STORY EXCERPT

“Carson!” Noah jogged, pushing the cart in front of him. Carson had been rambling on and on about what potato chips he wanted when he stopped, sniffed the air, and took off. “Carson!”

He looked down the next aisle and saw Carson, and even with the other man’s back to him, he knew it was Skyler. The young man was kneeling down talking to Carson on his level, and his little boy smiled and nodded his head wildly.

“Carson.” He pushed his cart up the aisle toward them. “What have I told you about running off like that?” Noah ran his hand through Carson’s hair, ruffling the soft strands.

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” Carson said in a small voice. “But look who I found. I told you we’d see him again.”

Noah watched as Skyler stood up and picked Carson up as he did. He cuddled the little boy on his hip. “Hey, Noah.” A small smile curled Skyler’s upper lip as he stared up at Noah. “And your dad is right.” He tapped a finger on Carson’s nose, and his son giggled. “You shouldn’t run off like that. The whole stranger danger thing is some serious business, little man.”

“Stranger danger?” Noah stifled a laugh at his son’s scrunched up face.

“Yeah. Anyone you don’t know is a stranger,” Skyler explained. “And danger is all around us. When the two mix it can mean bad things for little boys who don’t listen and run off from their dads.”

Carson’s mouth fell open, forming an O, and he clasped his hand to his mouth. “I didn’t mean to.” Carson rested his chubby little hands on either side of Skyler’s face. “But I wanted to see you.”

“Ah, sweetie, I wanted to see you, too.” Skyler kissed Carson on the cheek, and Noah’s heart melted. The man had no reason to show such kindness to Noah’s son, but he did. With every word Carson said Skyler paid attention like there was no other place in the world he’d rather be.

Carson gave Skyler a kiss on his cheek in return and followed it up with a hug. He buried his face in the crook of Skyler’s neck, and Noah could hear the deep inhale of breaths his son took. Skyler stiffened but didn’t pull away, and Noah cursed his son’s sensitive nose.

Carson wiggled his legs, and Skyler put him down. His attention pulled toward the multiple choices of cereals in front of him.

“I’m sorry about all this,” Noah said. “He gets excited and just takes off sometimes. Very strong willed.”

“Oh it’s not a problem.” Skyler folded his thin arms over his chest. “Actually, seeing him brightened up my day.” Skyler shot him a wink.

Noah had to force down a swallow to keep from drooling out his mouth. The gesture was so innocent, but Noah had to imagine everything this man did came across as flirtatious. He coughed to clear his throat and pointed at Skyler’s overflowing cart. “You must be doing a month’s worth of shopping.”

“Nah.” Skyler turned to his cart. “This is only a week’s worth.”

“How is that possible? You’re tiny!” Noah gave the man a once-over. Skyler looked like he weighed a buck twenty soaking wet. There was no way he ate this much food in just one week.

“Thanks!” Skyler beamed another bright smile at him, exposing all his pearly white teeth. “But I don’t live alone.”

“Oh.” For some odd reason that bothered Noah more than it should have. He was attracted to Skyler, but he had no claim to the man and couldn’t be upset that such a gorgeous man wasn’t single.

His disappointment must have shown on his face and Skyler reached out to touch his arm.

“No, not like that,” he reassured Noah. “I live with some friends.” He held his hands up in the air. “Strictly the platonic sort. In fact two of them have partners, and even if they didn’t they’re all like brothers to me. I could never see them as anything more.” Skyler shuddered and made a gagging noise.

Noah let out a relieved laugh. “That’s good to know.” Skyler stood there staring back at him. They both just gazed at one another, and Noah started to feel uncomfortable. He turned to see where Carson had gotten off to. “Well, I’ll let you get back to it.”

“Yeah, right. You, too.” Skyler walked over to Carson and gave him a high five. “See you later, little man.”

“Bye, Sky.” Carson rushed toward him and rubbed his nose into Sky’s hip. Skyler patted the little boy on the head.

Noah returned Skyler’s wave then watched as the man turned around and walked down the aisle. He stifled a giggle as Skyler raised an arm and sniffed his armpit.

ADULT EXCERPT

The closer he got to Noah’s house, the stronger his smell became. His claws curved into the dirt and helped propel him forward. He was so close he could practically taste Noah’s scent. A combination of expensive cologne and sweat.

Just as he reached the edge of the tree line, he saw the man. Noah stood on his decorative stone patio staring out into the distance like he had been waiting for him.

Skyler stopped and met Noah’s eyes. He changed from wolf to human in a flash and walked toward his mate. Seeing the desire in his mate’s eyes helped fuel his courage. Sexual tension was so thick in the air Skyler couldn’t control himself and jumped into Noah’s arms like he longed to do from the moment they met.

He brought his mouth down hard over Noah’s, and the man squeezed him tight around the waist. Skyler tangled his fingers in Noah’s dark hair and wrapped his legs around his hips, grinding his erect cock against Noah’s.

The night went silent with only the sounds of their heavy breathing and wild grunts. Noah’s hands gripped him hard over his ass, and Skyler jerked, pushing harder into the welcome stiffness behind the man’s zipper.

Skyler shifted and pushed up higher in Noah’s hold. The man stumbled backward but regained his footing. Noah pulled back and gazed up into Skyler’s eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something, but Skyler put a finger over his lips and smiled. Noah returned the smile and set him back down on his feet. He entwined his fingers with Skyler’s then turned around and headed into the house. Skyler followed silently behind him.

Noah led him up the long staircase and down the hallway. When they reached his room Skyler closed the door softly behind him. Noah stood before him looking uncertain. Skyler grinned evilly up at him and began to walk him backward toward the bed.

Something flashed before Noah’s eyes, and the next thing Skyler knew he was on his back covered by Noah’s hard hot body. Noah pushed at his thighs, and Skyler spread them wide, letting Noah in.

Skyler scraped his nails down Noah’s back, unintentionally shredding the soft cotton. Noah started to laugh, and Skyler’s cheeks flushed with heat.

“You could have just asked me to take off my clothes.” Noah pushed up onto his elbows to look down at him.

“Where’s the fun in that?” Skyler smiled then pulled Noah back down on top of him. He pressed his tongue at Noah’s lips until he opened. He drank in his mate’s taste and felt lightheaded. Never had a kiss been more perfect.

With hands groping and rushed fingers, they got Noah out of his clothes. He got up to collect a tube of lube from his en suite and came back to the bed. Skyler watched as his mate came closer to him then climbed up on the bed like a predator stalking its prey. Skyler didn’t think it was possible for a human to look so animalistic, but he’d never met anyone like Noah before.

The man’s body had hard muscles corded around his torso that traveled up his arms and down his legs. Noah had a body any male would be jealous to have. He hid it under his loose-fitting jeans and plain T-shirts, but Skyler now knew what had been lurking under the surface.

Skyler dropped his gaze to admire the hair covering Noah’s chest. His nipples lay nestled under the fine dark hair. Skyler reached out and ran a fingernail over one pebbled peak, and Noah sucked in a sharp breath. He smiled as he watched his mate’s body go taut.

With a low growl Noah knocked his hand away and settled back between Skyler’s legs. Skyler brought his feet up to rest on the bed and let his knees fall open, exposing his hole more for his mate. The kissing and touching was great and all, but Skyler wanted more, a lot more.

“Make love to me,” Skyler said in between kisses.

Noah’s mouth stopped moving, and Skyler opened his eyes to stare at his mate. Did he say something wrong?

Noah sat back and popped the cap on the small tube and coated his fingers in the clear gel. Skyler watched with eager eyes. Noah grabbed his thick shaft and ran his hand up and down the length. Skyler’s tongue came out and traced across his lips as he watched Noah get prepared.

Skyler sat up and reached forward and grabbed Noah by the wrist. He pulled the hand toward his eager hole. Noah followed his guidance without question. Skyler let go as Noah started to paint his wet fingers over his entrance. He gasped when one large finger breached his opening. He fell back against the mattress, his head landing on the fluffy pillows.

One finger became two, and Skyler pushed down, fucking himself on Noah’s fingers. Skyler used his own fingers to pluck at his nipples, sending jolts of pleasure to his swollen cock. Sweat covered his body. He could feel his release climbing to the surface, wanting to be free, but he silenced it. Skyler wanted this to last as long as possible.

Noah pulled his fingers free and edged closer on his knees. He guided his cock into Skyler’s wet hole. Skyler held his stare as his mate slowly entered his body for the first time and it felt better than anything Skyler had ever felt before.

Skyler sucked in air as Noah’s fat cock eased forward. The slight sting it caused had his eyes watering, but he forced his muscles to relax and took all Noah had to give. Once fully seated, Noah came down to lay over him. Skyler wrapped his arms around Noah’s neck and kissed him. Noah kissed him back and slowly started to pull and push back in. Skyler moaned and lifted his hips, trying to get more of his mate’s hardness into him.