They Took His Inheritance, He Claimed Three Alpha Mates novel · Chapter 16 of 40

Chapter 16: Joel's Bed

Joel came at midnight and did not bother to look calm.

He shut the door hard, turned the key, and stood with his back against it and his grey eyes on Max.

"Raven has ridden for the hills after the foreman," he said. "Mary's keys have been walking the halls since dark. And I can think of only one thing."

"What?"

"Straw," he said.

"I beg your pardon?"

"There was straw in his hair at supper. Hay in his collar. Flour on his boots." His jaw worked. "Third time he's come home from you with something stuck to him."

"Joel."

"He hummed."

"He does hum."

"He hummed all through the soup. I counted."

Max sat on the edge of the bed in his shirtsleeves and tried not to laugh.

It was a serious mistake, because Joel saw it.

He crossed the room in three strides, took Max by the front of the shirt, and hauled him up onto his feet.

"You think this is funny."

"A little."

"I rode to Tyros twice this week to pack my own books, because I could not sleep two floors from your door."

His voice cracked on the last word, and he looked furious about that too.

"I came to say that it is my turn," he said. "I have no right to say so. I'm saying it."

"It's your turn."

"Is it?"

"It's whenever you say."

Joel kissed him.

It was not gentle.

It was a hard, angry, hungry kiss, with teeth in it, and Max kissed him back just as hard and slid both hands up under his coat.

Joel's heart hammered against his palm.

He tasted of iron and wine, and he made a sound low in his chest that was almost a snarl.

"Night," Max said into his mouth. "Domain."

The change rolled over him, and Joel felt it happen.

He tore his mouth away, gasping, as his own scent shifted and sweetened, and slick ran hot between his legs.

"Damn you," he said, without heat. "Damn you. I hate that it works."

"Take it off."

"Take yours off first."

They did it together, tearing at buttons, tossing coats and shirts and boots, until they stood bare in the lamplight.

Joel was wide and hard-muscled, with a dark scar through his right eyebrow and a pelt of black hair across his chest.

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