STORY EXCERPT

Stefan White’s chest heaved with exhaustion as he undid his bowtie, leaving the ends dangling around his neck, and then unbuttoned the first few buttons on his shirt. He removed the gold cufflinks at his wrists then folded his sleeves back one at a time.

The only thing that could make this night any better was a really big glass of very old scotch. Stefan settled for a small glass. As much as he would have preferred something bigger, the loss of control from drinking too much wasn’t something he was willing to allow.

He would permit himself two small glasses, however. His night had sucked from the moment he walked into the black tie cocktail party he had been honor bound to attend. It had sunk through the floor by the time he walked out. Why people felt the need to throw every eligible woman within a hundred miles at him he would never know. Some of them weren’t even that eligible. Being single was not a disease. Despite his age, his internal clock was not ticking away.

And he was damn tired of fighting women off when he liked men.

Stefan poured two fingers of his best scotch, the stuff he only used on the rarest of occasions, and then tossed it back. He coughed, smacking his chest with his other hand.

Damn shit burned all of the way down.

A small smirk curved one side of Stefan’s mouth as he poured himself another glass. The scotch burned like hell, but it was a hell he was willing to endure. It was better than letting loose with his temper and punching a wall—something he had felt like doing a lot lately.

“Why do you drink that stuff if you hate it so much?”

Stefan stiffened.

And that right there would be why he felt the need to punch something, or have another drink. Benny was the one man he wanted and couldn’t have.

Stefan finished pouring himself another scotch, adding just a bit more than normal, and then put the top back on the decanter. He picked up his glass and walked over to his desk as if there wasn’t a breathtakingly beautiful man standing in his doorway.

Maybe if he ignored him long enough, Benny would go away.

“I tasted that stuff and it’s horrible.”

And maybe not.

Stefan lifted the lid of the small humidor he kept on the sideboard behind his desk and grabbed one of his cigars—Cuban, of course. Stefan liked to think they were rolled on the tight abdominal muscles of really hot guys rather than the thighs of virgins as the rumors reported.

He snipped the end and lit it up, and then grabbed his glass again and walked over to gaze out the long floor-to-ceiling window that went the length of one wall of his office. Buildings could be seen off in the distance, a soft hue brightening the horizon from the thousands of lights still on in skyscrapers across the city.

“Why do you pretend I’m not here?”

Stefan’s eyes slid closed. Benny was right behind him. He could feel the heat of the man’s body. The same frustration Stefan had been trying to master for the last three months exploded in a long, deep groan.

“I’m not trying to pretend you’re not here, Benny.” Not all of the time, anyway. “I’m just tired and not in the mood for company. I’ve had a very long day.”

“It doesn’t look like your night is going any better.”

Stefan chuckled as he opened his eyes and glanced to the side, knowing Benny would be there. Benny was always there. He had been tracking Stefan’s every move since the second the man came home with Kitty. It had to be the canine in him.

“Is it true that animals understand human speech?”

Benny nodded as he turned to stare out the window. “Yeah, it’s true. We understand a lot more than humans think. It doesn’t always make it easier knowing what you all are saying, though. Humans are just plain crazy.”

“I can’t say I disagree with you there.” It had only been three months since Stefan’s brother, Dr. Ambrose White, had an accident in his lab that turned his house cat into a human. Through a calamity of errors and disbelief, plus the insanity of a couple of research scientists, two other men had soon joined Kitty in human form.

Benny the beagle and Bugsy the bunny. Stefan still shook his head every time he thought about the names Kitty had given his two new friends.

Bugsy tended to stay to his room or the arboretum built on the side of the large mansion Stefan had purchased with his brother. Benny seemed to be underfoot every time Stefan was home.

Like now…

Stefan clenched his hands as he shot the other man a cold look. “Benny, shouldn’t you be in bed or something?”

Please?

Benny shrugged. “I slept earlier.”

“You know humans sleep a little differently than dogs do, right?”

“Duh,” Benny snorted.

“Don’t you have a car to go chase or something?”

Benny’s head tilted. “Why are you so afraid of me?”

“I’m not afraid of you!” Stefan’s nostrils flared as a little voice in his head called him a liar. He turned back to the window, wishing Benny would go back to wherever he came from…or bend over the desk. Either would do, but Stefan knew which one he was hoping for.

Benny had been driving him crazy since the moment he had arrived. Stefan tried to remind himself that the gorgeous man that stood beside him used to be a beagle, but his libido just wouldn’t accept it. He wanted Benny with a deep need that made him ache.

He just couldn’t have Benny, and he knew it. He had seen too much in his life, done too much. He was jaded and that was not what the handsome beagle needed in his life.

“I’m not afraid of you, Benny, I just—”

“Good,” Benny said, “because I’ve decided I want you to be my human.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“What is so bad about you being my human?” Benny whispered.

Benny’s hand slid up Stefan’s back, setting Stefan’s blood on fire. He ground his teeth, telling himself not to give in to the temptation. Putting some distance between them, Stefan turned and his jaw dropped.

Benny was standing there in the middle of his room, naked. How the hell had the guy gotten undressed so quickly? More to the point, why in the hell did he have to look so damn gorgeous? Regardless of his resolve that he wasn’t going to entertain the idea of being with Benny, Stefan’s cock became ramrod straight, pressing painfully into his zipper.

“Don’t you want me, Stefan?” Benny asked, palming his erection. Stefan knew that Benny wasn’t worldly, that he was too innocent in all of this. The man was fumbling with his cock like he didn’t know what to do with it. Stefan had plenty of ideas—No, he wasn’t going to go there.

Benny began to walk seductively toward Stefan, his slim hips rocking from side to side. Stefan’s mouth went dry as his pulse sped up. He didn’t want to corrupt Benny, but Stefan was only human. A man could only take so much temptation.

“Please, Stefan.” Benny’s lower lip slid forward, and Stefan had an image of what those lush lips could do. His cock jerked at the thought of Benny sucking his dick.

“Benny,” Stefan said in warning, but his words lacked any real heat. He wanted to send the man away. Oh, how he wanted to. But his cock had a mind of its own.

When Benny moved into Stefan’s space, rubbing his erection against Stefan’s hip, all bets were off. Stefan wrapped his hand around the back of Benny’s neck, grabbing a large handful of hair and pulling the man’s head back until it tilted up to his.

He traced the soft fullness of Benny’s lips with his tongue. His lips feather-touched Benny’s with tantalizing persuasion until the man opened for him, and then Stefan’s tongue dived in and explored.

An anxious whine fell from Benny’s lips, and Stefan ate it up as his cock pulsed at the sound. God, he’d never had a lover who felt so right in his arms. He had never felt this level of want or need.

His body was aching for Benny’s.

As he kissed Benny, Stefan stroked his fingers over his back, feeling the gentle fire growing between them. It grew until he felt the flames of desire sweep through his body, setting him on fire.

“Spread your legs, baby.”

Benny complied, his knees falling apart. Stefan could see goose bumps race up Benny’s body as he caressed the man, his hands skimming up Benny’s thighs then down between his legs, fondling Benny’s sac.

Stefan’s hand pushed downward, wrapping around Benny’s cock. He could feel the clear liquid spilling onto his hand as he stared down into Benny’s pretty face. He felt Benny shudder in his arms, a long, low groan falling from the man’s lips.

“I want to taste you.” Stefan lifted Benny up into his arms before kneeling and laying Benny gently on the carpet. He leaned back on his knees, in awe of the beauty lying open before him, for his feast. “You’re the most breathtaking creature I have ever laid eyes on.”

Benny blushed, and Stefan’s heart clenched at the display of emotion. Benny was gorgeous and wasn’t even aware of it. That only added to his charm. Benny’s body was trembling as he spread his legs wider for Stefan.

Stefan’s hands skated down Benny’s sides, cupping his hips as he lowered himself to nestle between his lover’s thighs. He felt gooseflesh once again under his palms. This was exquisite torture, to have an effect on someone like this.

Stefan stole a glance up to see Benny watching him. Keeping his eyes locked onto Benny’s, Stefan flicked his tongue out, licking the moisture from the tip of the throbbing cock at his mouth.

The taste exploded across his tongue.

Stefan would never get enough of Benny, never. He wanted to taste Benny’s seed surging down his throat. Stefan parted his lips, allowing the head to enter, and then he sucked and twirled with his tongue, enjoying the spongy head pressed against the roof of his mouth.

Benny bucked, grabbing handfuls of Stefan’s hair in his hands. “Suck it, Stefan. Please,” Benny hissed between clenched teeth.

Stefan worked Benny’s cock in his mouth, feeling as though he were one exposed, raw nerve. His cock was beating out a rhythm of pure ecstasy, and Stefan wanted more, so much more.

Stefan hollowed his cheeks, creating suction with his lips as he took Benny’s cock to the back of his throat. He hummed as he reached down, cupping his lover’s balls, rolling them in his hand.

Benny whimpered and lifted himself up against Stefan. Stefan had to throw his left arm over Benny’s hips to stop the man from withering all over the damn place. He smiled to himself as Benny went wild under him.