STORY EXCERPT

He knocked for a good three minutes before he heard feet shuffling closer to the door. The locks turned free and the door slowly slid open. A sleep-rumpled Will stood before him. Eyes swollen and face creased with lines from sleep.

“Landen.” Will rubbed at his eyes. “You do realize it’s really early, right?”

“Hey, sorry about this but—” Landen turned to point at the car in the front yard.

“What the fuck!” Will walked out onto the porch, mouth hanging wide open as he stared at the car.

“Babe, what’s going on?” Ian asked as he leaned in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes were barely opened. “Hey, Landen.” Ian’s eyes popped open and he stood up straight. “Is everything okay? Is something wrong with Kyle?”

Landen smiled and shook his head. “Kyle’s good. I’m guessing he’s still tucked in close to Oliver.”

“Then—”

“You little shit!” Will’s shouting cut off anything else Ian might have said.

Ian and Landen rushed out into the grass and stood behind Will. Will’s hands were balled up into fists, but he didn’t open the door just yet.

“Babe, do you know who this is?” Ian asked as he put his hands on Will’s shoulders.

“Yes,” Will barked.

Will reached out and yanked the door open. Ian and Landen both winced as the disgusting odor of the liquor rolled out of the car.

“Wake up, you little fuck.” Will shook the sleeping man hard. “Get up!”

Ian took a step back to stand by Landen. “What the hell is going on here?” he whispered out the side of his mouth as he looked over his shoulder.

“Not sure, dude.” Landen tilted his head to get a better look at the man as he rolled to lie on his back. His cheeks were dotted with pink on his high cheekbones and his face had a delicate look to it, soft yet thin.

“Stop yelling.” The man rubbed slim fingers over his forehead.

“Stop yelling? Are you kidding me?” Will banged his hand on top of the car causing the man in his seat to cringe.

“Will, calm down.” Ian rushed forward to grab Will around the waist as he bent down to grab at the stranger.

“Calm down?” Will shifted to look at Ian. “He’s drunk. There’s empty vodka bottles all over the floor of the car. He’s trashed our yard. Fuck, he even ran over Kelsey’s bike.” Will was nearly foaming at the mouth.

Landen walked over to the front of the vehicle and in fact did see poor Kelsey’s bike sticking out from under the sleek black car. Kelsey was Ian and Kyle’s little sister, and Landen did not envy this guy once that little girl saw this. She would probably try to tear his head off. One thing Landen learned since moving to Silver Creek was to not mess with her shit.

“Will, who is this?” Ian asked in a soft yet annoyed tone.

“Will you two please be quiet?” The man opened his eyes, turned to kick his legs out of the open door, and then stood up. He ran a hand through his light-blond hair, sending the golden strands flowing back off his forehead. Beside his eyes being bloodshot, they were still the brightest blue Landen had ever seen. Like one of those pictures of an ocean where the water looks like glass it’s so clear.

“What are you doing here?” Will ask.

The guy looked around him and Landen tracked his every movement. Once the man turned his hypnotic eyes on Landen. The man smiled at him for a moment, and Landen felt his knees start to wobble. Just as quickly, the man turned his attention back to Will and Ian.

“Well, big brother, I thought you’d be happy to see me.” The man’s upper lip quirked up at the side in a half smile.

“Brother?” Ian looked at Will.

“Yes.” Will ran a hand over his face and let out a heavy sigh. “Ian, let me introduce you to my brother, Avery.”

Avery. Landen repeated the name inside his head and his eyes fell shut. Everything about Avery should thoroughly disgust him, but Landen felt himself drawn to the alcoholic. Well, Landen assumed he had a drinking problem. He didn’t want to label a man as pretty as Avery, but who drove around with that many empty bottles of booze in their car?

Pretty? Did I just say pretty?

Landen couldn’t seem to tear his eyes from Avery. As Avery stood leaning against the car door he looked like a model. His bone structure looked to be cut from stone—all sharp, straight edges. Avery’s lips formed a plump bow as he grinned, making Landen sway on his feet eager to get closer. He wasn’t as tall as Landen’s six foot three inches, but he stood as if he knew he was perfect. The long-sleeve gray shirt hugged his thin body just as tightly as the skinny back jeans Avery was wearing.

“Avery?” Ian looked between the two brothers.

“Pleasure to meet you, Ian.” Avery reached out his hand for Ian to shake. Avery’s piercing eyes found Landen’s over Ian’s shoulder. “All of you.”

Landen’s mouth went bone dry and he thought he might pass out. Over the horrendous smell of alcohol something tickled at Landen’s nose. The refreshing scent of newly fallen snow. His cock twitched in his gym shorts and he quickly dropped his hands to cover the growing bulge. “I gotta go.” Landen walked backward until he felt the sidewalk under his feet then turned and ran in the other direction back toward his house.

Will and Ian didn’t say anything about his abrupt departure. They seemed to be preoccupied with Will’s brother Avery.

The whole way down the street he could feel those piercing blue eyes on his back. Landen didn’t know what it meant and he sure as hell wasn’t going to stop to go back and find out.

ADULT EXCERPT

It was as if fireworks ignited and Landen felt like he was falling. Not a bad kind of fall, but one where things seemed to fall into place. There was no hesitation or confusion. With that one gentle kiss, Landen knew Avery was his mate.

Avery rolled on top of him and deepened the kiss. His warm moist tongue trailed over his lips until Landen opened just enough for Avery to enter. No kiss had ever felt so right before in his entire life. His blood began to boil and he couldn’t seem to touch Avery enough. He ran his fingers up and down Avery’s back then lower until his fingers drifted under the back of his pants to caress over the top curve of his ass.

Not growing up and being raised by other wolf shifters, Landen still felt at times clueless to his wolf side. Landen had a real fear that he wouldn’t be able to recognize his mate when he met him. But the more he drank in Avery’s sensual taste, the feeling of uncertainty disappeared. The strong pull he had toward Avery now made perfect sense. They were meant to be together.

Landen pushed down Avery’s pants and kneaded the firm globes under his hands. His hips arched up off the bed, rubbing his thickness into Avery’s hard pole where it pressed against his.

“Take these off.” Avery sat up, pushing Landen’s legs apart to make room for himself in the V of his legs. He yanked down Landen’s boxers then tossed them over his shoulder to the floor. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this turned on in my life.” Avery’s tongue slipped out to lick his upper lip as his eyes ate up Landen’s body.

Landen could feel his eyes on him almost as if he were touching him with his hands.

“Me either,” Landen moaned as Avery wrapped his fingers around his shaft and squeezed. It had to be the mating bond that put their attraction into overdrive.

Avery knelt between Landen’s legs and licked a hot line from his balls all the way up to the flared tip. He fisted his hands in the sheets beside his head, trying to conceal the sharp nails that drew from his fingertips. His wolf pushed at the surfaces of his skin, but Landen reined him back in. No claiming would be done tonight but it didn’t mean they could have sex. Landen’s mouth fell open and he gasped for air as Avery nibbled at the crown of his cock then slowly fed his length down his throat.

“God, Avery.” Landen thrashed around beneath his mate, trying to hold back coming too soon but it was pointless. “I need you inside me.”

“Seriously?” Avery’s head popped up from sucking him, an eyebrow arched in question.

“Um, yeah.” Landen all of a sudden felt a little self-conscious. Did Avery prefer to bottom? Landen wasn’t for sure, but he hoped his mate was a versatile lover who had more of a fondness for topping. “Is that okay?”

“You have no idea how okay that is.” A look of relief spread over Avery’s face and he leaned up and over Landen, reaching toward the nightstand. Once Avery had what he was looking for he moved back into position. A huge smile on his face as he held up a small foil package and a tube of lube.

“I’m a little offended.” Landen chuckled. “Was I that much of a sure thing?”

“Nah, just wishful thinking on my part.” Avery winked then leaned down to kiss him.

The kiss grew more aggressive. Avery nibbled and tugged at Landen’s lips. Landen curled his fingers up the back of Avery’s head, tangling in his blond hair. The feel of slick cool fingers at his entrance made Landen open his eyes.

“You okay?” Avery asked as he pushed a wet finger deep into his ass.

Landen’s head fell back to the pillow and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. It’d been too long since he’d been filled, he couldn’t wait to have Avery buried balls-deep inside him.

“Outstanding.” Landen grunted. He let his legs fall further apart, begging Avery to give him more.

“You’re a greedy bottom, aren’t you?” Avery teased as he added another finger.

“No, I just know what I want.” Landen opened his eyes and stared deeply into Avery’s. “And what I want is you.”

He could see the bob of Avery’s Adam’s apple as he swallowed. His finger stalled with their in-and-out movement. Time seemed to stop as they shared this moment of need and desire.

“I want you, too.” Avery pulled his fingers from Landen’s hole, causing him to whimper from the loss. The sound of the foil wrapper tearing filled the room, and in no time at all Avery had the condom rolled down his length and covered the stiff member in lube. Avery used his left hand to push up on the back of Landen’s thigh and used his right hand to guide his cock to Landen’s fluttering hole.

Landen arched up off the bed as the fat mushroom-shaped head breached his opening. Avery might be a thin and petite guy, but nothing about his dick size was small. His cock was about seven inches long and just as thick as Landen’s own. The latex covering his cock prevented Landen from fully feeling the veiny surface. Avery pulled out just a little then pushed back in. He continued this motion until his balls were smashed against Landen’s ass.

“So tight,” Avery said breathlessly. “So perfect.”

Avery reminded Landen of a Greek god as he sat above him, his cock pulsing deep in his hole. His eyes were shut and a small smile graced his lips. Avery was lost in the ecstasy Landen gave him and that made Landen even harder. He could come from the look of sheer happiness alone on Avery’s face.