STORY EXCERPT

It was just dinner with his sister and her family, so why on earth was Sonny standing in front of his mirror wondering if he should change for the fifth time? Or was it the sixth time? Flustered that he couldn’t even remember, he turned sideways and checked out his ass.

“These pants make it look flat.” With a grunt, Sonny changed again. When he glanced at the clock, he saw that he was out of time. If he didn’t leave now, he would spend the next hour trying to decide what to wear.

After grabbing his wallet and phone, he met Amon in the garage. Why on earth did the vampire have to look so damn good? He was a temptation Sonny was trying hard to resist, but when Amon was in casual clothes instead of his suit—which he always looked gorgeous in—he looked good enough to eat.

Or fuck. Okay, Sonny needed to stop thinking about sex whenever Amon was around. He needed to stop thinking about it when Amon wasn’t around too.

Amon had a head full of silky black hair and looked amazing in his dark pants and white shirts, but… Why was he wearing sunglasses at night? Only douchebags wore sunglasses at night. Maybe if Sonny looked at him that way, he wouldn’t be so attracted to him.

“I can drive.” Sonny held out his hand, wiggling his fingers.

“As your protection detail, I’m driving,” Amon said in a silky-smooth voice that always made Sonny want to jump the man’s bones.

“Protection detail?” Sonny scoffed. “More like babysitter. The only reason you’re even here is because Eleazar insisted I bring you along.”

He’d really wanted to go out on his own, not take Amon with him. What was the guy going to do, sit in the driveway the entire time? It wasn’t as if Sonny could invite him in. One, he didn’t want to explain to Amy and her husband who Amon was, and two, he didn’t want to explain why Amon wasn’t eating any food.

When Sonny went to the passenger side to get in, Amon shook his head. “Back seat.”

“Do I look like Miss Daisy to you?”

Amon studied him for a long moment. Since Sonny had started working for Eleazar, he’d noticed that vampires studied you as if they were trying to see into your soul. It was unnerving as hell.

“What’s with the attitude tonight?”

Sonny sighed. It wasn’t Amon’s fault he was tasked with babysitting. “I just really wanted to go alone.”

Amon studied him some more. Sonny wasn’t in the mood to be analyzed, so he climbed into the backseat. He ran all his errands during the day, so it was going to be sweet to be out at night. Sonny missed the nightlife—clubs, dancing, or just having a drink with friends on some patio somewhere, looking up at the stars.

He’d gone from being with Bruce to Eleazar rescuing him and taking him to the estate to having a babysitter. For once Sonny just wanted to go out at night and enjoy his time by himself. During the day didn’t count because he was working.

He’d already called Amy and told her he would be late. Amon couldn’t exactly come out when it was still daylight, but the sun had set at seven, so they were on their way. Thankfully his sister didn’t live that far from Eleazar’s estate.

It would take only ten minutes, so he wouldn’t be late for her seven o’clock dinner by much.

They pulled into the driveway of her one-story ranch-style house. There were toys in the front yard, and the water hose hadn’t been put away. Sonny also saw the lights on, and he spotted Amy preparing the dinner table.

She’d waited for him. She hadn’t started dinner without him, and that touched him. He got out and was looking down at his choice of clothing when the door was flung open.

His sister smiled at him. “Sonny Bunny!”

She must have spotted him through the window and raced to the door. She flung herself at him, squeezing him tightly. “I’ve missed you so much.”

He’d missed her too. Sonny held her tightly, inhaling her scent, feeling as if he’d been thrown back in time to when he used to visit all the time. Before his life had fallen apart.

She released him and took a step back. “You look so good,” she said. “You’re practically glowing. I’m so glad you… Well, I’m glad you’re okay now.”

“Clean for nearly eight months,” he said with a huge smile.

“I’m so proud of you.” She slapped his arm. “But enough of that. Come on inside and—” She frowned as she looked past Sonny. “Who’s that in the car?”

Crap. Sonny had been hoping to make it inside without anyone noticing Amon. “He’s uh…he’s…”

Amon stepped out of the car and joined them, extending his hand. Sonny was grateful to see the guy had removed his sunglasses, but now he had to look at Amon’s gorgeous brown eyes. “I’m Amon. Sonny’s sponsor.”

Amy glanced at Sonny. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Sonny was going to kill Amon. “He’s bullshitting you, Amy. He’s a friend with a warped sense of humor.” Sonny turned, making sure his sister couldn’t see him, and glared at Amon.

“Oh, I wasn’t aware you were bringing a friend. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Last minute,” Sonny grumbled.

“Come inside.” Amy began walking toward the door. “The kids are dying to see Uncle Bunny.”

One of Amon’s brows hiked.

“I’m going to kill you for that,” Sonny said in a heated whisper. “My sponsor? Really?”

“You seemed at a loss as to how to explain me,” Amon said matter-of-factly. “I was just drawing from your past to help you.”

“Please stop helping me before Amy and her husband decide to throw me into rehab.” Sonny stormed toward the front door. “No more helping me out.”

“I heard you the first time.” Amon followed him into the house.

ADULT EXCERPT

“You’re just pissy because you can only drink one thing your entire life. No variety.”

“All blood doesn’t taste the same.”

Sonny frowned. It never dawned on him that blood tasted different because he’d never thought about it before now. “Really?”

Amon shrugged as he stretched his longs legs out in front of him. Sonny slid his gaze up Amon’s body, wondering what it would be like to climb onto the man’s lap and kiss him until neither of them could breathe. “I can tell when someone takes care of themselves or if they’re sick. I can also tell if they have a high-fat diet.”

Sonny wrinkled his nose. “Gross.”

Amon winked. “Actually, fatty blood is quite delicious. It has more flavor.”

“You’re going to make me sick.”

“From eating leaves?” Amon muttered. “Eat some of that fried chicken you make for Andrew.”

Was Amon suggesting, in a roundabout way, that he wanted to drink from Sonny? It wasn’t an unappealing idea. Sonny had stopped offering a vein to the other coven members because he hadn’t wanted to replace one high for another.

But the thought of feeding Amon turned Sonny on. “I don’t think I’ll ever eat another piece of fried chicken again. Not because Andrew wants it all the time, but because of the things he does to it.” Sonny shuddered. “He smothers it with cottage cheese.”

“That’s not normal?” Amon asked, looking genuinely curious.

“God no.” Sonny would never tell Andrew how disgusting it looked when he did that, because he didn’t want to offend him, but it was totally gross. He pursed his lips. “It would be like adding cranberry juice to whatever blood you wanted to drink.”

Amon screwed his face up then blanched. “I get your point.”

Sonny wasn’t sure Amon did, since he doubted the vampire knew what cranberry juice tasted like, but he let the subject drop. He was too busy stealing glances at Amon while he ate, barely tasting his food as wicked thoughts played in his mind.

Thoughts of stripping naked and bending over, offering himself to the guy.

How long had it been since he’d been laid? He’d been working for Eleazar for nearly eight months. He and Bruce hadn’t had sex two months before that. Sonny was horny, plain and simple. He bit his lower lip, trying his best not to openly stare, but it was like trying not to look at a car crash. Your gaze kept straying there, even if you didn’t want it to.

Before Sonny knew what was happening, Amon moved lightning fast, yanking Sonny onto his lap. Sonny’s salad dropped to the floor, making a mess, but all he could do was stare into Amon’s pretty brown eyes.

“What’re you doing?”

Amon leaned in, his lips hovering just inches away from Sonny’s own.

“I think you know exactly what I’m doing,” Amon whispered, his eyes fixed on Sonny’s lips. With a sudden move, he closed the distance between them, pressing his mouth against Sonny’s hungrily.

Sweet baby Jesus. Sonny was a goner. Amon kissed like a dream, and Sonny was powerless to pull away. The kiss was like nothing Sonny had ever experienced before. Amon’s tongue danced against his lips, seeking entrance, and Sonny eagerly parted them, inviting him in. Their tongues twisted together, tasting each other in a fierce, passionate kiss.

Amon cupped Sonny’s face, his thumbs drawing circles on Sonny’s skin as he took control, making Sonny dizzy with need. Amon’s grip on him tightened. It was almost suffocating, but Sonny didn’t care. After months of wanting, he was finally in Amon’s arms.

When they pulled apart, Sonny was panting.

“Tell me what you want, Sonny,” Amon whispered. “Do you want me to take you right here, right now?”

Sonny’s mind was racing, his heart thumping wildly. He had dreamed of this moment for so long, but now that it was happening, he was almost too scared to act. But then Amon’s hands were on the hem of Sonny’s shirt, tugging it up and over his head, and Sonny knew there was no going back.

That still didn’t take away the fear. “Amon.” Sonny swallowed roughly.

“I know.” Amon caressed his cheek. “I know what you’ve been through, sweetheart. I know the pain you’ve suffered. I know you’re afraid to be vulnerable again. If you give me your trust, I promise to cradle it carefully in my hands.”

Oh hell. How was Sonny supposed to fight against that? Did he even want to?

“Yes,” Sonny breathed, his hands fumbling with the buttons on Amon’s shirt. “I want you to take me.”

Amon’s mouth found Sonny’s neck, his teeth grazing the soft skin. Sonny moaned as Amon sucked on his skin, leaving a trail of hot kisses down his chest. Amon’s fingers found Sonny’s waistband, undoing the buttons on his pants. Sonny’s breathing was ragged as he lifted his hips, allowing Amon to pull his jeans down.

Then Amon carried him over to the bed and laid him down gently, kissing him deeply as he stripped off the rest of Sonny’s clothes. Sonny gasped as Amon’s warm hands slid over his skin, cupping his balls and stroking his cock until he was writhing with pleasure.

“You’re so beautiful,” Amon murmured, trailing kisses down Sonny’s chest. He licked and nibbled at Sonny’s nipples, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through his body.

Sonny arched his back, pushing his chest up for more. “Please, Amon, I need you.”

“You have me.”

Amon pushed Sonny’s legs apart, settling between them and then engulfed Sonny’s cock.

“Holy fuck!” Sonny cried out as his fingers gripped Amon’s silky hair.

Amon slipped two fingers inside Sonny as his mouth moved, sending pleasure coursing through Sonny’s body. Sonny moved with him, trying to get even closer, desperate to come.

Amon looked up at him, a fire in his eyes that Sonny knew was reflected in his own. It was the most erotic sight Sonny had ever seen.

Amon licked, sucked, and nibbled his cock until Sonny was shaking with pleasure. When Sonny was about to come, Amon pulled back and whispered, “Do you want me to drink from you?”

It was as if Amon had been reading his mind. Sonny waffled for only a moment before he nodded.