He wasn't going to risk that fate with Wilbur. Although Stripper's father held no bitterness toward him, he'd grown up watching the man he respected and adored slowly wither away. There were times when his father had sat in the living room, listening to an old CD that had been his wife's favorite and Stripper could feel the loss like a tsunami. He never wanted to know how that felt, the agony of losing one's mate.

Pushing away from the door, Stripper took a seat next to Wilbur's bed. He slid Wilbur's hand between his as he gazed at his mate. He thought of how he had interrogated the man and of Wilbur's responses, how Wilbur had offered his sandwich to the very man who had kidnapped him. Stripper smiled when he thought about Wilbur's bucket list. The man seemed determined to learn how to dry drown in a wetsuit. That thought almost made Stripper laugh.

The man was so damn perfect that Stripper didn't know how he was blessed with such a unique creature.

He sat there for hours, dozing on and off as he held on to Wilbur's hand. He couldn't bear the thought of not touching the man, of not being near him. Stripper had been given a second chance with Wilbur, and he wasn't going to miss out on a second of the man's life.

It was almost five in the evening when Wilbur's eyelids began to flutter. Stripper stood, leaning over his mate. He wanted to be the first person that Wilbur saw.

"Hey, beautiful," Stripper said softly when Wilbur's eyes locked onto him. Wilbur lifted his hand and pointed to the tube in his throat. Stripper nodded and pressed the nurses' button. "Let's see if we can't get that out of you."

Wilbur's hand shook as his thumb rose in the air. A short laugh burst from Stripper at Wilbur's thumbs-up. He caressed his mate's cheek as his throat grew tight.

The door opened, and the nurse walked in. "He's awake." She smiled and walked over to the bed. As she checked Wilbur's vitals, Stripper moved aside but kept a tight hold on his mate's hand.

The nurse nodded. "We'll get that tube out of him."

Stripper watched as she removed it, Wilbur gagging slightly. Without thought, Stripper leaned forward and kissed Wilbur's dry lips. He didn't care what the nurse thought. He knew only that he needed the close connection.

The nurse smiled. "Just keep it at a kiss and I won't have to toss you out here."

Wilbur's thumb rose once again. She gave a small laugh, shook her head, and exited the room.

"Hurt," Wilbur said, his voice rough and raspy.

"I know, beautiful. You've just had heart surgery. You've the long recovery ahead of you." Stripper kissed each of Wilbur's eyelids. "But I'll be with you every step of the way."

A frown worked its way over Wilbur's features. "Why?"

Stripper leaned in, his lips close to Wilbur's ear. "Because you stole my heart."

"No, Mom. I'm fine. It was a robbery, and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The doctor's fixed me right up." Wilbur hated lying to his mother, but he couldn't tell her the truth. It had been two weeks since he'd left the hospital, and Wilbur had avoided calling his parents until now. He felt as though he should go stand in the corner for lying to her.

"I heard the owner of the diner was killed." Her voice had risen, and Wilbur knew she was on the edge of losing it. "I still don't understand why you were there at such a late hour."

Wilbur tried hard not to think of Bill. When he'd first heard the owner had been killed, Wilbur had cried for two days straight. If it hadn't been for him, Bill would still be alive. Wilbur would always carry that guilt with him. Wilbur wished he could go back in time and decide not to visit his parents. He had never hated anyone in his life, not even his boss, Mr. Fiber, who was irritating, but Wilbur hadn't hated the man.

He hated Reno with every breath he took. Wilbur wanted to see the man suffer for killing Bill. He also wanted Reno to suffer for Wilbur missing Bill's funeral.

"Wilbur, are you listening?" his mother asked.

Wilbur rubbed his temple and sighed. There would be no talking to her right now. She was in full hysterical mode. He had already sat there for five minutes and listened to her fuss at him for not calling her sooner.

He glanced up when the bedroom door opened. Wilbur still wasn't used to sleeping in Stripper's bed. He'd gone from living at home with his parents to the home he lived in now. He'd had two beds in his entire life, and although Stripper's was large and comfortable, it was taking some getting used to.

But what really was taking some getting used to was watching the man walk around the bedroom naked. The guy never wore any clothes when they were alone together. Didn't Stripper know the effect his nakedness was having on Wilbur? Every time he saw Stripper's nicely shaped ass or his cock, Wilbur got an erection. Thank goodness Wilbur had a sheet covering him.

"I gotta go," he said. He didn't like thinking of sex when he was talking to his mother. That was just creepy. "I'll call you in a few days." He hung up before she could say anything else. He loved her to death, and she was a sweet woman, but sometimes she smothered him.

"How'd the phone call go?" Stripper asked as he shed his clothing. Wilbur forgot to think as he stared at Stripper's behind. His fingers curled into the sheets as he clenched his teeth.

Stripper turned, frowning. "Wilbur, are you all right?"

He tore his eyes away from Stripper's nudity and glanced at the wall instead. "I'm tired of lying here. Can't I go downstairs? I promise not to strain myself walking down the steps. I'll even hang onto your arm for reassurance."

Stripper looked uncertain and then nodded. "Okay, but one sign that you're struggling and back to bed you go."

The only way Wilbur was getting back into this bed was if Stripper joined him with a promise of hot sex. He slid the sheet aside and then blushed when his cock bobbed freely, fully erect.

Stripper's eyes zeroed in on Wilbur's cock, but the man didn't say a word. He helped Wilbur dress and then put his own clothes back on. Wilbur's muscles protested after being bed-bound for so long, but he didn't tell Stripper. The man would only make him get back into bed.

He shuffled to the door and waited as Stripper opened it and guided him down the hallway. Wilbur took the steps one at a time, carefully and slowly. He was panting by the time he reached the bottom.

"You're struggling," Stripper said.

"No, I'm not tired. I just take a lot of horizontal pauses. Big difference. Now show me this big television you've been talking about." Wilbur started forward before Stripper hauled him back upstairs.

"I got one better for you." Stripper led him down the hallway to a room on the right. There was tons of electronic equipment set up all around the room.

"What is this?" Wilbur asked as he glanced around.

"The communications room." Stripper helped him through the door and then closed it. "They guys leave me alone in here since it's the only room I can let my junk hang out."

Wilbur chuckled. "You have a sweet way with words."

Stripper settled Wilbur onto a large pillow on the carpeted floor before he turned the television on, along with some sort of game console.

"I'm going to teach you online gaming," Stripper announced. "It's a great way to pass time and isn't strenuous."

"Okay." Wilbur nodded. "What kind of games do you play?"

"My favorite game." Stripper winked at him. "You get to run around and shoot anything that moves."

Okay. Wilbur had never played a video game in his life. But if Stripper was willing to show him, he'd sit there all day and learn. Besides, how hard could it be?

When Stripper settled behind him, Wilbur nestled in the V of the man's legs, and his brain tried to go out to lunch. Stripper's chest was pressed against Wilbur's back, and the warmth was welcomed. The guy smelled so good that Wilbur just sat there inhaling deeply, smiling to himself.

"Okay, have you ever played before?"

"No," Wilbur answered. "But I'm a pretty quick learner." And if you show me how to have sex, then I'm a fantastic learner. Wilbur wished he had the guts to say that out loud. He'd been sleeping next to Stripper for two weeks, and the man hadn't made one move on him. Aside from the kiss in the barn and the one at the hospital, their lips hadn't even touched. He was becoming more and more frustrated by the day. He was horny whenever Stripper was around, and he needed something done about that.

Wilbur was developing blue balls.

"Then we'll start with the basics." Stripper's arms wrapped around Wilbur so they could both hold the controller, and Wilbur wasn't listening to a word the man was saying. He was too busy wallowing in the guy's scent, his closeness, and the feel of Stripper's groin so close to his ass. To have so much muscle wrapped around him was making Wilbur's brain short circuit.

"Got it?"

"Uh, oh yeah, sure." Wilbur tried his best to pay attention. He wasn't being very successful. He kept trying to inch back so he could feel the press of Stripper's cock on his backside. Unfortunately, every time he scooted back, his shorts slid down slightly. He was now sitting there with the cool air of the room skimming over the crack of his butt.

"What are you doing?" Stripper said into his ear, his warm breath skittering across Wilbur's lobe. Wilbur shuddered as his cock grew hard. He swallowed and shook his head.

"Just getting more comfortable."

"Would you prefer we sit on the couch?"

There was a thick, cushiony sofa behind them that did look comfortable, but then Stripper wouldn't be sitting this close. "No, I'm fine."

"There are different levels to the game," Stripper continued in a teacher's tone. "There are guard dogs to kill and men and creatures to capture."

Wilbur thought about the phone conversation Stripper had had in the barn, and it all made sense to him now. The guy wasn't talking about assassinating anyone. He had been talking about video games. Wilbur wanted to laugh at the relief he felt.

Stripper must be a true gamer if he was getting phone calls from other people on how to play. That thought made Wilbur pay closer attention to what Stripper was teaching him.

"Okay, I'm about to unleash you onto the gaming world. Ready?"

Stripper let the control go and settled his hands on Wilbur's thighs. His thick, long fingers sat close to Wilbur's groin. Wilbur tried his hardest to concentrate on what he was doing, but all he kept thinking about was Stripper moving his hands just a little more inward.

"Kill that guy," Stripper said. "That's Crimson King, and he'll shoot you when your back is turned. Try to take him out early in the game."

Wilbur nodded and pressed multiple buttons at the same time. He had no freaking clue what he was doing. He hadn't paid a lick of attention to Stripper's advice.

His guy died.

"That's okay." Stripper placed a quick kiss on Wilbur's neck, making Wilbur's skin tingle. "You're a beginner. You'll just have to keep trying."

Before Stripper could restart the game, Wilbur asked, "Why are you called Stripper?"

The man chuckled. "I'm a free spirit, and when not on a mission, I like to walk around in the buff. I strip every stitch of clothing off as soon as I can."

"What's your real name?"

"Not gonna tell you."

"Why?" Wilbur asked.

"Because I like my nickname."

Wilbur set the control down and frowned. "I don't like calling you Stripper. For one, it sounds sleazy. Two, I feel as if you should be carrying a pole around with you."

The man's back vibrated as he laughed. "Trust me, beautiful. I am carrying a pole around with me."

Wilbur blushed at the man's innuendo. He had seen that pole and what a very nice pole Stripper owned. The man's cock was thick, long, and very impressive.

"Please," Wilbur said. "If you tell me your name, I'll tell you mine."

"I already know your name."

"I could have been lying," Wilbur said teasingly. "You'll never know now, will you?"

Stripper's smile was amazing. It was bright and made him look handsomer than he already was. "Fine, it's Giovani Zoltan."

Wilbur nodded. "My name is Wilbur Castro."

The man laughed and hugged Wilbur. "You're too adorable."

Wilbur would take that compliment. He smiled at the man. "And you're too sexy to be wearing clothes." Wilbur's eyes widened when his thoughts spilled from his lips. He hadn't meant to say that out loud. Or had he? He wasn't sure, but he wasn't going to take them back.

"Really?" Stripper's tone dropped a level, making him sound husky and downright sensual. He shook his head and thinned his lips, as if resolute about something. "No sex. That's too strenuous."

There was something in the man's eyes, something Wilbur couldn't decipher. The emotion almost looked like regret. But Wilbur couldn't be sure. "No it's not."

"There are things you don't know about me," Stripper said, his voice turning serious. "Things you need to know. Things that might be too stressful to hear right now."

"I promise not to swoon," Wilbur said. "I can take it." He frowned. "Please don't tell me you're married. If I call you beautiful, you're the only one I'm calling beautiful."

The man shook his head as he splayed the palm of his hand over Wilbur's belly. Wilbur wiggled a little and wondered what was wrong with the guy.

"I'm not married," Stripper said. "Nor am I dating anyone, involved in a relationship of any sorts, or the cheating type."

That was good to hear. Wilbur would have been devastated if Stripper had someone else tucked away somewhere. "Then what is it?"

Stripper hid his face in Wilbur's neck and inhaled deeply. "Can't we just play the game?"

Why did the guy sound so sad? What was Stripper hiding that had caused his voice to sound so distraught? Stripper's hand continued to move slowly over Wilbur's belly in leisurely circles.

"Is it that bad?" Wilbur asked.

The man wasn't impotent. Wilbur had seen Stripper's hard cock on more than one occasion. So then what was the problem? What did he need to know that Stripper wasn't telling him?

Stripper just held him and didn't say another word. Wilbur sat there wondering what secrets the man was hiding.

Chapter Eight.

Wilbur was through with being treated as if he'd break at any second. He was feeling better by the fourth week at the Big Bear Ranch, and he wanted a piece of Stripper.

He was on medical leave from work, which ensured he still had a job, but Wilbur felt himself changing. He no longer wanted a humdrum life. He liked the excitement Stripper showed him, although he had to view the excitement from the back porch of the house since he wasn't allowed to do anything strenuous.

But tonight Wilbur was taking a stand. He was going to grab the bull by the horns and throw caution to the wind. It was well after midnight, and Stripper was sound asleep, nude as usual. Wilbur began to view what he was doing as a mission. He would have to tread softly and hope he didn't wake his target.