STORY EXCERPT

Feeling wary and worn-out, Alessio settled himself at the bar. A body warming his bed for the night sounded the kind of thing Alessio needed to lift the gloom settling over him, but where would that leave him? Meaningless sex was exactly that. It left him numb after. Made Alessio wonder what it would be like, to wake up to the same face each day, and to have someone to share his stories of the day with. A mate.

“This seat taken, handsome?” a voice asked, startling Alessio from his thoughts.

“Be my guest.” Alessio regarded the stranger.

He was tall, well-built, dark skinned, dark haired and certainly not from around these parts. After ordering whiskey, straight up, the young man gave him an easy smile. A closer inspection awakened something dormant in Alessio. Strange green-yellow eyes, reminding Alessio of a feline, stared back from a face more pretty than handsome. Bait would be a word Alessio would attach to the guy, except the hard body underneath his leather jacket and tight black shirt told him this guy knew his way around a fight. By reflex, Alessio scented him, and took a lungful of something exotic. Not human, but not shifter either.

“Do you have a habit of scenting strangers?” the stranger asked in an amused voice.

Most men were intimated by Alessio’s size and reputation, but this guy didn’t seem afraid. Curious indeed. Worse, Alessio possessed a burning need to see what he looked like underneath his clothes.

“Only suspicious ones. You aren’t from Darkfall,” Alessio pointed out.

He grinned. This bastard clearly knew how to use his looks as a weapon. Faint danger bells rang in Alessio’s head. He talked to another predator, but for some reason Alessio didn’t feel threatened. Intrigued more like, which was fucking strange.

“I heard the local werewolf pack are leery of outsiders, even strangers who don’t mean them harm.”

“We have a reputation to uphold,” Alessio curtly said.

For some reason, the guy seemed to take his words as an invitation to come closer. What the hell was wrong with this bastard? Still, eliminating that bit of distance between them made it harder to think. Alessio’s wolf woke inside him, smelling something unbelievably tasty. The guy, being some kind of paranormal, should know Alessio’s spiritual wolf was interested, but he didn’t back off, only wisely stayed his ground. Why did Alessio have a feeling this guy would rather go near to a burning fire than back away?

“Kelias Cervantes.” Kelias held out his hand.

Alessio raised an eyebrow. They were exchanging names now? Did he somehow blank out, and lost track of a huge portion of the conversation? “Alessio Esteban. That’s a curious name.”

Kelias lifted his shoulders to shrug. “I’m half demon, practically human, although I never knew my parents. You though…so you’re the rumored cold- hearted Beta of the Darkfall Mountain Pack?”

“That’s what they say?” Alessio asked.

What the fuck?

Was he actually flirting with Kelias, someone who he should be digging information about? It didn’t seem like it, but they took account of every outsider who entered their territory. They kept an eye on shady figures or potential players, because they had a duty to protect the mortals living in their land. “You’re not intimidated?”

“I thought you’d be scarier. Certainly not, well.” Kelias licked his lips, drawing Alessio’s attention to Kelias’s very kissable mouth. It didn’t hurt that Alessio spotted the bulge in Kelias’s jeans. Clearly, his attraction hadn’t been one-sided.

“Not what?” Alessio prodded, taking a pull of his beer. Shit. This wasn’t good. At the rate this was going, he was going to wound up taking Kelias home, and it didn’t look like Kelias would need much persuading either.

“Funny and sexy as hell,” Kelias finished, not embarrassed to say the words out loud.

Unable to help himself, Alessio laughed. Kelias’s grin faltered a little, showing Alessio a little bit of hesitation. Poor half-demon. Did Kelias think Alessio would actually refuse him? With those looks and smooth charm, Alessio doubted Kelias suffered many rejections in his life. He explained, “Not the two adjectives most of my wolves would describe me.”

Looking relieved, Kelias asked, “How would they describe you?”

“Mean, old, and ruthless,” Alessio said.

It was Kelias’s turn to laugh. Damn, the sound tightened things inside Alessio. “You’re certainly not old, or mean.”

The half-demon finished his drink, then surprised Alessio by getting straight to the point. “Why don’t you say we get out of here? Go somewhere private?”

Kelias showed Alessio exactly what he thought of him, his smile slipping when Alessio showed him teeth. The hungry look in his gaze. Kelias shuddered, and that one gesture told Alessio volumes. That Kelias had needs Alessio could provide, that Kelias, despite his strength, was the kind of guy who’d welcome a dominant male in bed to take control.

“I know just the place, little demon.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Alessio caught his bottom lip with his teeth, halting Kelias from lifting the hem of his shirt. He bit down, wrangling a cry from Kelias. “I run the show here, Kelias. Remember that?”

Hell. As if Kelias would forget. He wanted Alessio to take control, to lead the dance, despite trusting himself this much to a stranger, to his target, was suicidal. In his day-to-day life, Kelias always examined his every decision. Always careful and second thinking himself, Kelias knew that was the only way he’d keep himself alive in all his missions. This time, he didn’t bother. Overthinking got him nowhere. He trusted his gut instincts, and to some surprise, he trusted Alessio.

Screw what the reports said. Alessio wasn’t cold hearted and dangerous. He was amazing, especially those hands and lips.

“Yes, sir,” Kelias said tartly, wondering where this bratty and wanton side of him came from.

Alessio grinned. “Strip.”

One word, the authority there enough to make Kelias heady and ready to obey. Alessio helped him out of his jacket, his shirt, jeans and boxers, and he helped Alessio out of his clothes until they both stood, naked and exposed. Kelias’s gaze dropped from Alessio’s face, and took in his massive shoulders, broad chest, narrowing to a “V” down his ribs and abs, to the fine line of hair leading to his impressive jutting cock.

Holy shit. Kelias had never had anything so big inside him.

A low sound came from Alessio’s throat. Yellow eyes took stock of him again, looking at him from top to bottom, apparently liking what he found, because Alessio grabbed Kelias’s wrists one-handed, and pinned them above his head. The wood of the door dug against his back.

“You’re going to fuck me against the door? How romantic.” The words slipped out before Kelias could stop himself.

“Here, because I’ll go mad if I don’t have you now. Next, I’ll take you in the bedroom.”

“Arrogant bastard, do you think you’re going to get that lucky?”

Alessio shut him up by kissing him again, rough and full of need. The motion drew their bodies together once again. Skin on skin. Alessio’s hardness collided with his sweat-slick lean frame, and Kelias could feel his member, pressing up his belly, so needy, like his own. Alessio let him go, and he groaned, straining for more.

“I’m pretty sure,” Alessio had the gall to say. He used his other hand to reach for Kelias’s member. Already at half-mast, his aching cock pulsed when Alessio curled his big callused fingers around the length, and began stroking him. Root to tip, fast and faster, he wrangled cries from Kelias, working Kelias until he was close to bursting. Then Alessio withdrew, and Kelias let out a hiss of frustration.

“Not yet,” Alessio said, voice harsh, his own prick thick and erect. He loosened his grip against Kelias’s wrists, and Kelias took that opportunity to free one hand. Feeling playful, he flicked the pre-cum gathered at Alessio’s cock head with his fingertips. A growl tickled out of Alessio’s lips when Kelias put his wet fingers into his mouth and sucked.

“You’re going to be the death of me, demon,” he hissed.

Right. The reminder of death jolted Kelias slightly awake. His stomach churned. How could the order expect him to end this man’s life? Alessio was unlike anything he expected. Remember your dead comrades, said a voice in his head. Ripped to shreds, like animals. The fallen deserved better. Given the chance, if Alessio knew what Kelias was, would he do the same? Turn into an animal and do Kelias the same honors?

“You’re having second thoughts again,” Alessio said in a disapproving voice. “I’m not doing my job.”

“No, you are. It’s just,” Kelias faltered. Time to lie and play the poor demon card. “I know it’s stupid bringing this up, but I’ve never really done anything like this.”

“Like this?” Alessio asked skeptically. He kissed the side of Kelias’s neck. “Don’t make it complicated. One night. No rules. Easy enough?”

That did make it easy. He nodded. Alessio spun him, so Kelias faced the door.

“What if your neighbors hear us?” Kelias asked, although shamefully, the thought excited him.

“I can smell your arousal, little demon. This is turning you on,” Alessio remarked unhelpfully. “Hands flat on the door.”

“You’re turning me on,” Kelias corrected, pressing his palms against the wood. Damn it, he’d never had sex in this position, but he couldn’t deny Alessio’s words. Quick and dirty sex for round one, and round two in the bedroom—hell, he was looking forward to both rides.

“Wait, I need to get some lube. Stay there. If you move an inch, I’ll bend you over my knee and punish you.”

“Are you kidding me?” Kelias muttered, gasping when Alessio tilted his head and stole another kiss.

“No, I’m completely serious.”

Kelias heard Alessio’s fading footsteps. He wasn’t gone long, only a couple of seconds. When he returned, Kelias felt a sudden smack on his left ass cheek. He jumped, not in shock of the slap, but how arousing it was.

Alessio let out an evil chuckle, and used his foot to spread Kelias’s legs further. “My good horny little demon.”

He felt Alessio’s wet fingers on his puckered hole seconds later. A moan slipped from Kelias when Alessio inserted a digit in, finger fucking him, before placing a second.

“Don’t tease,” Kelias whispered.

“Hush. Be patient, pet. I need you to be ready to be able to take me. I’m not exactly small.”