Read Haven 4: Back Roads for Free Online

dominating the kiss as he plundered the warm depths of Galen’s mouth.
    Bannon’s low, possessive growl sent a shiver up his spine while all the blood in his body headed south to pool in his groin and swell his cock so that it strained against the cotton of his pajamas, valiantly trying to break free of the confinement.
    He’d spent so long fighting the attraction he felt for the shifter.
    Now that the dam was broken, every steamy fantasy he’d ever had of Bannon rushed to the forefront, fueling his passion until he was little more than a whimpering, lust-filled pile of goo.
    His hips rocked without his permission, humping his aching cock against the hard muscles of Bannon’s thigh. The friction and pressure was nice, but Galen needed more. “Please, Bannon,” he gasped when he jerked out of the kiss. “Please.”
    The desperate, pleading quality of his voice surprised him, snapping him out of his wanton behavior. His cheeks heated and his mouth went desert dry as he stared into Bannon’s jade-green eyes.
    What did he do now?
    The obvious answer was to run and hide, but with Bannon’s arms caging him against the wall, escape was not an option. So, he just stood there, his mouth flopping open, and waited for the object of his desire to make the next move.
    As if in slow motion, Bannon lifted one hand from the wall and brought it up to cradle the side of Galen’s face, tenderly caressing his cheek with the pad of his thumb. “I’m sorry, darlin’. I couldn’t help myself.”
    There was something vacant and hollow in Bannon’s voice, and while it cooled some of Galen’s ardor, it made his chest constrict uncomfortably. “Please tell me what happened. Why are you so upset?”
    “Shh.” Bannon pressed his thumb against the seam of Galen’s lips to silence him. “Just let me have this for now.” His head dipped closer, and he replaced his thumb with his mouth in a sensual kiss that curled Galen’s toes.
    Relaxing into Bannon’s embrace and leaning against his chest, Galen allowed him to take what he needed. He’d never seen the Irishman like this before, and he didn’t like it. Normally self-confident and assured, Bannon now seemed almost as uncertain and fumbling as Galen felt.
    Ending the kiss with gentle pecks and nibbles at the man’s lips, he smoothed his hands down the sides of Bannon’s neck and over his chest. “This is about The Council, isn’t it?”
    “Aye,” Bannon breathed, bending so that he could rest their foreheads together. “I’m guessin’ Jory has told ya by now. You’ll not be goin’.”
    “That’s not your decision to make.” Galen kept his voice soft and even. “Jory says I can help you.”
    “Is he tellin’ ya that Torren Braddock is wantin’ me to claim ya before we leave?” Bannon leaned away and arched one dark eyebrow.
    Sucking his bottom lip between his teeth, Galen chewed it until he thought it would bleed, deliberately ignoring Bannon’s question. He wanted to help, to be useful for once in his miserable life, but if that meant he had to tie himself to Bannon forever…
    “What do you think?”
    “Ah, moi chroí , ya know the answer already. I’ll not force ya, though.”
    His head was spinning in confusion, and Galen had no idea what to say or do. On one hand, he adored the big, gorgeous shifter and couldn’t imagine ever being happy with anyone else. On the other hand, just the thought of letting Bannon claim him made his palms sweat and his legs shake in anxiety.
    “Tell me what to do.” He was just so damn tired of worrying about everything. If he let someone else make the decisions from now on, maybe he’d be able to maintain a bit of his sanity. “Fighting you is exhausting. I’m so tired, Bannon. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”
    “Oh, sweetheart.” Bannon brushed the hair back from Galen’s forehead and smiled sadly. “It’s not for me to tell. I’ll wait forever, but I can’t decide for ya.”
    “I can’t be your