Love and Payne Read online

  “You came.”

  Austen gave a start at the low, gravelly words, and his stupid heart skipped a beat at Zach’s sweet smile. Zach wasn’t quite awake, and he seemed to be having trouble keeping his eyes open. His face was flushed, and his pupils dilated from all the drugs in his system. At least he didn’t appear to be in pain. Austen reached out and gently brushed his fingers down Zach’s stubbly cheek.

  “Shh, you’re dreaming.”

  Zach leaned into his touch, his eyes drifting shut. “Good dream.”

  Austen cursed under his breath. Fuck, Zach was something else. Austen had never been attracted to larger Therians. In fact, his entire life, he’d done his best to stay away from them. As a cheetah Therian, Austen might be quicker, but he was also smaller, more vulnerable. Zach could take Austen out with one hit. He weighed more than double what Austen weighed. Even in the hospital bed, beneath the white blanket and injured, he was imposing.

  But damn he was also beautiful, with tousled reddish brown hair that needed a cut now that it curled around his ears. His stubbled jaw was chiseled, his lips wide and full, his brows thick, and he had the faintest scattering of freckles across his nose and cheek. Austen had noticed them months ago when Dex had tricked him into dancing with Zach. They’d been pushed together on the dance floor, and Austen had scowled at Zach for most of the dance, but it had given him enough time to discreetly study Zach’s handsome face.

  “You need to forget about me,” Austen said quietly as Zach laid his much larger hand over Austen’s, his full lips slightly parted. “Find yourself a good guy, get married, have a few dozen kids like the rest of your brood. I’m not worth it. Trust me.”

  Zach nudged his head to each side in what Austen assumed was an attempt to shake his head. “Worth it,” he murmured groggily. “Need… each other.”

  Austen pulled his hand from under Zach’s. “Yeah, sorry, Boy Scout, but I don’t need anyone.” He’d made sure of that a long time ago. Zach had an army of loving family members, for crying out loud. What the hell would he need a broken, fucked-up guy like Austen for?

  “I see you.”

  Austen swallowed hard. Zach was so hopped up on drugs, he had no idea what the hell he was saying. Besides, it wasn’t like he was going to remember anyway, so why argue?

  “Sure, big guy.”

  “You’ll see,” Zach replied softly, his lips tugging at the corner in a smile. Like he knew some big secret Austen didn’t.

  Austen shook his head. “Take care of yourself, Z.” He turned to go, but Zach caught his hand, Zach’s palm warm, skin soft, and fingers gripping Austen just tight enough to let him know what he wanted.

  “Stay.”

  “I can’t.” Austen hated that his voice broke. He hated that his heart was being an asshole and pulling him back to Zach’s side. He especially hated the little spark of hope pulsing from somewhere inside the darkness of his soul.

  If Austen didn’t put an end to this once and for all, he could end up falling for Zach, and when Zach saw, really saw, how messed-up he was, he’d run. And it would break Austen. He’d spent too long protecting what remained of his heart to take such a risk, especially when he knew what the outcome would be.

  He and Zach had no future. If Austen cared about Zach, he’d leave. Now. Time to stop giving Zach—and himself—hope.

  CHAPTER 3

  “ZACH, LOOK at me.”

  Zach forced his eyes open, big amber pools meeting Austen’s gaze.

  “There will never be an us. This is the last time you’re going to see me.”

  Zach reached up and took a fistful of Austen’s scrubs, and before Austen knew what was happening, Zach’s mouth was on his. Austen gasped, and Zach slipped his tongue past Austen’s lips. His senses exploded with the taste, scent, and feel of Zach. How many nights had he dreamed of this, or gotten himself off to thoughts of Zach? How many times had he stood in front of Zach, doing everything in his power to ignore that sinful mouth or the way his body pulled at Austen’s? Fuck.

  Against his better judgment, Austen allowed his eyes to drift shut, and he slipped his fingers into Zach’s hair, returning the fervent kiss. If this was the last time he was going to see Zach, he’d take a little piece of Zach with him. One last parting gift. That’s what this was.

  Heat flared through Austen, roaring through his body like a wildfire, his senses in a downward spiral of need and desperation. Zach moved a hand to Austen’s hair and closed his fingers around a fistful, the grip firm enough to hold him in place, but not enough for Austen to not be able to pull away if he wanted. Zach was always aware of his strength, making a conscious effort to be careful, and it had Austen’s cock straining against his jeans. From the moment they’d met, Zach had been gentle with him, not because he thought Austen would break, but because he cared.

  Austen’s skin was too tight for his body, their kiss threatening to scorch his insides. They went at each other’s mouth like they were trying to consume the other. Zach released Austen’s hair and slipped his arms under Austen’s, pulling him down against him, nipping at Austen’s bottom lip before soothing it with his tongue. After another fierce round of dueling tongues, sucking, licking, and nipping, they were forced to come up for air. Austen let his brow rest against Zach’s, his heart squeezing when Zach nuzzled the side of Austen’s head, placing a tender kiss to his temple.

  “Stay,” Zach whispered.

  I want to. Austen reeled back at his traitorous thoughts.

  Run. You need to fucking run.

  Austen shook his head as he attempted to catch his breath.

  You had your kiss from Prince Charming, now get the fuck out.

  “You should rest.” Austen put his fingers to Zach’s lips before he could protest. The guy was worn-out. Whatever strength he’d had left was gone, wiped out by their kiss. He was fighting to stay awake. “We’ll talk later,” Austen lied.

  I’m sorry.

  “Okay.” Zach nodded, his lips turned down into a frown as if he knew Austen was lying. His chest steadied, and his breathing evened out. Austen hated leaving him like that. He hated leaving him, period.

  Against his better judgment, he smoothed his thumb over Zach’s brows and leaned in to kiss his lips. It was quick but sweet. When he pulled back, Zach looked peaceful and happy. This was it. Once he walked out of the room, it was over. For good. No more surveillance. No more late-night visits to check up on Zach. He was going to tell Sloane and Dex to keep their matchmaking and good intentions to themselves. No more Zach playing nursemaid when Austen was injured or sick. No more dancing together at friends’ parties. No more contact.

  “Are you Uncle Zach’s boyfriend?”

  “Holy fuck!” Austen gave such a start that if he’d been in Therian form, he was positive his spots would have fallen off.

  Big amber eyes stared up at him. “You said a bad word. Daddy says there’s a time and a place.”

  Austen eyed the tiny bear Therian with the mop of red curls and a spatter of bright freckles across his nose and cheeks. “That so? Well, for me that’s any time and any place. Who are you, and where’s your grown-up?”

  “I’m Caley,” the little boy stated, lifting his chin. “And I’m six years old.” He puffed his chest up. “I don’t need a grown-up.”

  Caley. Austen ran through the Zachary family tree and cursed under his breath. Of course it would be one of Colin’s spawn. “Does your dad know you’re here?”

  Judging by the way Caley worried his bottom lip with his teeth, Austen would guess the answer was most definitely no. How the hell had the kid managed to slip away from the Zachary clan? Mama Bear alone would have sniffed the kid wandering off from the next town over.

  “Spill,” Austen demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.

  Caley toyed with the hem of his Batman T-shirt, his gaze everywhere but on Austen. “I told Dad I was going to the cafeteria with my brothers and sisters.”

  “You shouldn’t lie to your dad.” Especially w
hen said dad was terrifying and a THIRDS Team Leader. Then again, Colin was terrifying to everyone but his family. Austen had seen the man with his children. He might be a fierce Therian agent, but with his spawn, as well as the spawn of his siblings, he was the biggest pushover Austen had ever seen. His wife, Sheena, on the other hand, now she was scary. All she had to do was arch a perfectly shaped eyebrow and everyone fell into line, including Colin. Mama Bear might be the reigning matriarch of the Zachary brood, but Sheena Zachary was her right-hand woman. Nothing got past her, and Austen begrudgingly had to admit he liked her. Anyone who could bring a Zachary man to his knees with just a look had mad skills.

  The door opened, and a tall, broad-shouldered wolf Therian wearing green scrubs and surgical mask entered the room. He closed the door, and Austen caught sight of a tattoo peeking out from under a white glove. A chill went up Austen’s spine.

  “What are you doing in here?” the guy asked, his voice slightly muffled by the surgical mask.

  Austen stood and pulled Caley to his side. “Sorry, I caught this one sneaking in. I’ll get him out of your hair.”

  The guy nodded and headed over to Zach’s bedside to check his vitals.

  Austen quickly ushered Caley to the door, ignoring the boy’s protests. He opened the door and knelt in front of him, talking quietly. “I need you to run. Now.”

  Caley’s eyes went wide before he took off down the hall, running as fast as his little legs allowed. Austen was grateful Caley hadn’t questioned his order, but he wasn’t surprised. The blood in the Zachary clan’s men ran true blue. They were born to serve and protect, to uphold the law, and had instincts to match. Caley was no exception. Austen pulled his own mask over his face and stood. He reached under his scrubs and unfastened his belt, then discreetly pulled it from around his waist and wrapped it around the knuckles of his right hand. He moved it behind his back as he turned. Walking into the room, he closed the door silently behind him.

  “You’re free to go,” the Therian said. “I’ll take care of him.”

  I bet you will.

  Austen nodded toward Zach. “He’s got a nasty gash just under his collarbone I’m concerned about. Could you have a look at it for me before I go? I want to make sure it’s nothing to be worried about.”

  “Sure.” The guy reached into his pocket and pulled out a syringe as he leaned over to check. Austen sprang into action, looping the belt around the Therian’s neck and jerking him away from Zach.

  “Who sent you?” Austen snarled as the Therian jabbed an elbow behind him to catch him in the ribs, but Austen was too quick and dodged the blow. The guy spun, and Austen jumped onto his back, pulling the belt tight against his neck, receiving a nice wheeze in return. “Answer the fucking question!”

  The guy threw a hand over his shoulder and grabbed a fistful of Austen’s scrubs before bending over and tossing Austen over his head. Austen landed on the floor at his feet, but he didn’t release the belt around the guy’s neck. Instead he gave it enough slack to make up for the distance, then twisted his body, crossing the belt and jerking it tight. The guy gasped for air before throwing himself down on Austen, delivering a punch to his side.

  “You fuck,” Austen hissed. That was going to leave a nice bruise. “Who sent you after Agent Zach?”

  “Fuck you,” the wolf Therian growled, slamming his head into Austen’s, leaving him stunned and seeing stars. Austen rolled onto his side, and squeezed his eyes at the pain. Motherfuck! He pushed to his feet only to get kicked in the chest. Gasping, he stumbled, his heart feeling like it was going to explode.

  “Soon as I take care of you, your boyfriend’s a dead man,” the wolf Therian growled as he made a lunge for Austen.

  Austen ducked out of the way. “He’s not my boyfriend, and you’re not laying one fucking finger on him.” He let the belt unroll, keeping hold of the end. Jerking his arm, he whipped the belt, buckle end snapping at the wolf Therian and landing a hit on his thigh. The guy let out a slew of curses, and Austen placed himself between the man and Zach, who was down for the count.

  A low, feral growl joined the beeps in the quiet room, and Austen hissed in return. No way in hell he was letting this guy get near Zach.

  “Who. Sent. You?” Austen flinched against the sting to his fingertips. The best part of being a Felid Therian was the ability to extend his claws in Human form. Not everyone could do it. It took concentration, skill, and the ability to withstand a certain amount of constant pain. His claws might not be as big or sharp as a jaguar or tiger Therian’s, but they were still pretty fucking lethal.

  The guy replied with a sinister grin before launching himself at Austen. Belt in his right, claws extended on his left, Austen was determined to get some answers, and if not, he’d just have to take the guy out. No way he was letting this asshole hurt Zach. The wolf Therian had training, and Austen found himself working up a sweat as he tried to get one up on the guy. It was pissing him off.

  “What the fuck is going on?”

  Fucking great. Just what he didn’t need. “Get the fuck out, Colin!” Austen whipped the belt out again, cursing when the guy threw his arm out and the belt wrapped around his wrist. He gave a yank, and Austen jerked forward, blocking the jab meant for his stomach.

  Colin rushed into the room, followed by Bram and Edan. Even better. Why not invite the whole damn family? Where the hell was Brayden?

  The wolf Therian let out a loud whistle, and before Bram could turn for the door to get help, another wolf Therian appeared, kicking the door closed behind him. Austen swiftly unlooped the belt from around the first guy’s wrist and kicked out, catching the guy in the chest.

  “Bram, look out!” Austen used the belt to whip at the new guy’s arm as the second wolf Therian drew a gun with a silencer from the back of his waistband. The gun skidded across the floor.

  “What the fuck is happening?” Edan asked as Austen turned to the first wolf Therian.

  “They’re here to kill your brother. Keep him safe and stay the fuck out of my way,” Austen snarled at the brothers. The two killers now stood on the same side of the room. “Where’s Brayden?”

  “Who?” Colin asked, as he stood there.

  Jesus, had Austen not told them to watch Zach?

  “The little guy Edan kept eye-fucking,” Bram offered.

  “I was not eye-fucking him,” Edan snapped.

  “I don’t care! Keep Zach safe, assholes.” Austen faced the two wolf Therians. This was going to leave a mark.

  “Who the hell is this guy?” Colin asked his brothers, the three of them finally listening and taking positions around Zach’s bed.

  “I think he’s Zach’s boyfriend,” Edan replied.

  Austen threw up his arms. “Jesus fuck, I am not his boyfriend!”

  Edan gave him a smirk. “Yeah, he said you were surly.”

  Surly? Austen thrust a finger at Edan. “You know what, Edan? Fuck you.”

  Edan laughed, and Austen turned back to the two killers. The first guy arched an eyebrow at him. “You done with your family shit? Because we got things to do.”

  “They’re not my—fuck you too.” Austen charged the two wolf Therians. As long as the Zachary brothers stayed out of his hair and stuck to keeping Zach safe, they’d get through this. It was nothing Austen hadn’t dealt with before. The two wolf Therians might be trained killers, but so was he, and they had one huge disadvantage. They’d come to hurt Zach.

  Austen gritted his teeth and kept his eyes on his targets, as he used every chance he got to strike. It wasn’t like in the movies. They didn’t take turns fighting him; they came at him together, hoping to gang up on him and take him down. If they landed just one hit in the right spot, Austen was done, so he wouldn’t give them that chance. His being smaller and quicker gave him an advantage. Behind him, he could hear the Zachary brothers cursing and talking about him, but Austen tuned them out. He couldn’t afford any distractions.

  Austen struck out with the belt as hard and swift
as he could, time and time again, relentless as he used everything in his training and years of experience to lash out mercilessly. The belt buckle struck one of the Therians on the side of his face, slicing down his cheek and momentarily stunning him.

  “Who sent you?” Austen demanded, kicking with all his strength and catching the first guy in the knee. It snapped, and a hoarse scream filled the room. Austen rolled out of the way and thrust a finger at Edan without looking at him.

  “You. Make sure no one except Brayden comes through that door.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me? We need to call in backup,” Edan argued.

  “This will be over before they get here,” Austen promised, thrusting his hand up into the second Therian’s elbow. The crack resounded through the room, and Austen saw movement from the corner of his eye.

  “Enough of this bullshit.” Colin headed for them, and Austen cursed under his breath. Damn THIRDS agents always sticking their noses where they didn’t belong. Colin had no idea what he was up against. All he was going to accomplish was getting in Austen’s way and leaving Zach vulnerable.

  “Colin, back the fuck up!” Sweat dripped down Austen’s face, his heart pumping and his adrenaline kicking into overdrive as the wolf Therians got their second wind and decided they’d had enough. One thing was certain. They weren’t about to tell Austen shit. Which meant he had no reason to keep them alive.

  Colin threw himself into the fray, and Austen cursed under his breath. Colin made a grab for the first wolf Therian, who ducked under the huge bear Therian and punched him in the groin. Austen sucked in a sharp breath in sympathy as Colin doubled over. The first wolf Therian took off to face Bram and Edan while the second guy made a dash for Zach, pulling another syringe from his pocket. Austen hissed. He jumped on the couch, used Colin for leverage by rolling over his back, and tossed the belt around the second wolf Therian’s neck. He pivoted off Colin, taking the belt with him and spinning them both in the air until they hit the floor, hard. Before the guy could get to his feet, Austen twisted the belt and jerked it, snapping it to the side with all his strength. The guy collapsed to the floor in a lifeless heap.