into it more softly, not go psycho on him.”
Ryan fists convulsed in his lap. He’d never had patience and clearly no common sense. He wanted to get past the “getting to know you” phase and move right into the “we’re a comfortable triad” part of their relationship.
Ash touched his shoulder. “He’s waking. Let me be the first face he sees so he doesn’t freak out or pass out.”
“Or call the cops,” Warren groaned as his eyes fluttered open. “Please tell me I imagined that. Please tell me you don’t really have fangs.”
Ryan chucked his thumb over his shoulder. “Ash has canines.”
Ash slapped Ryan’s shoulder. “What did we just talk about?”
“I don’t want to be the only freak in the room,” Ryan admitted. He didn’t want Warren looking at him that way, like so many others had in his lifetime. Either afraid of him or loathing him. Ryan just wanted to be accepted, especially by these two.
It was already killing him that Warren feared him, and Ryan wanted to make things right. He didn’t want either of them seeing the things Ryan tried so hard to hide, the ugly side of his life that filled him with shame, that he would do whatever it took to keep from them.
“You’re not a freak,” Ash snarled. “You just need to learn relationship skills, buddy. Haven’t you ever been in one before?”
Ryan refused to answer that. Neither of them needed to know just how pathetic he truly was, how he didn’t deserve either man.
“Are you two really talking about this right now?” Warren pushed himself to his elbow. “I feel like I’m gonna to be sick.”
Ryan reached out to help Warren sit up, but Warren jerked away from him. His wretched upbringing, the abuse, his violent way of life, none of that came close to gutting Ryan the way Warren’s continued rejection had.
“I need…” Warren looked around and then up at Ash. “I’m not handling this too well.” He curled an arm around his stomach. “Did he say you had canines?”
“I’ll get some crackers,” Ryan grumbled as he got up and walked out of the living room. He’d been to Warren’s house enough times to know where the pantry was. He lingered after grabbing a sleeve.
Ryan shouldn’t take this personally. Warren was human and scared. But fuck, Ryan wasn’t going to lie to himself. It was hard not to take his mate’s rejection to heart.
Goddamn it hurt. Right in the center of his chest. He thumped his fist against the ache and told himself to man up. This wasn’t about Ryan. This was about easing Warren into their world, about showing him what being mated was all about.
Hell. Ryan chuckled wryly to himself. He needed to learn what mating was all about, because this shit was insane. Two mates? Twice the work and twice the headache.
And twice the reward.
That was if neither of them murdered him first.
Ryan’s heart was in the right place. Too bad his actions and words couldn’t get it together.
“Hey.” Ash appeared in the doorway, gripping the edge of the wall. His brows were pinched, and his dark chocolate eyes were a bit wide. “I think something is seriously wrong with Warren. We should get him to a doctor.”
“What do you mean something’s wrong with him?” Ryan nearly crushed the sleeve of crackers in his hand. “He was fine when I left him with you.”
He moved swiftly to the living room to find Warren curled into a ball on the couch. He was groaning, and his eyes were clamped shut. Even from where Ryan stood he saw the beads of sweat coating his mate’s face.
“What’s wrong with him?” Ryan turned to Ash.
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m calling Dr. Bjord.” Ash pulled out his phone. “Lift him as gently as you can and bring him to my SUV.”
Ryan bent at the waist and scooped Warren to his chest. He knew his mate was out of it because he didn’t protest Ryan touching him. He felt light as Ryan walked outside. Ash was already at the SUV, the back door open.
Ryan slipped in, keeping Warren in his lap. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’re getting you a doctor.”
Warren whimpered and wiggled closer, resting his head on Ryan’s chest.
“How’s he doing?” Ash looked at Ryan through the rearview mirror, concerned etched in his expression.
“Warm. Too warm.” Ryan was trying his best not to panic. Warren needed him to be calm and in control. But fuck, humans were plagued with diseases, some so serious that Warren