STORY EXCERPT

Landon watched as Benny tried his hardest not to drop the tray of food he carried. His gaze followed the little human's every move as the men in the dining room shouted and cursed while playing their card game.

He could've gotten away from his captors a hundred times over. The chains bolting Landon to the floor were a joke, though if he had to sit in the old, rickety chair much longer, that might do some damage. His back was killing him. He wasn't a small guy, and the tiny chair under him felt like it would give at any second.

But none of that mattered. Not his discomfort or his freedom because Landon wasn't leaving without the skinny little captive. And since the bikers were heavily armed, and since they kept a watchful eye on Benny, grabbing the male and running was proving difficult.

Especially since Landon was surrounded by bear shifters. He still couldn't believe Knuckles and his cohorts had kidnapped him. All because Rhys had beaten Knuckles's ass and the biker wanted payback. So why hadn't he gone after Rhys? Landon suspected Knuckles was now terrified of him, so he took another bounty hunter instead.

If Knuckles only knew what Landon was capable of, he would have never hatched his bullshit plan.

As he moved past the table, Benny held the tray close to his chest, his full attention on the wooden thing, like he was afraid he'd drop it at any second. Knuckles snatched his arm and yanked Benny toward him. "Grab me a beer, hon."

Landon narrowed his eyes. When he did finally manage to get out of here, he was coming back to end Knuckles's life. The fucker was crude, ill-mannered, and used Benny as his personal servant. Landon wasn't sure how long Benny had been in servitude, but it had to have been a while because he was far too thin, and Knuckles's harsh words didn't seem to even register.

With his gaze still glued to the tray, Benny reversed course and headed back into the kitchen. He returned a moment later and set the beer can on the table.

He finally made it to Landon, knelt at his feet, and set the tray on the floor. Benny picked up the bread from the plate and fed pieces to him. Landon accepted the bread, his gaze flickering between Benny's beautiful face and the bikers at the table.

 Landon could tell Benny was trying hard not to look at him, but his gaze kept straying to Landon's face before he quickly cast it downward.

His wolf growled to protect Benny from these assholes, and from any other threat. But the chains and the armed men prevented him from doing anything but plot his and Benny's escape.

And he would get free. Landon had been watching all four men for days now, memorizing their every move—when they slept, when they ate, and when they took a shit. All he needed was five seconds alone with Benny and he'd get ghost.

But these Grizzly Bastards weren't as dumb as they looked. They never left Landon alone. Someone was always in the room. He couldn't understand how Rhys had ever been a part of this MC. Rhys wasn't someone to take lightly, but he couldn't imagine the guy ever being this…assholish.

Benny fed Landon his next piece of bread. His fingers brushed Landon's lips, and Landon sucked them in, teasing the pads with his teeth before letting Benny's fingers go. He wasn't even sure why he'd done that. Perhaps because he wanted Benny to know he wasn't like the Grizzly Bastards, that Benny was safe with him.

The male's hazel eyes widened for a brief second as his gaze shot to Landon. His lips parted and he seemed so shocked that he forgot to look away.

"Hey," Knuckles said before spitting on the floor of the small shotgun house. The smell of his chew turned Landon's stomach. "You feeding him or having finger sex over there?"

The other men turned to look their way.

Landon smirked. "Why don't you come over here and find out?"

Knuckles placed his handgun on the table in front of him. "Or I could just shoot your mangy ass."

"Don't," Benny whispered so low that only Landon heard him. "Don't rile them. They'll make me pay for your taunts. Let napping cats lie."

Benny's head was turned away from the men, and his long, dark hair hid his face, so they couldn't have seen his lips move. Landon had no doubt Benny was telling the truth. The male's exposed skin was riddled with scars.

"The term is let sleeping dogs lie," Landon whispered.

"Okay." Benny fed him another piece of bread.

Landon glared at Knuckles but didn't say another word. The men went back to their card game as Benny lifted the glass from the tray and gave Landon a drink of water. The water tasted like metallic, like it had come from rusted pipes.

When he turned his head to indicate he was finished drinking, Benny set the plastic cup on the tray, lifted it from the floor, and scuttled into the kitchen.

He wanted to know who had hurt Benny, who had left those scars behind. Because when Landon found out, well, he had all kinds of thoughts on how he would make the son of a bitch pay.

Landon watched Knuckles, wanting to choke the life out of him, and that image brought a small smile to his lips. Too bad Rhys hadn't killed Knuckles when he'd beaten the brakes off him.

Then again, if Rhys had killed Knuckles, Landon would've never known about Benny, and the male would've never been rescued. Landon would take whatever torture these assholes wanted to dish out if that meant freeing Benny from this life.

ADULT EXCERPT

Landon jerked awake and looked toward his windows. His gaze lowered to his side, and it took a few seconds for him to focus. When he did, he realized Benny wasn't in the bed.

His heart in his throat, Landon turned over. He'd been ready to get dressed and hunt down the little human when he saw Benny curled up on the carpet, a pillow tucked under his head. Why in the hell was he sleeping on the floor?

Landon sat up, scrubbing his jaw. Although the carpet was plush, he doubted the floor could be that comfortable. Landon scooped up Benny, and the pillow, then tucked him into bed before crawling in next to him.

"I'm up. I'll get it." Benny shot to a sitting position, his eyes still closed, his body swaying as his lips parted. He started to lightly snore while sitting there.

Fuck. Landon's heart constricted. Benny must've gone through the same scenario a hundred times with the Bastards—being woken in the middle of the night to do some menial task for those pricks.

He rubbed Benny's back in a soothing pattern. "Lay back down."

Benny fell backward, and curled into Landon's side while still snoring. Landon tucked the comforter over them, then pulled Benny even closer. "Just get some sleep."

"Okay," Benny mumbled as he scratched his thigh. He turned over and stuck his butt against Landon's groin. Landon gritted his teeth and inched back, but Benny's backside followed until Landon was on the edge of the bed.

With a small growl, Landon lifted Benny and set him in the middle of the bed, then shoved a pillow between them, blocking Benny's butt from grinding into his dick.

Benny turned, then turned again, and finally grabbed the pillow and tossed it to the other side of the bed. Goddamn, the little shit was a restless sleeper.

Landon shoved him to the middle twice, only to have Benny flip-flop his way back to him. He sat up and planted his feet on the floor, rubbing the heels of his hands into his eyes. "You've got to be fucking kidding me."

Landon was exhausted and wanted to go back to sleep, but not with Wild Man in bed with him. He'd been ready to grab a pillow and go downstairs to the family room when Benny shot into a sitting position and looked around. Judging by the unfocused look in his hazel eyes, he wasn't awake.

He swayed in a circular pattern, then dropped back down to the bed. Landon threw a pillow to the floor, deciding to stay close by. He didn't need Benny sleepwalking out of the house.

Just as Landon got as comfortable as he could get sleeping on the floor, Benny whispered, "Landon, why are you down there?"

"There's not enough room in my king-sized bed for both of us," Landon replied. "Just get some sleep." He'd settled on his back and thrown his arm over his eyes when Benny spoke again.

"But I don't like being up here alone. I'm-I'm scared."

Landon saw now that he wasn't going to get any sleep. With a groan, he pushed to his feet and climbed in next to Benny, who curled into Landon and let go of a tiny, content sigh.

Unsure how long Benny would lie still before he started doing acrobats again, Landon closed his eyes only for them to fly back open when Benny tossed a leg over Landon's thigh, and an arm over his waist like Landon was his personal body pillow.

Landon was trying really hard to behave. He truly was, but Benny was making that quest damn near impossible. His body was warm, soft, and…Landon clenched his jaw and forced himself to relax as he closed his eyes.

Benny's hand wandered to the patch of skin just below Landon's navel.

He's just getting comfortable. Don't read anything into it. Just go to sleep for however long you can.

Benny wiggled even closer, tucking his head under Landon's chin. Landon couldn't help how his body responded. His dick hardened and pulsed as Landon tried to think of something, anything that would deflate his raging hard-on.

But all he could think about was Benny's body pressed so close to his, how soft those lips would taste, and how they would look wrapped around his cock. Landon pressed his thumb and index finger into his eyes, taking slow, deep breaths.

He stiffened when he felt Benny's lips against his bare chest. Was the guy dreaming, or awake and making a move on him? "Benny?"

"Hmm?"

"What…" Landon swallowed. "What're you doing?"

"I'm not awake," Benny said. "I'm dreaming. Stop interrupting my dream."

"Uh, you're not dreaming." Landon hissed when Benny teased one of his nipples with his teeth.

"Yes, I am." Benny sucked the pebbled flesh between his lips, lashing his tongue across the wet skin.

A man could only show so much restraint before his good intentions crumpled. And Landon's shattered as he cupped the back of Benny's head and hissed. He rolled to his back, and Benny rolled with him, climbing onto Landon as he continued his assault on Landon's nipples.

In the back of his mind, Landon's brain told him to slow down, but his body wouldn't listen. He grabbed Benny's hips, grinding his hard cock into Benny's soft ass as Benny licked and nipped at his chest.

He felt Benny wiggle, and when Landon looked down, Benny was kicking his jogging pants off. Landon released Benny's sides and tore the man's shirt over his head.

The only barrier between them was Landon's boxer briefs. He tried to remove them, but Benny's knees were on either side of Landon's hips, preventing him from getting them off.

He gave up when Benny started kissing his way down Landon's chest. Landon gnashed his teeth, his body aching for release as Benny's lips reached his underwear.

Landon instinctively spread his legs, and Benny crawled between them as he fished out Landon's cock. A moan escaped Landon's throat when Benny's fingers curled around his hard length. He held his breath, watching as Benny took the head into his mouth.

"Oh fuuuck," Landon moaned. He pressed his hands against Benny's hair, sliding his fingers through the strands while forcing his hips not to punch upward. "That's it, sweetheart."

Landon had to take a deep and controlling breath when Benny backed off his cock. He crawled up Landon's chest, the tip of his erection sliding along Landon's skin.

With a vibrating growl, Landon flipped Benny onto his back, kicked his underwear off, and spread Benny's legs. If Benny said to stop, Landon would, though it would take every ounce of restraint he possessed.

But Benny didn't stop him. He didn't utter a word as he wrapped his legs around Landon's waist, taking in deep breaths as he curled his fingers into the bedding.