STORY EXCERPT

Sucking in a lungful of confidence, Bryson stepped out of his truck. He hoisted his waistband up, nodded, and then moved toward the door.

 The noise level was pretty low when he stepped inside. It was still early, though, and not too many people were in the place. He spotted Jack—Noah’s father—in a back booth with a couple of other older gentleman.

The old-timer looked like he was enjoying himself. His grin was wide and his eyes sparkled with merriment as he spoke to the men seated around him.

The television was on, the sound so low that Bryson couldn’t hear it. His boots crunched over peanut shells as he stepped further into the tavern.

He did a quick scan of the place and his heart sank when he didn’t spot Milo anywhere. A part of him was relieved.

A small part.

On one hand, Bryson wanted to talk to Milo, but on the other hand, he couldn’t get his stomach to settle down long enough to gather a clear thought. His nerves were stretched tight at the prospect of seeing the waiter.

“Wuz up?” Clayton said as he walked down the length of the bar. Clayton Calabria and Harland Macy were co-owners of this bar. It meant Bryson could drink for free—not that he took advantage of that fact.

“Nothing.” Bryson scooted onto a stool and relaxed his elbows on the counter. “How are things going tonight?”

“Slow, slow,” Clayton answered. “But it’s only Wednesday.”

Though Bryson loved his friend dearly, he wasn’t interested in shooting the breeze. He wanted to talk to Milo but wasn’t going to ask if the waiter was around anywhere. If Clayton got wind that Bryson liked the human, the man would try to play matchmaker.

That was the last thing Bryson wanted. Clayton couldn’t match a bird to a nest. The guy sucked when it came to helping others with their love lives, a fact that had been proven when he tried to help Jed and Noah resolve their difference when the two had first started dating.

Clayton had locked the two men in a cabin, hoping Jed and Noah worked out their problems.

The two men had ended up parting ways. Of course, later they’d gotten back together, but it had been no thanks to Clayton’s meddling.

Bryson was the last of the men on the Triple-B ranch to find his mate. Although he was on the lookout for any scent that would give him a clue, he caught glimpses of pity from his friends.

It angered Bryson that they felt he was unhappy just because he was single. The other men tried not to show affection to their mates when Bryson was around, as if he’d go off the deep end because he didn’t have anyone to cuddle with.

What a crock of shit.

But he tried his best not to hold it against any of them. He understood their intentions were good—if a bit irritating.

“You’re late!” Clayton shouted toward the door.

Bryson turned on his stool to see Milo rushing in, his red hair standing on end and his shirt half-buttoned. He had a tattered yellow backpack slung over his back and an apologetic expression in his emerald-green eyes. When Milo gazed Bryson’s way, the human stumbled forward, nearly falling on his face.

“I’m sorry,” Milo said as he recovered. His fingers clutched the strap over his shoulder just a bit tighter as his eyes swung from Bryson to Clayton. “I had to take my cat to the vet.”

“Is he sick?” Clayton asked.

Milo’s fiery red eyebrows dipped together, the skin between his eyes creasing. “No, no. She’s pregnant and I could have sworn she was meowing because she was in labor. Turns out, she just had gas.”

Clayton chucked his thumb toward the back hallway. “Just go clock in.” He turned toward Bryson as he slowly shook his head. “Guy’s a bit strange, but a hell of a worker.” Clayton scratched at his neck. “Though he is a bit of a klutz.”

Bryson grabbed a handful of pretzels from a bowl on the bar and tossed a few into his mouth. Now that Milo was here, Bryson’s heart was beating a little faster.

He wasn’t sure if he could go through with this.

What if Milo rejected him?

Bryson jerked from his stool when Milo rushed from the back, tripped, and landed on his ass. He started to go see if the guy was okay, but Milo sprang to his feet, glanced around, and then hurried over toward the booths.

Clayton leaned against the back shelf, his lips twisted to one side as he shook his head. “I swear, if he keeps that up, I’ll be paying workers’ comp.”

Bryson sat down, his back to Clayton. He rested his arms on the counter as he watched Milo take orders, clear tables, and try his best to stay upright. He was a walking disaster and Bryson couldn’t be more smitten.

ADULT EXCERPT

He backed Milo up until there was nowhere for the man to go. Milo’s back pressed into the wall as Bryson placed a hand on each side of the human’s head. He dipped his head, kissing Milo with all the pent-up emotions that were swirling inside of him.

Milo groaned into his mouth, slipping his hands around Bryson’s neck, pulling Bryson closer. He could see now that with Milo, Bryson had to act, not talk. He would have to show Milo exactly what he wanted.

There was no denying there was something between them. Bryson could feel it, even if he had doubted what they were getting themselves into. There was a small bond growing.

Milo hitched a leg onto Bryson’s waist, grinding himself into Bryson. This only made Bryson hotter. He wanted Milo. He wanted to see the man naked, thrashing underneath him as Bryson took him.

Without breaking the kiss, Bryson grabbed Milo and lifted the man until Milo could do nothing more than wrap his legs around Bryson’s waist.

He walked out of the dining room and raced upstairs before Milo realized what he was doing. Bryson kicked the door closed behind him and then went directly to the bed, laying Milo out. He climbed over the man, deepening the kiss.

When he finally pulled back, Milo’s eyes were glazed. “I want you, Milo.”

Bryson had never wanted anyone this much in his life. With a groan, he pulled closer until their chests crushed together. His hands slid up Milo’s arms and then up his neck until he cupped Milo’s face. “God, you smell so damn good.”

Then he lowered his mouth once again. Just before their lips touched, he heard a swift intake of breath. Kissing Milo was the most pleasurable sensation he’d ever felt—aside from the man’s body pressed against his.

Bryson groaned when Milo brushed his tongue across his and then sighed as Bryson tenderly probed Milo’s mouth. Milo’s eyes were dreamy when he pulled his head back and whispered, “Make love to me.”

Fire blazed inside Bryson as he reached between them and unsnapped Milo’s pants. He hated to break their connection, but he needed room to undress the man. Bryson stood there for a moment, gazing down at Milo.

The man was stunning.

His red hair stood out in contrast to Bryson’s cream-colored blanket. He looked like a siren, calling Bryson to him.

His hands trembled when he reached for the waistband of Milo’s pants, anticipating how his soon-to-be lover would look without a stitch of clothing on.

He had his answer soon enough. Once he undressed Milo, Bryson gazed at the man’s pale flesh. His nostrils flared with the effort of his breathing.

“Don’t just stand there.” Milo smiled up at him. “Do something.”

A flicker of recollection shot through Bryson’s mind, but it flashed by too quickly for him to grasp it. He was supposed to warn Milo about something, he just couldn’t remember what as he gazed at perfection.

He shoved his own pants down his legs, baring himself. Milo’s green eyes filled with heat as Bryson’s erection sprang free.

Milo twisted on the bed and then crawled over to where Bryson was standing, taking Bryson’s cock into his mouth. He hissed, his legs shaking as he stood there while Milo swallowed him.

Using the only brain cell that was currently working, Bryson pulled his shirt free and tossed it aside before he grabbed a handful of Milo’s hair, thrusting in short bursts. Fiery hot pleasure raced through his veins. He hissed and groaned as Milo licked and sucked his throbbing erection.

Milo’s mouth was heaven.

Bryson’s eyes dropped to the man’s ass and he felt his cock growing harder. The pale globes were perfectly rounded, waiting for Bryson to tease and lick them.

His canines began to lengthen and he felt his eyes shifting to bear. His fingers tightened in Milo’s hair. A throaty moan that was more like a growl ripped from his throat. Bryson watched his cock slip in and out of Milo’s mouth. His balls drew up tight as his body began to quiver.

Milo grabbed Bryson’s cock, sliding it from his mouth before using his lips to suck from base to tip, and then he swallowed it again.

His teeth gnashed together as an electrical storm shot up his spine. Bryson shouted as his climax crested and then tore him apart.

He came down Milo’s throat as he jerked his hips, his fingers strangling the man’s hair.

Milo pulled back, licking his lips as he smiled up at Bryson. “Was that the more you had in mind?”

“Not even close.” Bryson growled as he snatched the drawer to his nightstand open and grabbed the lube. Their kiss was sloppy as hell as Milo fell back on the mattress. Bryson finished undressing before he dropped the lube on the bed and grabbed Milo’s jaw, nipping the man’s chin.

“How much more do you want?” Milo teased as he grabbed his own erection, stroking himself.

Bryson positioned himself between Milo’s legs, running his finger through the fiery red thatch of hair. “So you are a real redhead.”

“All natural,” Milo said, though he moaned the words.

Bryson backed off long enough to lube his fingers before moving back in.

“Let me take care of that for you,” Bryson said as he licked the base of Milo’s cock. Milo led the tip of his erection to Bryson’s lips as Bryson worked his fingers into Milo’s ass.