Devon Morgan [Seven Brothers for McBride 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Read Free Page A

fuss over him for a moment. “Go out and see who is coming up the drive.” A flash of memory hit him then. “It might be Quintus.”
    “Who?” Jealousy flashed fire in Caleb’s eyes, giving McBride hope that they might yet overcome their difficulties.
    “Quintus is my crimetech. He doesn’t want to flee when we suspect the illness is everywhere or soon will be.” McBride had utterly forgotten about the man after inviting him to come out to the farm. Clearly, he needed to make a list so he could keep a handle on everything that needed to be done.
    “Do you think that’s what you have?”
    “No.” McBride honestly didn’t think that was what ailed him. “That disease caused gentrymen to drink blood with insatiable longing. I have no interest in feeding.”
    “Is that why you keep staring at my neck?” Caleb asked, lifting his brow pointedly.
    “I’m not craving massive amounts of blood. I’m craving yours.” McBride tried to smile, but he just didn’t have the strength. “I don’t have random hunger but a very specific lust.”
    Longing drew Caleb closer, but determination pushed him away. “I promise that I won’t leave until you’re better, and before you even ask, I won’t touch Jonas. But once you’re better, I’m either going to kill him, or I’m going to leave.”

Chapter 2
     
    Devon slipped a saddle onto the fastest dressiter in the stable then climbed onto him even though a part of him wanted to go to his home, close the door, and lose himself in one of his books. Ensnared in a story, Devon could pretend to be a valiant hero without having to endure any hardships. Long ago he’d discovered that fantasy was so much more fun than reality. As much as safety called to him, he was determined to do what Caleb told him to do. More than anything, including his own safety, Devon wanted to help protect the farm because this was his home. Not only that, but McBride was a generous master. Devon would do anything he could to help him. What astonished Devon was how swiftly things could change.
    McBride went from the biggest, strongest, most powerful man in the county to a crumpled heap in less than a week. What terrified Devon was that in a matter of days, McBride started to look like his father, who had feared leaving the big house. Devon wasn’t a religious slammer, but he tossed up a prayer that whatever mental disorder had struck down the father didn’t harm the son. McBride, the son, was one of the most genuinely kind people Devon had ever met. Even if he wasn’t his master, Devon thought that he would want to help him.
    But McBride’s failing health wasn’t the only thing that was different now. When Devon found out the world was changing and he might not ever gain the mate he so desperately longed for, he’d been angry and then terribly sad. Why was it that things just couldn’t hold together long enough for him to have someone to share his fantastical tales with? If his brothers would have been more open to his ways, Devon might have told his stories to them, but they made fun of him, saying he’d rather have his nose buried in a book than between the legs of a sweet thrall.
    Devon had taken the ribbing even though he knew that wasn’t true at all. Devon wanted to read to his mate until he was aroused beyond belief and then lose himself in the bliss of physical love. Dreams of doing so drove Devon to save as much money as he could so when he did get a mate, he’d be able to indulge his longing to dress up like the characters he’d read about. Often, he pretended to be them and acted out little vignettes in his mind, but he longed to go deeper into making the fantasy come to life.
    “None of that can happen now.” Devon had bought fabrics and some outfits then promptly hidden them away. He wasn’t ashamed, but he had suffered enough teasing about the books that he didn’t want to give his brothers any more ammunition. Devon hadn’t gone too far into that fantasy world because he