STORY EXCERPT

“Please, God. Let Killer be a decent guy,” he muttered.

The doorbell rang, making Evan drop his phone with a curse. He grabbed the phone, tucked it into his pocket, and answered the door. One glimpse of his new tenant nearly made him slam it shut.

For one, the picture didn’t mention how huge Killer was. The dominant wolf practically blocked the entire doorway with his big frame. Evan didn’t know what to look at first. This guy was one good-looking, sexy bastard who could easily break him in half if he wanted. Yet, his wolf didn’t sense Killer as a threat.

The dominant wolf wore a plain black shirt and a black hoodie that didn’t fail to hide the impressive muscles of his chest and arms. For some reason, Killer had a scarf wrapped around his neck, even though it was summer. Killer’s powerful legs were clad in a pair of faded jeans. Was it Evan’s imagination, or was there the beginnings of a boner in Killer’s jeans?

Heat coiled from his belly and went right to his dick. Shit. Killer’s face was handsome, in a rough kind of way, clean shaven. Despite his sun-kissed skin, Evan noticed the old scars that threaded across Killer’s skin. This man had seen his fair share of battles and, Evan guessed, won all of them.

“Um, hi,” Evan blurted out like some nervous teenager. 

He silently cursed himself, but a smile lit up Killer’s face. There was something a little off about that smile, as if Killer hid secrets. Then again, who didn’t?

“Killer,” the dominant wolf said, extending his hand.

Evan reached out, unsurprised by the strength there. Killer’s nostrils flared. Evan hesitated. Heat emanated from the other man. 

Oh Lord. Evan wasn’t imagining Killer’s hard-on and to his horror, his own dick twitched in his jeans. Evan was alone, with no protector in sight. His heart thumped in his chest. 

A guy like Killer could take advantage, but that wasn’t the worst part. Worse was the knowledge Evan wouldn’t fight this stranger. 

Unlike most dominant wolves who smelled an unmated Omega in their midst, Killer didn’t squeeze his hand tighter or resort to something inappropriate. Instead, Killer stepped back, as if he waited for an invitation.

He found his voice. “I’m Evan. Come on in.”

They settled in the living room. Evan gestured to the couch and took the armchair beside him. Killer sat down and clasped his hands together. Realizing he stared at the twisting scar on Killer’s left arm far too long, he focused on Killer’s face instead. The most amazing pair of blazing forest-green eyes met his, but it struck him a second later what was wrong.

Evan could usually read people easily, but he could see nothing in those green depths.

“Do you have questions for me?” Killer finally asked.

Oh right. Evan should be the one conducting this interview. 

“I have your e-mail. It’s very comprehensive, like you’re applying for a job,” Evan joked. Humor always worked, right? Except Killer didn’t smile.

“It’s best to get everything out in the open. I have no secrets to hide. People tend to take one look at me,” Killer said, gesturing to himself, “and assume I’m a threat, a danger. I moved to this town a week ago, but I still can’t find a place.”

Pity moved Evan. He knew how it felt being an outsider. “I get it,” Evan murmured. “When I first moved here, I had no friends, no one to rely on, but partly, it’s because I was taught to rely on others all my life.”

“Taught?” Killer asked with a lift of his brows.

Shit. What was Evan doing, unloading his soul to a complete stranger?

“Are you running from something? Is that why you moved here?” Killer’s question caught him off guard, especially the directness of it. He blinked when Killer let out a curse under his breath. “Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to come out that way. I’m not usually that nosy.”

Evan shook his head, still shocked a dominant wolf would easily admit his mistakes. In his pack, that would have been a sign of weakness. He tried for another joke. “Isn’t that why people move to small towns?”

This time, a thin smile appeared on Killer’s lips. Barely noticeable, but it was there.

“Tell me about yourself,” Evan said, deciding that was a safe enough question.

Killer shrugged. “I was an army brat. My parents shipped me off to military school as soon as they were able. I never left.”

“Until now,” Evan finished. 

That explained why Killer was strange, why the dominant wolf didn’t act like most of the assholes Evan grew up with. Killer hadn’t been raised in a pack, but a human environment. 

Killer blinked. “I suppose. Being a soldier is all I know. I wanted to find out what it’s like living on the civilian side.”

“That’s all I need to hear.” Wait. Why did Evan say those words? He spent the entire night jotting down questions to ask. His best friend, Cameron, would kill him if he knew Evan let a strange dominant wolf into his home.

Killer blinked. “Really?”

“Absolutely.” ‘No’ was the answer Evan had in mind. 

He needed to grill this man, find out if he was a threat. Then Killer grinned, looking as though he just won the lottery, and that eased Evan’s fears a little. There was nothing wrong about that smile. Maybe Killer was a private individual. “Guarded” had been a better word, but Evan knew that smile was meant for him.

“I’ll need a month’s deposit,” Evan said, all businesslike. 

Good. He was back in control, except the same warning voice in his head told him this was a bad idea. Evan could still change his mind. Tell Killer he made a mistake. He doubted the huge wolf would be mad, and yet, Evan didn’t want to see the tempting curve of Killer’s lips flip upside down.

ADULT EXCERPT

“If you’re wise, you wouldn’t let me stand so close. If you knew what I was, you’d start running as fast as your feet could carry you.” 

“Too bad I’m a slow learner,” Evan said. He did what he’d be dreaming of doing since he first met Killer. Gripping Killer’s shoulders, he pulled their lips together for a kiss. He gauged Killer’s reaction, wondering what the dominant wolf would do next. Killer was shocked at first but soon gripped the back of Evan’s neck to deepen the kiss. 

Fuck, but this man knew how to kiss. Heat sparked from within and went right to Evan’s dick. The reaction wasn’t one sided. Killer pushed him against the car, erection pressing against Evan’s stomach. 

Killer speared his mouth open for deeper access, and Evan let his tongue in, sucking down on him. Killer roamed his hands all over Evan’s body, lifting the hem of his shirt, as if eager to explore every inch of him. Evan could sense the hunger in Killer, so long denied. 

Killer yanked his mouth away, panting, eyes glowing and the color of gold. Evan knew his own eyes were a reflection of Killer’s. 

“Once we do this, I won’t stop. I can’t,” Killer whispered. “You’re fucking too tempting, too sexy to resist.”

Damn if those words didn’t make his cock any harder. No one ever took the time to flirt with Evan, to make him feel so good.

“I don’t want to stop.” It was the truth. 

Alarm bells should have rung in his head, warned Evan he just put himself on a collision course when he should be more careful. After all, he’d seen Killer go up against Wyatt and his wolves as if they were nothing. Killer cut through three dominant shifters as if they were prey. That should have frightened Evan, but this moment was simply too right.

“Good.” Killer slanted his mouth and kissed Evan again, all teeth and tongue, but Evan didn’t care. The moment Killer’s mouth descended on his, his insides turned to jelly. He was lost in the dominance of this man. 

Killer moved his mouth lower, to the side of Evan’s neck. The dominant wolf latched his mouth onto his racing pulse, and Evan was too far gone to care that Killer could end his life there and then or do something else, something more dangerous. It was reckless, wanting Killer to put a mating mark on him. 

Mating marks were forever. “Until death do them part” serious. 

Thank God, Killer moved on. The sound of his shirt tearing filled the air. Evan gasped when Killer planted more kisses down his throat, his collarbones. Killer took his right nipple into his mouth and sucked hard. Feeling the slight edge of teeth, Evan gripped Killer’s hair but didn’t stop the dominant wolf. He wanted to see Killer’s mark on him. Killer undid Evan’s pants and slid his hand past Evan’s underwear to reach his cock.

Evan gasped. Killer’s fingers curled around his cock felt amazing, especially when Killer began to move them up and down.

Killer bit down on his nipple. Pleasure and pain combined, leaving Evan a writhing mess. At this rate, he would shoot.

“Don’t,” Killer said, as if he knew Evan was close. “No coming until my say-so.”

“Demanding,” Evan murmured.

Killer grinned. “Be good and you’ll be rewarded.”

To test his resolve, Killer pumped his dick faster. Evan let out a frustrated breath but held his orgasm back.

“Good boy.”

Killer’s compliment went right to his head. Then Killer kneeled and Evan’s mind practically blanked out. Was this really happening? Dominant wolves usually did the taking part, and yet Killer was between his legs, eying his cock as though it was a challenge. 

“W-wait, what are you doing?” Evan nearly came when Killer yanked his jeans and boxers down, exposing his thickening cock.

“Rewarding you,” Killer replied.

“Shit.” The dominant looked so drop-dead gorgeous, staring up at him intently. Killer stuck out his tongue and licked away the pre-cum gathered on his tip. Moaning, Evan slipped his fingers into Killer’s short hair. He caught a flash of metal peering from Killer’s scarf but decided it wasn’t important. Killer’s mouth on his dick felt too good.

“You like that, Omega?” Killer tongued his slit and played with the sensitive spot under his cockhead.

Evan’s back dug against the glass and metal. He could only reply to Killer with a whimper. Chuckling, Killer dragged his tongue from crown to base. His balls, Killer didn’t neglect, either. Killer sucked and nipped at them.

“Jesus,” Evan whispered when Killer finally opened his mouth to take Evan’s prick in. He watched his cock disappear inside Killer’s mouth with awe. Even on his knees, Killer looked as though he wielded all the power, especially given he held Evan’s dick captive.

Throwing his head back, Evan shut his eyes and gave in to his primal instincts. Killer applied careful suction, his mouth hot and wet against his shaft. 

“Killer, I can’t hold back any longer,” he uttered, eyes fluttering open, only to feel Killer pull away. He groaned, but Killer was back on his feet. Killer closed his hand on Evan’s leaking cock again.

“Come all over my fingers, Evan. Do it now.” 

At Killer’s order, Evan’s mind splintered from the pressure. He unloaded strings of his cum, coating Killer’s hand. God, it was so erotic somehow, Killer giving him a blow job. He sagged into Killer’s waiting arms, languid. Killer nipped at his ear and fondled his softening prick.

“Get in,” Killer said against his ear.

Eager to feel Killer inside him, he nodded. Killer opened the door and he asked with a smile, “How do you want me?”