Hagen, Lynn - Stormy Eyes [Brac Pack 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (3 page)

“Why? You don’t know us. We strangers.”

Storm watched Kyoshi jump. Keata had fallen onto his bum. His mate’s face became enraged. “Keata, come!”

Keata looked devastated as he came over to his cousin and sat beside him. He reminded Storm of a guy having his hot rod taken away. Keata’s bottom lip jutted out as he watched the men shooting pool. It wasn’t his place to tell Kyoshi how to handle his cousin, but Kyoshi needed to lighten up.

“We protect those who can’t protect themselves.” Storm looked over at Keata and smiled.

“Like superheroes?” Keata’s eyes lit up. “You fly?”

Storm’s head fell back as he laughed so hard tears ran down his face. Keata was becoming attached to his heart very quickly. “No, Keata. I can’t fly.”

Kyoshi snapped at Keata again in their native tongue, and Keata’s eyes brimmed with tears. Storm was becoming angry. Why was Kyoshi admonishing Keata like that? The guy was outspoken, and Storm loved it. He was funny, excitable, and downright cute as a puppy.

“I sorry, Storm, for asking… how you say…silly question.”

That’s it. Storm was not going to sit here and watch the spark leave Keata’s eyes. “Mates, please come over here.”

Cecil, Johnny, Blair, Drew and Oliver walked over to Storm.

“What’s up, Stormy eyes?” Johnny giggled.

Storm smiled at his buddy. “Can you gentlemen please entertain Keata while I have a talk with Kyoshi?”

“Sure. Come on, Keata.” Cecil held his hand out as Keata took it, looking back at Kyoshi as if asking permission. Kyoshi nodded, and Keata raced off with them, not giving his cousin a chance to change his mind.

“This way.” Storm led Kyoshi to Maverick’s office.

Chapter Two

“I understand that this is a foreign country. I understand that you two are scared. I even understand the love you have for your cousin. What I
don’t
understand is why you are trying to cage his innocence, his excitement, his happiness. It’s just as scary to him as it is for you, but he chooses to deal with it in a different way, like a new experience. And don’t give me that damn broken English because my instincts tell me you’re far too intelligent for that.”

Kyoshi stood to his full five foot two height, not letting Storm intimidate him.

“Fine! We were grabbed off the street, shoved in a van, tossed in a cargo box, and hauled across the ocean without even having a toilet. Feces and urine lay in a goddamned corner. The doors swing open, and not only are we
not
in our own country, but we have perverts trying to fuck us! I grab my cousin and run, the nice man Paul finding us, only to hand us over to mountains that want to pat Keata’s ass. Hell fucking no. Ain’t happening! English good enough for you?” Kyoshi shouted.

“Wow. You’re a real pistol, aren’t you? Who patted his ass?”

“Hell if I know his name. All you Americans look alike.” Kyoshi smirked at him.

“Real smart ass, ain’t ya?”

“Smarter than you.” Kyoshi came back.

“I wouldn’t go that far, squirt.”

“At least my brain isn‘t oxygen deprived in that high altitude your head’s floating in.”

“At least I can reach the toilet seat.” Kyoshi was caught off guard with that one. His mind went blank. He couldn’t think of a snappy comeback to save his life. Storm was affecting him in ways no other man had before. He leaned back against the leather chair in the office, trying his best to come up with something fast.

“Fucker.” That was the best he could do? Kyoshi mentally smacked his forehead, feeling like he should crawl under a rock.

“Little shit.”

Kyoshi burst out laughing, and Storm joined in. H
e may have gone brain-dead for a moment, but Storm seemed to be enjoying himself just as much. He had a glow to him now. Kyoshi could feel a blush creeping up his neck. Embarrassed, he lowered his head, playing it off by bending slightly and wiping at his pant leg.

“Seriously, who patted his ass?”

“Big dude.”

“Kyoshi,” Storm called his name in warning.

“Fine. Black hair, goatee, black eyes, little shorter than you, and muscles poking out of his ears.”

Storm walked to the door. “LUDO!”

* * * *

Oliver stood in the kitchen watching as everyone laughed. He was slowly working through his anger and was grateful the mates didn’t hold grudges. It was nice to be included, to feel wanted, and to be accepted by them.

He still had a lot of issues to work out, including coming to terms with being gay. After many talks with Micah, he was ashamed of the viscous way he had acted. It was all a part of his lashing out, his pain. But these men didn’t deserve it.

Johnny was laughing as Cecil shook his head. “No, Keata. Americans do
not
grow money on trees. That’s just a figure of speech.”

“I wish,” Blair mumbled.

Keata was staring at the rod piercing Oliver’s bottom lip. “Why you bite pole?”

Johnny was crying he was laughing so hard. Drew grabbed his side in his fit of laughter.

“I didn’t bite a pole. Someone stuck it there.”

“Why?”

“’Cause I thought it looked cool.” Oliver tried not to smile, but the small man was comical.

“It cold?” Keata’s brows pulled together.

“No, cool. Hip.”

“You have pole in hip?”

“Jesus, someone help me out here.”

Cecil had the giggle fits. He was trying to help Oliver out, but he couldn’t get two words strung together before he started laughing again.

Kyoshi walked into the kitchen, and Oliver immediately asked him for help. Kyoshi spoke to Keata in their native tongue as understanding lit Keata’s eyes. “Oh, is young man style. I see. Still shouldn’t bite pole.”

* * * *

Kyoshi smiled at his naïve cousin. He had reminded Keata outside that they were to behave as guests. His cousin never listened. Everything was exciting to him. He swore the guy had ADD, but he loved him more than life itself. They were raised together like brothers, but Keata was just too naïve for his own good. Kyoshi had pulled him out of too many messes he had trustingly walked into.

He loved his innocence. Growing up, Kyoshi had tried very hard to make sure Keata retained it. He looked at the world through a child’s eye. Very few were pure like Keata. Most people grew up too fast and became jaded. Not Keata.

“Hey, Keata.” Storm ruffled his hair.

“Hey, Stormy eyes.” Keata winked at Johnny.

“I want to show you and Kyoshi were you will be sleeping,” Storm said as he pulled Kysohi into his arms. Kyoshi didn’t fight it, it felt right, good.

“Oh, goody. I get own room.” Keata clapped his hands together.

“You want your own room?” Storm asked. Kyoshi was wondering when Storm was going to inform him where his room was.

“No. I like saying goody. Funny word.” Keata beamed.

“How about an adjoining room?” Storm should have known as soon as he said it that Keata wouldn’t understand. Kyoshi was going to have to translate everything, or Keata was going to have to learn real fast. Kyoshi shook his head. If only Keata had paid attention to the lessons.

“Huh?” Keata’s face blanked out. Kyoshi smiled. His cousin’s face often did that when it went into incomprehension overload. It was too funny. Storm looked at Kyoshi for help. Again, Kyoshi translated.

“Oh, goody. Still own room.”

“Where the hell did he learn to speak English?” Blair asked.

“American television. I tried to sit him down and teach him. But I think my cousin has ADD.”

The five mates stared at Kyoshi with open mouths.

“What?”

“You speak good English,” Oliver sputtered.

“No speak good English. Broken. So sowwy.”

“Smart ass.” Storm smiled.

“Fucker.”

“Little shit.”

* * * *

Kyoshi looked around the bedroom, amazed at how luxurious it was, and how huge. Storm had told Keata that he would get his own adjoining room, but he hadn’t mentioned where Kyoshi would sleep. He had a feeling he knew.

“Keata, this will be where you sleep.” Storm opened the door to a smaller bedroom attached to the larger one. It was just as luxurious. Kyoshi felt like he was in a five star hotel, if he had ever seen one. He and Keata had been poor growing up, but they had been happy. Keata’s mother died giving birth to him, so Kyoshi’s mother had taken on the responsibility. She passed away last year, and that responsibility had fallen to Kyoshi. A responsibility Kyoshi cherished and took very seriously.

Keata walked around the smaller room in awe. Rolling on the bed and pushing the buttons on the remote to the television. He even bounced on the cushion to the window seat.

“He’s safe from falling out of that window, right?” Kyoshi couldn’t help but worry.

“He’s fine. The window is double-paned.” Storm closed Keata’s door, leading Kyoshi to their bedroom

“I’m a top,” Kyoshi blurted out.

Storm raised an eyebrow down at him. “Excuse me?”

“I’m a top all the way. Hope you like bottoming out.” Actually, Kyoshi had no damn reason why he was saying this. He hadn’t even experienced sex yet. He was too busy raising Keata and keeping him out of trouble to have a relationship with anyone.

Part of him thrilled at the tongue sparring with Storm, he hadn’t had that much fun in forever. Part of him was scared shitless.

“I don’t think so. There’s no way
you
are topping
me
.” Storm crossed his arms over his massive chest. Kyoshi stared at the muscles bulging just from that simple act. The man was a mountain. Kyoshi felt like a kitten next to a lion. He was extremely handsome though. And that thought scared him the most.

Kyoshi walked over to the window seat, climbing up and flopping back. “Well, I guess that settles that. Where do I sleep? Hmm? With Keata?”
Please say no. Please say you want me.

“In my bed. And nothing’s settled, little shit.” Storm pulled Kyoshi up in his arms, carrying him to the bed and depositing him on the mattress.

“Fine. I hope you don’t hog the covers or roll over on me.” Kyoshi’s nerves were getting to him. Would Storm want to have sex? Tonight? What should he do? Act like he was worldly or tell the guy the truth? He was attracted to him. Who wouldn’t be? Especially all that blond hair streaming down his back. Kyoshi hoped he was allowed to play in it and brush it. Maybe Storm would let him braid it. Kyoshi wanted to feel it against his bare skin. He bet it felt like spun gold.

Storm stripped down to his underwear and climbed in the bed, getting under the blanket. Kyoshi lay stiff and fully dressed on top of the covers. He didn’t know what to do.

“I won’t bite…hard. Get some sleep, little shit.” Storm rolled over and Kyoshi relaxed. He lifted his hips and pulled his pants off. Sitting up, he pulled his shirt off, folded his clothes and laid them on the night stand. Praying Keata was okay by himself.

* * * *

Kyoshi woke to a furnace wrapped around him. Blond strands covered his face, sealing him in. It took him a moment to remember where he was.