Their Bounty (Four Mercenaries 1)

Boar emerged from behind a bush by the stream, still washing his face with a towel. “I mean… live and let live, but is Clover okay with this?”

“Are you?” Drake nudged Clover, shooting him a stare so intense Clover was transported back into the thatch of grass where Drake had a go at his mouth.

Clover cleared his throat and smirked. “You know I’ve had the hots for Drake since day one.”

Tank reached out to help Clover all the way down the slope, but Drake pulled him under his slender yet deceptively strong arm. “He’s mine today.”

Tank raised his eyebrows. “Ookay. I feel like I’m missing a piece of this puzzle, but it’s fine by me.”

Clover bit back a smile at the word mine coming from Drake’s mouth. He’d been salivating for this man for so long, yet the connection they’d forged today was so much deeper than he could have imagined.

He’d wanted Drake on his side for pragmatic reasons of safety with the added bonus of hot fun, but what he’d found underneath Drake’s skin was so much deeper. He didn’t want his relationship with any of the men to end. But if he wanted the guys to trust him as much as he trusted them, he needed to grow, learn, and transcend the pretty face he was now. He needed to offer more than smiles and sex.

“Is everyone okay?” Clover asked.

Pyro shook his head, eying him with a squint. “Don’t change the topic, everyone’s fine. I wanna know what all this kinky shit is about.”

Drake sighed, once again squeezing his hand on Clover’s hair and leading him toward the cars. The guys had used their vehicles to pull the fallen trees away and create passage. No bodies in sight.

“I don’t owe you an explanation. If you’re good you might get a blowjob later, but only as long if you don’t let him come.”

Pyro’s mouth twitched, and he let out a raspy laugh. “This shit’s getting better and better.”

Tank crossed his arms with a smirk when he met Clover’s gaze. “You’re one lucky boy. Getting all this attention.”

Clover took a deep inhale, fearful of what reaction he might get if he told them the truth. But he needed to state the decision he’d made in his heart, even if the others thought it was too much. “I am. I’m lucky to have you all, and I don’t want this to end. I’ve… never felt like this. Can I please stay with you?”

The sudden somberness of the atmosphere had Clover’s back breaking out in goose bumps, and he lowered his head, eyes focused on the tips of his trainers out of fear that he’d see rejection.

Drake’s hold on his hair loosened, but his fingertips wandered and sent the most delicious sensations all over Clover’s body, as if he knew how to manipulate nerve endings to his advantage.

Boar approached Clover so quickly looking up seemed necessary, but instead of getting into Clover’s face about him breaking down boundaries, the big bear of a man squeezed Clover in his arms and even lifted him up for a moment.

“Yes. I say yes. I was saying to Pyro that you’re such a perfect fit for us. So pretty, and sweet, and you get my sense of humor!”

Clover smiled, unable to reciprocate the hug but still happy to be embraced. “You’re sweet too. You know, for a killer.” Clover snorted and nuzzled Boar’s ear, breathing in the sweet scent of cocoa that had clung to him since breakfast.

Pyro approached as well, searing Clover in the heat of his gaze. “I’m more than happy to keep you, Clo. There’s enough of you for all of us.”

Clover’s heart beat faster when he looked up at Tank. “How about it, Daddy? Can I stay?”

Tank’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but then he took a step closer and captured Clover’s lips in a kiss so intense Clover felt as if his feet were leaving the ground. He then rubbed his forehead against Clover’s and enfolded him in his arms.

“Of course you can, boy.”

Clover ached for another kiss, already missing Daddy’s touch, but Drake pulled him back by the T-shirt.

“Okay, now that we’ve had our Kumbaya moment and agreed we all want Clover to stay, we need a plan. Until we wipe out whoever wants to have him so badly, he’s not safe. None of us can kick back and chill until that happens,” Drake said, and put his arm over Clover’s shoulders.

Clover couldn’t help but smile. ‘They all agreed’. Which was most likely as good as he would get from Drake, who wasn’t the kind of man who expressed his feelings eagerly, but that was still more than he’d dreamed of.

Tank’s mouth stiffened, and he rubbed his chin, glancing at the other two men. Boar was the first one to open his mouth.