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Bear County 7

Cowboy Trust

A diabolical corporation is after him. Some ranch hands want to
teach him a lesson. Steven is surrounded by danger and it seems

Colton is the key to his survival. Because Steven has a gift that
people are dying to get their hands on. It's a gift that has been
nothing but a curse for him.

Colton spots Steven working with the other construction men.
They are finishing off the bunkhouse and Colton has yet to get

close enough to speak to the man. But he's determined to make
Steven his, even when he discovers Steven's dark secret.

Together they strive to not only keep Steven alive, but to build a
life both desperately yearn for. But when Steven goes into

premature labor, Colton fears he will lose the family he's craved
his entire life. Worse, betrayal hits home when one of their own
tries to cash in on the contract that is on Steven's head.

Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Contemporary, Paranormal,
Shape-shifter, Western/Cowboys
Length: 32,880 words

COWBOY TRUST

Bear County 7

Lynn Hagen

THE LYNN HAGEN

MANLOVE COLLECTION

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: The Lynn Hagen ManLove Collection

COWBOY TRUST
Copyright © 2014 by Lynn Hagen
E-book ISBN: 978-1-63258-304-8

First E-book Publication: September 2014

Cover design by Emma Nicole
All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without
express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance
to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers

Dear Readers,

If you have purchased this copy of Cowboy Trust by Lynn Hagen
from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also,
thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy

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COWBOY TRUST

Bear County 7

LYNN HAGEN

Chapter One

The man’s tanned body was slick with sweat as the workers

entered their final phase of building the bunkhouse for the ranch
hands. As Colten Tselner stood on the back porch of the McMaster
home and watched one particular worker, his body tightened with
need. The human moved like a well-oiled machine under the hot sun,
his body slick with sweat. Colten shifted to his other leg. He licked
his tongue over his bottom lip as his eyes locked onto the guy,
watching his every move. He ached to sink his canines into the man’s
flesh.

The worker was Steven Chesney. The wind pulsed with the man’s

name. Colten rolled it around on his tongue as if he could actually
taste the man. And he wanted to. God, how he wanted to.

He’d been watching the human for two weeks now, waiting for an

opportunity to approach the guy. When Colten had first noticed
Steven among the other workers, he could have sworn the ground
shifted and moved under his feet. His soul seemed to reach for
Steven. To recognize the human.

And when Steven had spoken to him, the human’s voice had been

like a blend of smoke and heat that seared Colten right through his
belly.

Lynn Hagen

Colten hadn’t had a chance to talk to Steven since that first

encounter. Steven always stayed busy the entire time he was there on
the ranch. And at quitting time, he was the first to leave.

Steven’s hair was the shade of autumn leaves, a blend of colors

from red, to gold, to rustic-brown. Colten had gotten close enough to
see that Steven’s eyes were like the crystalline paleness of a January
sky—the lightest blue imaginable.

The cool air shifted in his direction and Colten inhaled deeply,

pulling in the delicious aroma of cinnamon and apple cider—Steven’s
scent. Those were two of Colten’s favorite things. They reminded him
of the fall, a warm hearth, and a cozy home.

Leaning against the porch post, Colten continued to sip his coffee

as he watched Steven over the rim of his mug. It was mid-October
and the leaves had already started to change. The nights were a little
cooler, but not cold. There were thick autumn clouds in the sky,
drifting past at a leisurely pace. There was a clean, crisp scent in the
air, as well as the aroma of fresh baked bread.

Sam was in the kitchen cooking. Colten had left the back door

open. The wonderful smells of yeast and dough drifted out through
the screen door and filled the air around him. Colten loved this time
of year. There was just something about the fall that brought nostalgic
feelings to the surface.

He watched eddies of leaves swirl around the porch steps before

his attention was once more drawn to Steven’s lean, compact frame.
Colten rolled his shoulders and gripped his cup tighter when Steven
bent over, showing off a nicely shaped ass. That was a sight he’d
never tire of.

The sound of tires crunching over gravel pulled his attention away

from Steven. A few minutes later Harland and Clayton ambled around
the corner. The two men from the Triple-B smiled as soon as they
spotted Colten on the back porch.

“What’s up?” Clayton asked with a grin as he came to a stop a

few feet from Colten. He gazed at Colten with a glint of

Cowboy Trust

mischievousness in his dark eyes. But that was how the Italian always
looked, like he was ready to get into trouble at a moment’s notice.

Colten nodded at the guy. “Just enjoying the weather.”
Harland placed his hands on his hips as he gazed at the men still

working on the bunkhouse. He wore a pleased smile. “I told you Bear
County Construction did one hell of a job,” he said. “And from what
T-Rex tells me, some of those men will be staying on as ranch hands.”

Clayton placed a booted foot on the steps and leaned forward,

resting his arms on his knee. He used his thumb to tilt his cowboy hat
back. “Speaking of ranches, have you guys come up with a name for
your ranch yet? Things are getting down to the wire.”

Colten set his coffee mug on the banister and then crossed his

arms over his chest. “We’ve decided. We’re going to call this place
Big Bear Ranch.”

Clayton chuckled as if he found the name humorous. “I’m

surprised T-Rex agreed to that. I have a feeling he’s still wigged over
Milo giving birth.”

Colten ran his tongue over his bottom lip and then smiled. “He is,

but he’s adjusting to having bears all around him.”

“How’d you pick a name?” Harland asked.
“We just all wrote a name down, tossed them in a hat, and then T-

Rex picked one out. Voilà, we have a winner,” Colten said.

Harland chuckled as he shook his head. “And who wrote down

Big Bear?”

Colten winked at the man. “I did.”
His eyes strayed to the left when he spotted Steven bent over

slightly as he cut a piece of wood that was sitting on a sawhorse. His
ass was encased in a tight pair of Levi’s and Colten felt his cock
getting hard. He could almost taste the man’s scent as he eyed the
guy’s backside.

“Damn that smells good.”
Colten’s eyes flickered to Clayton. He felt a rumbling growl start

in his chest. Dark claws of jealousy speared into his gut. Even though

Lynn Hagen

Colten was well aware that Clayton was mated, his bear was standing
at full alert.

“Did Sam make enough bread for everyone?” Clayton asked as he

walked past Colten and up the steps. “Better yet, did he make a loaf
just for me? Because I’m about to chow down.”

Harland turned and pressed his back into the banister after

Clayton had gone inside. “So, which guy are you checking out over
there?”

Colten didn’t know Harland that well. But what harm could come

from telling him? He nodded toward Steven. “The one using the
circular saw.”

Harland winced.
Colten frowned. “What?”
“Steven is Deputy Forez’s cousin. From what Heath tells me, his

cousin is straight.”

His bear growled in denial. “How does Heath know that? Just

because he hasn’t seen Steven with any—”

“Heath said that Steven used to be married,” Harland said, “to a

female.”

Colten felt a tic start in his jaw. He hadn’t waited all his life to

find his mate only to discover the guy was straight. Fate sure knew
how to be a cruel bitch. She was once again laughing in his face. It
was bad enough his life had been a truly fucked-up place to be when
he was growing up. She wouldn’t be that shitty again, would she?
Yeah, she would.

Harland shrugged and leaned more firmly into the banister. He

wasn’t a small guy and the wood groaned under his weight. Colten
was waiting for the banister to crack. “But if he smells right to you,
then you shouldn’t let the fact that he doesn’t like men stand in your
way.”

The only thing Colten could do was give a soft, humorless

chuckle. It was just his fucking luck. He finally found what could

Cowboy Trust

possibly be his mate, and the man was straighter than the banister
Harland was leaning against.

Grinning, Harland walked up the two steps that led to the porch

and then chucked Colten on his arm. “If life was easy, we would all
die of boredom. Now, I’m about to go snatch some bread. Later.”

Sam was cooking a thick and hearty beef stew tonight. It was one

of Taylor’s favorite meals, and since Taylor was Sam’s mate, Sam did
his best to please the guy. But Colten had just lost his appetite. He
grabbed his coffee mug and took another sip as he stared at Steven
and tried to figure out a way to unstraighten the man.

Colten ignored the sounds from the kitchen as he glanced at

Steven once more. The man wiped at his brow and then turned. Their
eyes locked for a heartbeat and Colten’s bear snarled for a piece of
Steven. Every instinct he possessed demanded that he take the human.
His bear’s soul wanted to taste Steven. It wanted to breathe the guy in.

Steven nodded toward Colten and then carried his cut wood

around the corner of the bunkhouse. Loud chattering voices floated
through the screen door. Supper was on.

Colten gazed at where Steven had disappeared and vowed to

himself that, if the human really was his mate, straight or not, Steven
would be his.

Lynn Hagen

Chapter Two

“Man seems to be studying you pretty hard,” Leonardo said to

Steven while glaring at the plantation-style home. “From what I hear,
ain’t nuthin’ but a bunch of queers up in there.”

“Ain’t right,” Nate said. He was one of the hands working on the

ranch and Leonardo’s buddy. The guy was short and as thick as a
barrel. He had ginger hair and thick, bushy eyebrows. Nate reminded
Steven of a troll doll. “And now Congress is letting ’em get married.
That’s against god.”

Standing under the fading sun, Steven wasn’t sure what to say.

Colten had been watching him for two weeks now. He could feel the
burn of the man’s eyes on his back whenever Colten studied him.
Steven wasn’t sure what that was about. But he didn’t share Leonardo
and Nate’s opinion.

As a matter of fact, he thought the two were complete and utter

morons. They’d been bashing the men of the McMaster place since
he’d started working here two weeks ago.

“I think he’s got a queer eye for ya,” Nate said as he glared at

Steven. “You swing that way?”

“You two are idiots,” Steven said as he shoved his tools into his

duffel bag. He needed to gather his stuff and get out of here. Steven
already had a massive migraine from working around everyone today
and it was only getting worse the longer he listened to these two. “Just
because one of the bosses is watching doesn’t mean he’s got a hard-
on for one of us.”

Steven had heard this same song and dance on the last ranch he’d

worked on. He would never understand narrow-minded jerks. Two

Cowboy Trust

guys. Two girls. A guy and a girl. What did it matter? But it did
matter to a lot of people.

Even so, that wasn’t the reason Steven had to lay low and keep off

of everyone’s radar. He was on the run, had been for the past two
years, and having anyone take special notice of him was not a good
thing. “You two have nothing better to do than gossip about who your
bosses take to bed?”

“I think we got us a queer here, Nate,” Leonardo said as Steven

fought the waves of pain battering his head. “Better watch your ass.
Old Stevie boy might try and take it.”

Steven spun, slamming his fist into Leonardo’s nose. Blood

spurted down the front of the man’s shirt as Leonardo slapped a hand
over his face. His eyes were wide as if he couldn’t believe Steven had
hit him.

Steven felt a sharp pain in his head at the contact.
“What the fuck did you do that for?” Nate shouted.
As Steven watched the blood trickle between Leonardo’s fingers,

he instantly felt remorse. He normally didn’t come out fighting like
that. He was a peaceful man. But he had heard the two winding
themselves up. Leonardo and Nate were about as bright as a broken
bulb but Steven knew threats when he heard them.

These two had planned on making an example out of him.
Steven had cut their plan short. He stabbed a finger at both men

and there was a wealth of bitterness in his voice. “If you even think
about laying a hand on me, I’ll bury both your bodies in the last
casing and seal you in cement.”

His body vibrated with barely contained fury as he glared between

the two. Memories flashed through his mind and Steven felt the cold
chill of the labs he’d escaped from, the horrors he had tried hard to
bury. The last man who had come after him had found himself falling
off a two-hundred-foot cliff. Steven was nobody’s experiment and he
damn sure wasn’t anyone’s example. He knew he shouldn’t bring
attention to himself. That was the last thing he needed.

Lynn Hagen

But fuck if it hadn’t felt good to put Leonardo in his place.
Nate threw his hands up. “Whoa now. Ain’t nobody said nuthin’

about coming after you.”

But there was something twisted and demented in Nate’s dark-

brown eyes. They held a promise of retribution. Steven had to breathe
through his nose and out of his mouth to calm himself.

In that moment, Steven hated these two for causing him to teeter

on the edge of his control.

Nate threw his arm over Steven’s shoulder and Steven instantly

pulled away, pain rocking his body as he struggled to stay upright.
Nate didn’t seem to notice Steven’s agony or the fact that Steven had
yanked from under the man’s arm. “Why don’t we go get some beers?
I have no idea why Leonardo thought you were gay.”

As Leonardo held a handkerchief to his nose, his eyes narrowed to

tiny slits that resembled a black ravine, twisted and curved and filled
with hatred. “I think I’ll pass.” The guy shoved past Steven as he
headed toward his truck.

“Me too,” Steven said. He had seen inside Nate. Nate’s thoughts

were dark waves of disturbing images that had Steven’s stomach
rolling. Nate was not a man to be trusted. Steven thought of a quick
excuse that would get him away from the guy. “I got a hot date
tonight anyway.”

Nate wiggled his ginger brows. “Your date got a friend?”
I wouldn’t hook you up with a three-legged mule. Steven spread

his hands wide, playing nice even though his migraine was growing
worse. “Sorry, solo on this one.”

Truth be told, Steven wasn’t heading anywhere but home. But he

had led Nate to believe he was going out on a date with a woman.
That would never happen. Although Steven was gay, that wasn’t the
issue. Any kind of human contact brought him great pain. Whenever
someone touched him, it felt as if a thousand bees were stinging his
brain, like crushed glass grating across his skull.

Cowboy Trust

He tried his hardest to keep everyone out of his personal space.

Though lately, being close to people created a constant low static hum
in his head. Steven knew he was getting worse but had no clue how to
stop what was happening to him.

Nate took off, leaving Steven to clean up the day’s mess. By the

time he was finished, it had grown dark and no one was out there but
him. He had tossed all the tools into a large job box, but his own
personal tools were stored in the duffel bag over his shoulder.

He’d paid too much money for them just to leave them mixed up

with everyone else’s.

He walked the long path from the bunkhouse to where the workers

had to park. It was on the side of the newly built stables, away from
the main house. As he walked past the back porch, Colten stepped
outside.

Steven’s body reacted instantly to the sight of Colten. The man

was handsome. His body was a blatant invitation that Steven had to
stay away from. Although his attraction to the man was strong, almost
bordering on obsession, Steven didn’t want to see inside the man. He
didn’t want to know if Colten had dark secrets that would turn him
ugly in Steven’s eyes. Besides, Steven was already suffering through
the pain in his head. He didn’t need any more contact this evening.

“Is there a reason you were fighting on the job?” Colten’s voice

didn’t rise in the least, but it smoldered with heat and intensity. It
made Steven want to go to the guy, to rub himself all over Colten. Not
good.

“Come inside,” Colten said.
Steven had a sinking feeling that he was about to be fired. He

didn’t want to move again. He’d just settled into Bear County. If he
was about to get canned, he wanted to hunt Leonardo down and make
it worth it. But he knew he’d taken a risk coming here. Heath was his
cousin and the corporation that was after him would more than likely
turn their sights on this small town.

Lynn Hagen

He wasn’t close with his cousin, but Heath was the only family

Steven had aside from his parents and he didn’t even want to think
about their treacherous asses right now.

Steven had felt so lost, so isolated, and the thought of being

around family who wouldn’t betray him had drawn him to this small
town. The need to be here had been bone-deep and overwhelming.

Setting his tool bag on the porch, he walked up the steps and

headed toward the screen door. Colten grabbed him by his upper arm,
his grip powerful. Steven stared up into Colten’s eyes. The brown was
so deep that the irises almost looked black. He had a strange urge to
kiss the man.

His throat went dry as his heart began to pound behind his ribs.

Why wasn’t he being assaulted by Colten’s thoughts? Where was the
pain he always felt when someone touched him? It didn’t make any
sense to Steven. Steven normally picked up the thoughts of anyone
who came in contact, but there was total silence with Colten.

As he stood there in Colten’s grip, something fluttered in his

stomach. He began to fall into the man’s gaze. Those dark eyes pulled
him in and created a soft misty haze over his mind—a comforting
quietness that he was desperate for. Steven leaned in close. Colten
leaned closer. Their lips were inches apart before the sound of loud,
booming laugher from inside the house penetrated the haze.

Steven jerked back, blinking rapidly as he tried to swallow. But

his throat had gone dry. He yanked his arm from Colten’s grip.

Colten’s expression hadn’t changed. It was as if Steven were

being watched by a hungry predator. His dark gaze was steady on
Steven. The man smiled at him, a brief flash of confidence on his
ruggedly handsome face. Colten moved beside him, silent, calm, his
larger, heavily muscled body brushing against Steven’s.

Steven walked inside to escape the chemistry growing between

them and then stopped. The entire family was gathered around the
kitchen table. Even Rowdy, the foreman, was enjoying supper with
these guys.

Cowboy Trust

Please don’t let anyone touch me.
“Have a seat,” Tanner Rexford said as he waved toward an empty

chair. People normally didn’t invite you to their dinner table if they
were about to fire you. Did they? Steven took a seat at the very end,
hoping that no one sat in the empty chair next to him. He waited to
hear the static in his head from being around so many people,
but…nothing.

He was pretty good at remembering names. When he’d started

here two weeks ago, Rowdy had introduced Steven to everyone. It
was his cousin Heath who had gotten Steven the job. He was grateful,
but worried that he’d screwed things up by punching Leonardo.

T-Rex—as he insisted on being called—wiped his mouth with his

napkin before placing his elbows on the table and steepling his
fingers. “Mind telling me what the fight was about?”

Steven stared around the table. No one was paying him any

attention, yet he felt like all eyes were on him. Why was T-Rex
making him talk in front of all these people? There was even an infant
at the table.

He shifted in his seat and wished he hadn’t stayed late. If he

would’ve left with the others, then Steven wouldn’t be trapped here.
He’d be at Heath’s, more than likely enjoying a long, hot shower. “I’d
rather talk to you in private, if you don’t mind.”

T-Rex nodded and a bowl was placed in front of Steven. Colten

ladled a big helping of stew into his bowl and then set a slice of bread
on a small plate to the side. “Eat up,” Colten said before taking the
empty seat next to Steven.

He wanted to touch Colten, to see if the man’s thoughts were still

closed to him. It was the most calming, serene thing he’d ever
experienced. He’d been born with this curse and it had only grown
more powerful as he’d gotten older. When he’d been a small boy, the
noise and thoughts in his head had been muffled, as if spoken
underwater.

Lynn Hagen

But the older he got, the louder and clearer the thoughts of others

were. Not only that, but there were times when someone didn’t even
have to touch him and Steven could hear them. See inside them.

Working with the other hands, Steven heard it all the time. It was

like an untuned radio, the old-fashioned kind that sizzled and hissed
when between stations. But as he sat there in the kitchen with nearly a
dozen men, all was silent.

Was it because of Colten? Was he some sort of magnet that drew

the sounds away? Steven wanted to know. But every last man in this
room was ignorant of what and who he truly was. Not even Heath
knew about Steven’s curse.

Colten leaned in close. “You’re not eating.”
Steven took a bite of the stew and his eyes rolled back.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Sam said as he chuckled.

“Best compliment ever.”

Steven hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he’d taken that

first bite. He tried not to make a pig of himself as he damn near licked
the bowl clean.

Rowdy grinned. “Sam’s a damn good cook. Wouldn’t you agree,

Steven?”

Colten placed his arm over the back of Steven’s chair. Steven

stiffened and glanced around to see all eyes on him. His pulse beat
faster as he remembered his near-kiss with Colten.

“Do you want more?” Colten’s voice was so deep that the soft

sound rippled over Steven.

He shook his head as he stood and took his bowl to the sink,

feeling the need to get away from Colten. The room began to clear,
and the only people left at the table were Rowdy, T-Rex, and Colten.

Stripper—god, Steven couldn’t believe someone actually wanted

to be called that—bumped shoulders with him and Steven nearly
dropped to his knees. The brief contact left him dizzy. He saw things
he didn’t want to see, things Stripper would be mortified about if he
knew Steven had seen them. The guy had been a sniper in the military

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and had more kills than Steven could count. Stripper seemed like an
easygoing guy, but there was turmoil brewing inside the man’s head.
Steven had the impression of darkness and raw strength, of something
lethal stirring dangerously just beneath the surface.

He’d also seen a ferocious bear and didn’t understand why.
“Don’t let them intimidate you.” Stripper winked at Steven before

he clopped up a set of stairs that led to the second floor. Steven had to
catch his breath, to rein in his control and try to shut those thoughts
from his mind. He pulled in a shaky breath and turned to the
remaining men in the room.

“This is about as private as it’s gonna get,” T-Rex said. Steven

understood why Rowdy was there. The guy was his foreman. He
knew why T-Rex was there. The man was the head boss. But he
didn’t know why Colten was there. Even so, he was glad the man was
still seated in the room. Although his brush with Stripper had left him
a bit shaken, the static hadn’t bombarded him.

Colten was relaxed, his arm resting on the back of Steven’s chair.

The guy’s attention was fixed on Steven. His obsidian-colored eyes
were hot with emotion. The moment Steven’s gaze clashed with
Colten’s, the memory of their almost-kiss rose up to taunt him.

Steven cleared his throat and kept his expression guarded. “It was

a misunderstanding.”

Colten’s eyes darkened as if he knew that Steven had lied.

Rowdy’s did as well. T-Rex was watching him closely.

“We have a few more horses coming in tomorrow,” T-Rex said to

Rowdy. “And a good number of cattle will be here this weekend.
Rowdy wants you to pick five men to work with you on Saturday.”

Rowdy cut in, directing his words at Steven. “We have to brand

and tag ’em. We’ll have Brahman-Brangus cattle and Angus-
Charolais bulls. I want the fences checked and the five wells filled.
There’s a lot of work to be done.”

“So…I’m not fired?” Steven asked.
“Fired?” Colten said. “What gave you that idea?”

Lynn Hagen

“I hit a guy.”
“Just don’t do it again,” T-Rex warned. “We also have someone

bringing us the equipment we’ll need to plant coastal hay. We’ll need
hay to feed the cattle. But until we can get it planted in the spring,
we’ll be buying a lot of it.”

Just how much money did these guys have? Between the cattle,

the horses, the new structures, equipment, paying their employees,
and everything in between, these guys had to be putting out a mint.

One thing was for sure. Steven wasn’t asking Leonardo and Nate

to work with him Saturday. He didn’t need the aggravation.

Cowboy Trust

Chapter Three

Colten allowed his breath to escape in a soft, controlled stream,

clearing his lungs, clearing his mind. He followed Rowdy out of the
house and into the cold morning. It wasn’t even five yet and the men
who were supposed to help had already arrived. He could see his
breath coming out in small puffs of vapor as he paused on the back
porch.

He gazed over at the bunkhouse and remembered the conversation

he’d overheard Steven having a few days ago with those two ranch
hands. Colten had heard the accusations that Steven was gay. The
man hadn’t confirmed nor denied anything. Colten had waited,
listened, and held his breath to see if Steven would say if he was or
wasn’t. But he never did. Colten had almost come out of the kitchen
when he’d heard the underlying threat toward Steven. There had been
no mistaking the venom in Leonardo’s tone.

The muscles in his belly had knotted, hard and aching. Everything

protective and male in Colten had risen up and flooded him with an
overwhelming need to stop those two ranch hands from hurting
Steven.

But to Colten’s amazement and amusement, Steven had handled

Leonardo. Steven had been afraid he’d be fired. Little did the human
know that Colten had smiled inwardly with pride.

Without looking, Colten could feel Steven watching him from

over by the catch lot. It was Saturday and the guys were standing
where the cattle would be offloaded, tagged, and inventoried. They
had a long day ahead of them from what Rowdy had explained to
Colten. But Steven’s pale-blue gaze continued to drift over to him.

Lynn Hagen

Knowing the human was watching him made Colten’s groin

tighten to the point of pain, and a fire began to spread to his belly. His
attraction toward Steven went beyond anything Colten had ever
experienced. His body was hard and hurting and he knew he had to
have the man.

“Ready for a full day of work?” Rowdy asked.
Colten smirked. “I’m used to doing more work before five a.m.

than most do in a day. I’m no stranger to hard work.”

Rowdy nodded. “Keep forgetting you and the others have a

military background. I guess I’m already starting to see you guys as
ranchers.” There was admiration in the man’s smile.

Once again Colten felt Steven’s eyes on him. The human’s gaze

was filled with curiosity and contemplation. It was as if Steven was
trying to figure out their connection. Colten studied Steven’s features
as he walked off the porch and headed toward the human, Rowdy at
his side. A flicker of shyness and something else entered Steven’s
eyes before he lowered them, robbing Colten of their blue depths.

“You men ready for the day?” Rowdy asked the waiting hands as

he approached. There were murmured replies but Colten heard none
of them. He was concentrating solely on Steven.

“Morning.” Colten pitched his voice low, a husky invitation to hot

sex and wild times.

Steven glanced at his feet before his cool blue gaze drifted over

Colten. He wanted to crush the man to him and run his fingers
through Steven’s silky hair, to bury his face in the strands and inhale
deeply.

“Morning,” Steven replied. Colten caught the edge of something

in Steven’s voice that he couldn’t quite understand. Inner conflict.
Agitation. Denial of what the man felt. Colten couldn’t be certain. He
fought the urge to pull Steven close and taste those soft-looking lips.
His bear growled in approval, as if he was panting for a taste as well.

Colten was relentless once set on a path, and he had Steven in his

sights. The human could struggle with his emotions. That was okay.

Cowboy Trust

Colten could deal with that. But there was no way in hell Steven was
going to run from him.

“What time are the stock trailers supposed to be here?” Steven

asked.

The human already knew the answer. But Colten could tell that

Steven was trying to fill the awkward silence. The guy shuffled his
feet and jammed his hands into his front pockets as he gazed at the
end of the winding driveway.

No one had told Colten that it would be like this, a wild craving

that crawled over his skin, heated his blood, and created a hunger so
deep, so elemental he could hardly bear being close to Steven without
wanting to touch the man.

“Should be soon,” Colten answered. As if it had been spoken into

existence, the first trailer came into sight and then turned into the
driveway. The pickup pulled a long, twenty-four-foot trailer behind it
as it moved slowly toward them. There would be more throughout the
day. Rowdy had spread the deliveries out so the hands wouldn’t be
overwhelmed.

Colten winked at Steven. “Ask and I shall deliver to you.”
Steven rolled his eyes and gave a soft chuckle. The sound played

along Colten’s body like the touch of caressing fingers. “Although the
timing was perfect, I hardly doubt you have power like that. It’s
impossible.”

“Impossibility is my specialty.” Colten didn’t try to hide the

challenge in his voice. The moment Colten had laid eyes on Steven,
he knew the human was born for him. Steven might not know it, but
that didn’t matter. His emotions had never been this riotous. He could
taste cinnamon and apple cider in the back of his throat and Colten
was now aching.

As if detecting Colten’s inner turbulence, Steven cleared his throat

and looked away. He tipped his Stetson back and gazed over at the
trailer as it backed into place, the sound of squeaking brakes loud in
the quietness of the early morning.

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“Some things are impossible for a reason.” Steven’s voice was

pitched so low that Colten had to strain to hear it. But the sound
played over his skin, seeped into his pores, stroked his body until
every cell was alive with hunger, edgy and needful.

Steven began to walk away, but Colten grabbed the man’s upper

arm and stopped him from joining the others. As soon as he touched
Steven, a bolt of electricity shot through Colten’s blood. Every nerve
ending tingled. “You’re with me today.”

One of Steven’s brows rose higher than the other. He glanced at

Colten’s hand and Colten reluctantly released the man.

“I thought I was heading this up?” Steven said.
A tic started in Colten’s jaw. Instinct had made him grab Steven.

Colten hadn’t wanted the man to leave his side, but Steven was right.
Colten was stopping the cowboy from doing his job. The other hands
looked their way with curious expressions.

“You are,” Colten replied. Steven gave him one last look before

heading over to the others. Colten’s eyes dropped to Steven’s
backside, appreciating how the man’s jeans cupped his ass so nicely.
Visions of what he wanted to do Steven’s body flooded Colten’s
mind. His canines threatened to elongate as the ache continued to
pulse between his legs.

Rowdy ambled toward him. “I know it’s not my place, but you are

projecting so loudly that even I’m getting a hard-on.”

A wicked smile spread across Colten’s face as his eyes trailed

after Steven. “I’m staking my claim,” he replied gruffly.

“I get it,” Rowdy said. “But don’t forget that Steven has to work

with these guys. I’m not trying to interfere between the two of you.
All I’m asking is that you tone it down a notch while the other
humans are around. You saw how Leonardo and Nate reacted to the
thought of a gay man being interested in Steven. Do you want to
cause any more trouble for the guy?”

The thought of anyone laying a hand on his possible mate had

Colten seeing red. If anyone hurt Steven, Colten would tear that

Cowboy Trust

person limb from limb. And as much as it galled him, Colten knew
that Rowdy was right. Although Colten wanted to toss caution to the
wind, Steven wasn’t ready to. He wasn’t going to force the human to
endure any type of ridicule. Steven needed to come to terms with the
fact that they were meant to be together, but Colten wasn’t going to
push anything.

Rowdy shouted over his shoulder at the others. “Your boss needs

to learn the ropes. Show Mr. Tselner—”

“Colten,” he corrected the foreman.
Rowdy nodded. “Show Colten the life of a cowboy.”
The men whooped, pride apparent in their loud, boisterous tones.

They loved their way of life and seemed only too happy to include
Colten in it. They were all smiles and talking at once. Colten grinned
at the gaiety of their mood. If anyone was going to teach him, he
would prefer men who loved what they did.

Rowdy slapped Colten on his shoulder as a grin broke across his

face and passion for ranching sparkled in his eyes. “You’re in good
hands, boss man.”

Colten joined the others just as the gate of the trailer swung open.

The hands seemed to work with an ease that came from years of
experience. They were like a well-oiled machine as the cattle left the
trailer and the men worked to tag and inventory each one.

One of the ranch hands, Tommy, stood close to Colten and

explained things to him as the morning wore on. Colten was a quick
study. By the time the first trailer was empty, he was pretty confident
in what he was doing. Colten glanced up to see Steven watching him.
He started to wink and then stopped, remembering Rowdy’s warning.

If he couldn’t tease, tempt, and persuade Steven in front of these

men, then Colten was going to have to find a way to get the guy
alone. Even though the cool air was filled with dust, the smell of
cattle, and the odor of sweat, he could still detect Steven’s unique
scent. It was driving Colten mad to be this close but be denied the

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man. Just one kiss. That was all he wanted right now. To feel the
cowboy’s body crushed to him as Colten tasted Steven.

“All right,” Rowdy said as the trailer door was closed and latched

back into place. “I want you men to get this herd looked over before
the next one arrives. Steven”—Rowdy turned and looked at the guy—
“I want you to take Colten and saddle some horses. Once these cows
pass inspection, they’ll need to be turned out into the pasture so they
can graze.”

Colten nodded his appreciation toward Rowdy. The foreman

apparently still felt Colten’s raging need and knew that Colten needed
time alone with Steven. Rowdy smirked as Steven led Colten toward
the stables. The human didn’t say a word as they walked but Colten
felt the rising tension.

They entered the stables and everything was well lit. The horses

were in the stalls and appeared to be asleep. Did horses sleep? Colten
wasn’t sure, but they were relaxed. He knew Rowdy would keep the
other men busy, keep them away from Colten and Steven.

When Steven entered the tack room, Colten followed and closed

the door behind him. The room was long and narrow, saddles hung on
one side of the wall while ropes and bridles, and bits and other things
hung on the other. There were saddle blankets stacked neatly on a
wooden bench that ran the length of one wall.

Before Steven could turn, Colten moved up behind him, placing

his hands on Steven’s waist. Once again, he felt the lightning storm
inside of him from a single touch of the human’s body. He wanted to
lay the blankets down, create a comfortable bed, and show Steven just
how much the man affected him.

Just a kiss, he reminded himself. If Steven truly was straight, the

man was going to need a hell of a lot of coaxing before he was
anywhere near ready to lie with Colten.

“What are you doing?” Steven tried to twist free but Colten held

the man firmly in place. He didn’t answer Steven. Colten wasn’t
going to use words. He was going to show the man his intentions.

Cowboy Trust

With featherlight gentleness, Colten grazed his lips over the back of
Steven’s neck. The man stiffened and tried to pull away again.

Colten drew Steven closer until his denim-covered erection

pressed firmly into Steven’s ass. He kissed the man along his nape,
his fingers massaging Steven’s hips. The guy was a few inches shorter
than Colten, but still of average height.

“Get. Off. Of. Me.” The words were growled low and the threat

was there. Steven jerked forward and then spun, his eyes alive with
fury. It was like a living and breathing entity was in the man’s eyes,
ready to strike if Colten didn’t back down. “What the fuck do you
think you’re doing?”

Colten turned and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over

his chest. “Flirting.”

“That was more than flirting, Mr. Tselner.” Steven’s movements

were jerky as he yanked a saddle from the peg that’d been holding it
in place. “That was invading my space and I would appreciate if you
didn’t do that again.”

Colten had a feeling that the only reason Steven was trying to be

rational and restrained was because of Colten’s status over the guy. If
they’d been two regular Joes, Steven would more than likely have
tried to put Colten on his ass. The guy seemed to vibrate with anger as
he stacked what they would need close to the door.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to get the horses ready.” Steven

glanced at the pile he’d constructed. “Can you take those out to the
stalls?”

Colten grinned at Steven’s controlled but commanding tone. He

wasn’t used to having a civvy order him to do anything, let alone
someone Colten could take with one hand tied behind his back. But he
found the request humorous because he knew Steven was fighting to
regain his sense of masculinity. This guy was going to be a harder nut
to crack than Colten had originally thought. Like most men, Steven
seemed to associate anything intimate with his virility, his manhood.
And Colten had just threatened that.

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And he was going to keep pushing Steven. He was going to take

the man out of his comfort zone and push him headlong into what
they both wanted, needed.

Steven might be fighting Colten on this, but little did the human

know that Colten could smell the guy’s arousal like honey on the air.
Whether Steven admitted it or not, he was interested. Scared, but
interested.

Colten eased past Steven, their bodies rubbing together in the

most intimate of ways. Steven jerked back as if he’d been touched by
lava. Colten gave a light, low chuckle as he opened the door and
grabbed a saddle.

“Get ready for your personal space to be invaded, trampled on,

and taken in the most sensual ways possible,” Colten said low, but
loud enough for Steven to hear before he left the room.

Cowboy Trust

Chapter Four

Steven remained in the tack room a little longer as he forced air

into his body and slowed his breathing. He could still feel Colten’s
lips on his neck. He closed his eyes but all he could think about were
Colten’s hands touching him, the man’s fingers circling his hips, the
erection that had pressed into his backside.

He ached for Colten to return, to pull Steven into his arms. But a

love affair was something Steven couldn’t handle right now. His
ability had gotten worse since being hauled to the lab two years ago
and Steven feared the sanctuary he’d found around Colten would
eventually diminish and he’d be left like a raw open wound, Colten’s
thoughts driving into his mind like a knife.

It was a risk Steven wasn’t willing to take. He barely functioned

on most days. The constant chatter all around him was growing
louder, more insistent, and he knew soon it would tear his mind apart,
leaving it splintered and beyond repair.

If that happened, would Colten be caught in the crossfire? Would

his mind melt as surely as Steven’s would? He knew there was a
strong reaction between them, a growing bond. Steven couldn’t risk
Colten. He had to make Colten think that he wasn’t interested, that the
idea of being with another man disgusted him.

But in reality, Steven yearned for the closeness, the soft touches

and caress of lips that set his body on fire.

“Daydreaming?”
Colten’s deep voice cut through Steven’s thoughts, bringing him

back to his surroundings. It frightened Steven how strong his need
was to be near Colten, to be touched by the man, to hear the sound of

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his voice. It was strange how bereft he’d felt when Colten had left the
tack room.

“I’m coming.” He gathered some of the gear and walked out of

the room. Colten hadn’t moved, forcing their bodies to touch as
Steven moved past the man. A low, rumbling growl left Colten’s
chest, his eyes dark as Steven scooted past.

Colten grabbed the other saddle and they worked silently to ready

the horses. “Do you know how to ride?” Steven asked. He hadn’t seen
Colten on a horse since he’d been here and since the guy was new at
ranching, Steven wondered about his riding skills.

The man didn’t answer him. Instead, Colten swung up into his

saddle as if he’d been born to ride.

“I’m impressed.” Steven mounted and led his horse back over to

where the other men were still working. Clouds started to move in,
blocking out the warmth of the sun. The wind picked up slightly,
reminding everyone that fall was in full swing as the colorful
branches swayed in the breeze.

Steven hadn’t worked ranches his entire life. As a matter of fact,

until a few years ago, he hadn’t known anything about them. But it
was moments like this that he truly enjoyed his new profession.
Sitting in the saddle, readying for a ride, the cool wind on his cheeks
and rustling the hair that fell to just above his jawline. He could smell
the sweet scent of the prairie and he loved it—he was addicted to this
way of life.

“You can start leading them out,” Rowdy called to him as Tommy

opened the gate. The cattle began to move and Colten rode to the
other side of the herd, as if he knew what he was doing. They led
them to the open pasture, moving the cattle to the far west corner of
the property. It was a forty-minute ride on horseback and Steven
breathed in the country air as he rode.

“I’ve never been out this far,” Colten admitted. “It’s beautiful out

here, peaceful.”

Cowboy Trust

Steven hadn’t been this far out either. He’d been working on

getting the bunkhouse ready. He’d heard Rowdy talk of the hands
moving into their quarters soon. There was electricity and running
water, and other than the east side of the building needing completion,
it was ready for occupancy.

Steven hadn’t planned on moving into the bunkhouse. There were

too many men, too many chances of one of them accidently bumping
into him and sending him into a world of pain. He didn’t need the
constant static of their thoughts either. He lived with Heath and his
cousin worked nights. It was the perfect setup for Steven.

“Heath tells me you moved here a month ago,” Colten said. He

moved his horse closer as they rode the pasture. “What made you
come to Bear County?”

Fear. Isolation. A need to make sense of my chaotic situation. But

Steven could say none of that. He had to keep those thoughts to
himself. He didn’t trust anyone, not even his cousin. Lander
Corporation would pay top dollar to get him back, and greed was one
hell of a motivator to betray someone. “I needed a change of pace,”
Steven replied, giving Colten a half-truth.

Steven had hidden out in Oklahoma for a while, but he knew he

couldn’t get comfortable and stay in one place for too long. Although
he was about as far from the East Coast as he could be right now, it
didn’t seem far enough. Being halfway around the world wouldn’t
make him feel safe.

He couldn’t get involved with Colten because he didn’t need the

complication, but also because he wasn’t going to stay for very long.
He had to keep moving. Once the bunkhouse was complete, Steven
planned on leaving. He wasn’t sure where he would go, but further
west seemed like a pretty good plan.

“Old life get a little stale?” Colten inquired.
“You could say that.” Steven didn’t want to outright lie to the guy,

but protecting his freedom was his only priority right now. He’d lie to
the Pope in order to keep himself out of those sterile and cold labs.

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Vague answers were his best option. A change of subject wouldn’t
hurt either. “Why did you move here?”

The cattle seemed to settle in and began to graze. Steven knew

they needed to head back. There were more deliveries scheduled for
today and Rowdy would need them. But he liked being out here alone
with Colten, even if he’d deemed the man off-limits.

“The sheriff used to belong to our unit. We did him a favor and he

talked us into settling down here.” Steven could detect a slight note of
admiration in Colten’s voice when he spoke of the men in his unit.
“Some of us purchased businesses, and T-Rex came up with the idea
for the ranch. But Executive Bodyguards is our breadwinner and
trumps all other ventures.”

Steven frowned. “Executive Bodyguards?”
Both men turned their horses and started to head back the way

they’d come. The day was still young. Steven estimated the time to be
around one in the afternoon.

“We decided to use our military training to start up our own

business,” Colten said. “We hire ourselves out to do bodyguard work
or go on missions to extract people from hostile situations. We’ve
even tracked down wanted criminals that the law is desperate to
recapture but can’t find.”

Steven stiffened in his saddle. “You’re bounty hunters?”
“I never thought of it that way, but I guess so.” Colten shrugged.

“It’s just one aspect of the business and one we don’t use often. It’s
too time consuming.”

Steven fell silent as he mulled over what Colten had just told him.

He wondered what would happen if Lander Corporation hired
Executive Bodyguards to track him down. Would the men on the Big
Bear Ranch turn him over to the very people he was running from?
Would Colten? The possibility of the corporation turning to an
outside source for help was slim, but Steven knew he couldn’t take
that chance.

Cowboy Trust

He was going to have to leave or risk Colten betraying him. And

that thought hurt more than he cared to admit.

* * * *

Colten noticed how Steven was intently rubbing his temples by

day’s end. The man was a bit paler and he had tension lines forming
around his pale-blue eyes. The work had been hard and Colten was
exhausted himself, but there was something more going on with
Steven.

He wanted to comfort the man. Colten wanted to pull Steven into

his arms and take away any pain the man was experiencing. But he
knew the human wouldn’t welcome any touch Colten had to offer.

The day was drawing close to an end and the sun was setting.

Some of the men had already left, but Steven had stayed behind to get
the horses settled back into their stalls. Colten moved from the
archway that led into the stables and walked toward him until Steven
glanced up.

“I’ll be finished in a minute,” Steven said as he grabbed a brush

and began to stroke it over the horse Colten had ridden that day. His
hands moved gently over the shiny coat and the horse stood there as if
thoroughly enjoying the pampering. Colten’s groin tightened at the
thought of having Steven’s hands on his body, stroking him just as
gently.

Without a word, Colten grabbed the saddles that were sitting close

to the stalls, carried them into the tack room, and placed them back on
the wall. He was a bit surprised when Steven walked in behind him,
carrying the rest of the gear. After what had happened earlier, Colten
wouldn’t have believed that Steven would ever allow himself to be
trapped in a room with Colten again.

“Head hurt?” Colten asked as he turned to watch Steven work.

The guy was cut nicely, but he wasn’t thick. His shirtsleeves ended at

Lynn Hagen

the man’s biceps to show a small swell of muscle. His body was firm
but it was Steven’s backside that Colten’s eyes landed on.

Steven shrugged. “It’s already starting to ease.”
He wasn’t sure why, but Steven made it sound like having Colten

near helped. Colten was damn good at reading people, but he couldn’t
get a fix on this guy. Heath had said that his cousin was straight, but
there was no mistaking the faint scent of arousal that clung to the air
any time Colten and Steven were near each other.

When Steven started past him, Colten grabbed the man’s upper

arm. His thumb caressed the exposed skin as the scent of arousal grew
thicker. Steven was about as straight as a winding road.

“Was there something you needed?” Steven asked.
“You,” Colten whispered as he slid his hand behind the nape of

Steven’s neck and drew the man close. Their mouths fused together,
electric and hot. Colten forced himself to go slow, not to devour the
man. Steven was still stiff in his arms, yet his lips were soft and
inviting.

Colten backed the man up until Steven was pressed against the

wall. He skimmed his hand over Steven’s side and rested it on the
man’s hip. Colten suckled at Steven’s mouth, his tongue teasing, teeth
scraping gently, Steven’s mouth hot and moist.

Colten lost himself in the human, in his touch, in the way their

bodies molded together. His fingers left the nape of Steven’s neck and
traveled through the man’s soft hair. He gripped the strands and tilted
Steven’s head to expose the man’s neck.

His tongue slid over the expanse of skin as he felt Steven shudder

in his arms. The hand that was resting on Steven’s hip slid until he
was cupping the man’s ass. He began a slow, intimate massage,
deliberately, wickedly enticing the human. Colten could hear a low
moan in his ear as Steven’s body began to sway. He slid his lips over
the contours of Steven’s neck before recapturing the man’s lips.

I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t be letting him touch me so

intimately. I need to push him away but I can’t stop wanting him.

Cowboy Trust

Stunned disbelief filled Colten but he forced himself not to react.

He was kissing Steven. Their lips were pressed firmly together. Yet
he had heard…thoughts. Steven’s thoughts. How?

Colten was confused by the time he lifted his head. He stared into

the man’s pretty blue eyes and wondered how he had heard Steven’s
thoughts. That shouldn’t be possible. It shouldn’t be, but he’d heard
the man as clearly as if Steven had spoken the words aloud.

“I need to go.” Steven’s voice was breathy but the man didn’t

move. He stayed pressed into the wall as Colten’s fingers continued to
massage the man’s backside. Steven was just as hard as Colten was.
Their erections pressed into each other. Colten studied the man’s face
as he tried to figure out what Steven was. He smelled human. There
was no preternatural scent on him.

Colten’s eyes dropped to the long expanse of Steven’s neck and

he couldn’t resist. The man was a fever in his blood, a craving, an
obsession. He wanted to taste every inch of Steven’s body. Colten
wanted to be buried inside the man. He slid his hand under Steven’s
shirt to feel the warm expanse of the man’s belly. The muscles jerked
under the palm of Colten’s hand. He smoothed his hand upward, over
the flat planes of Steven’s abdomen until he reached a taut nipple.
Colten pinched the tiny bud and smiled when Steven arched his back
and gasped.

He tried to catch any more thoughts from Steven, but all had

grown quiet. Colten lifted the man’s shirt and then lapped his tongue
over the sensitive nipple. He blew a tuft of air over the wet skin and
watched as the nipple tightened even harder.

Steven began to vibrate as his hips shot forward. Colten knew

when a man was close to coming. He worked the snap of Steven’s
jeans as he licked, teased, and suckled at the man’s chest. Colten was
aching and heavy and beyond reason. All he could think about was
making Steven come. Colten didn’t even care about his own pleasure.
He was focused on Steven’s needs and the desire to watch the man go
up in flames.

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Steven’s hand landed on Colten’s wrist just as Colten lowered the

zipper.

“Don’t stop me.” Colten’s voice was desperately pleading and he

didn’t care. His bear was close to the surface and if Colten couldn’t
see the human explode with his orgasm, he just might be the one to go
up in flames instead. “I need to touch you so badly that I feel like I’m
going insane.”

Steven hesitated and then his hand fell away. He gave a slight,

almost-imperceptible nod but his eyes stayed locked on Colten’s.
There was uncertainty and a touch of fear swimming in their depths,
but Colten could also see desire.

Colten kissed Steven’s lips as he wrapped his fingers firmly

around Steven’s erection. The skin was hot and pulsing in his hand.
Colten drove his tongue deep as he used thumb to smear the pre-cum
over the head of Steven’s cock. The man hissed and squirmed as his
fingers locked into the strands of Colten’s hair.

He squeezed the shaft tightly before stroking his hand up and

down, up and down. Colten needed more. He shoved at the waistband
of Steven’s jeans, bringing them to midthigh. Steven was so lost that
he didn’t protest.

As Colten stroked the man’s shaft with one hand, he used his

other hand to slide a finger in Steven’s mouth, groaning as he watched
the man lick and suck at it. “You’re killing me,” Colten whispered.

Steven didn’t seem to hear. He worked Colten’s finger as if the

man were truly sucking Colten’s cock. Colten forced his finger out of
the man’s mouth before slipping the wet digit into the crease between
Steven’s cheeks. He took the man’s lips in a searing kiss, tightening
his hold on the man’s cock, as Colten sank his finger deep inside
Steven’s body.

Steven cried out, his head slamming into the wall as his body

arched outward. Steven’s ass squeezed Colten’s finger as hot ribbons
of cum shot from the man’s cock. He jerked and writhed, riding the

Cowboy Trust

waves of his pleasure as Colten wrung every last drop of seed from
Steven.

The man dropped to his knees so quickly that Colten’s fingers

were forced from Steven’s body. Colten slammed the palms of his
hands into the wall and gazed downward as Steven released Colten’s
heavy shaft that had been trapped behind his jeans. Steven took the
weight in his hands and then swallowed several inches into his mouth.

The move stole the very breath from Colten’s lungs. Steven

created a tight, wet suction, his tongue dancing over the head of
Colten’s cock. The man suckled and licked until Colten was vibrating
from the inside out.

He was getting head in the tack room and about to shake apart as

Steven devoured him. Colten had known that he wanted Steven, was
almost positive that Steven was his mate, but he hadn’t realized that
Steven had already burrowed himself deeply under Colten’s skin. He
was gazing at the most erotic sight he’d ever witnessed as Steven
repeatedly swallowed Colten’s cock down his throat.

His stomach somersaulted, his mind tumbled, and his balls drew

up close to his body. A flame shot through his bloodstream, wild and
hot and out of control. Colten thrust his hips forward over and over
again, and when Steven glanced up at him from under those thick
lashes, Colten lost it.

He roared as his orgasm ripped through him with a gut-wrenching

force that shook him down to his toes. His hips surged deep into
Steven’s mouth as his body clenched. Colten didn’t want the ecstasy
to end. He was staggered by the intensity of pleasure Steven had
given him.

In one fluid motion, Steven stood and slumped against the wall,

his eyelids drooping as he gasped for air. Colten placed gentle kisses
over the man’s lips, chin, and neck. “So beautiful.” Colten grazed his
fingers over the man’s jaw. “I knew being with you would be
amazing.”

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The lazy, sleepy expression cleared from Steven’s face. His eyes

snapped into a sharp focus as he straightened. He pressed his hands
into Colten’s chest and Colten swore he heard a soft static of
murmuring in his head. He tried to concentrate on the sound but it
faded too quickly.

“This was a mistake,” Steven said in a firm tone, as if waking

from some sort of dream. “I’m sorry that I gave in, but this can never
happen again.”

The man’s words were like a harsh slap across Colten’s face. He

took a step back. Steven straightened his jeans but kept his eyes
averted. His lips were swollen from sucking Colten’s cock and his
skin still held the flush of his orgasm.

When Steven tried to walk out of the room, Colten blocked the

man’s way. He cocked his head to the side, studying the human.
Colten had never had a lover try to run from him after being
pleasured. Men usually tried to cuddle and inquire about the next time
they could hook up. Steven trying to race from the room didn’t sit
well with him. “What are you running from?”

Steven jerked as his eyes grew slightly wider. “W–who said I’m

running from anything?”

Colten had his answer. Steven might be running from the strong

attraction between them, but there was more to it than that. Steven
was on the lam and Colten was determined to find out what the hell
this man had gotten himself into.

He released the human and stepped aside. But before Steven could

disappear, Colten said, “Steven?”

Turning, Steven gazed at him and Colten could see the torture in

the man’s eyes. The sight nearly tore Colten’s heart out. “Yes?”

“Why did you change your mind?” he asked, desperate to know.

“Why did you give in?”

A sad, soul-stirring smile appeared on Steven’s handsome face.

He shook his head as he walked out, but Colten caught the thought in
Steven’s mind.

Lynn Hagen

Chapter Five

Shott leaned back in the computer chair, his feet on the desk and a

sleeping princess snuggled on his wide chest. His right hand clicked
on the mouse as his left hand held Sofia in place. She was sound
asleep as he went through the expense reports for not only their
lucrative bodyguard business, but the building of the bunkhouse as
well.

“What’s wrong with this picture?” Colten asked as he strode into

the office and took a seat in front of the desk. “Oh yeah, wrong
parent. Does Legend know you’re muscling in on their kid?”

Shott smiled. “Legend and Gabe are on a date. I agreed to watch

the princess so the two could try and make another darling little cub.”

Colten’s eyebrows shot up. “They said that?”
“Hardly,” Shott replied. “What’s up?”
When Colten didn’t answer right away, Shott looked over at the

guy. Colten sat there in contemplative thought, slouched in the chair,
his elbows resting on the arms as he rubbed his fingers across his
stubbled chin.

Colten wasn’t a chatty man to begin with. He was more the type

to observe than to comment. As with the others, Shott knew about
Colten’s past, the orphanages he’d grown up in, the slums he’d
survived. The guy hadn’t had a good life, stealing to feed himself and
to stay alive.

But he’d turned out to be a good man and one hell of a soldier.

Colten was loyal to the men he considered his friends and would die
to protect every last one of them. He didn’t trust easily and it was hard

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for the guy to open up to anyone. Not that Shott wanted to
psychoanalyze the guy with a couch session.

None of them wanted that. Some of them had seen and been

through too many horrors—not only in their line of work but their
childhoods as well—to ever let a shrink analyze them.

Shott rubbed Sofia’s small back as he waited for Colten to gather

his thoughts.

“Do you still talk with Percy?”
Shott slowly nodded. Percy Whitemore was a genius when it came

to cracking codes and breaking into computers. Hacking, but Percy
frowned at the word. The guy could get into any computer in the
world undetected. He had graduated at the top of his class at MIT, but
the guy was socially awkward. His father had made him join the
marines in hopes of toughening the guy up. Percy hadn’t fit in. While
his recruiter had tried to talk him into going into the Air Force and
using his talents in other areas better suited for him, Percy had
insisted on proving something to his father.

Shott and the other men in his unit had taken Percy under their

collective wing and helped him make it through boot camp. They’d
practiced hand-to-hand combat with him, teaching Percy not only
how to fight, but to be the best damn marine he could be. He’d proven
himself, and his father had backed off. Now Percy was a prized asset
to the Pentagon. Shott kept in touch with the guy and they even
visited each other once in a while just to catch up on old times.

“Can you have him run a background check on someone?”
The question baffled Shott. Colten was pretty damn good with

computers himself. Why would he need Percy’s help? That only told
him that whatever Colten wanted was way over his head. “Are you in
some sort of trouble?”

Colten shook his head. “I think Steven is.”
Shott frowned. “The guy who had supper with us?”
Colten nodded. “I think he’s my mate and I think he’s in trouble.”

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If Colten wanted Shott to get in touch with Percy, it had to be

some pretty deep shit that Steven was involved in. They hardly ever
asked Percy for help. For one, none of the men wanted to abuse their
friendship with the guy. Two, Colten could usually solve any
technical problems they had.

“What information do you have on Steven?” Shott asked.
“Just what’s on his application. Name, address, social security

number, stuff like that.” Colten ran a finger over his eyebrow. “I’d do
it myself, but something tells me that the information I need isn’t
easily to obtain.”

“You’ll have to take her.” Shott cradled Sofia as Colten stood and

walked around the desk. He pulled the toddler into his arms with a
graceful ease and cuddled her close to his chest before sitting back
down.

Shott used a private IM chat connection that Percy had set up for

them to communicate back and forth. The man responded in seconds.
Shott opened up the folder on the men working on the ranch and
found Steven’s file. He clicked on it and then gave Percy all the
information he could find before thanking the man for helping him.

Shott sat back. “He says he’ll get back to me as soon as he finds

something.”

“Thanks.” Colten soothed his hand over the sleeping cub. Shot

still wasn’t used to calling her a cub. It was strange as hell to him. He
and T-Rex were the only humans in their unit and it sometimes
slipped his mind that he was surrounded by bear shifters. When Shott
first found out about the others, it kind of wigged him out. But after
seeing a few of them shift—which had blown his mind—Shott had
grown used to the men not being human.

“Can we keep this conversation between the two of us? I don’t

want any of the other men grilling me.”

“No problem, man,” Shott replied. He frowned when Percy IM’d

him. That was fast. It was just a quick response with a promise to e-
mail Shott the file. He read over the e-mail attachments twice to make

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sure he was reading things correctly. His eyes flickered to Colten.
“What in the hell is going on?”

Colten sat forward with a look of bewilderment on his face.

“What are you talking about?”

Shott tapped the computer screen. “I’m not sure who Steven

Chesney is, but he’s got red flags going up all around his name. His
parents are geneticists who specialize in neurobiology. Heath never
mentioned that.”

Colten appeared just as confused as Shott felt. “His parents are

scientists?”

When Legend strode into the office, Shott quickly pulled up a file

to cover what he’d been doing. “There’s my angel.” He walked over
to Colten and scooped Sofia from the guy’s arms. As if she knew her
daddy had her, Sofia woke. Legend smiled at Shott. “Thanks for
watching her.”

“Anytime,” Shott replied.
“We’ll finish this conversation later.” Colten got up and walked

out, leaving Shott to wonder what his friend had gotten himself into.

* * * *

Steven’s eyes widened as his fingers gripped the wood of the

corral. He stood there and watched as a calf ran a circle around
Colten. The rope tangled around the man as the calf ran, upending
Colten. The guy landed hard on his ass.

Although Steven had worked ranches for over two years, he’d

never had to rope a calf. But he was pretty sure it was the calf that
was supposed to be wrapped up in rope and lying on the ground.

Rowdy burst out laughing as Colten untied himself amid a slew of

curses. Steven could only stand there and watch, mesmerized as
Colten dusted off his finely shaped backside. Steven shouldn’t have
allowed the man to corner him in the tack room. But more
importantly, Steven shouldn’t have given in to the overwhelming

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temptation. Once Colten had gotten a hold of him, Steven had been
putty in the man’s hands. And now all he could do was watch Colten,
fascinated by his strength and raw power.

Colten’s body rippled with muscles as he crossed the corral. Even

though he was covered by a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, Steven
could see the sexy outline of the guy’s body. He bit his lower lip as he
remembered how Colten had tasted, how the man had pinned him to
the wall and gotten him off. Steven shivered at the memory.

Don’t fall for him. You’re not staying.
Even though Steven continually lectured himself on the reasons

why he shouldn’t get involved with Colten, he was already
anticipating being alone with the guy again. The desire was asinine,
insane, muddling his brain. Steven was a freak of nature and no man
in his right mind would consider keeping him. He didn’t think that he
was being hard on himself. Just truthful. If Colten ever found out
what he could do, the man would be appalled.

What sane man wanted to be with someone who could read their

thoughts? But then again, Colten’s mind was closed to Steven. Still…

When Colten looked his way, Steven swallowed hard. It felt like

he was swallowing his heart. And then Colten winked at Steven and
Steven felt the heat rush up his skin. God, he was blushing. How
embarrassing!

Colten chuckled and turned back around as he grabbed the rope

from Rowdy. The man was laughing at the fact that Steven was
embarrassed. Steven’s fingers dug deeper into the wood, watching as
Colten tried once more to rope the calf, to learn what Rowdy was
teaching him. Steven was supposed to be cleaning out the horses’
stalls, but he’d stopped when he’d seen what Colten was doing. He
had been drawn to the man like a bee to honey.

Shott and Stripper were out there as well, poking fun at Colten.

But Steven knew they’d have their turn soon and it would be them
who were being laughed at. He liked the fact that these guys were
trying to learn and not just leaving the ranch to the foreman and

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hands. The men who owned the ranch rolled their sleeves up and got
just as dirty as everyone else. Who couldn’t respect that?

Steven found himself climbing onto the corral fence, his heels

resting on the solid wood as he straddled the top rung and watched
Colten closely. He clenched his fingers, fixated.

Colten went down again.
This time Steven laughed. It felt good to laugh. It was a pleasure

Steven rarely indulged in. He was always too busy worrying about
anyone touching him, about the static in his head. But whenever
Colten was close, there was complete silence. It was a wondrous
relief, and Steven was greedily enjoying himself right now.

“All right, I’m done being abused.” Colten wiped himself off

again. “Torture one of the other guys,” he said to Rowdy.

Stripper and Shott teased Colten, calling him a few obscene names

as Colten walked Steven’s way. Steven’s heart thumped more wildly
in his chest the closer Colten approached. All he could think about
was how the man’s lips had felt on him, how Colten had tasted in
Steven’s mouth, of the pure pleasure he had experienced with this
man.

Being cursed, Steven had never allowed any man to get that close

to him before. He was too terrified of the repercussions. Nobody in
their right mind wanted to suffer while they had sex. Steven wasn’t a
masochist. He had diligently avoided contact as much as possible. But
with Colten, the sky seemed to be the limit.

And that was what frightened him the most. He could see himself

getting way too comfortable with this man. As much as the thought
appealed to him, Steven knew better. As soon as the bunkhouse was
finished, he was gone.

Colten slapped him on the knee. “Think it’s funny watching a man

fall on his ass?”

A smile surfaced on Steven’s face. “Yes.”
Colten turned and leaned his back into the wood of the corral. He

rested his arms on either side of him. The man was so close to Steven

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that he could smell the guy’s aftershave. It was spicy and inviting and
Steven found himself drooling over the scent.

“Then why don’t you go out there and give it a try?”
Steven shook his head. “I’m not crazy. That calf is kicking

everybody’s ass. I’m not gonna voluntarily let the little beastie put me
down.”

Colten reached up and wiped at the back of his neck. When his

arm came back down, it rested on Steven’s knee. “Sometimes you
gotta fail before you succeed.”

Steven rolled his eyes. “I fail enough, thank you very much. I’m

not adding getting bested by a calf to that list. What would the
neighbors think?”

Colten laughed and the sound wrapped around Steven like soft

silk. He closed his eyes for a moment and basked in its warmth. For
just a few seconds, Steven imagined what it would be like to belong
to this man. To wake up every morning in the guy’s arms. He wanted
a home, a family, and everything else that most people took for
granted. When he opened his eyes, Colten was gazing at him with
those mesmerizing, obsidian eyes.

A loud curse made Steven turn his head. Stripper was lying on his

back with a cloud of dust surrounding him. “Maybe you should have
roped him naked,” Colten shouted.

“Don’t give him any ideas,” Shott hollered. “I’m already going to

be sore when it’s my turn. I don’t need to be blind as well.”

“Inside joke?” Steven asked.
Colten moved his arm until his elbow rested on Steven’s

midthigh. “Nah. The guy likes to walk around naked unless on a
mission. I’m surprised he’s wearing clothes out here.”

Steven frowned. “He walks around the house naked?”
Why did a streak of jealousy grab Steven and shake him? He

didn’t know these men all that well, but Steven didn’t think that was
normal. The idea of seeing Stripper naked did not appeal to him. Did
it appeal to Colten?

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As if Colten could read his mind, he said, “Trust me. None of us

are thrilled at his long-standing habit. Legend threatened to staple
boxers to the man.” Colten shrugged. “Lately he’s confined his
nakedness to the communications room. As long as he leaves the door
closed, we’re all happy.”

Strange, but Steven had dealt with stranger. As long as there

wasn’t one big old orgy fest inside the house, Steven would leave the
subject alone. Besides, it wasn’t any of his business. Really. Steven
had no right to be upset because a naked man walked around in front
of Colten.

So why in the hell was he grinding his teeth?

Lynn Hagen

Chapter Six

The following night, Steven was in the Laundromat getting his

clothes done. He’d put the chore off until he’d had nothing clean left
to wear. This was not one of his favorite things to do and he always
procrastinated until the last minute. Thank goodness this was a
twenty-four-hour Laundromat. After work, he’d gone home and fallen
asleep. It was two in the morning and he was dumping detergent into
the washer.

What an exciting life. If it got any more thrilling, he might fall

into a coma. But Steven had had his fair share of exciting—no, more
like terrifying. Quiet and mundane were just fine with him.

Once he closed the washer lid, Steven took a seat in the back of

the Laundromat and opened a magazine he’d bought earlier at the
drugstore. He turned the pages to an article about gardening—a hobby
he had never experienced but would love to try—and began to read.

Steven stopped reading when he heard a strange snuffling noise.

Something was clicking against the tiled floor. Nails? The sound was
loud, audible above the swishing of the washer. Steven heard a grunt
and then another snuffle. He sat perfectly still, listening. His head
didn’t hurt so he knew it wasn’t human. No thoughts came to him nor
any sharp pains.

But whatever it was, he could tell it was big. His voice came out

almost steady. “Is someone there?” Steven shook off the feeling of
being one of those idiots who asked that question in a horror movie.
You know, the type where the guy goes to investigate and then gets
hacked into tiny pieces. It was late and dark out and his imagination
was going wild.

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Steven wouldn’t say that he was afraid of the dark. He just wasn’t

fond of it. Not when he was sitting in a Laundromat at two in the
morning. That would teach him to procrastinate.

The clicking sound grew louder. Steven swallowed hard. He

pressed his back against the chair as he set the magazine aside. There
was another low grunt. It was gruff and deep.

Steven’s pulse jumped in his throat and he couldn’t breathe past it

when a large, lumbering bear ambled around the set of washers. He
knew there was wildlife in this area. This was a small town
surrounded by forest. Animals were bound to wander into the town.

But a bear in a Laundromat? Steven glanced at the back door that

stood wide open. The screen door was locked. Even if he could get to
it in time, the bear would eat him before he could unlatch it. And
besides, given its sheer size, it would tear through the screen and
wood with no problem. The massive animal stared at Steven and he
felt like a mouse trapped in a cat’s gaze. Fear washed through him,
clean and sharp edged.

The bear’s fur was black, an absolute, jet black. He just stood

there staring at Steven. Not that Steven wanted the animal to come
charging after him. His voice was shrill with panic as he said, “You
really don’t want to eat me, do you?”

Steven felt stupid for talking to it. It was a bear. The thing

couldn’t understand him. He just prayed that it wasn’t hungry. Wasn’t
Steven supposed to curl into the fetal position or something? He could
have reached into his pants pocket and taken out his cell phone to call
for help, but Steven was frozen with fear, unable to move.

The bear lowered to the floor and rested its head on its front paws.

He reminded Steven of a dog sitting at someone’s feet. Bears were not
docile, but that was what this one appeared to be. Even though it was
a bit chilly in the room, Steven could feel the sweat trickling down his
back. He swore to himself that if he made it out of there alive, he
would never procrastinate on doing laundry again.

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His washer stopped but he was too terrified to get up and toss his

clothes into the dryer. Steven was too busy staring at what had to be a
four-hundred-pound bear. His clothes could wait.

“Shouldn’t you be rummaging through somebody’s trash?”
The bear lifted its head and snorted as if offended at the thought.

Steven couldn’t believe he was sitting here having a conversation
with the bear. He licked his lips and tried to swallow, but his throat
had gone dry.

Steven eased from his chair.
The bear stood.
Steven sat back down. What the hell was he going to do? Sit here.

That was what. Until the bear left, he had no choice. The animal
didn’t seem threatening—well, his size was certainly intimidating.
But he had made no aggressive moves.

“Just so you know, I don’t taste very good. There’s not a lot of

meat on me. I’m slim pickings.”

Steven gasped when it sounded like the bear was…laughing? No

way. Bears did not laugh. But there was no mistaking the glint of
humor in its eyes. Steven stared closer, cocking his head to the side.
Those were not ordinary bear eyes. They held a wealth of intelligence
in them. Not that bears weren’t smart—at least Steven had heard they
were smart—but there was something very different about this
creature.

“You’re not just any old bear, are you?” Steven did something

that he’d only done once or twice before. It had been painful, more
painful than someone touching him. But he had to know. He opened
his mind and reached inside the bear’s head.

Don’t be afraid of me.
Steven scrambled back on the chair, his fingers gripping the

plastic so hard that the edge was cutting into his skin. He was losing
his goddamn mind. That had to be the explanation. Maybe he had
fallen asleep while waiting on his load to finish and this was all some
strange dream.

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He probed at the bear’s mind again.
I’m not going to hurt you.
Oh boy. Steven gave a nervous, half-choked laugh. “I’m going

insane because I could’ve sworn you just talked to me in my head.”
And the voice had sounded just like Colten’s. Steven began to laugh
as he slid back down in his chair. His laughter was almost hysterical
as he wrapped his arms around his stomach. “And here I thought
nothing could make me go nuttier than being in that lab. I’ve finally
lost it.”

He wiped the falling tears from his eyes. “You have no idea, Mr.

Bear, how truly screwed up my life is. You have it made. I wish I had
your life instead.”

Steven curled his legs to his chest, resting his chin on his knees.

He often felt lonely, but lately it had gotten a lot worse. Except for
Heath, he had no one. And he really didn’t have his cousin. They
weren’t that close, and when Steven was home, Heath was a work,
and vice versa. “I met this guy,” he confessed to the bear, who was
still lying there watching him. “He seems great, but”—Steven
shrugged—“it’ll never work.”

The bear grunted.
“Because I can’t be around people, that’s why,” he said as if the

bear had actually asked him a question. “It’s complicated. It’s painful,
too.”

The animal got up and moved a little closer before lying back

down.

One of Steven’s eyebrows rose higher than the other. “Please

don’t make me feel like you’re not going to hurt me and then sneak
up on me like that.”

The bear snorted and then placed his paw over his eyes. Steven

smiled. He was still scared out of his mind, but he wasn’t frozen with
fear any longer. “You got a mate?” he asked. “Some chick who’s
waiting at home for you? I bet you have a litter of cubs as well.”

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The bear yawned. Steven wasn’t sure if that was a no or if the

animal was just yawning. “Okay, no more talk about family. I see it
bores you.”

Am I so lonely that I’m willing to talk to a big, ferocious bear?

Yep, he was. There was no one else he could talk to who would
understand and who Steven trusted. Not that he trusted this bear, but
he knew the bear wasn’t going to repeat anything he said.

* * * *

Colten played the dumb-animal role as he listened to Steven talk.

What had the guy meant when he said lab? What lab? Did that have
anything to do with his parents being scientists? Colten had come here
in hopes of getting Steven used to his bear. He hadn’t expected the
guy to start confessing things.

But Colten was more than willing to listen, to learn all he could

about the guy. After all, he had a strong feeling that Steven was his
mate, and Colten wanted to learn every layer there was to the human.
Steven had already shown Colten a glimpse of what he could do when
Colten was able to catch the man’s thoughts in the tack room. It
shouldn’t have surprised him when Steven confessed that it hurt to be
around people.

But it did. He also wanted to know why Steven thought it

wouldn’t work between them. But Colten couldn’t ask considering he
was in bear form and Steven had no clue who he truly was.

“I bet you’ve traveled a lot, haven’t you?” Steven asked as he

rubbed his chin back and forth over his knees. Colten wanted to shift
and pull the man into his arms, to comfort the guy. He seemed so
damn downtrodden that it was breaking Colten’s heart.

“I’ve traveled a lot, too. But not because I wanted to. You can’t

stay in one place too long if you’re on the run.”

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On the run from whom? Colten wanted to know who was after the

guy so he could help. But if he waited until later and asked Steven,
the guy would freak that Colten knew.

Steven laughed at some private joke and then shook his head. “If

my parents could see me now, they’d strap me down to that cold,
metal table and—” Steven shook his head and rubbed his hand over
his temple. “Can we change the subject?”

Colten inched nearer, feeling the need to get closer to Steven. He

didn’t want to scare the guy, but he couldn’t seem to stay away. The
more he learned about the man, the more Colten was drawn to him.
Maybe it was the fact that Colten’s early life hadn’t been all that
great, either. He felt as if he shared some kind of kinship with Steven.

“Stay in your personal space,” Steven warned. His voice wasn’t

filled with so much fear any longer. That had been Colten’s purpose
in coming here and it seemed it was working. Steven was starting to
relax around Colten’s bear.

Colten inwardly smiled.
“Too bad you weren’t declawed and trained,” Steven said. “I like

talking to you, but I’m afraid you’ll eat me if I try to take you home.
But I live with my cousin and I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t let me
bring a bear into the house. He’s allergic to cats. Would he be allergic
to bears?”

In his mind, Colten was laughing. Steven was adorable. If the guy

only knew who he was really talking to.

“I wouldn’t neuter you, though. That’s just wrong on so many

levels.” Steven shuddered.

Colten wholeheartedly agreed. His balls hurt just thinking about it.

He’d maul anyone who thought of slicing his nuts off.

Trust him.
Steven’s head rose slightly. “See, that’s what I’m talking about. I

swear I hear you in my head. I have to be projecting my feelings
because there’s no way a bear could communicate like that.” Steven’s

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legs slipped down until his feet touched the floor. He cocked his head
to the side. “Can bears communicate?”

Colten wasn’t sure how far he should go with this. He wanted to

tell Steven who he really was, but he feared the man would shut down
on him, and Colten was finding out so much about the guy.

“What’s two plus two?”
He had to quell the urge to answer. Maybe it was time he headed

out. Colten now knew that he could show Steven his bear form and
the man wouldn’t freak. He stood and was about to head to the front
door when a car pulled up at the curb. Colten hesitated. He didn’t
need any trouble.

Steven got out of his chair and glanced over the machines.

“What’s he doing here?”

Peeking around the white row of washers, Colten spotted

Leonardo. He didn’t want to leave Steven but he didn’t want that
asswipe to discover him in his bear form. Colten could play it off and
pretend to be a bear from the wild, but that would still cause him
plenty of problems. Colten turned and ambled to the back door.

Without asking, Steven inched around Colten and unlocked the

screen door. “Too bad you can’t stay and eat that guy,” Steven
murmured.

Colten wasn’t going far. He pushed the screen door open and went

out back, but stayed close to the door. If Leonardo laid a hand on
Steven, he was going to have one angry bear to deal with.

Cowboy Trust

Chapter Seven

Steven wanted to run out the back door with the bear, but he

wasn’t going to let anyone chase him away. Besides, he couldn’t
leave his laundry. Those were the only clothes he owned. He gazed
steadily at Leonardo as the man walked through the door, waiting for
the pain, for the voices and unwanted intrusions into his mind.

But there was nothing. Steven’s mind was as silent as the night.

He didn’t understand why there weren’t spikes driving into his brain
or the low hum of static.

“Awful late for laundry,” Leonardo said as he stopped walking

and leaned against a washer. “Some might say it ain’t safe to be out
this late.”

Steven kept a couple rows of washers between them. He’d learned

a few self-defense moves but nothing that would help if Leonardo
decided to let loose on him. Steven had a feeling that the brute hadn’t
fought back on the ranch because they had been at work.

There was no one here to stop the man. Even the bear had tucked

tail and run. It was just Steven and Leonardo. Steven felt something in
his mind, something echoing, but it didn’t hurt. The sound was more
like…an offended grunt?

He turned to see something moving by the back door. Steven

didn’t want to take his eyes off of Leonardo, but he stole a glance
toward the back and saw dark fur. The bear was still here?

Great. If Leonardo attacked, the bear might become aggressive

and eat them both.

“Didn’t know there was a law against doing my laundry at two in

the morning,” Steven replied. He glanced past Leonardo but the

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streets were deserted. There would be no help or witnesses coming his
way. Steven was on his own. His heart began to beat faster when he
spotted Nate walking past the big glass window. He strode casually,
as if he had all the time in the world.

Steven backed up until he felt his legs hit the chair he’d been

sitting in. Nate turned into the Laundromat, his smile wicked. A low
static hum began to whisper through his mind and it felt as if his
entire body was covered in ants. Leonardo and Nate’s combined
thoughts were coated in disease, a dense darkness that Steven felt
himself being swallowed into.

Something was wrong. Steven wasn’t sure what, but the pit of his

gut twisted into a thousand tiny knots. Having had this curse his entire
life, Steven had learned that even the most bigoted people had
something good inside of them. It might be buried deep but it was
there. The love for a child. The compassion for an elderly person. The
joy of friendship. There was always something. But these two men
were as dark and bottomless as a never-ending cavern. Nothing good
was buried deep. It just wasn’t there.

“I would truly love to wrap my fingers around your neck and stare

into your eyes as I choke the life out of you,” Leonardo said. His
words filled the room with a soft burning and Steven knew with a
surety that left no room for question that the man was telling the truth.
Leonardo would probably get off on watching the life bleed from
Steven’s eyes.

Nate moved around the washers to block Steven from using the

back exit. He was being boxed in. The humming grew louder. Steven
forced himself not to grab his head as the pain began to mount. But
strange swirls began to dance in front of his eyes. The pressure was
becoming too much.

Leonardo moved so fast that one minute he was close to the front

of the Laundromat and then he was standing right in front of Steven.
Steven blinked and tried to focus as the ground swayed beneath his

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feet. It was as if there were large magnets on either side of him and
Steven was caught in the magnetic field.

“You are damn lucky the contract on your head states that you are

not allowed to be harmed.” Leonardo’s voice was a snarl. “Or I would
repay you for what you did to me.”

Contract? Steven tried to focus, tried to understand what Leonardo

was saying. But a terrifying migraine was clawing at his brain. Nate
reached out and grabbed him. Steven screamed. He tried to pull free
but Nate had a tight hold on him.

And then Leonardo grabbed him. The pain. The all-consuming

pain. The images drove into Steven’s mind. Leonardo and Nate hadn’t
always been ranch hands. These two men worked for Doctors Harold
and Lily Chesney. Steven’s parents had paid each man a substantial
amount to get their experiment back. Not their son. Their experiment.

Steven went limp. The images, voices, and pain were too much.

His mind couldn’t handle the onslaught. It was fracturing. And then
everything went silent. At first Steven thought he had passed out. But
he was still wide awake. Yet the garbled mess in his head was gone.

He heard a loud roar. It sounded inhuman and close. Leonardo and

Nate released Steven. He hit the floor hard. The cool linoleum was
welcome feeling against his heated skin. Steven curled into a ball,
shivering. He barely registered Leonardo and Nate racing out the back
door. His body hurt. His skin felt as if a thousand bees were stinging
him at once.

Steven didn’t care in that moment if he was crying. It didn’t

matter to him that he was shaking so badly that his muscles began to
spasm. He didn’t even register when the bear appeared before him
and then suddenly Colten was there. The man was naked as he knelt
next to Steven, making soothing, shushing sounds.

“I’m going to get you out of here.” Colten’s voice was little more

than a whisper. His dark eyes were filled with agony as he continued
to make those comforting sounds. “Will it hurt if I touch you?”

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Steven couldn’t form the words to respond. All he could do was

hug himself tighter, his knees pressed hard into his chest. The tears
continued to flow as his teeth chattered loudly.

Colten cursed and then said, “I’m so sorry if this hurts you.” The

man scooped him up into his arms, pressing Steven into his warm,
solid chest. Steven burrowed deep, trying to steal the man’s heat. He
was so cold. So goddamn cold.

Steven heard a door slam and tried to burrow inside Colten’s

body. He didn’t want Leonardo or Nate to return. All he wanted to do
was go home.

“Easy, baby. It’s just Shott. No one is going to hurt you.”
Easing back slightly, Steven looked around Colten to see Shott

stride into the Laundromat. He had a look of purpose in his eyes as he
headed toward them. Steven ducked back down and buried his face
into Colten’s bare chest.

“Is he hurt?” Shott’s voice was filled with vehemence.
“I’m not sure,” Colten replied. “By the time I called you and then

shifted back and made my way through the front door, they were both
grabbing him.” Colten shook his head. “It didn’t look like they were
doing anything to him, but Steven was screaming as if they were
stabbing him.”

“It has to be touch then,” Shott said. “Contact isn’t good for

Steven.”

“But he doesn’t seem to hurt when I touch him,” Colten said. “He

has to be my mate. There’s no other explanation.”

Steven lay there listening, still in agony, still feeling as if his

nerves had been stretched beyond their capacity. He was tired. So
damn tired. He could barely keep his eyes open even though he was in
tremendous pain.

“Let’s get him home,” Shott said. “We can assess him there.”
“Grab his stuff from the washer,” Colten said.
“I’ll grab one of the other guys and pick up your truck once we

get Steven back to the house,” Shott said.

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Colten nodded as he walked outside with Steven still in his arms.

Through his muddled mind, Steven wondered how in the hell the man
could carry him. But that was the least of his concerns. His parents
had not only put a contract out on him, but he’d been found.

Steven had to get out of town before Leonardo and Nate tried

again.

* * * *

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” the doctor said as he shook his

head. “Strangest thing ever. As far as his physical health, he’s fine.
I’m sorry, Colten. But the brain isn’t my area of expertise. I would
recommend rest”—he shrugged—“but I have no idea what he really
needs.”

Colten thanked the doctor and then walked into his bedroom,

closing the door quietly behind him. Steven was lying in Colten’s bed,
curled up just like he’d been in the Laundromat. His eyes were closed
and the guy was still shaking, although it had eased some.

Colten would never understand some men’s instincts to victimize

and torture. He knew there were moments in life where violence was
necessary to save lives. But going after innocent people was
something Colten could never comprehend. That was as foreign to
him as the ability to breathe underwater.

In his life and line of work, Colten had slowly come to the

realization that there were people who added goodness to the world
and people who lived to destroy it. In his mind, the decision to protect
an innocent man like Steven from psychopaths like Leonardo and
Nate was as clear as black and white—a simple choice.

Crawling into the bed, Colten pulled Steven into his arms and held

him. He used his feet to toss the blankets up to him and then covered
them both. Steven was cold to the touch and Colten was worried
about the man. He wasn’t sure what had happened when Leonardo
and Nate had touched Steven, but it hadn’t been good.

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When Steven stirred and then opened those beautiful pale-blue

eyes, Colten became lost in them. They were like blue fire as Steven
lay there watching Colten. The moment stretched on and Colten
wondered what Steven was thinking. He tried to get back into the
guy’s mind, but it was closed to him.

“That bear was you,” Steven stated. He shook his head slightly.

“How?”

“I told you impossibility was my specialty,” Colten replied. “I can

shift into a bear just like you can read people’s minds. Unexplainable
but still possible.”

“I can’t read yours,” Steven confessed. Colten grew quiet, his

gaze steady on Steven’s face. One of Stephen’s eyebrows was arched
perfectly. “But I heard you in my head when you were a bear.”

“And I’ve caught one of your thoughts here and there,” Colten

said. “Mind telling me how all this works?”

Steven uncurled his body and turned away. When he tried to get

up, Colten grabbed the man’s wrist. “I think it’s time you stop
running, Steven.”

He shook Colten’s hand off and stood. The guy looked so lost, so

alone. Colten knew those feelings all too well. They had been his
constant companions when he was growing up. He slipped from the
bed and walked around until he was standing in front of Steven.

“You don’t have to be alone anymore,” Colten said as he reached

out and slid their fingers together. “But I need to know who you’re
running from.”

“It’s not that easy,” Steven quietly argued. “What was done to me,

the people after me, it’s all too complicated and dangerous.”

Colten squeezed the man’s fingers before he pulled Steven even

closer. He tilted the man’s head back until they were staring into each
other’s eyes. “I specialize in danger. I’ve lived it, worked it, have
been in more dangerous situations than I care to count.”

Hope filled Steven’s eyes. For a moment, Colten thought the man

would confess all. But Steven shook his head and turned away. “I

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have to leave. I brought my problems to this ranch and the last thing I
want to do is get you or your friends involved.”

Colten gritted his teeth at the man’s stubbornness. “You can’t run

for the rest of your life. Sooner or later you’re going to have to take a
stand. Why not take it now when you have me and everyone else in
this house willing to stand at your back?”

Steven yanked his hand away from Colten’s and paced across the

room. He tunneled his hands through his autumn-colored hair in an
aggravated gesture. “Don’t you get it? There’s a baby in this house.
Your friends don’t have a stake in this and I’m not willing to
jeopardize their lives.” Steven paced closer. “I’m not willing to
jeopardize your life.”

“You’re not leaving,” Colten stated bluntly.
Steven’s eyes widened. “You can’t force me to stay here. That’s

kidnapping.”

“Then call the cops.”
Colten watched as Steven’s eyes darted toward the door. “I don’t

get you, Colten. Why do you care? You don’t even know me. Why
would you risk helping me?”

“Because I was once like you.”
Steven let go of a bitter laugh. “I highly doubt that. You have no

idea what I’ve been through or why I’m willing to run for the rest of
my life.”

“You’re right,” Colten said with a quick nod. “I have no idea what

you’ve been through. But emotionally, we’re not that different. You
long to belong somewhere. Something deep inside of you is craving
for someone to say that they care.”

Steven bit his lip and turned away. Colten didn’t like to think

about his past, of his life as a street urchin. The lonely nights. The
hunger pains. The prayers he had sent up for a better life, for just one
person to care about him. Even after joining the service and meeting
the men he now called friends, there was still a part of Colten that was

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missing. There was still a part of him that yearned for someone he
could call his own.

He moved closer to Steven. “You wish that just one person would

give a rat’s ass about you.”

Steven’s face morphed into anger as he balled his fists at his sides.

“Shut up!”

Yes, there was anger on the man’s face. But Colten could also see

the heartache and despair etched in fine lines. “Why won’t you let one
person in?”

“Don’t compare yourself to me,” Steven said furiously. “Don’t

you dare think that you can relate to me. When your very own parents
have betrayed you, then we can talk.”

Colten gave a low, humorless chuckle. “Sweetheart, how the fuck

do you think I ended up on the streets at the age of ten? My father was
a career criminal and didn’t have time for me. My mother’s new
husband didn’t want to have children. She suddenly forgot she had a
son who loved her with all his heart. I came home one day after
school to an empty apartment.” Colten gritted his teeth at the
memories. “Is that betrayal enough for you?”

“I—” Steven shook his head. “How could you trust anyone after

that?”

“You meet a group of friends who refuse to let you push them

away. You meet people who love every fucked-up thing about you.”
Colten sighed. “You take the scariest step in your life, Steven.”

“Which is?” Steven asked.
Colten closed the distance and pulled Steven into his arms. “You

open yourself up and give your trust to another person.”

“Why doesn’t it hurt when you touch me?” Steven whispered as

Colten enveloped the man. “My mind is quiet when you’re around.”

Colten winked. “Because you…me…us—we were meant to be.”

He placed his hand over Steven’s heart. “Because I belong in here.”

Cowboy Trust

Steven used the palm of his hand to wipe a stray tear away.

“Please don’t be lying to me. I don’t think I can take it if one more
person betrays me.”

“I’ve tasted the bitterness of betrayal.” Colten coaxed Steven to

rest his head against Colten’s chest. “I would never make you drink
from that cup.”

Steven slid his arms around Colten’s waist and held onto him so

tightly that Colten felt as if he had found that missing piece of
himself. He breathed Steven in. Cinnamon and apple cider. The scent
was warm, inviting, and made Colten feel as if, for the first time in his
life, belonging to someone special was within his reach.

Lynn Hagen

Chapter Eight

The sensation of having Colten’s body wrapped around him was

like nothing Steven had ever experienced before. They might have
fooled around in the stables, but this was different. It felt different.
Steven wanted to trust Colten. He wanted to believe that Colten was
telling him the truth.

A child should be able to trust his or her parents. They were the

anchor, the rock, the safety net that no child should be without. If you
couldn’t trust your parents, then who could you trust? In Steven’s
mind, being hurt by a parent was the worst sort of betrayal.

And here Colten stood, asking for something Steven couldn’t even

give his own mother and father. Colten was a virtual stranger. Yet, he
didn’t feel like one. He calmed Steven’s mind and gave him a peace
he hadn’t felt his entire life.

“I’m afraid,” Steven admitted.
“I know,” Colten replied. “But I trusted you enough to let you see

my bear. Can you trust me with your secret?”

Steven felt the heat under his skin as he leaned back and narrowed

his eyes at Colten. “I poured my heart out to you.”

Colten chuckled as he ran his fingers through Steven’s hair. The

touch was light but it set off an electrical storm that raced through
Steven’s blood and set him on fire.

“Trust me. I have no mate or cubs and you are not slim pickings.”

Colten’s other hand began to slide down Steven’s back and lingered
just above his backside. “As far as you not tasting good”—Colten
pressed a kiss to Steven’s neck—“I’ll be the judge of that.”

Cowboy Trust

Colten kissed the skin below Steven’s ear. It was a mere brush of

his lips, but Steven felt branded. The man turned his head and took
possession of Steven’s mouth. Steven traced the definition of Colten’s
muscles, sliding his hands over the man’s body as if Colten belonged
to him.

“I do,” Colten said into Steven’s mouth. “I belong to you mind,

body, and soul.”

Steven didn’t ask how the man knew what he was thinking. He

just smiled at the thought as Colten plunged his tongue into Steven’s
mouth. Steven let go of a long moan as Colten slowly lowered him to
the carpet. When Colten pulled his head back, the man’s eyes were
clouded with passion.

“I want you, Steven,” Colten said. “But I can’t take you until you

know everything.”

“I don’t understand,” Steven said as he tried to focus on the

conversation and not on how good Colten felt under his hands. He
didn’t want to talk. Steven wanted them both naked so he could feel
Colten’s body sliding over his, taking possession of him.

But Colten didn’t answer him. His hand was sliding down

Steven’s side as Steven caught images of the little girl, Sophia. He
didn’t understand until he saw another image of Gabe…pregnant?
Steven pulled back, his eyes searching Colten’s.

Colten brushed Steven’s hair aside and Steven swore he saw

yearning in those obsidian depths. This man longed for a family. He
wanted Steven to give him one. Steven tried to swallow but his throat
had gone dry. “How is that even possible?”

Colten brushed his hand over Steven’s flat abdomen. “I want to

see you swollen with my child. I want a life with you, Steven. A life
that includes children, laughter, and love.”

“Whoa.” Steven pressed his hands into Colten’s chest. “Put the

brakes on, buddy. I think we’re moving a little too fast here.”

Steven shuddered when Colten nipped his chin. “Have you ever

heard of mates?”

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Steven nodded.
Dipping his head, Colten nuzzled Steven’s neck and inhaled

deeply. “You smell like cinnamon and apple cider.”

“And I think you’ve been drinking some spiked cider.” Steven

gazed up at Colten who was hovering over him. He wanted
desperately to pull the man down to him, but Colten had just delivered
an eye-opening blow.

Colten kissed his jaw. “When a bear mates, it’s for life. We can’t

go on scent alone. Sometimes it’s misleading. But my bear wants you
desperately. I want you.”

“And”—Steven shook his head, unsure if he believed the earlier

vision—“the pregnancy thing?”

Colten reached between them and squeezed Steven’s erection.

Steven gasped as his body arched into the man. His pulse was racing,
his cock was throbbing, and all Steven wanted was to feel Colten
inside of him.

“Pregnancy is the only sure way to know if you are my mate,”

Colten answered. He pressed his lips to each of Steven’s eyelids. “I
would never betray or abandon you. We both know what that’s like.
Give me a child and I’ll give you a life of happiness.”

“But you can’t promise that to me. No one can promise a happy

life,” Steven argued, although Colten was offering Steven the one
thing he was desperate for. All he wanted was normalcy—to live a
life without pain, without seeing others’ thoughts and memories. The
only time his mind was quiet was when he was with Colten.

Colten growled and pinned Steven’s hands above his head. “I told

you, sweetheart. Impossibility is my specialty. All couples have
problems. But I can guarantee you’ll never regret being with me.”

Steven searched the man’s face and saw nothing but stark truth.

Whether Colten could deliver or not, the man wholeheartedly
believed in what he was saying. But Steven was terrified to put such
faith in one man.

“Just one person,” Colten said. “Just trust one person.”

Cowboy Trust

He had to be a fool, but he believed Colten. Steven honest-to-

goodness believed the man. He desperately wanted what Colten was
offering. Steven didn’t want to run anymore. He didn’t want to look
over his shoulder for the rest of his life. He wanted to set down roots
and live a simple life.

With a fortifying breath, Steven said, “I trust you.”
Colten’s dark eyes seemed to glow as a smile spread across his

face. The man’s fingers slid over Steven’s abdomen. “You’ll never
regret it.”

Steven prayed that he never did. He wrapped his legs around

Colten’s thick waist and ground his erection into the man’s stomach.
His skin was ultrasensitive, his body begging for release.

Hands whispered over his sides before Colten grabbed the hem of

his shirt and pulled it over Steven’s head. He tossed the material
aside. Steven did the same, pulling Colten’s shirt free. Steven
explored the man’s skin with his hands. He traced them over Colten’s
biceps, broad shoulders, strong pecs, and rigid abdomen.

“That’s right, baby. Get to know every inch of my body.” Colten’s

hands were on either side of Steven’s head. The man didn’t move.
Steven could feel Colten trembling beneath his fingers, but the guy
just hovered above him, letting Steven take his time. He sucked in his
bottom lip and grinned as he pinched both of Colten’s nipples.

Colten hissed.
The smile slid from Steven’s face as he watched how Colten

reacted to him. “Colten—”

Colten shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”
Steven wasn’t sure if the guy was reading his mind again. He

wanted to tell Colten that he had never been with anyone else. How
could he, when being near anyone was too painful? But Colten didn’t
seem to care about his inexperience. It had surprised Steven that he’d
gotten the man off in the stables. That had been his first time sucking
anyone’s cock.

“You’re thinking too damn much,” Colten said with a growl.

Lynn Hagen

Steven burst out laughing. “That’s the first time I’ve been accused

of that.”

“You’re beautiful when you laugh,” Colten said. He was staring at

Steven with such reverence that Steven squirmed.

“Aren’t we supposed be having sex?” Steven said, trying to

change the subject because he was getting very uncomfortable with
Colten’s flattering attention.

“No,” Colten said as he kissed the tip of Steven’s nose. “I’m

mating you. And we aren’t going to rush one damn minute of this.”

Steven’s stomach jumped when Colten reached between them and

unsnapped Steven’s jeans, lowering the zipper. The man reared back
and then worked the jeans off of Steven’s body. He lay there naked,
feeling vulnerable. Steven had a wild urge to cover himself.

“Don’t you dare,” Colten warned. “You’re breathtaking.”
Steven narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know how you keep reading

my thoughts, but get out of my head, buddy.”

“Never.” Colten rose to his feet and then slid his pants from his

body. He stood there as naked as the day he was born. He was
glorious and reminded Steven of a warrior. Colten was ripped with
muscles, his body nicely tanned.

Steven rolled to his knees, pressed his hands into Colten’s hard

thighs, and nuzzled the man’s balls. He licked and lapped and
moaned. Colten slid his hands through Steven’s hair as he spread his
legs wider.

“Every inch,” Colten growled. Steven licked the man’s inner

thighs and then pressed his tongue behind Colten’s balls, tasting the
patch of skin as if he were a starving man. He inhaled the musky scent
and groaned at just how good Colten smelled. Manly. There was no
mistaking that scent and he wanted to bathe in it.

Colten’s fingers tightened in Steven’s hair as Steven palmed the

man’s sac and moved the man’s balls aside so he could push further.
His tongue rimmed Colten’s tight puckered hole. He could hear the
man groaning as the tip of Steven’s tongue played.

Cowboy Trust

If the man wanted Steven to learn every inch of his body, then that

was what Steven was going to do. Praying Colten didn’t kick his ass,
Steven wet one of his fingers and slid it in to the first knuckle.

Colten stiffened.
Pulling back, Steven swallowed Colten’s cock. He sucked at the

head and lapped at the pronounced veins. All the while, his finger
moved in and out of Colten’s ass with short, light thrusts.

Chancing a glance, Steven looked up to see Colten watching him.

Steven moaned around the man’s shaft as he slid his finger in deeper.
He could see confusion in Colten’s eyes. His cock hadn’t softened but
he stood stock-still.

Steven swallowed the man down to the root. He gagged, pulled

back, and then swallowed Colten again. Unsure of what he was doing,
Steven crooked his finger and Colten shouted, his seed spurting down
Steven’s throat. As hard as he tried, Steven couldn’t take it all. He
coughed and pulled back, feeling Colten’s seed escaping his mouth.

Colten jerked free, his cock slipping out of Steven’s mouth,

Steven’s finger slipping out of the man’s ass. The guy took a step
back and cocked his head to the side, studying Steven intently.

“I’m sorry.” Steven lowered his head as he wiped at his mouth. “I

promise never to do that again.”

Colten was still staring at him strangely. “I’ve just never—” The

man shook his head.

Steven shrugged. “Join the club. I’ve never had anything in my

ass either.”

Colten moved at lightning speed, taking Steven down to the

carpet. He pinned Steven, his eyes glowing as he snarled.

“Trust.” Steven said that one word. The same word Colten had

thrown at him. “It works both ways.”

Steven yelped when Colten flipped him onto his stomach. He bent

close and said into Steven’s ear, “I trust you. But that will never
happen.”

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Bucking, Steven tried to throw the man off. “Fine, but you don’t

have to be an asshole about it.”

“I’m not being—” Colten eased back. Steven turned over.
“Yes, you are.” Steven pulled himself into a sitting position. “You

were ready to take my head off because you felt I was undermining
your manhood. Do you think it’s easy for me? I put a dick in my
mouth. Tell me that’s not emasculating. Yet, behind closed doors, I’m
willing to give you whatever you want.” He scowled at Colten. “Fuck
you.”

Pushing to his feet, Steven reached for his pants. Colten grabbed

his wrist. Steven curled his lip. “Get off of me.”

Colten rose to his full height, towering over Steven. “You’re not

going anywhere.”

Steven cocked his arm back and slugged Colten in his jaw. The

man’s head snapped back and he stared at Steven in shock. “You
barbaric, double-standard-having, seven-ways-from-Sunday asshole.
If you think for one second that I’m going to stand here and let you
lord over me, you have another thing coming.”

“You’re impossible!”
“And you’re a scared little boy.” Steven shoved his legs into his

pants. “I should have known better than to trust anyone.”

“Wait.” Colten let out a long breath as he ran his hands over his

dark hair. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m creating a double standard.
But that’s not something I want.”

Steven knew what Colten was referring to. Being fucked.
“Then that’s all you had to say to me,” Steven replied. “I’m fine

with putting my finger in your ass to get you off. And don’t lie to me
and say you didn’t like it. But it doesn’t need to be more than that. I
have no fucking clue what I’m doing and you were the one that told
me to learn your body. You like one finger. Fine. You don’t want it to
go any further than that. Fine. It’s called experimenting, getting to
know each other’s likes and dislikes. If you can’t handle that, then we
don’t belong together.”

Cowboy Trust

“I’m sorry,” Colten repeated. “You just took me by surprise.”
Steven burst out laughing. “Didn’t know you would like that,

huh?”

“Hell no.” Colten smiled. “But fingers only.”
“I’ll corrupt you yet,” Steven said lightheartedly.
One of Colten’s brows rose higher than the other. “I highly doubt

that. Now get those damn pants off.”

“What’s the magic word?”
Steven could see Colten’s jaw working back and forth. “Please.”
“Are all bears so uptight?” Steven asked as he slid his pants off.

“Or is it just you?”

Colten closed the distance and wrapped his fingers around

Steven’s half-hard cock. “Are we going to argue all night or are you
going to let me mate you?”

“Let me think about that,” Steven said. He was panting. Colten’s

fingers felt so good circled around his hardening cock. The man was
making it impossible for Steven to think.

“Take all the time you need.” Colten’s smile was wicked as he

moved his hand at a leisurely pace, stroking Steven.

“Do you at least suck dick?” Steven asked. He wasn’t sure where

his bravado was coming from, but he wanted to know what Colten
was willing to do. If the man said no, Steven just might shoot the guy.

Colten’s thumb smoothed over the head of Steven’s erection as he

said, “Oh, yeah. And I’m very good at it.”

Steven shook his head. “You are one very confused man.”
“I’ll own that.” Colten moved Steven backward until his legs

bumped into the bed. “Now lie down so I can show you exactly what
this magical tongue can do.”

Steven wasn’t going to argue with that. He’d be a complete idiot

not to shut up and get his ass on the bed. But before he could turn
around, Colten pushed him back. Steven landed on his back, legs
dangling over the edge.

Lynn Hagen

Colten dropped to his knees and took Steven all the way down his

throat. Steven’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as his fingers
curled into the blanket. His hips jerked and he felt as if he’d died and
gone to heaven. Never in his life had he experienced anything so
wondrous, so mind numbing, or so toe curling.

“C–C–Colten.” Steven’s hips jerked forward as he arched his

back. His entire body was aflame. He was being consumed. And then
he felt Colten’s thick fingers thrust into his body. Steven was shaking.
His body was trembling fiercely. Colten pushed Steven’s legs further
apart as he worked Steven’s body like a finely tuned instrument.

He felt the buildup as his balls pulled close to his body. Colten

was sucking him, licking, and playing with Steven’s sac. The guy was
humming! The vibration sang throughout Steven’s body. “Oh
god…Oh, Colten…Oh!” Steven shattered. Colten thrust his fingers
faster and deeper. Flames shot through Steven’s bloodstream, wild
and hot and out of control. Steven nearly came off the bed as Colten’s
dangerous mouth swept Steven into another world.

Steven began to pant and jerk and, goddamn, the man had been

telling the truth. His tongue was pure magic.

Colten eased back and kissed his way up Steven’s groin,

abdomen, chest, and then he met Steven’s lips. Steven wrapped his
legs around the man as he cupped Colten’s head and kissed the man
with an almost animalist urgency.

As they devoured one another, Steven felt something cool and wet

circling around his hole. Colten’s fingers. The man was lubing him.
Steven’s fingers gripped Colten’s hair as the man pressed the blunt
head of his cock against Steven’s body.

“Breathe,” Colten whispered into his mouth. Steven nodded as the

head of Colten’s cock popped past the ring of muscle. Colten
continued to work his way in, inching slowly, kissing Steven as if he
were the only thing that mattered.

Cowboy Trust

When Colten finally bottomed out, Steven was gasping for air.

Their bodies began to move in a rhythm and Steven’s pain morphed
into pleasure. He clung to Colten as Colten rocked inside of him.

“How could you not want this?” Steven groaned the words. “It

feels…it’s…god.”

Colten gave a low growl as he suckled at Steven’s neck. He thrust

his cock deeper. The man didn’t answer him and Steven wasn’t going
to push him. Hell no. He was too busy falling apart in the man’s arms.
Colten grabbed Steven behind his knees and spread his legs wider. He
pulled back and his eyes dropped to where they were joined.

Steven gasped. “Do you feel that?”
“It’s like—” Colten shook his head as sweat began to gather over

his brows. “I’m in your head, in you.”

Steven had never felt anything like this before. The bridge

between their minds was fully open. Absolutely everything was laid
bare to him. He saw Colten. Really saw him. And he knew Colten
could see him. Their lives, trials and tribulations, every hidden secret
were exposed to each other. He wouldn’t have to tell Colten what
he’d gone through. The man could see it.

Colten dropped and gathered Steven into his arms. “Never again.

They’ll never do that to you again.”

Don’t. Just make love to me. I don’t want you to see the ugliness

of my life.

“It doesn’t matter to me,” Colten said. “None of it was your fault,

baby. None of it.”

Steven writhed beneath the man. Colten began to pound into him,

his cock driving deeper. Just when Steven thought he couldn’t handle
it any longer, Colten bit into his shoulder. Steven shouted, ribbons of
seed erupting from his cock. He felt as if he were spiraling, tumbling,
falling into an abyss.

Colten thrust a few more times, stiffened, and then growled

around Steven’s shoulder. The man pulled his teeth free and then
began to lick at the wound. Steven collapsed, breathing raggedly.

Cowboy Trust

Chapter Nine

Sparrow leaned against his patrol car, arms crossed, listening to

Colten tell him about two of his ranch hands. And here he thought
things would simmer down once those riffraff from Lamont’s Trailer
Heaven had been disbanded. But having a peaceful town wasn’t
always easy. Sparrow knew this. There were going to be times when
he and his friends—along with his deputies—were going to have to
fight to maintain the way of life here in Bear County.

It was nothing new to him. “And they haven’t shown up for work

since then?” Sparrow asked.

Colten shook his head as he stood by Sparrow’s car. “No. But my

gut tells me they haven’t left town.”

“But you don’t want to tell me why Steven has a contract out on

him,” Sparrow stated.

“I’d rather not,” Colten replied. “I promise you that it’s not for

anything he’s done wrong, Sparrow. He’s not a criminal.”

He’d known Colten for close to a decade. Sparrow had gotten

drunk with the man, puked with the man, gone on countless missions
with Colten. He trusted him at his word. The guy was quiet most of
the time, kept to himself, but Sparrow knew Colten’s past, as did all
the other men from their unit. “I’ll keep my eye out for them on
patrol.”

“I’m only telling you about them,” Colten said, “because if they

come after Steven, I’m not holding back.”

Sparrow nodded. “Understood.”
Which meant if either Leonardo or Nate tried to hurt Steven,

Colten would kill them. Before Sparrow had mated Josh and Clayton,

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he would have warned Colten to let the law handle this. But he knew
that the bear shifters lived by their own set of rules. Things were
pretty cut and dry for their kind. Leave me and mine alone or you’ll
feel my wrath.

Sparrow had come to think the same way after Kane had been

born. He’d kill anyone who tried to hurt his son or either of his mates.
“Give me the courtesy of a heads-up,” Sparrow said.

Colten nodded as he looked up at his home. Sparrow could see the

guy looking toward the second floor of the plantation-style home and
knew the guy’s mind was with Steven. “Heath asked about his
cousin.”

“What’d you tell him?” Colten asked. “I’m not sure he’s aware of

Steven’s situation.”

“He’s family,” Sparrow pointed out. “You think maybe he has a

right to know his cousin is in danger?”

He knew that Heath spoke highly of his cousin and worried about

Steven. Sparrow had heard his deputy boast about Steven on more
than one occasion. Heath wasn’t a bear shifter, but he was aware they
existed. Being law enforcement in a town with bear shifters, it was
bound to come out.

Sparrow had to give Heath credit. The guy hadn’t freaked out the

way Sparrow had when he found out. But then again, Sparrow had
seen a man giving birth. Sparrow almost chuckled to himself at the
memory of how he’d run as fast as he could from the Triple-B Ranch.
Thank goodness Clayton had finally come after him or he would have
never known what it was like to have such a beautiful relationship
with both Josh and Clayton, or how much he loved being a father.

Colten shook his head. “Until I know who I can trust, I’d rather

keep this between me and you.”

“And the men at Big Bear Ranch,” Sparrow reminded him. “By

the way, love the name. Heard it was you who came up with it.”

“I thought it was crafty,” Colten admitted with a smile. “T-Rex

and Rowdy ordered the large sign to put over the entrance to the

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drive.” Colten nodded toward the end of the driveway. “They want to
erect a large steel archway so it feels official when people visit.”

Sparrow chuckled. “T-Rex doesn’t believe in doing things half-

assed.”

“He’s a good leader,” Colten said. “I trust him to do things right

for this ranch.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Sparrow said. “He’s an alpha among

men. Hardnosed, but a good man.”

“Thanks for coming by.” Colten slapped Sparrow on his shoulder.

“Didn’t mean to bring you out so late.”

“Clayton’s working late at the Ugly Broad. Between you and me,

I’m working this shift just so I can keep an eye on him.” Sparrow
smiled. “But don’t tell him that. Man gets ornery when he thinks I’m
checking up on him.”

“There’s nothing wrong with protecting the ones you love,”

Colten said. “I need to head back inside, but I’ll keep you in the
loop.”

Sparrow said his good-bye before he slipped into his patrol car

and headed toward the saloon.

* * * *

Steven hadn’t eaten in two days. He couldn’t. Every time he put

something in his stomach, it came right back up. It was the worst
feeling in the world. And now he was standing here watching Colten
and some of the ranch hands sort through the new head of cattle that
had been delivered. Colten had forbidden Steven from doing anything
that could put him in danger.

Being idle was dangerous. Steven wasn’t used to standing around

doing nothing. He needed something to keep him busy or he was
going to go mad. Colten insisted that Steven stay close so he could be
Steven’s anchor—to cancel out the noise in Steven’s head. Now all he

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could do was stand on the other side of the catch lot and watch the
others work.

He. Was. Bored.
It had been two weeks since his attack and so far no one had seen

Leonardo or Nate. Not that Steven wanted to see them. But his gut
told him those two weren’t finished with him yet. He also didn’t trust
his parents. Lily and Harold Chesney weren’t the type to give up.
Their brains were too analytical. They’d poured a substantial amount
of money into their research where Steven was concerned. They
wouldn’t care about the money, only the science. They’d want to
finish their project analyzing Steven’s mind, trying to figure out how
he could do what he could do. They might not be responsible for
engineering his mind, but when they found out what he could do, they
seized the opportunity to study him, to treat him like a lab rat.

They had had Steven confined for most of his life to a lab,

undergoing test after test. While most kids played with toys, Steven
had played games to strengthen his curse. But his parents had never
taught him how to protect his mind from invasions. They had no
interest in Steven being able to filter out all the noises. They only
wanted to know how he read other’s minds, saw their lives in
snapshot images.

He might be bored, but at least Steven was outside, in the great

open plains, and he loved every second of it. The white-capped
mountains were breathtaking, the smells of everything around him
welcoming. He tilted his head back and enjoyed the cool autumn
breeze, smiling as it caressed his face.

“You look exceptionally handsome standing there like that.”

Colten walked toward him as he removed his work gloves. The guy
was dusty and there was sweat along his brows, but damn if he didn’t
look good.

“Just enjoying the day.”
“I thought you’d be going stir-crazy.”

Cowboy Trust

Steven started to say that he was. That was until he saw the

hesitation in Colten’s dark eyes. The man was worried about him, but
he was also concerned that Steven would resent the guy for making
him stand around.

“Been able to eat today?”
“You should be asking if I’ve been able to keep anything down,”

Steven said as he rested his foot on the bottom rung of the wooden
fence. “And the answer would be no.”

The doctor had come by a few days prior and declared that Steven

was pregnant. Steven was still absorbing that bit of information. The
news wouldn’t sink in until he saw the actual proof of his stomach
swelling. But in the meantime, the nausea was driving him insane.

Colten’s hand framed Steven’s face. “Doc said saltines help.”
“I’ve gone through a case of them. Nothing is helping.”
“Harland’s mom said she has a recipe for the nausea. Renee is

bringing it by later,” Colten said. “Do you need to rest?”

Steven chuckled. He might be exasperated about his diet, but ever

since Colten had been told that Steven was carrying the man’s child,
the guy had been like a mother hen. It was both endearing and
irritating. But Steven never complained. He liked having someone
care about him so much.

“What I need is something to do.”
Colten nodded before he shouted over his shoulder, “I’ll be back,

Rowdy.”

The foreman waved Colten away. Colten climbed the wooden

fence and dropped to his feet on the other side. He swung an arm
around Steven’s shoulders before leading him into the warmth of the
house. “I might have the perfect job for you.”

“What about being around others?” Steven asked. “You can’t stay

inside all day.”

“Everyone is fully aware to keep fifty feet away from you if I’m

not around. They know you can’t be touched.”

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Steven gave an irritated sigh. “They must hate me for having to

take such precautions.”

“Nah,” Colten said. “They like you. Besides, you’re one of us now

and we look out for our own. They’ll do whatever they have to do in
order to make sure you’re not in pain.”

Regardless of what Colten said, Steven knew the men must harbor

some sort of resentment.

“Hey, T-Rex,” Colten said as he walked Steven into the

downstairs office. “You still looking for someone to take over the
inventory logs?”

“Office work?” Steven asked.
“There’s nothing wrong with office work,” Colten replied as he

kissed Steven on the temple. “It needs to get done and T-Rex has a lot
more things to take care of. I’m sure he’ll appreciate some of the load
being taken off of him.”

T-Rex sat back in his chair and nodded. “That I would. Running

two separate businesses becomes taxing. Have you ever worked the
records side of things before?”

Steven shook his head.
“It’s not that hard,” T-Rex replied.
Colten took a seat in a cushy chair in one corner and stretched out.

“Wake me when you’re done.”

Steven knew Colten had to stay if T-Rex was going to show him

the ropes. The head boss scooted his chair aside and then pointed to
another sitting by the wall. “Pull up a chair and I’ll show you what
needs to be done.”

Steven spent the rest of the afternoon with T-Rex. The man was

very careful not to touch Steven as he showed him their inventory
management system. To his relief, Steven caught on quickly and was
navigating through the program with ease by day’s end.

“I’ll have an office set up next door,” T-Rex said as he stretched.

“The men will reinforce the walls to help you out.”

Cowboy Trust

Steven glanced over at Colten’s sleeping form before he asked,

“Why aren’t you mad at me?”

“For what?”
“For putting you and the men through all this trouble.” He wasn’t

used to anyone being so kind. Not like this. T-Rex and the others were
going out of their way to help Steven out, and Steven wasn’t used to
such consideration. His parents and the other scientists who’d worked
in the lab had never displayed any kindness or understanding. When
Steven didn’t perform to his parents’ expectations, they left him to his
own devices for the remainder of the day, both giving him
disapproving scowls. The other men who worked the lab became
snide with Steven, saying hurtful things and calling him nasty names.

But here, on this ranch, Steven found the others to be more than

considerate. Not even the other ranches that he’d worked had
tolerated his migraines and bouts of nausea from the onslaught of
others’ thoughts. He’d been fired from at least three ranches over the
past two years.

He stood once T-Rex shut the computer down. Steven moved over

to Colten and gazed at the guy for a moment, his heart swelling at the
knowledge that he’d fallen deeply in love with the bear. He’d just
been too afraid to say the words aloud. Although they were constantly
in each other’s minds and he knew Colten cared deeply for him,
Steven had never told anyone that he loved them and was terrified of
rejection.

It was more than likely an unfounded fear, but Steven hesitated

every time he tried to utter those three words. “Hey, time to wake up,
sleepyhead.” Steven patted Colten’s leg as T-Rex left the office and
closed the door behind him.

“I’ve been awake for some time,” Colten said, though his eyes

were still closed, his face still sleepily serene.

“Then why haven’t you said anything?”

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Without opening his eyes, Colten reached out and grabbed Steven,

pulling him down into the man’s lap. Steven curled into Colten’s
embrace, pressing his cheek into the guy’s warm, strong chest.

“Because I was enjoying the sound of your voice.”
There were times when Steven had no clue how to respond. This

was one of them. He’d had no idea that Colten had been awake and
listening. But what confused him was the honesty he heard in the
guy’s voice. The man had actually enjoyed listening to Steven talk to
T-Rex about something as mundane as work orders.

“It doesn’t matter what you were saying,” Colten said as he finally

opened his eyes. They pierced Steven and Steven found it hard to
breathe. “Just as long as I know you’re in the same room, I’m
content.” Colten ran his knuckles over Steven’s jaw. “And as far as
you being afraid to tell me that you love me, I can wait.”

Steven closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve

such a man, but he would always be grateful for Colten. His mate
pressed his hand to Steven’s still-flat stomach and pressed a kiss to
Steven’s forehead. The move was simple, yet Steven basked in the
glow of Colten’s tenderness.

Cowboy Trust

Chapter Ten

Steven wasn’t sure of anything anymore. He had a job doing

paperwork instead of working the ranch. To be honest, he liked
working outdoors. The feel of the sun against his skin, the sweat that
told him he was working hard. He even enjoyed the occasional breeze
that blew across his heated skin. Some might be happy not having to
do hard labor. Steven wasn’t. He liked what he did and sitting inside
was a bit boring. His lower back constantly hurt from being in the
chair for so many hours.

He wasn’t sure what his parents were up to. He wasn’t sure what

Nate and Leonardo had planned. Steven wasn’t even sure about this
whole pregnancy thing. It was too strange for words. He knew a child
was growing inside of him. The doctor had confirmed that a month
and a half ago. And even though his stomach was growing rounder
and rounder, it still wasn’t sinking in.

The floorboards outside the office creaked and Steven glanced up

to see Rowdy standing in the doorway. He hadn’t interacted with the
foreman since starting this desk job. Steven waited for the pain in his
head, but nothing came. At first, he thought that Colten must be close
by, but Steven knew that his mate was learning the ropes of selling
the cattle at auction. Colten wouldn’t be back for hours.

So why wasn’t he in pain?
“You shouldn’t be in here,” Steven said. He pulled his hands from

the keyboard and curled them in his lap, still waiting for some sort of
reaction from someone being so close.

Rowdy cocked his head to the side and nodded at him, as if he

knew he shouldn’t be there. “I can help you.”

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Steven didn’t know what the man was talking about. “What do

you mean?”

Rowdy stared at him, his face perfectly still. “I’ve met people like

you.”

Steven worked at not showing his surprise. He sat there stiffly as

he assessed the foreman. Was this some sort of trick? Was Rowdy
about to tell him that the guy worked for Steven’s parents and he’d
come to kidnap Steven? The air around them was too silent, too
motionless. Steven shifted in his seat uncomfortably as he waited for
Rowdy to explain what he meant.

“You were never taught how to buffer,” Rowdy said as if he

understood Steven’s situation. It seemed he did. Although Colten had
told the men of the house what was going on, Steven knew that his
mate hadn’t said anything to the ranch hands or the foreman. So how
did Rowdy know? He wasn’t getting a very good feeling about this.

Rowdy moved into Steven’s office and closed the door behind

him. Steven felt as if the man had just sealed his tomb. The air grew
even more silent—if that were even possible. Steven’s hand
automatically covered his growing belly as he tensed.

Colten, Shott, and Legend were off learning about auctions. T-

Rex and Sam had gone into town. Stripper was the only one at home,
as far as Steven knew, and the guy was in the communication room,
doing whatever it was that he did when the door was closed. Steven
had no idea where Gabe and Taylor were and knew they would be of
no help to him.

It was just Steven and Rowdy. If he had to fight, Steven would

lose. Rowdy wasn’t thick with muscles, but Steven had seen the man
work the ranch. He was no lightweight. And Steven was pregnant.
That put him at a disadvantage.

An image shot through Steven’s mind and he grabbed his temples.

His pulse sped up and his breathing became labored. The pain was
slight, but enough to make him wish that Rowdy would leave. “Stop
it.”

Cowboy Trust

“That was just a small projection,” Rowdy stated. “And you

couldn’t even block it.”

Steven shook his head as he breathed through his mouth, the pain

slowly subsiding. “Why are you doing this to me?”

Rowdy moved a step closer. “You ever watch someone you love

die in your arms?” he asked.

Steven wasn’t sure where Rowdy was going with his question. He

wasn’t sure what Rowdy was up to period. He didn’t like it. The man
was scaring the hell out of him. But he was trapped in his office with
the foreman and Steven had to find a way out of here.

“Your brain is one big muscle,” Rowdy continued even though

Steven hadn’t answered the first question. “Flex it and you’d be
surprised what you can do.”

Steven hated to admit it out loud, but he had to let Rowdy know.

“You’re scaring me.”

“You should be scared.” Rowdy’s face was set in stone. Steven

felt a trickle of sweat building along his upper lip. The foreman still
stood just inside the office door, the shadows of the office playing
across his carved features. “You should be terrified of what others
could do to you.”

“Others, as in you?” Steven asked.
“As in everyone,” Rowdy replied. “The doors in your mind are

wide open. You have no idea how to close them against the slightest
intrusion, let alone an onslaught.”

Steven paused when he heard the pain in Rowdy’s tone. The guy

was speaking as if he knew what Steven was going through, how
much Steven suffered when Colten wasn’t around. “Who?”

Rowdy shook his head. “What?”
“Who did you know that could do what I do?” Steven was being

vague and he knew it. He wanted answers, but didn’t want to piss
Rowdy off. Not when it was just the two of them locked in this room.

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The foreman didn’t answer him but Steven could see the far-off

look in the man’s eyes. It had been someone close to the guy. Rowdy
had felt deep sorrow at whoever it was.

“I invade. You slam the door.” Rowdy pushed another thought

into Steven’s mind, like a magician waving a wand. It was there
whether Steven wanted it or not. He could see a mocha-skinned,
green-eyed man, so handsome, with a smile to light up the night. He
could feel the love that Rowdy had for the guy.

“Slam the door.”
Steven shook his head “How?”
The thought drove deeper and the handsome man was on his

knees, rocking back and forth as blood trickled down his nose. His
features were distorted in agony as he cried out in pain. Steven
slammed the palms of his hands over the sides of his face. “Stop it!”

“Slam the fucking door.” Rowdy’s tone was merciless. Steven

saw the unshed tears in the man’s eyes, the pain and the anger etched
in his expression. “Mentally reach out and slam it closed.”

Bile rose to the back of Steven’s throat as the handsome man in

his mind rolled to his side, screaming. Others were in the room with
him. They were torturing the man. They grabbed at the guy, knowing
they were hurting him. Steven didn’t want to see those thoughts. He
didn’t want to see the guy suffering any longer. Steven began to pant
as sweat dripped down his face. A door appeared in his mind, one
he’d never seen before. Steven lunged at it, gripping the edges and
gritting his teeth as he slowly forced it shut.

The images disappeared.
Rowdy nodded, as if he approved of what had just happened.

“Practice will make you stronger.”

“You bastard,” Steven growled as he collapsed against the desk,

resting his cheek on the hard, cool wood.

“I’ll own that. But you’ll thank me when you can stand in a room

without Colten and control what thoughts you allow in.”

Cowboy Trust

Steven rubbed at his temples, feeling as if he’d worked eight

straight hours. He was exhausted by that one little feat.

“Get ready.”
Before Steven could grasp what Rowdy was talking about, other

images bombarded him. He gripped the arms of his chair and battled
to close the doors, to shove Rowdy out of his mind. He nearly passed
out this time from the effort.

“We’ll keep practicing, daily,” Rowdy said. “You have enemies at

your door and you need to learn how to keep them out.”

Steven could barely form the words as he tried to calm his

breathing. “Why are you doing this?”

Rowdy shook his head but Steven could see the answer forming in

the man’s mind. He’d been in the room with that handsome man,
unable to help, shouting for the guy to use his buffers. But the man
hadn’t. Rowdy was racked with guilt. Steven could see it.

“Giving you a chance that I should have given…” Rowdy looked

at him, completely unaware that his heart was laid bare in his dark-
grey eyes. The guy turned on his heel and walked out, leaving Steven
to sit there and wonder what the hell the foreman had been through.

Seconds later, Stripper appeared in the doorway. “You all right?”
Steven used the trick Rowdy had just shown him. It wasn’t easy,

and he was still tired from the exercise the foreman had just put him
through, but he managed to keep Stripper’s thoughts at bay. “I felt
something…weird,” the man said.

Steven had no clue what Stripper had felt. He wasn’t even sure

what he felt right now. He nodded. “I’m fine.”

Stripper took a step back, as if suddenly remembering he

shouldn’t be near Steven. “I’ll be up front if you need me.”

In a heartbeat, the man was gone.
Steven sat there for the longest moment, trying to imagine his

mind full of doors, and couldn’t. It might sound easy enough, but to
put it into practice was proving difficult. Just thinking about a door

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wasn’t good enough. It had to become a solid object in his mind and
right now, Steven couldn’t muster the strength to conjure one up.

A warm blanket began to wrap around Steven. He glanced around

the office before he heard a soft murmur in his mind. Colten.
Somehow, his mate knew that Steven was feeling taxed and was
sending him warm thoughts. Steven sat there in silence, bewildered at
how Colten could do something like that from such a distance,
puzzled at how Colten could do that at all.

But then again, Colten was a mystery to him. Steven had no clue

how his mate could silence things around him. He didn’t know how
Colten could do half the stuff he did. The guy could touch him and
Steven felt no pain. And now, his mate was projecting good thoughts
and Steven felt them.

Steven hated feeling confused and uncertain, but he latched onto

Colten’s images and the fatigue slowly drained from his body. Steven
smiled, almost laughed at how bizarre his life was.

He was a man who was pregnant, could read others’ thoughts, and

see into their very souls. None of that should be possible. Yet, here he
sat, living proof that even Mother Nature knew how to fuck shit up.

And the best part of this shitty situation was that his parents had

tried to exploit and enhance what he could do. Yeah, his life was a
true gem.

Steven rubbed at his eyes with the palms of his hands. He needed

to lie down. He’d never taken naps before, but a brief snooze sounded
real good right about now.

Pushing away from his desk, he ventured into the hallway. No

sooner had Steven closed his office door than he doubled over in pain.
But it wasn’t his head that was killing him.

Something was wrong with the baby.

* * * *

Cowboy Trust

Colten was talking with Legend when he felt a sharp pain pierce

his side. He stumbled to the side and gripped the wall as his breathing
became shallow.

“What’s wrong?” Legend asked, concern in his eyes.
Colten tried to shake off the feeling. He shook his head, his eyes

watering at the pain. “I’m not sure.”

An overwhelming feeling hit him hard, the need to go home, to

get to Steven. Luckily, he was only thirty minutes from the house. He
glanced up at Legend. “I have to go.”

Legend didn’t ask any further questions. He just nodded as Colten

took off.

Lynn Hagen

Chapter Eleven

The pain washed over Steven in waves of agony as he rocked

back and forth on his hands and knees. He hadn’t made it past his
office door. He couldn’t. What was happening had dropped him to the
floor.

Steven tried to call out for Stripper, but his voice caught in his

throat. He couldn’t seem to pull in enough air. Sharp pains started at
his back and wound around to his navel. Steven could feel something
heavy pressing against his abdomen and was terrified that something
was wrong with the baby.

“Steven?” Taylor moved swiftly down the hallway before

dropping down next to him. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

Steven screamed. He couldn’t handle the pain in his stomach and

block Taylor out at the same time. The trick that Rowdy had shown
him fell to the wayside. Images began to the bombard him. He could
see Taylor tied to a cross as he was viciously beaten. There was a
bear. There was blood. There was the overwhelming torture of
wanting to die. Steven couldn’t handle all of it.

He heard heavy footsteps and then Rowdy appeared, Stripper

beside him. “What the hell is going on?” Rowdy barked.

Taylor shook his head. “I found him on the floor like this.”
Steven licked his dry lips as he panted. “The baby.”
“I’ll call the doctor,” Stripper said as he hurried away.
“It’s too soon,” Taylor said and Steven could hear panic in the

man’s tone. He knew how the guy felt. The same thought had crossed
his mind. Colten had told him that the pregnancy should last three
months. It had only been a month and a half.

Cowboy Trust

The pain had Steven trying to crawl across the floor, to escape.

Rowdy’s and Taylor’s closeness was causing Steven’s mind to
fracture. He fell onto his back as an ear-piercing scream crawled out
of him.

Rowdy placed his fingers at Steven’s temples. “I know it feels like

it can't be done. But you have to try and block us out.” The man spoke
softly and soothingly but it didn’t help. He was asking for the
impossible. Even when not in pain, it had been a hard feat. Right now
it was hopeless.

He needed Colten.
“Colten.” Steven barely whispered his mate’s name.
Taylor nodded. “I’ll call him.”
Rowdy moved around until he was staring into Steven’s eyes.

“Concentrate on me. Find that door. Use it.”

Steven’s body shook viciously at the contact. He wanted Rowdy’s

hands off of him. He wanted the pain to stop. He wanted his mate.
Steven clutched his stomach and rolled to his side, breathing through
the next round of sheer pain.

This was worse than anything he’d ever experienced before. And

that was saying a lot. It felt as if a knife was slicing through his skin
from his spine to his abdomen.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been lying there. The pain caused

time to blur together. Labor should be used as a form of torture. It
would be very effective—Steven was ready to spill the beans on
everything he knew. Hell, he was willing to tell secrets he didn’t even
know just to stop the agony.

“I want Colten,” Steven cried out. “Where’s Colten?”
“He’s coming,” Taylor said as he brushed his hand over Steven’s

hair. “Just hang in there.”

“D–don’t touch me,” Steven begged. “It hurts.”
Taylor snatched his hand away. “I’m sorry, Steven. I forgot.”
Stripper, Rowdy, and Taylor knelt close to him and all seemed

lost. Steven felt like a spectacle. He didn’t like being the center of

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attention. He groaned when Gabe came running down the hallway.
“The doctor is here!”

“I want Colten,” Steven repeated as he shook. He clutched his

stomach tighter and felt the tears sting his eyes. He didn’t need more
people to make him feel worse. He needed Colten’s quietness. Steven
needed to stop hearing everyone’s thoughts and feeling their
emotions.

“Get him to his bed,” the doctor said as he appeared next to

Steven.

“No,” Steven cried out. “Don’t touch me.”
“I can’t examine you on the floor,” the doctor argued. “I’m sorry,

Steven, but we have no choice.”

Steven braced himself for the onslaught of pain. But instead of

being plunged deeper into agony, calmness settled over him. He felt
the air around him stir as it grew cooler, comforting.

“Get away from him.” Colten’s deep baritone voice resonated off

the walls. Tears spilled from Steven’s eyes as Colten scooped him up
and cradled him in his strong arms. “Tell me what’s wrong,
sweetheart.”

“The baby,” Steven whimpered. His arms were still wrapped

around his stomach as Colten carried him into their bedroom. He
thought of how Colten had begged for a family, how his mate had
been looking forward to the birth of their child. Steven’s fears took
hold and he was terrified that something would go wrong and they
would lose the baby.

“If something is wrong”—Colten kissed Steven’s temple—“we

can always try again. Just as long as I don’t lose you.”

“Let’s see about saving both,” the doctor said. “We shouldn’t get

ahead of ourselves until we know what’s going on.”

But Steven could feel the heartache inside Colten. The man was

already devastated and they hadn’t found out what was going on.
Steven curled up onto his side as he waited, feeling as if he’d let
Colten down. His mate was the only person Steven wanted to make

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happy. He would give anything to see the man smile and hear his
laughter. A part of Steven was crumbling as the doctor cleared the
room and began to examine him.

Colten was the only one to stay behind. He held Steven’s hand,

giving it an encouraging squeeze.

The doctor shook his head, his expression filled with puzzlement.

“You’re in labor,” he said. “But I’m going to see if I can stop it.”

“It’s too soon.” Steven stated the obvious. “What if you can’t stop

the labor?”

“Then we deal with it from there,” the doctor replied.
He made it sound so simple but Steven knew that it wasn’t. A

woman having a child was complicated enough. A man? This was not
going to turn out well. Steven crushed Colten’s hand in his when the
pain began again. He tried to breathe through it, but there was only so
much breathing he could do.

It wasn’t working. If anything, the contractions were growing

stronger.

* * * *

“What did he say?” Renee asked as she walked through the front

door, her purse clutched to her bosom. “How is Steven?”

Sam had just come from the kitchen. He had cooked enough to

feed an entire army. But that was what Sam did when he was worried.
He tossed the tea towel over his shoulder as he shrugged. “No word
yet.”

“What will happen if the baby is born early?” Taylor asked from

the couch. “I don’t know anything about giving birth, but in the
human world, having a baby early is never a good thing.”

“It isn’t in our world either,” Renee said as she set her purse aside.

Sam could tell that she wanted to go upstairs, but the doctor had
ordered everyone to stay out. She began to pace before she grabbed
Sofia from Gabe’s arms and strode toward the kitchen. Sam followed.

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“I don’t know Steven too well,” she said as she placed Sofia in her

highchair. “But this has to be devastating to him and Colten.”

Sam tore a piece of chicken into tiny bite sized pieces and placed

them on a plate. He set the plate on the table for Sofia but knew she
wasn’t going to eat. No one had much of an appetite. Not even
Stripper was in here trying to polish off all the food. Everyone was
somber as they waited for any type of news. It had been hours since
the doctor arrived.

They both looked up when they heard footsteps coming down the

back staircase. Colten appeared haggard as he descended the steps. He
seemed to have gained ten years in his appearance. The man took a
seat at the table and then rubbed his hands over his face.

“How is Steven?” Renee asked. Sam could hear the hesitation in

her voice. None of them wanted to hear bad news. But they would all
be there if Colten or Steven needed them.

The chair creaked as Colten shifted his weight. He glanced up at

both of them and then shook his head. “The doctor managed to stop
the labor. Steven is on bed rest until he gives birth. But bed rest isn’t a
guarantee that it won’t happen again.”

Renee moved over to Colten and wrapped her arm around his

wide shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “How is the baby?”

“The doctor said that the baby is okay,” Colten replied.
Sam had yet to change his mind about having children. This only

solidified his resolve that he and Taylor would wait. He couldn’t
imagine what Colten was going through and wouldn’t wish this on
Taylor. He didn’t wish it on Steven.

“The doctor wants to move Steven to a private facility where he

can monitor both Steven and the child,” Colten said.

“Which means you’ll have to go with him,” Sam said. “You know

Steven can’t be around all those people without you there.”

Colten nodded.
Renee frowned. “Am I missing something?”
“Nothing,” Sam replied.

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It wasn’t Sam’s place to tell her about Steven’s gift. Although he

trusted her implicitly, the fewer people who knew the better. From
what Shott had told him, Steven’s parents were willing to pay a hefty
bounty to get him back. Percy Whitmore had managed to hack into
the corporation’s files and delete everything on Steven, but nobody
was foolish enough to believe that would keep Steven safe. Just
because the records were gone didn’t mean Steven’s parents wouldn’t
attempt to get their project back.

Sam grabbed Sofia from the highchair and led Renee from the

kitchen. The rest of the men were sitting in the living room as they
waited. Sam relayed the news.

“That’s a good thing, right?” Taylor asked.
Sam handed Sofia off to Legend. “For the next month and a half

Steven and Colten will be away.”

“I don’t like it,” T-Rex said. “Why can’t Steven be monitored here

where we can keep an eye on him?”

Sam shrugged. “We don’t have the equipment that Steven needs.

That’s my guess.”

“I’m going to go upstairs and check on everyone,” Renee said.

She appeared frazzled as she headed up the stairs. Sam watched her
go before he turned back to everyone.

“Colten is too personally involved in this. I think we should set up

a rotation to keep an eye on the two. With Steven’s parents gunning
for him, we can’t take any chances.” Sam glanced toward the ceiling
and knew their job of keeping Steven safe had just become more
complicated.

“I’ll take first watch,” Stripper volunteered. “When is he supposed

to be moved?”

Sam shook his head. “Colten didn’t say. But I would assume it

will be soon.”

No sooner had Sam finished talking than the doctor walked down

the steps. He had his medical bag clutched in his hand and appeared
fatigued. “Where’s Colten?”

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Colten appeared from the kitchen. The doctor turned toward him.

“I’ve called for transportation. Steven is stable enough to be moved.”

“I’ll gather some of his things,” Colten replied. The man appeared

relieved to have something to do. Sam felt for the guy. He knew about
Colten’s past and how much the man wanted a family. If it was within
his power, Sam would ensure that Steven and the baby would be
okay. He hated seeing Colten like this. The guy was normally strong
and self-assured, but right now he looked like he might fall apart at
any second. Although Colten was putting on a brave front, Sam knew
the situation had to be tearing him up on the inside.

“I’ll grab my gear,” Stripper said. “I’ll carry a weapon and my

earpiece.”

The doctor frowned. “I wasn’t aware that Steven needed an

entourage.”

Stripper paused as he glanced between T-Rex and the doctor. Sam

gazed at the doctor as well. “You know about his condition,” Sam
replied. “Colten has to be there with him.”

The doctor waved a hand at Stripper. “I’m fully aware of Steven’s

predicament. But why does he need a bodyguard?”

Everyone turned toward T-Rex. The doctor had no clue about

Steven’s parents, and they wanted to keep it that way. Without
missing a beat, T-Rex replied, “Colten isn’t in the right frame of
mind. I want someone there who can relate to us what is going on.”

The doctor shook his head. “I can give you daily reports. I’m not

sure how my staff will feel about having someone there with a gun.”

Stripper winked at the man. “Trust me, no one will know I have

it.”

The doctor seemed to want to argue further but he let the subject

drop. It was a good thing, too. He wasn’t going to win this argument.
Within an hour, a private ambulance pulled up to the house and
Steven was brought downstairs. All the men wished him well before
he was placed in the back of the ambulance.

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Sam watched as the four men departed. He wasn’t sure why, but

he was getting a very hanky feeling about all of this. When he turned
toward T-Rex, Sam could see the man wore the same expression.
Mistrust. Unease.

Sam was going to take the second shift. Nate and Leonardo still

hadn’t surfaced, and taking Steven away from the protection of their
home didn’t sit well with Sam at all.

Lynn Hagen

Chapter Twelve

Colten rubbed at his forehead as he walked down the long, sterile

hallway. He’d been at the clinic for weeks now. He was grateful that
his friends rotated shifts and helped keep an eye on Steven. Most of
Colten’s attention was on his mate and he wasn’t as vigilant as he
should be when it came to his surroundings.

Over the past few weeks, Colten had fallen deeply in love with

Steven. The man was a fighter. But Colten had also seen the fragile
side of Steven. No matter how hard he tried to convince his mate that
this wasn’t his fault, Steven seemed adamant that he had let Colten
down.

As he passed the receptionist, Colten noticed a few new faces. He

only half paid attention as he made his way back to Steven’s room.
He had to figure out a way to ease Steven’s troubled mind.

Colten had promised the man a happy life if Steven gave him a

child, and Colten hadn’t delivered on his promise yet. Colten smiled
as he entered the room. He always smiled whenever he laid eyes on
his mate. Steven was sitting up in the bed, the table pulled close and
their card game sitting there waiting for Colten to resume.

“You didn’t peek at the cards while I was gone, did you?” he

asked as he took a seat.

Steven’s half-cocked smile said that he had. “I would never do

such a thing, Mr. Tselner.”

Colten gazed at Steven’s crystal-blue eyes and wondered how in

the hell he’d gotten so lucky. The man was still as gorgeous as ever,
especially since he’d swollen fully with Colten’s child. They hadn’t
had sex since Steven had gone into premature labor, and to be honest,

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staring at his handsome mate, Colten wanted nothing more than to
make slow, passionate love to the man.

He was getting hard as he stood there.
Steven noticed. His cheeks flamed as he shifted in the bed.

“Having such naughty thoughts will only get you into trouble.”

Colten chuckled as he took a seat. Although he was developing

blue balls, he could wait. Steven’s health was more important to him.
Besides, he and his hand had become intimate friends over the past
few weeks.

But that didn’t stop him from greedily drinking his mate in.
Steven pushed the tray table aside and crooked his finger. Colten

didn’t have to be told twice. He scooted onto the slim bed and leaned
forward, taking Steven’s lips in an enticing kiss.

“I can’t take this anymore,” Steven said as he panted. “I need

relief.”

Colten glanced toward the door as he slid his hand under the

sheets. Steven was rock hard. He wrapped his fingers around his
mate’s cock and felt the heated flesh pulse in his hand. “You know I
shouldn’t be doing this for you.”

Steven groaned as he tossed his head to the side. “One orgasm

won’t hurt. I promise.”

Colten had a hard time saying no to his mate. Especially when

Steven looked so damn breathtaking. He licked along Steven’s jaw,
nuzzling the day’s growth on the man’s skin as he pumped his hand.
Steven gripped Colten’s shoulders and whimpered. It was a sound that
Colten welcomed.

“Faster,” Steven begged breathlessly. “I can promise you that this

won’t take long.”

Colten gave a soft laugh. “I’m sure it won’t.”
He coaxed his mate into laying all the way back as he kissed

Steven along his neck, his fingers playing over the pre-cum that was
leaking from the head of the man’s cock and using it for lubrication.

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Steven’s muscles bunched and flexed as his breath came out in

shallow pants. His fingers tightened over Colten’s shoulders. The man
was close. Colten’s own cock was heavy and aching. He forced
himself to ignore it. This was all about Steven.

His mate bowed his back and then bit back a cry as his cock

exploded into Colten’s fist. Colten’s canines descended and he
scraped them along Steven’s shoulder. He wanted to bite. He wanted
to bite badly. But he refrained from doing so. Colten didn’t want to
add to Steven’s stress. But it wasn’t easy. Every instinct in him
wanted to sink his canines deep.

Steven collapsed against the pillow, a happy little smile crossing

his face. Colten placed a kiss on Steven’s lips before he got up and
went to the small bathroom for a cloth to clean his mate. As he wet
the cloth, he heard voices in the other room.

Colten stepped from the bathroom to see two strangers standing in

the room. The same strangers he’d seen behind the reception desk.
They were wearing white coats, indicating that they were doctors. But
what caught Colten’s attention was the look of pure panic on Steven’s
face. Colten could feel how terrified his mate was.

“Is there a problem?” Colten asked as he set the cloth aside and

moved quickly toward his mate.

One doctor was female while the other was male. The longer

Colten studied them, the more he realized the striking resemblance
between them and Steven.

These two were Steven’s parents.
The father pulled a gun out of his white lab coat. It was small

enough to fit in the palm of his hand. “We’re taking our son out of
here and if you try to stop us, I’ll shoot you.”

Colten glanced toward the door. Shott had taken this shift and he

wondered where the man was. Even though it had been weeks since
they’d arrived here, the men of Executive Bodyguards hadn’t become
lax in their duty. The men had continued to stay on full alert.

So where was Shott?

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101

The mother moved to the side of the bed, opposite Colten. “We’re

going to walk out of here quietly,” she said to Steven. Her eyes landed
on her son and Colten could see the stunned surprise in them. The two
hadn’t known that Steven was pregnant. How they had found Steven
was a mystery, but they’d done it. What they hadn’t factored in was
that their son would be pregnant or that he would be mated to a bear
who would maul them to death if they even thought about taking
Steven from him.

“Do you see this?” she asked her husband. “How is this possible?”
“Tests,” the father replied. Colten could see the man’s mind

turning back to its natural, analytical state. He was a scientist and
Colten was willing to bet that the father was going over data in his
head, trying to come up with a logical explanation.

There wasn’t one. No bear had yet figured out how they could get

their male mates pregnant. It was still a huge mystery to them. But
Colten would fight to the death to protect Steven and his unborn child.

“Tests.” The mother repeated the word as she nodded. “Before

and after Subject Two is born.”

She seemed giddy at the prospect. Subject Two. She hadn’t even

referred to the baby as her grandchild. Colten growled at the way they
were speaking of his cub. He could feel his claws threatening to slide
free.

“I’m not going anywhere with you two,” Steven said as he

scooted closer to the side of the bed where Colten was standing. “I’m
not your damn subject. I’m your son!”

The two didn’t seem to be paying Steven any attention. They were

staring excitedly at his distended abdomen. The father still held the
gun in his hand, but it wasn’t aimed at Colten. The muzzle was
pointed toward the floor.

Colten lurched forward but the father raised the gun in time, his

eyes narrowing. “Step back or I’ll put a hole in your head.”

The threat rolled off the man’s tongue so naturally that Colten had

a feeling the father had killed before. Which meant he wouldn’t

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hesitate to kill Colten. He might be a powerful bear, but a bullet was a
bullet.

A shadow moved past the rectangular glass in the door. Colten’s

eyes followed for a heartbeat before he looked back at the father. “So
what, you plan on putting Steven back in a lab like a rat, and my child
as well?”

“Your child,” the mother scoffed. “He or she belongs to us. We

created Steven and now Steven has created another subject. We’ll be
famous for our discovery. We’ve already documented every aspect of
Steven’s growth from the moment of his creation.”

Colten was confused as hell. Who referred to conception as

creating someone? Or had they truly created Steven? He would say
that was impossible, but so was a man becoming pregnant.

“Oh, shut up,” Steven groused. “I was conceived, not created. I’m

sick and tired of you two treating me like this. I’m not going back.
There is no way in hell you’re going to shove me into a gilded cage so
you can make me perform like a circus monkey. All in the name of
science, right?”

Colten smiled at his mate’s irate tone. Steven was standing up for

himself. Good for him.

“You’ll do as you’re told.” His father snarled the words. “Or I’ll

kill your little pet.” His gun waved at Colten. “We know what he can
do. Our informant told us how he can shift into a bear. We might take
him along and dissect him just to see how it all works.”

Colten growled.
“Get out of the bed.” Steven’s mother pulled Steven from the bed.

She was pretty damn strong for a slim woman. Steven fought and
kicked to no avail. She had him on his feet and was shoving him
toward the door before Colten could do anything about it. Colten
glared at the father and the gun in his hand.

As soon as the mother opened the door, Shott slammed a fist into

her face. The father turned to see what was happening and that was
when Colten went for the gun. But the father didn’t give it up easily.

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103

They struggled for it. Their hands twisted and turned and then the gun
went off.

Colten could hear Steven scream. He caught sight of his mate

clutching his stomach before Steven went down. Colten blinked and
then looked down to see blood spreading across his abdomen. He’d
been shot.

Shott didn’t hesitate. He pulled his gun free, aimed, and fired. The

father hit the floor, his eyes wide as the life bled from them. He was
dead. The mother screamed and raced toward her husband. But
instead of weeping over the man, she grabbed the gun that had been in
his hand.

Shott killed her as well.
Colten dropped to his knees as he pressed his hands into his belly.

He saw Steven gasping for air as he held his own stomach. His mate
was going into labor. The stress of the situation must have been too
much.

“Shift,” Shott demanded. “Shift, damn it.”
The doctor raced into the room, took one look at the mess, and

then yelled at Shott, “Get Steven into bed while I get Colten to the
ER.”

“I’m not leaving Steven,” Colten said as he panted.
“You’ll be leaving him permanently if you don’t let me get that

bullet out and repair the damage,” the doctor said.

A few more people entered the room and the doctor ordered one

of them to fetch a gurney. Before Colten could stop the doctor, he was
laid out on the damn thing and being wheeled down the hallway.
Colten hadn’t had time to tell Shott that they had a traitor among
them. It hadn’t been Nate or Leonardo—Colten and the others were
always careful not to shift in front of the hands. Even in the
Laundromat he’d been careful that the two hadn’t seen him turn into a
bear or turn back to human.

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105

Chapter Thirteen

Colten woke in a daze. He blinked rapidly, trying to focus. For a

second, he couldn’t remember what happened. His thoughts were
muddled. And then it all came back to him. Colten shot up and then
hissed as he grabbed his stomach. “Steven.”

“Whoa.” T-Rex grabbed Colten’s shoulders and eased him back

down to the bed. “You can’t move like that.”

Colten knocked T-Rex’s hands away. “Steven.” He still wasn’t

fully focused but he knew he had to get to his mate. There was a
traitor in their midst and Colten had to save his mate.

“Settle down,” T-Rex demanded. “Steven is right there.”
Turning his head, Colten looked to where T-Rex was pointing. In

the bed next to his lay his mate. Steven was fast asleep and Colten
swallowed hard when he noticed his mate’s flat abdomen. He didn’t
want to ask. He didn’t want to know. But by fucking god he would be
there for Steven when the man woke.

Colten slid his hands over his eyes and pretended to rub them. In

all actuality, he was fighting back the tears. If his mate had given birth
to a live cub, the baby would be in a small bed between them. But the
space was empty and so was Colten’s heart.

All he had ever wanted was a family—a mate he could love

unconditionally and a child to raise. He wanted to prove that he could
be a better father than his own had been. Colten wanted a family
completely different than the one he’d had growing up. He just
wanted someone to love and someone to love him back. He had that
with Steven. He knew his mate loved him without reservation.

But he would still mourn the loss of his child.

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Colten struggled to sit up. He had to get to Steven. He had to

touch his mate. All he wanted to do was curl around the man and let
Steven know that he was there for him.

“You are one hardheaded-ass man,” T-Rex said. Colten was

sweating by the time he sat up. The pain in his stomach intensified but
he ignored it.

“You really do need to rest,” Legend said. Colten glanced at the

man and saw that he was holding Sofia in his arms. The sight of the
man’s child only deepened Colten’s pain.

“There’s a traitor among us,” Colten said as he wiped at his

forehead. Although he loved Sofia, he couldn’t take the sight of
another child right now. He wanted everyone in the room to
disappear.

“We figured that out,” T-Rex said. “Shott overheard the

conversation when Steven’s parents were in the room. He called the
house and rallied the troops before he took the mother and father out.”

Colten had been in shock, but he remembered what had taken

place. Shott had killed Steven’s parents. He wasn’t even sure how
Steven felt about that. Although they were detached, selfish sons of
bitches, they were still Steven’s parents.

He scooted to the edge of the bed and planted his bare feet on the

cool floor. For the first time he noticed that an IV was dripping into
Steven’s arm. His mate looked so pale and helpless as he lay there.
Colten wanted to envelop the man in his arms and never let him go.

“It was Sam who figured things out,” T-Rex continued. Colten

wasn’t really listening. He was focused on his mate. He needed to get
to him. And then Steven opened his eyes and Colten felt as if his
world had realigned. He pushed from the bed and shuffled across the
distance before climbing in next to Steven. He wrapped his body
around his mate’s and held him close.

“I love you, Steven.” Colten pressed a kiss to the man’s neck as he

closed his eyes.

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107

“I think we can finish this conversation later,” Sam said. The men

left the room as Colten cradled Steven in his arms.

“I love you, too.” Steven reached behind him and cupped Colten’s

face. His fingers played over the day’s growth of beard on Colten’s
jaw. “I didn’t realize how much until I stared into our son’s eyes.”

Colten stiffened. “Come again?” His pulse was beating so fast that

he could hear the blood rushing through his ears. Hope blossomed
inside of him.

Steven turned in Colten’s arms. “Our son.”
“Where is he?” Colten’s voice was strained as he searched

Steven’s face. Shouldn’t the baby be in the room with them? Colten
crushed Steven to him as he whispered in his ear, “Thank you.”

Steven chuckled. “Oh, you’re going to pay for this one. Giving

birth is not easy. I gave you the child you asked for. Now I want to be
pampered for the rest of my life.”

Colten could tell that Steven was only teasing but he would hand

his mate the moon and the stars if he could. That was how much he
loved the man. “This wasn’t about you giving me a child. Well,
somewhat, but not all of it. I’ve wanted a mate since I was a small boy
and realized that relationships weren’t supposed to be shitty. I’ve
wanted someone to call my own.”

Steven stretched his neck and placed a simple kiss on Colten’s

lips. “And you have that someone. We both do. Because I’ve been
looking for the same.”

Colten gave a playful growl as he nipped Steven on his chin. Just

then the door opened and Renee wheeled in a small clear-plastic cart.
Colten started to sit up but he’d strained himself and his stomach was
killing him.

Renee gave him a reproachful glare. “T-Rex told me how

stubborn you’re being. Don’t bother getting up. I’ll bring the sweet
little babe to you.”

Colten’s gut clenched as his mouth went dry. He watched as

Renee lifted a small bundle into her arms. His eyes were glued on her

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as she walked around the bed and smiled down at both Colten and
Steven. “You get to meet both your papas,” she said to the swaddle of
blankets in her arms.

Leaning over the bed, Renee placed the baby between Colten and

Steven.

“I’ll let the three of you get acquainted.” She smiled and winked

at them. “Just call if you need help.”

Colten fell in love the moment he laid eyes on his son. He was so

small and so perfect that Colten felt as if his heart was bursting from
his chest.

“Handsome devil,” Steven said. But Colten could hear how

choked Steven’s words were. He cupped his mate’s face and gave him
a gentle kiss.

“Both of you are,” Colten said, and he meant it.
“Did they tell you who the traitor was?” Steven asked as he ran a

knuckle down their son’s cheek.

Colten shook his head.
“When the men got here, they asked where you were. Shott told

them what had taken place. Sam immediately went to the operating
room and found the doctor and the nurse arguing. From what Sam
could understand, the nurse didn’t approve of what the doctor was
doing. But once Sam got a hold of the guy, the doctor confessed.”

Colten reached up and brushed the tears from Steven’s eyes with

the pad of his thumb. “I’m so sorry about your parents.”

Steven nodded and swallowed hard. “It wasn’t like they loved me

in the first place. I think what hurts the most is the loss of a
relationship that should’ve been, but wasn’t.”

Colten knew exactly how Steven felt. It was the same for him. His

parents had been terrible, yet Colten had loved them with all his heart.
He knew what that betrayal felt like and hated that Steven had gone
through something so similar.

“Anyway.” Steven cleared his throat. “The doctor confessed to

being paid off by my parents. He said that Nate and Leonardo

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approached him about me. But after that incident in the Laundromat,
the two left town. The doctor hadn’t told my parents that I was
pregnant. He just told them where I was. But after Shott killed them,
the doctor panicked. He figured that if he killed you on the operating
table, the men of Executive Bodyguards would be so devastated that
they wouldn’t look any further into how my parents had found me.
He’s currently sitting in jail for trying to kill you.”

Stunned. Furious. Betrayed. Nothing came close to describing

how Colten felt at that very moment. The shifter doctor had delivered
numerous cubs and had been a part of the shifter community for
decades. It never ceased to amaze him what someone would do for the
right price.

“As far as birthing cubs,” Steven said, seeming to have guessed at

Colten’s line of thought, “Renee is ready to take on the job. She said
she’s been delivering babies for quite a while and is confident in her
abilities.” Steven smiled. “She used to be a midwife. Did you know
that?”

The only thing Colten could do was shake his head. The doctor

had tried to kill him on the operating table. Colten shivered at the idea
of how things could have turned out. He would forever be in debt to
Sam.

“Is she the one who delivered our son?”
“She is,” Steven said. “And as you can see, she did a beautiful

job.”

Colten couldn’t agree more. He couldn’t stop looking at the

babe’s face. Their son was a miracle and Colten would always
remember that. He inhaled deeply and pulled in the scent of cinnamon
and apple cider.

“We never discussed names,” Steven said.
“Moirai,” Colten replied. “It refers to the fates. Because it was the

course of events that brought us together and kept you safe. It was
fate that stopped our son from being born early.” Colten pressed his

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lips to Steven’s forehead. “But most of all, it was destiny that we
should share our lives and raise such a beautiful son together.”

Steven nodded. “I like that.”
Both Colten and Steven gasped when they felt a tiny sliver of

happiness swell between them. They glanced down at their son and
saw him gazing up at them.

“Did he just…”
“I think he did,” Colten said. “It seems our son has inherited your

talent.”

Colten would make certain that their child would learn how to

buffer the voices from an early age. He knew that Rowdy was
working with Steven, and Colten was grateful. But it was his job to
protect his family and he would ensure that both lived a happy, chaos-
free life.

“Were you really married?” Colten asked. He’d never brought the

subject up before. He hadn’t wanted to. He wasn’t even sure why he
was asking now.

Steven shrugged. “It was a lie my parents told the family. They

also said that I lived abroad. They didn’t want anyone asking
questions or delving too deep into the whys of never seeing me.”

And Colten thought his life had been crappy. Just because some

people were able to have children, didn’t mean they were fit to be
parents. Both his and Steven’s parents were living proof of that. But
Colten was going to make damn sure that his son knew every day that
he was loved.

The door opened once more and everyone filed in. The room

became loud and boisterous as the men congratulated Colten and
Steven on the birth of their child.

Colten finally had the perfect life, the perfect mate, and the perfect

son. His life was now complete.

* * * *

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111

It had been two months since Steven had come home and Colten

was doing everything in his power to make Steven happy. He turned
over in bed, snuggling close to his mate.

“Keep wiggling that sexy body against me and I won’t be

responsible for what happens.”

Colten moved closer until Steven felt the warm brush of the man’s

chest pressed against his back. Then the warmth of Colten’s mouth
started kissing the naked skin of his hairline. And that was when the
electrical storm moving about in his body started sending all interest
south.

“I love you, Steven,” Colten spoke between kisses, “so goddamn

much.”

“I love you, too.” Steven lost anything else he’d planned to say

when strong hands slid down his back, one resting on his hip, the
other snaked around to rest on his abs. The kissing and sucking at his
neck continued, causing his libido to move from first to fifth, while
the hand on his stomach pulled him back, flush against Colten’s body.

He found himself molding against Colten further, head moving to

rest against his shoulder as Colten sucked at his skin.

The evidence of what this did to Colten was very obvious in the

long, hard ridge now pressing against his ass.

The whole neck fetish thing did it for him.
And that hand…firm against his stomach while fingers rubbed

against the exposed skin of his stomach. If he moved his hands just a
little further south, Colten would know exactly what it was doing. A
huge fucking part of him was aching for Colten to do exactly that.

Steven turned his head to the side, meeting Colten’s gaze, and was

relieved to see him smile ever so slightly and gently. Colten kissed
him, just at the corner of his mouth.

Colten took Steven’s face in his hands and kissed him again, fully,

taking his time. He moved back in until he had Steven pressed against
the mattress.

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Colten covered Steven’s lips with his and Steven couldn’t get

enough of the man. He let Colten do whatever it was he was doing
while he lay there and basked in his mate.

He was pretty sure Colten was inhaling his scent while kissing

him. Cinnamon and apple cider. Wasn’t that how Colten had
described the way Steven smelled?

“Steven.” Colten said his name in a decadent purr. “My sweet

little Steven.”

There was no way Steven could deny the man, not when he

wanted Colten just as much.

“You’re so damn sexy,” Colten said in a deep and sultry tone as

his eyes dropped to Steven’s groin. Steven’s skin heated. Would he
ever get used to the way his mate looked at him with hungry eyes?
Colten’s curved smile hit Steven hard. “You’re blushing.”

He was.
Steven became wide eyed when Colten moved in fast, taking his

mouth in a frenzied kiss. After everything they'd gone through, Steven
never felt closer to anyone in his life. It was still nothing but pure
silence with Colten and Steven loved that fact, though the two could
communicate mentally. Steven threw his arms around Colten’s neck,
deepening the kiss with his lips and tongue.

His head began to spin and Steven felt dizzy. Happiness flooded

through him as he was pulled harder against Colten. This man was
his, forever.

Colten’s smile was an erotic invitation. “This is one hell of a way

to wake up.”

A sizzling, predatory glimmer sparked in Colten’s eyes. Steven

wrapped his legs around Colten’s lean waist. The desire in Colten’s
eyes was beautiful and tangible, and Steven wanted him so badly it
was physically painful.

Colten was his fantasy come to life.
Steven ran his hand over Colten’s upper back and shivered

uncontrollably when Colten responded with gentle touches and soft

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caresses over his hips, his lips feathering over Steven’s naked
shoulder.

Steven’s head hit the pillow as he moaned and let his head tilt to

the side to give Colten more room to play. The man’s cock was
wedged between his cheeks, hot and throbbing as his fingers gripped
Steven’s waist.

“I want to be inside you so badly.” Colten almost growled the

words against Steven’s shoulder. The man reached under the pillow
and grabbed the lube.

His mate squeezed a liberal amount on his fingers and the next

thing Steven knew, slick fingers were probing at his hole.

His desires renewed as his fingers gripped Colten’s shoulders, his

body gyrating as Colten slipped a long, thick finger inside of him
before he recaptured Steven’s lips.

“Perfect.” There was a dangerous purr to his voice that sent a

shiver through Steven. He could feel the stretched muscles and
Colten’s hard body. The man smelled richly masculine, wild, and
delicious. Steven was falling deeper in love with his mate, deeper
with every kiss, every thrust of the man’s finger.

“I can’t wait much longer.” Steven gasped as Colten inserted a

second finger, stretching the two apart and moving them around in the
most provocative way.

“You won’t have to,” Colten said as he bit down gently on

Steven’s shoulder.

God, Steven could bathe in that feeling. Steven melted into his

strong chest, his body going lax as Colten pulled him impossibly
closer and traced the vein in Steven’s neck with his tongue. It was
throbbing wildly at what Colten was doing to him.

Colten caught Steven’s earlobe between his teeth as he inserted a

third finger, making Steven groan louder, filling the room with the
sounds of his needs. Colten’s chest rumbled deeply as he pulled his
hand free and then adjusted Steven a little higher before his full length
pushed inside Steven.

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The breath rushed from his lungs as his hands tightened around

Colten’s neck, his head lolling to the side as they both groaned in
pleasure. Colten sealed his lips over Steven’s, giving him a lush, wet
kiss as his hips began to move, to thrust upward, driving his cock
deeper and making Steven lose his goddamn mind. He gave Steven’s
lips a slow, savoring lick as Steven ran his hand through Colten’s
silky hair.

“So perfect,” his mate murmured. His hands cupped Steven’s ass,

squeezing his cheeks as his cock pulled back and then slid forward.
The slow fucking was driving Steven mad.

He arched his body into Colten’s, never wanting this to end. Ever.
Colten’s mouth descended and Steven whimpered when the man’s

teeth began to tease his nipple. He tugged and lapped as he thrust
deeply into Steven. His tongue was masterful, the wash of heat
bringing a mist of perspiration to Steven’s skin.

Colten kissed his way back up Steven’s chest until his lips were

brushing gently back and forth. “I think I’m the luckiest man on
earth.”

Steven knew it was the other way around. Colten’s cock continued

to deliciously stretch Steven as he held on, trying his best not to fall
over the edge so soon.

Colten mouthed Steven’s Adam’s apple, his lips working

wonderful magic on his skin. Steven swallowed hard, rocking in time
to Colten’s rhythm as he murmured, “I hope every morning is like this
for us.”

One hard thrust sent Steven closer to the edge as Colten’s fingers

gripped him tighter, pulling him closer. “It will be, always."

Throwing his head back and letting out a long, salacious moan,

Steven found it hard to speak. His emotions were all over the place,
creating havoc inside of him. Colten bit down gently on his chin.

Colten planted his hands against the mattress, making Steven hold

on tighter as the man’s hips began to move quickly, Steven bouncing
as Colten fucked him harder. His lips were searching out Steven’s

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115

until Steven turned his head, giving the man what he had been looking
for. There was so much fire and passion in that one kiss that Steven
felt like he was being branded, claimed, and owned all over again.

The friction of their bodies rocking together was finally too much

as Steven threw his back, crying out as his cock exploded between
them. Colten bit into his shoulder with a primal growl. The sensation
shot his orgasm higher, making him feel as if he were careening out
of control. Their bodies writhed against one another, slick with sweat
and Steven’s release.

Colten gave his hips a few more heavy thrusts before Steven felt

his ass filling with Colten’s seed. The man’s growl grew deeper, more
savage as his body rocked upward, his cock only slightly softening as
Steven gasped for breath.

As his mate licked the wound he had created, Steven shook with

the knowledge that this wasn’t a dream, that Colten would always be
his, always be there for him. He smiled as he brushed his hands over
his mate’s hair.

This was heaven and Steven never wanted to float back down to

earth.

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