STORY EXCERPT

Relaxing into Bannon’s embrace and leaning against his chest, Galen allowed him to take what he needed. He’d never seen the Irishman like this before, and he didn’t like it. Normally self-confident and assured, Bannon now seemed almost as uncertain and fumbling as Galen felt.

Ending the kiss with gentle pecks and nibbles at the man’s lips, he smoothed his hands down the sides of Bannon’s neck and over his chest. “This is about The Council, isn’t it?”

“Aye,” Bannon breathed, bending so that he could rest their foreheads together. “I’m guessin’ Jory has told ya by now. You’ll not be goin’.”

“That’s not your decision to make.” Galen kept his voice soft and even. “Jory says I can help you.”

“Is he tellin’ ya that Torren Braddock is wantin’ me to claim ya before we leave?” Bannon leaned away and arched one dark eyebrow.

Sucking his bottom lip between his teeth, Galen chewed it until he thought it would bleed, deliberately ignoring Bannon’s question. He wanted to help, to be useful for once in his miserable life, but if that meant he had to tie himself to Bannon forever…

“What do you think?”

“Ah, moi chroí, ya know the answer already. I’ll not force ya, though.”

His head was spinning in confusion, and Galen had no idea what to say or do. On one hand, he adored the big, gorgeous shifter and couldn’t imagine ever being happy with anyone else. On the other hand, just the thought of letting Bannon claim him made his palms sweat and his legs shake in anxiety.

“Tell me what to do.” He was just so damn tired of worrying about everything. If he let someone else make the decisions from now on, maybe he’d be able to maintain a bit of his sanity. “Fighting you is exhausting. I’m so tired, Bannon. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” Bannon brushed the hair back from Galen’s forehead and smiled sadly. “It’s not for me to tell. I’ll wait forever, but I can’t decide for ya.”

“I can’t be your mate.” Good grief, he was beginning to sound like a broken record. Over and over, he’d been using the same excuse until he’d actually convinced himself that it was true. Now…well, he wasn’t so sure. Bannon wouldn’t pursue him with such determination if there wasn’t a connection. Right? “Can I ask you something?”

The corners of Bannon’s lips twitched, and his eyes sparkled for the first time since he’d dragged Galen out of Jory’s room. “Ask away.”

“How do I know? I believe you think that we’re mates, but how do I know? If we are, that means I have some kind of shifter blood in me.” It was possible considering he’d never met his father, and his mother had been pretty scarce on details about him. “How did you know I was the one for you?”

“C’mere, darlin’.” Bannon walked backward, pulling Galen. Then he eased down on the foot of the bed and patted the space next to him. Once Galen was seated, Bannon turned a little and linked their hands together. “Ya have a scent that makes my mouth water. The most amazin’ thing I’m ever smellin’.”

He liked the way Bannon smelled, too, and while it made him want to strip off his clothes and pant, he needed something more to go on. “Continue.”

“My stomach flutters.”

So did his. He chalked that up to nerves, though. “What else?”

“My brain goes a bit fuzzy when ya get near.”

Well, that happened to Galen every damn time Bannon walked in a room. Not only did he associate it with nervousness, but also with the fact that all the blood rushed south of the border each time he saw the man. Basal attraction to someone as gorgeous as Bannon was only to be expected. It didn’t prove they were destined for one another.

“My gums itch a bit, I suppose.”

Well, that one stumped him. Galen had felt the same itching and tingling in his gums, particularly around his canines. He couldn’t explain that one away by attributing it to attraction or anxiety. “Do I smell like an animal?” And why the hell hadn’t he thought to ask all of these questions months ago? Oh, right, because he’d been too busy running like a fucking pussy.

Bannon leaned in and skimmed his nose up the column of Galen’s throat, inhaling deeply as he went. “Aye, but just a hint, and I can only catch it when I’m this near to ya.” He bent farther, inching across the mattress to close the minimal distance between them. Warm, wet, and moan-inducing, his tongue slithered from collarbone to jawline, and he ended by scraping his incisors over the sensitive flesh just below Galen’s ear.

“Bannon,” he whispered and sucked in a shuddering breath. It was a plea, but for what, he couldn’t say. Did he want Bannon to continue or stop? He craved more, but was it a wise decision?

“Why do ya fight me so, Galen?” One hand came up to rest on the side of Galen’s neck, and Bannon’s lips stretched wide against the other side. “So fast,” he murmured. “It beats so fast for me. Deny ya want me, and I’ll leave now.”

He couldn’t. Well, he could, but it would be a lie. Every nerve ending in his body sparked and sizzled, screaming for more of Bannon’s touch. His dick throbbed painfully, tenting the front of his sleep pants and vying for freedom.

Adult Excerpt

Abandoning his mate’s tortured nipples, Bannon crushed Galen to him and swung them around, intending to carry him to the bed. Instead, his jeans slid off his hips, tripping him, and he ended up tackling his mate to the mattress like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive line.

No, not one lineman, but all of them. He was grateful though shocked that his little man had survived the collapse and resulting two hundred and fifty pounds that landed on top of him. Hell, he actually laughed, even if it was a bit breathlessly.

“Sorry,” Bannon mumbled distractedly as he licked at Galen’s neck and tried to kick his jeans off, but only ended up getting them stuck around his boots. Screw it.

Galen probably already thought he was a complete idiot. It wasn’t like things could get any worse. Maybe. Hopefully. Then he remembered that if they were going forward with this, at some point he was going to need to retrieve the lube. Where the hell was the lube?

“Lube. We’re needin’ lube.”

Galen giggled again and rolled over to rummage through the drawer of the nightstand. Bannon followed, or more to the point, his lips followed and just dragged the rest of him along for the ride as they continued nibbling and kissing every part of Galen close enough to touch.

Then his mate was back, trying to push a rather large bottle of slick into his hand. “Uh, maybe ya should do that.” At the rate he was going, he’d probably end up hurting his mate, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

“You want to watch?” Galen purred seductively as he flipped the cap open and poured a generous amount of the clear liquid into his palm.

Bannon eased off the bed, shucking the rest of his clothing before he knelt on the floor, positioning himself for an up close and personal view of the show about to commence. His dick pulsed, flexing with each thundering beat of his heart as it leaked generous amounts of pre-cum from the slit.

Spreading his legs wide and pulling his knees back to his chest, Galen opened himself to Bannon’s viewing pleasure, showing off his sweet, pink hole. The muscles quivered and clenched, seemingly eager for what was coming.

Galen, however, had decided to torture Bannon to death. Instead of reaching for his obviously hungry hole, his slim fingers wrapped around his cock, stroking and slicking the hard, thick length.

Bannon watched with rapt attention, following every long, slow glide as his mouth watered and electricity zipped up his spine. Chancing a look at Galen’s face, he could practically see the fire burning there, and it made his stomach clench and his balls draw up close to his body. If they didn’t get this train moving, he was going to blow before he ever pulled into the station.

Feeling slightly more in control of himself, he snatched the lube up from the mattress and coated his fingers quickly. Resting one hand on the inside of Galen’s right thigh, he used his slippery fingers to caress his lover’s tight hole.

The muscles squeezed and relaxed, greedy for more. Slipping just the tip of his index finger into the snug opening, Bannon glanced up at his mate again, checking to be sure that Galen wasn’t too uncomfortable.

A long, low moan bounced off the walls, and Galen rocked up and down on the mattress, impaling himself farther on Bannon’s digit. “More. Feels good, but I need more.”

Whatever his baby wanted, he got. Inserting more of his finger, Bannon paused for a heartbeat before he began pumping in and out, coaxing Galen’s hole to relax for him. It didn’t take long before he was able to insert a second finger and finally a third.

Galen’s inner walls clamped around his fingers, squeezing them inside his velvety heat. “Now, Bannon. Can’t last. Oh, oh, fuck!” His hand was a mere blur as he jerked harder and faster at his engorged cock. “Please!” Erotic moans and needy whimpers spilled from his kiss-swollen lips, and Bannon thought he’d come right where he sat.

Getting ahold of himself, he eased his fingers from Galen’s ass and crawled up the bed to loom over him. The need still clawed at him, making his head swim and his balls ache, but he was able to control it a little better now.

Gripping the base of his cock, he lined up with his mate’s entrance and stopped, nudging against the ring of muscles but not entering. With his other hand, he brushed the curls back from Galen’s flushed face and stared into his chocolate-brown eyes, waiting for permission.

“Don’t stop. Please, Bannon. I need this. I need to feel you. Make love to me.”

Music to his ears—and to his dick, but he wouldn’t mention that part later. Still staring into Galen’s eyes, he rocked his hips forward in small, gentle movements until the flared tip of his cock breached his lover’s opening. The first feel of those insanely tight muscles wrapped around his dick was heaven and hell, all in one perfect package.

Grinding his teeth together to stave off his already impending orgasm, he continued forward until his entire length was encased in the heated depths of Galen’s channel. Then, as though he’d flipped a switch, his control snapped again, and he pulled out, only to slam back in with a bone-jarring intensity.