Prickly Business by Piper Vaughn & Kenzie Cade Page B

temptation to lean into his heat, tightening his arms around Dylan’s waist. Dylan tensed briefly. Then he relaxed, the tension slowly leaching away until it felt as if Avery would melt right into him.
    By the time they reached his building, it was a struggle to let go. If things were different, Avery wouldn’t have to. Dylan would come up to his loft, fuck him, hold him, and Avery wouldn’t have to worry about Josiah and his cronies somehow showing up at his door in the middle of the night. He could sleep in peace. But Avery didn’t have the right to ask that, and he knew if he hadn’t been so shaken by what had happened, he might not be feeling this depth of yearning to have Dylan with him anyway. He wouldn’t long for Dylan’s protection, wouldn’t feel the need to beg for his touch. Even vulnerable and scared, a part of him resented those desires. Dylan didn’t want him. Avery didn’t want Dylan. Or so he continued to tell himself.
    Dylan cut the engine, and Avery got off the motorcycle. Dylan pushed up the shield on his helmet as Avery removed his borrowed one. He extended it to Dylan, who took it wordlessly.
    “Thanks again,” Avery said. “For… everything.”
    Dylan stared at him for a long moment. “We need to talk. Come by my shop in the morning. Green’s Customs on Powell near 71st. I’ll help you get Josiah and the others off your back.”
    “I….” Avery blinked in shock. “You would do that?”
    Dylan nodded. “Go on up. I’ll wait here until you get inside.”
    Stunned, Avery turned and started toward his building. He’d made it into the foyer when he realized he still wore Dylan’s jacket. He spun around, intending to go back, but the engine of Dylan’s motorcycle revved before he could move. Through the glass door, Avery watched as Dylan pulled away from the curb and disappeared down the street.
    He went upstairs when the sound of the engine had faded, and though he’d deny it until the end of time if anyone ever asked, he took Dylan’s jacket to bed with him. Avery was certain it was the only reason he managed to get any sleep at all.
     
     
    N ORMALLY WHEN his head hit the pillow, Dylan was out. Chalk that up to another thing disrupted by having Avery in his life. He’d left Avery at his condo over an hour ago, and Dylan’s mind still wouldn’t shut down.
    Was Avery safe? Did he know to call Dylan if things went south again? Did he even have Dylan’s number? For the briefest of seconds, Dylan entertained thoughts of going back. Of knocking on Avery’s door, pushing him up against a wall, and—
    No .
    Goddamn Avery for doing this to him. Dylan was not one of those wolves who longed for a mate. Then Avery Babineaux had walked into his life, and for the first time—in a flash of insanity—Dylan had entertained what it would be like to have a mate, going to bed with the same man every night and waking up to him every morning. Then Avery had opened his mouth and confirmed everything Dylan had known. Having a mate wasn’t worth the heartache.
    But tonight, at the park, the way Avery had looked at Dylan like he was the only man on Earth Avery needed and would ever need—it made Dylan think maybe…. No. Hoping for something he couldn’t have was useless.
    With a sigh, Dylan rolled to his side and punched the pillow beneath him. He couldn’t get the almost kiss out of his mind. Talk about mixed signals. Hormones was all it was. That and the fact it had been far too long since Dylan had gotten laid. But seeing Avery, all that creamy skin on display and most of all the openness and trust reflected back at him from those helpless eyes…. Dylan’s cock thickened at the memory. Christ.
    Groaning, Dylan threw off the sheets and rolled onto his back again. Even with his eyes closed, he could see Avery, as if he were sitting in front of him. A hard tangle of want pulsed through his cock.
    Dylan slid his hand from where it rested on his chest. He could bring himself off from