Free Mark's Not Gay [Brac Pack 11] by Lynn Hagen

place.
    He grabbed a warm towel, cleaning Caden as his mate slept. Then Mark crawled under the shower, wondering how he managed to be not gay but had a male mate. The two ideas circled around in his head, and all he could do was chuckle. For not being gay, he would kill anyone that came between him and Caden.

    * * * *

    Mark’s Not Gay
    63
    Mark woke Caden up. Caden’s body was aching and still felt like putty. Caden yawned then smiled shyly at his mate in remembrance of what happened earlier. “Hi,” was all he could manage, feeling like a virgin all over again. That was the best, most exciting thing to ever happen to him, and the fact that Mark had done it made his skin tingle to do it all over again.
    “Hey, pup.” His mate ran his hands over Caden’s back. “How do you feel?”
    Caden felt his face and the tips of his ears heat up. Could he tell Mark that he loved what was done to him and wanted it again? Could he find the courage to confess how the feeling of the leather on his wrists had changed something inside of him? “Good.” No, the courage fled when his lips parted to answer his mate. His wrists felt bare, empty, without the bondage holding them.
    Mark brushed the hair from his forehead, smiling down at him.
    Caden’s lips fixed themselves to confess how much he wanted that again but the words wouldn’t leave his throat. “I…”
    “I know. I could see it in your eyes.” Mark pulled the side of his mouth up in a sexy grin. Caden melted all over again. He leaned into the caress when Mark cupped the side of his face, his mate’s thumb running back and forth over his cheek.
    “I want…” He must sound like a simpleton. He cursed his tied tongue and the lack of bravery to confess to his mate his deepest desires. It was his mate, for crying out loud. Things like this should be easy to talk about, so why was it so hard?
    “To try it again?” Mark finished for him. Caden blushed and nodded as the thumb continued to caress him. Caden’s eyes darted up to those gorgeous grass-green eyes that were sparkling with amusement then back down to stare at his mate’s denim-clad thighs.
    “We will. I’m nowhere near finished exploring with you.” The words sent Caden’s heart racing. Mark understood his desires without trampling over the words to express them. He whimpered when Mark’s hand moved away from his face but sucked in a breath 64
    Lynn Hagen
    when the fingers of his mate’s caressed his wrists. “You looked good in my cuffs.”
    “I…” Damn it. Why couldn’t he string a full sentence together?
    Mark chuckled, amused at Caden’s temporary speech impediment.
    “Don’t worry. We’ll be trying it again very soon.” Caden rolled out of bed and padded to the bathroom, looking over his shoulder and smiling at Mark. He took a quick shower and then joined Mark in the bedroom.
    “Are you hungry?” Mark asked as he stood.
    “Yes.” Caden opened the dresser, grabbing some clothing and putting them on. He turned toward Mark, walking into his mate’s arms, feeling so right. Mark’s strong arms circled around him, holding him close as they stood there.
    “I’m sorry about last night.” Caden rubbed his face over Mark’s chest, never wanting to leave his mate’s arms.
    “You had me going out my mind, baby.”
    “I never want to disappoint you again. I couldn’t stand the way you looked at me with disapproval.”
    Mark laid his head on the top of Caden’s. “I don’t know what I would do if tomorrow came and my Caden wasn’t in it.” Mark lifted Caden’s chin, kissing him softly on the lips, and then looked him in the eyes. “And I don’t want to find out.”
    “You won’t.”

    * * * *
    Mark opened the boxes of equipment that had been delivered while his lift was being set up. This place had been perfect. The square footage gave him room to work on a few cars at a time.
    Grabbing his clipboard, Mark checked off the things that had arrived from his list of things