Love Hurts (Eternal Flames Book 12) Read online

  CHAPTER 19

  Flyer had never been more afraid in his life than he was right now. His entire life was in the hands of the gorgeous man before him and, fuck him, Ireland was just that. They were almost the same height at five-eleven and they had to weigh about the same at two hundred, but where Flyer’s was more muscle and tone, Ireland’s was love and softness. His short spiky brown hair with shiny silver twinkling through like the stars on a dark night, eyes the color of melted chocolate that Flyer could feel his very soul being covered with, were something he would never tire of looking at. Fuck he wanted this man. How stupid had he been to send him away.

  “Ireland, I’ve been an idiot. I could make all the excuses I want, but the fact remains I’m an idiot.”

  “Flyer, you’re not—”

  Flyer held up his hand stopping Ireland from continuing. “Yes, I am. I can’t remember a time I didn’t feel alone. I fly my planes alone, I work on my planes alone, I go to my home alone and I have always felt alone. It took one very pissed off Rory—who, by the way, may look all sweet and kind, but that kid is ruthless when he’s pissed. I pity Snake and Oz if they ever fuck up.”

  Ireland rolled his eyes. “Flyer.”

  Clearing his throat Flyer said, “You’re right I’m avoiding. Sorry. It’s just that this is really hard, and I don’t want to say something that will make me look more stupid than I already feel.”

  “I’m your mate, you can tell me anything and I will never look at you as if you are stupid,” Ireland replied softly.

  Flyer sighed, then met Ireland’s gaze and really looked at him. This man was all forgiving, all caring, and all his—well, if he didn’t fuck this up. “I was terrified when we were out there, Ireland. I don’t just mean the anxiousness I normally feel when I’m on a mission, I mean I was scared to death for me and you. I was more vulnerable than I have ever been in my life and you got me through it all.”

  Ireland’s disappointment showed in his eyes as he said, “Oh. Okay. You’re welcome.”

  Flyer gave off an impressive growl snapping at no one in particular. “God, I suck at this! Ireland, I don’t mean I’m grateful—well I am, but that’s not what I’m trying to say.” Sighing heavily, Flyer went on, “I didn’t know if I would ever see again and if I couldn’t see, then I couldn’t fly. And if I couldn’t fly, who would I be? I always thought that flying was who I was to everyone, including myself. It wasn’t until you were gone, and I was lying there—after having my ass handed to me by Rory—that I really went through what happened to us out there. I had this film running through my mind of every word spoken and every action taken, and that’s when it hit me.”

  “What?” Ireland asked cautiously.

  “You weren’t seeing me as Flyer, the Black Ops guy. You were seeing me as the man you loved and wanted to spend the rest of your life with. You didn’t want anything from me, but…me. And somewhere along the line, I stopped looking at you as someone I needed to help save, but couldn’t, and started really seeing the man and the life I had secretly dreamed of, but never thought I could have. When I told you to go have a good life, that was bullshit. I mean, I want you to have a good life, but I want that life to be spent with me,” Flyer said.

  Ireland gasped but didn’t say anything, causing Flyer to become unsure whether he was saying the right things.

  Flyer turned away from Ireland saying, “Don’t get mad at Rory, but he did tell me some things about you and that also got me to thinking. What if you were to become my co-pilot? Things always seem to go wrong on assignments and you being so adept at mechanics and everything could help. And besides, we make one hell of a team.”

  Flyer turned back around and was not prepared for the soaring missile known as Ireland. His mate literally ran and jumped into his arms. The two men fell backwards onto the floor with a grunt, but Flyer ignored the pain in his elbow and back as Ireland began to kiss him all over, saying, “Mate me, now! I want my mate now!”

  Flyer felt his heart stop and then soar like the Willy Wonka elevator in that dumb movie. His mate wanted him, and he wanted his mate. They kissed and groped until Flyer remembered where they were. “Ireland, I think it might be a bit more comfortable if we did this on a proper bed.”

  Ireland jumped up, grabbed Flyer by the hand, and damn near tossed him through the bedroom door. Laughing Flyer said, “Baby, slow down. We have all night.”

  Ireland opened the door and rushed to his bedside table grabbing the bottle of lube and tossing it on the bed. The man kicked off his shoes, and unzipped his pants, pulling them down, saying, “Oh hell no. I don’t want slow and romantic. I have waited for you long enough. We can do slow another time. Right now, I want you inside me and making me yours.”

  Ireland’s words had Flyer stripping out of his clothes fast and furious. He was pissed when he had to bend down to untie his boots. Quickly kicking them off, he stood and just about swallowed his tongue. Ireland was on all fours, stretching himself. He was already up to the third finger by the time Flyer got over to Ireland and climbed up behind his man.

  Ireland removed his fingers, hissing, “I’m ready.” Flyer looked at his glistening star and licked his lips.

  The sight of the stretched puckered hole had his dick pulsing in anticipation. Lubing up his cock Flyer lined himself up to the entrance, then slowly pushed inside. This was it. This was the moment Flyer had flown all the way to have. He was making Ireland his for all eternity.

  Both men let out a moan of pleasure as Flyer pushed further and further in. The feel of his mate’s tight hole wrapping around his cock was almost too much for him and Flyer had to stop for a moment to catch his breath and gain a bit of control.

  Ireland gave a small protest, wiggling a bit to try and complete their connection.

  A light smack to the man’s ass had him hissing and thankfully stopping his movements, then he whispered, “I liked that.”

  “Another time, love. As hot as that sounds, right now I’m doing all I can not to come like a teenage boy from how good you feel,” Flyer strained to say.

  Once Flyer knew he was good, he started pushing in once more. The moment Flyer felt his balls touching Ireland’s ass, he dropped his head onto his shoulders, pulled out, and thrust back in.

  Both men made sounds of love and pleasure as Flyer kept up a steady pace. Ireland’s ass muscles gripped him with each outward movement as if the man never wanted him to leave. Good thing, because there was nowhere else Flyer wanted to be. He could stay like this for the rest of his life and die a very happy man.

  “More. Fuck me like you mean it, Aiden!” Ireland shouted.

  With his name coming from his mate’s lips, Flyer felt something rush over him. A possessiveness like never before. This man was his, God damn it!

  Gripping Ireland’s hips, Flyer began a punishing pace, pounding in and out of his ass over and over again. Both men making sounds that anyone outside could hear. Surprisingly Flyer couldn’t give a shit who knew. Let everyone know. He was claiming what was his!

  Ireland screamed as he arched his back and thrust against Flyer, meeting him stroke for stroke. They were dancing a dance from the beginning of time and they were doing it as one.

  Flyer felt Ireland’s quills before he actually saw them. He didn’t know how he knew what he had to do, he just did.

  Flyer leaned over his mate, almost covering the man, as Ireland arched his back and stuck him in the chest with his quills. Flyer hissed with the sting and then felt his orgasm roll from his toes and straight out of his cock, causing Flyer to scream his pleasure as seed filled Ireland’s hole.

  Ireland joining Flyer’s screams with those of his own as the smell of his orgasm filled the room.

  Flyer pumped in and out until he had no more seed to give and then fell forward, rolling onto his side, still inside his mate, sweat covering their bodies, Ireland’s back to Flyer’s chest. Both men gasping for air. Flyer as he kissed Ireland’s neck and back, whispered, “I love you. God, how I love
you to the moon and back.”

  “I love you, too. I’m sorry I had to hurt you in order to make you mine. It’s the porcupine way of mating,” Ireland rasped, still trying to catch his breath.

  Flyer laughed, causing his cock to slip from his mate’s body. “That’s okay. You know what they say?”

  Ireland turned so they were face to face with his hands on Flyer’s naked and very sweaty chest. “No what do they say?”

  Smiling wide, Flyer chuckled, saying, “Love hurts.”

  EPILOGUE

  Benji walked into the shelter with a tired sigh. He was just let go from another job. If he didn’t have bad luck, Benji wouldn’t have any luck at all. He was just getting ready to head to his room when he heard someone shouting, “No Tiny!” and a small rabbit came hopping towards him with an even smaller monkey on its back holding on for dear life. Just as he bent and grabbed the rabbit, a large mastiff came at him, knocking Benji to the ground.

  “Charlie, no! Bad dog. How many times do I have to tell you not to jump on people? Well nice people, not the bad ones. Yorkie wants you to jump on the bad ones—unless—You’re not a bad man, are you?”

  “N-no I-I’m not,” Benji stammered, as he looked up at the tiny man above him. He had the longest, prettiest, dark-grey hair that matched his glittering grey eyes. The guy looked familiar, but Benji couldn’t place him.

  “I’m Timmy.”

  The second the large dog named Charlie got off his legs, Benji sat up. “I’m Benji. Nice to meet you. I do believe these little guys are yours.”

  Timmy took the bunny with the monkey, admonishing, “Tiny, how many times do I have to tell you, Puff is not a horse to be ridden? He’s your brother and you shouldn’t be so mean.”

  Benji watched as Timmy seemed to be having a conversation with the animals. It was the oddest thing to witness.

  “I don’t care if it’s fun for you. It isn’t so fun for Puff. Did you hear what he said? You pulled his hair and it hurt. No movie for you tonight. While the rest of us are enjoying ‘Happy Feet’, you will be in bed early, young man, and no argument.”

  “Hey, Benji, I thought you were working tonight?” Jase asked.

  Sighing, Benji replied, “Mr. Dittle let me go because his nephew came back to Crystal. I have to look for a new job tomorrow.”

  “Damn, I know that job meant a lot to you,” Jase said sympathetically.

  “Yeah, I was hoping to use what I’d saved to get out of here and finally get a place of my own, but now I’m back to square one,” Benji said feeling the tears start to build behind his eyes.

  Not wanting anyone to see him cry, Benji rasped, “I need to go to my room.”

  “Wait!” Timmy shouted.

  Benji wiped at the corner of his eye before turning back around. “Sorry, Timmy, I didn’t mean to be rude. It was nice meeting you.”

  “But I have a job you can have. It comes with money, a place to live, and lots of friends, too,” Timmy said, with a nod.

  York stepped out of the kitchen with Ethan by his side. “Nugget? What’re you doing?”

  “Yorkie, I’m giving Benji a job. He can be my helper like you said. He’s already started. He helped me get Puff and Tiny back,” Timmy said holding up his rabbit with the monkey still attached.

  “Nugget, you can’t just hire a man without checking out his credentials. You don’t know anything about him,” York gently replied.

  “I know him. His name is Benji and he worked with Mr. Dittle, but Mr. Dittle’s nephew came back to Crystal, so he got rid of Benji and hired his nephew instead. Which I think was real mean and you should go tell him so later, Yorkie. Cause when you promise a job to someone you should keep that promise no matter what. Unless they were really bad at it,” Timmy said, in practically one breath then turned to Benji asking, “You weren’t really bad at it were you?”

  At the shake of Benji’s head, Timmy turned back to York. “See Yorkie, he was good at his job, but now he doesn’t have one and he has to live here, but he wants to live in his own home. I told him he could come live with us where he could have a job and get lots of friends.”

  Ethan stepped forward. “For what it’s worth, Benji is a great guy. He helps around here, and I know he’s good friends with Gill, or was until Savage took off with him.”

  “We’re still friends. Gill and I talk every—I mean we used to talk every day,” Benji corrected, hoping they didn’t catch his twisting of the truth. Gill had made him promise not to tell anyone they talked all the time. He even said they might be able to see each other soon. He sure hoped so. Benji really missed his friend.

  Jase quickly said, “Benji is a good man, York, and would be no threat to anyone on your land. He knows about shifters and he’s cool with it, so you wouldn’t have to be concerned about that.”

  York walked towards Benji. Benji took a step back and swallowed hard. Fear filling him.

  “Yorkie, stop scaring the poor man and say hi,” Timmy said with a stomp of his foot.

  The second York turned to his mate, Benji was shocked to see the love and tenderness that came from the man who had looked ready to eat him seconds ago. With a loud sigh, York turned to Benji. “If you want the job, it’s yours. Get your things. We leave in ten minutes.”

  Benji gasped, asking, “What is it I will be doing? I mean not that I care. What I don’t know, I’ll learn.”

  “You’ll be helping my mate take care of his children,” York replied with a devilish smile.

  Benji’s eyes went huge. “His—oh man, I don’t know anything about kids. I’m sorry, but I—”

  Ethan chuckled as he smacked at York and admonished, “Stop teasing the boy. Benji, Timmy’s children are his animals, and trust me, with the zoo he has at home, he can use all the help he can get.”

  Benji’s eyes lit up as excitement rippled through his body. “Holy crap! Are you serious? That’s great! I love animals and I’ve worked with them before—before—”

  Benji stopped before he said anything else. Speaking of his past was not something he did with anyone. Instead he looked at Timmy, saying, “I worked at a zoo for a while when I first arrived in this re…state.”

  York looked at Benji curiously and Benji only hoped the guy didn’t call him a liar and take back the job offer. As nice as everyone was here, he just hoped that he could get his own place and start his new life.

  Timmy gave Benji a bright smile. “Good. Then let’s get your things and go home.”

  Benji started up the stairs with Timmy, and York called out to him, “Oh and Benji. There is something you need to know. If any harm comes to my mate because of you, there will not be a place on this earth that will be safe enough to hide. Do I make myself clear?”

  Benji’s eyes went wide and his fear level skyrocketed. A ripple of power rolled through him and Benji had to back it off before he did something really stupid. He would hate to hurt anyone by accident. Maybe he should rethink the job? However, this job was a dream come true for Benji and he refused to allow fear and —this, to dictate his life. He nodded as he replied, “I hear you.”

  “Isn’t my Yorkie sexy when he gets all possessive like that? It just makes me want to nibble all over him,” Timmy said with a giggle.

  “Just so if he decides to do any nibbling of his own, he sticks to you, I’m good,” Benji muttered, then turned and headed up the stairs to go to his room to gather his things.

  The End

  PLEASE NOTE:

  It is recommended that our stories be read in order, to avoid any confusion....

  Burning Desire, Eternal Flames 1

  Rising from the Ashes, Eternal Flames 2

  Courting the Phoenix, Eternal Flames 3

  How to Claim Your Dragon, Eternal Flames 4

  A Higher Calling, Eternal Flames 5

  Fear of Discovery, Eternal Flames 6

  Adding Fuel to the Flames, Eternal Flames Maddox 1

  A Bite to Remember, Eternal Flames Maddox 2

  Phoenix Ri
sing, Eternal Flames 7

  Bound To The Enemy, Eternal Flames Maddox 3

  Power Of Love, Eternal Flames 8

  Tiny Treasure, Eternal Flames Maddox 4

  Partners In Crime, Eternal Flames 9

  Sowing The Seeds Of Love, Eternal Flames Maddox 5

  Under Siege, Eternal Flames 10

  Edge Of Tomorrow, Eternal Flames Maddox 6

  Divine Intervention, Eternal Flames Maddox 7

  Learning To Live, Eternal Flames 11

   Second Chances, Eternal Flames Maddox 8

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