STORY EXCERPT

The deputy stood then began talking with Chadwick and Chase, while Dreamboat headed Alex’s way.

Turning around, Alex did a quick breath check, relieved it didn’t smell like the beef jerky he’d eaten an hour ago.

“How’re you doing?” he asked as he rounded the counter, crowding Alex’s already cramped space.

Alex looked at the nametag on his shirt. “I’m doing okay, Deputy Kingsman.” 

He would still be Dreamboat to Alex.

 “Can you fill me in on what happened?” The deputy’s charming smile threatened to take Alex’s breath away, especially under the weight of those piercing eyes and perfectly shaped lips.

Would Deputy Kingsman arrest him if he squeezed those impressive guns? And not the one in his holster…

“What if I tell you and they come back to harass me?” It was a legit concern. The other two were borderline, but Mike definitely seemed the vengeful type.

Seriously. Working the night shift with very little foot traffic left him vulnerable, especially to a hot-headed brat like Mike who might show up to “thank” him for cooperating with the police.

It might be Alex bouncing off the door next time.

Alex jerked his head back when he thought he heard a soft purr, but he brushed it off as stress getting to him.

“Does the owner keep a weapon under the counter?”

“A weapon? Like a gun” He’d heard many stores kept guns under their counters for protection, but luckily Gary didn’t have one. Guns scared Alex. “No, I don’t. And even if there was one under the counter, I would probably end up shooting myself rather than hitting a target.”

Deputy Kingsman gave a firm nod. “I know this store is equipped with a panic alarm. You can press that if he comes back, and we'll be here in no time.”

Crap. Alex had been so busy panicking that he’d forgotten about the panic alarm. But to be fair to himself, Gary had only mentioned it once, and with so many other things to remember, it had slipped his mind.

Deep inhale. Deep exhale.

“The guy you handcuffed, Mike—”

“Do you know him?” Deputy Kingsman furrowed his brows.

“No. I overheard his friend say his name.” Even if they were on the same social level, Alex would never associate with a tantrum-throwing bully.

“Okay, go on,” the deputy said encouragingly.

“Right.” Now Alex had Dreamboat’s undivided attention, which was a little intimidating. To ease his nerves, he focused on the stubble lining Deputy Kingsman’s jaw and upper lip. Or maybe just those soft lips, which were distracting to his concentration.

Taking a deep breath, Alex launched into a detailed account of everything that had happened from the moment Mike and Chase entered the store until the unexpected arrival of the deputies.

“Perfect timing.” A smirk tugged at the side of Dreamboat’s mouth. “You did the right thing by refusing the sale and remaining calm under pressure.”

Despite his initial urge to freak out, he’d handled the situation well. Dreamboat had said so. “Can I confess something?” he whispered, feeling a sense of trust with the guy for some reason.

The deputy’s smile grew wider as he teased, “Do I need to advise you of your rights first?”

“Does desperately wishing to do Mike bodily harm count?”

Dreamboat’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Not if you only confess it to me.”

Covertly, Alex leaned in just a tad closer and caught a whiff of Deputy Kingsman’s enticing scent. “Then I wish I knew how to fight so I could have knocked him on his spoiled butt.”

“We could fix that.” He crossed his brawny arms over his chest and leaned his shoulder against the wall. “If you’re willing to learn, I’m willing to teach.”

“I’m not exactly built for fighting.” Alex looked down at his slender frame and shook his head. “My lack of biceps alone should tell you a bag of sugar could probably take me down.”

Deputy Kingsman’s gaze traveled down Alex’s body, taking in every inch of his frame, then swept back up before their eyes met. A sudden flutter erupted in the pit of Alex’s stomach. “We can work on building your muscle tone and strength.”

After that intense exploration, a different kind of sweaty workout flashed through Alex’s mind. He gestured toward Dreamboat’s bullish body. “Will I end up as big as you?”

That side-of-the-mouth smile returned. “This is home grown.”

A rush of heat spread across Alex’s face. Whatever home that body was grown in needed to be enshrined.

Flexing one of his biceps, Dreamboat caused Alex to squeak in surprise. The deputy chuckled, clearly amused by his reaction. “I have to assist my partner, but we’ll exchange numbers afterward and set up our first training session.” 

Alex had no idea what the training session would entail, but if it meant spending time with Deputy Kingsman, he was all for it.

And of course learning how to defend himself.

“By the way,” the deputy said before he rounded the counter, “call me Slater.”

“Alex,” he replied as if Slater couldn’t read his nametag. Gary had printed the letters so large that even astronauts in space could probably read them.

 

ADULT EXCERPT

 

They stopped in the middle of the hallway, then Slater pointed at each door. “Bathroom, guest bedroom, hallway closet.”

Those rooms weren’t important.

“And the last door on the left?”

“Let me show you.” Slater opened his bedroom door with a flourish. “Welcome to the room where I want to practice making kittens with you.”

“Second worst attempt at humor.” Alex walked in and looked around.

“You’re bruising my ego.” Slater shook his head and walked in. “Sorry my wit is a dull blade compared to your sharpness.”

“Third attempt.” Alex smiled at him. “Keep trying and you might get there.”

Alex looked up at Slater with those pretty blue eyes. “I want you.”

The side of Slater’s mouth curled into a smile. “Show me.”

“First, your cat isn’t going to come out to play, is it?” Alex frowned. “I like it, but I’m not into that kind of thing.”

It was a legit question since Slater’s tiger had been uncontrollable. “If he tries, I’ll put a halt to everything.”

Alex must’ve been confident in Slater’s answer, because his mate grabbed his hand and pulled him to the bed like they had seconds to get naked. “You do realize we don’t have to rush?”

Even if Slater was dying to be buried inside his mate’s ass.

Alex’s face doused in flames, his breath coming out in excited pants, and damn, Slater wanted him so badly he could taste the need deep inside of him.

He sank down and captured Alex’s mouth, pushing him back against the wall, pinning him there with undeniable hunger. Slater could taste the desire and longing in his mate’s kiss.

From the way Alex responded, he was right there with him, sliding his hands over Slater’s arms and nibbling at his mouth.

With a low growl rumbling in his throat, Slater devoured his mate.

Cupping Alex’s ass, Slater walked them backward, their mouths destroying each other’s senses. They tumbled into bed, Alex landing on top of him. They were flipping, turning, pulling their shirts off, only to come back together.

 “At least I didn’t accidently knee you in the balls while getting undressed.” Alex hitched his hips. “I have another body part in mind that wants to kiss your boo-boo.”

Slater arched a brow.

“It sounded sexier in my head.” Alex chuckled.

“Bad attempt at humor?” 

“I’ll keep trying,” his mate promised.

He was an all-consuming force that left Slater breathless.

Especially when he ran his fingers over Slater’s stomach, scorching their way across his skin then lower, curling into the waistband of his jeans.

“You searching for something, hummingbird?” he asked, giving Alex a wicked grin.

“I’ll let you know when I find it.” Alex sank his teeth into his bottom lip as his fingers worked the button and zipper of Slater’s jeans.

Slater slapped a hand over his heart. “That was brutal.”

Alex laughed.

The sound drove Slater’s need. His lips were on Alex’s neck, taking him down to the bed. In a single second, Slater had the rest of Alex’s clothes off.

Slater dared anyone to show him a more breathtaking sight than the one he was gazing at. He greedily took it in, worshiping every inch of creamy skin with his eyes.

 Alex was the embodiment of desire, his gaze filled with a hunger that could only be satisfied by him. He had to have Alex, taste him, feel that thick cock in his mouth.

Slater didn’t stop moving until he had Alex’s legs over his shoulders and that beautiful ass in the air, feeling more like a wild beast than the snarling tiger inside of him. Alex’s musk drew him in.

Like the scent of the hunt, a carnivore eager for a taste of the thick cock inches from his lips. Alex grabbed the base of his cock and levered the hard shaft toward Slater’s mouth as if daring him to take it.

Slater’s lips moved closer, but he was drawing this out, building the anticipation, waiting to see desperation flare in those blue eyes.

Only the speed of light would have beaten how fast those eyes filled with what Slater had been looking for.

 Pretty, raw begging.

He gave his mate’s cock a rewarding lick. Then he was at Alex’s inner thigh, nipping the tender skin, grazing it with the tips of his canines.

His tiger was pushing closer, inching toward the surface. If it came too close, Slater would have to back off. He couldn’t take the chance of it breaking free.

As if his tiger could sense the threat of Slater ending this, he backed down.

He couldn’t wait until his goddamn beast started acting normally again.

Turning his attention back to the temptation filling his arms, Slater used his lips to tease, hovering just barely above Alex’s throbbing cock, tantalizing and torturing at the same time.

 He was torturing himself too. His mate’s scent was driving him insane, filling his lungs with the sweetest aroma.