“I ended up bringing some of the other guys under my protection. We were quite the group of misfits, but I taught them some things. Eventually, no one fucked with us because we didn’t care about their stupid territorial bullshit. There were others I tried to help, but they thought they were better off allied with someone else. I watched more than one of them get beaten to death. I still hate that I never stepped in, but if I’d turned on the men doing the beating, I might not have made it out alive myself.”
“And neither would the guys who did accept your protection.” I reached for Beau’s hand and squeezed it. “I may not have known you long, but I know you well enough to be certain you would do anything possible to help someone who was being hurt by assholes. I’m really glad you didn’t put yourself at risk. You can’t help everyone.”
“Yeah, I learned that well enough with my brother. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I wonder if I can help him now.”
“Maybe. Whatever the outcome, I’m glad you accepted Remy’s offer.”
“So am I. Your brother is one tough fuck, but he has a heart.”
I smiled. “Yeah, he does, and once you win his respect, he’ll always have your back.”
“Even if you put his baby brother in his place?”
Corbin grinned. “That might win you extra points.”
“I can imagine him thinking that, but when he gets back and finds out about us, I don’t think it will be a joke to him.”
Shit. I shouldn’t have brought up my brother. The last thing I needed to do was remind Beau how much trouble I could bring him. Even if he could curb my bratty ways, he still had my family to deal with.
Beau squeezed my hand. “I’m not going to let your family take you from me.”
My breath caught. “You would… You’d go against them?”
“I don’t want to come between you and your family, but you’re mine, Corbin, and I will always fight for what’s mine.”
“I think I might come in my pants.”
He laughed. “Finish your damn lunch.”
“Quit saying things that make me so”—I waved my hands in front of my face, fanning myself—“fucking desperate to take you out back and—” I stopped speaking when I realized Mary Fran was approaching our table.
“How is everything, boys?”
“Amazing. Beau was right. This is the best étouffée I’ve ever had. You’re going to be seeing a lot of me.”
She smiled and jerked her thumb toward Beau. “I hope you bring this one with you.”
“I intend to.”
Beau and I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the Quarter. I took him to my favorite bakery where we sat at a high-top table in the window and polished off a large plate of beignets. By dinnertime, we were dripping with sweat from the heat and humidity of the day. We got po’boys from a street vendor, brought them back to Remington’s house, and enjoyed them in the blissful air-conditioning.
After we ate, we snuggled up on the couch and watched The Mummy. I loved that it was a favorite for both of us. I laid my head on Beau’s shoulder and dozed a little. He woke me with a kiss when the end credits were rolling.
His lips were gentle on mine at first, but he quickly grew more insistent. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he stood, picking me up as though I weighed nothing. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and he carried me upstairs and tossed me down on the bed.
We tore at each other’s clothes, stripping as fast as we could, except for the moment Beau paused to nip at my sore ass as he pulled my jockstrap down. He lay over me, lining up our cocks. I reached for the lube, and he took it from me, slicking us up so we could easily slide against each other. The hot, hard feel of him had me tightening my legs around him again and bucking against him, trying to get more friction “I need… I need you.”
“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere, but I will make you lose your mind.”
He kissed his way along my jaw, over my throat, and across my shoulder. I whimpered when he bit down, sucking at my skin. When he let go, I turned my head, trying to see the mark he’d made, but he captured my mouth again. Moments later, I pulled away, gasping for breath. “Want you. Need you inside me.”
“Not yet. I’m not going to hurt you.” I reached for his cock and tried to force him to reposition himself and give me what I wanted, but he captured my wrists and pinned them to the mattress above my head. “I’m going to make you come just like this. Fight me all you want, but this is what you’re getting tonight. I’ll protect you, even from yourself.”