A Subtle Breeze, Bailey Bradford [year 2 reading books .txt] 📗

never particularly cared for possessiveness, but this kiss almost singed his balls, it was so hot. Maybe he’d just never had the right man want to go all caveman on him before, or maybe it was the fact that he loved the hell out of Zeke. Whichever, it made him so horny he didn’t know how he was going to keep from peeling his clothes off.

Zeke bit Brendon’s bottom lip hard enough to send a zing of pain through him, then sucked and licked the little wound until Brendon thought he’d come in his jeans. He actually stumbled back a step when Zeke released him, smacking into the passenger side door of the truck. That hot gaze raked Brendon from head to toe, stripping him and letting him know Zeke intended to ensure Brendon didn’t notice the sheriff, or any other man, as soon as he got the chance. A little shiver of trepidation crawled up his spine, chased away by desire. He’d have to think about provoking Zeke a little more before he ever did it again, maybe. Or not. The man got so sexy when he was jealous that it was insane.

Zeke gave him a curt nod and walked over to his own door and got in. Brendon had to take a couple of breaths and steady himself to keep from telling the man they should just head back inside. He reached down and adjusted his cock, not wanting to cause himself any pain when he sat. Damn, no two ways about it, this was just going to be a painful ride.

* * * *

What the hell was wrong with him? Zeke fumed. He’d never been so jealous and possessive before. Then again, he hadn’t had anything more than fuck-and-flees before, either. He glanced at Brendon, soaking up the sight of the man as he read the reports they’d picked up from Doc Michaels. Zeke had been worried, once he’d gotten over his irritation, that Brendon would be pissed for the manhandling. Instead, Zeke had been very aware of the heated glances sent his way, and he’d swear he could feel his lover’s anticipation building steadily. Maybe it was just his own, he didn’t know any more. It seemed he was so mixed up with Brendon, so tuned into him, that Zeke wasn’t sure who felt what. Didn’t particularly bother him any, either.

Brendon looked up, caught Zeke’s sideways glance and winked. Zeke felt a smile tugging at his lips and realized he had driven through town to the sheriff’s office without even a twinge of fear. He’d been so preoccupied with thoughts of his lover he hadn’t cared about whether people were watching. Parking the truck, he reached for Brendon’s hand and waited until the man looked at him.

“No ogling Stenley,” he ordered, but knew the smile dancing across his face took any real heat out of his words. Brendon laughed, running his thumb over Zeke’s knuckles.

“I haven’t ogled the man to begin with, Zeke. I’m too busy ogling you.”

They walked into the sheriff’s office and were greeted by Doreen, who’d been the receptionist there for as long as Zeke could remember.

“Ezekiel Matthers, look at you! What a handsome man you’ve become.” She beamed at him, and he ducked his head, just flat-out embarrassed. She wasn’t treating him like some kind of misfit. First Doc, now Doreen—how many other people had he been wrong about? Brendon’s snicker had Zeke casting a slitted look his way. No doubt he was enjoying the blush that had crawled all over Zeke at the woman’s words.

“And who is your handsome friend, hm?” Ha, now it was Brendon’s turn to blush, except he handled it much better than Zeke had. Brendon stepped forward and reached out a hand, uncaring of his pinked cheeks as he flashed his dimple for the receptionist.

“Brendon Shanahan, ma’am. Pleased to meet you.”

Doreen took his hand and seemed genuinely happy to meet him. Zeke was saved from having to make any attempt at conversation by Sheriff Stenley, who stepped out of his office just as the handshake ended. His steady gaze took in everything, and a little uptilt to one side of his mouth showed his amusement. Zeke looked the man over. Yeah, well, maybe he wasn’t bad looking, but Zeke wouldn’t call him handsome—and Brendon damn sure better not.

“Doreen, you done flirting with those two?” Stenley winked at Doreen as he said it, surprising Zeke that the man had a sense of humor. He looked at Brendon only to find that his lover was looking right back at him.

“Greeting two nice-looking young men is hardly flirting, Sheriff.” Doreen waved the men on back to Stenley’s office, adding teasingly as they passed, “Though, really, who could blame me?”

Stenley arched an eyebrow at her and she arched one right back, a clear dare for him to make another comment. Zeke wanted to laugh when the big man backed down—a wise decision, if Doreen was the same terrier she’d always been.

Sheriff Stenley shut the door behind them and gestured for Zeke and Brendon to sit as he plopped down behind his desk. Zeke took the papers from Brendon and almost tossed them toward Stenley before he caught himself. Not that his lover nudging his foot had anything to do with his decision. Zeke knew Brendon wasn’t interested in the other man, so he needed to stop wanting to growl at him. Stenley picked up the reports and read over them carefully. The man was pretty good at hiding what he was feeling, but Zeke noted the tightening around the sheriff’s eyes and mouth, little telltale signs of anger. Those eyes were hard and cold when he looked up at them, then focused on Zeke.

“You realize that oleander isn’t native, though it is naturalized in parts of Texas, and that it’s highly toxic to just about every living creature, including humans?”

“Yeah, actually, I do. I also know it doesn’t grow wild in pastures. Which means someone dumped some in the