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

and poked him in the chest, hard enough that Zeke slapped a hand over the stinging spot right above his heart. He opened his mouth to sound off but Brendon beat him to it.

“If. You. Ever”—Brendon stabbed his finger into Zeke’s chest, punctuating each word with a jab, startling and pissing him off at the same time—“Pin. Me.”

Zeke caught the finger before it could stab at him again. “Stop with the whole finger thing, babe.” Because really, it was stoking his temper something fierce, and Zeke didn’t want to snap at his man—much. Brendon jerked his finger back out of Zeke’s grasp. Instead of poking, he leaned in close to Zeke. The scent of Brendon, all man and anger, filled Zeke’s senses. Everything was blotted out except that smell, which flowed through Zeke and had his cock filling with need. God, Brendon could turn him inside out in a heartbeat. Zeke’s lips quirked and he sincerely hoped his lover wouldn’t see them in the dark bathroom.

“Don’t ever do that again, Ezekiel, or I will kick your ass. You can stand beside me, but not in front of me, got it?”

Zeke could have argued that Brendon would have done the same thing, but he was aware that his lover was talking about their relationship as a whole, not just this one instance. In that context, Brendon was right. He’d do his best to make sure and remember that.

“All right, babe, but you know it’s natural to want to protect the ones we love. It doesn’t mean I think you are any less capable than me, it just means that I would rather die than have you hurt.” Zeke might have said more, but Brendon grabbed his head and pulled him down for a searing kiss.

“Same goes, Zeke, same goes.”

* * * *

Brendon sighed as they pulled into the parking lot of the sheriff’s office. At this rate, they would be assigned their own parking slot. After the early morning break-in and Sheriff Stenley’s subsequent interviews and inspection of the premises, there hadn’t been time to go back to sleep. Frankly, he felt like cold shit and knew Zeke couldn’t feel much better. Glancing over at the man he loved, Brendon noted the dark smudges under Zeke’s eyes, the pronounced lines around his tightened lips. He reached across the seat and took Zeke’s hand.

“Hey”—he waited until Zeke looked at him,—“at least nothing was damaged at the ranch, including us, Zeke.” In fact, the only damage had been the jimmying of the front door lock and a lamp that had been knocked over. Sheriff Stenley was quick to point out it could have been much worse, and that next time, it might very well be. The fact Brendon and Zeke had heard two intruders was extremely troubling. Some partial footprints the sheriff had found also backed it up. Stenley, along with Zeke and Brendon, was determined to bring this insanity to a swift end before someone got hurt.

Watching the emotion swirling around in Zeke’s eyes, Brendon had to fight his instinct to slide across the bench seat and hold the man in his arms. While they hadn’t had a problem the few times they had come into town, it wouldn’t do to give anyone a chance to raise a ruckus. The inability to show his lover affection out in public was the only thing Brendon regretted about being gay. Not that he would change who he was. No, the change needed to be on the part of society as a whole, and that was a long way off. Certainly too far off to do him any good right now.

Zeke gave Brendon’s hand a slight squeeze, then turned back to look over the parking lot. “Doesn’t look like Stenley’s cruiser is here. Must have gotten an emergency call.”

Brendon glanced around and realized that the Sheriff’s cruiser was, indeed, gone. Well, hell, maybe the man would be back soon. It wasn’t like there was a lot of crime out in this area…unless it was directed at Zeke and himself.

“You want to wait around for a few minutes?” Brendon shifted in his seat. The Texas heat was already kicking in, obliterating the idling truck’s ability to keep the cab cool. Sweat beaded up on his brow and back, tickling a little trail down his spine.

Shaking his head, Zeke let go of Brendon’s hand and put the truck in park. “I’d like to go to Virginia’s café, maybe get a slice of pie and a cold drink, if…” He trailed off, looking down at the floorboard.

Brendon’s heart skipped a beat as he realized what Zeke was saying. It was a huge step for the man, walking the few blocks through town and sitting in the local diner, right across the street from where he’d been assaulted.

Giving the area a quick scan, Brendon figured it was safe and gave in to the need to hug Zeke. It was only a brief hug, a mere few seconds, but it seemed to give Zeke the strength he needed. Brendon grinned as his lover shut off the truck and got out, shoulders back and head held up high. Who would have thought Zeke would come so far so fast? Well, he knew the man was special, had from the first time Gloria had shown him Zeke’s picture.

He met Zeke at the tailgate and they began walking the short distance to the café. He was so happy to be where he was, he barely registered the roar of an engine. When he understood what the racket was, he scowled as a jolt of fear shot through him.

Then Zeke yelled, “Brendon!” and shoved him hard enough to bounce him off the big glass window of the café.

Brendon didn’t feel the pain of smacking into the café’s window. No, he was too busy screaming, running as he watched the front bumper of Eva’s car hit Zeke. A sickening crack filled the air. Brakes screeched as Zeke careened over the hood and into