STORY EXCERPT

It was almost noon when Nathaniel showed up at Legion station, waving absently at the Legionnaires in the foyer, some of whom led the prisoners in. He deftly found his way up to the second floor, where his unit was located. The room was almost empty, as most of his colleagues had gone to lunch or were out in the field. Nathaniel nodded to the ones who were present and headed straight for his desk.

“You had a call, Nathaniel,” Brannon said, frowning at him even as he took a call on his own desk. Brannon didn’t like Nathaniel and made no secret of the way he felt. Nathaniel wondered why he was now relaying messages when otherwise he’d have done his best to ignore Nathaniel. There were two possibilities. Either it was something important, or something Brannon thought was embarrassing. Brannon wouldn’t hesitate at all if he thought he could humiliate Nathaniel in front of their coworkers. Luckily for Nathaniel, his and Brannon’s views on what was embarrassing often differed. He regarded the man as a pest. Their dislike was known in the unit, so they mostly didn’t have to work together.

“What was it?” he asked absently, shrugging out of his jacket. He’d spent almost all morning outside the building and hadn’t received any messages on his Legion-issued communicator, even though he had it on him all the time. In fact, it was via communicator he’d been called to North 11, one of smaller stations in the city.

“Don’t know. Colonel Harris just asked to see you,” Harris answered resentfully. Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “I see.”

It certainly explained the man’s bad mood. The station commander, Colonel Harris, was Nate’s mentor. They’d served together, and despite his higher rank, Harris considered them friends. He made no secret of that and often dropped by to either talk to Nathaniel or give him specialized tasks. Brannon wasn’t the only one who envied their close relationship and disliked Harris’s attitude.

“True. He seemed disappointed you weren’t already here.” Cade, another, younger Legionnaire butted in, pushing the papers he was working on away on his desk.

Brannon shrugged negligently. “His shift had already started,” he explained, watching Nathaniel intently. “You know you were supposed to be here hours ago.”

Brannon must have delighted in informing Harris of that.

“I was off at North 11 station,” Nathaniel answered. Brannon narrowed his eyes at him.

“I thought you were done with it.”

“Something came up. Did Colonel say what he wanted?”

“No,” Brannon said sharply. Cade grinned.

“He didn’t. He just said to come see him when you’re back. I assume he has another assignment for you.”

Could be. Harris was, after all, his superior. Nathaniel wondered idly what Harris had in mind. He could have just as easily ordered Cade or Brannon or any of others to do as he wanted, but he’d asked for Nathaniel. Brannon looked miffed, probably insulted that Harris hadn’t asked for him instead, once he said Nathaniel wasn’t as yet present. Brannon was in his forties and had almost 10 years more experience than Nathaniel. He disliked the influence Nathaniel had among their fellow Legionnaires and felt it was a clear case of favoritism on the colonel’s part.

The communicator on his desk blinked innocuously, informing Nathaniel he had messages. Those were ones that either weren’t important enough to be routed to his personal com, or deemed too important to be transferred via open network. Legionnaires had their own security measures inside the building. Nathaniel riffled through papers on his desk, concluded that everything could wait, and reached for his jacket, preparing to leave again.

“Hey, Nathaniel, can you—” Another one of his colleagues approached him, brandishing stack of papers. Nathaniel raised both hands. “Sorry. Ask me when I get back,” he said apologetically.

Jeremy frowned. “You just got back,” he pointed out accusingly. Nathaniel almost rolled his eyes. Jeremy was a recent graduate from Legion Academy and had started to pick up some of Brannon’s more annoying characteristics. He would have to do something about it, or the kid would end up being insufferable.

“I need to go out again,” he explained patiently.

“Wish I could come and go at will from my job as well,” Brannon said darkly, tapping impatiently at his communicator. The machines at the Station were supposed to last and be secure, which meant that they were basic. There were now more modern ones, with more options, but most Legion personnel even privately stuck to basic ones. Nathaniel did. Brannon didn’t, and the attitude was why he was never going to advance.

“Colonel asked for me,” he added for Jeremy’s benefit. “I’ll help you when I get back.”

“The Colonel?” Jeremy asked, eyes wide as saucers. Cade leaned back in his chair, obviously enjoying the gossip. “Yes, the Colonel. He came down personally, didn’t call on communicator, didn’t send someone.”

Nathaniel stifled a laugh. Harris was a paranoid bastard and proud of it. He wasn't going to leave a message on a communicator anyone in Nathaniel's unit could use, or even worse, give it to one of young recruits appointed as his assistants. That's how rumors got started.

ADULT EXCERPT

“It did.” Nathaniel frowned. “You’re an alpha wolf. If we were in the same pack, you would rank me.”

“I would,” Rio agreed. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I don’t know—maybe because you’re not supposed to date someone like me?” Belatedly, Nathaniel wondered what he was doing. He hated feeling vulnerable, and right now he was feeling vulnerable. He was lashing out at Rio. He knew it wasn’t smart, or even what he wanted, but there was ball of misery in his throat, and he couldn’t stop himself. He’d gotten too dependent on Rio. It shouldn’t matter what anyone thought, least of all an alpha wolf.

“Like you,” Rio repeated slowly, prompting him to speak. Nathaniel stood up and went to the counter where he turned so he could face Rio, his hands gripping the counter edge until his knuckles were white.

“Stop playing,” he snapped. “You know what I meant.”

Rio stood up, walking until their bodies were flush. Fear skittered up his spine, mixed with a heavy dose of desire. He shuddered as Rio pressed their hips together and his traitorous cock leaped at the prospect of play.

Rio nuzzled his neck, hands going to Nathaniel’s sides. He nibbled onto his neck.

“I like you,” he said. “I don’t really care about anything else.”

“Uhh,” Nathaniel said unintelligibly, fast-rising desire drowning out everything else. He happily latched onto another outlet for the tension that had plagued him the whole afternoon.

“Did you top me because I’m a dominant wolf?”

“No,” Nathaniel replied without thinking. “Because you have a fantastic ass.”

Rio made approving noise. Nathaniel gasped as the hand, which had up until now rested innocently on his side, slid down his belly and pushed his pants down. He yelped as Rio gripped his cock. He made a small noise, but trapped between Rio and the counter, he couldn’t do anything.

“Sure I could hold you down if we wanted to.” Rio paused, and Nathaniel dragged his mind out of the pleasurable haze he’d sunk into.

“Do you want to?”

“What?” Nathaniel squirmed, trying to push into Rio’s grip.

“Do you want me to hold you down”—warm breath gusted over his collarbone—“climb you, and then ride you until we’re both spent?”

The image Rio painted made him hiss.

“Thought so,” Rio said, then backed off, expression smug. Nathaniel opened his mouth to protest, then abruptly shut it as he caught sight of the fire in Rio’s eyes.

“Do you want me?” he asked.

“You know I do.”

“Come and get me, then,” Rio challenged, smirking. Nathaniel lunged at him.

He tugged at Rio’s biceps, then using the moment the other man was off balance, he twisted him until he was pressed against the table and Nathaniel was at his back. His naked cock pressed into Rio’s jean-covered ass. Rio shivered. The wine in his untouched glass sloshed and spilled over the table.

“Hold still,” Nathaniel warned, sucking at his shoulder.

He rolled his hips, making them both gasp.

“Love the way you taste,” he murmured into Rio’s ear. I’m so glad you are not leaving, he wanted to say, but didn’t. He felt curiously lightheaded, like an enormous pressure was lifted off of him. His senses were back with a vengeance, blood hurrying into his groin, making him dizzy with an onslaught of lust. He pressed harder against Rio.

“Hungry for you,” he murmured before tugging Rio’s shirt to the side and exposing his collarbone. His mouth latched onto tempting skin. Heat rolled over him as he sucked his mark into Rio’s skin. Rio squirmed under him, and Nathaniel pushed his legs open with his knee. Rio shuddered, turning his head to the side so his cheek rested on the table, breath coming out in short pants.

“Tease,” he accused, even as he rolled back into Nathaniel.

“Never that.”

He pulled back, tugging Rio with him. Lust-glazed eyes met his.

“What did you have in mind?” Rio asked.

“Lie back,” Nathaniel ordered. He stepped in between Rio’s legs and pushed his shirt away before covering Rio with his body. It took some maneuvering, but he got what he wanted. His hardened dick was now resting over Rio’s warm belly. He hummed as he rubbed himself teasingly against Rio, a sharp prick of pleasure penetrating his skin. Rio gasped and twitched, but Nathaniel gripped his arms warningly.

“No. Stay where you are.”

Rio’s muscles contorted with every painful breath. Smears of pre cum dribbled over his skin. Rio let out a frustrated groan. Nathaniel sank his teeth into his shoulder warningly. As he moved, he could feel Rio’s own dick pressing into his thigh, but there was not enough friction for him to get off.

Rio was gasping and shuddering under him.

Nathaniel squeezed his eyes shut as his orgasm hit him, making him freeze in mid-thrust. Sticky heat spilled between them.

With a sigh, he pulled back and had to steady himself with one arm on the table. Rio gave him a smoldering gaze. He licked his lips.

Nathaniel pulled back, regaining his equilibrium. He reached for paper towels and quickly cleaned himself before pulling his pants up and zipping them. Rio frowned at him, reaching for his belt with one hand.

“Don’t,” Nathaniel warned. He cleaned Rio too, dropping the soiled towel to the floor, then spread both hands over Rio’s hips. His face was flushed and his shirt rucked up. Leaning down, Nathaniel licked a stripe over Rio’s quivering muscles.

“Now I get to mess you up again,” he purred. He blew a breath over heated and damp skin. Rio twitched under him.