STORY EXCERPT

“No?” Dino mocked, raising one of his brows.

All six-foot-plus of the huge werewolf made it hard for Martin to look away. Dino captivated his attention as if he didn’t care they weren’t alone in the shop. God, the intensity overwhelmed Martin, intrigued him.

Dino tugged him again, eliminating any space between them. Martin’s head was buried in Dino’s broad chest, and it wasn’t hard to imagine what lay under the dominant wolf’s shirt. Ropes of unyielding muscle and old scars, Dino possessed the body of a warrior. Martin had sneaked a peek before. When he’d been over at Raul and Logan’s, he spied Dino coming out of the shower, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.

“I didn’t mean to sound like a prick,” Martin began, unsure what he was saying.

It was getting hard to focus with their chests, stomachs, and groins pressed like this, unable to touch for one layer of clothing. He could hear Dino’s heart, so calm and confident of his conquest, steady, unlike Martin’s own hammering one.

When faced with a larger predator, Martin’s wolf’s first instinct would be to search all exits and run. Too bad his wolf didn’t see Dino as a threat but a prospect. No, prospect was a mild word to explain the certainty surging through his beast. Every pore of his skin screamed one word. Mine. His. But Martin couldn’t attach those labels to what amounted to a complete stranger.

Dino gripped his chin, tilted his head, and Martin could finally closely study Dino’s face. When Logan invited them over, Martin always had a feeling that, while Dino was in the same room with them, Dino’s mind was somewhere else. Martin never had the opportunity to speak to Dino.

A slight tinge of yellow bled into Dino’s graphite gray eyes, telling Martin it wasn’t just him losing control to his animal and completely abandoning common sense. Bristles covered Dino’s jaw and cheeks, and for some reason, Martin wanted to rub his smooth cheeks against it.

He didn’t know what to look at first. The shadows under Dino’s hooded eyes haunted him, showed him an anguished soul battling a losing battle. Martin dragged his gaze down Dino’s face, noting the little, distracting scar across his nose to the curve of his lips. Those lips, Martin had a feeling, were capable of cruelty, roughness he craved.

“So you don’t want this?”

This? Martin let out a nervous laugh. He needed to put things into perspective, but his emotions got the better of him. Part of him knew if he stopped this now Dino and he might never revisit it again. If Martin refused, waived away this chance, what would happen?

Things would turn awkward. They would become more distant, acting like two men doing a favor for their best friends, nothing more or less. They’d go back to being acquaintances. Martin didn’t want that. He couldn’t bear to experience a taste and be denied after. Dino looked at him expectantly.

Idiot. Say something.

“You aren’t gay,” Martin said, feeling dumb that he couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Dino let out a laugh, more amused than harsh. The sound startled him. Martin had seen Dino destructive, depressed, but this was new. Dino actually sounded amused. “Who the fuck told you that?”

“I just assumed, I mean…” Martin faltered, not wanting to bring Michella up.

“You think I’m playing games with you, little wolf?” A tinge of anger coated Dino’s words.

That nickname sent a shiver down Martin’s spine. He’d never been anyone’s anything. Loving Logan from afar for so long, he didn’t think it practical to have relationships with other men. The stupid and childish part of Martin believed that if he tried hard enough, he’d win his man, but fate proved Logan wasn’t made for him. Was Dino?

“No, I’m just confused.”

“I don’t play games, don’t need to. I see what I want, take what I want,” Dino said against his ear.

The dominant wolf wrapped his huge hand around the base of Martin’s neck, the gesture intimate, possessive. The neck was one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body. Submissive werewolves offered their throat to the Alpha, to those more powerful to them as a show of respect, but intimate lovers did it, too.

Martin shuddered under Dino’s touch. Crazy of him to want more, but he did. In all his twenty-four years on earth, no one ever coaxed an explosive reaction out of him.

That was it. Whatever this was, it felt like a bomb about to detonate, but Martin didn’t mind being caught in the carnage after.

“So you like men and women?” Martin found himself asking.

He needed to get himself together. Otherwise, he’d be devoured. The facts were there. Dino was still recovering from one serious relationship, and Martin had never been in any relationship that lasted beyond an occasional fuck, a one-night stand. Was this a tragedy in the making or something amazing?

“Men and women,” Dino spat. “No. I desired two people in my fucking life.”

Martin faltered. One was surely Michella. Wait, could Dino mean him?

“I didn’t know you were slow, little wolf.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“Hi?” Martin squeaked when Dino started sniffing the side of his neck.

“You smell so good, little wolf.” Dino closed his mouth over his skin, sucking the sweat on his skin.

Every muscle in Martin’s body was paralyzed. What did Dino expect him to say to that? Dino’s mouth on his skin felt amazing and made it hard to concentrate. Martin reached out, began to thread his hands through Dino’s hair, but Dino easily caught his wrists and held them above his head.

The thought of telling Dino off never crossed Martin’s mind. God. It had been so long since Martin had another man brush up against him. Dino felt so warm too, so solid. While the logical part of Martin’s mind knew Dino could easily crush an enemy without blinking, he also knew Dino would never hurt him. After all, hadn’t Dino already saved him twice?

“How did you find me?” Martin asked.

Dino stopped to look at him. “Easy, I followed your scent.”

Martin let out a nervous laugh. “Of course you did.”

“What’s so funny?”

Seeing the other man’s serious look, Martin sobered up. “It’s just, I come here sometimes to think or relax. I wanted to sort out my feelings.”

“About me?” Dino asked.

“You’re so full of yourself.” Martin had plenty of ammunition, but he stopped when Dino kept one hand on his wrists while Dino trailed the other down his body. The other man’s hands were big, callused from hard work. They contrasted against his smooth skin.

A shudder went down his spine. Dino’s touch wasn’t rough, but tentative. He gave Martin’s left nipple a squeeze, the tingle of pain making Martin groan and his cock thicken. Dino went lower, grazing his fingertips lower down Martin’s belly and finally reaching his dick.

Martin moaned when Dino closed his fingers around his shaft.

“Look at yourself, little wolf, so hard for me within seconds. Are you still going to deny there’s something between us?”

“I’m not the only one sporting an erection,” Martin muttered. “Whatever this is between us, it’s just—I don’t know.”

“I’m not ashamed.”

“Me neither.” Martin met his gaze.

Alone and with no one watching, it was easier to study the dominant shifter in front of him. He realized how alive Dino looked above him. Whenever he saw Dino, the other shifter looked distracted, as if he saw something far ahead none of the others saw. Right now though, Dino’s gaze was on him, and he was full of life and want. Dino swiped the pre-cum off his tip, making him moan.

“More. Please.”

Dino began moving his hand up and down his dick, coaxing groans out of him. Screw it. Martin didn’t want to be careful.

“Let’s find out together what this is,” Dino said.

Martin should tell Dino this was a bad idea. That they should talk this out, but logic flew out the window a long time ago.

“Kiss me again,” Martin pleaded.

Dino’s mouth descended on his. The passion in the shop wasn’t something Martin imagined. Heat traveled to his cock and sent blood surging to it. The clash of Dino’s skin on his felt amazing, so right, like the missing piece of a puzzle. His toes and fingers curled. That kiss undid him

Martin liked how Dino held his wrists back, liked the illusion of restraint. A word would make Dino stop, Martin knew, but he didn’t want to stop. He wanted to keep on going and see where they ended up. Good place or bad, Martin was eager to find out. His wolf agreed.

Dino pushed his tongue between Martin’s teeth, and he opened up so Dino could thrust his tongue down his throat. They rubbed their bodies against each other, so their chests, stomachs, and cocks touched. Martin’s skin felt feverish, burning. Dino tore his mouth from Martin’s. Martin panted, silently daring Dino for more. To his frustration, Dino stopped stroking his cock.

“Keep your hands above your head,” Dino commanded. The sound of his firm voice made him shiver.

“Okay,” Martin agreed. “What are you—”

He shut up when Dino started leaving kisses on the side of his neck, moving downward. Dino sucked the hollow of his collarbone, took his right nipple into his mouth until the bud hardened. Martin felt the slight edge of Dino’s teeth and groaned when Dino bit down, leaving his mark there. Their gazes remained locked. The attention made the experience all the more intense. Dino went lower, kissing his flat belly and finally reaching his prick.

“Wait,” Martin began.

Dino didn’t wait. If Dino’s hand on his cock felt amazing enough, his mouth was even more mind-blowing. Seemingly taking his time, Dino licked away the pre-cum on his cockhead, tonguing the slit. Martin had a hard time keeping his hands still above him. Dino licked and sucked his way down his length, teasing him.

“Dino, please.” The words easily slipped out.