#Junkie (GearShark, #1)

by Cambria Hebert

“Hurry, Nova. He needs a hug.” T held the lion out to her and wiggled it into her chubby little belly. Nova laughed and reached for the toy. When she had it in her grip, she stuck it in her mouth. “He doesn’t need mouth to mouth,” Trent told her.

He slayed me. In every possible way I could be slayed. I didn’t know how it happened, but somehow, some way, he did. It started as a friendship and grew from there. And now… Now, watching him, my chest swelled and expanded.

I felt lucky to love him in that moment. I understood exactly why I could. I tucked that feeling deep down inside me, because I was sure I would need it later.

Time to put your money where your mouth is, Lorhaven. I’m calling you out.” Lorhaven lowered his chin and stared at Drew. “You’re calling me out?” “Yeah. You’re all pissed because the pro circuit is snobby and indies always get the shaft? You think you’re the best? Bring it. We have an audience now.” Drew held out his arms. “Get some sponsors, pick a car, and you and I will settle this on the track. Let everyone see we indies aren’t as green they think. We might be a little wild, but that’s just part of our charm.” I grinned. “Can I quote you on that?” Emily said.

My shoulders relaxed, and I smiled what felt like my first real smile in almost the entire day. And that’s how I knew the love I felt for Trent was real. The kind people fought for. Because even the threat of a reporter “outing” us to everyone wasn’t enough to keep me from wanting to spend the rest of the day with him.

We fused together like two halves of a whole, bonded by want, inspired by need.

I couldn’t imagine this kind of intimacy with anyone else. It was like he had the ability to reach inside my chest and grab my heart. But he didn’t. Instead, he reached in and cradled it gently, with the utmost care.

“If you don’t want me to be your boyfriend, what do you want me to be?” This was highly amusing but in a kind of appropriate way. It seemed like there was nothing traditional about Drew and me, so why should the way we referred to our relationship be? “You’re my person,” he concluded after a moment of silence. “My exclusive person.” I laughed. “Your exclusive person, huh?” He nodded.

I wasn’t sure what was a bigger rush—driving at two hundred miles per hour or knowing T would be sneaking into my room at night. And no, it wasn’t just the orgasms. It wasn’t the blowjobs or even the magical shit he did with his hands. It was him—plain and simple. It was having my best friend become my lover, my heart, and the center of my world.

“Hey, frat boy. You’re happy, right?” It seemed important to know in that moment, as we got closer to tomorrow, to telling our family about us. It made being nervous worth it. “Truth?” Trent leaned into the center of the car. I nodded. “I’ve never been happier in my life.”

I was almost back to the house when my cell rang. I probably wouldn’t have heard, but the screen lit up in the dark. I picked it up and grinned. Trent’s name flashed across the screen. “Miss me already, frat boy?” I answered. It wasn’t Trent that replied. I slammed on the brakes. The scent of burned rubber floated up into the air along with a white cloud of smoke. Cars laid on their horns and swerved out of the way when I made a sudden U-turn and laid on the gas. Thank God my car was fast. I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but I was damn sure gonna find out.

“Told you,” Conner intoned. “He’s queer.” My back teeth came together. “What the fuck is your problem, Con?” I snapped. “I’ve been listening to you sling hate at me for weeks. I thought you were better than that.” “He didn’t deny it,” one of the other guys said. He was a close friend of Con’s. “I bet they were making out in the car just now,” the guy I rushed with said. I looked at him, incredulous. Was this for real? Were these guys really standing here harassing me because they thought I was gay?

Fuck this. I was gonna kick their asses. I swung, nailing the guy beside Con. I rotated and rammed into the guy I thought was my friend. He fell back, and I kicked him in the side. “Grab him!” Con yelled, and I sneered. My hand caught his throat and squeezed. I was beyond thinking about how much damage I was going to inflict. All I saw was red. All I heard were the hateful words he’d spewed at me for weeks and then again tonight.

I was a strong guy. Even in a less-than-fair fight, I could have kicked some ass. But this wasn’t a fight. It was an ambush driven by hate and jealousy. The odds were not in my favor.

With a hiss, I forced myself into a sitting position, using my hand as a prop. I swiped the blood out of my eyes and blinked at my Mustang nearby. Pain radiated in my body, and the world around me tilted as I stumbled to my feet. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to think. These guys were supposed to be my brothers. We’d been living under the same roof for years. I was betrayed. Beaten. Pissed off. And all because of what? Because they thought I was gay. If this was what happened when someone suspected I was gay, what would happen when they found out I actually was?

“What the fuck happened?” Drew’s voice was broken. All the nasty things they said as the blows rained down filled my head as my body throbbed. I whispered the only response I could. “Hate.”

“C’mon, frat boy,” I said gently and turned us toward the living room. “I’m not one of them,” he ground out. “Never again.” The muscles in my jaw clenched so forcefully I heard them grind. Omega did this to him? Probably that little pecker Conner. He should know not to start wars he couldn’t win.

“I don’t care you guys have some man love.” Man love? Classic Braeden. “You’re my family, and nothing is going to change that.”

Love is patient. Love is kind. That’s what they say. They also say love doesn’t take; love only gives. While those words are beautiful, they aren’t true. Love does take. Loving someone takes strength. Love takes hard work. And sometimes… Love takes sacrifice.

I loved Drew so much. I loved him more than I did myself. So this was hard. Harder than anything I’d ever known in my entire life. I didn’t know if it was right, but it was all I had left to give. Drew already had my heart. My body would never want another. I would always love him. My love was dangerous. So I would have to love him from afar. It seemed the only thing left to give him was safety. A promise to put him before myself. Always. I would take a hundred beatings for the privilege of loving him. I would withstand ridicule, prejudice, and even hate to keep him at my side. What I wouldn’t do was ask the same of him. I would not put him in danger for the sake of my heart. Or even his heart.