STORY EXCERPT

Honestly, Beast had a feeling Eleazar was just saying that to get them to do his dirty work. There probably wasn’t any threat.

“I’ll think about it,” Rayne finally said.

“Good. Now, if you don’t mind, the stench is overwhelming my senses.”

Beast watched as Eleazar turned and walked out of the building, followed by his men.

“Are we really going to spy for Eleazar?” Cable asked after the vampires were gone.

“Beast, I want you to keep an eye on Nelo,” Rayne said. “I don’t know if Eleazar is playing games, but if there really is a threat in our city, I want to stay on top of it.”

Beast wanted to argue, to say he wasn’t Eleazar’s lap dog, but he never disobeyed his alpha, even if the assignment sucked hairy balls. “You got it.”

“Come on, let’s get out of here,” Rayne said, his voice low and tense.

Beast fell into step behind him, the twins on his heels. He wasn’t looking forward to spying on Nelo, but he knew it was necessary. The thought of being anywhere near a vampire made his skin crawl, but he would do whatever it took to protect his pack and the city they loved.

His gut told him that things were about to get a lot more complicated, and he was ready for whatever came his way. As they made their way out of the abandoned building, Beast couldn’t help but wonder what kind of trouble they were getting themselves into. He knew one thing for sure though—he would kill any vampire who threatened him.

He jumped into his Charger and drove to Club Lure. It was a nightclub that catered to not only wolf shifters and vampires but humans, too. Nelo was known to frequent this club, and if Beast was going to become a spy, this was as good a place as any to start.

The bouncer at the door just nodded at him as Beast stepped inside. The lighting hurt his sensitive eyes, but Beast endured it as he looked around. The dance floor was crowded with people gyrating to the beat of the music, and the area over by the bar was packed. As Beast scanned the crowd, his gaze fell on someone familiar.

Marcus.

Elliot’s annoying cousin. Beast had to guard him one time, and the twink had been a pain in the ass. Beast wasn’t used to being around humans, even though two human mates lived with them. He’d grown up in a pack that didn’t believe in mixing with humans, so they stayed far away, living in a cave and remaining in their wolf forms most of the time. That had stunted Beast’s social skills, even among his birth pack.

As irritating as Marcus was, Beast observed the human’s hips moving on the dance floor and how he gracefully raised his arms to add more flair to his swaying. He let the beat consume him and allowed himself to be captivated by it. Marcus’s movements were undeniably alluring. 

Beast shook his head, trying to clear his mind of unwanted thoughts. He had a job to do and couldn’t afford any distractions. He scanned the crowd once again, searching for Nelo, but he was nowhere to be seen. Beast decided to head over to the bar and order a drink. He could use a stiff one right about now.

It wasn’t until Marcus took a break from the dance floor and made his way over to the bar that their eyes met.

“You,” Marcus said, his voice laced with annoyance. “What are you doing here?”

“Like I’d tell you.” Beast downed his whiskey and set the glass on the counter. “Don’t you have someone else to pester?”

“Not since you.” Marcus moved closer when someone came up to the bar, crowding the human.

Unsure why, Beast pulled Marcus toward him. It was pure instinct, maybe, but he didn’t want Marcus’s tiny frame crushed by rude partygoers. Someone moved in next to Marcus, knocking him into Beast’s chest. For a moment, Beast forgot why he was there, forgot about the assignment from Rayne, and simply stared down at Marcus, taking in the way his plump lips parted slightly as he tried to catch his breath.

“You don’t have to manhandle me,” Marcus said, his voice softening.

 Beast cleared his throat, heat rising in his cheeks. He released Marcus and took a step back, trying to regain his composure. “Just making sure you don’t get trampled.”

 “Right.” Marcus smirked and sipped his drink. Then he turned toward the stranger who’d just bumped into him. “Hey, asshole. Give a guy some room.”

The stranger narrowed his eye as he looked at Marcus. “What the fuck you just say to me?”

As short as Marcus was, he squared his shoulders with defiance. “You didn’t have to shove me.”

The guy turned fully toward Marcus, trying to seem intimidating. He had a slight build to him, pretty eyes, and a firm jaw, but he also seemed like a real jerk. “What’re you going to do about it?”

“Apologize,” Beast snarled.

The stranger glanced at him and all his badass melted away. “Yeah, sorry. It’s just crowded at the bar.”

Marcus turned his glare on Beast. “I don’t need you to defend me. I can take care of myself.”

“Right, because that guy wasn’t about to pound your face,” Beast snapped. “He was twice your size.”

Beast noticed the way Marcus’s eyes lingered on him before he turned away, and he couldn’t help but stare at the human’s ass as he walked away. He didn’t understand why he was so drawn to Marcus. Maybe it was the way he moved on the dance floor or the way he’d just stood up for himself, confident and unapologetic, refusing to be intimidated.

“You’re welcome,” Beast shouted at Marcus’s retreating form.

Without turning around, Marcus lifted his arm and flipped Beast off.

ADULT EXCERPT

He cleared his throat and pushed himself up off the couch. “I should really go to bed.” He took a step toward Beast, and the guy tensed, his gaze going to Marcus’s lips.

Marcus licked them, and Beast’s eyes snapped back up to his as he stood, like he was being chivalrous. “Goodnight.”

Stepping closer, Marcus went up on his toes because the wolf shifter was so tall, and Beast didn’t move away. Marcus leaned in, slowly, until their mouths were just a breath away, and then he paused. He wanted Beast to make the move, to show that he wanted this too.

Beast growled then surged forward and pressed his lips against Marcus’s. Marcus gasped then gave himself over, reveling in the neediness of the kiss. Beast cupped his face and their tongues tangled, exploring each other’s mouths leisurely.

Just as good as the last time, if not better.

When Beast pulled back, Marcus felt a sudden and irrational surge of panic that the guy was about to reject him. Beast stared at him for a moment, and then he smiled and his entire face lit up. “Don’t throw yourself at me if you don’t mean it,” he said gruffly.

Marcus gave Beast his most bratty smile. “Who said I didn’t mean it?”

Beast snorted then ran his thumb across Marcus’s bottom lip. “We’ll see,” he said. “You’re something else, you know that?”

Marcus grinned. “That’s what they tell me.” He felt like he was walking on clouds as he slid his hand around Beast’s nape. “So kiss me again.”

“With pleasure.”

Beast picked Marcus up, and Marcus instinctively curled his legs around the man’s waist. This was so much better, and he didn’t care if his cock was hard and tenting his underwear, because he felt Beast’s poking against his ass.

Beast dropped to the couch, taking Marcus down with him, neither breaking the seal their lips had against the other’s. But now that Marcus was straddling the guy, he felt Beast’s cock try to wedge between his cheeks through his boxers.

Marcus whimpered, and Beast growled softly, their kissing growing more frantic with each passing moment. Finally, Marcus pulled back, chest heaving.

“I think”—he panted—“we need to take this to the bedroom.”

Beast chuckled, the vibrations of his chest sending pleasurable sensations through Marcus’s body.

“Now that,” he said with a lopsided grin, “sounds like a plan.” Beast stood, bringing Marcus with him, and started walking toward Marcus’s bedroom. It was like riding on a mountain, muscles bulging and flexing as Beast walked, one hand under Marcus’s ass. “I just need to know which door is your bedroom.”

“Last one on the right.” Marcus nibbled at Beast’s neck, loving the natural scent of his skin. He couldn’t get enough as Beast squeezed his ass. They made it to the bedroom, and Marcus winced at how messy his room was.

He hadn’t planned on company when he’d left for the office. Clothes were scattered on his floor, shoes everywhere, and he had a plate of leftover pizza on his dresser from two nights ago. He normally wasn’t this messy, but he’d been so busy with not dying the night before that he hadn’t bothered to clean.

Beast didn’t seem to care as he slipped onto the bed, Marcus still clinging to him as Beast hovered over him. They started kissing again, this time taking it slower, their hands exploring and Marcus’s heart racing.

He was about to get laid by the hottest guy he’d ever met, and nothing else mattered in that moment.

Beast trailed his hands down Marcus’s sides, and Marcus gasped, eliciting a rumble from Beast’s chest. They were both breathing hard and Marcus felt the heat radiating off of them. He knew that if things kept going like this then there’d be no turning back.

Beast leaned down to kiss him again, and Marcus closed his eyes, lost in the moment. His heart beat faster, and it was as though his entire body was on fire. Everything seemed to be fading away—the world, his worries—until it was only him and Beast in their private little bubble.

He ran his fingertips over Beast’s broad chest, loving the way the other man’s body felt under his touch. “Flip onto your back.”

Luckily Beast didn’t ask why, because Marcus wasn’t sure if his brain was functioning enough right now for a conversation. When Beast did as Marcus asked, Marcus slipped down Beast’s body, leaving a trail of kisses before he reached the man’s hard cock.

The name Beast didn’t just apply to the guy’s name. He was packing a python. Marcus frowned as he tried to figure out how to fit the side of beef into his mouth.

“Just take what you can.” Beast stared down at him with heavy-lidded eyes.

Instead of taking Beast into his mouth, Marcus suckled the head, electing a hiss from the wolf shifter. He ran his tongue along the side, tracing the heavy vein, before he moved lower and mouthed Beast’s nuts.