than that, I have no idea where to look for him.”
Warren’s brows knitted together. “You don’t have his phone number?”
Ryan hadn’t thought to get it. This was why he didn’t need to be responsible for other people. Ryan had never done long-term, so it hadn’t occurred to him to get Ash’s number.
Warren groaned. “I’ll be fine here. Go find him and bring me back some food.”
“Are you sure?” Ryan didn’t want to leave Warren by himself.
“I’m sure. I don’t want to run around town with you trying to find Ash. I’m still a bit queasy. I’d rather stay here and let you do all the leg work.”
Without thinking, Ryan leaned in and brushed his lips across Warren’s, waiting for his mate to shove him away. But Warren didn’t. He sighed into Ryan’s mouth like he was welcoming him home.
Ryan took the kiss deeper, cupping Warren’s face. When they pulled apart, Warren looked a bit dazed.
“I’ll be right back. Don’t you dare go anywhere.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Warren yawned. “I just might get more rest. Don’t wake me unless you have some food in your hands.”
Ryan waited a few beats and then left the clinic, praying Ash was at Pump. Because like he’d told Warren, if their mate wasn’t, he had no clue where to look.
* * * *
You are the worst person in the world. Ash was standing there with a hot, raring-to-go twink ready to whatever he wanted him to, and nothing. Not even a twitch in his dick. Ash couldn’t think of partying, trying to get laid, or drinking because the weight in his chest was crushing.
This wasn’t what he wanted. The hazel eyes that stared eagerly didn’t melt his heart or make him want to go out of his way to please the guy. They were just eyes in a sea of faces that danced in the club.
Ash hadn’t even caught the human’s name.
“So, you were saying?” The guy tried to get closer, but Ash took a step back, scrubbing a hand over his face because he was frustrated with himself. He was handling things all wrong, and he knew it.
Since when did he walk away from problems? Since when did he ever tuck tail and run? He was the guy who was always handing out advice, always there with his rock-hard shoulders for anyone who needed to lean on them.
And when the most important guy, one of them, had a bomb dropped in his lap, how had Ash handled that? He was in a fucking gay club trying to get his dick sucked by Mr. Eager.
“We could go out to my car.” His voice was soft, alluring, and Ash’s wolf sniffed and turned its head. The twink pressed his hands against Ash’s chest, and from the corner of his eye, Ash could see Prince watching.
That was another issue Ash wasn’t going to dwell on. Not when he was trying to get the guy in front of him to back off. He grabbed the human’s wrists, and the twink must have taken that as an invitation because he leaned up, going for Ash’s lips.
Before Ash managed to take another step back, there was a big wall of angry flesh pulling the twink away. Hard muscles, eyes so furiously hard that they could’ve been made of stone, and a clenched jaw that had the muscles in his neck standing out.
“Mind telling me why he was pawing you?” Ryan shoved Ash against the wall at his back. Ash spotted one of the bouncers cutting through the crowd to get to him. Bayne’s jaw was set, and he looked as if he just might murder Ryan when he reached them.
Ash shook his head and held his hand up. Bayne stopped but didn’t turn away. He watched them, making sure Ash didn’t need his help. Which Ash didn’t, but it was Bayne’s job to protect everyone in the club, especially the employees.
Even if Ryan slugged Ash, he deserved it. “Why’re you here?”
“Why aren’t you at the clinic?” Ryan shot back. “Tell me you’re not the kind of guy who bails when things get complicated. Tell me I’m not mated to a fucking asshole.”
His voice was dripping with fire and accusation. Ash felt Ryan’s anger beating against him like a furious storm, but his concern shifted. “Where’s Warren?”
Ryan dropped his hands from Ash’s chest then wiped his hand across his face and glared at him. “Why do you care? You left, remember?”
“Why should I stick around?” Ash had told himself that he