A Man’s Worth(Brac Pack 31)(19)

Despite the pain he was in, Malcolm gave him a bemused look. “Is that what it is?”

Luke glowered. “This isn’t funny. What happened?” Luke’s hands began to dance around the knife, like he wanted to do something to help but was afraid to touch anything. “This has to come out.”

“Don’t you dare remove it,” Dr. Sheehan said over his shoulder. “We don’t know if it’s embedded in muscle or something more detrimental. I don’t even know how long the damn blade is.”

Luke waved a hand at Malcolm. “Well, he can’t just sit here with a freaking knife in his shoulder!”

Malcolm grabbed his mate, pulling Luke down onto his lap. “Calm down. I swear to you, I’m fine.” Just in a shitload of pain.

Luke didn’t look the least bit happy, but stopped the hysterics. Malcolm sat there, watching as Dr. Sheehan worked on Ahm’s inner thigh, praying his son-in-law made it.



* * * *



Bryce watched his mate sleep. Once the doctor was done mending him, Ahm had been brought upstairs to Bryce’s bedroom where he was now sleeping comfortably. There was nothing like watching a person’s mate slip between life and death to put things in perspective. Bryce was going to try his best to put the betrayal behind him and give Ahm a chance.

“Am I dead?” Ahm asked as he stirred, his eyes slowly opening to show Bryce the beautiful blue irises he loved looking at. Now that Ahm was awake, Bryce wasn’t sure what to say to the man. He had been mad at the guy for so long that being anything else was confusing.

“Dr. Sheehan repaired the artery. You’ll live.”

Ahm turned his head, glancing up at Bryce. “Don’t sound so disappointed. I’m pretty sure my tribe will try again.”

After everything that had just happened, Bryce didn’t want to fight with Ahm. “Then they’ll be met by one angry bear.” He leaned his shoulder on the wall by the window, glancing at the yard below.

“Bryce—”

Bryce held his hand up. “I’m going to do us both a favor and give this mating thing another try.” He turned, pinning Ahm with a narrow-eyed glare. “Don’t screw this up again. I am not a man with infinite forgiveness.”

Ahm closed his eyes, but not before Bryce saw the relief in them. “How does your leg feel?”

“Like someone stabbed me in it.” Ahm opened his eyes and Bryce could see the amusement dancing around the blue orbs.

Despite the bleak situation, Ahm’s response and expression made Bryce want to smile. “Remember this feeling, because if you screw me over again, I’ll stab you in your other thigh.”

Ahm gave a slow blink and then nodded. “I have some files and personal items I need to get from the marshland.”

Change of subject.

“It isn’t safe,” Bryce said. “Your tribe already tried to carve you open. If you go back there, they’ll finish the job.”

Ahm tried to sit up, but he was struggling. Bryce immediately closed the distance and placed a hand on Ahm’s back, helping him. “Take it easy before you bust your stitches. Dr. Sheehan isn’t too happy with the work we’ve already given him today. He’ll kick my ass if he has to come back here.” As soon as Bryce’s hands touched Ahm’s bare flesh, he felt his cock reacting. It became full and heavy as Ahm leaned against the pillows behind him. Bryce let his hand linger as he stared down at the man’s sharp features. How had fate created something so damn beautiful?

“That bad?” Ahm asked, a fine sheen of sweat covering his face.

Bryce wasn’t going to put undue stress on Ahm and tell him about his pa being attacked. It still boiled his blood that anyone hurt his father. “Bad enough.”

Bryce’s hand slid down Ahm’s shoulder, his fingers lingering on Ahm’s bicep. It was well formed, not as big as Bryce’s, but still nice to touch.

And so was the long, silky white hair. Bryce ran the strands between his fingers, amazed that it felt like spun silk. He could play in the thick mass for hours. Bryce let his hand drop as he moved away from Ahm.

Ahm grabbed Bryce’s hand and pulled until Bryce was sitting on the side of the bed. “You don’t understand. Those files are very important. I need them.”

Bryce heard Ahm talking, but his body was too busy reacting to his mate being so close. He could smell the wildness surrounding the fey. It was like being in the woods, running with the wind caressing his fur.

His cock grew impossibly harder.

Ahm cocked his head. “Are you listening to me?”

“Yeah, important files.” Bryce’s heart went wild, and blood rushed hot through his veins. Ahm’s hand was on Bryce’s arm, his fingers feeling as if they were singeing his flesh. He sure as hell hoped Ahm didn’t want to keep talking because Bryce was losing the capacity to listen. All his blood was leaving his body and pooling at his groin.