The noise level from the bar heightened and then died as the door was opened and then closed, which told Noah that Clayton was heading their way.

"Here you go." Clayton appeared and handed Noah the basket of wings he'd ordered and the Styrofoam cup of soda. He glanced between Noah and Jed and then smiled. "I'm outta here. Have fun, fellas."

Noah wished.

He ate three wings and then offered Jed one. To his surprise, Jed took it. They shared the meal and the soda, neither saying a word until the last wing was eaten.

"That hit the spot." Noah wiped his hands and mouth on the Wet-Nap Clayton had included in the basket.

Jed didn't reply. He scooted the basket and cup aside before leaning over and cupping Noah's jaw. Noah had seconds to suck in some air before Jed began to kiss him. Lust instantly shot through his body as the cowboy began to lower him to the truck bed.

Noah didn't protest them being outside where anyone could see them. He wouldn't have cared if they were in the middle of the bar floor. This was what he'd been waiting for and he wasn't going to pass the opportunity up.

"I want you, Noah." Jed pulled back, his hand going down to the snap of Noah's pants. Noah was hard as hell, aching for Jed to give him some relief. He just hoped that his heart wouldn't be crushed when this little fling was over.

Chapter Four.

Jed tried to convince himself that he could have sex with Noah without getting his feelings involved. He'd told himself this as he watched the human drive toward the bar. He had hung around the station after he'd left, just to see where Noah would go.

Stalking? Maybe. But he was determined to prove to himself that he could have uncomplicated sex with the guy, no strings attached. He'd had plenty of sex before without getting romantically involved. Why should this be any different? A quick roll in the hay, that's all.

Jed pulled them further up the truck bed until they were completely inside before unsnapping Noah's pants. The human was responsive, moaning as he kissed Jed more deeply.

This was what Jed wanted. Sex. That was it. Nothing more. But his bear was growling in approval as Jed freed Noah's cock and then moved lower until he could suck the hard cock into his mouth. As he licked the steel shaft, he worked Noah's pants down the man's legs until the material was gathered at the guy's ankles.

Jed hummed around the erection as he palmed the man's sac, his own cock so hard that he felt like he was going to explode. That scent. Once again the aroma of wildness and passion filled him and Jed's canines threatened to elongate. Noah tasted even better than Jed had imagined he would. It was a mixture of salty and tangy, a bitter combination that had him salivating for more.

Noah's hands clamped down on Jed's head, his fingers combing through the short strands of hair as Jed swallowed the man repeatedly. He used his tongue to swirl around the hard cock, licking at the head to draw in the pre-cum.

"Not like this," Noah begged breathlessly as he pushed at Jed's head. "Fuck me, Jed. Please."

Without a word, Jed flipped Noah to his hands and knees and then pulled his own cock free. He took a packet of lube out of his front pocket-he'd been hoping for something like this-and lathered his dick. He shoved his lubed fingers deep into Noah's ass, scissoring them as Noah cried out. The sound filled the night around them, adding to the already-heated air. Thankfully the noise from the bar would prevent anyone from hearing Noah.

But those sounds...

Jed fought not to care what the man felt. He fought not to care how much pleasure he was bringing the guy or how much he truly enjoyed making Noah cry out for him.

Jed just fought not to...

His eyes flickered to the bar to make sure no one came out. Although he wanted Noah out here in the open, he wasn't willing to put on a show for everyone.

Noah lowered his shoulders to the bed and Jed smoothed his hand up the man's back. Flawless. God, what was he getting himself into? Could he have sex with Noah and not feel anything toward the man? Had he been fooling himself?

"Jed, please," Noah began to beg once more. The man swiveled his hips and threw his head back, letting out a deep groan. Jed was momentarily mesmerized by the sight and sound. Noah was like a siren, a wood nymph who was pulling Jed in deeper than he wanted to go.

Removing his fingers, Jed positioned his cock and drove home-trying his best to rid himself of the image, the feeling, the need to have someone to call his own.

He stilled, panting at the tightness surrounding his cock. The urge to slow down and be gentle with Noah consumed him, but Jed pushed past those soft feelings and began a rhythm that had them both grunting and sweaty. He gripped the man's hips, pounding into the giving flesh as his canines began to grow.

Something inside him tried to reach out to Noah, but Jed wouldn't allow those feelings to emerge. This was just fucking. He wasn't going to care.

He couldn't let that happen. His heart had already been torn to shreds once in his life. Jed wasn't going to give anyone else the opportunity to hurt him again. But as he fucked Noah, Jed could feel himself slowing, his moves becoming gentle. He leaned over the man, kissing his shoulder, nipping at the human's tender flesh.

Jed placed his arms on either side of Noah's head and the human entwined their fingers together. Jed couldn't find it in himself to pull away. He should. He really should. But he couldn't.

"Jed," Noah whispered. "God, Jed."

Hearing his name on the man's lips while he fucked the guy tore at him. Jed closed his eyes, snapping his hips as he fought the maelstrom of emotions raging through him.

Don't you dare start caring about him. It will only lead to heartache.

But Jed's heart wasn't listening and neither was his bear. Both emotionally reached for the slim man, both wanting closer. Jed pulled one hand free and slid it along Noah's side until he reached the human's bobbing cock. He began to stroke the hard, heated flesh as he thrust deeper into Noah.

Being inside Noah was like heaven. It was better than his damn fantasy. Jed switched his rhythm and knew he was hitting the man's sweet spot when Noah began to cry out once more.

"So soft," Jed whispered into the man's ear as he started to rub his scent over Noah. "Feels so damn good."

He placed a kiss on the nape of Noah's neck, feeling his chest tighten. God help him, but Jed was finding it harder and harder to keep his distance from this man.

Noah cried out, his cock and ass pulsing as he came. Jed gritted his teeth at the tight clamp on his erection before he powered into Noah, shouting as his body exploded and his mind shattered.

Jed slowed his movements, his heart beating so fast that he had to gasp for air. He slid free, fastening his pants before helping Noah do the same. The moment became awkward and Jed knew keeping things purely sexual between them was going to be the hardest damn thing he'd ever had to do.

Noah had tried his best not to think about last night as he and Jed opened the bay doors for the grand opening. Already the two bays had cars in them and Noah was staying busy putting a new head gasket into the car he was working on.

But his mind kept straying back to what he and Jed had done last night. His boss hadn't said a word to Noah, not about the sex at least. He was acting as if it had never happened. Noah tried to tell himself it was no big deal, but it hurt like hell that Jed could so easily dismiss what they'd shared.

"Look at this place," Bryson said as he strolled into the shop. "You got it looking brand spanking new."

"Cost a goddamn mint to get it up to date," Jed replied as he wiped his oily hands on the rag that had been tucked into his back pocket. "But it was worth it."

"Don't forget we have some buyers coming by the ranch tomorrow," Bryson said. "We'll need you there."

Which meant Noah was going to be here by himself. He didn't mind. He knew he could take care of things while Jed sold off the prize-winning sperm the Triple-B was known for. Noah just didn't get how anyone could run a stud ranch. Just the thought of how they extracted that sperm made him shudder in revulsion.

Noah pretended to be engrossed in his work when Bryson walked over to him. He wasn't sure why, but he felt like Bryson would be able to see what Noah and Jed had done last night.

It was ridiculous, but he felt that way nonetheless. He could feel the heat of a blush suffuse his skin.

Bryson chuckled, his voice low as he said, "From that blush, I have a pretty good idea why Jed came in late last night."

"You keeping tabs on him?" Noah asked as he continued to work.

"Hell no," Bryson answered. "But the guy seemed to be in a strange mood when he got home. You wouldn't happen to know why?"

"Not a clue." Noah didn't know Bryson all that well and he didn't kiss and tell. From the corner of his eye, he could see Jed watching them. Was the man worried Noah would blab their business?

"That blush says otherwise." Bryson leaned down until his arms were resting on the car Noah was working on. "I hope you're the right guy for him. Jed needs someone who won't back down."

"What does that even mean?"

"Don't take no for an answer," Bryson said. "I mean, don't try to rape him, but...well, you know what I'm saying."

Noah laughed. "You've got a way with words."

Bryson was grinning from ear to ear and Noah had to admit the man was very handsome. "I sometimes don't know when to shut my mouth."

"No shit," Jed said as he walked up behind them. "Leave my employee alone so he can finish his work."

His employee. Noah curled his fingers around the ratchet in his hand, wanting to clobber Jed over the head with it. He could feel his anger mounting but knew he had no right to get mad. Noah could have told Jed no. He could have stopped what had happened last night. But he had been so horny that only the earth breaking free of its orbit would have stopped him from begging Jed to fuck him.

And he had begged.

So what was he getting pissed for?

Because you care about him and want him to care as well.

That wasn't going to happen. Not at the rate they were going. Jed had slammed those walls back into place, keeping Noah out.

"Just chatting it up," Bryson said. "No harm in that."

"Tell Harland and Clayton that I'll be there tomorrow," Jed said as he stood there. Noah knew the man wasn't going to budge until Bryson left. The muscle-bound man chuckled, shook his head, and then walked out. Jed didn't even look Noah's way before he headed back over to the truck he'd been working on.

Noah's mood soured. He tackled his work with a vengeance, telling himself that Jed didn't mean a damn thing to him and that he needed to get over his asinine crush.

Too bad his heart wasn't listening.

By the end of their first real workday, Noah was exhausted. He'd replaced a head gasket, done four oil jobs, replaced a fuel tank, and had done a ball-joint job on a car that looked like it needed to go to the scrapyard instead of back on the road.

"Good work," Jed said as he closed the bay doors. "Can you handle tomorrow without me?"

Noah snorted, his tone a bit catty. "I'm pretty sure I can survive without you, boss."

Jed eyed him for a moment and then nodded. "If you need anything, just call the ranch."

Noah left without saying a word. He was being a douche and he knew it. Jed hadn't promised him a damn thing last night yet Noah couldn't get over the hurt of the man's distance today.

The least Jed could have said was that he'd had a good time last night. Something. But he'd said nothing. Maybe working here hadn't been one of Noah's more brilliant ideas. Being around Jed all day was nothing but torture. He'd have been better off keeping his job as a waiter. At least then he wouldn't be near the man, smelling his damn cologne, wishing the guy would acknowledge him as more than his employee.

Noah drove home, his anger still alive and his thoughts still on Jed. By the time he pulled into the space by his trailer, it was dark out. With his mind preoccupied with Jed, he didn't notice that the door wasn't locked. He should have. That might have changed the outcome.

But he hadn't.

Noah walked into his place and felt for the light switch. When he lifted the lever, nothing happened. This was the second time within a week he'd lost power. It wasn't uncommon in this park. The transformer was constantly shorting. That's what management told him anyway.

Cursing, Noah felt his way to the back of his trailer. Even the streetlights were out so he didn't think anything of it. He had just a sliver of light from the moon to work with.

Noah froze when he heard something click. He'd watched enough movies to know that the sound was more than likely a gun being cocked. He just prayed that he was wrong.

"It seems you need a lesson taught to you."

Oh, god. Noah's heart lodged in this throat at the sound of Devil's voice. He was here to kill Noah. He just knew it. Devil didn't seem the forgiving type and Noah was ready to faint as his knees knocked together.

"I didn't say anything." Noah glanced around, but didn't see the man anywhere. It was too dark. But he could feel the man's eyes on him and smell the scent of expensive cologne clinging to the air. It filled his nostrils and stung his lungs as he tried not to breathe it in, tried not to breathe at all. That wasn't a problem since Noah's lungs had frozen, the air trapped.

"That's not what I heard," Devil said.

Someone grabbed Noah from behind and forced him onto his bed. Noah shouted, but a rag was shoved into his mouth. He fought like crazy, kicking and swinging his fists to no avail.

I'm going to die.

He was stripped naked before his arms and legs were pulled spread-eagle and bound. Noah squeezed his eyes shut as his muscles went rigid. He wasn't sure what was about to happen to him, but it wasn't going to be anything pleasant.

If they're going to kill me, please make it quick and as painless as possible.

His eyes rounded and he arched his spine when a whip was cracked across his back. He tried to scream, but the gag prevented any noise from escaping.

The sound of his heartbeat thrashed in his ears as he was whipped over and over again. His body convulsed as tears streamed down his face. Noah began to hyperventilate as the whip struck him again. He wanted to curl into a fetal position, to fall into a hole so these men couldn't hurt him anymore.

He cringed, flinched, shouted behind the gag, and cried for mercy.

But none came as his back felt as if it were being peeled open.

Eventually, the pain became too much and Noah passed out.

"Mr. Beckham called," Harland said as he stepped into the living room where Jed was playing with Markey. "He said he had an eight o'clock appointment, but there's no one at the station."

Jed frowned as he set the toddler aside. Noah was supposed to open this morning. The human had reassured him that he could handle things on his own. Jed grabbed the phone from Harland's hand and tried calling Noah's cell, but it went straight to voice mail.

He knew he couldn't leave. The buyers would be here any minute and they wanted to talk to all four men who owned the ranch.

But Jed had sunk a lot of money into that station. Although the ranch was the more profitable business, he couldn't allow Noah to ruin him. He tossed the phone aside as he gritted his teeth. "I'll be back before the buyers get here."

"We'll cover for you," Harland said, patting Austin's back. The baby was over the man's shoulder and once again a longing began to fill Jed. He pushed that feeling aside as he headed out the door. He knew he had very little time and if Noah didn't show up at the station, he'd have to reschedule the appointments he had for today.

Jed drove faster than the speed limit allowed before pulling into the station. There were three people waiting there but no sign of Noah. Jed made his apologies and promised each person a discount as he rescheduled them.