Their Bounty (Four Mercenaries 1)

Tank gathered him in a tight hug, until their legs entwined and Clover’s face was tucked into the crook of Tank’s neck. His chin rubbed the top of Clover’s head, soon followed by a soft kiss. “I’ve got you. We’re not good guys, but we aren’t bad either. We’ll keep you safe, give you time to decide what you want to do.”

Relief flooded Clover so intensely tears wouldn’t stop streaming down his face. The gentle touch was in such stark contrast to Pyro’s rough, punishing fuck Clover found himself on the verge of breaking down, but instead, he kissed Tank on the lips, wordlessly begging for tenderness. He wanted to feel that someone cared about him, to have Tank’s strong hands roam all over his body and claim him. He’d never felt that way for any of his boyfriends. He’d never let any of them in, never trusted any of them the way he trusted Tank. Maybe it was reckless of Clover to open up to a stranger who’d asked for his body in exchange for protection, but he already knew Tank was a man of his word.

The kiss was slow, tender and languid as if it was the first time and they were only getting to know each other. Tank entwined their fingers and pushed Clover back, rolling on top, but never let their lips part. His strong, heavy body was so welcome, so wanted Clover could hardly contain his emotions.

By the time Tank trapped Clover under him, the need to get rid of clothes and be together was so overwhelming Clover hadn’t heard what Tank was asking him at first.

“Do you want this, Clover?” he asked, hand in Clover’s hair, knees between his thighs.

“Yes, Daddy.” Clover dared a smile. Just uttering the pet name made his insides melt in excitement. He tried to steal another kiss, but Tank pulled himself up, his mouth drifting out of reach.

“The same way you told Pyro fucking you was ‘fine’?”

Clover’s skin prickled with goosebumps at the memory of it, and he looked away. “No. I’m sorry. I wasn’t fine. I was a mess.” He rubbed his eyes, which kept welling up and making his vision even less clear.

Tank grunted. “Then you better tell him so next time. Not gonna police you. But I’m not into fucking someone who doesn’t want it.”

Clover nodded, accepting the harsh truth that he should have done things differently. If he wanted to be around all these men, he needed to communicate better, set boundaries, and refuse to let any of them treat him like trash. Because that was how that whole situation with Pyro made him feel. He took a deep breath, already nervous about what he was about to say.

“I want you. I like you. A lot. It makes my knees soft when you talk dirty to me.”

Tank’s exhale caressed Clover’s face, but it was the kiss that followed that made Clover push his hips up and clutch at Tank’s massive arms, begging for care and attention.

“And I’m crazy about you, boy. Can’t stay angry even when you’re being a little shit. Don’t tell the others,” he added after a moment, nipping on Clover’s cheek. “And if I’m to be honest, I’m glad there’s no one waiting for you in New York.”

Clover dared a smile, running his fingers over the ridges of strong muscle under Tank’s ink. Tank wouldn’t lie to him. He meant what he was saying, he enjoyed Clover’s company, and it was such a revelation Clover parted his legs farther and pulled them up around Tank’s hips.

“It’s a good fit, isn’t it?” Clover stroked Tank’s stubbly cheek. “You like someone to care for, and I’m completely useless.”

Tank chuckled and grabbed Clover’s wrists, pinning them above his head. “Now you are,” he said and rocked his hips, awakening arousal Clover hadn’t thought himself capable of after the horrible punishment earlier.

He’d hated being submitted to the belt and had done his best not to scream when the leather strap hit his ass, but when he thought of how cruel he’d been to Boar and how he’d lied to everyone’s faces, he felt he deserved every stroke, so he couldn’t resent Tank for disciplining him any longer. What was done was done.

Clover gasped, tightening the hold of his legs around Tank and looking into his eyes, no longer trying to avoid the intimacy of it. He remembered how much Boar had seemed to want that from him and vowed to himself that if Boar accepted his apology, Clover would give him whatever he wanted. They’d be face to face like two lovers, because he didn’t deserve to have his feelings rejected on the basis of mistrust. Clover would allow him in as well.

“Can it work?” Clover whispered. “With the other guys? I don’t want to cause problems between you.”