Alec hadn’t believed JT about their honeymoon weekend plans until he’d shown him the reservation at the old English manor in the backwoods of New York. They drove for two-and-half hours, JT having borrowed a truck from his friend, Phoenix. Which explained why Alec had stepped on two stuffed animals and nearly crushed a crayon into his new pair of Levis.

“How many kids did you say he has?” Alec wondered, seeing the end of their journey and beginning to respond to the butterflies of anxiety fluttering away in his rib cage. He needed to get his mind off the dithering hope wanting to rejoice that JT invited Alec, planned this whole romantic getaway for them.

It had to mean something on the big guy’s part.

Alec sneaked a peek at him.

JT caught his curious gaze, and Alec snapped up, his stare flying to the passenger window, and his face burning with embarrassment and…desire.

“There are four of the brats,” he said. “I don’t know how he handles them all.”

“Four kids,” Alec echoed, resting his warm cheek into his sweaty palm.

“All older now though. Easier to deal with,” JT said.

Alec tossed a glance over his shoulder. “Four children might be a lot. I’d be happy with two at least.”

JT glanced from the road, his voice deeper, more rumbling as he said, “Let’s work on one first.”

Alec’s face flamed, his need for air forcing him to lower the window. The cool autumn breeze did its trick, calming Alec physically, even if his thoughts meandered to entertain fantasies.

Soon they were passing through the tall, iron gates of the English castle-turned-inn. Alec marveled at the white stone structure as JT maneuvered his truck up the circular paved drive. The turrets and the mullioned windows, the flagstone path up to the castle’s large, double door entrance all had him sitting straighter in his seat for the best view.

“It’s really a castle,” he said, the awe dripping from his observation.

JT parked the car. He handed the keys to a valet. “I’ve got this,” JT said, grabbing their luggage.

Alec led the way inside. He admired the high ceiling, the colored sky glass, and the cozy, golden ambiance of the castle. At the sight of the crackling fire in the waiting area, Alec turned at JT’s address.

“I’ll check us in,” he offered, lining up behind a man and woman sorting out their rooms with the front desk staff.

Alec took an armchair to the left of the hearth, his gaze flicking to the young couple on the sofa across from him. They were wrapped up in each other, under a blanket, a book in the dark-haired man’s hands, and the older blond peered over his lover’s shoulder. Alec turned his smile to the fire, imagining spending the next two days willingly trapped in JT’s big embrace.

He yawned, drowsiness striking. It felt like ages before JT approached him, a frown marring his handsome features.

“You’re tired,” he said.

“A little. Someone woke me up early,” Alec stood, accepting JT’s arm resting over his shoulders, pulling him along from the warmth of the fire, “and wouldn’t let me sleep last night,” he said, completing his naughty thought.

JT chuckled, the vibrations of his amusement singing through Alec. “I didn’t hear you complaining last night.”

Alec peered up at him. “That’s because I had nothing to complain about…until now.”

“We’ll take a nap,” JT said, his grin warming Alec to his toes. There was a chill emanating from the stone building. No wonder they had a roaring fire downstairs. All Alec wanted to do right then was wrap himself in warm blankets…and JT’s big body.

“A nap sounds nice.” He sighed happily.

They took the stone staircase up to the second floor. The gallery spread out before them much like Alec’s own home, on both sides. JT steered them to the left, before he looked at a few of the door numbers and said, “Wrong way.”

Moving past the staircase again, they found their room number on the right side. The corridor had at least seven other doors.

“This place is huge,” Alec said, marveling at the bedroom. He moved to gawk out their window, at the still-green vista and the rolling thin fog in the distance, demarcating the forest line. It wasn’t a suite at L’Oiseau Inn, but it had a charm that the downtown luxury hotel couldn’t ever hope to have. “Do you think we could go for a walk?”

“A walk?” JT slowed mid-stride. He had been tucking away their clothes in drawers and setting up some of their toiletries. Meeting Alec at the window, grasping his hips and pulling him back into his hard body, he said, “Nap first. Then I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

Alec yawned at the sound of that nap. He nodded sleepily, turning in JT’s arms and settling his palms on his flexing pectorals. “Tuck me in?” he teased, his voice husky from lust and sleep, the two warring with each other. If JT pushed him, he might not refuse a quickie.

But the alpha swept him off his feet, forcing a gasp from Alec, and carried him to their bed. Soon as his back met the mattress and the soft duvet, Alec felt his eyes drooping, another yawn cracking his jaw wide open.

“Sleep.” JT punctuated his firm tone with a gentle kiss.

Alec drifted, his body growing heavier, his breathing softer. At one point he thought he’d felt JT’s weight joining him on the bed. He stirred onto his side, moaning softly at the warmth on his back.

It felt like ages when he opened his eyes, the need for the bathroom overwhelming the pull to remain under the covers, and under JT’s arm. Alec couldn’t extricate himself from JT’s hold without waking him.

“What?” JT mumbled, sleep groggy. He jerked upright then, staring up at Alec with worry. “What’s wrong?”

“I just need to pee, and you’re holding me prisoner,” Alec said.

“Oh,” JT groaned. He grunted and moved his arm off Alec’s middle.

Alec grinned, finding his socks and shoes discarded by the side of the bed. That had to be JT’s doing. Alec had fallen asleep with both on, he’d been that tired. Feeling refreshed after his nap, and his quick bathroom break, he returned to their room and discovered JT dressed and ready to go.

“Still want to go on that walk?”

“I do,” Alec said, perking up. The thought of being more alone with JT thrilling him into fast action. He changed into workout gear, glad he’d brought the long sweatpants and hoodie. He grabbed his jacket, too. Not trusting the New England weather.

“Hold on. Let me lock up.” JT lingered to lock their door. When he finished up, Alec bounded ahead, excited to start their vacation. In his hurry to head outdoors, and the darker interior making it harder for his eyes to adjust to the gray light outside, Alec bumped into another guest.

Righting his balance before ass-planting in the middle of the entrance, Alec apologized profusely. “Sorry!” he exclaimed, turning at the touch of JT’s hands on his hips.

The two young men were familiar. They had been wrapped up in each other, by the fire, a couple hours earlier, when Alec and JT had arrived at the hotel. Waving off Alec’s apology with bright smiles, they introduced themselves as honeymooners. Once they realized Alec and JT were here for the same reason, they invited them to dinner.

Promising to meet up with them later, Alec and JT strolled outdoors for their walk. “Guess we have a date,” Alec said, smirking. “I call dibs on the blond. I always had a thing for guys with lighter hair, lighter eyes—” He broke on a yelp, JT having surprised him by spinning him around, his big hands securing over Alec’s hips.

JT growled. “Not happening. You’re mine.”

Alec shivered in delight, his heart rate increasing, his body sprinkling with goose flesh. He liked hearing JT’s growled claim. It meant he wasn’t going crazy. This wasn’t all in his head. He hadn’t been dreaming up their hotter-than-hot chemistry…and the sizzling spark of something deeper, something more tangible than the physical attraction of which they had strong proof.

“Okay,” was all he managed, squeaking it out, breathless from confronting this possessive JT.

JT grunted his approval. He released Alec, falling into step with him again. They came across the same valet from earlier. He pointed out the path they could take connecting the castle to the woodland on the property. It saved them from traversing the immaculate, well-kept lawn, mudding their shoes and tracking it back to their room.

“We should buy a castle,” Alec said.

JT snorted. “And what the hell would we do with a castle?”

Alec shrugged. “Castle-y things.” He grinned then, snapping his fingers. “Oh, you could make it the new clubhouse for your biker gang.”

“Club,” JT corrected, sternly. “Biker club, and a castle would be too fancy for any of us.”

“Just a thought,” Alec said. After a long silence, and a growing curiosity that had only increased exponentially since JT took him along to the clubhouse, Alec asked, “How long have you been a biker? Is that the right term?”

“Generally speaking, yes. And long enough to know the difference between a gang and club.”

Alec realized he was teasing him. Smiling, he threaded his arm through his alpha’s muscled one and leaned into his sturdy warmth. “I’m sorry I called you a gang. Why so touchy about it though?”

“Because the word ‘gang’ only brings negativity to the mind. A gang, typically, is disorganized as fuck. And a real MC isn’t. We have hierarchy. We have rules. And we mete out punishment when they aren’t followed.”

“Punishment?” Alec raised his brows, his smile growing wider. “So, did I break a rule then? Calling you a gang?”

JT scoffed. “Hardly. You just pissed me off.”

“So…” Alec trailed off, staring ahead, watching the forest entrance swallowing them as they stepped into the shade of the evergreen foliage. His breathing grew more labored, his body stiffening, his nipples tightening and his cock jerking at the erotic images budding in his mind. Alec slowed them.

JT stopped, his stare surveying Alec, his dark eyes narrowing with searing need.

They were alone now. He couldn’t think of a better time for the alpha to claim him, remind Alec of who he belonged to know…and, hopefully, forever. Leaning into JT, resting his chin on his arm, Alec whispered, “You’re not going to punish me then?”