Hagen, Lynn - Torem [Zeus's Pack 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting ManLove) (15 page)

“I’m scared.” Sidney bit his thumbnail, his eyes darting around the jobsite.

“Come, on. There’s nothing to be frightened of. He’s our mate.” Torem cupped Sidney’s jaw and kissed him before getting out of the truck. His stomach muscles tightened when he saw Dino talking with a few of the men over by his makeshift table.

“I’m going to go—”

“No, you’re not. We need to find out what he intends to do.” Torem grabbed his fleeing mate and pulled him along.

He waited patiently as Dino finished up his conversation before speaking to him.

“Good morning.” Dino kissed Torem and then pulled Sidney into his arms, giving him an equally searing kiss. Sidney melted like butter.

Traitor.

Torem was a little thrown off by Dino’s mood this morning, but he wasn’t going to be swayed. “About last night.”

“I wanted to apologize for that. You have to admit it was a lot to take in,” Dino interrupted.

“It was. But Sidney and I got through it. You, on the other hand, ran. We need to know what you plan on doing. This is taking a toll on both of us.” Torem crossed his arms over his chest and glared at his mate.

“I know. I thought about it last night after seeing Quinn with Tristan.”

“How is he?” Sidney asked.

“No, Sid, we aren’t going to get derailed from the real topic here.” Torem pulled Sidney to his side. Torem sighed. “Okay, how is he?”

“Not good from what Quinn tells me.”

“The poor guy.” Torem knew Sidney had a compassionate heart, but once again they were getting off topic.

“Look, I’m sorry. I realized last night that I want this to work between us,” Dino said.

“Then you can’t keep running every time something happens. We need to work it out, together,” Torem said adamantly. “How can we build something together if you leave us in the dust when something is too much for you to handle?”

Dino held his hands up in surrender. “You’re right. I promise not to run again. Can we talk about this at home? I need to get these men organized.”

“You said home. Do you mean that?” Torem’s hopes skyrocketed at Dino’s use of the word. He beat down his insecurities and listened to Dino. After what happened to him with Chey, he was finding out who he really was.

Most of what he discovered, he liked, but this insecure shit was driving Torem nuts. He thought about it and came to the conclusion that he never really had anything as his own, and now that he had Sidney and Dino, he was holding on with both hands.

“Yes, I mean
our
home. That is if I’m allowed to move in there.”

Sidney began to jump in place, his hands in the air. “Hell yes, I can help you pack right now.” He laughed.

“Slow down, tiger.” Dino chuckled. “We have work to do. The packing can wait until tonight.”

“Jaguar, not tiger,” Sidney corrected him with a pout.

Torem wasn’t celebrating just yet. He grabbed Dino and turned him so that they were eye to eye. “Swear to me you’re not going to run anymore. I’m in love with both of you, and my heart won’t be able to take it if you run again.”

“Oh my god,” Sidney gasped. “I love you, too.” He hugged Torem’s back. Torem slung his arm around Sid, but his eyes never left Dino’s.

“I swear. If I wig out, just give me time to deal with it, but I won’t run.”

Torem nodded and then kissed Dino. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

“Uh, guys, we have an audience.” Sidney tapped Torem’s chest and pointed. Some of the workers were standing there staring at them.

“Get the fuck back to work,” Dino shouted, and the workers scrambled to look busy.

“You’re sexy when you’re all foreman and shit.” Sidney laughed.

“Just wait until tonight.” Dino smiled and patted Sidney’s ass.

“I like
this
Dino.” Sidney purred in Torem’s ear.

Fuck, it was going to be one long day. Torem groaned and followed Sidney to their assigned area, beginning their workday.

* * * *

Sidney sighed as he laid his head on Torem’s shoulder. They were dancing in Theo’s. Dino needed to stop by before they took his belongings to the house. He said he needed to get Mickey out of the rental and moved into another.

Torem held his hands as they slow danced to Rob Thomas’s “Ever
the Same.”

“This is nice.” Sidney rubbed his cheek over Torem’s chest, the masculine scent arousing him. Torem’s warmth made him feel safe.

“It is, Sid. I love you.” Torem wrapped his arms around him and kissed his head, laying his cheek on Sidney’s head. He loved the fact he was two inches shorter than his men. It allowed Sidney to tuck his head under their chins.

“I love you, too.” Sidney never wanted to leave his arms. Now all he needed was his other mate’s arms around him and he would be in heaven.

Oh goodness, and there those arms were. Sidney shivered as Dino’s chest pressed against his back. “I’m done, any time you guys want to leave.”

“Not now,” Sidney pleaded. Dino swayed behind him, caressing his sides as the three danced. Sidney leaned his head back and kissed Dino, feeling cocooned in his men’s embrace.

“I knew this was a fag bar.” A burly man growled from the door. “Is that little fag still around here?”

“I thought I told you about that, Clancy.” Jesse, the sheriff, stood from a booth he was sitting at with his mates, Craig and Avanti. This did not look good, half the men in the bar stood, glaring at the loudmouth man.

Trevor pulled Sammy in his arms, Knox blocking both of them.

“I’m giving you one warning, leave.” Jesse stood there with his arms crossed over his chest.

“You ain’t got no uniform on. What can you do?” the man asked challengingly.

“Exactly, so if the men in this tavern decide to tear you to pieces, I can turn my head with a clear conscience.”

Sidney saw that the man was just now registering that there were more people here than just him and Jesse. Dino pressed his chest into Sidney’s back, Torem wrapping his arms tight around them. He felt smashed in between the two but knew his mates were only trying to protect him.
As if I need it.
Sidney mentally rolled his eyes but allowed them to do what they thought was in his best interest.

“This whole town is turning into one big homo central,” Clancy snarled and walked out of the bar.

“And that, my friends, is our friendly neighborhood bigot. Please pay him no mind and go back to what you were doing.” Jesse spoke above the music.

Sidney wanted to beat Clancy over the head when his men moved away from him, stealing his warmth. “We should go.” Dino slid his hands in Sidney’s and Torem’s, pulling them along.

“Night, Sid.” Sammy and Trevor waved.

“Night, guys.” He liked the family feeling he felt around these men. Sidney never had that in his hometown. Everyone was too afraid of Remus and stayed to themselves.

“You guys take it easy.” Theo waved as they exited the tavern.

“Will do.” Torem waved goodnight.

“It’s so nice out tonight. I wish you could shift, Dino. It’s the perfect night for it.” Sidney squeezed his human mate’s hand.

“No biggie, why don’t you two go for a run while I unpack.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yep, I’ll be waiting for you guys when you get back.” Dino chuckled and wiggled his brows.

“Oh, I like that plan. Hot, sweaty men and sex, yummy.” Sidney gasped when Dino pressed him into the side of the truck, kissing him like nobody’s business.

“Come on, fellas. Dino has unpacking to do and we have a run to take,” Torem said as he got into the truck.

“Hells bells,” Sidney grumbled as he climbed in, Dino smacking his ass as he made his way to the middle of the bench seat. “Can’t we have sex first?”

“No,” Dino and Torem said at the same time.

“We won’t get anything done.” Dino looped his arm around Sidney and pulled him close. “Besides, think of the anticipation.”

“I anticipate my bingo card when the numbers are called, not sex.” Sidney pouted.

“I think we have a spoiled baby on our hands.” Torem chuckled. “Maybe we should make him watch with no participation.”

“Maybe you two will be attacked by a jaguar if you try it,” Sidney countered.

“Calm down, hellcat. You’ll get some cock, after you run.” Torem grabbed Sidney’s hand and twined their fingers together.

Darn it, they were proving to be more complicated than Sidney thought.

* * * *

Chey pulled his clothes from the drawer, laying them on the bed for his shower when he heard a soft knock on his door. He laid his shirt down and crossed the room, hoping it wasn’t someone else warning him to stay away from Eagle.

He got the picture. They didn’t need to keep telling him. Chey would never force his healing powers on someone, and they had to be willing. Didn’t they get that part?

There was one more reason Chey wouldn’t go near Eagle, the most significant reason of all.

Eagle was his mate.

To touch the wolf, be claimed by him, would send Eagle into the healing that—if everyone’s warning was anything to go by—would tear them both apart mentally.

Chey omitted the part when he told of his gift. In order for him to heal, he had to take in the pain, relive the tormenting memories with the person he was healing, and it drained him physically.

The memories, however brief, he had witnessed with Torem, told him that this pack needed Chey more than they realized.

He only prayed he survived it.

“I wasn’t expecting you.”

“May I enter?”

“Sure, what can I do for you?” Chey had wondered if he would get a visit from one of these men. The Alpha had told him what all three men had gone through at the hands of human smugglers. Well, as much as he knew. No one had a clue about the depth at which they had suffered.

“I don’t want the hurt.” The young man struggled to communicate his thoughts.

“Are you sure? It’s very painful. You will relive every moment.” He wanted it to be perfectly clear what the man was getting himself into.

“I am.” He nodded.

“Then come lie on the bed, make yourself comfortable.” Chey crawled onto the bed and held his arms out. The man settled down and laid his head on Chey’s lap.

“Let it begin.” Chey ran his hands up and down Kamiko’s back, and then massaged his temples as the heart-piercing wailing filled the bedroom.

Chey jumped out of his skin when eyes, blazing with fire, appeared from his darkened corner, and then a body emerged. Rage filled the man’s face as he pulled Kamiko into his arms.

“No, if you take him now, he will suffer greatly.” Chey held his arms out. “He is willingly cleansing himself of his pain. Please, let me help him.”

The man glared at Chey. “If you harm him, I will kill you.”

“I won’t harm him. Stay, you can help him, too.”

Kamiko cried out and pulled at his clothes, the torment on his face was killing Chey. “Please,” he begged.