STORY EXCERPT

Eternity was a bitch.

That was the very first thought that entered Jordan Covington’s mind as he woke up. The second thought was that his nose itched. Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal as all he had to do was lift his hand and scratch the damn thing, but he couldn’t get his hand to come up. When he looked down, he realized he was not only in what appeared to be a hospital bed—what with all the tubes, wires, and pungent disinfectant stench—but he was also strapped down.

“Hey, sleepyhead. How are you doing?”

Into Jordan’s line of sight came a man with black hair, heavy black glasses, and intelligent brown eyes. Whoever he was, he had a face that was so trustworthy he practically had a halo perched over his sweet oval head.

“Don’t try to talk if it hurts.”

Jordon realized his mouth was open but nothing was coming out. Embarrassed, but unsure why, he closed his mouth and pulled at his bonds. For some reason, he thought it should be the other way around. He should have the man above him strapped down to the bed. That was the way things normally went. Jordan shook his head. Now he had a little more information to go on. Apparently, he was gay and liked to tie up cute young twinks similar to the guy fussing over his blankets and checking the bags of fluid hung by his bedside.

“I know. It’s no fun to be strapped down, but we’re not real sure what you were trying to do out there in the middle of the road. Until you can see the head doc—the doctor who talks to you while you’re laying down, not the kind who works on your brain—I’m afraid you’re going to have to stay tied down. It’s for your own protection.”

Middle of the road? Into Jordan’s mind came headlights flashing into his face and then angry red taillights as the cars zoomed past. He was spinning around, and there was water everywhere. It was beautiful but deadly. But that was the attraction. Death. Death was the only way to trump eternity. But why in the world would that matter to him?

“Not every day does a handsome man like yourself strip off all his clothes to play in the middle of Las Vegas Boulevard. We might call that The Strip, but it’s not an invitation.” The man grinned, displaying a smile that was slightly crooked but very becoming. He had perfect skin that was almost milky pale. “Do you remember anything about that?”

Jordan sensed a bit of an edge to the question, almost as if this man were trying to play amateur head doctor himself. More memories of bright lights swirling around came back to Jordan, but he didn’t seem to be able to pin anything down. However, he was apparently in a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. As he searched his memory, the last place he clearly remembered being was… No matter how he struggled to remember, nothing came to him. He had no memory of who he was, where he was, or why he was. Fear shot through him, making him struggle against the bed.

“Whoa, partner. Calm down.” The man frowned as he used a little flashlight to check Jordan’s eyes. “I’ve called for the head doctor, but I’d be a lot happier if you could calm down before he comes.” The man—nurse?—lowered his voice. “If you want to get out of these straps, I suggest you chill.”

Jordan nodded. It wouldn’t do to have anyone think he was crazy. Insane people got locked up, and that was something Jordan couldn’t let happen to him because…damn. Just like his last memory of where he had been, he couldn’t remember why it was vital he not be detained. Even being in this hospital bed was dangerous. He wasn’t sure why, but he had to get out of here as soon as he could.

“I’m Kirch Kincade, but everyone calls me Cade. They used to call me KK, but it’s just a bit too close to kinky, so I’ve nixed that name. I’m here to keep tabs on you and top off all your fluids.” Again, he leaned close and lowered his voice. “If you’re real good, I can get you a lube job, too.”

Jordan got hard so fast he practically felt dizzy.

“Aw, you didn’t laugh. And I thought that was so funny. You know, lube job like you’re a car up on the lift and I’m your friendly auto mechanic?” Cade kept right on checking things out and making notes on his clipboard full of papers. “Well, I suppose no one thinks I’m as funny as I do.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“I’m not wearing anything under it.” Jordan had a feeling that was what Cade had been wondering. When he blushed, he had his answer.

“Oh.” Cade met his gaze briefly, turned redder, then seemed on the verge of moving away.

Jordan tightened his grip on him lightly. “However, this does not mean I’m going to ravish you at the first opportunity.”

“Oh.”

“Why did that sound disappointed to me?”

“Maybe I am a little disappointed.”

“After throwing myself at you in the hospital, let’s just say I’m proceeding with caution.”

“Well, maybe it’s my turn.”

“Your—” Jordan had been about to ask what it was Cade’s turn for when he rose up and kissed him. Jordan’s arm tightened as he pulled him close, deepening the kiss. He couldn’t remember ever kissing any man and feeling what he did with Cade. The warning bells were back, but he was able to drown them out almost effortlessly. Whatever he did in that black room didn’t involve tenderness of any sort, so kissing would be right out. No wonder he’d been afraid. But that didn’t mean he had to continue to be concerned. Jordan was determined to change his life, and that included his love life.

Cade was moaning softly, almost whimpering, and the sound was pushing at buttons Jordan didn’t even realize he had. In answer, he growled and managed to maneuver Cade up onto his chest. While distracting Cade with hungry kisses, Jordan parted Cade’s legs, angling them over his hips. And then he worked his slim body downward.

“But your leg.”

“It’s fine.” Jordan reached between their bodies and shifted his sporran to the side. “It’s my knee, remember? You’re barely any weight on my thigh.” Actually, Cade was just enough weight on his hips to make him hungry for actual contact. He wanted to be inside Cade without the barrier of a condom. “Are you comfortable?”

“I could stay like this all night.” Cade kissed Jordan’s chin then rose up so he could work the buttons of his shirt apart. Once he had most of his chest exposed, he returned to kissing him, making his wickedly seductive whimper noises.

Jordan struggled to refrain from pushing Cade too far too fast, but he was so aroused he wanted to roll them over and mount Cade like he was some kind of wild, rutting beast. Into his mind came the image of a wolf with his head lowered, nostrils flared, and his paw digging at the ground as if he were getting ready to pounce. When Jordan looked into the creature’s eyes, he saw himself. But then Cade groaned, and the moment was broken.

Cade rocked against him, rubbing his hard cock against his stomach, making the beast in Jordan’s mind practically drool. If he should claim him, something would be lost forever. Jordan didn’t know what exactly would be gone, but then he recalled that Cade said he’d never done this before. Jordan was fairly certain that Cade meant he’d never had a man in his bed. Cade was a virgin.

Shaken by the knowledge, Jordan realized that was what would be forever ended. Cade’s innocence. For some crazy reason, Jordan thought that if he were to be the one to claim his virginity, he would be reborn in that moment. As ridiculous as the notion was, once it took a hold in his mind, there was no getting rid of the idea. Making Cade his would negate the darkness. In many ways it made perfect sense. To banish the shadows, he had to have light, and that was Cade. He was innocent and caring, dedicated but daring. He was so many things that Jordan wanted to be again. Elements of himself he’d lost.

Reaching down, he palmed Cade’s buttocks, pulling him tight as he rocked up. Jordan’s cock rubbed against Cade’s with delicious friction. Panting, they worked against each other until they were both breathless and hungry for more. Unable to do what he wanted to do, which was take command by rolling over and pinning Cade to the bed with his much bigger body, Jordan had to resort to other methods to get his way. To that end, he slipped his hand up inside Cade’s T-shirt, marveling at the smooth feel of his skin and all the delicious heat they’d managed to generate. It didn’t take long to work the garment up, and then Cade sat up to yank it off. Before he could press close again, Jordan stroked his open hands down his chest then up, pinching his nipples as he went by.

Cade’s head went back, and he uttered a cry of bliss that made Jordan inadvertently rock his hips. To be inside him and hear him make that noise would cause Jordan to climax even if he didn’t want to. Cade had some kind of direct link into the primitive portion of Jordan’s brain. It was the part of him that didn’t think but reacted out of instinct.

Reaching down, he unfastened Cade’s shorts, but he couldn’t simply slip those off. When Cade climbed off Jordan to shimmy his shorts down and off, Jordan feared he would break from the sensual spell and put a halt to everything. Determined that he wouldn’t, Jordan growled, making Cade shiver and quickly return to him. As if to prove he had no intention of stopping what they’d started, Cade worked at the fasteners of Jordan’s kilt.

“You know how to take one off?” It wasn’t as easy as people thought, not if it was a real kilt that was wrapped around the body.