STORY EXCERPT

Zayde finished up his shift at the vet clinic and headed home to get ready for his date with Denali. After his shower, he nervously fidgeted with his clothes, not sure what to wear to impress the rugged man. He settled on a simple but stylish outfit, hoping that Denali liked it. Charcoal gray pants and a burgundy button-down shirt was good enough, right?

Then he called the guy.

“Davis.”

Oh right. That was Denali’s last name. “It’s Zayde.”

“Hey, Zayde.” The way Denali said his name made Zayde’s dick hard. “Are we still on, or are you calling to cancel?”

“We’re still on,” Zayde said. “I just wanted to let you know I was ready. Where do you want to meet?”

“First dates should always start with coffee,” Denali said.

Zayde knew about that rule. Coffee was a short date, giving either person a chance to leave if the date wasn’t going well. He appreciated Denali’s thoughtfulness. “Okay.”

“Bluebird Café?” Denali said, his voice rich and smooth. “Twenty minutes?”

“Sure. I’ll see you there.” When Zayde hung up, he looked down at his clothes and groaned. He was way overdressed for a café, so he quickly changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a collared shirt. Then he pulled on his Converse Allstar sneakers.

Now he was ready.

Zayde made it to Bluebird in ten minutes and found Denali already there, waiting outside for him.

“Hey there,” Denali said, walking up to Zayde and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “You look great.”

And Denali looked good enough to eat. He had on a pair of Affliction jeans that had rips in the front and designer pockets on the back. Zayde had always wanted a pair of those, but he was balling on a budget.

Denali was also wearing a tight black T-shirt that showed off his toned chest and tattoo sleeves. Denali even had ink on his neck, and now Zayde wanted to know how many more tattoos Denali had.

 “Let’s head inside.” Denali opened the door for him, and Zayde walked through, secretly sniffing the guy’s cologne, which smelled like smoky wood and leather. Zayde could sniff that scent all day.

“Hey, Ajax,” Denali said when he stepped inside.

Zayde had been in Midnight Falls for six months, but he’d yet to visit the café. Ajax’s dark blond hair was swept back, almost like he’d been riding a motorcycle with no helmet and his hair had kept that wind-blown look.

He also had the darkest gray eyes Zayde had ever seen. Zayde noticed that Ajax had tattoo sleeves as well and one on the side of his neck—though he couldn’t make out what the tattoo was—and since his buttoned-up shirt was open at the neck, Zayde also saw some ink on his chest.

Ajax did not look like someone who served coffee and muffins. He looked like he should be a pro wrestler or the manager of a wrestler. But weirdly enough, he also looked polished.

“This is Zayde,” Denali said.

Ajax smiled at him. “Hey, Zayde.”

“Hi.” Zayde shoved his hands into his front pockets, feeling awkward. “What smells so good?”

“That’s either my apricot cheesecake bars or my rum cake.” He winked. “Want to sample both?”

“Yes!” Zayde curled his lips in and cleared his throat. “I mean yes.”

Denali chuckled. “Looks like you have another fan, Ajax.”

“I always win them over.” Ajax plated a large slice of rum cake and added two apricot cheesecake bars. “Want anything to drink?”

Zayde looked at the chalkboard behind the counter with neat scrawling. If Ajax had written that, he had amazing penmanship. “An iced caramel brulé sounds good.”

“I’ll have the same,” Denali said.

“Coming right up. Go have a seat on the patio and I’ll bring your drinks to you.”

Zayde turned, looking at the interior. It was a cute little café with lumpy couches and overstuffed chairs scattered about, all just waiting for someone to sink into them. On one wall was a large stone fireplace, but it sat empty since it was so warm outside.

The patio was inviting, the string lights twinkling in the daylight. Unlit candles in mason jars were scattered across the tables, and the chairs held plump, comfortable cushions. There was a comforting sense of seclusion created by the tall wooden privacy fence at the back, shielding the patio from the view of the alleyway beyond.

 Zayde and Denali settled into a cozy corner table, enjoying the intimate atmosphere. Ajax soon arrived with their drinks and desserts, placing them on the table with a smile. Zayde couldn’t resist taking a bite of the rum cake, closing his eyes as the delicious flavor exploded in his mouth. He let out a moan of pleasure, and Denali chuckled.

“You really do make the best desserts in town, Ajax,” Denali said.

Ajax tipped his head in acknowledgement. “I try, but I think Sweet Spot has me beat.”

“Don’t even go there,” Denali said. “You know damn well you’re a genius in the kitchen.”

“I’ll take that compliment,” Ajax said before he walked back inside.

Zayde had been to Sweet Spot. It was a local bakery that served the best desserts, but he wasn’t going to tell Ajax that. The guy looked like he could pulverize Zayde with one arm tied behind his back and eating a sandwich with the other hand.

But he had to admit the rum cake was now his favorite. Zayde took a sip of his iced caramel brulé, savoring the sweet and creamy taste. He felt relaxed as he enjoyed the warm breeze and the tranquil ambiance that surrounded them.

“Thank you for taking me here,” Zayde said, sipping his brulé. “This place is beautiful.”

Denali’s lips curled into a smile. “I’m glad you like it. I’m a sucker for Ajax’s desserts.”

He watched as Denali leaned back in his chair, and the way his bicep flexed against the tight black T-shirt made Zayde’s mouth go dry. He cleared his throat. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a deputy.”

Zayde’s jaw dropped. “You’re a cop?”

“Why do you look so surprised?”

Zayde shrugged, feeling embarrassed. “I don’t know. You just… don’t look like a cop.”

Denali chuckled. “What do cops look like?”

“I don’t know. More like… I don’t know. Less cool?” Zayde winced at how stupid he sounded.

ADULT EXCERPT

Denali got up and walked Sheriff Harper to the door. Zayde kept an eye on his mate, making sure Denali was steady on his feet. That part of the crisis was over, so now Zayde felt the panic taking hold. He got up and walked into the kitchen and gripped the edge of his counter.

Fuck. His chest hitched as he brought a shaky hand to his forehead. He felt himself shaking as tears welled up in his eyes. Then strong arms circled him from behind.

It was Denali, his mate, pulling him close and holding him tight. Zayde couldn’t help but sob. The relief of having Denali alive, safe, and with him was almost too much. He clung to Denali’s arms as if he were a lifeline, feeling every inch of his mate’s strong arms wrapped around him.

“It’s okay,” Denali whispered in his ear. “I'm here. We’re safe. It’s over for now.”

Zayde took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down, but the fear and worry were still there, bubbling under the surface. He didn’t know how he was going to sleep tonight, knowing that they were being targeted by demons. Even with a warrior around, he didn’t feel completely safe.

“What now?” Zayde asked, his voice shaking.

“We wait,” Denali said, rubbing soothing circles on his back. “We wait for the warrior to arrive, and we wait for Panahasi to come back. And then we fight if we have to. But for now, we rest, we eat, and we take care of each other.”

Zayde nodded, feeling a little better. He leaned back into Denali’s embrace, feeling safe and protected. He knew they had a long road ahead of them, but he was willing to face it with Denali by his side. They had only just met, but Zayde knew that he and Denali were meant to be.

Zayde turned in Denali’s arms and pressed his face against his mate’s chest. Denali stroked his hair, comforting him. It felt good to let go, to no longer be strong when all Zayde had wanted to do since Panahasi had retrieved him from the vet clinic was break down.

Denali kissed him, a tender kiss that slowly deepened. Zayde opened himself up to his mate, his need for him even stronger after what they’d just been through.

They stumbled backward until Denali’s back hit the kitchen counter. Zayde didn’t care about the bruises he knew would form on his hips from his mate’s grip. All that mattered was this moment with Denali, the closeness between them.

Denali pulled away to catch his breath. “Let’s take this to the bedroom.”

Zayde nodded, and Denali scooped him up, carrying him down the hall. Zayde wrapped his arms around Denali’s neck. When they entered the bedroom, Denali lay him down on the bed. He stripped off Zayde’s clothes, his gaze devouring every inch of Zayde’s body. Zayde shivered under his gaze, feeling exposed in the best possible way.

Denali’s hands were gentle yet firm as he explored Zayde’s body, teasing and tantalizing him until he was a quivering mess of need. Then Denali’s mouth descended on his, and Zayde forgot everything else. He became lost in the sensations, the pleasure coursing through his veins until he felt like he was going to burst.

As Denali’s mouth glided down Zayde’s body, leaving a trail of hot kisses and lingering love bites, Zayde gripped the sheets tightly. His body was alight with a hunger he had never felt before, a deep-seated desire that could only be fulfilled by this man before him.

Denali’s tongue glided over Zayde’s sensitive nipples, causing him to arch his back and moan loudly. He clutched at his mate’s broad shoulders, pulling him even closer.

With ease, Denali flipped Zayde over onto his stomach. Zayde’s breath caught in his throat as he felt his mate’s hands roam over his ass, kneading and caressing the sensitive flesh. He could feel the heat between his legs growing more intense by the second.

Denali spread Zayde’s cheeks apart and pressed his tongue against his entrance, eliciting a loud gasp from Zayde’s lips. The sensation was overwhelming, the pleasure so intense that Zayde felt his entire body tremble. Denali knew exactly what he was doing, and Zayde felt himself surrendering to his touch completely.

As Denali continued to pleasure him, Zayde was getting closer and closer to the edge. He began to grind his hips against the sheets, desperately seeking release. Then a finger slid into his ass. Holy fuck! Denali slid another finger inside Zayde’s ass then scissored them, sending Zayde ever closer to his release.

Finally, with one last thrust backward, he came, shuddering with ecstasy. He heard his mate rummaging around then the snick of the lube cap. Zayde shuddered, breathless, as his mate slicked his cock, tossed the bottle aside, then pulled Zayde’s hips up.

A heartbeat later, Denali was entering him. Zayde moaned and dug his fingers into the sheets, his body writhing beneath his mate’s touch. Denali blanketed Zayde’s back, and Zayde could feel Denali's warm breath on his neck as his mate whispered filthy words in his ear.

As he surrendered to the sensations, Zayde knew that Denali was more than a mate. He was the missing piece of Zayde’s soul, the one who made him whole. And as they moved together in perfect harmony, Zayde knew that he would never be alone again.

Denali’s touch was electric, sending waves of pleasure through Zayde’s body. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so alive, so consumed by desire. Already his cock was hard again, aching for another release as Denali punched his hips forward, purring softly behind him.