A Man’s Worth(Brac Pack 31)(33)

“I have a gift for such things, my little love muffin.” Bryce’s brows bounced up and down in amusement.

“Oh, hell no. Do not start calling me that.”

“Then what do you want me to call you, my little sprinkled cupcakes?” Even Bryce couldn’t stop the laughter. His entire body vibrated as his face began to turn a nice shade of red. Ahm felt his cheeks stretching with a wide smile. The man was impossible. He found it hard to stay mad around this guy.

And Ahm liked that his mate could chase away his dark clouds. “You can call me Ahm, my little fusion of gumdrops and lollipops.”

Bryce rolled off of Ahm in a fit of laughter. He was holding his side as tears began to slide from his eyes. “Now you’re getting the hang of it.”

“It is kind of fun to let loose.” And it was. What the doctor had told him was still at the forefront of Ahm’s mind, but laughing with his mate made the burden of everything going on around him seem less stifling.

“I know another way to relieve stress.” Bryce was giving him that same desire-laden look he had given Ahm in the bedroom yesterday. The expression in his light-grey eyes promised hours of wicked fun. They were warm, vivacious, and seductive. The man captivated Ahm in ways he never imagined. He had seen Bryce over the years, but had never stuck around long enough to get to know him.

“I’m not fully healed,” he teased as his cock grew hard for the bear. Having Bryce so close, his scent still clinging on Ahm from the tackle, was playing havoc with his body. His erection was pressing tight into his pants, creating quite a vivid outline. “I’m pretty sure Dr. Sheehan would be pissed if we called him back here about my leg.”

Bryce pushed to his feet, and Ahm hated that their fun was coming to an end. Or so he thought until Bryce reached down and pulled Ahm up into his arms, carrying him toward the house.

“What in the hell are you doing?” Ahm asked in protest. “I am as tall as you and not a light package. Besides, I refuse to allow anyone to carry me when I am quite—”

“For fuck’s sake, shut up,” Bryce grumbled. “Act like you’re wounded.”

“Why?” Ahm asked.

“Duh, how else are we going to escape Pa and his hard labor to enjoy a day in bed together?” Bryce pulled Ahm closer to his chest, and Ahm could feel the man’s heat soaking into his body.

Should he?

Malcolm walked out onto the back porch and Ahm groaned, letting one of his arms fall out to the side.

“What happened?” Malcolm asked.

“Overexerted himself again,” Bryce said with a straight face. His mate’s hands tightened on him and Ahm groaned again.

“Should I call the doc?”

“Nah,” Bryce said. “A day’s rest should do him fine. I’ll keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t try to get out of bed.”

As Bryce walked through the back door, Malcolm called his name. Bryce turned.

“If you wanted a day to play with your mate, all you had to do was say so.” Malcolm walked away as Bryce blushed. The guy seemed to do that a lot.

“Your acting skills suck,” Ahm said. “Even I could see through your lie.”

“Me?” Bryce said in astonishment. “You sounded more like a wounded cow than a wounded man. Next time lay off the heavy moaning.”

“Sorry,” Ahm complained as he quickly wrapped his arms around Bryce’s neck when his mate began to ascend the stairs. He still thought he was too big for the bear to carry him. He was afraid Bryce was going to drop him at any second. “I’ve never had to fool my lover’s father into thinking I was ill so he could have a day off from work.”

“Oh, just shut up and moan some more.”

“Why?” Ahm asked. “Your father already knows it was a ruse.”

“Because the sound was making me hard.” Bryce grinned as he shouldered his bedroom door open and dropped Ahm unceremoniously onto the bed. Ahm licked his dry lips when Bryce pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his large pecs and well-defined biceps. It looked like Ahm could swing from the man’s damn arms. That’s how round with muscle they were.

But what really attracted Ahm’s eyes was the V shape where stomach ended and his mate’s thick legs began. Ahm moved back when Bryce crawled to him, over him, gazing down at Ahm with soulful eyes.

Reaching up, Ahm ran his hand gently down Bryce’s neck. The man was so incredibly beautiful. His eyes were the lightest of greys with thick, black lashes fringing them. His features were strong and his lips…they begged for Ahm’s attention.

When Bryce lowered his head to Ahm’s, he opened his mouth for his mate’s exploring tongue. He moaned at the taste of masculinity. His mate’s kiss was tender and soft, a total antithesis to the steely feel of Bryce’s body. A small growl fell from his lips as Bryce’s tongue lightly stroked Ahm’s.