Nutter Nero [Brac Pack 12] (12 page)

“I trusted you!” Nero shot out of their room. Gunnar cursed and went after him. All he had tried to do was help out another Sentry.

Murdock came to him with splinters in his side, something he couldn’t get out himself from patrolling in the forest.

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Lynn Hagen

He could only imagine how it looked for his mate to walk in and see Gunnar sitting on the bed, a naked wolf standing right in front of him. If his mate had taken the time, he would have seen the antiseptic spray and tweezers.

“No,” Nero cried as Gunnar caught up to him and pulled him into his arms. Nero fought to get free, but Gunnar held him tight as he took him back upstairs. Murdock was still standing there looking uncomfortable. The warrior had the decency to put a towel around his waist.

Gunnar sat down on the bed with his combating mate. “Nero, stop.” Gunnar grabbed his wrists to stop them from being hurt.

Although his chest was the one being pounded on, his mate’s hands were small and soft and would bruise easily.

“I’ll leave you two alone.” Murdock backed away.

“No, come over here.” Gunnar could feel his nutter shaking in his arms. He gestured for Murdock to come over to their bed. “Show my mate what I was doing.”

Nero hid his face in his blue gloves, shaking his head back and forth as if that could make everything go away.

“He wasn’t doing anything sexual, Nero.” Murdock assured his small mate. “My dumb ass jumped over a pile of logs in the back and wiped out. I couldn’t get the splinters out myself, I swear. That’s all.” Nero peeked up at Murdock and then his eyes slowly lowered to the reddened area. His hand reached out and poked at the skin Gunnar had been working on. “See?”

Nero buried his face again, and Gunnar knew this time it was from embarrassment. He chuckled as he rocked his nutter in his arms.

“Thanks, Murdock.”

The warrior nodded and left.

“Look at me, mate.” Nero gradually lowered his hands. “Do you think I would ever, in a million gazillion years, ever think of cheating on you?”

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“It looked….” The tears started again. Gunnar brushed them away with his thumbs.

“I know what it looked like. We shifters are used to seeing other shifters naked. We grew up that way. Murdock standing there nude did nothing for me. But this…” Gunnar unsnapped his mate’s jeans and slid his hand in until he could squeeze Nero’s cock. “Now, this does everything and more for me.” He pushed Nero’s ass down against his own erection to prove his point.

“I’m sorry, Gunny. I should have trusted you.”

“Hell, I would have flipped out, too, if I walked in and saw the same thing.” Gunnar rubbed his mate’s back. “Are we okay now?” Nero nodded, and Gunnar pulled his hand free. He held his mate tighter in his arms and deeply inhaled his scent. His chest exploded with his little nutter’s aroma. Nothing in the world would ever smell this good. “Never think that I desire anyone but you, nutter.”

“No. No one but me. No one,” Nero answered, but Gunnar could see his mate’s eyes close and his head roll around Gunnar’s arm. If only they could fool around. He kissed his mate before setting him on his feet.

“Sorry, baby. I have to go see our Alpha.” Nero gave him a dazed nod, almost running into the wall on his way out of their room.

Gunnar grabbed his shoulders and guided him into the hallway then thought better of it. He picked his mate up and carried him down the steps, taking no chance his mate would fall in his sexual daze.

“Are you going to be all right?” Gunnar smiled when his nutter gave him a big, goofy grin and nodded, turning to enter his office.

“Wildcat.” Gunnar chuckled as he entered Maverick's office.

* * * *

Nero took a deep breath and walked toward the den. This was his family now.

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Lynn Hagen

Sooner or later, he would have to get used to them. He still didn’t want to be touched though.

That hadn’t changed.

When it was ingrained in you for twenty five years, you didn’t just stop being that way overnight.

He stood outside the archway for a moment just watching everyone else. Some were playing that strange pretzel game again while others jumped around playing video games. Some big men were playing pool. He could do this. Yeah, he could.

“Hey, Nero, come over here,” Blair called to him. Nero nodded and crossed the room. The music was deafening, but it didn’t bother him. Without a word, Blair handed him a controller. Although Nero was an expert with electronics, he never played these games. He wasn’t even sure he would know how.

Nero’s eyes followed the graphics. He tried his best to figure the toggles out, but they seemed to be conspiring against him. Deciding this wasn’t for him, he handed it back to Blair and instead walked over to watch the big men play pool.

“Hey, buddy. Do you want to play?”

“I don’t know how. Never played. No, never.”

“It’s not hard, Nero.” The wolf explained the rules to him in the simplest terms. Nero didn’t know if he should be offended. He wasn’t stupid.

“We haven’t been formally introduced. I’m Loco.” Word must have gotten around because the wolf didn’t try to shake his hand. That was good.

“I know who you are, Train.” Nero stepped back as the man laughed boisterously.

“I heard about your knack for renaming everyone. Train, I like that.” Nero stood there twisting his hands together. It wasn’t a knack to him. It was a malfunction of the brain. He used word association for everything, but when it came time to remember, he used the associated word instead of the original. His mind just worked that
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way. It wasn’t as if he did it on purpose. It was quite embarrassing actually. He was happy no one paid attention to his misfiring cells.

“Okay, you ready to play?”

Nero nodded as he walked around the table, trying to figure out the game. He took a shot, but nothing went into any pockets. A step stool would help him immensely, but he wasn’t going to suggest it.

What dignified man would?

“You’ll get the hang of it,” Train promised as he knocked at least four balls in. Yeah, he would never get it.

“It is harder to play than when you explained it. Yeah, harder.” Nero scratched a blue hand over his temple. He wasn’t too sure he liked this game either.

Maybe he wouldn’t like any of them, and the boyfriends and wolves wouldn’t want to be bothered with him.

The thought upset him. He really was trying. At least he had role playing. He knew he was good at that. They had fun with it.

“Your shot, buddy.” Train leaned back as Nero snapped out of his thoughts. “Remember, you have solids.” Nero nodded, looking over the billiard table to see where all of his balls were. There seemed to be an easy one he could take. If he missed this, he needed to put the stick down and step away from the table.

A small crowd had formed around the table, making Nero extremely nervous. It was one thing to know he played badly, but it was another for everyone to watch. “You can do it, nutter.” Nero twisted his neck around to see his Gunny standing behind him. Gunny readjusted Nero’s arm and pushed his hips slightly to the right.

“Hey, no cheating, Gunnar.”

Gunny flipped him off. “Are you afraid my mate will beat you, Loco?”

The wolf grunted. “Even I will admit you’re good, so no helping shorty out.”

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Lynn Hagen

Gunny ignored Train as he helped Nero place the stick on his fingers. “Now tap it lightly, no need to use a lot of strength.” Gunny kissed his head and stepped back.

Talk about pressure. Nero felt like he was going to implode. Not only was everyone watching, but now his mate was standing behind him waiting for Nero to make that expert shot. What if he missed?

Would Gunny be disappointed in him?

Taking a deep breath, Nero pulled his arm back and let the stick go. It tapped the white ball then the solid one he was aiming for.

Heck, he was happy it even touched the ball he wanted.

“That’s my nutter.” Gunny shouted as the ball went in. Nero’s cheeks hurt from the wide grin that spread across his face. He did it!

Gunny set him up for his next shot. After a moment, he forgot what they were doing and only his wolf was his focus. The masculine scent was driving him nuts. Gunny smelled so dang good, so manly.

Yeah, very manly.

He wanted his mate to wrap those arms around him and toss him up onto the table while screwing his brains out. Gunny must have felt the same way because he scooted closer to Nero’s back and his erection pressed into his butt.

“I can feel what you’re feeling, you little horny devil.” Gunny softly laughed with that sexy sound of his and nipped the top of Nero’s ear. Nero blushed, looking around to see if anyone else saw or heard them. Only Train was grinning at him. That was one too many in his opinion.

He tried to get his brain to refocus on the game but it was kind of hard with his wolf standing right behind him. “Just relax, nutter.” Nero nodded at his mate’s words as he took his next shot. Score!

“Yeah, Nero,” Keata and Johnny cheered. Nero couldn’t stop the grin if he wanted to.

“I see I’m going to have to step up my game,” Train teased him.

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“Yeah, step it up, partner. Yeah, step.” Nero surprised himself with the taunting. Only had Gunny made him feel so relaxed he allowed a part of himself to come out.

“Keep talking smack. You’re going down,” Train challenged.

Nero wasn’t sure if he made the man angry or not. He wasn’t serious, only joking. Did Train think he was?

Nero looked up at Gunny, wondering if his mate was mad as well.

Gunny winked at him. “Kick his rear end, nutter.” Okay, as long as his wolf wasn’t mad, he could do this. Nero stretched up on his tiptoes and let the stick go. The solid ball bumped around the table but missed. Nero looked behind him again. Gunny didn’t look mad.

“Stop worrying. It’s just a game, baby.” Gunny reassured him as if reading his mind. His wolf patted his butt before stepping back again.

He ended up losing, but it had been fun playing. He wasn’t sure he wanted to play again, but with Gunny there helping him it was enjoyable.

They both walked out of the den, Nero feeling good about the game.

“Now you owe me for the lost game.” Gunny pulled Nero around by his upper arm.

“I don’t have the money, Frankie fingers.” Nero tried to pull his arm away, but Gunny—oops, wrong name—
Frankie
had a tight grip.

“I should cut off your fingers for this, punk. Better yet, I think I’ll take it out in skin.” Gunny wiggled his eyebrows.

Nero giggled and turned, racing up the stairs to their bedroom with a horny wolf close behind. He looked over his shoulder and squealed when he saw Gunny gaining on him.

He shot across the room and tried to make it to the bathroom door, but he was captured before he could close the door.

“Think you can outrun me, punk?” Gunnar asked as he hauled Nero from the bathroom.

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“That’s exactly what I thought.” Gunny growled.

Nero giggled louder as Gunny dropped him on the bed.

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.

Also by Lynn Hagen

Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 1:
Maverick’s Mate
Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 2:
Hawk’s Pretty Baby
Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 3:
Sunshine’s Savior
Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 4:
Remi’s Pup
Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 5:
Stormy Eyes
Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 6:
Oliver’s Heart
Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 7:
Keata’s Promise
Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 8:
George’s Turn
Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 9:
Loco’s Love
Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 10:
Lewis’s Dream
Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 11:
Mark’s Not Gay
Available at

BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

• NUTTER NERO
  
• THE END