Текст книги "Finding Forgiveness"

Автор книги: Dana Bell

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“And you’re sure this isn’t a dream?”

“I just gave a five-year-old an accidental education in sex. Yeah, I’d say this isn’t a dream.”

Dave’s mouth lifted in a shy smile, so at odds with the dominant personality Ben knew existed inside the Beta. Ben knew firsthand exactly how powerful Dave was. No one but Rick had ever forced him to bow down the way Dave had, and that had been while the Beta was in blinding agony.

“What are you doing here?”

He took slow steps until he was right in front of his mate, Dave’s heady scent filling his nostrils. “I’m here to claim you.”

Dave’s jaw dropped. His wide eyes darted upward.

Ben, knowing what Dave was looking for, grabbed his arm and pulled him after him. “Nope, still no pizzas. Jesus, you are such a goof.” And now he got to finally enjoy his mate’s innate goofiness. Before he would have held himself aloof, thinking alcohol was the cause of Dave’s attitude.

Now he knew the man was just weird. Ben couldn’t be happier about that.

Dave laughed and pointed to a teenager wearing a huge green Goofy hat. “Then it looks like I’m in the right place.”

But his hand tightened around Ben’s like he was afraid Ben would let go of him.

Ben grinned. As if.

“Where are you staying?”

Ben winced. This was the only part of the situation he knew for sure would get him into trouble. “Bay Lake Towers.”

“How the hell did you get a room there? And on such short notice?”

Ben wasn’t going to answer that if red hot pizza fell down from the sky and landed on his naked testicles cheese first. “How do we get to the Brown Derby from here?”

“Ben.”

Shit, Dave was using his power to demand an answer. Of all the Betas Ben had met only Dave seemed to have the ability to mimic a true Alpha. “I asked a friend for a favor.”

Dave scowled. “Steve.”

The anger in Dave’s voice worried Ben. “What do you have against him?” Ben turned to confront his mate. “He’s been a good friend for a long time.”

“Sure.” Dave’s smile was tight-lipped. “Is he here with you?”

Ben studied the look on Dave’s face. The anger there was mixed with…hurt? Ben was shocked. He’d known Dave hated Steve, but surely it wasn’t because of jealousy? “Dave. He’s just a friend.”

Dave’s jaw clenched.

“Seriously. He’s straight.”

One of Dave’s brows rose. “Really?”

“Let me put it to you this way: I’ve been thinking of introducing him to Chela. I think the two of them would get along great.” And if they turned out to be mates, so much the better. He’d love to make Steve Pack, but Rick had turned him down the one time he’d suggested it. They hadn’t been ready to add another Wolf to the fold, especially with the crap Dave’s sister Gina had been pulling at the time. Gina was gone now, and last he’d heard she’d begun an Amazon Pack with herself as the Alpha.

It was what she’d truly wanted in the first place. She hadn’t wanted Rick, she’d wanted power, and all of them had known it.

Still, Ben was planning on bringing his friend into the Pack by hook or by crook. All he had to do was ease his mate’s fears about the man and he knew everything would work out.

“I think Chela would take your friend, chew him up and spit him right back out.”

If they were still talking about Chela he’d eat that Goofy hat. “She might. She also might find he’s a good man who helped a friend when he really needed it.” He toyed with Dave’s fingers, glad when the other man didn’t pull away. “Please. I have a lot of groveling and explaining to do. Dinner?”

Dave looked off to the side, his expression uncertain. “Groveling?”

“Yup.”

“Lots of groveling?”

“Yup.”

“With beds of nails and hair shirts?”

Ben sighed. “I’ll do anything to make things up to you.”

Dave grinned, and Ben didn’t like the look of it. It was evil. The last time he’d seen that expression on Dave’s face the dining hall got painted purple. Rick had nearly blown a gasket. Rumor had it Dave had spent all night fixing the color. He still didn’t know what Rick had done to make Dave paint the hall that hideous shade of Barney. “Anything?”

Ben nodded.

“You’re sure? Because there’s no taking it back.”

“I won’t chop off my left nut or wear a clown nose.”

Dave started to laugh again. “You put clown noses and cut off balls in the same sentence?”

“Hey, those clown guys are creepy.”

Dave bit his lip. His cheeks flushed. “Fine. I’ll meet you at the Brown Derby in an hour and a half. There’s something I need to go get in my room.”

“I can go with you.”

Dave looked guilty for a split second before he smiled. He was a little wild-eyed. “No. That’s okay. I’ve got it covered.”

“Dave,” Ben drawled. He clamped down when Dave tried to pull his hand free. “What are you hiding?”

Dave pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand. “Charlie.”

It was like a punch to the gut. “Charlie.”

Dave nodded. “Yeah. Charlie.”

Ben swallowed. God, it hurt to think his mate was here with another man, but it was his own goddamn fault. He just hoped they hadn’t gotten the chance to do anything more than unpack or he’d have to kill the fucker. “Okay. Charlie.” He blew out a breath and tried to reign in his anger. “Is Charlie back in your hotel room?”

Dave nodded, looking guilty as sin.

“How do you feel about moving into the Towers with me?”

“I paid a crap-load of money for my room.”

“Then let’s move Charlie into the Towers, okay?” Ben gritted out between clenched teeth. His jaw was beginning to hurt. It was all he could do not to mark his mate right then and there. His eyes turned, the colors of the Magic Kingdom changing around him. The reddish clay color of Splash Mountain turned a deep, bright gold. The greenery around it altered subtly, taking on a brownish cast. Skin tones became grayer. Even the bright blue sky took on more of a violet cast as green and red blended in his vision. If he were to try driving down the street right now, he knew all the traffic lights would look yellow to him.

Dave sighed. If he noticed that Ben’s nearly black eyes had lightened to his wolf’s golden brown he didn’t react. “I’m not sure Charlie would want to move.”

Ben growled. He really didn’t give two shakes of a rat’s ass what Charlie wanted. But he knew what he wanted.

Charlie gone.

Chapter Six

“Down, boy.” Dave grabbed his arm and got them moving again before Ben could go all Beast without Beauty. “Um. Why don’t we go back to my room and—”

The growls got louder.

“—not eat my friend for dinner.” Dave winced. Charlie was going to loveBen. The Lion would look at his mate like a giant squeaky toy if he kept this up. But Ben’s golden-brown eyes warned him that Ben’s wolf was close to the surface. “Don’t make me get the leash.”

Ben snorted, whether in disgust or amusement Dave didn’t know. He was going to walk Ben back to the Contemporary and introduce his mate and his friend and pray the two of them didn’t get them all kicked out. Dave was having the time of his life and didn’t need to lose out on his vacation because the two shifters didn’t get along.

Half of him was still convinced this was a dream. Maybe he’d fallen asleep on the plane and only thoughthe was in Disney. He’d been looking forward to this for so long he wouldn’t be surprised. Having Ben here with him had been a dream for just as long.

“Listen, the way you say Steve has been there for you? Charlie’s been there for me. Don’t give my friend shit, and I promise not to barbeque yours.”

Silence. Not good.If Charlie and Ben got into it, Dave could lose them both. Unless, of course, he was right, and this was all a dream. He had a sure-fire way of proving it one way or another. He just had to get Ben to his room first.

“Steve tried to protect me. He knew what my dad was doing to me.”

Dave froze. “Your dad?”

“That’s the explaining portion of tonight’s entertainment, remember? I explain my childhood, you explain Charlie being in your hotel room, we agree to move you into my room so we can have wild kinky sex to fireworks, the end.”

Dave started walking again. He did his best to ignore the thought of wild, kinky sex, but just thinking the words made his cock hard. Add in the words “Ben and,” and he was practically panting.

They were past Cinderella’s Castle and near Main Street, USA. They’d be out of the park in no time. “Oh! Monorail!” One of the reasons he’d booked the Contemporary was because the Monorail from Magic Kingdom and Epcot went right through the hotel. He’d always thought that was cool, but when he’d heard you could walkto the Magic Kingdom from his hotel he’d decided to do that first. But now he’d get to give the Monorail a try. Ben was calm again, in no danger of shifting. The Monorail would be safe and quick.

Ben laughed. “Yeah, I thought you’d like that.”

Dave pivoted and began walking backward, pointing at Ben with his free hand. “You need to learn to have fun.”

“You need to learn not to invite other men into your room.”

Dave’s jaw dropped. Other men? He began laughing.

Yup. Charlie was gonna love this one.

“It’s not funny, asshole. How would you have felt if I’d brought another man on vacation with me?”

Dave abruptly stopped laughing. “Like you haven’t done that.”

Ben snarled. “No. I haven’t.”

“So you’re what? A virgin?”

“Are you?”

The two men glared at each other.

“Gentlemen, would you mind taking a small survey?” A cheery blonde smiled up at them, some sort of data pad in her hands. An electronic pen was poised over the pad, ready to mark down their answers.

“Yes.” Ben grabbed hold of Dave’s hand and dragged him towards the exit. “Monorail. Contemporary. Killing Charlie. Fucking. In that order.”

Dave’s brows rose. He wondered what Ben’s reaction was going to be when he found out Charlie was—

“Dave, pay attention!”

Dave tripped over the curb, almost going to his knees. Ben managed to get his arms around him and keep him from falling, but the position it put them in brought other things to mind. Dave was bent double, his hands on the circular railing in the center of Main Street, Ben’s crotch pressed tight to his ass. Dave flushed, the feel of Ben’s cock hardening against his ass bringing to mind all sorts of wicked things.

The wolf-whistle had both men straightening. “Nice catch.” A man winked at Ben and waved at Dave. “He’s a big one too.”

The man at his side laughed. “Yeah, no need to lie when you brag to your friends about this one, huh?”

The two men walked off, still laughing. Dave’s cheeks were bright red, Ben’s only a shade lighter.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Ben nodded and walked under the train overpass that marked the beginning of the Magic Kingdom. The two men hopped the Monorail that led directly to the Contemporary, neither saying a word. He had no clue what Ben was thinking, but Dave was worried. Why the change of heart? Did Ben feel sorry for him now that he knew the truth? Was it jealousy, knowing Dave had chosen to come here during Gay Pride Week?

Did he know of Dave’s plans to find a second mate?

The Monorail came to a stop, and the two men left. They rode the escalator to the fourth floor where they caught the elevator to Dave’s room. Dave’s heart was pounding, his nerves shattered. The moment of truth was almost upon him. He only hoped Ben’s sense of humor would get them through this.

“Calm down, baby. If it means that much to you I promise to only take a small chunk of Charlie’s hide.”

He turned his head and looked down at the Marshall. The man was only a few inches shorter than he was, but it made Dave feel protective, something he knew he didn’t need to feel. If anyone could take care of himself it was Ben Malone.

“How do you feel about Lions?”

Ben blinked. He stared straight ahead. He ignored the other people in the elevator. “We’re going on the safari ride?”

Dave almost laughed. “Something like that.” The elevator doors dinged and let them out on Dave’s floor. It was two floors above the bridge that led to the Bay Lake Towers. “We’re here.”

Ben followed him to his room, his hand on the small of Dave’s back the entire way. When it came to helping Rick rule the Pack, Dave was a rock. Introducing his mate to his friend turned him into a wreck. “Listen, there’s something you need to know about Charlie.”

Ben blanched. “He’s your mate?”

“No!” Dream or no dream, he had to get that stricken look off Ben’s face. “Just…look. Charlie’s—”

The door flew open. “Davey!” Suddenly he had an armful of warm, cuddly, femaleLion. Her long blonde hair tickled his nose. “Who’s your friend?” She leaned back and gave Ben the once-over, approval in her blue eyes. “Did you finally find someone to help you forget Big Ben?” Her eyes widened. “Oh, my God. You look familiar.”

Ben’s jaw had gone slack the moment Charlie threw herself into Dave’s arms, but it hardened when she mentioned someone else helping him get him over Ben.

Oh boy.

Ben held out his hand. “Name’s Ben Malone.” Ben shot Dave a look that promised retribution. “You must be Charlie.”

Charlie pulled slowly out of his arms, her gaze glued cat-like and unblinking on the Wolf. She dug her toe into the carpet and bit her bottom lip, the picture of innocence.

Dave took a step back so he wouldn’t get blood on him. He reminded himself that Ben could take care of himself.

Her hand whipped out so fast it was a blur, but the smack of flesh on flesh was loud in the echoing hotel. At least she’d kept her claws in. He wouldn’t have appreciated scars on Ben’s pretty face. “You bastard!” And she burst into tears.

Dave rolled his eyes, picked his roomie up in a fireman’s hold and carried her into the room. “No getting the nice Wolf arrested, Charlie.”

“But—”

“No, Charlie. And don’t you dare claw my ass.”

He heard more than saw her pout, but she went limp in his hold. “Aw, you’re no fun.”

The door shut. He glanced over to make sure Ben had followed them inside. When he saw the smirk on Ben’s face he dumped Charlie on her bed ass-first. “Be nice to my mate or I’ll limit your catnip to two a day.”

Charlie blew him a raspberry before turning her attention once more to Ben. “Are you going to treat Davey like he deserves, or are you going to continue being a rat bastard?”

Ben sighed and strolled into the room. “Long story short? My father was an alcoholic, a mean one. I can’t handle being around them, and I thought Dave was one.” He stared right into Dave’s eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“You said that.” Dave was glad to finally hear it, even if he wasn’t sure it was real.

“I’ll keep saying it until you believe it.”

“He beat you?” Charlie crossed her legs and propped her chin in her hands.

Ben’s eyes remained on Dave’s. Dave could see the remorse written there clearly. “Yeah.”

“Shit.” Charlie sighed and rolled onto her stomach. “Is he still alive?”

“I think so. I’m not sure.”

“How could that be? The Alpha, hell, the Marshall or Omega would have done somethingabout it.” Dave knew Rick’s grandfather could be an ass when it came to dealing with outsiders but he’d never put his people at risk, even the teenage ones.

“They didn’t. He was a master at hiding it, even from them. The times they knew I’d been hurt? He blamed it on accidents. The Omega thought I was a moody little boy and a moodier teenager. Remember, just because you feel what someone else does doesn’t mean you understand why.” The way Ben was looking at him, Dave understood the message he was trying to convey. Ben had been wrong, just as the old Marshall and Omega had been, and now they were both paying for it. “The last thing the Alpha wanted to do was rock the boat over a boy they all thought was going through a stage and hurting himself.”

Dave flopped onto the bed next to Charlie. “That’s why you thought my migraines were hangovers.”

Ben nodded curtly.

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you ask me about them?”

Ben winced. “Honestly? I couldn’t allow myself to get that close.” He perched on the other bed, the one Dave had been planning on sleeping in. Charlie had wanted the bed by the sliding glass doors so she could see the fireworks over the castle. “My mother didn’t fight him. She loved him too much, and he beat on her too.” Ben shook his head. “I think the old Alpha just didn’t want to see what was right in front of his face. If he had, he would have been forced to Outcast my dad and deal with what came next. Odds are good Dad would have forced Mom and me to go with him.” He shook his head. “I’ve watched someone I was supposed to love destroy everyone around him because of alcohol.” Ben clasped his hands between his knees and gazed right into Dave’s face, hiding nothing. “I’m sorry, baby. I couldn’t let myself become my mother.”

Ouch. That hurt, but he could almost understand where Ben was coming from. He’d had a twisted childhood, and that was going to do things to his perspective. Now all Dave had to do was decide if he forgave him or not.

Dave narrowed his eyes. “You said you’d do anything if I would just forgive you.”

Charlie chuckled. She knew what was coming. Hell, she’d helped him design the damned thing. “The shirt?”

“Oh yeah.” And if Ben wore it, he’d get his wish. Dave would do his best to forgive Ben for being a prick. Hell, he was halfway there just from hearing about Ben’s childhood.

Then again, if Ben put it on he’d knowthis was nothing more than a dream. Real Life Ben’s pride would never allow him to wear a shirt like that, let alone in public.

Ben looked like he’d just stuck his arm in a dark hole and had no clue if he was about to grab a handful of honey or bees. “What shirt?”

Dave handed him the bag containing the shirt and waited.

Chapter Seven

Dave was grinning like a loon as they entered The Brown Derby, but something seemed off. He still seemed…wistful, somehow, especially when his gaze landed on the shirt Ben wore. “You said anything.”

Ben’s jaw was permanently clenched. He’d been stared at, pointed at, and laughed at everywhere they went. But fuck it if he was taking this shirt off. He’d said anything, and if abject humiliation was the only way to win Dave over then damn it, he’d do it.

Unless it involved clown noses. Then all bets were off.

“C’mon. It matches your eyes.”

The fact that Dave’s hand was cupping his butt did not mitigate the fact that Dave was also laughing his own ass off.

“Where the hell did you find this thing?” Ben gave their names to the maître d’ and studiously ignored the smile trying to break out all over the man’s face. He’d made the reservations from Dave’s room, glad to get a table on such short notice.

Now he was wondering if they would have been better off with room service.

“I had it made.” Dave caressed the brown cotton. Ben damn near shivered at the feel of his mate’s hand on him, stroking down his back. “You like it?”

“I love it,” he gritted out. At this rate he’d not only get his mate but a huge dental bill as well.

Dave huffed a laugh as they followed the maître d’. “Good. Then you’ll wear it at the next staff meeting.” Dave batted his lashes at him, daring him to go there.

God. There was no way in hell Ben was wearing a dark chocolate brown T-shirt with the words Trophy Wifestenciled on it in bright yellow letters at the next Pack meeting. “Sure thing, honey.” In your dreams, maybe.

Dave held out Ben’s chair, and Ben almost snapped his head off. “I’ll make sure it makes it home safe and sound, then.”

Ben took his seat, the low growl dying to break free. He gritted his teeth and held it back through sheer willpower. A family of four was seated right next to them. Don’t scare the straights, Ben.“I think I can take care of that.”

Dave’s brows rose like he knew exactly what Ben was thinking of doing with the shirt before it ever hit the Poconos. “Florida has really small pipes,” he muttered, confirming Ben’s thought. “I wouldn’t try flushing it down the toilet if I were you.”

Ben sniffed. The scent of his mate surrounded him, soothing his wolf even as it made his cock sit up and take notice. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Dave picked up the menu, but not before Ben caught the big man’s shoulders shaking. Ben rolled his eyes and picked up his own menu.

He was soflushing this shirt.

After they ordered, Dave left the table to hit the men’s room. Ben sat back with a smile. So far, so good. Dave knew now why Ben had acted the way he had, rejecting him when he had no real reason to. Better yet, he was on the way to forgiving Ben.

Things were looking up.

Ben breathed in deep, happy to have his mate with him. The scent of Dave surrounded him, and his head whipped around, eager for the sight of the man walking towards him.

No Dave. No sign of him anywhere.

Ben sniffed again. Dave’s scent was strong, mingling subtly with his own. His eyes darted around the restaurant, a frown forming on his face. What the fuck?

Then it hit him. The shirt. The damn fucking shirt Dave had given him. Ben lifted the hem and sniffed.

Dave’s scent filled him, poured through him. If he’d been a cat he would have been purring. As it was he had the urge to rub that scent into his skin until it never came off.

Ben dropped the hem of the shirt and tried to figure out why Dave’s scent was so strong on it. Had Dave worn it? It didn’t have the feel of a shirt that had been worn often enough to pick up the owner’s scent. If anything, the butter-soft cotton felt brand new. So how had it gotten there?

Dave was winding his way back to him through the tables, a smile on his handsome face. Ben, for the first time in years, allowed himself the luxury of studying his mate. Those amber eyes were as huge as they’d been when he’d been a gangly teenager, dominating a stunning face that could have graced magazine covers. The light brown hair had never quite been tamed, the bangs falling into those gorgeous eyes, the ends brushing the collar of his T-shirt. And damn if he hadn’t grown into those hands. The guy was simply huge. The only man Ben had ever met who was bigger than Dave was Rick, and the Alpha was scaryhuge. The Luna was the only one who could look at Rick and think “cuddly”.

Ben fingered the edge of his T-shirt and stared at Dave’s chest. There was no way Dave could wear Ben’s new shirt without stretching it or ripping it.

The shirt fit Ben like a glove.

Dave sat. “Food here yet?” His eyes flickered to the shirt, a strange satisfaction in his gaze.

“You slept with it, didn’t you?” Dave’s eyes flew to his. The self-conscious panic on his face told Ben he was dead right. “That’s why your scent is so strong.” Ben couldn’t stop stroking the hem of his shirt. Every time he did, Dave’s scent wafted up to his nose.

“Oh, look, the drinks came.” Dave took a huge gulp of his soda and damn near choked.

Ben couldn’t stop the smile that came, watching his mate try not to die on soda bubbles. Dave said he’d had the shirt made. He wondered how long ago he’d done it.

How long had he held on to hope?

Shit. Looks like I’ve got a new shirt to wear to the next Pack meeting.

Ben picked up his own soda and took a swig. He couldn’t wait to get home and show off his new shirt. “So. What made you decide to come here for vacation?”

Dave grinned. “I’ve wanted to come here ever since I was a kid, but I finally decided to do it when I heard Rick and Belle had to be here for Max and Emma’s wedding.” Max and Emma, the Alpha pair of the Halle Pumas, had gotten married last April, and Belle had been one of her bridesmaids. That had been a year ago, and the way reservations went so quickly at the Contemporary Dave must have been planning this trip for months.

“Thinking of getting married here?” Ben grinned at Dave as the waitress set their dinners in front of them.

“Sure.” Dave batted his lashes. “You’d look gorgeous in a wedding dress.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Oh please. You’d be the one in the dress, and you know it.”

Dave snickered. “Like we don’t know who the alpha male of thisrelationship is gonna be.”

“Yeah, fairy-light boy. That would be me.”

Dave shook his head sadly. “Pretty, yet delusional.” Ben choked on his fish. “Sorry. You’d look much better in white tulle than I would.”

“Don’t bet on it.”

“I got you into that shirt, didn’t I?”

Ben tried desperately not to laugh. “That was a one-shot deal, and you know it.”

“Do I?”

Ben didn’t respond to that. If wearing this stupid shirt brought this kind of happiness to Dave’s face then he’d wear the fucking thing every day. “There’s no way in hell you’re getting me in a wedding dress.”

“Wanna bet?”

“That’s the second time you’ve said that.” Dave waved his fork at him. “Sure. I’ll bet on it.”

Ben grinned. “You’re on.”

Ben shook his head. “You’re kidding me, right?”

Dave picked up the paddle and waved it at him. Damn, this was the best dream ever. He knew it was still a dream because Ben was actually wearing the shirt. Real Life Ben would have torn it to shreds. Hell, Real Life Ben would still be in the Poconos, pushing papers and doing who knew what. Dream Ben was playing with him, smiling and having fun. Usually Dream Ben begged forgiveness for all of two seconds before they had hot sex. He couldn’t decide which dream he liked more, but he hoped they wound up at the same place: mind-blowing orgasms. “What’s the matter? Afraid of a little smack-down?”

“As if. I just can’t believe we’re using air hockey to figure out which one of us gets to wear a dress.” They’d returned to the Contemporary after dinner and headed straight for the hotel’s game room. Or rather, Ben had followed Dave to the game room, seemingly ready for whatever Dave had in mind.

A short burst of laughter from a woman by a pinball machine had Ben’s cheeks turning red. “I am out of here.”

Oh, that was way too much like Real Life Ben. Dave had to fix that fast. “Do you smell something?”

Ben paused. “What?”

“It smells like…” Dave sniffed.

“Like what?”

“Chicken.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Did you just call me chicken?”

“If the cluck fits.”

Ben glared and picked up the paddle. “You’re on, pansy-boy. Get ready to wear tulle.”

A brief but intense time later Dave stared at the score in disbelief. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to go. “I lost.”

“Yes, you did.” Ben’s arm draped around his shoulder and squeezed him close. “When you go shopping for your dress, make sure you pick one that shows off a lot of cleavage.”

The woman by the pinball machine laughed again.

“I’m not supposed to lose.”

Ben straightened up, the paddle dropping to the table with a clatter of plastic on plastic. “Dave?”

Dave gulped. Oh. Shit. His heart was pounding. The shot of fear and hope jolted his system, making him feel like he was going to throw up. “This isn’t a dream.”

Ben’s smile froze. “No. It’s not a dream.”

Dave felt like he might start hyperventilating. “You’re really here.”

Ben tugged Dave out of the arcade. “Breathe, baby.”

Baby?“You’re in the Poconos doing boring money shit. Not in my hotel’s game room acting like a mate.”

Ben winced. “No, baby. I’m here. Everything today has been real.”

Dave stared at the shirt straining across Ben’s shoulders. He’d been right. It fit the man like a glove. He rubbed his eyes, but the little dancing lights only intensified. “I need to get to my room.”

Ben’s hand rubbed down his back, attempting to soothe him. “Headache?”

“Not yet, but I’m getting an aura.”

Ben began hustling for the elevators like he knew what the hell that meant. Maybe he did; Dave didn’t have it in him to ask. Luckily they’d come back to the Contemporary for their impromptu air hockey game, so they weren’t far from Dave’s room. He needed his medicine, fast, or the rest of this vacation was going to go to hell.

“I’m here, Dave. What do you need?”

This was not happening. It couldn’t be. “Um. I need my medicine.” The elevator arrived and Dave stepped in, smiling wanly at the people already on board. The lights felt brighter than they had earlier. A slight headache began behind his eyes.

Shit. Not now. Please, not now.

Ben stayed close, rubbing his back, until the elevator arrived at Dave’s floor. “Let’s get your stuff, baby.”

Dave got out his keycard and slid it into the lock.

“Davey!”

Ben caught Charlie before she could land on him. For that alone he forgave Ben a lot. “He’s beginning to migraine.” Ben’s voice was soft and even, but Dave could hear the concern.

Charlie fell back. “Oh. What does he need?”

Dave pointed to the small black bag he had next to the television. “Imitrex.”

Ben pulled out the white box of medicine and read the instructions. “Here. Take your meds. We’re going to pack you up and take you to my room.”

“Why would you do that?” Charlie folded her arms and stood in front of the door, blocking their exit.

“Because if the medicine doesn’t stop the migraine I have a bedroom he can collapse in that’s separate from the living room. I can make it nice and dark for him.”

Dave left them to their pissing contest and headed into the bathroom. He winced at the light coming off the mirror, the headache intensifying. “Shit.” He filled one of the glasses with water and downed the pill, making sure to drink all the water. He then filled the glass again and downed that. “Done.”

Ben stuck his head in the bathroom and nodded. “Gather your stuff.” He shook his head. “Better yet, go lay on the bed and point. I’ll gather your stuff. Charlie can help me.”

“Mm-hmm.” Dave got around him and lay on the bed, one hand over his eyes. This was the first time he’d gotten one of his headaches since he’d been in the hospital. He prayed the new medicine Dr. Howard had prescribed worked. The last thing he wanted was a full-blown migraine right now.

“All set. Let’s go, baby.”

Dave lifted his arm. “Why are you being nice to me?”

Ben sighed. “C’mon. Let’s get you settled in for the night. I’ll order room service for breakfast, and if you still think you need me to explain it, I’ll do it then. Okay?”

Dave nodded carefully. His head was beginning to swim, but the headache seemed to be easing off. “Sure.”

“Take care, Davey.”

He accepted Charlie’s careful hug. “You too. You still coming to the Lodge in December?”

“Yup.” She kissed his cheek. “You take care of him. And just so you know, we have reservations for dinner in Italy Tuesday night.”

Ben nodded. “Maybe I’ll talk him into making it reservations for three.”

“Hmph. We’ll see.” Charlie held the door open. “Ben?”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t claim him until you’re surethe headache’s gone. You might make things worse.”