Gannon Morgan [Seven Brothers for McBride 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Anitra Lynn McLeod Page B

love.
    “It’s not that, not at all. My brother Bailey said he was a very good teacher. I just don’t think he’ll mind that we were able to do something without him.” Gannon looked up at the ceiling. “Maybe that’s why he had us just be together and work on cleaning up my—our—bedroom. He knew what would happen.”
    “He is clairvoyant?”
    “You mean like he knows stuff before it happens?”
    Alden nodded. He’d heard of men with supernatural abilities. He’d never met one, but he didn’t meet a lot of outsiders in the thrall house.
    “Naw. I mean, no more than any other man. But I don’t think it takes special skills to know what a lusty slammer and his beautiful thrall will end up doing once they are alone.” Gannon grinned and then winked.
    Alden laughed and lowered himself to the bed. He curled up to Gannon’s side, closed his eyes, and fell into the deepest, most dreamless sleep he’d ever had. When morning came, he woke up happy and ready to get started on cleaning up the bathroom.
    Unsure what time Gannon had to be to work out in the fields, Alden got up quietly and went about his usual morning routine. The only thing that was an issue was finding a clean towel in the cluttered bathroom. Once he employed Gannon’s sniff test, he was able to find one. That was a particular habit that he was going to break his mate of. If nothing else, Alden would keep the house tidy.
    As soon as he opened the door, he saw Gannon. His eyes were half-open and he was leaning against the wall nearest the bathroom.
    “Good morning!”
    Gannon grunted and went past him, closing the door without saying a word. Or perhaps he had spoken, but he moved his lips so little that Alden hadn’t been able to make out what he’d said. Reading mumbles was impossible. All he knew was his mate was clearly not a morning person.
    Unfazed, Alden went into the kitchen. He’d made a lot of progress cleaning yesterday, but there was plenty for him to do today while Gannon was out working in the field.
    Unsure how the cookbot worked, he started to methodically put all the clutter on the table so he could clear it off.
    “Where the hell am I supposed to eat?”
    Alden froze. He’d read his mate’s lips clearly, but what held him still was the anger that flashed in his eyes. That was the look he was used to. All too soon Gannon would start hitting him. Terrified, Alden looked for possible escape routes. Gannon was blocking the archway to the hall, but there was another archway that went into the living room.
    Spinning on his heel, Alden ran that direction, fumbled with the door, wrenched it open, and ran as fast as he could to the big house. McBride said if he needed anything he could find help there. What stunned Alden was how fast things had turned ugly. Last night they had come together easily, but this morning was nothing but trouble.
    Alden didn’t bother to look back and see if Gannon was behind him. If he was, he would know soon enough. Any glance backward would slow him down, so he pushed himself forward, using the adrenalin of pure fear to give him strength. As soon as he reached the door of the big house, it came open and he ran right into McBride.
    “Whoa!” McBride reached out to stop Alden from falling, but he spun away, confused and frightened.
    Gannon was making ground-eating strides across the yard.
    Alden found himself trapped between the two big men. He didn’t know where else to go. There was a long drive that went back toward the platform where McBride had bought him yesterday, but there was no way he’d be able to outrun both strong men. In his panic, Alden wasn’t able to catch his breath. When the world turned fuzzy gray, he let go and crumpled to the porch.
    Alden had no idea what time it was when he woke up. Above him was an elaborate ceiling decorated with curlicues and painted-on flowers. He had to be in the big house since the brothers’ houses were shorter than the nearest ceiling.
    A face popped