STORY EXCERPT

Jed parked his truck on the side of the gas station he’d just purchased from the county. The place used to belong to Stork, but the man had lost it due to owing so many back taxes. Leroy Mason, a local attorney, had approached Jed about buying this place since he and Jed went way back. Leroy had given Jed a heads-up before the place actually went on sale.

He frowned when a small blue Nissan pulled into the station and parked by the pumps. Jed wasn’t expecting anyone here. Hell, he’d just gotten the keys today.

When Noah Cross climbed out of the car, Jed knew his day was about to get complicated. Noah was a waiter at Pheasant Run Café and had been after Jed for months about a date.

“Hey,” Noah said with a bright smile as he shoved his hands into his back pockets. “Leroy told me you’d be here today.”

Jed was going to have to thank Leroy for having loose lips. “I’m not ready for business yet. So if you need gas you’ll have to drive to Burgenstine until I’m officially open.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Noah stuck a finger in the air as if testing for wind direction, only the finger was directly in front of the man’s skinny chest and tilted sideways. “I have a business proposition for you.”

Jed just bet the man did. He didn’t trust that easy smile one bit. He gripped the keys in his hand a little harder as he shook his head. “I think I’ve done enough business for one day.”

Noah hurried in front of Jed when Jed tried to walk around him. The human held his hands up, stopping Jed from taking another step. “Just hear me out.”

Jed tried not to inhale. Noah smelled like wildness and passion, things he could never allow himself to indulge in. The human was Jed’s ultimate temptation. He hardened his resolve, pushing away any thoughts of indulging Noah in anything, let alone some proposition. “I don’t have time for this.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed slightly as his shoulders stiffened in a defiant way that had Jed’s pulse racing a little faster. “But you didn’t even hear what I have to say.”

Noah was a sensual male who didn’t even know it. The man seemed oblivious to what he was doing to Jed. It wasn’t easy turning the man down. To his chagrin, Jed felt something strange stirring inside of him whenever he laid eyes on the stunning man.

“Five minutes.” He shouldn’t even give Noah that much time. Not when the man made Jed hungry in ways he didn’t even want to think about.

Noah’s smile was so wicked that Jed couldn’t look away.

“I can help you get this place in order, and in exchange, you can give me a job.” Noah looked pleased with himself as the sun reflected off of the man’s pale-blue eyes.

“Not a chance.” Jed was not going to have this little temptation around him every single day. He’d never get any work done. “Besides, you already have a job.”

Noah chuckled and Jed felt the stroke of laughter deep inside where no one should have been able to reach. Without conscious intent, Jed found himself moving closer. He ground his teeth when he realized what he was doing and then took a few steps back.

“I have a job as a waiter, but my dad taught me a lot about cars. I could be a big help around here. All I’m asking is that you give me a chance, Jed.”

Jed turned away at the sound of his name on the man’s lips, but not before he saw the hopeful look on Noah’s face. Jed felt himself nodding faintly before he caught what he was doing. “I don’t need any help, Noah.”

“But you do,” Noah argued. “I’ve seen how busy this place can get. There’s no way you can keep up all by yourself.” Noah placed his hand on Jed’s arm and the one touch set Jed’s blood on fire. “Please, just give me a chance.”

A flash of memory scorched through Jed’s mind. He was propelled momentarily back into time, to a place he didn’t want to go, a place he never wanted to be again. Jed had sworn to himself that he would never allow anyone to get close to him again, not like that. Not in an intimate way. Having his heart ripped out once was enough to last him a lifetime.

ADULT EXCERPT

Jed tried to convince himself that he could have sex with Noah without getting his feelings involved. He’d told himself this as he watched the human drive toward the bar. He had hung around the station after he’d left, just to see where Noah would go.

Stalking? Maybe. But he was determined to prove to himself that he could have uncomplicated sex with the guy, no strings attached. He’d had plenty of sex before without getting romantically involved. Why should this be any different? A quick roll in the hay, that’s all.

Jed pulled them further up the truck bed until they were completely inside before unsnapping Noah’s pants. The human was responsive, moaning as he kissed Jed more deeply.

This was what Jed wanted. Sex. That was it. Nothing more. But his bear was growling in approval as Jed freed Noah’s cock and then moved lower until he could suck the hard cock into his mouth. As he licked the steel shaft, he worked Noah’s pants down the man’s legs until the material was gathered at the guy’s ankles.

Jed hummed around the erection as he palmed the man’s sac, his own cock so hard that he felt like he was going to explode. That scent. Once again the aroma of wildness and passion filled him and Jed’s canines threatened to elongate. Noah tasted even better than Jed had imagined he would. It was a mixture of salty and tangy, a bitter combination that had him salivating for more.

Noah’s hands clamped down on Jed’s head, his fingers combing through the short strands of hair as Jed swallowed the man repeatedly. He used his tongue to swirl around the hard cock, licking at the head to draw in the pre-cum.

“Not like this,” Noah begged breathlessly as he pushed at Jed’s head. “Fuck me, Jed. Please.”

Without a word, Jed flipped Noah to his hands and knees and then pulled his own cock free. He took a packet of lube out of his front pocket—he’d been hoping for something like this—and lathered his dick. He shoved his lubed fingers deep into Noah’s ass, scissoring them as Noah cried out. The sound filled the night around them, adding to the already-heated air. Thankfully the noise from the bar would prevent anyone from hearing Noah.

But those sounds…

Jed fought not to care what the man felt. He fought not to care how much pleasure he was bringing the guy or how much he truly enjoyed making Noah cry out for him.

Jed just fought not to…

His eyes flickered to the bar to make sure no one came out. Although he wanted Noah out here in the open, he wasn’t willing to put on a show for everyone.

Noah lowered his shoulders to the bed and Jed smoothed his hand up the man’s back. Flawless. God, what was he getting himself into? Could he have sex with Noah and not feel anything toward the man? Had he been fooling himself?

“Jed, please,” Noah began to beg once more. The man swiveled his hips and threw his head back, letting out a deep groan. Jed was momentarily mesmerized by the sight and sound. Noah was like a siren, a wood nymph who was pulling Jed in deeper than he wanted to go.

Removing his fingers, Jed positioned his cock and drove home—trying his best to rid himself of the image, the feeling, the need to have someone to call his own.

He stilled, panting at the tightness surrounding his cock. The urge to slow down and be gentle with Noah consumed him, but Jed pushed past those soft feelings and began a rhythm that had them both grunting and sweaty. He gripped the man’s hips, pounding into the giving flesh as his canines began to grow.

Something inside him tried to reach out to Noah, but Jed wouldn’t allow those feelings to emerge. This was just fucking. He wasn’t going to care.

He couldn’t let that happen. His heart had already been torn to shreds once in his life. Jed wasn’t going to give anyone else the opportunity to hurt him again. But as he fucked Noah, Jed could feel himself slowing, his moves becoming gentle. He leaned over the man, kissing his shoulder, nipping at the human’s tender flesh.

Jed placed his arms on either side of Noah’s head and the human entwined their fingers together. Jed couldn’t find it in himself to pull away. He should. He really should. But he couldn’t.

“Jed,” Noah whispered. “God, Jed.”

Hearing his name on the man’s lips while he fucked the guy tore at him. Jed closed his eyes, snapping his hips as he fought the maelstrom of emotions raging through him.

Don’t you dare start caring about him. It will only lead to heartache.