"Head hurt?" Colten asked as he turned to watch Steven work. The guy was cut nicely, but he wasn't thick. His shirtsleeves ended at the man's biceps to show a small swell of muscle. His body was firm but it was Steven's backside that Colten's eyes landed on.

Steven shrugged. "It's already starting to ease."

He wasn't sure why, but Steven made it sound like having Colten near helped. Colten was damn good at reading people, but he couldn't get a fix on this guy. Heath had said that his cousin was straight, but there was no mistaking the faint scent of arousal that clung to the air any time Colten and Steven were near each other.

When Steven started past him, Colten grabbed the man's upper arm. His thumb caressed the exposed skin as the scent of arousal grew thicker. Steven was about as straight as a winding road.

"Was there something you needed?" Steven asked.

"You," Colten whispered as he slid his hand behind the nape of Steven's neck and drew the man close. Their mouths fused together, electric and hot. Colten forced himself to go slow, not to devour the man. Steven was still stiff in his arms, yet his lips were soft and inviting.

Colten backed the man up until Steven was pressed against the wall. He skimmed his hand over Steven's side and rested it on the man's hip. Colten suckled at Steven's mouth, his tongue teasing, teeth scraping gently, Steven's mouth hot and moist.

Colten lost himself in the human, in his touch, in the way their bodies molded together. His fingers left the nape of Steven's neck and traveled through the man's soft hair. He gripped the strands and tilted Steven's head to expose the man's neck.

His tongue slid over the expanse of skin as he felt Steven shudder in his arms. The hand that was resting on Steven's hip slid until he was cupping the man's ass. He began a slow, intimate massage, deliberately, wickedly enticing the human. Colten could hear a low moan in his ear as Steven's body began to sway. He slid his lips over the contours of Steven's neck before recapturing the man's lips.

I shouldn't be doing this. I shouldn't be letting him touch me so intimately. I need to push him away but I can't stop wanting him.

Stunned disbelief filled Colten but he forced himself not to react. He was kissing Steven. Their lips were pressed firmly together. Yet he had heard...thoughts. Steven's thoughts. How?

Colten was confused by the time he lifted his head. He stared into the man's pretty blue eyes and wondered how he had heard Steven's thoughts. That shouldn't be possible. It shouldn't be, but he'd heard the man as clearly as if Steven had spoken the words aloud.

"I need to go." Steven's voice was breathy but the man didn't move. He stayed pressed into the wall as Colten's fingers continued to massage the man's backside. Steven was just as hard as Colten was. Their erections pressed into each other. Colten studied the man's face as he tried to figure out what Steven was. He smelled human. There was no preternatural scent on him.

Colten's eyes dropped to the long expanse of Steven's neck and he couldn't resist. The man was a fever in his blood, a craving, an obsession. He wanted to taste every inch of Steven's body. Colten wanted to be buried inside the man. He slid his hand under Steven's shirt to feel the warm expanse of the man's belly. The muscles jerked under the palm of Colten's hand. He smoothed his hand upward, over the flat planes of Steven's abdomen until he reached a taut nipple. Colten pinched the tiny bud and smiled when Steven arched his back and gasped.

He tried to catch any more thoughts from Steven, but all had grown quiet. Colten lifted the man's shirt and then lapped his tongue over the sensitive nipple. He blew a tuft of air over the wet skin and watched as the nipple tightened even harder.

Steven began to vibrate as his hips shot forward. Colten knew when a man was close to coming. He worked the snap of Steven's jeans as he licked, teased, and suckled at the man's chest. Colten was aching and heavy and beyond reason. All he could think about was making Steven come. Colten didn't even care about his own pleasure. He was focused on Steven's needs and the desire to watch the man go up in flames.

Steven's hand landed on Colten's wrist just as Colten lowered the zipper.

"Don't stop me." Colten's voice was desperately pleading and he didn't care. His bear was close to the surface and if Colten couldn't see the human explode with his orgasm, he just might be the one to go up in flames instead. "I need to touch you so badly that I feel like I'm going insane."

Steven hesitated and then his hand fell away. He gave a slight, almost-imperceptible nod but his eyes stayed locked on Colten's. There was uncertainty and a touch of fear swimming in their depths, but Colten could also see desire.

Colten kissed Steven's lips as he wrapped his fingers firmly around Steven's erection. The skin was hot and pulsing in his hand. Colten drove his tongue deep as he used thumb to smear the pre-cum over the head of Steven's cock. The man hissed and squirmed as his fingers locked into the strands of Colten's hair.

He squeezed the shaft tightly before stroking his hand up and down, up and down. Colten needed more. He shoved at the waistband of Steven's jeans, bringing them to midthigh. Steven was so lost that he didn't protest.

As Colten stroked the man's shaft with one hand, he used his other hand to slide a finger in Steven's mouth, groaning as he watched the man lick and suck at it. "You're killing me," Colten whispered.

Steven didn't seem to hear. He worked Colten's finger as if the man were truly sucking Colten's cock. Colten forced his finger out of the man's mouth before slipping the wet digit into the crease between Steven's cheeks. He took the man's lips in a searing kiss, tightening his hold on the man's cock, as Colten sank his finger deep inside Steven's body.

Steven cried out, his head slamming into the wall as his body arched outward. Steven's ass squeezed Colten's finger as hot ribbons of cum shot from the man's cock. He jerked and writhed, riding the waves of his pleasure as Colten wrung every last drop of seed from Steven.

The man dropped to his knees so quickly that Colten's fingers were forced from Steven's body. Colten slammed the palms of his hands into the wall and gazed downward as Steven released Colten's heavy shaft that had been trapped behind his jeans. Steven took the weight in his hands and then swallowed several inches into his mouth.

The move stole the very breath from Colten's lungs. Steven created a tight, wet suction, his tongue dancing over the head of Colten's cock. The man suckled and licked until Colten was vibrating from the inside out.

He was getting head in the tack room and about to shake apart as Steven devoured him. Colten had known that he wanted Steven, was almost positive that Steven was his mate, but he hadn't realized that Steven had already burrowed himself deeply under Colten's skin. He was gazing at the most erotic sight he'd ever witnessed as Steven repeatedly swallowed Colten's cock down his throat.

His stomach somersaulted, his mind tumbled, and his balls drew up close to his body. A flame shot through his bloodstream, wild and hot and out of control. Colten thrust his hips forward over and over again, and when Steven glanced up at him from under those thick lashes, Colten lost it.

He roared as his orgasm ripped through him with a gut-wrenching force that shook him down to his toes. His hips surged deep into Steven's mouth as his body clenched. Colten didn't want the ecstasy to end. He was staggered by the intensity of pleasure Steven had given him.

In one fluid motion, Steven stood and slumped against the wall, his eyelids drooping as he gasped for air. Colten placed gentle kisses over the man's lips, chin, and neck. "So beautiful." Colten grazed his fingers over the man's jaw. "I knew being with you would be amazing."

The lazy, sleepy expression cleared from Steven's face. His eyes snapped into a sharp focus as he straightened. He pressed his hands into Colten's chest and Colten swore he heard a soft static of murmuring in his head. He tried to concentrate on the sound but it faded too quickly.

"This was a mistake," Steven said in a firm tone, as if waking from some sort of dream. "I'm sorry that I gave in, but this can never happen again."

The man's words were like a harsh slap across Colten's face. He took a step back. Steven straightened his jeans but kept his eyes averted. His lips were swollen from sucking Colten's cock and his skin still held the flush of his orgasm.

When Steven tried to walk out of the room, Colten blocked the man's way. He cocked his head to the side, studying the human. Colten had never had a lover try to run from him after being pleasured. Men usually tried to cuddle and inquire about the next time they could hook up. Steven trying to race from the room didn't sit well with him. "What are you running from?"

Steven jerked as his eyes grew slightly wider. "Wwho said I'm running from anything?"

Colten had his answer. Steven might be running from the strong attraction between them, but there was more to it than that. Steven was on the lam and Colten was determined to find out what the hell this man had gotten himself into.

He released the human and stepped aside. But before Steven could disappear, Colten said, "Steven?"

Turning, Steven gazed at him and Colten could see the torture in the man's eyes. The sight nearly tore Colten's heart out. "Yes?"

"Why did you change your mind?" he asked, desperate to know. "Why did you give in?"

A sad, soul-stirring smile appeared on Steven's handsome face. He shook his head as he walked out, but Colten caught the thought in Steven's mind.

Because it doesn't hurt when I'm with you.

Colten was stunned into silence as he stood there and felt his world shift beneath his feet.

Chapter Five.

Shott leaned back in the computer chair, his feet on the desk and a sleeping princess snuggled on his wide chest. His right hand clicked on the mouse as his left hand held Sofia in place. She was sound asleep as he went through the expense reports for not only their lucrative bodyguard business, but the building of the bunkhouse as well.

"What's wrong with this picture?" Colten asked as he strode into the office and took a seat in front of the desk. "Oh yeah, wrong parent. Does Legend know you're muscling in on their kid?"

Shott smiled. "Legend and Gabe are on a date. I agreed to watch the princess so the two could try and make another darling little cub."

Colten's eyebrows shot up. "They said that?"

"Hardly," Shott replied. "What's up?"

When Colten didn't answer right away, Shott looked over at the guy. Colten sat there in contemplative thought, slouched in the chair, his elbows resting on the arms as he rubbed his fingers across his stubbled chin.

Colten wasn't a chatty man to begin with. He was more the type to observe than to comment. As with the others, Shott knew about Colten's past, the orphanages he'd grown up in, the slums he'd survived. The guy hadn't had a good life, stealing to feed himself and to stay alive.

But he'd turned out to be a good man and one hell of a soldier. Colten was loyal to the men he considered his friends and would die to protect every last one of them. He didn't trust easily and it was hard for the guy to open up to anyone. Not that Shott wanted to psychoanalyze the guy with a couch session.

None of them wanted that. Some of them had seen and been through too many horrors-not only in their line of work but their childhoods as well-to ever let a shrink analyze them.

Shott rubbed Sofia's small back as he waited for Colten to gather his thoughts.

"Do you still talk with Percy?"

Shott slowly nodded. Percy Whitemore was a genius when it came to cracking codes and breaking into computers. Hacking, but Percy frowned at the word. The guy could get into any computer in the world undetected. He had graduated at the top of his class at MIT, but the guy was socially awkward. His father had made him join the marines in hopes of toughening the guy up. Percy hadn't fit in. While his recruiter had tried to talk him into going into the Air Force and using his talents in other areas better suited for him, Percy had insisted on proving something to his father.

Shott and the other men in his unit had taken Percy under their collective wing and helped him make it through boot camp. They'd practiced hand-to-hand combat with him, teaching Percy not only how to fight, but to be the best damn marine he could be. He'd proven himself, and his father had backed off. Now Percy was a prized asset to the Pentagon. Shott kept in touch with the guy and they even visited each other once in a while just to catch up on old times.

"Can you have him run a background check on someone?"

The question baffled Shott. Colten was pretty damn good with computers himself. Why would he need Percy's help? That only told him that whatever Colten wanted was way over his head. "Are you in some sort of trouble?"

Colten shook his head. "I think Steven is."

Shott frowned. "The guy who had supper with us?"

Colten nodded. "I think he's my mate and I think he's in trouble."

If Colten wanted Shott to get in touch with Percy, it had to be some pretty deep shit that Steven was involved in. They hardly ever asked Percy for help. For one, none of the men wanted to abuse their friendship with the guy. Two, Colten could usually solve any technical problems they had.

"What information do you have on Steven?" Shott asked.

"Just what's on his application. Name, address, social security number, stuff like that." Colten ran a finger over his eyebrow. "I'd do it myself, but something tells me that the information I need isn't easily to obtain."

"You'll have to take her." Shott cradled Sofia as Colten stood and walked around the desk. He pulled the toddler into his arms with a graceful ease and cuddled her close to his chest before sitting back down.

Shott used a private IM chat connection that Percy had set up for them to communicate back and forth. The man responded in seconds. Shott opened up the folder on the men working on the ranch and found Steven's file. He clicked on it and then gave Percy all the information he could find before thanking the man for helping him.

Shott sat back. "He says he'll get back to me as soon as he finds something."

"Thanks." Colten soothed his hand over the sleeping cub. Shot still wasn't used to calling her a cub. It was strange as hell to him. He and T-Rex were the only humans in their unit and it sometimes slipped his mind that he was surrounded by bear shifters. When Shott first found out about the others, it kind of wigged him out. But after seeing a few of them shift-which had blown his mind-Shott had grown used to the men not being human.

"Can we keep this conversation between the two of us? I don't want any of the other men grilling me."

"No problem, man," Shott replied. He frowned when Percy IM'd him. That was fast. It was just a quick response with a promise to e-mail Shott the file. He read over the e-mail attachments twice to make sure he was reading things correctly. His eyes flickered to Colten. "What in the hell is going on?"

Colten sat forward with a look of bewilderment on his face. "What are you talking about?"

Shott tapped the computer screen. "I'm not sure who Steven Chesney is, but he's got red flags going up all around his name. His parents are geneticists who specialize in neurobiology. Heath never mentioned that."

Colten appeared just as confused as Shott felt. "His parents are scientists?"

When Legend strode into the office, Shott quickly pulled up a file to cover what he'd been doing. "There's my angel." He walked over to Colten and scooped Sofia from the guy's arms. As if she knew her daddy had her, Sofia woke. Legend smiled at Shott. "Thanks for watching her."

"Anytime," Shott replied.

"We'll finish this conversation later." Colten got up and walked out, leaving Shott to wonder what his friend had gotten himself into.

Steven's eyes widened as his fingers gripped the wood of the corral. He stood there and watched as a calf ran a circle around Colten. The rope tangled around the man as the calf ran, upending Colten. The guy landed hard on his ass.

Although Steven had worked ranches for over two years, he'd never had to rope a calf. But he was pretty sure it was the calf that was supposed to be wrapped up in rope and lying on the ground.

Rowdy burst out laughing as Colten untied himself amid a slew of curses. Steven could only stand there and watch, mesmerized as Colten dusted off his finely shaped backside. Steven shouldn't have allowed the man to corner him in the tack room. But more importantly, Steven shouldn't have given in to the overwhelming temptation. Once Colten had gotten a hold of him, Steven had been putty in the man's hands. And now all he could do was watch Colten, fascinated by his strength and raw power.

Colten's body rippled with muscles as he crossed the corral. Even though he was covered by a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, Steven could see the sexy outline of the guy's body. He bit his lower lip as he remembered how Colten had tasted, how the man had pinned him to the wall and gotten him off. Steven shivered at the memory.

Don't fall for him. You're not staying.

Even though Steven continually lectured himself on the reasons why he shouldn't get involved with Colten, he was already anticipating being alone with the guy again. The desire was asinine, insane, muddling his brain. Steven was a freak of nature and no man in his right mind would consider keeping him. He didn't think that he was being hard on himself. Just truthful. If Colten ever found out what he could do, the man would be appalled.

What sane man wanted to be with someone who could read their thoughts? But then again, Colten's mind was closed to Steven. Still...

When Colten looked his way, Steven swallowed hard. It felt like he was swallowing his heart. And then Colten winked at Steven and Steven felt the heat rush up his skin. God, he was blushing. How embarrassing!

Colten chuckled and turned back around as he grabbed the rope from Rowdy. The man was laughing at the fact that Steven was embarrassed. Steven's fingers dug deeper into the wood, watching as Colten tried once more to rope the calf, to learn what Rowdy was teaching him. Steven was supposed to be cleaning out the horses' stalls, but he'd stopped when he'd seen what Colten was doing. He had been drawn to the man like a bee to honey.

Shott and Stripper were out there as well, poking fun at Colten. But Steven knew they'd have their turn soon and it would be them who were being laughed at. He liked the fact that these guys were trying to learn and not just leaving the ranch to the foreman and hands. The men who owned the ranch rolled their sleeves up and got just as dirty as everyone else. Who couldn't respect that?

Steven found himself climbing onto the corral fence, his heels resting on the solid wood as he straddled the top rung and watched Colten closely. He clenched his fingers, fixated.

Colten went down again.

This time Steven laughed. It felt good to laugh. It was a pleasure Steven rarely indulged in. He was always too busy worrying about anyone touching him, about the static in his head. But whenever Colten was close, there was complete silence. It was a wondrous relief, and Steven was greedily enjoying himself right now.

"All right, I'm done being abused." Colten wiped himself off again. "Torture one of the other guys," he said to Rowdy.

Stripper and Shott teased Colten, calling him a few obscene names as Colten walked Steven's way. Steven's heart thumped more wildly in his chest the closer Colten approached. All he could think about was how the man's lips had felt on him, how Colten had tasted in Steven's mouth, of the pure pleasure he had experienced with this man.

Being cursed, Steven had never allowed any man to get that close to him before. He was too terrified of the repercussions. Nobody in their right mind wanted to suffer while they had sex. Steven wasn't a masochist. He had diligently avoided contact as much as possible. But with Colten, the sky seemed to be the limit.

And that was what frightened him the most. He could see himself getting way too comfortable with this man. As much as the thought appealed to him, Steven knew better. As soon as the bunkhouse was finished, he was gone.

Colten slapped him on the knee. "Think it's funny watching a man fall on his ass?"

A smile surfaced on Steven's face. "Yes."