“You did, you broke a bone? And you’re still standing?” Ian’s voice was rising.
“It’s fine, babe, just my ankle. I really need to sit down so I can cut this boot off, and then yeah, find somewhere to shift. But I’m sure…”
“You stupid fucking fool!” Ian yelled in disbelief.
“Er, yeah, well, I’ll get going,” Charlie said as Ian tried to get Rick to move. “If you ever want to—"
“You're welcome to come and see me anytime. I really miss having you guys around, but I will not ride again. I beat George. That's all I wanted. This was the last time, eh?”
Charlie looked disappointed for a second, but he nodded. “Totally get it, man. Totally. You have a lot of making up to do with your mate. See you again real soon, Ian,” he added with a chuckle as he hurried away.
“Er… Ian, are you upset?” Rick could feel Ian’s entire body tremble. “If you’re going to yell, can I please sit down first?”
Chapter Twenty
Ian
Ian didn’t know how to deal with the fury that built up like a damn steam train.
Rick had done a great job in blocking him right until he’d hurt himself. Yet, Ian hadn’t gotten the full extent of the injury until Rick mentioned needing to shift to heal.
It was the hopelessness really, that had Ian bite the inside of his cheek as Charlie did a fast escape. He was lucky that Ian had been so angry he couldn’t find his words to tell Charlie that under no circumstances would Rick ever be riding a bull again. Not in this lifetime or any that came after it. Rick saying it didn’t hold water, he’d said that before!
Rick had achieved his goal of beating George. Charlie bringing up more rides was not part of the deal.
He gritted his teeth together so hard his jaw ached as he helped Rick to the truck.
“I’ll find a place around here and shift,” Rick actually whined.
“You will do no such thing. I haven’t seen your bear yet because of my huffy honey badger, and he’ll have a fit—something you don’t want to experience—and I have no wish to share that experience with everyone else watching!” Ian growled for him and his honey badger, who, for the first time, was speechless after Ian couldn’t stop watching the car crash that was the last bull ride. It shaved at least a dozen years off his life. The terror was so big he’d not moved a muscle until Rick had been pulled off, something catching preventing the easy glide off the bull like the last two rides.
“Can you bring the truck closer then?”
The pain filled request helped Ian hold on to his anger. He nodded curtly and rested Rick against a fence before stomping off to the truck, hoping his blood pressure would normalize and ease the pounding at his temples.
You’d better tell him that is never happening again.
Why don’t you tell him? He might listen to you!
His honey badger gave that some serious thought.
I’ll talk to his bear when he shifts. You’ll need to shift at the same time.
Ian had no problem doing that, so the animals could come to an agreement, because right now, he might throttle his mate for this idiotic stunt.
He hit the fob and jumped into the truck, heading back to Rick.
He looked pale and sweaty, pain leached through their bond. Ian set aside everything for now and helped Rick get comfortable in the truck. Being nearly as big as his mate made things easier.
They drove in silence as Ian navigated past large trucks and trailers, while Rick finally removed his boot.
One quick glance down and the lump on the side of his foot had Ian’s stomach jerk unpleasantly. He was alright with blood, but bones, they made his insides shaky.
“I’m sorry,” Rick mumbled apologetically.
Ian’s breath whistled through his teeth as he moved around vehicles, trying to keep the ride as smooth as possible. “I don’t want to talk about it now. Once you have healed and had something to eat then we’ll talk about the future.”
“That sounds ominous,” Rick placed a hand on Ian’s thigh. “We still have a future… right?”
