2

“If Stewart isn’t pissed at you, then you need to let up on the guilt.” Killian rested his foot on the railing at the house—his home —where he now resided in with his mate and cub. It had been two weeks since Tetlow had broken in and held a gun to Ethan’s head, and Killian still had nightmares about that night, as well as the gun shoved into his mate’s side.

Ryker stared off into the yard as a few snowflakes began to fall. “Kid knows how to worm his way into your heart, and I left the cub— your cub—defenseless, Killian.” He scrubbed a hand over his bearded jaw. “I’ve been thinking about hitting the road. For the past couple of weeks, it’s been calling to me, you know?”

Killian knew exactly how Ryker felt. Before meeting Stewart, the same thought had crossed his mind. But now he had two very important reasons to keep his butt in Midnight Falls. He clapped Ryker on the shoulder. “Just do all of us a favor and don’t leave until after Christmas. We can’t celebrate it without you.”

His brother gave him a wry smile, causing Killian to wonder if he would stick around for the holidays. “Sure.”

“I mean it,” Killian growled just as the front door opened and Ethan stuck his head outside.

“Pay whiff bears?” He walked out in full gear, coat zipped up, hat and gloves on. “Uncuh Stewalulu say I pay whiff bears.”

Compared to Killian and Ryker, Ethan was a tiny little thing. A tiny person who had four massive bear shifters wrapped around his finger. The cub’s gaze darted to Ryker, and a bright smile lit up his face. “Uncuh Dyke pay whiff me?”

Ryker melted right before Killian’s eyes. “Sure, buddy. What do you want to play?”

Ethan gave a tiny roar, holding his hands up like his gloved fingers were claws. “I da bear. I piss a you.”

Killian palmed his face. “Could you please stop saying that?”

Ryker gave a fake shriek and took off, running slow as hell so as not to outrun the toddler as he fled for his life. “Don’t eat me, Mr. Bear!”

With a high-pitched giggle, Ethan took off after Ryker, leaving Killian laughing at the two. Maybe it was Ethan who would help Ryker forgive himself. The Everhart’s loved that little boy, would protect him with their lives, and if anyone had the power to help Ryker heal, it was the tiny cub pretending to be a deadly bear.

Stewart slipped outside, handing Killian a cup of hot cocoa and a peppermint-flavored kiss. “Did it work?”

“You sent Ethan out here to help Ryker, didn’t you?” Killian took a sip of the steaming drink, staring adoringly at his mate.

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.” He grinned, his green eyes sparkling with mischief.

Ryker ran in slow motion through the front yard, still shrieking as Ethan’s little legs worked overtime to catch up to his uncle. Ryker slowed even more, allowing the toddler to catch him and take him down.

Then the cub pounced, “ripping” his claws into Ryker before he held his arms up and roared triumphantly. “I badass!”

Stewart sputtered his drink as Killian groaned.

Ryker laughed his ass off then gave the kid a high-five.

“Your family is out to corrupt him,” Stewart grumbled. “Did I tell you I caught Hyett showing Ethan how to use a kitchen chair to get the cookies off the shelf in the pantry?”

“The shelf is four feet off the ground,” Killian said, defending his youngest brother.

Stewart circled his finger at Killian. “When the cops bring him home for breaking into the candy shop, I’m blaming you guys.”

Killian nipped at his mate’s finger, causing Stewart to quickly pull it away. “Just as long as he grabs enough for everyone.” Then he leaned in, brushing his lips over Stewart’s ear. “If you really want to help Ryker, let him watch Ethan while I play a grownup game with you.”

Killian pulled Stewart through the front door, slammed it, then raced upstairs.

Stewart sauntered over to him and ran his hand down Killian’s chest as soon as they were tucked in their bedroom. “Now that you have me alone, what are you going to do with me, my big, bad bear?”

Not waiting for an answer, Stewart toed his shoes off then shoved his jeans and underwear down, kicking the material aside. “I’m all for riding your cock.”

Killian’s canines punched through his gums as he stared at Stewart walking backward toward the bed, his cock jutting out, his naked ass on display. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip as he watched Stewart climb onto the bed and spread his legs, wiggling his ass at Killian.

“Or do you want to ride my ass?”

Killian stalked toward the bed, stripping naked along the way. “Is that a request or demand?”

Stewart’s cheeks turned bright red as he palmed his cock. Instead of answering Killian, he began to stroke himself, moaning as he looked over his shoulder at Killian.

“Baby, you have no idea how sinful you look right now.”

“Maybe later I’ll knock over a candy store.” Stewart lowered his shoulders to the bed, which made his ass raise higher. His hole was on display, and damn if Killian’s teeth didn’t ache for a nip.

This was how life should be. Not running from an abusive ex, not getting shot, and not saving his mate and cub from intruders with guns. Life was Stewart on his bed, tempting Killian in ways that made his body catch fire.

He moved to the nightstand and extracted the lube before he crawled in behind Stewart and began to lick his hole. Stewart moaned even louder, rocking on his knees as he kept stroking his cock.

Killian wet two fingers and sank them deep as he sucked at Stewart’s hole, lapping at the tight muscle as he worked to loosen his mate. The guy’s sounds were killing him. Killian moved back, got to his knees, and lubed his cock.

“Ready for me?”

“Always,” Stewart moaned. “Fuck me already.”

With a deep chuckle, Killian pressed the head of his prick against Stewart’s glistening hole and thrust deep. He clenched his teeth, his fingers digging into his mate’s sides as he fought not to come so quickly.

Killian was enjoying the currents racing through his blood as he began a steady pace, pounding into Stewart’s ass as his mate cried out.

When Killian finally came, it was like an explosion of brilliant colors, his heart beating wildly, his body humming as his cock erupted deep inside Stewart’s ass.

“Oh, fuck!” Stewart cried out. “That was…oh my god, amazing.”

“It’s always incredible with you.” Killian collapsed next to Stewart and curled onto his side, pulling his mate close, his ego stroked from the compliment. “But as astonishing as that was, we should get back downstairs to check on my brother and our nephew.”

“I trust Ryker to keep him safe.” Stewart yawned. “It wasn’t his fault Tetlow was a desperate psychopath.” He patted Killian’s thigh. “We’re both safe with our bear family close by.”

Killian nuzzled Stewart’s sweaty neck. “Much safer.”

Stewart wiggled until he turned over, facing Killian, then tucked himself close. Killian curled an arm around his mate, smiling as he rested his chin on Stewart’s head, feeling content. The trouble had passed, the sheriff and his men had taken down the demon ring leader of the drug trade in Midnight Falls, and Ryker was outside right now, playing with Ethan and hopefully forgiving himself.

At the moment, all was right with the world. Killian had never been more thankful than when he’d decided to stop and help a stranded motorist. It had been the best decision of his life, allowing him to have a family he never knew he wanted or craved but now couldn’t live without.

THE END