STORY EXCERPT

Camden needed nourishment for the psychic body as well as the emotional one, and he was more than willing to give him both.

When he returned with the tea, Camden was padding back into his spacious pastel purple and pink bedroom. The sleigh bed was simply carved, and a little canopy was gathered just above the headboard.

Matt handed him the bottle of capsules. “Take two of those. They’ll help replenish your energy.”

Camden looked at the bottle. “Where did you get these?”

“Psy pharmacist.” He smiled.

“Date says you got them today.”  

“So what, Cam?” he asked, a hint of confusion in his tone. “I figured you were at the hospital when I called you and you didn’t answer.”

“How’d you even get my number?” he demanded.

“I’m a cop,” he said patiently with a shrug. “When I left you, I went to see a source, and the apartment complex she lived in was on fire. Not all of it, just the block where she lived. When I realized there were casualties, I called to see if you’d been called in.”

“I called the hospital and you were there, so I went to get those for you. I figured you might be depleted. I just wanted to help,” Matt said.

Camden blinked. The big guy was so sexy standing there looking just this side of wounded that Camden felt like a heel. Matt had gone out of his way to take care of him, and honestly, he’d meant to stop and pick up some of those handy capsules himself. He heard they worked great for color healers by putting back vital energies that strengthened the chakras and got the healing batteries ready to go again sooner than the energy waters alone.

But he still had to wonder why this man would go out of his way to help him let alone take care of him. He’d leave that discussion for another time, he decided and shook two of the caps out and screwed the cap back on. He took the tea. “Thanks.”

While he was washing the capsules down, Matt turned back the purple comforter of the queen-size bed, revealing red Egyptian cotton sheets. “In.” He took the glass Camden was just holding as he watched him with a stunned look on his face.

Camden didn’t argue. He was nearly dead on his feet. He lay back with a soft sigh. “Thanks for the caps and for catching me even though I would have managed not to fall.”

Matt snorted. “Some thanks that is,” he retorted as he kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed next to him. He fluffed the pillows and leaned back against them in a half-reclining position. “Are you okay?”

“I lost two patients,” he answered, starting to tear up at once as images of the little boy flitted through his mind. His little hands had been burned, and his arms had third-degree burns as did his chest. His lungs had been filled with smoke, and he’d been in a great deal of pain. He’d been able to stop the pain, but the boy had died from complications of his injuries.

“That does happen sometimes, Cam,” he said softly. “All you can do is your best.”

“One was a little three-year-old boy.” He told Matt of his struggles to save the child. Tears slid down his cheeks, and he gave up trying to hide his frustration and hurt.

“Shh.” Matt reached out and gathered Camden into arms. “Come here, baby.” He smoothed his hair.

“I tried so hard,” he said angrily, fists clenched against Matt’s chest. “I couldn’t pull him back. Then I had to try and save his father. I couldn’t save him either,” he wailed. “It hurts to fight so hard and not be able to hold them here, to have to tell their loved ones you couldn’t—couldn’t save them.”

Matt swallowed tightly above him, throat aching with tears as Camden cried into his chest.

* * * *

Camden woke several hours later and started. He was late, and perhaps just as importantly a hard chest was beneath his ear and hand. The one he’d assumed wouldn’t stay. Yet here he was still holding him tight, and Camden felt as if he mattered just a little. Matt was one surprise after the other.

“Cam.” Matt’s fingers pushed into the hair at the base of Camden’s neck. “Relax, baby, you’ve got time. It’s just ten-thirty.”

He tensed, not so sure how to handle this. He wanted Matt in his bed and his life, but what would the cost be? He wasn’t interested in being with a man who’d always be leaving him behind the way his family had.

He’d devoted most of his life to healing and was ready to slow the pace for a romantic life, but not one that would break his heart. Even through all the years of work, Camden had hoped to meet a man he was excited to go home to, and a child or two as well. However, there had been no time and no one special enough to even consider working on a family let alone a real life with. He’d been waiting, saving himself he supposed for Mr. Right. He knew that was silly and was starting to give up on the dream. He’d resolved himself to the fact that he’d have to settle for Mr. Comfortable at some point and shelve his dreams of all-encompassing passion and foot-popping kisses.

The man next to him had made him remember what he’d wanted, but he was certain the only thing he was getting here was a good time. Camden wasn’t sure he wanted to settle for that because he needed more.

Camden chanced a look up at Matt. He couldn’t tell what he was thinking, and at this moment he wanted to know very badly.

Matt leaned toward him, tugging Camden’s head back, using his hold on his hair. He brushed his lips over the younger male’s then lifted his head to study his expression. “I want to see you tonight.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Matt went to him and stroked his hand between Camden’s thighs and Camden gasped. “What a hard little jewel,” he purred and cupped Camden’s erection. “You may as well not have anything on. Were you going to offer to go down on me, too?”

“Don’t be such a jerk,” he said, reaching to push Matt’s hand away. So why didn’t he? Because he wanted his touch, craved it like he craved the air.

Matt stroked his hand down inside Camden’s underwear and Camden groaned. “Since when is groping a fag a straight man’s—” He was cut off by Matt’s lips covering his. “Mmm.” Matt’s hand clamped behind his head, drawing Cam closer as his tongue greedily plundered his hot mouth.

The explosion of his sweet taste on his tongue blew him away. The same sensuality that created pheromones, the unique smell, had created the sweet and unique taste filling his mouth. He pulled Camden roughly against him and stroked his hand down to his ass and back up to the hearts.

Matt scraped them lightly with his nails. He’d heard about the intense reaction a mate had when the mark was touched. He was eager to find out if it was true. He didn’t have to wait long. Camden made a noise as he arched up into his hold.

His.

This man was his for eternity.

Matt continued to stroke the hearts and felt the ripple of energy that tore through Camden, saw it in the widening of his eyes. He strokes grew firmer, and Camden exhaled roughly. His hips jerked.

“Oh, God,” Camden breathed and then made a sound of frustration when Matt stepped back. Matt dropped onto the sofa. “Come here, Cam,” he urged in soft tone. “Come stroke that hot little body against me.”

* * * *

He didn’t know what was happening, but he knew he couldn’t stop himself from going to the beautiful man sitting on his sofa. Matt’s eyes were dark chocolate as they fixed him. Lust spilled from them, hot and wild, making the fire in him hotter. His heart was pounding, but not just from the arousal. A little fear raced through him, making him slightly wary, but it didn’t stop him from taking that step.

Camden straddled him, allowing his body to glide into place, bringing his erection into contact with Matt’s. A shiver traced through him.

What the hell was he doing? He didn’t care that he could get hurt or that that Matt was probably just teasing. He just wanted to be close to him for even a minute. He wanted to make him curious about what he could have.

“That’s it, baby,” Matt crooned as he reached up to stroke the pads of his fingers over the younger male’s face. He pushed his fingers into Camden’s lush curls. “You’re so pretty, Cam.” He tugged Camden’s head back and lowered his head to feather kisses along the graceful column of his throat. “And soft.” He lightly nibbled over the male’s throat before kissing to his chin.

Their eyes held, and Camden’s breath lodged in his throat. His heart beat like a jackhammer. This man was a heartache in the making. “What beautiful eyes you have,” he said, and when Camden opened his mouth to reply he kissed him.

Camden moaned into the kiss and wound his arms around Matt’s neck as he gave himself up to the kiss. It was slow and lazy then demanding and hot. Tongues licked, glided together, and sucked while hands stroked and caressed.

He pushed his hands inside Camden’s shirt and stroked them up his back and down to cup his ass. He squeezed and gave the firm globes a light tap, and a tremor rippled through Camden that made him tremble.

“Matt,” he said on a breathless plea. He wanted more. He couldn’t get close enough. There were too many clothes between them, and his cock ached and throbbed in his briefs so bad. He needed release in the worst way, and without thought, he began humping against the thick wedge pressed against his own. The friction was incredible enough to make him cry out.

Matt deepened the kiss, and Camden put his hands on the back of the sofa and began dry-humping him in earnest. Damn, it felt so good he could cry. The only thing better would have been having this man inside him.

“Oh, fuck. I’m gonna come.” He groaned. “Oh, God. Yes.”

Matt’s response was to nip his neck and grind up against him.

“Ahh!” The explosion was a delicate one that left him barely satisfied and craving a deep, hard penetration. Camden met his gaze, his face flushed. “No straight man kisses that good,” Camden said, then laughed as the embarrassment showed in his face.

“No?” He brushed Camden’s hair back from his face. “I never said I was straight.” He kissed the corner of Camden’s mouth then lifted him off of him and set him on the sofa. He got to his feet and pulled his phone from his pocket and looked at the display. “I have to get to work, Cam,” he said. “Case is important. I’ll see later.”

Camden got to his feet with a frown and hurried after him. “You didn’t stop making out with me because of work,” he accused. “So if you’re gay, then what is it about me that turns you off?” he demanded. He knew he sounded like a whiny little boy, but how else would he know if he didn’t ask?

Matt stopped at the door and turned to face him. His gaze slid down, taking in the open shirt revealing Camden’s more intimate apparel. “I have to meet someone connected with this case,” he admitted. “If I didn’t have to work, I’d give you all six inches of this”—he cupped his still full and aching cock through his pants—“up that perfect little ass of yours.”