Loving Styles [Brac Village 12] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (6 page)

Styles spun around and crashed into Reese. He nearly fell on his ass. Styles grabbed his friend and shoved him into the house. “Don’t you dare go anywhere near him,” he said, the threat coming out in a viscous growl.

“I never go near anyone,” Reese admitted. “I just like to watch.”

Styles took off upstairs. As soon as he cleared his bedroom door, he pulled his cock free and began a frenzied stroke, thinking about how Robby had looked as he jacked off. The man had flipped every damn switch Styles possessed. He kept hearing Robby calling his name as he orgasmed over and over again.

Fuck! Styles stroked his flesh harder, his fist pounding into his groin until he arched his back and came all over the wooden floor. He slammed his eyes closed, hating himself. He wasn’t supposed to take pleasure from hearing Robby call his name. He wasn’t supposed to enjoy the knowledge that it was him that Robby had thought about as he jacked off.

What was wrong with him?

Styles walked to the bathroom and washed his hand. Next he grabbed a wet towel and cleaned the floor. He tossed the cloth toward the bathroom and readjusted himself before heading back downstairs.

When he reached the kitchen, he saw Reese standing there talking with Robby. The man was fully dressed once more. The two were chatting and smiling. Styles wanted to gouge Reese’s eyes from his head for witnessing what Robby had done.

But Robby didn’t look remorseful. His eyes slid over to Styles when he entered the room. The man looked genuinely happy to see him. “Since you enjoy Reese’s company so much, why don’t you just let him fuck you?”

Robby’s face fell, his eyes going bland before he turned and walked out of the side door. Reese turned toward Styles. For the first time ever, Styles saw hatred in Reese’s dark brown eyes. “You are a fucking idiot,” Reese said between clenched teeth. “Since you don’t know how to treat a gentleman, maybe I will fuck him. I might even keep him as my own. He sure as hell deserves better than what you are giving him.”

Before Styles knew what he was doing, he cocked his arm back and punched Reese right in the nose. The polar bear stumbled back as the blood spurted down his mouth and chin. He growled, tackling Styles and taking him down. Reese slammed his fist into Styles’s gut, and then cocked his arm back again for another blow.

“Whoa!” Recker said as he walked into the kitchen. “What the fuck are you two doing?” The rhino shifter grabbed Styles and pulled him from under Reese like he was a rag doll, throwing him against the wall. “Have you two lost your damn minds?”

Reese stormed from the kitchen without saying a word.

“What is going on?” Recker asked as he turned toward Styles.

Styles clenched his jaw, turning his head and refusing to answer the man.

“Fine, kill each other if you want, but don’t do it in the damn house.” Recker walked out, leaving Styles alone in the kitchen. He still had an urge to go hunt Reese down and finish the job. Just the thought of Reese touching Robby…

Styles leaned his arms on the marble countertop. He cursed himself for what he had said to Robby. He hadn’t meant it. He had just been so damn angry that Robby was affecting him in ways that he shouldn’t be, that he had taken it out on the man.

He was also pissed that Robby was smiling and talking with Reese. The man should be just as miserable as Styles was. But it seemed Robby couldn’t be swayed. The guy was determined.

Turning the faucet on, Styles splashed some water on his face, hoping the coolness helped to calm him down. He didn’t think anything would help.

“Push him into the arms of another man again and there will be nothing you can say or do about it when you lose him.”

Styles turned to see Diablo standing in the doorway. “What do you know?”

Diablo shrugged. “Not much. But I heard you telling your mate to fuck another man. Don’t get mad and attack Reese because he is willing to take what you don’t want.”

Styles turned the faucet off, refusing to talk any further with Diablo.

“The
Ultionem
has passed a stricter law on mating,” Diablo stated. “Anyone interfering will be killed. It seems to me that Reese wasn’t interfering—not when you offered him your mate. Be very careful, Styles. You just might get what you are wishing for.” The man turned and walked away.

Styles gazed at the empty doorway for a second before heading out to the back deck. He stopped, gazing at the spot where Robby had given his show. Styles walked over to the spot, his imagination taking flight.

Robby was back there, jacking off. Styles cupped the man on the back of his head and knocked Robby’s hand away, taking over. He wrapped his fingers around the man’s hard shaft, stroking it as he lowered his head and captured the man’s soft-looking lips.

As Styles stood there fantasizing, his heart began to ache. When he opened his eyes, he was all alone. Robby was gone. The image faded away like smoke rising toward the sky, escaping him.

Styles felt the hot tears slip down his cheeks as he thought about his parents. How could he mate a wolf? Wouldn’t that dishonor their memory? How could he claim someone of the same breed who had killed such loving and caring people?

He was twisted up on the inside, unsure of what to do. He didn’t want to lose what fate had given him, but he couldn’t bring himself to open up to a man who was—Styles gritted his teeth.

Yes, Robby was wolf. But he was more than his breed. He was a man who desired Styles in a way no other had. He was risking everything to convince Styles to be with him. It was more than Styles was doing.

Taking a seat, Styles wasn’t sure which road to take. Not since his parents died had he felt this damn lost, this damn alone. If only to himself, he admitted that he wanted Robby. Yes, he did. His coyote was whimpering soulfully for its mate.

He closed his eyes, knowing he couldn’t let Robby in. There were pieces of him that were lost and Styles hadn’t known what it was like to be whole in such a very long time.

Robby grabbed the manila envelope from the counter. He had totally forgotten to take it to the post office. He was still hurting over what Styles had said to him last night, even though he knew his mate was only lashing out, fighting the attraction growing between them.

God, had he really jacked off in front of two men? Robby still couldn’t believe he had done that or what entity had possessed him.

It was as if someone else had taken over his mind and had Robby performing like a male exotic stripper. Only he kept his jeans on and had stroked his cock to completion. The one comforting thought about what he’d done was that Robby knew for a fact that Styles had run upstairs and jerked his cock as well.

Stuffing the envelope in the visor, Robby pushed those thoughts aside and drove to work.

It was a beautiful day out, the sun shining brightly. He passed by The Pit, Floral Fragrances, and The Lucky Clover on his way in to work. There were people on the streets, walking to wherever they were going. Some waved in Robby’s direction. He waved back, wishing he could be truly happy. But a small part of him worried that Styles would never come around and he would be alone for the rest of his life.

When he walked into the bakery, he noticed a smile on Ross’s face. What the heck was going on? It was a smile that said the man knew something. “You had a delivery this morning.”

Robby’s heart began to pound as he moved closer to the counter, his eyes scanning for this delivery. “What is it?”

Ross reached under the counter and pulled out a box, handing it over to Robby. “There was a card attached. All it had was your name, nothing else. It was leaning against the bakery door when Kenway and I got here this morning.”

Robby turned, heading into the kitchen so he could be alone. It would be another hour before Baker showed up. He set the box on the stainless steel counter, his hands shaking as he opened it.

There were chocolates inside. He searched for a card, but there wasn’t one. That was okay. Robby knew who had sent them to him. He couldn’t stop smiling. Styles might have been cruel as hell last night with his words, but the chocolates had to be a way Styles was trying to say he was sorry.

His gesture touched him. Maybe he and Styles had a chance after all.

Robby closed the box and then hurried from the kitchen. “I’ll be right back,” he shouted at Ross as he flew from the bakery, jumped in his car, and drove to Village Mart.

Robby searched the store until he found a keychain that was perfect. It wasn’t much, but he liked that it was in the shape of a heart. It was also a shiny red. Robby didn’t have the money to go out and buy anything expensive, but he knew that it was the small things that mattered. Styles didn’t seem the type to want anything outlandish anyway.

He then went to the greeting card aisle and grabbed a small white box with cotton lined inside. There were small cards in a rack, the kind that could be written on for notes. He picked one out that had butterflies on it and then went up front to pay for everything.

Robby wasn’t sure if he was doing the right thing. What if he was moving too fast? He wasn’t sure, but he knew he had to take a chance.

Once he was back in his car, Robby thought long and hard before he scribbled on the card.

I’m giving you my heart. This is the first time I have given it to anyone. I won’t call the cops to get it back if you don’t hurt it or tear it apart. We can share custody until you stop acting like an ass and realize that we are fated to be together. Until then, I want visitation rights. Meet me at the diner at five p.m. to discuss custody rights.

Robby blew out a shaky breath as he stuffed the card in the box and then closed it. If Styles didn’t show this time, he just might give the guy what he wanted and leave the man alone. He had been driven and determined to make the man his, but Robby was starting to see that maybe the guy didn’t want to be bothered.

But what about the chocolates?

He wasn’t sure. But tonight would tell him if Styles really wanted to make this work or not.

Starting the car, Robby drove to the floral shop. He knew Blair wouldn’t mind delivering this for him. The guy seemed to delight in wanting to get a reaction out of Styles. But this time Robby wasn’t going. He couldn’t. If Styles tossed the box aside, Robby didn’t want to see that. “Hey, Randy,” he called out as he entered the shop.

The guy glanced up and smiled as Robby headed his way. “Hi, Robby. Here to buy more flowers?”

Robby shook his head. “Can you put a ribbon around this box for me?” He placed the small, jewelry-sized box on the counter.

“Sure,” Randy said. “What color ribbon do you want?”

Robby wasn’t sure. He wanted something that said forever, something that told Styles that he was dead serious about them. He just wasn’t sure what color would say all that. “What color would say that I’m here for the long haul?”

Randy gave Robby a shy grin before he turned and cut a long piece of ribbon from the green spool. “Green, Robby. It represents the earth, something long lasting.”

That’s what Robby wanted. He wanted Styles to know the full impact of what he was conveying. “Green it is.”

He just hoped Styles knew what the green meant.

“What are you up to this time?” Blair asked as he walked from the cooler. He tossed his hair over his shoulder, giving Robby a mischievous smile. “Better yet, can I be in on it?”

When Randy was done tying the ribbon, he picked the box up and presented it to Blair. “I need you to deliver this for me. Will you?”

Blair snagged the box from his hand. “You know I will.”

“Now,” Robby said as his heart beat faster.

“Are you going to follow me to watch?”

“Not this time. I have to get back to work.” Besides, Robby would know his answer soon enough. He had an urge to pull Blair back when the man walked toward the door. He still had time to come to his senses. Robby didn’t want to know if Styles would come or not. His world would be devastated if the man was a no-show again.

“Good luck,” Randy said softly to him as Robby headed toward the door.

“Thanks.” He was going to need it.

* * * *

Robby sat at the booth, stirring his straw around in his glass of water. Glancing at his watch for the hundredth time, he blew out a breath when he saw that it was twenty minutes past five.

Tangee glanced his way and Robby could see in the guy’s eyes that the waiter knew Robby had been stood up again. He didn’t want anyone’s pity. All he wanted to do was go home and be alone.

“Here.” Tangee slid a chocolate milkshake in front of Robby. “It’s on the house.”

“Thanks,” Robby said without feeling. He had been sitting there thinking about the chocolates and was starting to doubt that Styles had sent them. How could he send Robby a gift and then leave him hanging like this?

“Maybe it’s for the best.” Tangee patted him on the shoulder as he walked away.

Maybe it was. Maybe the gods knew that Robby couldn’t handle—his eyes snapped up when the door opened. Robby sat there frozen to his seat, unable to breathe when Styles walked through the door, glancing around the diner. His dark-brown eyes landed on Robby, but the man didn’t move. It was almost like he had expected Robby to be gone by now.

He dipped his head and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck before walking slowly toward Robby’s table. Robby wanted to pump his arm in the air when he saw the keys in Styles hand, the red heart dangling amongst the other things. He also caught the small green ribbon sticking out slightly from Styles’s front pocket.

Could it be possible that Styles understood what Robby was trying to say with that ribbon?

He kept his features schooled as Styles stopped by the table. The man didn’t say anything. He just stood there. Taking a huge chance, Robby slipped from the booth and smiled up at Styles. “Thanks for coming.”

Tangee was in the background, grinning like a goof and giving Robby two thumbs up.

“Well, you said we needed to discuss custody rights,” Styles said in a tone that made Robby think the man was ready to bolt. He could tell the coyote was very uncomfortable. That was the last thing Robby wanted him to be. They were feeling each other out and trying to make this work.