wasn’t going to say shit to either of them, just let them have their life together. But he was shocked at the pain and anger that pulsed against his chest. “You two are starting a family together.” His words weren’t cutting anymore. In fact, Ash sounded like a kicked, jaded puppy. “What do you need me for?”
A wry bark of laughter escaped Ryan. “I’m sorry I forgot to bring you a gift.”
His words made no sense. “A gift for what?”
“Your pity party. Do you think you’re the only one feeling as if life just kicked you in the balls? I didn’t even know I could get him pregnant. I’m the one who should be running away from this, but instead I have to hunt you down because Warren is wondering where the hell you went.”
“Ryan—”
“Man, fuck you. You can keep your ass here and have whatever guy you want to suck your dick if walking away from us is that damn easy.” Ryan turned, pushing his way through the crowd.
Bayne eased back.
Prince tried to hide a smirk as he watched Ryan storm out.
Right now an ant felt bigger than Ash did. He’d made the wrong choice at a defining moment in his relationship with Ryan and Warren.
“Was that your boyfriend?”
Ash looked down and saw that the twink was back. Did he have a death wish? If Ryan returned, he'd kill the short human.
“Yeah.” Ash moved around him and headed for the door, nodding at Bayne as he passed him. When he stepped outside, Ryan was there, his arms crossed, staring across the street.
Ash was stunned to see he’d stuck around.
“I’m still here because I’m trying to cool off before I go back to Warren,” Ryan said. “I’m also struggling with how to tell him our mate ditched us and was trying to get laid not even an hour after he finds out we’re going to be fathers.”
Ash didn’t know what to say. He had no defense, and he was wise enough to keep his mouth shut.
“That baby is just as much yours as it is mine, Ash.” He turned, and Ash saw the gentle fear in his eyes. “And I could use all the help I can get to figure this out.”
Ash curled an arm around Ryan’s neck and rested his forehead against his mate’s hair, taking Ryan’s scent into his lungs and breathing him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good, because once we get Warren settled, I’m beating your ass for what I saw in there.”
“Nothing happened.” Ash curled his other arm around Ryan’s solid, warm body. “I couldn’t even get my dick interested, not the way it was interested in you.”
Ryan elbowed him. “Nice try, but you’re not off the hook.”
Ash pulled back and rubbed his ribs. “Just don’t tell Warren. He’s already dealing with enough right now.”
“He wants us to figure out what to do next.” Ryan started down the street, and Ash followed. “He says he doesn’t want to be in charge.” He stopped and looked up at Ash, and holy hell, Ash couldn’t resist pulling his mate to his chest and kissing him.
Ash might not want to fall for Ryan or Warren because he’d had his heart shattered in the past, but he had a feeling he had no choice in the matter. Not when Ryan kissed Ash like he mattered, like Ryan wanted this mating just as much as he did.
Ash’s cock was hard by the time they pulled apart. Now he knew it wasn’t broken. It just didn’t want anyone but Ryan and Warren. “Is Warren still at the clinic?”
He was trying hard to ignore his raging hard-on. All Ash wanted to do was shove Ryan against the nearest wall and fuck him until they were either arrested or couldn’t walk.
But they needed to get back to Warren. Ash didn’t like leaving him by himself. Not when Warren probably felt as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“I swear,” Ryan said. “I don’t like—” He stopped talking and walking and looked around. His fangs were showing, and his eyelids dropped to slits.
“What?” Ash looked around. “What is it?”
“How did he find me?”
“Who?” Ash was getting tired of asking questions. He wanted Ryan to spit it out. His mate had a dark veiled expression as he took up a fighting stance. “Goddamn it, Ryan. Tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“Demon.” That one word was spoken ominously. “The bastard who’s been trying to track me down. He shouldn’t have been able