Carter's Tryck [Brac Pack 17] by Lynn Hagen

brain. “Who says I’m in love with him?” That was ridiculous. Love?
    He wasn’t sure he would call it that. Infatuation maybe, but love?
    Oliver laughed as he shook his head, pointing a finger at Carter.
    “Your actions do. You haven’t taken your eyes off of him for five seconds straight.”
    Who cared what Oliver said, Carter wasn’t in love with big ole Biker Bob. There was no way. No way.
    Carter fought hard not to look back out of the window. His eyes kept straying that way, but he forced them back at the last minute.
    “How do you know if you’re in love?” Carter became curious, needing to know. What he was feeling couldn’t possibly be that. He had never been in love before, so he didn’t have anything to compare his feelings against.
    “Do you get tongue tied around him, palms sweaty, heart racing?
    Would you do anything for him?” Cecil questioned him.
    Carter thought about it for a moment. “I become a nervous wreck around him, and yeah, I would do anything for him.” He wasn’t going to lie about it. No matter what happened between them, Carter knew he’d do anything for his mate.
    “You in love.” Keata beamed up at him.
    Carter was shocked. How had he fallen in love with the gruff man? Tryck was prickly at best when they were together, gentle as all get out when they were alone. He decided to test this theory. “Excuse me.”
    He stood, making his way outside and straight to the man leaning back on his bike.
    “What’s wrong, gatito ?” Tryck sat up, his eyes scanning the area.

    70
    Lynn Hagen
    Carter walked straight up to him and pulled him into a scorching kiss. The other warriors catcalled, whistled, and whooped.
    Tryck set him aside, looking around at everyone as if embarrassed. “Later.”
    Carter was crushed. “So I’m good enough for the bedroom but not good enough for when we’re in public?” Carter felt his heart breaking, he turned, running back inside to the other mates. He fell into the booth, wiping the tears from his eyes. He didn’t want to be someone’s dirty little secret, and that’s exactly what it felt like.
    Everyone knew they were mates, but Carter had a feeling that if it were up to his mate, no one would know.
    “What happened?” Blair asked.
    “He doesn’t want to acknowledge me outside of the bedroom.” Carter sniffled as he wiped at his eyes.
    “Give him time.” Kyoshi patted his hand a sympathetic look on his face. Carter didn’t want anyone’s sympathy. He wanted to be left alone right now.
    “No, if he can’t let others see his tender side, then I don’t want any of it.” Carter cried as he shoved from the booth and ran to the bathroom, shimmering out.
    He ended up back at his old dwelling. Even though the Wood Elves had openly said they didn’t want him there, where else could he go? It hurt to know his mate didn’t want anyone to know how he felt about Carter. What was so hard about giving him a kiss, or a hug? He wasn’t asking for his mate to molest him in public, but a small sign of acknowledgement would be nice.
    “What are you doing here?” Teaky asked from his bedroom doorway.
    “Nothing, I just want to be alone.” Carter rolled over onto his old bed and balled up. It hurt so damn bad. Was he ugly? Was that why Tryck didn’t want others to know how gentle he could be? What was with the tough-man front?

    Carter’s Tryck
    71
    It may not be important to some, but to Carter, it mattered. It mattered to him that Tryck acknowledge him.
    The bed dipped, Teaky resting a hand on his shoulder, rubbing his hand up and down Carter’s arm. “Talk to me.” Carter didn’t want his best friend touching him. It felt wrong now that he knew Tryck’s touch. Besides, they were best friends, always had been, but nothing more. Teaky was like a brother to him. He scooted away, wondering why his best friend was acting this way.
    “I’m okay.”
    He shouted in surprise when Teaky rolled him over, his eyes filled with rage. “I knew you