Nutter Nero [Brac Pack 12] (4 page)

“Who are you?”

Nero looked up, uninterested, so he went back to peeling his orange.

“Hey, Drew. I see you’ve met Nero.” Gunny plucked an apple from the fruit basket on the counter, leaning back and watching.

“Is he your mate?”

“Yep.”

Nero glanced up at Gunny. He was hearing that word a lot, but he didn’t really understand the context they were using it in though. He wasn’t stupid. He knew it connected him to Gunny some sort of way.

Shrugging his shoulders, he went back to peeling.

“Are you deaf? ’Cause if you are, I don’t know any sign language.

We could draw pictures if you want.” Drew went to the drawer, rifling around for a pen and paper.

Nero smiled. If he were deaf, what Drew said wouldn’t have been heard. Just how many people lived in this house? Nero glanced up from under his lashes as another man walked into the kitchen. He hugged Drew, kissing him on his neck.

“Nero, this is my mate, Remi.” Drew turned to his mate. “That’s Nero, Gunnar’s mate. He’s deaf.”

There they went with that word
mate
again. Nero had been called a lot worse, so he decided to ignore the reference.

Remi leaned forward, making sure Nero could see him, and waved.

Gunny chuckled. “He’s not deaf, just…intense.”
Nutter Nero

29

“In that case, nice to meet you.” Remi extended his hand. What was it with these people in this house and touching? Didn’t they know germs were spread that way? They could get parasites, or worse, death.

“He’s not a hand-shaker,” Gunny informed Remi.

All three watched as Nero lined his orange slices up in a neat row, tossing the rinds out of the back door. The fruit was in perfect formation, perfectly lined up like little soldiers. He plucked one from the napkin, chewing on it. Once he swallowed, he plucked another then another, until the fruit had disappeared.

“Yeah, intense.” Remi tilted his head sideways, studying him.

There went that funny tingle when people watched him. Nero became extremely uncomfortable.

“So, Nero, do you have a boyfriend?” Gunny inquired.

Nero saw Remi shoot his head sideways, looking at Gunny as if he had lost his ever-loving mind. Gunny just gave a slight shake of his head. Nero didn’t understand what was going on. Why did Gunny keep asking personal questions that he would rather not answer?

“Why would I have a boyfriend?” Nero touched his ear to his shoulder as his head tilted sideways to study Gunny, as the skin between his eyes crinkled up from his curious frown.

Gunny stood straight up, his jaw dropping to his chest. “You mean…you’re not gay?”

30

Lynn Hagen

Chapter Three

Remi chuckled around the fruit he was chewing on. Oh, this was priceless. Gunnar had a straight mate. He would have paid big bucks to see that look on the Sentry’s face, and just think, he got to see it for free. Even though Mark hadn’t been gay when he mated the Sentry, Caden, this was way too funny when one had the chance to see it up close.

Nero shrugged as he washed the citrus from his hands. He pulled out a small bottle of hand sanitizer from his front pocket, pouring a large amount into his hands, lathering it up his arms and through his fingers. “Never thought about it. Sex doesn’t interest me.” Remi choked on the apple in his mouth, and Drew slapped his back. Not interested in sex? What planet was he from? Poor Gunnar, he was going to have a case of the blue balls.

“I think we should take this conversation upstairs.” Gunnar growled.

Nero shrugged again. “Sure. Nice meeting you, Crew, Demi.” Remi covered his mate’s mouth when he started to correct Nero.

No sense confusing the guy any further than he already was. He leaned down and whispered into Drew’s ear. “Stay away from Gunnar. He’s going to be one grumpy ass bastard.” Drew nodded, seeming just as confused about what just happened.

* * * *

“What do you mean he’s not interested in sex?” Oliver asked.

Drew shrugged. “That’s what he told Gunnar.”
Nutter Nero

31

“Oh, man. That sucks. Or doesn’t, if you’re Nero.” Blair chuckled.

“I think it’s a good thing. Keeps his mind focused on the important things.” Kyoshi held a straight face all of two seconds before he burst out laughing, the other mates joining him.

“He’s gotta try it. Hawk does this thing where he—” The rest was muffled as Hawk covered Johnny’s mouth with his hand.

“No telling our private business, pretty baby.”

“He really said that?” Kota asked as he twisted off the lid of a juice bottle. With one of the mates, Lewis, being a recovering alcoholic, the bar was converted into a juice bar.

“Yep, damn near made Remi choke.” Drew giggled.

“Fuck, man, poor Gunnar.” Kota laughed as he drank his juice.

Secrets never stayed secrets in this house. Everyone knew everyone’s business. Thank God no one was judgmental here. If they were, Kota would never have been able to bring his mate home. Blair used to be a rent boy before Kota claimed him. He had worked with his mate to get him past his shame. Blair held his head high now, and the warriors and mates had been a big part of his healing process.

Kota wondered what Nero’s story was, and there was a story.

Every mate had one. Fate seemed to give the warriors men who were in need, fighting demons they couldn’t handle on their own. Just what was Nero’s demon?

“He also seems to have a problem remembering names. He called me Crew and Remi Demi.”

* * * *

“How do you know you’re not interested in it if you’ve never tried it?” Gunnar asked as he closed the door behind him.

“I just never looked at anyone and thought about sex. No big deal.” Nero shrugged his shoulders.

32

Lynn Hagen

Gunnar could see the loneliness in Nero’s eyes. His mate stole a few peeks at him as he looked around. He wanted to erase that look, to replace it with happiness. Gunnar could see the spark of interest, the hungry look that slowly began to appear in his nutter’s eyes.

So Nero
was
interested. He just didn’t know how to say it. Well, Gunnar could help with that.

“I could show you how good it can be. Will you let me do that?” Gunnar took a deep breath. He had to calm down. “Can we try it, and then you can decide if it doesn’t interest you?” Gunnar crossed his fingers.

“Sure, why not.” Nero shrugged again.

Gunnar was liking that shrug less and less. It made his mate seem indifferent, uninterested, but his eyes told a different story. A story that said Nero wanted to be touched, to be loved.

Fuck, if this wasn’t awkward, he felt like he was taking a test instead of getting ready to have sex. The idea didn’t help his libido any.

“Wait!” Nero threw his hands up to stop Gunnar. “We have to touch?”

“Kinda the idea.”

“What about germs?” Nero asked in a panicked voice.

Gunnar wasn’t sure if he should be offended or not. Wolves didn’t have germs. “I can’t give you germs, get them, or anything else.”

“How? Everyone has them. My mom said if someone touched me that I would get a flesh-eating parasite, and my skin would virtually fall off.” Nero pulled his sanitizer out again, dumping the bottle onto his arms, scrubbing the clear liquid into his skin.

“I’m a wolf-shifter. I can’t give you human diseases or catch them.” It was best that Gunnar got this part over with and deal with the fallout. He wanted his mate to know that it was safe for them to be together. His cock was so damn hard it was biting into his zipper.

Gunnar took a deep breath. The need to claim was instinctual and driving him crazy.

Nutter Nero

33

“What about fleas or ticks?”

Gunnar was floored. Was that an insult? Wait, he didn’t ask about the shifting part? He didn’t call Gunnar a liar. He was worried about the parasite part? What the hell was wrong with him? “I’ve never had a flea or tick in my life.” Gunnar said through clenched teeth.

“How do I know? Shift. Let me check.” Nero blinked up at him, looking serious as hell.

His mate actually said that with a straight face. Gunnar was confused as fuck. Growling, he stripped his clothes off, standing there gloriously naked, and his mate didn’t even bat an eye.

Nero’s arms were crossed over his chest, his small foot tapping.

The little shit was a blow to the male ego. Gunnar knew he was hung well, and the least his mate could do was ogle him. Frustrated, he shifted.

“Where’s my bag?”

Gunnar trotted over to the closet, butting his head against the door. Nero grabbed his bag, pulling out a pair of latex gloves. Gunnar growled.

“Don’t complain, you said I could. Now lie down.” Gunnar went back to his original thought. He was dreaming, a nice, vivid, drug-filled slumber. That’s the only reason his mate hadn’t flipped out when he shifted. He was acting as though he had seen Gunnar a thousand times in his wolf form. The little human really was a nutter. A nutter with latex gloves on.

Nero knelt beside him, digging through his fur. This was humiliating. His mate was really checking him for parasites. He groaned when Nero grabbed his balls, lifting them for examination.

Nero smoothed his hand down Gunnar’s tail, and then checked inside his ears. It was kind of nice to have the short man’s hands all over him. Maybe this wasn’t so bad.

* * * *

34

Lynn Hagen

”Okay, I don’t see anything.” Nero was not going to freak out, no sir. The fact that this man was really a wolf was…unsettling. He patted himself on the back for his nerves of steel.

And
damn
if he wasn’t hung like a horse.

Nero noticed. Who wouldn’t have?

Of course he thought about sex. What man didn’t? It scared him to death, so instead of acknowledging this, he feigned indifference. His world was narrow, and electronics were safe. They couldn’t hurt you.

Unless you crossed wires. Then, it shocked you.

This Gunny man made Nero feel things he never had before, and he craved a closeness that frightened him. He wasn’t used to human contact. His mother had drilled it into him that touching was bad.

Very, very bad.

“Glad to pass your inspection.” Gunnar huffed as he stood after shifting right in front of him. Boy, that was strange, really, really strange.

Gunny was mad at him. Nero felt terrible, but he had to make sure. He tensed when Gunny reached out for him.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Nero. I promise.” Gunny’s voice was soft, gentle. Nero took a deep breath. He could do this.

“No one’s ever touched me before.” Nero confessed, cringing when it came out in a childlike voice.

“Come here, my little nutter.”

Nero scooted closer, his hands clasped in front of him. He was nervous as hell. What would it be like? He flinched when Gunny wrapped his arms around him. “Sorry.” Gunny ignored his apology, kissing him down his neck instead.

Oh, man, that felt good. Real good. The large man pecked him on the lips. “Open your mouth, sweetie.”

Nero complied, Gunny’s tongue plunging in. Nero’s hands were everywhere-he didn’t know what to do with them. He was happy Gunny didn’t complain about the blue gloves still being on his hands.

Baby steps. Yeah, baby steps.

Nutter Nero

35

“Place them on my shoulders,” Gunny whispered against his lips.

Grateful for the guidance, Nero grabbed Gunny’s shoulders, his hands shaking. Soft lips glided across his, setting his heart to racing, and his cock, which usually lay dormant, rose in full force. Not sure what to do, he allowed Gunny to take the lead, to show him everything there was to know.

* * * *

Gunnar sucked, licked, and nipped his way down his mate’s body.

Along the way he shoved the shirt over Nero’s head, unbuttoned his jeans, and slid them down as he descended.
Not interested in sex my
ass.

Carefully laying his mate on the bed, Gunnar licked the V on either side of Nero’s cock. And what a pretty cock it was. Short but thick. His girth was amazing. Gunnar swirled his tongue around that fat beauty, sucking Nero’s cock down his throat. His mate writhed below him, running his blue-covered hands through Gunnar’s hair.

“Gunny.” Nero moaned.

Gunnar smiled around his prick. He wanted to hear his mate scream his name. Pushing Nero’s legs back, Gunnar rimmed his tongue around that tight starburst. His mate tasted delicious, salty and innocent. He yanked Nero’s tennis shoes off, sliding his jeans down until they hit the floor. Gunnar tossed Nero’s socks over his shoulder then turned him over, dying to pull his cheeks apart and sip from his skin.

Gunnar gasped. Tiny white lines crisscrossed Nero’s back, some old, some not so old. Some were faded and almost transparent while others still held red welt marks. “Who did this?” Gunnar roared.

Nero scrambled from the bed, ran across the room, and hid in the closet. Gunnar didn’t stop him. He needed to compose himself. Raw rage unlike anything he felt before coursed through his veins.

36

Lynn Hagen

The bastard who laid a hand on his mate was a walking, talking, breathing dead man. He crossed the room and took a deep breath, opening the door slowly, and knelt down in front of his mate. His heart shattered into a thousand tears when he heard Nero.

“Everything has to be perfect. Everything has to be aligned.

Nothing out of place. Everything in its place.” Nero chanted over and over again. “You’ll get it right or you’ll get it.” He began to cry as he recited the next line from somewhere deep inside of him. A memory so painful, Gunnar’s heart wrenched.

“Come to me, nutter. Come to Gunny.” Gunnar held his arms out, his mate scrambling to get into them. Nero laid his head on Gunnar’s shoulder, tears leaking down Gunnar’s back. He held his mate tight against him, wishing the pain away. “Who hurt you, baby?”

“Daddy.” He whimpered.

The son of a bitch was going to pay for this. Gunnar would make sure of it. Gunnar couldn’t understand child abuse. He couldn’t even imagine laying a hand on Melonee, the mate Tangee’s five-year-old sister who lived here. There was
nothing
she could do that would warrant such violence.