Chapter Six

Nate struggled to convince himself this was real. After decades of roaming deserted hallways with no one to talk to but himself, the idea of touch, of intimacy, didn’t feel real.

But god, how he’d craved this. Laughter, conversations, the comfort of someone’s presence, especially moments like this. So intimate and raw.

For so long, Nate had resigned himself to solitude, convinced he’d remain imprisoned in this bleak place until madness claimed him entirely.

And now Ryker was here.

My mate.

Yet, it didn’t make things better like he thought it would. The joy of having his mate was tangled with guilt, knowing Ryker had been ripped away from his family, sucked into this abysmal place where he didn’t belong.

“Oh god!”

Nate’s thoughts crumbled under the onslaught of sensations as Ryker’s lips closed over the head of his cock. The sound that escaped his throat was animalistic, almost feral, as the heat of his mate’s mouth obliterated everything else.

Until this very moment, Nate hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed sex. Missed it so damn desperately.

Ryker’s hands tightened on his hips, firm but not controlling, both claiming him and grounding him. Nate whimpered as the soft, wet tongue traced lazy circles, sweeping across his sensitive skin. The sight alone was enough to make him dizzy—Ryker’s broad shoulders flexing, every inch of his body screaming ownership.

If he keeps making me feel this way, he can own whatever the hell he wants.

A tremor seized Nate’s muscles, tightening and quaking, as if his body wasn’t sure whether to surrender or hold on for dear life. Release hovered just out of reach, taunting him with how easily his mate could push him over the edge.

“Ryk—I...oh.”

His words broke apart as the pressure in his groin pooled, a force threatening to detonate and take him with it as his mate’s lips slid down to the base of Nate’s cock. The suction, the firm drag of his mouth—it was like the guy knew exactly how to unravel him.

And Nate unraveled in the most spectacular way.

A sharp cry ripped from his chest as his orgasm struck, so intense Ryker had to throw an arm over his waist to keep him pinned, wringing every last shudder from Nate until he lay boneless and spent.

Breathing heavy, Nate couldn’t decide if he wanted to thank fate or send it a strongly worded complaint about matchmaking him with a guy who apparently didn’t believe in stopping.

Or even slowing down.

Yet, even after the most powerful climax of his life that left him twitching with aftershocks, Nate’s body still thrummed with need.

“I think you flipped a switch inside me,”

he said between shallow breaths.

“Baby, I haven’t been inside you yet.”

Ryker’s mouth curved into a cocky grin as he crawled up Nate’s body, and when he spoke again, the husky drop in his voice made the air itself seem to tremble around them. “But I’m about to flip every goddamn switch you own.”

Nate’s breath caught as he spread his legs, welcoming the heat of Ryker’s weight. This had to be a dream—his mate couldn’t possibly be real, couldn’t possibly be about to wreck him so completely.

“Your flirting has definitely improved,”

Nate teased.

“Giving a gorgeous guy head will do that.”

Ryker winked as he knelt between Nate’s legs, his muscles flexing when he yanked his shirt over his head. Good lord.

Was it even legal to be built like that? If it wasn’t, Ryker deserved a lifetime sentence—for indecent levels of hotness.

Nate just had to touch. He explored the hard planes of Ryker’s chest, his fingers finding and teasing his mate’s nipples. A huge grin split Nate’s cheeks as the bear shifter hissed, his head tilting back as Nate rolled and tugged at the taut peaks.

“Feels so good,”

Ryker growled, his hands covering Nate’s, encouraging the touch.

For the first time in years, Nate felt a spark of control. After being at the mercy of Diobno’s whims for so long, making Ryker moan beneath his touch felt like reclaiming a piece of himself.

Leaning in, Ryker’s lips, barely inches from Nate’s ear, were full and inviting, the hint of a devilish smirk dancing on them. His gray eyes were dark and intense, the kind of gaze that made you feel both excited and intimidated. “I’m about to set free every pent-up frustration you’ve ever had.”

His lips brushed the shell of Nate’s ear, drawing a tremble from him. “But first, let me finish getting undressed. I don’t want any barriers between us.”

The loss of Ryker’s heat as he moved away left Nate cold and aching to have him back. But when Ryker’s gaze locked onto him while his jeans slid down, revealing muscular thighs and a perfect ass, Nate could almost taste the rush of adrenaline and desire that was building between them.

Every inch revealed made Nate’s throat tighten, his mouth dry as his gaze roamed over the muscular frame, the dusting of dark hair, the thick cock already leaking at the tip. He wanted to lick every part of his mate until Ryker was left as undone as he felt.

But Ryker had other plans.

“Spread your legs for me, honey bear.”

The sound of his voice hit like a low rumble of thunder, rolling through Nate with a dangerous promise.

Gladly obeying, he lowered to his back and slid his legs apart, baring himself completely. The cool air brushing against his skin only heightened the heat surging through him as Ryker settled between his thighs.

The anticipation was maddening, exquisite, as if a string pulled taut, ready to snap under the pressure of too much neediness. A hundred years without sex—Nate deserved fireworks, a parade, and maybe a damn medal.

A lubed hand found his entrance, fingers caressing the sensitive ring of muscle. A faint gasp escaped him as Ryker massaged the spot, slow and teasing. His touch was firm, stretching Nate with an intimacy that felt like a blazing inferno.

Glancing away, Nate closed his eyes, trying desperately to calm his body down before he blew another load too soon. But damn, those thick fingers felt so good.

“Eyes on me.”

Nate cracked his eyes open, his focus instantly drawn to Ryker’s penetrating gaze. The intensity in those gray depths was pure hunger, spreading like liquid sin through Nate’s veins, a wicked promise with no end in sight.

“Touch me,”

Ryker growled, grabbing Nate’s hand and guiding it to his cock. “I need you to touch me, sweetheart.”

A command Nate would gladly oblige. He gripped the cock firmly, the heat of Ryker’s erection hot against his palm, thick and throbbing. The hardness flexed, causing Nate to marvel at the velvety smoothness over rigid steel.

“Damn.”

Ryker’s head tilted back as his hips bucked into Nate’s grip, his fingers still stretching and scissoring. “Stroke my cock, baby.”

Then Ryker’s fingers shifted, angling deeper, sending a jolt of pleasure through Nate that made him cry out. He let go of Ryker’s cock to grip his own, desperate to hold himself back from the edge.

“R-Ryker,”

he gasped, his voice shaking as his body writhed under the onslaught of sensation.

“I’ve got you.”

Ryker’s voice was low and rough, full of wickedness as he leaned in to claim Nate’s lips. The kiss nothing short of dominance and devouring, tongues tangling as Ryker’s fingers moved faster, working him open.

The anticipation had just shot to full pressure.

When Ryker finally withdrew his fingers, Nate snarled.

A soft laugh, low and sinful, vibrated through the space between them. “Still so needy.”

“You’re joking, right?”

Nate gaped at him. “Teddy bear, release my pent-up frustrations or I might take matters into my own hand.”

Mischief glinted in his mate’s eyes as his smile widened, lazy and knowing. “I’m a man of my word.”

He tossed Nate’s legs over his shoulders then positioned himself, the blunt head of his cock pressing against Nate’s entrance.

“Right now, it’s just us. You’re mine, beautiful. And I’m yours.”

There was something primal in the way his voice curled around the words, rich and decadent, as if he were savoring every syllable.

His flirting had definitely improved. It was dripping in heat now.

Then Ryker thrust forward, seating himself inside Nate in one smooth, powerful stroke.

“Fuck!”

Nate’s cry tore through the air, his hands scrambling to find purchase on Ryker’s biceps as his mate filled him completely. Every inch of the man’s cock sent heat and pressure coursing through Nate’s body, and he could feel every pulse, every throb of his mate buried deep inside him.

Panting, Nate bit down on his lower lip, the burn both painful and incredible.

Ryker didn’t move a muscle, his forehead resting against Nate’s, his breathing just as heavy. “You feel so fucking good,”

he whispered, a slow smile spreading across his lips.

Then he pulled back, just enough to slam forward again, wrenching a moan from Nate that echoed off the walls.

“More. I-I need more.”

He dug his nails into Ryker’s arms as he rocked his hips to meet each thrust. “Don’t you dare hold back.”

“Not gonna.”

Ryker growled low in his throat, his movements becoming harder, faster, each stroke sending sparks of pleasure racing through Nate’s veins. Their bodies moved in perfect rhythm, leaving Nate trembling on the edge of release.

Every inch of Ryker felt like all strength and heat and raw masculinity. Nate wanted to memorize the feel of him, taste him until nothing else existed but the two of them tangled together. The thought of finally, finally taking what he’d been denied for so long sent his mind spinning into delicious chaos.

Touch wasn’t enough. Nate needed to devour, to press every part of himself against his mate until the ache in his chest turned into a different kind of ache entirely. The weight of Ryker’s hands on his body was heaven, and he couldn’t stop thinking about how much better they’d feel gripping him harder, holding him tighter, pulling him closer.

Every brush of lips, every deliberate press of his mate’s body, sent Nate spiraling further into the kind of madness he’d only dreamed about. He wanted to drown in it, to lose himself completely in the heat and weight of Ryker, until he didn’t know where one ended and the other began.

Skin burned where his mate touched, a trail of fire that lit every nerve alive. Nate craved more—deeper, harder, rougher—as though the years of solitude demanded nothing less than raw, unrestrained passion. Every kiss, every bite, every growl from the man’s throat made Nate ache for all the things his mate could give him.

Thoughts of restraint shattered the moment Ryker’s tongue teased his lips. Nate couldn’t hold back anymore; he didn’t want to. He wanted to taste him, consume him, leave his mark on every inch of Ryker’s body and demand the same in return.

The way his mate’s body moved against Nate sent waves of heat crashing over him. His mind screamed for more, for all of it, now, even as he wanted to drag out every second, to make Ryker work for every moan and gasp.

The sound of his mate’s breath, low and ragged, was better than anything Nate had ever imagined. He wanted to taste that sound, to pull it from Ryker’s lips again and again, until it was the only thing left between them. Every touch felt like a brand, and Nate wanted to wear it, to carry it with him forever.

His body arched into Ryker’s as his mate drove him higher and higher. His legs slid down, tightening around Ryker’s waist, the bear shifter’s hands gripping his hips as if he was afraid Nate might disappear from beneath him.

Not a chance in hell.

Then Ryker dropped to his arms. Nate clawed at his mate’s back, desperate to hold onto something solid as pleasure flooded his senses, making his vision blur. His nails dragged over muscle and sinew, the flex and strain of Ryker’s body only adding to the heady mix of sensations that left him breathless.

“You’re so damn perfect.”

Ryker buried his face in the crook of Nate’s neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin. “I could stay inside you forever.”

Nate shivered. “Don’t stop,”

he begged, his voice trembling.

“Not until you come for me again.”

Ryker pulled back just enough to look into Nate’s eyes. The intensity in his gaze made Nate’s heart stutter, and he couldn’t glance away, even as his body quivered under Ryker’s relentless pace.

The friction was maddening, the heat building to an unbearable crescendo as Ryker shifted his angle, hitting a spot inside Nate that sent a sharp jolt of pleasure through him. He cried out, his hands flying to Ryker’s wrists as his mate slammed into him again and again.

“R-Ryker, I—”

“I’ve got you, honey bear.”

One hand left Nate’s hip to wrap around his cock, stroking him in time with Ryker’s thrusts. The dual sensation was too much, and Nate’s body tensed, his head falling back as another orgasm ripped through him, even more powerful than the last.

His cry was hoarse as his release jetted between their bodies, and still, Ryker kept going. His mate’s grip on Nate’s cock tightened, milking every last spasm from him as the man’s hips continued their relentless rhythm.

Nate was not going to survive this. His mate had promised to release every pent-up frustration, and he was delivering.

With a low growl, Ryker eased out of him, then his strong hands guided Nate onto his stomach. Nate’s hips were lifted, legs spread wide as his mate positioned him just right.

“So goddamn beautiful.”

Ryker slid his hands over the curves of Nate’s ass before spreading him open. Then he pressed back inside Nate, deeper this time, causing Nate to gasp. If his mate made love like this routinely, Nate needed to get into better shape. The guy was flipping and twisting him in so many different ways, his muscles threatened to quit.

“Oh, shit.”

Nate strangled the sheets with his fists as Ryker began to move again. Each thrust sent pleasure shooting through him, reigniting the fire that had only just started to wane.

“You’re so damn tight,”

Ryker grunted, settling a hand on the small of Nate’s back, the other wrapping around his throat. The grip wasn’t constricting, just firm enough to remind Nate of who was in control. He didn’t have to. Nate was fully aware who was in charge at the moment.

“I can’t—”

Nate’s words broke off as Ryker shifted again, the angle making him see stars. “I’m gonna—”

“Do it.”

His mate’s voice was gruff and powerful, like a current Nate didn’t realize was sweeping him away until it was too late. “Come for me again, sweetheart. Milk my fucking cock.”

Another orgasm ripped through Nate so forcefully his arms gave out, leaving him slumped against the bed as Ryker continued to pound his cock into his ass.

Nate’s body was trembling, his mind a haze of pleasure and exhaustion, but Ryker didn’t relent. In his 800 years, Nate had never met anyone so insatiable. It was like Ryker was really trying to fuck a century’s worth of orgasms out of him.

A strong arm braced around Nate’s waist, pulling him upright until his back was flush against the guy’s chest.

“No closing your eyes, honey bear.”

There was something about the smoky edge of Ryker’s voice, the way it carried both heat and desire, that made Nate’s pulse stutter.

Forcing his eyes open, Nate met the intense gaze in the reflection of the cracked mirror across the room. The sight stole his breath. Ryker looked primal, his gray eyes dark with hunger as his hips snapped forward, the muscles of his chest and shoulders flexing with every movement.

“An incredible sight,”

Ryker growled, his teeth grazing the curve of Nate’s shoulder. The sensation made Nate moan, his body arching instinctively as Ryker’s other hand moved to grip his jaw, tilting his head back to meet the man’s lips in a bruising kiss.

Pleasure built inside Nate once again, coiling tighter and tighter until he thought he might shatter. He’d only been joking about having so much buildup, but Ryker had clearly taken Nate at his word. He wasn’t sure how much more he had to give at this point. His balls ached, yet Ryker kept wringing orgasms out of Nate’s exhausted body.

“Are you ready to be mine?”

“Yes,”

Nate hissed seconds before Ryker’s canines sank into his shoulder.

The sharpness of the bite stole his breath, but it wasn’t pain that made him cry his mate’s name. It was their souls soldering, a flood of emotions too powerful to name. Their hearts synchronized, now beating as one.

Nate had never felt anything like this in his life. The bond roared to life, blazing through his chest and locking them together in a way that felt undeniable, permanent. He could feel Ryker inside of him like a protective shield.

A deep, primal growl vibrated against Nate’s shoulder as the hard cock in his ass pulsed, Ryker’s release spilling inside him with a warmth that seemed to spread through every inch of Nate’s being.

“Mine,”

Ryker growled, his canines withdrawing only to be replaced by the warm brush of his lips.

They collapsed against the bed, Ryker’s weight grounding him as they struggled to catch their breath. For a brief moment, Nate felt complete. Whole. Like all the pieces of his shattered existence had been stitched back together by the strength of Ryker’s touch.

But the moment was fleeting, overshadowed by the cold weight of reality pressing down on him. They were still trapped. And while Nate had grown numb to the isolation, the thought of his mate wasting away in this desolate place filled him with a fear so profound it made his heart hurt.

Ryker must have sensed his distress because he cupped Nate’s cheek, brushing his thumb along his jawline. “I’m not going anywhere,”

he said softly.

But that was the problem. Ryker couldn’t leave.

The bond that had brought them together had also raised the stakes in ways Nate hadn’t been prepared for.

As Ryker pulled him even closer, pressing a gentle kiss to his temple, Nate closed his eyes. He let the steady rhythm of his mate’s breathing ground him even as his thoughts spiraled.

For now, they had this moment, this connection, but the clock was already ticking, and Nate had no idea how much time they had left.

* * * *

“You’re positive there was a motel right here, in this empty lot?”

Sheriff Harper’s brows furrowed as he scrubbed his hand over his bearded jaw. Killian watched as the bear shifter’s gaze darted from the lot overrun with weeds growing up through the cracked asphalt to the luxury SUV parked in the middle of it like it had been abandoned.

“This is my brother’s ride.”

Killian jabbed a finger at the SUV, his frustration mounting.

The sheriff nodded. “Yes, I’m aware. It’s just that, I drove by here two days ago, and there wasn’t a motel standing here.”

Killian walked a few feet away, pointing to a patch of prickly weeds that stood a foot high. “This is where the entrance to the motel was. The same door my brother was sucked into,”

he snarled. Then he stormed across the asphalt and stopped, gesturing to a few discarded bottles and other pieces of trash at his feet. “This is where Ryker’s room was located, where he led me and my father to retrieve his mate.”

Sheriff Harper narrowed his eyes, clearly unappreciative of Killian’s pissy tone, though anyone would sound that way after going through what Killian and his dad had just gone through.

“While I’m aware a lot of insane things happen in our world, you’re trying to tell me Hotel California actually exists?”

Holy shitballs. Killian was about to blow a gasket. “No, because that fictitious hotel never vanished or even existed to begin with.”

He breathed out slowly, telling himself to calm down. “This one exists. It’s just not here right now.”

Sheriff Harper went back to scratching his beard. “Because it slowly faded, sucking your brother in before fully disappearing to...”

“If I knew, do you think I would be standing here?”

So much for keeping his cool. Killian didn’t understand why the bear shifter was having a hard time believing that mysterious, transient motels were real.

He wished his father had been able to stick around, but Quinton had badly injured himself trying to get Ryker out of the door that had sucked his brother in like he was made of taffy. Right now, Quinton’s massive bear was sprawled out at home, Noah watching over him.

Killian had had to call Kalen Frost and ask him and his sons for help getting Quinton’s 700-pound bear home. His back still hurt from lifting his dad onto the flatbed Kalen had borrowed from the local mechanic’s garage.

Stewart and Ethan were still at Killian’s house—or what used to be his house before he’d moved in with his mate and nephew.

Ethan had squealed in utter delight when the three-year-old spotted the massive bear being offloaded and taken inside. His eyes filled with excitement, he’d followed behind them, chanting “Pay whiff bear! Pay whiff bear!”

“I’m not trying to downplay this, Killian. I’m really not,”

Sheriff Harper said. “I’m sorry I sounded doubtful, but I was just trying to wrap my head around a disappearing motel. What I’m trying to figure out is how to find a motel that vanished into thin air.”

It was the same thing the Frost men had said. They’d thoroughly searched the entire area and had made a ton of calls, but no one knew anything about the motel or had any suggestions on how to find it.

Desperate, Killian had tried to reach out to the Ultionem members, but apparently, they had busy lives running their coven, pack, whatever, while dealing with a mile-long list of problems, as well as trying to carve out time for their mates.

Killian was at his wit’s end, unsure how to rescue Ryker and Nate. What if he couldn’t? What if they were gone forever? Hyett was already at home pacing a hole in the carpet, worried sick about Ryker and their brother’s mate, and once their dad woke up, he wouldn’t rest until he’d found the two.

Even the mates were anxious, and Ethan had cried to get Uncuh Dyke back. That was until he’d seen the massive bear he thought was his early Christmas gift.

“Look.”

Sheriff Harper let out a slow, quiet breath that felt like defeat. “You know everyone will keep looking and making calls, but until we get a lead, I have no idea what else we can do.”

Neither did Killian, but they were family, and he would never stop looking for them.