Harland winced.

Colten frowned. "What?"

"Steven is Deputy Forez's cousin. From what Heath tells me, his cousin is straight."

His bear growled in denial. "How does Heath know that? Just because he hasn't seen Steven with any-"

"Heath said that Steven used to be married," Harland said, "to a female."

Colten felt a tic start in his jaw. He hadn't waited all his life to find his mate only to discover the guy was straight. Fate sure knew how to be a cruel bitch. She was once again laughing in his face. It was bad enough his life had been a truly fucked-up place to be when he was growing up. She wouldn't be that shitty again, would she? Yeah, she would.

Harland shrugged and leaned more firmly into the banister. He wasn't a small guy and the wood groaned under his weight. Colten was waiting for the banister to crack. "But if he smells right to you, then you shouldn't let the fact that he doesn't like men stand in your way."

The only thing Colten could do was give a soft, humorless chuckle. It was just his fucking luck. He finally found what could possibly be his mate, and the man was straighter than the banister Harland was leaning against.

Grinning, Harland walked up the two steps that led to the porch and then chucked Colten on his arm. "If life was easy, we would all die of boredom. Now, I'm about to go snatch some bread. Later."

Sam was cooking a thick and hearty beef stew tonight. It was one of Taylor's favorite meals, and since Taylor was Sam's mate, Sam did his best to please the guy. But Colten had just lost his appetite. He grabbed his coffee mug and took another sip as he stared at Steven and tried to figure out a way to unstraighten the man.

Colten ignored the sounds from the kitchen as he glanced at Steven once more. The man wiped at his brow and then turned. Their eyes locked for a heartbeat and Colten's bear snarled for a piece of Steven. Every instinct he possessed demanded that he take the human. His bear's soul wanted to taste Steven. It wanted to breathe the guy in.

Steven nodded toward Colten and then carried his cut wood around the corner of the bunkhouse. Loud chattering voices floated through the screen door. Supper was on.

Colten gazed at where Steven had disappeared and vowed to himself that, if the human really was his mate, straight or not, Steven would be his.

Chapter Two.

"Man seems to be studying you pretty hard," Leonardo said to Steven while glaring at the plantation-style home. "From what I hear, ain't nuthin' but a bunch of queers up in there."

"Ain't right," Nate said. He was one of the hands working on the ranch and Leonardo's buddy. The guy was short and as thick as a barrel. He had ginger hair and thick, bushy eyebrows. Nate reminded Steven of a troll doll. "And now Congress is letting 'em get married. That's against god."

Standing under the fading sun, Steven wasn't sure what to say. Colten had been watching him for two weeks now. He could feel the burn of the man's eyes on his back whenever Colten studied him. Steven wasn't sure what that was about. But he didn't share Leonardo and Nate's opinion.

As a matter of fact, he thought the two were complete and utter morons. They'd been bashing the men of the McMaster place since he'd started working here two weeks ago.

"I think he's got a queer eye for ya," Nate said as he glared at Steven. "You swing that way?"

"You two are idiots," Steven said as he shoved his tools into his duffel bag. He needed to gather his stuff and get out of here. Steven already had a massive migraine from working around everyone today and it was only getting worse the longer he listened to these two. "Just because one of the bosses is watching doesn't mean he's got a hard-on for one of us."

Steven had heard this same song and dance on the last ranch he'd worked on. He would never understand narrow-minded jerks. Two guys. Two girls. A guy and a girl. What did it matter? But it did matter to a lot of people.

Even so, that wasn't the reason Steven had to lay low and keep off of everyone's radar. He was on the run, had been for the past two years, and having anyone take special notice of him was not a good thing. "You two have nothing better to do than gossip about who your bosses take to bed?"

"I think we got us a queer here, Nate," Leonardo said as Steven fought the waves of pain battering his head. "Better watch your ass. Old Stevie boy might try and take it."

Steven spun, slamming his fist into Leonardo's nose. Blood spurted down the front of the man's shirt as Leonardo slapped a hand over his face. His eyes were wide as if he couldn't believe Steven had hit him.

Steven felt a sharp pain in his head at the contact.

"What the fuck did you do that for?" Nate shouted.

As Steven watched the blood trickle between Leonardo's fingers, he instantly felt remorse. He normally didn't come out fighting like that. He was a peaceful man. But he had heard the two winding themselves up. Leonardo and Nate were about as bright as a broken bulb but Steven knew threats when he heard them.

These two had planned on making an example out of him.

Steven had cut their plan short. He stabbed a finger at both men and there was a wealth of bitterness in his voice. "If you even think about laying a hand on me, I'll bury both your bodies in the last casing and seal you in cement."

His body vibrated with barely contained fury as he glared between the two. Memories flashed through his mind and Steven felt the cold chill of the labs he'd escaped from, the horrors he had tried hard to bury. The last man who had come after him had found himself falling off a two-hundred-foot cliff. Steven was nobody's experiment and he damn sure wasn't anyone's example. He knew he shouldn't bring attention to himself. That was the last thing he needed.

But fuck if it hadn't felt good to put Leonardo in his place.

Nate threw his hands up. "Whoa now. Ain't nobody said nuthin' about coming after you."

But there was something twisted and demented in Nate's dark-brown eyes. They held a promise of retribution. Steven had to breathe through his nose and out of his mouth to calm himself.

In that moment, Steven hated these two for causing him to teeter on the edge of his control.

Nate threw his arm over Steven's shoulder and Steven instantly pulled away, pain rocking his body as he struggled to stay upright. Nate didn't seem to notice Steven's agony or the fact that Steven had yanked from under the man's arm. "Why don't we go get some beers? I have no idea why Leonardo thought you were gay."

As Leonardo held a handkerchief to his nose, his eyes narrowed to tiny slits that resembled a black ravine, twisted and curved and filled with hatred. "I think I'll pass." The guy shoved past Steven as he headed toward his truck.

"Me too," Steven said. He had seen inside Nate. Nate's thoughts were dark waves of disturbing images that had Steven's stomach rolling. Nate was not a man to be trusted. Steven thought of a quick excuse that would get him away from the guy. "I got a hot date tonight anyway."

Nate wiggled his ginger brows. "Your date got a friend?"

I wouldn't hook you up with a three-legged mule. Steven spread his hands wide, playing nice even though his migraine was growing worse. "Sorry, solo on this one."

Truth be told, Steven wasn't heading anywhere but home. But he had led Nate to believe he was going out on a date with a woman. That would never happen. Although Steven was gay, that wasn't the issue. Any kind of human contact brought him great pain. Whenever someone touched him, it felt as if a thousand bees were stinging his brain, like crushed glass grating across his skull.

He tried his hardest to keep everyone out of his personal space. Though lately, being close to people created a constant low static hum in his head. Steven knew he was getting worse but had no clue how to stop what was happening to him.

Nate took off, leaving Steven to clean up the day's mess. By the time he was finished, it had grown dark and no one was out there but him. He had tossed all the tools into a large job box, but his own personal tools were stored in the duffel bag over his shoulder.

He'd paid too much money for them just to leave them mixed up with everyone else's.

He walked the long path from the bunkhouse to where the workers had to park. It was on the side of the newly built stables, away from the main house. As he walked past the back porch, Colten stepped outside.

Steven's body reacted instantly to the sight of Colten. The man was handsome. His body was a blatant invitation that Steven had to stay away from. Although his attraction to the man was strong, almost bordering on obsession, Steven didn't want to see inside the man. He didn't want to know if Colten had dark secrets that would turn him ugly in Steven's eyes. Besides, Steven was already suffering through the pain in his head. He didn't need any more contact this evening.

"Is there a reason you were fighting on the job?" Colten's voice didn't rise in the least, but it smoldered with heat and intensity. It made Steven want to go to the guy, to rub himself all over Colten. Not good.

"Come inside," Colten said.

Steven had a sinking feeling that he was about to be fired. He didn't want to move again. He'd just settled into Bear County. If he was about to get canned, he wanted to hunt Leonardo down and make it worth it. But he knew he'd taken a risk coming here. Heath was his cousin and the corporation that was after him would more than likely turn their sights on this small town.

He wasn't close with his cousin, but Heath was the only family Steven had aside from his parents and he didn't even want to think about their treacherous asses right now.

Steven had felt so lost, so isolated, and the thought of being around family who wouldn't betray him had drawn him to this small town. The need to be here had been bone-deep and overwhelming.

Setting his tool bag on the porch, he walked up the steps and headed toward the screen door. Colten grabbed him by his upper arm, his grip powerful. Steven stared up into Colten's eyes. The brown was so deep that the irises almost looked black. He had a strange urge to kiss the man.

His throat went dry as his heart began to pound behind his ribs. Why wasn't he being assaulted by Colten's thoughts? Where was the pain he always felt when someone touched him? It didn't make any sense to Steven. Steven normally picked up the thoughts of anyone who came in contact, but there was total silence with Colten.

As he stood there in Colten's grip, something fluttered in his stomach. He began to fall into the man's gaze. Those dark eyes pulled him in and created a soft misty haze over his mind-a comforting quietness that he was desperate for. Steven leaned in close. Colten leaned closer. Their lips were inches apart before the sound of loud, booming laugher from inside the house penetrated the haze.

Steven jerked back, blinking rapidly as he tried to swallow. But his throat had gone dry. He yanked his arm from Colten's grip.

Colten's expression hadn't changed. It was as if Steven were being watched by a hungry predator. His dark gaze was steady on Steven. The man smiled at him, a brief flash of confidence on his ruggedly handsome face. Colten moved beside him, silent, calm, his larger, heavily muscled body brushing against Steven's.

Steven walked inside to escape the chemistry growing between them and then stopped. The entire family was gathered around the kitchen table. Even Rowdy, the foreman, was enjoying supper with these guys.

Please don't let anyone touch me.

"Have a seat," Tanner Rexford said as he waved toward an empty chair. People normally didn't invite you to their dinner table if they were about to fire you. Did they? Steven took a seat at the very end, hoping that no one sat in the empty chair next to him. He waited to hear the static in his head from being around so many people, but...nothing.

He was pretty good at remembering names. When he'd started here two weeks ago, Rowdy had introduced Steven to everyone. It was his cousin Heath who had gotten Steven the job. He was grateful, but worried that he'd screwed things up by punching Leonardo.

T-Rex-as he insisted on being called-wiped his mouth with his napkin before placing his elbows on the table and steepling his fingers. "Mind telling me what the fight was about?"

Steven stared around the table. No one was paying him any attention, yet he felt like all eyes were on him. Why was T-Rex making him talk in front of all these people? There was even an infant at the table.

He shifted in his seat and wished he hadn't stayed late. If he would've left with the others, then Steven wouldn't be trapped here. He'd be at Heath's, more than likely enjoying a long, hot shower. "I'd rather talk to you in private, if you don't mind."

T-Rex nodded and a bowl was placed in front of Steven. Colten ladled a big helping of stew into his bowl and then set a slice of bread on a small plate to the side. "Eat up," Colten said before taking the empty seat next to Steven.

He wanted to touch Colten, to see if the man's thoughts were still closed to him. It was the most calming, serene thing he'd ever experienced. He'd been born with this curse and it had only grown more powerful as he'd gotten older. When he'd been a small boy, the noise and thoughts in his head had been muffled, as if spoken underwater.

But the older he got, the louder and clearer the thoughts of others were. Not only that, but there were times when someone didn't even have to touch him and Steven could hear them. See inside them.

Working with the other hands, Steven heard it all the time. It was like an untuned radio, the old-fashioned kind that sizzled and hissed when between stations. But as he sat there in the kitchen with nearly a dozen men, all was silent.

Was it because of Colten? Was he some sort of magnet that drew the sounds away? Steven wanted to know. But every last man in this room was ignorant of what and who he truly was. Not even Heath knew about Steven's curse.

Colten leaned in close. "You're not eating."

Steven took a bite of the stew and his eyes rolled back.

"Now that's what I'm talking about," Sam said as he chuckled. "Best compliment ever."

Steven hadn't realized how hungry he was until he'd taken that first bite. He tried not to make a pig of himself as he damn near licked the bowl clean.

Rowdy grinned. "Sam's a damn good cook. Wouldn't you agree, Steven?"

Colten placed his arm over the back of Steven's chair. Steven stiffened and glanced around to see all eyes on him. His pulse beat faster as he remembered his near-kiss with Colten.

"Do you want more?" Colten's voice was so deep that the soft sound rippled over Steven.

He shook his head as he stood and took his bowl to the sink, feeling the need to get away from Colten. The room began to clear, and the only people left at the table were Rowdy, T-Rex, and Colten.

Stripper-god, Steven couldn't believe someone actually wanted to be called that-bumped shoulders with him and Steven nearly dropped to his knees. The brief contact left him dizzy. He saw things he didn't want to see, things Stripper would be mortified about if he knew Steven had seen them. The guy had been a sniper in the military and had more kills than Steven could count. Stripper seemed like an easygoing guy, but there was turmoil brewing inside the man's head. Steven had the impression of darkness and raw strength, of something lethal stirring dangerously just beneath the surface.

He'd also seen a ferocious bear and didn't understand why.

"Don't let them intimidate you." Stripper winked at Steven before he clopped up a set of stairs that led to the second floor. Steven had to catch his breath, to rein in his control and try to shut those thoughts from his mind. He pulled in a shaky breath and turned to the remaining men in the room.

"This is about as private as it's gonna get," T-Rex said. Steven understood why Rowdy was there. The guy was his foreman. He knew why T-Rex was there. The man was the head boss. But he didn't know why Colten was there. Even so, he was glad the man was still seated in the room. Although his brush with Stripper had left him a bit shaken, the static hadn't bombarded him.

Colten was relaxed, his arm resting on the back of Steven's chair. The guy's attention was fixed on Steven. His obsidian-colored eyes were hot with emotion. The moment Steven's gaze clashed with Colten's, the memory of their almost-kiss rose up to taunt him.

Steven cleared his throat and kept his expression guarded. "It was a misunderstanding."

Colten's eyes darkened as if he knew that Steven had lied. Rowdy's did as well. T-Rex was watching him closely.

"We have a few more horses coming in tomorrow," T-Rex said to Rowdy. "And a good number of cattle will be here this weekend. Rowdy wants you to pick five men to work with you on Saturday."

Rowdy cut in, directing his words at Steven. "We have to brand and tag 'em. We'll have Brahman-Brangus cattle and Angus-Charolais bulls. I want the fences checked and the five wells filled. There's a lot of work to be done."

"So...I'm not fired?" Steven asked.

"Fired?" Colten said. "What gave you that idea?"

"I hit a guy."

"Just don't do it again," T-Rex warned. "We also have someone bringing us the equipment we'll need to plant coastal hay. We'll need hay to feed the cattle. But until we can get it planted in the spring, we'll be buying a lot of it."

Just how much money did these guys have? Between the cattle, the horses, the new structures, equipment, paying their employees, and everything in between, these guys had to be putting out a mint.

One thing was for sure. Steven wasn't asking Leonardo and Nate to work with him Saturday. He didn't need the aggravation.

Chapter Three.

Colten allowed his breath to escape in a soft, controlled stream, clearing his lungs, clearing his mind. He followed Rowdy out of the house and into the cold morning. It wasn't even five yet and the men who were supposed to help had already arrived. He could see his breath coming out in small puffs of vapor as he paused on the back porch.