Man to Man [Wolf Creek Pack 3] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) (11 page)

Donovan would never be able to thank them for that, especially after his own mother had disowned him the moment she heard Donovan had switched sides and would not be producing any cubs to carry on the family name. Donovan hadn’t been surprised. The love and acceptance of Jim’s family had gone a long ways toward getting him over his mother’s easy dismissal.

Donovan grinned down at his mate as he moved his body over his, straddling his hips and holding his hands back against the mattress. He rubbed himself down the long length of Jim’s cock, feeling the slight twinge as it started to come back to life.

“My chest isn’t sore anymore, but my ass is. If I didn’t know I was going to be on the receiving end of this big thing, I’d be jealous of the fact that your dick is bigger than mine.”

Donovan was delighted when Jim’s face turned red. It was just the response he had been hoping for to lighten the mood. Jim was extremely embarrassed about how large he was, and he was very large. The first time Jim had pushed his cock into his ass, Donovan didn’t think it was going to fit. Thank god he was wrong.

“Damn, you are so cute.” Donovan chuckled.

“What did I tell you about calling me cute?” Jim growled as he glared up at Donovan.

“You keep promising, and I keep telling you that I like pink. I’m still waiting, Jim.”

Donovan didn’t think it was possible, but Jim’s face turned even redder. “Man to man?” Jim whispered, “I like pink, too.”

“Yeah?” Donovan’s grin was wicked. “Will you let me paint your toenails pink?”

Jim sputtered, “Are you nuts?”

Donovan shrugged. “No one has to see except us. You have your shoes on all of the time anyway.”

“Donovan.”

“Please?” Donovan gave Jim his best puppy dog look.

Jim rolled his eyes. “Fine, you can paint my toenails pink.”

Donovan smirked as he watched Jim turn his foot one way and then the other. He never really thought Jim would let him paint his toenails, but there they were in all their pink glory. And it was hot pink, too. Donovan figured he’d never get to do it again, so he wanted to go for broke while he had the chance.

“You look hot.” Donovan chuckled when Jim shot him an evil glare. “You do.”

“Bite me,” Jim growled.

Donovan just grinned wider. “I’d love to.”

“That was not an invitation.”

“Sounded like one to me,” Donovan said as he slid one hand over Jim’s naked thigh. Jim hadn’t bothered to put on pants when he got up this morning, just his boxers. Donovan would have preferred that the man run around naked, but Jim insisted on wearing something. Donovan knew he’d just have to work on his mate. He wanted him naked all of the time.

Naked was good.

“Donovan.”

“What?” Donovan shot Jim a wide-eyed innocent look. He started to move his hand farther up Jim’s thigh toward the tent that was quickly growing in his boxers when the phone rang. Donovan shot the offending object a glare before reaching over to pick it up.

“What?” he snapped into the phone.

“Donovan, this is Daniel Nash.”

Oops
.

“Hey, Daniel, what’s up?”

“I wondered if you and Jim could come over to Joe’s house. Your brother, Devlin, called, and it seems your alpha is in a bit of trouble.”

“What?” Donovan sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Is he okay?”

“He is, but there’s been a development, and I need you and Jim to come over so we can discuss it.”

“Yeah, we’ll be right there.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Why didn’t he call me directly?”

“He did. Apparently he couldn’t reach you or your brother.”

“I must not have heard the phone. Sorry about that. We’ll be right there.” Donovan grimaced as he hung up the phone and glanced back at his mate. He knew exactly why he hadn’t heard the phone. He had been too busy listening to his mate moan. “Your father wants us over at Joe’s house. Something is up with my alpha.”

Jim’s eyebrows shot up. “Your alpha?”

“
Quilliam Reece
.”

“Well, shit!”

Donovan reached for his pants as Jim rolled off the bed. He quickly pulled them on and then reached for his shirt. He just finished buttoning his shirt up when he heard Jim swear under his breath.

“What?”

“My toenails are still wet.”

Donovan chuckled.

“It’s not funny.” Jim shot Donovan another evil glare. “How am I supposed to put my shoes on with wet nails?”

“Got any flip-flops?”

“I am not wearing flip-flops to my brother’s house, Donovan. Everyone would see my toenails.”

Donovan snickered.

“Donovan!”

“Just bring your shoes with you. Your toes should dry by the time we reach your brother’s house.” Donovan winked mischievously at Jim. “I’ll drive slowly.”

Jim grabbed his shoes and started for the door. “I will get you for this, Donovan.”

“I have no doubt, mate.” Donovan chuckled as he followed Jim out of the bedroom and down the stairs. As they headed out the door and walked toward the truck, Donovan couldn’t help but rub his hand over Jim’s tight little ass. “I still think you look hot.”

Donovan burst out laughing and dodged the hand Jim tried to smack him with. He hurried to the driver’s side and climbed into the truck. Donovan started the truck and waited for Jim to climb in and buckle up before snaking a hand around the man’s neck and drawing him in for a deep kiss.

The feeling of Jim’s lips parting and the man’s tongue coming out to brush against his reminded Donovan of why he really didn’t want to be stuck in a truck at that very moment. Jim tasted like honeyed wine. Donovan wanted to drink every drop.

With regret, Donovan pulled back, grinning when a small moan of protest fell from Jim’s lips. “You are my mate, Jim. No matter how sexy I think you look with pink toenails, I would never do anything to embarrass you. What happens in our bedroom stays between us.”

Jim’s eyelids lifted slowly almost as if against Jim’s will. His deep gray eyes roamed over Donovan’s face for a moment, and then the man smiled. “I trust you, Donovan.”

Donovan swallowed hard as he sat back in his seat and put the truck in drive, heading down the driveway. He didn’t know if Jim could have told him anything that meant more to him, except three little words that he didn’t think either of them were ready to say. Having Jim’s trust was enough for now.

Ten minutes later, they pulled up in front of Joe’s house. Donovan turned off the engine and then waited while Jim slid his shoes on. As much as he liked teasing Jim, he wasn’t sure he was ready to tell Jim just how much he didn’t want anyone else seeing the man’s pretty pink toenails. And it had nothing to do with be embarrassed.

Jim really did look hot with painted nails.

And Donovan didn’t share.

Donovan jumped when someone suddenly knocked on his window. He turned to see his brother, Chase, standing there. Donovan gave Jim a quick glance to make sure the man’s toes were covered up and then rolled down his window.

“Hey, bro.”

“Hey,” Chase replied. “Did Daniel call you guys, too?”

“Yeah.”

“Any idea what’s up?” Chase asked.

Donovan shook his head. “No, Daniel just said that Devlin called and Reece is in some sort of trouble.”

“Yeah, that’s what he told me, too. Well, come on then.” Chase started toward the house. “We might as well go see what he wants.”

Donovan felt a little apprehensive as he walked into Joe’s house behind Jim. His brother, Chase, was right behind him. Quilliam Reece was a competent alpha. For Devlin to call and say Reece was in some sort of trouble must mean it was pretty big-ass trouble.

Donovan didn’t like it, not one damn bit. The need to get back to the Shasta Pack rode him hard. He wanted to just jump in his truck and go, but that wasn’t a good idea either. He didn’t know what he might be walking into.

“Alpha Nash.” Donovan nodded toward the alpha after closing the door behind him.

“Donovan, you’re mated to my son. I think it is acceptable for you to call me Daniel.”

“Yes, sir.” Donovan felt his face turn about ten shades of red when Jim laughed. He merely arched an eyebrow and made a show of looking down at Jim’s feet. Jim instantly stopped laughing. Donovan wouldn’t tell on Jim, and Jim knew it. Still…

“Your brother, Devlin, called about an hour ago,” Daniel said. “He asked for you and Chase to return home and for you to bring Joe and Nate with you. I don’t know exactly what kind of trouble he’s in, but it sounded kind of urgent.”

Donovan glanced over to where Joe was sitting with Nate. “How soon can you two be ready to go?”

“Ten minutes?”

Donovan nodded. He watched Joe and Nate jump up and head toward the stairs, and then turned his attention back to Daniel. He wanted as much backup as he could get his hands on, but he didn’t want to leave Jim’s pack unprotected.

“Can you spare Joe and Nate?”

“I’ll stay.”

Donovan’s head snapped around to his brother.

Chase’s face was a little flushed as he looked down at the floor. “I have a few things I need to work out here. If Daniel will have me, I can act as temporary enforcer while you go back to the pack with Joe and Nate.”

“I’m fine with that,” Daniel said. “You’ve shown yourself to be a capable enforcer.”

Chase glanced up and nodded. “Thank you, Alpha.”

“Are you sure, Chase?” Donovan asked.

Donovan knew that Chase had met his mates when he helped rescue the men the Teacher was holding prisoner, and he was having a hard time dealing with it. As he looked at he brother, he noticed that Chase seemed a little paler than usual.

And he was really somber. His shoulders were slightly slumped, and he had his hands shoved into his pockets. Chase was always joking around and laughing. Being somber wasn’t normal for him.

“I’m sure.” Chase gave Donovan a weak smile. “My mind wouldn’t be in it anyway. I’d just be a danger to you all.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am.”

“Okay, but if you need something, even if it’s just to talk, call me. I’ll keep my cell phone on me.” Donovan really didn’t like leaving his brother when he was obviously going through something, but his other brother was in trouble as well, and Devlin’s trouble seemed more urgent.

“Donny, I’m fine.” Chase stepped over and patted Donovan on the back. “Just go and save our brother’s butt. I’ll be here when you get back.”

Just as Donovan opened his mouth to ask his brother if he was sure, yet again, Joe and Nate came down the stairs with an overnight bag in each of their hands. Jeez, they sounded like a herd of buffalo.

“Okay,” Nate said as he came to a stop in front of Donovan, “we’re ready.”

Donovan cast one more look at Chase and then turned toward the door. “If we leave now, we can be there by dark.”

“Nate and I are going to follow you in my truck,” Joe said. “We might need more than one vehicle.”

That was a good plan, and Donovan told Joe as much as they all headed out the door toward the vehicles. They parted company in the driveway, Joe and Nate in one truck and Donovan and Jim in the other.

It took three tries for Donovan to get the keys in the ignition. He realized that his hands were trembling. He growled as he jammed the keys in and turned the engine over.

“Donovan.”

Donovan glanced up when Jim’s hand landed on his thigh.

“Do you need me to drive?”

Donovan smirked despite the severity of the situation. “You don’t know where you’re going.” He put the truck in gear and then pulled out of the driveway. He could see Joe and Nate right behind him. “I’ll be fine, Jim. I’m just worried.”

“I know.” Jim squeezed Donovan’s thigh. “You know I’m here for you, right?”

“Yeah, babe.” Donovan smiled over at Jim. “I do know that.”

Jim waved his hands toward the front windshield. “So, let’s go already. Time’s a-wastin’.”

* * * *

Donovan was relieved when he finally pulled up in front of the large lodge that was home to his alpha. It had only been a few weeks since he had been here, but he did miss the place, or maybe it was the people inside the lodge he missed.

“Donovan, are you ready to go in?”

“Huh?” Donovan glanced away from the front of the lodge to look at his mate. He could see Joe and Nate standing just beyond Jim’s passenger-side window, waiting. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

Donovan climbed out of the truck and walked around the front to join Jim and his friends. He grabbed Jim’s hand for support and walked up to the house. The door started to open before they even reached it.

“Reece,” Donovan said when he saw his alpha pull the door open the rest of the way. He had been friends with Reece long before the man became his alpha, and he respected him a lot. Knowing that Reece was in trouble enough to call him home didn’t sit well with him.

He held out his hand when Reece did, shaking the other man’s.

“Sorry I had to call you home, man.”

“It’s not a problem, Reece. You’re my alpha. I expect you to call me home if you need me.”

“I still appreciate it.” Reece grimaced and glanced toward the study. “We’re in a shit storm of trouble, Donovan. And to be truthful, I’m not quite sure how we’re going to get out of it.”