Ryan took a deep breath and nodded, leaninginto Blayde’s chest. “I want to believe it. ”
Lucas stood up and began to pace again. “I need to think this through, Blayde, and it’s getting late. Kyle and I should go. Can I talk to you for a minute, please?”
Ryan watched the three gorgeous men move toward the door and stand in a huddle, probably talking about him. For the last three days since he’d been arrested at the auction, he’d been terrified and sick at heart, thinking his life was over. Then suddenly Blayde had come blazing into his life, and though he was still exhausted, somehow he felt hopeful again for the first time in weeks, really. For some reason, Blayde seemed powerfully attracted to him. And Ryan had to admit, the feeling was more than mutual. When Blayde first wrapped those big arms around him, he had felt all the hurt and fear inside him melting.
He’d lied to him, though, and if he found out, he would hate him for it. He’d only just met Blayde, no matter how attracted to him he was. Hedidn’t trust him with the whole truth yet, though, even if he did keep talking about keeping Ryan safe and being his mate. The story he’d told was mostly true,he hadn’t killed his friend and surely that was the most important thing. He needed the Lycans to believe him and not take him to prison. If there was any chance of getting out of that, he had to take it. By saying he wasn’t even there when Blaine was killed, it really sounded a lot better. It might give him more of a chance.
These three huge Lycans made him feel safe. Especially his Blayde. My Blayde? When did I start to think of him like that? Somehow he knew, though, that Blayde would stand between him and danger, would fight for him if necessary. Considering Blayde’s size, it was a comforting thought. He put his head back on the chair and closed his eyes. In seconds, he was drifting off, and for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to relax.
* * * * When Lucas moved over to the door, Blayde followed him. Kyle came in close too, and Lucas spoke in a low voice. “I know it’s probably useless for me to tell you not to mate with him yet. ”
“Fuck that!” Blayde said angrily. “He’s mine and I’ll do what I want with him. ” Lucas gave him a stern gaze, and Blayde blushed a little. “I’m sorry, Lucas. I know I gave my allegiance and my obedience to you as the pack leader, but don’t ask me to do this. ”
“B layde, I understand how you must feel, I mean, I haven’t met my mate yet, but I think I understand that the feeling is overpowering. ”
“Overpowering?That’s not the half of it. You can’t know it till you experience it, Lucas. There’s no way I can be with him and not fuck him. Don’t ask me to do that. ”
“Then let him come to my house for the night. Give yourself a little space. I’m right next door, and you know I’ll guard him with my life. No harm will come to him, I promise. ”
“No,” Blayde said firmly. “I can’t do it. ”
Lucas sighed heavily. “Isn’t there some way I can convince you not to mate with him? If you do, and something goes wrong… Look, Blayde, Kyle and Nikolai and the twins, all of us will do everything we can to help you get him out of this mess. You know that. Whatever it takes! But if you mate with him and something goes wrong, you’re my brother, Blayde, and I can’t stand by and see you get hurt. ”
Blayde shook his head. “It’s already too late. I imprinted on him the moment I touched him, I could feel it. The actual mating is just a form
ality at this point. ”
Lucas’ shoulders slumped in defeat. “I thought that would be your answer, but I had to try. ”
“I know,” Blayde said miserably. He glanced over his shoulder at Ryan and saw he’d fallen asleep, curled up in the armchair like a child. He sighed again as a rush of tenderness washed over him. “Nothing I can do about it, Lucas. ”
Lucas nodded, reluctance evident on his face.
“Don’t worry about the other prisoners. I’ll go by the holding cell and check on them,” Kyle said.
“See you in the morning,” Lucas said softly. “We can talk again over coffee. Just be careful with him, Blayde, until you can figure things out. ”
After they left, Blayde walked over to stand beside his mate.
Ryan stirred and looked up to see Blayde staring down at him. He smiled at him tentatively and straightened up in the chair. “Sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night at the spaceport. What with the cold floor and the shackles and all,” he said, with a sardonic little smile.
Blayde nodded. “I’m sorry you’ve had to go through all that, baby. Especially when you’ve done nothing wrong. Well, except for your lifestyle. That’s been pretty fucked up for a while. ”
Ryan shifted uncomfortably. “What do you mean?”
Blayde frowned at him in irritation. “What do I mean? You can’t be that stupid. Porn films, fucking anything on two legs, drugs and alcohol. What the hell were you thinking? I know you’re young, but shit!”
“I made good money doing those films, and so what if I had a good time? I was careful, and I’m single and unattached!”
“Not anymore!” Blayde roared back at him.
“Yeah, well, who said? I don’t remember you asking me, and I sure as hell don’t remember agreeing to anything. Damn it, I just met you this afternoon!”
Blayde reached for him and yanked him up into his arms, crushing him against his chest. He lowered his lips to Ryan’s, sucking in his tongue and doing wicked things to the inside of his mouth. Ryan pushed back against his chest for about two seconds and then relaxed into him, allowing him to hold him tight to his chest. Blayde pulled his head away and stared angrily down into his face. “Is this ringing any bells? You’re mine, damn you. Say it!”
He shook him a little and Ryan’s head fell back. He looked up at Blayde and gave him a teasing smile. “No. Make me. ”
Blayde glared down at him. “Oh,it’s like that, is it? All right, sweetheart. Just remember you asked for this. ” He bent over and leaned his shoulder into Ryan’s waist, lifting him over his shoulder as effortlessly as if he weighed a hundred kopins, instead of a hundred and sixty-five. Blayde strode rapidly down the hall with him almost before he could react. Ryan was muscular and strong himself, but since he’d arrived, Blayde had been tossing him around like he was a kid. Though an average to large-sized human, he was like a child to these Lycans. A part of him thrilled to the idea that he was able to be so controlled by this man. Or I should say this wolfman. It made him want to shiver and tease and see how far he could push his sexy lover. He didn’t mind being a bottom, in fact he loved it, with the right guy. He was anxious to see if Blayde was the right one.