forced himself

not to shift, to try his best at controlling his anger. “Our souls are
bonded together for all eternity. It doesn’t matter how badly you had
fucked up. All you had to do was come to me that first night and talk
to me, tell me how you were feeling inside, and we could’ve worked
through it. But instead you decided what was best for me, pushing me
away, destroying something that could’ve been so beautiful.”

Frisco audibly swallowed as he gave Recker a curt nod. “Saying I

am sorry will never be enough. But I want you to know how much I
truly love you.” Frisco turned and began to walk away.

“So that’s it? You’re going to take the coward’s way out once

again?”

Frisco spun around, swatting at the air as he shouted incoherently.

“What do you want me to do?” Frisco screamed in a frustrated tone.
Recker was shocked to his core when he saw tears falling from
Frisco’s eyes. “I’m dying on the inside without you, yet you don’t
want me back. I fucked up. I’m sorry. I had no idea what I had until
you were gone. Just tell me, Recker. What do you want me to do?”

Recker closed the distance and yanked Frisco into his arms as his

mate openly cried. “I am so fucking sorry, Recker. Please take me
back.”

Recker shushed his mate as he rocked Frisco in his arms. “Just

talk to me, baby. Never try and handle things on your own and never
walk away, thinking it’s the best thing for us.” Recker pulled Frisco
back, placing his hands on either side of his mate’s beautiful face. “I
already lost someone I loved—and still love—with all my heart.
Don’t you ever try and walk away from me again.”

Frisco looked shocked as he used his palm to wipe at his tears.

“You love me, really, after what I had done to you?”

Recker ran his hands over his mate’s soft hair. “You have no idea

who I am, Mr. Frisco James.”

Frisco James

Frisco’s dark, tear-swollen eyes snapped up to Recker. “I would

love to find out.”

“Fresh start?”
Frisco nodded as he wiped at his eyes. “I would love one.”
“No more get-rich-quick schemes?”
Frisco squirmed.
Recker gave his mate a light shake. “Promise me.”
Frisco sighed. “I promise to try very hard to lead a legitimate

life.”

Recker laughed as he wrapped his arms around Frisco and gave

him a tight hug, feeling his heart beat again for the first time in
months. Aside from walking away, Frisco really hadn’t done anything
that wasn’t worth forgiving. Recker would work on letting the pain go
when it came to his mate abandoning him. “Good enough for now.”

“I can’t breathe,” Frisco said as he slapped at Recker’s back.
Releasing his mate, Recker ran his thumb across Frisco’s bottom

lip. “Now it’s my turn to show you what being mated is truly about.”

Frisco glanced around the office, his eyes bouncing everywhere.

“Maverick tells me that you’re a rhino. I remember you telling me
something about that.”

Recker could see how truly nervous Frisco was. It was an odd

look for such a strong man. Frisco had been full of life, confident, and
Recker didn’t think anything could make his mate afraid. But the
mention of Recker’s rhino seemed to make Frisco nervous. “Remind
me to show you someday.”

“Surprisingly, he still wants to give me a business.” Frisco

crinkled his nose. “He wants me to run a floral shop.” His mate
glanced at him. “I don’t know anything about flowers.”

“I have every confidence in the world that you will learn,” Recker

said as he wrapped his arms around Frisco, running his hands up and
down his mate’s back. It was like a dream come true, his mate here, in
his arms where he belonged. “Not only is it my turn to show you what

Lynn Hagen

being mated is about, but it’s also my turn to take you under my wing
and show you how to live.”

“I have a lot of making up to do,” Frisco said as he laid his head

on Recker’s shoulder. Recker felt as if his world were right again, as
if he could finally breathe. “We really are bonded, aren’t we?”

“I want you to tell me why you think that.”
Frisco lifted his head, his weary eyes pinning Recker. “I can’t eat.

I can’t sleep. Most days I lie in bed, curled into a ball as the pain
threatens to kill me.”

“Yep,” Recker said as he popped his lips on the last letter. “That’s

what being bonded is all about—loving someone so much, so deeply,
that you go insane without them.”

Frisco furrowed his brows as he shook his head. “That’s just

fucking insanity.”

“Some might think that.” Recker kissed Frisco’s bushy face. “But

when done right, bonding yourself to your mate is like stepping
through the gates of heaven. The love is pure, strong as steel, and
there is a connection between the two that can never be severed.”

There was a spark of some indefinable emotion in Frisco’s eyes.

“I felt you,” Frisco said as he shook his head. “I don’t understand
how, but I felt your pain as if it were my own. I couldn’t take it
anymore. I tried to stay away. I tried to give you a chance at a good
life—without me ruining it. But I just couldn’t stay away any longer.”

“It’s behind us,” Recker said as he wrapped his arm around

Frisco’s shoulder. “Fresh start, remember?”

“Dark brown.”
Recker was confused. “What’s dark brown?”
“My eyes,” Frisco replied. “I don’t know”—he shrugged—“I just

wanted you to know.”

Recker slid his hand into Frisco’s as he led him from Maverick’s

office. Just an hour ago Recker felt as if his life was over…and now,
well, he was flying high. “Baby, you could tell me that they were

Frisco James

purple and I still wouldn’t know what that color was. I was born this
way. The world is nothing but muted colors to me.”

Recker pulled Frisco along until he found Maverick. The alpha

was sitting in the den, trying to teach his infant grandson how to play
video games. Recker chuckled at the sight. Xavier just kept slamming
his hands into the controller and babbling.

“I’m calling our debt even,” Maverick said without turning

around. “You two are a hot freaking mess, but I am hoping you’ll
keep each other on the right track and out of trouble.”

“So I can go?” Recker asked.
“Just as long as you leave that boxing crap alone, we are all

good.” Maverick didn’t say any more. He went right back to playing
video games with his grandson. Recker studied the alpha for a
moment, realizing just how much of an enigma the man truly was.

He was an angel and the devil all in one, with a side of craziness

and a topping of compassion. Recker knew that he would never figure
the man out. But did he really want to? Not really. He had his hands
full with Frisco James.

“Where are we going to stay?” Frisco asked as they headed

toward the front door.

“I actually do have a home,” Recker answered as he closed the

front door and headed toward Frisco’s motorcycle. “It’s a house full
of crazy shifters who are going to drive you batty. But, there are no
better men to have at your back than those guys.”

“I like them already.”
Recker snorted. “Repeat that statement after you have met them.”
Frisco laughed and Recker’s heart grew lighter. “Whatever

happened with the Wrangler?”

His mate had been in the process of handing Recker his helmet

when his eyes snapped up. “I tried to track him down. I was going to
let him punish me for our debt. But in the four months I have been
wallowing in self-pity, I haven’t been able to find him.”

Lynn Hagen

Recker knew that was a problem. Men like the Wrangler didn’t

just fall off the face of the earth. He had a bad feeling that the guy was
going to resurface and try to ruin the happy life that Recker had
planned for him and Frisco.

But right now Recker was going to worry about getting Frisco

settled in and taking over Floral Fragrances. He would deal with the
Wrangler when it was time. His first priority was making sure Mr.
Frisco James walked a straight line.

Frisco James

Chapter Seven

Frisco stood in the middle of the floral shop, scratching his head.

He was totally clueless on how to run a business, let alone deal with
flowers. He had two employees and he wasn’t even sure what to do
with them.

“I’ve been instructed to break you in,” Blair said as he wiggled his

dark brows at Frisco. “I promise to be gentle.”

“I’m really hoping you’re talking about this shop,” Frisco said as

he walked over to one of the plants and grabbed the little plastic card
that gave instructions on how to care for it.

“I’m mated. Of course I am talking about the shop. But it is so fun

to tease you, boss.”

Even that title sounded strange. Frisco hoped that Maverick knew

what he was doing. He had never owned a business in his life.

All he had known was hustling his entire life. He had grown up

that way. That was all he knew. Going legit was oddly
enough…scary. Frisco knew how to make a quick buck. Earning an
honest living wasn’t so quick and it seemed like there was a lot of
work involved in it.

But he had promised Recker that he would try.
“Where do you want to start?” Frisco’s other employee, Randy,

asked. “We can go over inventory, what needs to be ordered, special
orders, sales and receipts—”

Frisco threw up his hands. “Whoa, hold on. You’re treating a

virgin like a pro here.”

Blair started laughing.
Randy looked confused.

Lynn Hagen

“Ease me into this,” he explained to Randy. “Baby steps.”
The light finally flickered in Randy’s eyes as he smiled. “Okay.

We can start off with inventory.”

Frisco ran his hand over his head in frustration. Randy was now

speaking slowly and clearly. “I said to ease me into this. I said
nothing about being dimwitted.” He became confused when Randy
took a timid step backward. Blair moved closer, whispering
something into Randy’s ear. The short worker nodded and then
walked toward the back.

Tilting his head to the side, Blair locked eyes with Frisco. “We do

not use aggressive tones around here. Randy is still getting over his
uncle abusing him. If you’re a shouter or get mad very easily then this
is not the place for you.”

Frisco was taken aback. He glanced to where Randy had exited

and then turned back toward Blair. “Nobody gave me a heads-up. Is
his uncle still a problem?” Frisco couldn’t stand a bully. He himself
was an expert bare-knuckle boxer. To him, anyone who had the
capability of hurting another had the responsibility of defending those
who lacked those skills.

Yeah, it was odd coming from him considering what he had done,

but even he had his limitations and picking on the weak was never
something Frisco approved of. A hustler with morals…go figure.

“His uncle isn’t a problem anymore,” Blair replied. “But it’s the

aftermath that is the hardest. His mate, Priest, is doing a hell of a job
with Randy, but it will take time and there are just some things he will
never get over. So, we don’t snap at anybody and we use our inside
voices.”

Frisco chuckled. “Inside voices. I haven’t heard that since I was a

kid.” He wished Maverick had told him about Randy. Great, his first
day and he had already scared the shit out of one of his employees.

Yep, going legit was a fabulous idea.
Frisco’s grin was wide when Recker walked through the door. The

man was so large that he seemed to eat up all the free space in the

Frisco James

shop. Frisco was relieved to see a familiar face when he was standing
on uncertain ground in unfamiliar territory.

“How’s your first day?”
“He’s been here for one hour,” Blair said as he tossed his long

hair over his shoulder. “Come back at the end of the day and then ask
him that question.” Blair was growing on Frisco. The man wasn’t
afraid to speak his mind. Although right now he wished the man
would shut up.

“Can I talk to you outside?” Frisco asked.
“Sure.” Recker turned and headed back toward the exit. Frisco

followed him. The guy had said that if he had any problems that they
could talk their way through it. Frisco was hoping like hell that
Recker had been telling the truth.

Frisco blurted out, “I can’t do this.” He was feeling so

overwhelmed that his stomach was hurting. “I don’t know anything
about running a business.”

“Slow down,” Recker said as he ran the back of his knuckles over

Frisco’s cheek.” Do you need me to hang out with you today just so
you can get the hang of things?”

“This isn’t my first day of kindergarten,” Frisco protested. “I

don’t need my mommy to hold my hand.” Okay, he did, but he wasn’t
going to tell Recker that. Frisco was sweating bullets, his head was
pounding, and he wanted to run as far away as he could. He placed his
hand on his forehead, wiping away the perspiration. “I think I’m
having an anxiety attack. I don’t even know what the symptoms are,
but I think I have all of them.”

“My poor baby.” Recker pulled Frisco into his arms. “Walking the

straight and narrow should not be this intimidating.” Frisco rested his
head against Recker’s chest, trying to take in deep and cleansing
breaths. Normally, he was a sure and strong man, always knowing
what he wanted.

He was so fucking confused now.

Lynn Hagen

“I’m used to getting by with my wits and skills. Unless I can box

those plants, or hustle those potted flowers, I’m totally clueless.
There’s nothing to gain here, nothing exciting, and the only thing that
I can take advantage of in there is the fragrant smell.” Frisco began to
chew on his thumbnail, something he normally never did.

Recker wove his arm through Frisco’s, giving him a gentle tug as

he began to walk. His mate’s steps were leisurely, as if enjoying just
walking through town. “You have to change your way of thinking,
Frisco. You have many more skills that you have yet to tap into.”

Frisco snorted. “Sex is not going to help me run a floral

shop…will it?”

He hid his smile when Recker gave a low growl. He had forgotten

just how jealous the man truly was. Frisco liked that. It wasn’t a good
quality in the boxing world, but here in this small town, Frisco liked
that Recker was so damn possessive. “Try it,” the man challenged, “if
you want me to go on a killing spree.”

Frisco patted Recker’s arm. “No need, big guy. I was just trying to

figure out what other skills you were talking about.”

“You’re damn good with money,” Recker pointed out. “You put

those skills to use in your new business. You’re also a very intelligent
man. I have a feeling you’ll learn about flowers and all that stuff in no
time. Plus,” Recker added, “you have two very capable employees.
Use them to your advantage.”

Recker made it sound so easy. Frisco wished he had half the

confidence in himself that Recker seemed to have in him. He was
flipping his entire life around, venturing into uncharted territory.

That was some scary shit.

* * * *

“I’m telling you, Johnny. If Recker—” Spencer sang his best

friend’s name loudly when none other than Recker and Frisco walked
through the door of The Café. “So good to see you here, you heck of a

Frisco James

guy, you.” He slid from his chair and tapped his fist lightly on
Recker’s arm. Recker would kill Spencer if he knew that Spencer was
gossiping about Recker to Johnny.

Johnny jumped out of his seat and shoved his hand toward Frisco.

“You must be Frisco,” he said as he shook the man’s hand. “Funny,
you don’t look like a viper who drains the humanity out of someone’s
soul and leaves him lying in the gutter fighting for his life only to kick
dirt all over him.”

Spencer dropped his head into his hand, five seconds away from

throttling Johnny. The man didn’t have a lick of sense. Recker gave a
low growl and Spencer knew he was going to get his ear chewed later.

“That’s because I left my venomous fangs at home,” Frisco

answered Johnny, but cut his eyes over at Spencer. The man didn’t
look too happy.

“So what are you two doing here?” Spencer tried desperately to

change the subject. He was going to have to remember to shove
Johnny’s head into a bag of coffee beans later.

Recker gave Spencer a look that said he knew exactly what the

man was doing. “I was showing my mate around town and telling him
how wonderful the people are.” Once again Recker scowled at him.

“What town are you talking about?” Johnny asked as he crinkled

his nose. “If you’re talking about Brac Village, did you warn him
about all the craziness that happens here?”

Spencer smothered a giggle with his hand. Johnny was batting a

thousand. Maybe that would run Frisco James out of town. He didn’t
like the man. Frisco had hurt Recker and Spencer didn’t trust the guy.
He might be Recker’s mate, but that didn’t mean the man was any
good for Spencer’s best friend.

He had already proven what a big slimeball he could be. He might

have won some brownie points when he had called Spencer to come
get Recker, but he lost those points when he showed his face once
more. To hell with it, he didn’t care if Johnny told the man every
rotten thing Spencer had said. Frisco deserved that and so much more.

Lynn Hagen

No one hurt his best friend.
“What craziness would that be?” Frisco asked Johnny.
Johnny slipped his fingers up and began to tick off the list.

“Rogues. Hell Hounds. Vampires. Acid-spitting demons. Men with
wings who can fly. Demon Warriors. The Vampire Hunters. And—”

“Please tell me he is not serious,” Frisco said as he turned to

Recker. The human’s face had paled as his eyes flickered from
Recker to Johnny. “He was serious, wasn’t he?”

“You can’t hustle your way out of that one,” Spencer muttered

under his breath. “But I would pay to see you try.”

Recker jabbed a finger toward the door. “Outside!”
Spencer stomped toward the door as his best friend followed

behind him. He was seething mad as he stepped out onto the
sidewalk.

“What the fuck is your deal?” Recker bellowed as soon as he

cleared the doorway. “Why are you disrespecting my mate like that?”

“Because!” Spencer threw his hands in the air, feeling the anger

boiling in his veins. “What did he do, just stroll back into your life
and say he was sorry and then you forgave him? He is a con artist,
Recker. Who’s to say that he isn’t conning you this time?”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about, Spence. It’s

different this time.”

Spencer punched at the air as he gave a low growl, feeling as if he

was losing his mind. “Do you know how stupid that sounds? It’s
different this time. Bullshit! What, did a fairy come along and sprinkle
some life-changing dust over his ass? First, he pulls you into that
violent-ass world of his, then he leaves you high and dry. After all the
damage he’s done, he leaves picking up the pieces to someone else! I
would cut Bear’s balls off if he ever tried anything like that.”

“Shut the fuck up, Spencer! You are crossing a line that is going

to sever our friendship.” Recker walked a few feet away from the
door, his eyes flickering to the window. Spencer knew that his best

Frisco James

friend was looking at Frisco. “We are bonded, Spencer. I can’t just
throw that away.”

Spencer pressed his back into the building, crossing his arms over

his chest. “I don’t want to lose you as my best friend. I love you like a
brother. If I didn’t care so much then it wouldn’t matter to me what
Frisco did to you. But we are best friends.” Spencer cursed himself as
he wiped at his eyes.

“After your twin was killed and my brother was killed, we swore

we would look out for each other. You wanted to take Bear’s head off
for just being my mate. How do you think I feel knowing how badly
Frisco had hurt you? I want to beat the snot out of him.”

“Then do it.”
Spencer turned to see Frisco standing on the sidewalk just outside

the door. His arms were open wide and he was staring directly at
Spencer. “Trust me, I’ve realized just how special Recker is. I was a
damn fool for what I had done. He’s very lucky to have a best friend
like you. If you beating the hell out of me gives your friendship with
Recker a better chance, by all means, here I am.”

Spencer pushed away from the wall and headed straight for

Frisco. He slammed his fist into the man’s gut…and then whimpered.
He shook his hand out, praying it wasn’t broken.

“Dammit, Spencer!” Recker bellowed as he closed the distance

and grabbed Spencer’s hand. “What the hell were you thinking?” he
asked as he examined Spencer’s throbbing hand. “You know that you
don’t know how to fight. You would’ve been better off picking
something up and hitting him.”

“Gee, you could’ve told me that before I hit him.” Spencer turned

his head and glared at Frisco. “I’ll forgive you just as soon as I figure
out a way to kick your ass.” It didn’t sit well with Spencer that he
could see Frisco was fighting a smile. He did the only thing he could
think of. He kicked the man.

Frisco howled as he grabbed his shin.
Spencer felt much better.

Lynn Hagen

“I don’t think it’s broken,” Recker said as he released Spencer’s

hand. “Now stop beating up my mate.”

“Fine,” Spencer said as he headed back toward the door. “But that

still doesn’t mean I like him…yet.”

* * * *

“Thanks,” Recker said to Frisco as he watched Spencer disappear

into the building. “That was phenomenal acting.”

Frisco rubbed his shin. “Who the hell said I was acting? That little

shit has a powerful kick.”

Recker pulled Frisco’s leg up, causing his mate to stumble

backward until he was leaning against the wall. Pulling the pant leg
up, Recker examined Frisco’s shin. “Stop being such a pussy. He
didn’t even break skin.” Recker released Frisco’s leg.

“Okay,” Frisco said as he took a few steps away from Recker,

heading down the street. “Forget Spencer. Tell me that little guy was
bullshitting me.”

“Johnny?” Recker asked as he caught up with Frisco. “Afraid not.

If you thought your world was dangerous”—Recker snorted—
“welcome to mine. I would deal with yours any day of the week. It’s a
lot safer.”

“That might be true,” Frisco replied as he cut the corner. “But we

still have to figure out what we are going to do about the Wrangler.
He might be a regular old human, but he is still a dangerous man.”

“I still can’t believe that you tried to sacrifice yourself to him.

You really do work off half a brain cell sometimes.”

Frisco pointed up at him. “No insulting the injured man.”
Recker honestly did love his mate. Now that they weren’t

swimming in bullshit, he was getting to know the real Frisco. His
mate was humorous. Recker also saw a vulnerable side to Frisco that
he never knew the man possessed. He was a man who was starting a
new chapter of his life. Frisco was almost like a kid on the first day of

Frisco James

school. He was nervous, uncertain, and in unfamiliar territory, hoping
someone liked him.

The protective instincts were coming out in Recker. Frisco was

one of those lost souls looking for guidance. Frisco had hustled his
entire life because that was the only choice he had. Recker was
offering him a better life, more choices. He just wanted what was best
for Frisco.

“How often does the craziness happen around here?” Frisco asked

as he reached for the door of the juice hut. “I mean, it’s not like every
day, is it?”

“Nah, just every other day,” Recker teased as he walked up to the

counter. He had no clue why Frisco had stopped in this place, but now
that they were here, Recker realized how hungry he was. The one
thing he hated about being home was that Spencer wasn’t there. His
best friend had been the cook of the house.

Now it was every man for himself.
Unfortunately, nothing on the menu overhead looked appetizing.

Where in the hell was the meat?

“Can I help you?” Oliver asked as he stepped up to the counter.

He smiled when his eyes landed on Recker. “Recker, my man. What’s
up?”

Recker waved toward the menu, ignorant of what most of that

crap was. “I’ll have a burger and fries.”

Oliver laughed good-naturedly. “You are definitely in the wrong

place.”

Frisco flawlessly ordered something off the menu, as if he was

familiar with health nut places. He turned and smiled at Recker. “You
don’t think I got this body just by wishing it, do you?” He batted his
eyes flirtatiously at Recker. “I worked very hard at looking good for
you.”

Recker rolled his eyes when Frisco flexed. Show-off. Although

Frisco wasn’t as muscular as Recker, his mate still had one fine-ass

Lynn Hagen

body. His cock was getting hard as he watched Frisco peacock for
him.

The man was hopeless.
And one sexy-ass bastard.
“Here you go,” Oliver said as he slid the drink toward Frisco and

then rang the man up. “Is it true you own the flower shop now?”

Frisco stopped showing off as he paid for his drink and then

grabbed it from the counter. “Every dang green leaf in the place.” His
mate began to suck on the weird-looking concoction. “But if I don’t
learn what I’m doing, those green leaves are going to turn brown.”

Recker was shocked that Frisco admitted how clueless he truly

was. Recker had told Frisco that his mate knew nothing about him.
But it seemed the same held true about Frisco James. It was as if
Recker was just now getting to know who he truly was.

Oliver leaned his arms on the counter, his piercings stark against

his milky-white complexion. “Let Blair handle that. My brother is a
whiz with the botanical stuff—although, he is still searching the
grounds at the Den for Maverick’s stash of marijuana.”

Frisco’s eyes widened. Recker wanted to laugh at just how

amazed his mate looked. He was truly astonished at how different
Frisco was here in Brac Village compared to what he was like when
Recker first met him. It was like day and night. “Really? He just
doesn’t seem like the type.”

“Nobody has concrete proof,” Oliver answered as he played with

the plug in his lip. “But the alpha sure as shit acts like he is smoking
the stuff. The man’s not right in the head.”

Frisco went back to sucking on his weird drink. His hunger was

forgotten as Recker watched Frisco’s lips wrapped around the straw.
What he wouldn’t give at the moment to have those beautiful lips
wrapped around his cock.

Frisco winked at him, as if the man knew exactly what Recker

was thinking. He even went so far as to slide his tongue up his straw
seductively. Recker groaned. He was about to take Frisco back to the

Frisco James

flower shop and shove his mate into the office for a quick head job.
Recker hadn’t had sex in months.

He was one horny-ass man right now.
“Cecil tells me that Maverick hired you as his assistant,” Oliver

said as he wiped the counter down with a rag. “Which only tells me
that you’ll be doing all the work.”

Frisco gaped at Recker. “You didn’t tell me you got a job.”
Recker shrugged. “Maverick asked me this morning after you

left.” He turned toward Oliver. “It seems news travels fast.”

“Dude, nothing stays a secret in the Den.”
Recker had learned that firsthand when he had lived there. Every

single person in that house was a nosy little bastard. He was very
appreciative for Maverick’s help, but glad to be home once again.

“Come on, sex strumpet,” Recker said as he grabbed Frisco’s arm.

“You need to get back to the floral shop and learn the ropes.” He
leaned in closer as they neared the door. “And when we get home,
you are going to suck my cock like it’s that straw in your mouth.”

Frisco laughed as he exited the shop. “Pervert. I knew that’s what

you were thinking when you were staring at me.” His mate teased him
some more as he began to molest the straw with his mouth and
tongue, making the weirdest sex noises.

If Recker wasn’t such a private man, he would pull Frisco to the

side of the building and have the guy drop to his knees for quick blow
job. It was becoming almost impossible to walk as he led Frisco back
to Floral Fragrances.

Lynn Hagen

Chapter Eight

Frisco helped Recker clean up the mess that they had made while

cooking dinner. Never in his life had he done something so domestic
as cook a meal with somebody else. This was so different from the
life he had led before.

Frisco found that he liked sharing these small moments with

Recker. It wasn’t anything complicated, just cooking and washing
dishes, but the whole evening had felt very intimate to him. The best
part was when Recker would place his hand on the small of Frisco’s
back as he leaned up into the cupboard, or reached around him to grab
something.

It made Frisco feel loved, wanted. Recker was a very tactile

creature. Every time Frisco turned around, his mate was giving him an
innocent kiss or brushing his hand along Frisco in one place or
another.

And the conversation had been light, his mate laughing often.

Nothing could have pleased him more than to see the man he had met
so long ago return, the innocence restored. Frisco would forever be
thankful that Recker’s humanity hadn’t been stripped away.

“I think that’s it. We’re done,” Recker declared as he tossed the

hand towel on the counter. “Kitchen sufficiently restored to its
original state.”

Frisco unsnapped his jeans as he swaggered over toward Recker,

licking his lower lip. He wanted Recker in the worst sort of way and
he wasn’t afraid to let the man know this either.

Recker was an awesome lover and Frisco wondered how much

better it would be if Recker fucked him instead of the other way

Frisco James

around. Never before had he allowed anyone that privilege, but then
again, the big stud standing near him wasn’t just anyone.

He was Frisco’s mate.
Frisco was hard as a rock. His jeans were tight with his swollen

erection and he was emphasizing this by running his hand up and
down the front of his jeans, waiting for Recker to turn around.

“Do you think we should—” Recker turned, his eyes dropping

down to what Frisco was doing. His mate’s light-blue eyes darkened
as he watched Frisco move closer, walking slowly, molesting his very
own body for his mate’s pleasure.

It was working. Frisco could see Recker’s chest rising and falling

in a rapid movement, his eyes riveted on Frisco’s groin.

“It’s so hot in here,” Frisco said as he pulled his shirt off, tossing

it on the counter. He ran his hands over his chest. He was burning
with a fever of lust so deep, so strong, he felt as though every cell in
his body was going to explode with the need.

Frisco groaned out loud as his fingers closed over his nipples,

giving them a hard tug. He could feel his blood thundering through
his veins as Frisco ached to have Recker inside of him. He was
drowning in his own lusts, his own needs.

“I want you to claim me properly, Recker.” He scraped his nails

over his skin, from his navel down to the top of his zipper, his lips
parting as his eyes hooded. Never in his life had he worked at
seducing anyone, but he found it not only adventurous, but it was
turning him on as well.

Standing in the middle of the kitchen, Frisco continued to play

with his body as Recker moved behind him, his large hands grabbing
Frisco’s ass. “You’ll let me inside of here?” he asked in a low,
aggressive tone that made Frisco moan even louder. “You’ll let me
fuck your tight ass?”

Hissing when Recker bit him gently on the shoulder, Frisco let his

head roll to the side, giving his mate better access. He loved feeling
Recker’s lips on his body. They were warm, tender, and were

Lynn Hagen

threatening to make Frisco go up in flames. “Do I seem like the type
of person to give anyone that privilege? I’m the one that does all the
fucking.”

Recker’s hands fell away, disappointment in his light-blue eyes.
Frisco turned, snaking his arms around Recker’s neck. “But for

you, I’m willing to do a lot of things I’ve never done before.”

And he was. Frisco was willing to change his entire life in order to

be with Recker. He had lived by one code and one code alone his
entire life. Take care of yourself. But he could no longer apply that
code to his life. He had a mate and Frisco was going to make damn
sure that Recker came first.

His mate’s eyes turned into brilliant blue flames as he lifted Frisco

off his feet and set him on the counter. Frisco immediately wrapped
his legs around Recker’s waist. It was odd as hell being on the
receiving end instead of being the one in charge.

“I feel like I’m just now getting to know who you really are,”

Recker said as he pushed further into Frisco, inserting himself deeper
into Frisco’s personal space and life. Frisco pressed the heels of his
feet into Recker’s lower back, enjoying the feel of the man’s jean-
covered cock rubbing into him.

He had thought he would feel less of a man if he allowed anyone

to fuck him. Before Recker, Frisco had never let the thought enter his
mind. Giving someone that much trust was never something Frisco
had been willing to do. The only men he was acquainted with his
entire life were underhanded cutthroats.

Letting one of them at his back was asking to get his throat sliced.

Even so, the thought of letting somebody else fuck him was a thought
he never entertained.

He was entertaining it now.
“And?” he asked as he scraped his nails along the nape of

Recker’s neck, pulling the man’s head closer, encouraging Recker to
nibble at his skin. His cock was impossibly hard now, a ferocious
need building inside of him.

Frisco James

“I like what I’m discovering.” Recker slid his hands under

Frisco’s ass and shoved the man closer. Frisco willingly went. He was
ready to ask Recker to yank his jeans down when the side door
opened and a man with the prettiest cocoa-colored skin Frisco had
ever seen walked through the door.

“Now that’s what I like to see at the end of my workday,” the man

said with a chuckle. “By all means, don’t let my presence stop you.”

“You have five seconds to keep walking, Reese,” Recker said

without turning around.

The man didn’t look in the least bit intimidated. “You’re putting

on a show in our kitchen, out in the open for all to see. If you want
privacy, take it to your bedroom.”

The man didn’t budge. He just stood there with his arms crossed

over his broad chest as his eyes raked over Recker and Frisco.

“Reese,” Recker said in a warning tone. “Go away.”
Feeling devilish, Frisco ran his hands down Recker’s back and

cupped his mates nicely toned ass. The guy must do a million squats a
day because his backside was very nicely shaped and his buns were
firm as hell. Frisco winked at Reese as he tightened his legs around
Recker’s waist.

Pearly-white teeth appeared as Reese smiled widely, pressing his

hip into the opposite counter.

“Stop encouraging him, Frisco. Reese is voyeuristic. He gets his

rocks off watching other people have sex.”

“That I do,” Reese admitted without shame, “so carry on, boys.”
“Stop being so mean,” Frisco whispered into Recker’s ear. “It’s

not like we’re naked or anything. If he wants to watch, let him.”

“I am not fucking you in front him,” Recker said with a growl.
“Spoilsport,” Reese commented behind them.
“Shut up, Reese,” Frisco said as he shoved his hands down the

back of Recker’s waistband, grabbing handfuls of the firm globes. He
teased his finger between the crease of Recker’s ass, grinding his
body hard against his mate’s firm cock.

Lynn Hagen

Recker bit down on his shoulder, but not hard enough to break

skin. His mouth held firmly to Frisco as he hitched his hips forward
with a driving force. Frisco’s head fell back as his lips parted, his
entire body throbbing with the foreplay.

“God, I want you to suck my dick,” Recker said, his mouth still

tightly clamped on Frisco shoulder.

Frisco’s eyes snapped over to Reese. The man was still standing

there with his arms crossed over his chest, but his arousal was quite
evident. He didn’t want to play this game anymore. Frisco didn’t want
anyone to know just how wild Recker became while in the throes of
passion.

If it had been anyone else, anyone besides Recker, Frisco would

not have cared. Sex was just sex to him—but not with his mate. Sex
with Recker was intimate, personal, and he didn’t want anyone trying
to get off as they watched the two.

Recker was losing control. His mate had forgotten that they were

in the kitchen. Frisco knew this because the man’s hands curled into
Frisco’s waistband, trying to yank his pants free.

“We are not alone,” Frisco whispered to Recker, reminding him of

the voyeuristic man. He grabbed Recker’s wrists, stopping his mate
when it seemed that Recker wasn’t listening. His mate was losing
even more control. He tried to yank harder on Frisco’s jeans.

“Recker,” Frisco said firmly. “Stop.”
Finally, Recker lifted his head. He blinked a few times, his eyes

glassy. The man’s fingers uncurled from Frisco’s waistband as he
took in a ragged breath. Frisco nodded toward Reese.

The side of Reese’s mouth kicked up into a smile. “I wouldn’t

have touched. All I wanted to do was watch.” The man sounded
thoroughly disappointed, but the smile remained. If he and Recker
had been doing anything other than becoming intimate, Frisco
would’ve granted the man’s wish. He genuinely liked Reese. He
didn’t know the man, but since the guy wasn’t being a prick about
this, about being shut out, he was okay in Frisco’s book.

Frisco James

“I told you to go away, Reese,” Recker reminded the man, but

Frisco noticed that Recker’s tone wasn’t as forceful as the first time
when he had issued the command. Was Recker that far gone that he
didn’t care if Reese was standing there or not? He began to wonder
just how close these men truly were.

“Paine and Steele have let me watch before,” Reese pointed out in

a low voice. “You won’t even know I’m there. I promise.”

Frisco had never met anyone who thoroughly enjoyed watching

other people have sex. The guy hadn’t even touched himself the entire
time he watched. Frisco held on tight as Recker lifted him from the
counter and headed toward the steps.

His body began to hum in anticipation as his mate climbed the

steps and took Frisco into their bedroom. It didn’t go unnoticed that
his mate hadn’t closed the bedroom door. But his thoughts soon fled
when Recker yanked Frisco’s jeans down his legs and off his body.

Within the blink of an eye, Recker was naked and crawling over

Frisco, feeding Frisco his thick cock. Somewhere in the back of his
mind, Frisco heard the door close.

“Suck my cock, baby.” Recker rested the palms of his hands

against the wall, his legs on either side of Frisco’s shoulders. Frisco
engulfed the flared head, licking the moisture that was leaking from
the small slit. He reached behind him and shoved a pillow under his
head, giving himself better leverage.

He sucked Recker down his throat. His mate groaned. With short

and even bursts, Recker began to fuck his mouth. Frisco slid his hands
between Recker’s legs and began to massage the tight skin of his
mate’s ass.

Frisco bent his legs, pressing his feet into the mattress as his hard

erection lay at his stomach. He wanted so badly to be buried inside
Recker’s body. The need was so great that he began to hitch his hips,
fucking the thin air.

Lynn Hagen

“Not tonight,” Recker said as he slid his cock deeper into Frisco’s

mouth. “Tonight I am going to fuck you. I’m going to shove my cock
deep into that virgin ass of yours.”

His dick jerked at Recker’s heated promise. He opened his mouth

wider, feeling Recker’s cock slip down his throat. His mate’s shaft
was pulsing in his mouth, telling Frisco just how turned on Recker
truly was.

He sucked hard, his lips wrapped tightly around Recker’s erection.

The next thing Frisco knew, Recker was pulling free, moving until he
had Frisco on his hands and knees. Before Frisco could say a word,
Recker attached his lips to Frisco’s asshole.

His head dropped forward when Recker’s fingers entered him.

Tiny explosions detonated inside of Frisco. He bit his bottom lip
against the burn that encompassed his ass as Recker licked around the
stretched muscle.

Fingers began to move inside of him and Frisco hissed at the

pleasure that overtook him. Recker grazed his fingers over Frisco’s
prostate and he damn near lost his mind. His cock began to spurt, but
Frisco wasn’t coming. “What the fuck…oh shit…Recker…”

“Just relax, baby. Let me show you just how pleasurable this can

be.” Recker inserted another finger in Frisco and his legs nearly
collapsed underneath him. His shoulders hit the mattress as his cock
strained for release.

He was tumbling, freefalling, his body soaring to heights that

Frisco never knew existed. His fingers curled into the blankets as he
pulled and yanked, unsure if he wanted to beg Recker to finger fuck
him into completion or shove his fat cock into Frisco’s ass.

Both thoughts were equally erotic.
His mate’s hand reached beneath Frisco and palmed his aching

sac. Recker bit gently into Frisco’s ass cheek as his fingers moved
more rapidly. Frisco was on the edge, ready to come, ready to explode
as the desires in him built to a fevered pitch.

Frisco James

When Recker added another finger, Frisco shouted, his orgasm

ripping through him, sending him tumbling. Recker growled loudly as
he pulled his fingers free and began to work his well-lubed cock into
Frisco’s pulsing ass.

“No,” Frisco said. He wasn’t that far gone that he didn’t

remember that Reese was watching them. This was his first time and
he didn’t want prying eyes. “Make him leave.”

Recker’s fingers dug into Frisco’s hips as he continued to work

his cock deep into Frisco’s ass. His mate used his knees to kick
Frisco’s legs further apart. “Leave, Reese.”

Frisco turned his head to see Reese walking toward the door. The

man’s head swiveled to the side, his eyes glassy. He winked at Frisco
before he left without a protest ever leaving his lips.

He was definitely one peculiar man.
“Did it turn you on to let him watch?” Recker asked as he lined

his thighs up with Frisco’s.

“At first,” Frisco admitted.
“I only let him watch because I thought that’s what you wanted.

Even though you said no in the kitchen I could tell you liked it.”
Recker pushed until he was fully seated inside Frisco’s ass. Frisco
licked his dry lips, breathing out slowly.

“But you are a very private man, Recker,” Frisco reminded his

mate as he breathed and waited for his body to adjust to the invasion.
His ass was pulsing with the thick length stretching him wide.

Recker’s hands smoothed over Frisco’s ass and then up his back.

“I don’t expect you to understand, Frisco. Tragedy brings people
closer. Spencer is my best friend, but Reese pulled me from the brink
of madness when I lost my twin. He stayed with me, even though I
was in my rhino form and could have killed him. The man risked his
very life to give me back my humanity. It didn’t bother me that Reese
was watching just as long as he didn’t touch you. If it had been
anyone else besides Reese, I would’ve ripped their eyes out.”

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Lynn Hagen

Recker was an enigma to Frisco. He was possessive as hell,

jealous, and a very private man. Yet, it didn’t bother him that
someone was watching them having sex. “Do you want him to
watch?”

“Do you?” Recker countered with his own question as he began to

move his hips, splintering Frisco’s mind as the sheer pleasure
engulfed him. Recker pulled Frisco’s hips higher, driving his cock
deeper.

Frisco was torn. He hadn’t wanted Reese to watch him being

taken for the first time, but there was a small part of Frisco that had
been turned on knowing that someone else was in the room.

Although they were mates, Frisco envied Spencer and Reese’s

relationship with Recker. They had a closeness that Frisco wanted as
well. “Let him watch.”

“Are you sure?” Recker asked as he slowly pulled his cock back

until only the head remained. He stayed like that for a moment,
driving Frisco insane.

“Yes,” Frisco answered through clenched teeth, desperately

wanting to be impaled.

“Reese.” Recker said the man’s name in an even tone, never

raising his voice. Yet the door opened and closed quickly, as if the
man had above-average hearing.

“Please,” Frisco said as he tried to push back, but Recker held in

place. “Fuck me.”

“I don’t care what you do,” Recker said and Frisco knew that his

mate was talking to the other man. “But if you touch my mate, I’ll kill
you.”

“I told you,” Reese said as he moved closer to the bed. “All I want

to do is watch.”

Frisco turned his head and closed his eyes, ignoring Reese. He

attempted to push back once more and this time Recker didn’t hold
him back. “That’s right, baby. Take what you want, fuck me.”

Frisco James

101

Pushing his shoulders from the bed, Frisco began to rock on all

fours. He threw his head back, moaning as Recker’s cock felt as if it
were splitting him apart. Frisco pushed his ass onto Recker’s dick
repeatedly.

“You are so tight, baby. It’s like an iron fist is gripping my dick.”
Frisco felt Recker’s fingers feeling the area where they were

joined…and then his mate’s finger pushed in beside his cock. Frisco
shouted, his shoulders once again dropping to the mattress.

“You like that, Frisco?” Recker asked as he stilled, only his finger

moving inside of Frisco. “My baby likes the pain.”

Not only was Frisco learning about Recker, but he was also

learning a lot about himself. He never knew that he liked a different
brand of sex. Someone watching, pain with his pleasure, and Recker
fucking him were all a combination that was making his climax race
closer.

Frisco gritted his teeth and hissed when Recker slid another finger

in on the opposite side of his cock.

Recker chuckled. “Oh yeah, my baby definitely likes a little pain

with his pleasure.”

Frisco opened his eyes and cut them quickly at Reese. The man’s

jaw was clenched tightly, his hands balled into fists as they lay
crossed over his chest.

“Fuck me, Frisco. Show me just how much you like this.”
Using his arms as leverage, Frisco slowly pushed back, gasping as

his ass stretched wide. His body was trembling, sweating, his cock so
hard that it was nearly painful.

“Mother fuck,” Recker whispered loudly. “Do you know how

beautiful this looks?”

Frisco’s heart was racing as he pulled forward and then pushed

back, every nerve ending in his body coming to life. He was in a place
he had never been before, his body flooded with pleasure to the point
Frisco thought he was going to lose his mind.

“Faster,” Recker said with a growl.

102

Lynn Hagen

Frisco locked his legs into place as he began to bounce up and

down on Recker’s cock and fingers. He wanted release. Oh god, how
he wanted release. His mouth became dry from panting so heavily. He
came unglued when Recker pulled one finger free, his large hand
slapping Frisco’s ass.

Recker pulled his other finger free, his arms slipping under

Frisco’s thighs as he lifted Frisco higher and began to pound into his
ass. Just as Frisco reached his peak, Recker stilled. Frisco was ready
to punch the man. He was toying with Frisco, driving him mad, while
he relentlessly teased Frisco’s body.

“I want to hear you begging me to fuck you.”
“Never,” Frisco said, raising the stakes higher. His eyes slammed

closed when Recker dropped him back onto the bed and swatted his
other ass cheek. Frisco’s backside was on fire and he was confused at
how much he loved what Recker was doing to him. Frisco had never
been into pain—or so he thought. He was excited and scared at these
hidden desires that Recker was bringing out in him.

“Beg me.” Recker’s cock was buried deep in Frisco’s ass, but the

man wasn’t moving. Recker’s shaft was pulsing, Frisco’s hole
stretched wide. Frisco curled his toes as he fought not to beg Recker
to fuck him.

It was a battle of the wills.
Frisco pulled forward, surprised that Recker allowed him. But his

surprise didn’t last long. Recker had an ulterior motive to letting
Frisco free himself. With a relaxed ease, his mate flipped Frisco onto
his back, shoved Frisco’s legs up, and drove his cock back into
Frisco’s ass.

Once Frisco was deeply impaled, Recker slid his hands under

Frisco’s back and lifted him until Frisco was straddling Recker’s lap.

“So stubborn,” Recker said as he trailed his tongue along Frisco’s

shoulder. “Why are you so afraid? The Frisco James that I know fears
almost nothing, yet you are afraid to admit what you like and what
you want.”

Frisco James

103

“This isn’t normal,” Frisco answered honestly as he wrapped his

arms around Recker’s neck. “I shouldn’t love the things that you are
doing to me. I shouldn’t like”— Frisco waved a hand toward Reese,
who had been quiet the entire time—“someone watching us.”

Recker cupped Frisco’s face, locking eyes. “Why shouldn’t you

like it?”

Frisco shrugged.
His mate placed a tender kiss on Frisco’s lips. “What do you

consider normal? Should we have the lights off, fucking in a
missionary position?”

“No, but—”
Recker shook his head. “Normal is whatever rules and guidelines

we set down between us. If you like Reese watching, then there is
nothing wrong with that. If you like a little pain mixed in with your
pleasure, then there is nothing wrong with that either. Fuck all those
prudes who cringe and balk at something that is not vanilla sex.”

Frisco wasn’t sure what to say. Although he prided himself on

being a great lover, this was so…different. Recker was showing him a
whole new world and Frisco felt like a kid in a candy store, wanting it
all.

“There are some people out there that think what you like, what I

like is wrong. Let them live in their narrow-minded boxes and see the
world in black and white. They don’t have to like it because it’s not
them that I’m fucking.” Recker began to move his hips, Frisco finding
the new position helped his mate go deeper.

“If you’re that uncomfortable,” Reese finally spoke, “I’ll leave.”
Frisco couldn’t take it anymore. “I just can’t understand what

turns you on about watching other people have sex.”

Once again a smile kicked up the side of Reese’s mouth. “It’s

beautiful. Watching you two make love to each other is the most
erotic thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Less talk,” Recker said as he wrapped his arms around Frisco’s

body and began to pound his cock up into Frisco’s swollen ass.

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Lynn Hagen

Swallowing hard, Frisco finally let go. “Fuck me, Recker! Spank

my ass.”

Frisco was jolted with shock when Recker leaned forward, placing

Frisco on his back. His mate pushed Frisco sideways and then his
hand sliced through the air, the sting of the contact radiating
throughout Frisco’s body.

Recker hooked an arm under Frisco’s leg and lifted it high as he

pistoned into Frisco. He could see the sweat pouring off of Recker,
concentration deep in his eyes. Frisco reached up and grabbed the
headboard, holding on as Recker went wild on him.

His mate slapped his ass again and Frisco shouted with pleasure.

He wanted to grab his bobbing cock and jack off, but he was afraid
that if he didn’t hold on, Recker would fuck him right into the wall.

Recker’s hips gyrated, swiveling before he thrust hard. His mate

grabbed Frisco’s cock, matching strokes. Frisco threw his leg onto
Recker’s shoulder as he bowed his back and came. He gritted his
teeth, strangled the headboard, as his seed pulsed from his cock.

“That’s it, baby. Come for me.” Recker nearly bent Frisco in half

as his hips moved faster, his cock jetting into Frisco’s hole.

Recker’s corded neck muscles bulked, his veins pronounced as he

growled and grunted his release. He slammed hard into Frisco, his
seed spurting deeply inside Frisco’s ass.

Frisco’s chest was rising and falling rapidly as he tried to pull in

enough air to breathe. He closed his eyes, letting his lingering orgasm
wash over his body. Frisco heard the door open and close and knew
Reese was gone.

Recker pulled free, dropped onto his back, and pulled Frisco into

his arms. Frisco rested his head on Recker’s sweaty chest. “I want to
make all your fantasies come true, Frisco. Never be ashamed of
anything I do to you or anything you want me to do.”

Frisco was too tired to talk right now. All he wanted to do was

sleep. “I’ll remember that,” he said lazily as he cuddled closer and fell
asleep.

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Chapter Nine

Recker was getting ready for his first day on the job, pouring

himself a cup of coffee. Frisco had already left for work, riding his
motorcycle into town. His mate had woken up in the middle of the
night and had fucked Recker to within an inch of his life.

Recker smiled at the memory. He loved that their sex life was so

spicy. It honestly amazed him that he had allowed Reese into the
bedroom. What he said to Frisco was true, but Recker never thought
that he would allow someone to watch him and his mate have sex.

“I hear you work for the alpha now,” Reese said as he walked into

the kitchen and went straight to the refrigerator, grabbing a juice from
the shelf. “There is no damn way I could work with him all day.”

Recker chuckled. “That’s because you like smashing heads in.”
“Bouncing is a dirty job but somebody has to do it,” Reese said as

he winked at Recker. “Some of the old patrons still think that the
Lucky Clover is nothing more than a watering hole where they can act
a fool.” The polar bear shifter took a long drink from the bottle in his
hand. “There’s this one little twink that keeps sneaking in there. He’s
harmless but Caleb doesn’t like his patrons solicited.”

“Everyone is harmless to you,” Recker replied.
Reese placed the palm of his hand on his chest, giving Recker his

most innocent look. Recker inwardly snorted. The man didn’t fool
him. Reese might be laid-back, but he didn’t take shit from anyone
and had no problem kicking ass.

“I try and lead a simple life,” Reese said and Recker could tell the

man was holding back a smile.

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He grabbed his cup of coffee and headed toward the side door.

“You are so full of shit, Reese.” Recker could hear the man laughing
as he stepped outside. He stood by his truck for a moment, taking in
the quietness of the morning. Since Frisco James had returned, Recker
noticed the change in himself. He didn’t get so easily agitated or
angry like he used to.

He was calmer now.
They may have had one hell of a beginning, but it seemed things

were getting better. Recker wasn’t sure what his schedule was going
to be like, but he hoped he had at least an hour for lunch.

He planned on taking his mate out at lunchtime to spend a little

time with him.

Recker climbed into his truck and drove to the town hall. He

parked out back and used the back entrance. He saw Cecil sitting at
his desk, legs kicked up, talking on a cell phone.

He wasn’t surprised.
Cecil smiled when he saw Recker and hung up the phone.

“Great,” Cecil said as he stood. “Let me show you to your new
office.”

Recker eyed the man. Cecil was acting just a little too chipper. He

didn’t trust the guy. Whenever Cecil’s amethyst eyes—and he only
knew they were amethyst because Blair had told him—held a sparkle
of wickedness in them, people had to watch out.

Honestly, Recker was totally shocked that Cecil was here on time.
Cecil showed him to a door that was right off of the area where

the man worked. The setup was a little odd to Recker. If he was
Cecil’s assistant, shouldn’t Cecil be in the office and Recker in the
reception area?

Whatever. Recker finally had a job so he wasn’t going to

complain.

“I have no damn clue what you are supposed to do,” Cecil said as

he scratched at his head. “I guess, as soon as I find out what I’m

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107

supposed to be doing then I’ll have a better idea of what you should
be doing.”

In other words, as soon as Cecil found out his duties, he was going

to shove them off on Recker.

Recker walked into his spacious office and glanced around. The

desk wasn’t that big, but wide enough to where his big frame
wouldn’t be uncomfortable. Cecil left him and Recker took a seat
behind his desk. He folded his hands together as his eyes flickered
over the office.

This shit was boring.
Maybe he should’ve brought a book to read.
“I see you made it,” Maverick said as he stuck his head into the

office. “Someone left a ton of crap on my desk and I need you to go
through it and figure out what the hell it is.”

Recker was thankful for something to do. He wondered why the

alpha hadn’t asked Cecil to go through the stuff. But then again, why
not cut out the middleman who would’ve only thrown the stuff onto
Recker’s desk anyway?

Recker walked in behind Maverick as the alpha pointed to a mile-

high stack of papers. Walking over to the desk, Recker lifted the pile
and then headed back toward his office. He spent the better part of the
morning separating requests from complaints and proposals from
idiotic requests to open up the strangest businesses.

By lunch he was starving and his eyes were burning.
Walking out of his office, Recker glanced over to see Cecil back

on the phone. “How long do I have for lunch?”

Cecil shrugged. “Hell if I know. Take an hour.”
Recker sighed as he headed toward the back entrance. He could

see that he was going to be the one helping out Maverick. Cecil was
totally useless.

He drove over to the floral shop, parking out front. When Recker

entered, he furrowed his brows when he didn’t see anyone in the

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shop. That was odd as hell. Where were Blair and Randy? Where was
Frisco?

A noise came from the back of the shop and Recker followed it to

Frisco’s office. He opened the door and then was shoved inside by
someone who’d snuck up behind him. Recker turned to see a very
large man standing there, his arms crossed over his massive chest.

“Hello again, Recker.”
Recker turned his head and looked into the office, recognizing the

man who was standing there right away. He was the same guy that
Frisco had dealt with the first night Recker had boxed. He was also
the same man that said he was going to take Recker from Frisco.

The Wrangler.
Recker was shocked to his core when he scented shifter. He

hadn’t scented shifter the night he boxed. But then again, the smell of
blood, sweat, and disinfectant had been overpowering. Mix that with
Recker’s nervousness and he could see how he had missed the
obvious scent.

His heart slammed into his throat when he saw Frisco, Blair, and

Randy tied up and against one wall. There were four cinder blocks
lying on Frisco’s desk and a rope in the Wrangler’s hands.

“Long time no see,” the Wrangler said as he waved the rope

toward the three men he had tied up. “I was just getting reacquainted
with Frisco.”

The big goon who had shoved Recker into the office grabbed him

from behind, wrestling Recker to the floor. He fought with everything
in him, but not only was the man larger than him, he was a shifter as
well. His strength surpassed Recker’s.

“Leave him in the fuck alone!” Frisco shouted as he struggled to

get to his feet. The Wrangler used his foot to kick Frisco back to the
floor.

Recker saw red. The Wrangler had used shifter strength and

Frisco had slammed his head into the wall. He was going to tear the
man apart just as soon as he got free.

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109

“Behave,” the Wrangler warned Frisco before he turned to look at

Recker. “I lost a great deal of money that night. You owe me big-
time.”

“Killing us won’t get you your money,” Recker said, gritting the

words out.

“No,” the Wrangler said as he swatted the rope against his free

hand. “But your deaths will be a shining example of what happens to
anyone who crosses me.”

When the Wrangler tossed the rope toward Recker, he once again

struggled to get free. The big goon began to tie Recker up. If he didn’t
find a way out of this, all four of them were dead. Randy was a wolf
shifter, but he was so small and timid that he wouldn’t be any help.
Frisco and Blair were human, standing no chance at all.

This was all up to Recker.
“I love that you have a pier in this small town. It will make my job

so much easier when I dispose of your bodies.” The Wrangler walked
around Frisco’s desk and took a seat. “It’s just a shame that I have to
kill you, Recker. You are the best boxer I have seen in a very long
time. Of course, being a shifter helps you.”

Recker didn’t say a word.
The Wrangler placed his arms on the desk. “First and foremost I

am a businessman. I tell you what,” the man said as he wiggled a
finger at Recker, “I won’t kill your friends if you sign a contract with
me.”

“No!” Frisco shouted. “Take me and let them go. I’ll fight for you

for as long as you want just as long as I have your word that Recker
and these two are never harmed.”

There was no goddamn way that Recker was going to allow Frisco

to sacrifice himself. He wasn’t going to sign a contract either. What
Recker was going to do was find a way out of this and kill both of the
rotten bastards.

“As tempting as that is, Frisco”—the Wrangler leaned back—“I

want Recker.”

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Recker had to stall for time. “You have my word that I will go

quietly just as soon as you let these three go.”

“Are you fucking nuts?” Blair shouted. “He is nothing but a bully

and a wannabe con man. You can’t trust him at his word. I’ve met
people like him. Just as soon as he has you, he will still kill us.”

Recker wished that Blair would be quiet. The only thing that

mattered to Recker right now was getting those three to safety. He
would figure out what to do about himself just as soon as he knew
they were out of harm’s way.

“Don’t do it,” Frisco said, his face granite.
“Uh, I want to live,” Randy interjected. “Can we find a solution

that makes us all happy?”

Recker gaped at the small wolf shifter. Was the guy serious?

Recker groaned at just how naïve the man truly was.

The Wrangler laughed as he slapped his hand onto the desk. “I

like your sense of humor. It’s almost a shame to have to kill you.”

“Can I keep him?” the goon asked. Randy scooted closer to Blair

as his eyes grew extremely wide.

This was not going well.
If Frisco, Blair, and Randy would shut up long enough, Recker

just might think of a way out of this. But it was hard to think when
they kept saying stupid shit.

“Maybe next time,” the Wrangler answered the goon. “I have a

feeling the small shifter would be more trouble than he is worth.”

“But I would teach him to mind his place,” the goon argued his

case. The Wrangler cut his eyes at the guy and the goon fell silent.

That gave Recker an idea. It was a long shot, but what did he have

to lose? “Are you telling me that you’re going allow him to stop you
from taking that sweet little body as your own?”

“What!” Randy shouted, his eyes huge.
Thank fuck Frisco and Blair were more street savvy. They seemed

to catch on pretty quick.

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111

“If I didn’t think that Recker would kill me,” Frisco began, talking

directly to the goon. “I would have that sweet, tight little ass bent over
that desk.”

Randy looked like he was about to be sick. Recker felt sorry for

the guy and wished that he wasn’t involved. But he was, and Recker
was going to use any means necessary to save all four of their lives.
He also had to set his jealousy aside. Just hearing Frisco talk about
fucking another man threatened to drive him insane. But it was just a
ploy and Recker had to keep telling himself that.

“I work with him all day,” Blair continued the taunting, “and

constantly watch him bend over.” Blair licked his lips. “You should
see how erotic it is to watch him suck on a straw.”

“All of you better shut up,” the Wrangler said, his tone becoming

heated. But Recker saw the internal struggle in the goon’s eyes.

He turned toward the Wrangler. “I want him!”
The Wrangler stood to his full height, his glare menacing. “And I

said no.”

“How much do you want to bet his ass would be as tight as a fist

around your cock,” Recker said to the goon. “Just think of all the
hours you could spend playing with him. You could spank his little
ass whenever he tried to fight you.”

The goon’s nostrils flared.
Recker felt sick to his stomach. He was going to have to make this

up to Randy somehow. Even with the ropes wrapped tightly around
him, the poor little guy was trembling. Recker wanted to kill the
Wrangler and his goon for making him say all this crude shit about a
really nice guy.

“I bet you his lips are real pretty when they’re swollen from

sucking cock,” Frisco said. Recker could tell that his mate hated what
he was saying. He kept his eyes averted and there was no heat in his
voice.

“You could play with his little swollen hole after you fucked

him,” Blair said, but Recker could see the man moving closer to

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Randy, as if ready to defend him. Randy looked confused as he gazed
up at Blair and then some sort of light blinked on in the man’s eyes.

“I won’t let you fuck my tight little ass,” Randy piped up, as if

finally catching on to what they were doing. “I’ll fight you tooth and
nail. There is no way I am slurping on your cock.”

The goon began to move across the room, going after Randy.
“Don’t you dare touch him,” the Wrangler shouted. “I’m going to

tie you up and drop you in the nearest body of water, you traitorous
bastard.”

The goon halted, his eyes uncertain.
Randy made a small moaning noise, flipping to his side, and then

rolled until his ass was sticking in the air. “There is no way I’m going
to let you have this.”

Okay, the man was overdoing it. Recker was trying to pit the

Wrangler and the goon against each other, not get Randy molested.
He was going to have to talk to the little shifter about his acting skills.

They sucked.
Recker ground his teeth when the goon pulled Randy from the

floor and held him tight to his chest. “I want him!”

God love an idiot. The goon was so dimwitted that he didn’t see

what they were doing. He was driven by lust and wasn’t thinking past
the need to have Randy. Recker just prayed that Randy wasn’t hurt in
the process.

Priest was going to kill them all.
“There is no way I would let someone talk to me that way,” Frisco

said to the Wrangler. “I don’t think he’s taking you seriously.”

“I know what the fuck you are doing,” the Wrangler said to

Frisco. “Do you take me for an idiot?”

Recker shouted when the Wrangler picked up one of the cinder

blocks and threw it at the goon. His heart was hammering in his chest,
fearing that Randy would be hurt.

Thankfully the goon quickly turned and moved out of the way, the

cinder blocks smashing into the wall. His plan was working a little too

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113

well. The only thing Recker had not foreseen was the goon actually
pulling Randy into his arms.

He had to get the wolf shifter free.
Recker was shocked when Frisco swiped his foot out and

unbalanced the goon. He crashed to the floor, Randy rolling free.

Now that the Wrangler and the goon were distracted, Recker

shifted, the ropes snapping free as his rhino form emerged.

“Holy fucking shit!” Frisco shouted. Recker moved closer,

placing his large body over Randy’s, protecting the smallest of them
all.

The Wrangler took a cautious step back as the goon pushed to his

feet and ran out the door. Recker wanted to go after him, but he
wasn’t going to leave the Wrangler with Recker’s mate and friends.

Recker began to charge, but stopped when the goon walked

backward through the door. He didn’t understand what was going on
until he saw Kota’s large form appear. The man looked lethal, his
eyes filled with deadly intent.

“They want to kill us!” Blair shouted. Kota’s eyes snapped over

toward his mate and even Recker took a step back when the man
shifted.

Frisco rolled out of the way, his eyes wide as he landed next to

Blair. Recker had a feeling that his mate was going to be shaken up
after this. Not only because they nearly were killed, but because he
finally saw what a shifter looked like in their animal form—what
Recker looked like in his rhino form.

Recker stood there in awe as Kota made quick work of killing

both the Wrangler and his goon. He shifted back into his human form
and helped Frisco get out of the ropes. Recker next helped Blair and
Randy.

By the time everyone was untied, Priest walked into the office.

Randy flew into his arms, damn near crawling up the man as he
babbled on about what had taken place.

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Recker was grateful that the small man had left out the part about

the lurid things they had said in order to save themselves.

He had a feeling that if Priest knew what they had said, the man

would tie all of them back up and finish what the Wrangler had
started.

Recker would have.

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Chapter Ten

It had been a month since the incident with the Wrangler and

Frisco felt as if his life was finally falling into place. There were times
when it even became boring, but there was no way in hell Frisco was
going to complain.

He had left work early, wanting to make a nice dinner for Recker.

His mate should be getting out of work soon. As Frisco moved around
the kitchen, Reese walked to the side door.

“Smells good,” Reese commented as he moved toward the fridge.

“Romantic night?”

Frisco chuckled. “Sorry, Reese. You can keep your voyeuristic ass

in your own room tonight.” He washed the pan out that he had been
using, setting it in the rack.

“If that’s how you feel,” Reese replied. “It’s a shame though. You

and Recker burn up those sheets. I’ve watched quite a few people
having sex, and I have to say, you and your mate are the hottest I’ve
ever seen.”

Frisco reached into the cupboard and grabbed two plates. “That is

the strangest compliment I’ve ever received. Thank you…but you still
can’t watch.”

The big man looked weird as hell when he pouted. “Are you

permanently kicking me out?”

“You seriously need to get a life,” Frisco said as he turned toward

the man. “You are just a little too kinky for my blood.”

Reese gave a low chuckle. “It was fun while it lasted. We’re cool,

man. I appreciate you sharing something so private but I know when
I’m not wanted.”

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Frisco continued to get his and Recker’s dinner together, but he

cut his eyes at Reese. His tone was rueful when he said he wasn’t
wanted. Recker had told him that they all had a tragic past. His mate
had suffered the loss of a twin. Spencer had lost his brother as well.
The cheetahs had lost their coalition. Frisco wasn’t sure about the rest
of the men in the house and he wasn’t going to pry.

He felt sorry for Reese but that didn’t mean he was going to let

the man watch him and Recker have sex again. Although it had been
thrilling, Frisco liked when it was just him and his mate.

“Is he trying to talk you into letting him watch you and Recker?”

Paine asked as he walked into the kitchen. “He’s a kinky bastard.
Make sure you have tape over your keyhole.”

Frisco glanced at Reese, surprised the man hadn’t told anyone

what had happened. Reese winked at him before he took a drink of his
juice. The man didn’t kiss and tell and Frisco liked that.

But he still wasn’t going to let Reese watch.
“Frisco turned me down,” Reese said good-naturedly. Frisco knew

in that moment that he and Reese were going to be good friends. The
guy was laid-back and quiet, but there was something about him that
told Frisco the man had a truly fucked-up past.

“Just don’t let Recker find out that you asked him,” Paine said.

“You know how short his temper is.”

Frisco grinned at Reese. “Yeah, I wouldn’t want Recker kicking

your ass.”

“Speaking of the colorblind rhino, where is he?” Paine asked.
Before Frisco knew what he was doing, he had slugged Paine in

his jaw, knocking the man flat on his ass. “Don’t you dare call my
mate names!”

Just then Steele walked into the room, immediately going to his

brother’s defense. Paine jumped up and started to go after Frisco, but
Reese moved in front of him. “Trust me when I tell you that I’m
saving your life right now,” Reese said to Paine. “You touch Recker’s
mate and he will tear you apart with his bare hands.”

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117

“But he hit me,” Paine argued as he grabbed his jaw and pushed it

from side to side.

“And you should know better than to talk about someone’s mate,”

Reese argued. “Frisco and I are friends. If you lay one hand on him I
will gut you where you stand.”

“Now wait one damn minute,” Steele said heatedly. “You think

I’m going to stand here and let you threaten my brother?”

Frisco hated standing behind Reese, but he was in a room full of

shifters and knew the cheetahs would wipe the floor with his ass.
“Your brother has a big fucking mouth,” Frisco argued.

“But I always tease Recker,” Paine retorted. “I don’t mean

anything by it.”

Frisco pushed Reese out of the way. “I take exception to anyone

badmouthing my mate. I don’t care what you did before I came here,
but the teasing stops right here, right now. You might be a shifter, but
I’m a bare-knuckle boxing champ. Fuck with me on this and I will
show you just what I’m made of.”

Steele laughed. “The human has huge balls. You’re on your own,

Paine.”

“What!”
Steele ran his hand down his chest. “You were wrong and you

know it. If it was anyone outside this house, I would defend you—
right or wrong—to the bitter end. Tell me you can’t handle a human.”

Paine glowered at Frisco. “You hit like a bitch.”
“And you act like one,” Frisco countered. “Go find some little

kindergartner to pick on, bully.”

“I am not a bully,” Paine argued.
“Tell me you don’t know that Recker is sensitive about his

colorblindness,” Frisco challenged. “Tell me you don’t know that it
bothers him.”

Paine glanced at the floor.
“That’s what I thought,” Frisco said. “If you talk shit about my

mate again I’ll beat you in your sleep.” Because Frisco knew that he

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had caught the cheetah off guard. He wouldn’t be able to take the man
down so easily.

Steele and Reese were laughing so hard that Frisco couldn’t help

but smile. Paine bumped his shoulder into Frisco’s, telling him that
they were cool.

“You have proven your point,” Paine conceded.
The room grew quiet, all eyes behind Frisco. He turned to see his

mate standing in the doorway. He was expecting Recker to look mad,
unsure of how long he had been standing there or what he had seen
and heard. But a wide grin broke across his handsome face.

“Get out.” Reese pushed at Steele and Paine. “You don’t need to

be watching this.”

“Watching what?” Paine asked.
“Sometimes you are so dense,” Reese said. “Frisco just defended

his man. Recker is about to fuck the shit out of him. Take your
voyeuristic ass somewhere else.”

Frisco chuckled. Reese had room to talk. The three left the

kitchen, leaving Frisco and Recker alone.

His mate didn’t say a word as he grabbed Frisco and ran upstairs.

Frisco laughed the whole way. Recker dropped him on their bed and
then began to undress, showing off his impressive body.

Frisco quickly undressed as well. From the way Recker looked,

his mate would tear his clothes from his body if he didn’t. In a matter
of minutes, Frisco was stretched, lubed, and had Recker’s cock buried
deep in his ass.

“Do you know how sexy it is when you defend me?” Recker

asked as he began to pound into Frisco’s ass. “Do you know how
much that turns me on?”

Frisco bit Recker’s nipple, teasing the small bud between his

teeth. Recker threw Frisco’s ankles onto his shoulder as he grabbed
Frisco’s ass. “Do you?”

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119

Giving the flesh a hard suck, Frisco released the nipple. “I’m

beginning to find out,” he teased. “And the dinner I worked so hard to
cook is going to waste.”

Recker growled as his cock plunged deeper into Frisco’s ass.

“We’ll order in.”

Frisco slapped at Recker’s chest. “Slow down and get onto your

back. I want to ride you.”

Recker pulled his cock free and then flipped onto his back. “I’m

all yours.”

Straddling his mate’s hips, Frisco reached beneath him and

grabbed Recker’s cock. “Okay, this is kind of awkward. Help me out
here.”

Frisco leaned forward and captured his mate’s lips, pouring

everything he felt for the man into the kiss as he slowly sank onto
Recker’s cock. Frisco had never fooled himself. He knew he had been
a rotten bastard and didn’t deserve anyone as good as Recker. The
man was truly a godsend and Frisco had nearly fucked it up.

He would forever be grateful that Recker had such a big and

forgiving heart. He could see himself loving Recker for all eternity.
The man didn’t judge him, didn’t hold a grudge, and he was
everything that Frisco could ever want in a mate.

As his hands slid over Recker’s sculpted chest, Frisco was amazed

at his heart’s capacity for so much love for another person. He
swiveled his hips, repeatedly impaling himself on the thick shaft as
Recker’s hands skimmed up his sides.

“I love you,” Frisco whispered into his mate’s mouth. “I love you

so damn much.”

Recker gave a low growl as he bit at Frisco’s bottom lip. “I love

you too, baby.”

Recker enveloped Frisco in his arms as he pulled him closer,

filling the kiss with passion and desire. Frisco moaned as Recker
thrust deep inside of him. He reached between them and circled his
fingers around his cock, squeezing tight as Recker thrust hard.

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His mate began to move faster, sending both Frisco and himself

toppling over the edge. Frisco cried out as he painted both their bodies
with his seed. Recker held on to Frisco as he came.

Frisco kissed Recker’s nose. “I’m starving.”
Recker grinned as he pulled free. “Then I need to feed my baby.”
Frisco wasn’t sure how he ended up being Recker’s baby, but he

loved it. He had started out being the dominating male between them,
but now that he had felt Recker, Frisco didn’t mind sharing the
domination.

They washed up and dressed, going back downstairs. Frisco came

up short when he saw Ryker standing in the kitchen. It was very rare
that Frisco saw the Siberian tiger shifter. He and his cousin Winter
were very aloof creatures. The only other person that Frisco rarely
saw was Styles. The coyote shifter spent a lot of time at work.

It was very odd to him that Styles didn’t like wolves, yet he

worked for three of them. Again, it was none of his business.

“You’re eating my dinner,” Recker said to Ryker.
The man didn’t say a word as he set the plate down. His

chocolate-brown eyes scanned over Frisco before he headed toward
the door. Frisco had a feeling that whoever tangled with that tiger
would come out the loser. “So intense.”

“He’s always been that way,” Recker commented. “His cousin

Winter isn’t as big of a recluse as Ryker is. Winter just works long
hours on the Lakeland ranch.”

Frisco walked over and scraped the plates down the garbage

disposal. The pasta was soggy now. Once he had the dishes washed
and set in the rack, he grabbed the menu off of the refrigerator,
glancing over The Pit’s choices. “Where does Ryker work anyway?”

“He is a part of Roman Lakeland’s construction crew.”
Frisco had seen that crew around town. It was odd to him that

Maverick didn’t have more people contracted to help build the town.
Roman Lakeland and his crew were some busy-ass men.

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121

“Paine and Steele Avery are now employed!” Paine said happily

as he walked into the kitchen. The man’s grin was so wide that Frisco
swore the cheetah’s face was going to stretch apart.

“Who in their right mind would hire you?” Frisco asked as he

hopped up on the counter.

“I’m in such a good mood that I’m going to ignore your sarcasm.

If you must know, my brother and I are now full-time employees at
the movie theater.”

“Congratulations,” Recker said as he glanced over the menu with

Frisco. “Remind me to rent my movies.”

“Hardy, harr-harr,” Paine said. “You are just jealous because my

job is more interesting than yours.”

Frisco grabbed the phone and ordered dinner as Recker and Paine

bantered back and forth. As he placed their orders, Frisco smiled to
himself. Although Paine was a…well, a pain in the ass, Frisco
couldn’t ask for more.

Recker had taught him how to be a better man and how to want

more out of life than just a quick hustle. He owned his own business,
had a fabulous mate, good friends, and a screwy-ass family.

Mr. Frisco James finally felt complete.

* * * *

Panahasi moved slowly through the demon realm, finding a

shadow and walking through. He emerged in the human realm, in a
dark and quiet alley. He had felt a pain so raw, so anguished that he
could not ignore it.

He knew that he was walking a fine line and had to be careful

with this interaction, but there was no way he was going to dismiss
his son’s suffering. Little did Ceri know that since he had awakened
from his rest, Panahasi had been keeping an eye on the vampire.

Ceri was standing there, his head tilted down, a dead vampire at

his feet.

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“I know you are there.”
Panahasi moved out of the shadow but kept his distance. He was

afraid that if he moved any closer that the overwhelming need to
comfort his son would claim him. Panahasi was not allowed to reveal
who he was to his beloved race. It killed something inside of him to
keep his dark secret hidden from his very own child. But if he
revealed who he was then the primal source would wipe out the entire
vampire race.

It was a burden he had lived with for over two thousand years. He

stared at his eldest, his firstborn every time he had a meeting with the
Ultionem, wishing he could tell Christian who he was. “What are you
doing, Ceridian?”

Ceri slowly turned his head, his eyes hooded as he stared at

Panahasi. His son studied him for a long moment before he glanced
back down at the ground. “Why do you care?”

Panahasi had to bite back the instinctive reply that he had always

cared and would always care. “Because I am a member of the
Ultionem. I know that you promised Christian that you would no
longer indulge in eating flesh.”

Panahasi knew that it was his son’s violent conception that made

him who he was. Rhys, Ceri’s twin, had found his mate and was no
longer the destructive man that he had been before trapped in his deep
sleep.

But then, Rhys had always been different, not as violent as Ceri. It

pained him to know just how much Ceri was suffering. The man was
lost and alone. Panahasi knew that his son was well aware of who his
mate was.

But he also knew that Ceri feared claiming the vampire. Panahasi

could feel the man’s hesitation, worry, and desolation. “Where is
Virgil?”

Ceri hissed at the sound of his mate’s name. He bared his fangs at

Panahasi menacingly.

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123

“I wish your mate no harm,” Panahasi said as he watched his son

begin to shift. Ceri’s skin tone had taken on the hue of his origins,
turning a majestic shade of purple. His long black nails grew as his
fangs continued to grow until the tips touched his chin. He grew two
feet taller as he spun toward Panahasi.

The man was the most beautiful creature Panahasi had ever seen.

An overwhelming urge to protect his son encompassed him. “Stand
down,” he said slowly, evenly.

He would leave before he fought his own child, but Panahasi

couldn’t leave Ceri in his present form. He was in a human alley and
anyone could stumble upon him. It was a vulnerability he would not
risk.

Panahasi took a menacing stance, showing the vampire that he

was no one to trifle with.

“Why are you here?” Ceri spat the words at Panahasi.
“Because your pain called me here,” Panahasi answered honestly.

He could easily take them both to the castle where Ceri resided,
removing them both from any chance of being spotted.

But somehow he knew that Ceri was too far gone in his own mind

to accept any kind of help. Panahasi was not going to force his help
on the vampire.

Ceri smiled and a cold chill ran down Panahasi’s spine. It was a

demented, twisted grin that did not belong on his son’s face.

“You think me stupid?”
Panahasi’s heart began to race as he realized that Ceri knew

exactly who he was. Not the leader of the Demon Warriors, but his
father. “Do not utter those words, Ceridian. Do not make the claim
out loud.”

Ceri’s face contorted into anger. “You have nothing to worry

about, Panahasi.” The man said his name as if it were a disease on his
tongue. “I would never lay claim to you. You abandoned me and my
twin, forsaking us.” Ceri spat on the ground. “You are nothing to me.”

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Lynn Hagen

Panahasi’s heart ripped in half. He wanted desperately to tell the

man why he had held that secret behind his lips.

But he knew he couldn’t.
He watched in agonizing pain as Ceri disappeared. Panahasi stood

there for a long moment, gazing at where his son had stood. He waved
his hand and the dead body disappeared. Walking back into the
shadows, Panahasi returned to the demon realm.

* * * *

Maverick moved out of the shadows, now knowing Panahasi’s

secret. He hadn’t meant to spy. It was the last thing he intended to do.
But he had a dream that he needed to be in this particular place, on
this very night.

He hadn’t understood it, but knew better than to ignore the dream.

Maverick still didn’t understand why fate wanted him to know that
the demon leader was the father of the vampire race. It had nothing to
do with him.

The dream revealed more than Maverick had wanted to know. The

words primal source had whispered through his mind and he
wondered if fate was trying to find a way around the heartache the
demon leader had to live with.

“Why in the fuck are you laying this at my feet?” Maverick asked

out loud as he walked back toward his bike. “I am not getting
involved in that shit.”

He already had too many burdens resting on his shoulders. Let the

demons and vampires work their own problems out. But no matter
Maverick’s resolution, somehow he knew he was going to get pulled
into the shit storm that was brewing.

Frisco James

125

THE END

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but

lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to
find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart.

You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a

cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.

For all titles by Lynn Hagen, please visit