Cameron had to take a minute or two to compose himself before he stepped back into his apartment. He felt a laughing fit coming on but managed to quell the urge. Taylor's eyes were alight with laughter. The guy knew exactly what Cameron was doing. There wasn't much about him that Taylor didn't know. Well, that wasn't wholly true. But his best friend knew when Cameron was fucking with someone. If he and Taylor had been alone, his best friend would've given him a high five. As it was, the only thing Taylor could do was chew on his lower lip to stop himself from laughing.

Rowdy on the other hand looked as if he were chewing nails. The man's strong jaw worked back and forth as his eyes narrowed. He hadn't taken a seat. Rowdy had chosen to stand off to the side, arms crossed over his broad chest.

Cameron closed the door and feigned innocence. "Now how can I help you guys?"

Rowdy was in front of Cameron in the blink of an eye. The man's body was so close that Cameron could feel the heat coming off of the cowboy in waves. Rowdy's already dark-grey eyes were brewing like an angry storm. "Are you and him lovers?"

Thrusting his chin forward in an act of defiance, Cameron said, "What business is that of yours?"

Rowdy had Cameron against the wall quicker than a cobra strike. The cowboy thrust his leg between Cameron's and shackled Cameron's wrists. He hissed when Rowdy clamped his teeth on Cameron's shoulder. He wasn't sure what the man was doing but it turned Cameron the hell on.

"I think I'll go wait out in the hallway," Taylor said as he scooted from the couch and headed out the door. Cameron was going to dropkick Taylor in his nuts for leaving him alone with Rowdy.

"What are you doing?" Cameron's voice was breathy and a bit shaky. Rowdy's hands tightened on his wrists. Cameron's heart was pounding wildly in his chest as he waited for Rowdy to answer him.

Rowdy didn't say a word. He lifted his leg higher, smashing Cameron's balls to his body. Cameron groaned and let his head tilt to the side, giving the man more room. Cameron should stop this. He should shove the cowboy away. But he didn't have the will or the strength to stop Rowdy.

"Ride my leg, baby," Rowdy whispered roughly into Cameron's ear. He lifted Cameron's arms above his head, rendering him helpless. Cameron bucked and twisted as he tried to get free. But the more he writhed around, the more turned-on he became. His struggle to get free became a struggle for sexual relief.

"Fight me all you want." Rowdy's voice was filled with a growl. "But you know this is what you need."

There was nothing but pure dominance in the man's tone. Cameron wasn't sure how he knew, but his gut told him that Rowdy was branding him with ownership. He couldn't have that. The cowboy had already proved to be a loose cannon. What if Cameron gave in and then Rowdy walked away again? Although Cameron had no objection to friends with benefits or even a one-night stand, his mind told him that he would feel used if Rowdy walked away.

"Fuck. Off." Cameron made sure his voice was tight and sharp.

Rowdy let go of Cameron's wrists and gripped Cameron's hips. The cowboy jerked Cameron forward, his balls gliding over the man's well-muscled thigh. The friction was almost enough to make Cameron cry out. But he bit his lip at the last minute, refusing to show Rowdy that he was in any way affected by what the guy was doing.

When Rowdy's soft lips trailed up Cameron's neck, Cameron almost lost it. His body convulsed as he reached up and grabbed Rowdy's shoulders. He was fighting a losing battle. His body was so turned on that Cameron knew it would betray him.

"Is. He. Your. Lover?" There was finality to Rowdy's voice. The man was at the end of his rope. Cameron could feel the guy's animal close to the surface. He should have been frightened. Cameron should've been terrified. But his defiance reared its ugly head.

"Screw you," Cameron bit out.

Rowdy shoved his hand down the back of Cameron's shorts. The man's fingers slid down the crease of Cameron's ass. Cameron shuddered and jerked forward as his lips parted and a moan escaped.

"What turns you"-Rowdy's lips were pressed against Cameron's ear-"on?" The cowboy's teeth sank deep into Cameron's shoulder and Cameron cried out as his orgasm exploded. Rowdy kept a tight hold on him as Cameron tumbled through the clouds, hot jolts of electricity scorching through him. When Rowdy pulled away, Cameron went limp.

The man nuzzled Cameron's neck and a soft purr emanated from the guy. He licked over the wound as his finger continued to caress the crease of Cameron's ass. Without a word, Rowdy carried Cameron to the couch and laid him on his back. The cowboy hovered over Cameron, watching him. Cameron finally came back down to earth as his orgasm subsided.

"No," Cameron whispered as he slowly closed his eyes. "We're not lovers." His eyes flew back open when he heard a soft chuckle. Rowdy was smiling and shaking his head.

"You played a very dangerous game with me," Rowdy said with reproach. "I was five seconds away from tearing that bastard apart. I would suggest that in the future, you let self-preservation guide you."

Cameron shoved at Rowdy's chest. "Get off of me."

Rowdy pulled back and stood. He glared down at Cameron. "You know I'm not human. Don't tempt the beast if you don't want to see his claws."

"Why the fuck are you here?" Cameron sat up and placed his feet on the floor. He was still a bit shaken from what had just happened, and his body was still humming with the lingering effects. A part of him wanted nothing more than to pull Rowdy back down to him. Cameron cursed when he lifted his hand to see it was shaking slightly.

"I came to warn you."

Rowdy hadn't expected to be sidetracked when he'd come over to Cameron's apartment. Seeing that goth guy walk out of the bedroom had thrown all his plans off track. Cameron's coworker had no idea how close he'd come to dying.

"Warn me about what?" Cameron was a debauched mess and Rowdy had to stop himself from climbing back onto the couch and taking what was his. He had to remind himself why he was keeping Cameron at a distance.

That was no easy task. Rowdy's bear was sick and tired of being kept from its mate. His beast was becoming unbearable lately and Rowdy had a constant migraine. He took a seat on the arm of the couch, feeling suddenly weary. Rowdy was a good ten or twelve years older than Cameron and he was starting to feel his age.

He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "I'm not here to frighten you, Cameron. Things probably won't even get out of hand."

"What things?" Cameron sat up straighter and Rowdy could see the growing concern in the man's eyes.

"I want you to come stay on the ranch for a little while."

Cameron's eyes locked on Rowdy's. "I don't understand."

Of course the man didn't, and Rowdy's vagueness wasn't helping. Cameron had been through enough and Rowdy didn't want to worry his mate. Rowdy smiled, trying to ease the tension that was quickly filling the room.

"The sheriff seems to think there might be a spot of trouble coming to town. You staying at the ranch is merely a precaution."

Just then Taylor reentered the apartment. "Look, some badass bikers are heading our way and you need to get your ass to the ranch where you'll be safe." Taylor glared at Rowdy. "Next time just spit it out."

Rowdy watched as Cameron face paled and the guy's entire body started trembling. When Cameron tried to stand, his leg hit the coffee table and he stumbled sideways.

"Cameron?" Taylor's voice was filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

"WWhat biker gang?" The man's voice was little more than a whisper.

"The Blue Angels," Taylor answered. "You know them, Cam?"

"They are known best in Nevada," Rowdy pointed out as he watched Cameron closely. "You ever heard of them?"

"No," Cameron answered.

Rowdy jerked from where he was sitting and grabbed Cameron before the man fell on his ass. "What's gotten into you?"

Their little intimate moment together had been nice, but Rowdy didn't think it had been so spectacular that it would leave Cameron off-balance. He hadn't even shown his mate the full extent of what he could do in bed. He didn't smell any alcohol on the guy either so Cameron wasn't the least bit tipsy.

"I gotta get out of here." Cameron yanked himself from Rowdy's arms and headed for the door. His fingers fumbled with the handle until the man gave up and slammed his fist into the wood of the door.

"Cameron?" Taylor approached his friend cautiously. "What is wrong with you?"

Cameron spun, his eyes darting everywhere before they settled on Taylor. "Get me out of here." The guy's voice was filled with desperation. "I have to go."

"Not until you tell us what's going on," Rowdy said.

"How?" Cameron asked as he turned and yanked on the handle, not bothering to turn it. "How did they find me?"

"The biker gang?" Taylor asked. "No one said they were here for you. That guy, Nelson-the one who held up the drugstore-he was a member of the Blue Angels. Sparrow thinks they're coming here for revenge."

Rowdy didn't think it possible, but Cameron grew even paler. It was true that he knew very little about his mate, but Rowdy could spot panic when he saw it, and Cameron was on the verge of another meltdown. He moved forward very slowly, approaching Cameron as if he were a man on a ledge. "Talk to us, Cameron."

"You don't understand." Cameron moved from the door and hurried into the kitchen. Rowdy and Taylor followed. Cameron grabbed a cheap bottle of vodka from the top of the fridge and unscrewed the cap.

Rowdy moved quickly, grabbing the bottle from his mate. Again, he didn't know Cameron well, but if the guy needed a drink, this wasn't good. He set the bottle on the table and framed Cameron's face with his hands. "You have to tell me what's going on."

Cameron gripped Rowdy's hands and they were ice-cold. Rowdy frowned. The apartment was heated. Why would Cameron's hands be this cold? Rowdy was starting to get scared as he gazed into his mate's eyes. All his worries and reasons for not wanting to claim Cameron fled as he stared into eyes that didn't seemed focused. "Cameron?"

"MMy dad," Cameron said in a low tone. "He's the treasurer for the Blue Angels."

Taylor gave a low curse. "No wonder you never let me come over to your house. Why didn't you tell me?"

Cameron shook his head. "He's not a nice man. He tried to turn me into a killer. That was why I ran, Taylor. That was one of the reasons I picked up and took off with you."

"Then it's settled," Rowdy said. "You're coming with us."

"I'll gather some of his things," Taylor said as he headed down the hallway. Rowdy just stood there watching his mate, making sure Cameron didn't go for the bottle or run out of the door screaming.

"Oh God." Cameron turned toward him with a stricken look. "What about Simon? He agreed to be my roommate. What am I going to tell him?"

Sliding his arm over Cameron's shoulder, Rowdy led the man to the couch. They both sat. "I'll have a talk with Simon," Rowdy said. "Right now my main concern is you."

Cameron's head snapped up as if he'd finally come out of his daze. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why are you helping me? I can understand why Taylor is here. I just don't understand why you're here."

Rowdy rested his elbows on his knees and twined his fingers together. He pressed his chin to his hands as he stared at the far wall. His eyes traveled over the thin crack that ran from the ceiling to halfway down the wall. He automatically thought of how he could repair it. But that wasn't his main thought. He knew he would have to come clean. Rowdy just wasn't sure if he was ready.

Cameron would want to know why Rowdy hadn't told him from the beginning. That meant that Rowdy would have to explain everything. He didn't want to do that with Taylor in the apartment.

He ran his tongue across his inner lower lip before he glanced at Cameron. "I'd rather not explain things to you with an audience."

For a second he thought Cameron would argue with him. It seemed to be a mainstay of the man's personality. But to his surprise, Cameron nodded. "I'll give you that. But I do want an explanation and soon."

"There are some things I'm not ready to talk about," Rowdy admitted. He worked his jaw slightly as his eyes traveled away from Cameron and back to that damn crack in the wall. "Things I'm still trying to work out in my head."

From the corner of his eye, he could see Cameron giving a slight nod. "I think we all have things we'd rather not deal with. My past is coming back to haunt me. When I left home, I hoped that I would never see my father again."

"You don't have to," Rowdy replied. "Just stay on the ranch." He wasn't sure if he was making that statement to help Cameron or if it was a silent plea. Rowdy just didn't know. He ached inside to be with Cameron. But a part of him was still haunted by his past. He ran his hands through his hair as he wished there was an easy solution.

"That bad?" Cameron asked in a soft tone.

Rowdy's fingers were still laced together. He gripped them tighter as his eyes traveled over Cameron's apartment. He wanted to tell Cameron everything-but not because he wanted some sort of forgiveness. Rowdy knew that when his mate found out the truth, Cameron would be repulsed. A part of him wanted Cameron to reject him. It was what he deserved.

When Cameron laid his hand on Rowdy's knee, it only deepened Rowdy's pain. He sat there stiffly. The heat from Cameron's hand seared through his jeans, through his bones, down to his very soul.

"I think I got everything he needs," Taylor said as he reentered the living room.

Rowdy was thankful for the interruption. He stood and dug his keys from his pocket. "Then we need to get out of here."

He refused to look at his mate as he strode toward the door. He was in the hallway in a matter of seconds and heading down the stairs. Rowdy needed air. He needed to breathe in the coldness of the evening and clear his mind.

But what he needed most was to stop wishing for something he would never have.

Chapter Seven.

"Did you really fucking snatch me from my apartment and bring me here just to turn around and ignore me?" Cameron stood there with his arms crossed over his chest as he tried to talk himself out of punching the guy. He'd been at Rowdy's for eight hours and for eight hours the guy hadn't said two words.

"I've had things to take care of," Rowdy replied. Cameron knew the guy was bullshitting him. Rowdy wouldn't even look at him.

"Remind me to roll my eyes back into their upright position when you're finished talking." Cameron was done with this. He had been stupid enough to believe that Rowdy would be different once they were on the ranch. Boy had he been wrong.

"Where do you think you're going?" Rowdy tried to grab Cameron's suitcase but Cameron jerked it away before the cowboy could wrap his fingers around it.

"Sorry, but I'm not tall enough to ride your emotional roller coaster. One minute you're nice to me and the next I'm getting frostbite. You're damaging my calm." Cameron skirted around Rowdy as he headed for the door. He'd rather take his chances out on the street. The mixed signals that Rowdy was giving him were causing a migraine.

Rowdy frowned. "What does that even mean?"

The room Cameron was standing in was a decent-sized bedroom. When Rowdy first brought him to the bunkhouse Cameron had been skeptical. He thought the cowboy's room would be the size of a closet. But it was spacious, held a king-size bed, and there was even an overstuffed recliner off to one side. The floors were highly polished wood with shag runners tossed here and there. It was definitely a manly room.

Cameron had no idea what the different types of wood were called, but Rowdy's headboard was made from a dark-brown material. It was large and thick and looked heavy. The bed frame underneath extended past the mattress to create a bench. It was the coolest thing Cameron had ever seen. The same wood material made up the dressers in the room. Who knew the cowboy could accessorize?

One wall was made completely of stone and there was a large fireplace dead center. It wasn't the plain bunkhouse that Cameron thought it would be. Earlier they'd passed through the kitchen and the room was nothing to sneeze at.

"It means," Cameron replied after gaining his composure. "I'm not a toy you can take out when you want to play with it and then toss aside when you're done."

Rowdy paced the room, hands on hips. His boots echoed on the wooden floor. Cameron still had his fingers wrapped around the handle of the suitcase, ready to haul ass.

"You promised me answers."

"Can't you just accept things and wait until this shit storm blows over?" Rowdy asked. "Why do you need to go poking at someone's wounds?"

Cameron released his suitcase. "Fine. Let your festering wounds eat you alive. Who am I to question you?" He headed for the door. "I'd rather go sleep with the horses. At least I'll know why they're giving me the silent treatment."

Rowdy moved so quickly that Cameron didn't have time to blink. "Wait."

Cameron shoved the man in his chest. "Look, we both know that we're attracted to one another. That doesn't mean we have to act on it. You keep your hormones in check and I'll do the same."

"It isn't that easy."

"The hell it isn't." Cameron knew Rowdy was telling the truth. The more time he spent around the man, the more he wanted the cowboy. It was turning into an insane need and Cameron couldn't understand why he was desperate for someone this dysfunctional. He'd never pined over anyone. Why Rowdy? What made this guy so special that Cameron felt as if he was losing his mind?