STORY EXCERPT

“I need a favor.”

Blake Chapman sat at his kitchen table, his first cup of coffee in front of him. He hadn’t even taken a sip before his phone had rung. “Every time I hear those words I get either shot, stabbed, or knocked unconscious. Being friends with you is lethal to my health.”

He picked up his cup and took a sip, sighing at how good it tasted. Blake needed it to charge his battery after the long night he’d had. He was co-owner of the gay bar in town, and there had been picketers outside who’d gotten hands-on with guys leaving Pump.

The cops had been called, threats had been made, and punches thrown. Blake had to break up multiple fights and got slugged for his efforts. His jaw was still sore, but not was sore as the other guy’s kidney. Blake hadn’t taken the punch without returning one of his own.

But he hadn’t put his full strength behind it. He was a bear shifter, and he would’ve killed the human if he’d unleashed his full wrath.

“It’s not that bad being friends with me,” Sheriff Grayson Copache joked.

“Tell that to my scars.” Blake took another drink and felt more awake. It was only past seven, and he should still be asleep, but Blake suffered from insomnia. He’d caught maybe two or three hours of sleep after closing down the bar.

“You don’t have scars,” Grayson said. “You’re a shifter. Your wounds heal when you shift.”

True, but he liked giving Grayson a hard time about it. “So what’s this favor, and am I going to regret taking this phone call?”

“I got a friend who needs to make it to Maple Grove, but he has no way of getting here.”

Blake furrowed his brows. “Buy him a plane ticket.”

Had Grayson really called him about being someone’s chauffeur? Blake didn’t mind helping out a friend in need, but Grayson had lost his mind. Blake was running off fumes from lack of sleep, and that wasn’t a condition he would drive in.

“It’s a little more complicated than that.” Grayson cleared his throat. “I’d go myself, but I just got back from vacation and can’t take the time off. I have this friend, well, I told you that, but his name is Fisher Hart, and he’s in a bit of trouble.”

That was all Blake needed, to transport a troublemaker. He’d had enough of that kind to last him a lifetime. “You using your influence in another county, getting your friend out of trouble?”

“In a manner of speaking,” Grayson said. “Fisher isn’t the one causing trouble. He’s the one who needs rescuing from a jackass who thinks it’s okay to use fists instead of words.”

Blake’s chest tightened. He despised bullies. That was one reason he had so many bouncers at his club. There were still men in Maple Grove who detested the gay community and who thought beating up some twink passed for an exciting Saturday night.

That was another reason the mayor had approved the funding to have the LBGTQ youth center built. To give young kids a safe place to hang out, gay or straight. It didn’t matter. There was zero tolerance at the center.

“Is Fisher ready to leave him?” Blake wasn’t making the trip if this Fisher guy changed his mind. It happened in abusive relationships. One minute the abused was ready to pack up and leave, and the next they were being sweet-talked by the abuser into staying.

Blake might not have been a cop or a counselor, but he’d seen it many times. The chivalry in him had wanted to beat the shit out of the abuser, to show him how it felt to be afraid and helpless. But he’d always restrained, keeping his anger in check.

Grayson had called him because Blake had helped a few people—male and female—get out of bad situations. Had transported them to a new life. Blake even had some connections to get that person a new identity.

“Text me his address,” Blake said. “Let him know I’ll be there tonight, and make sure he’s ready.”

Blake hadn’t rescued anyone in a few years. Not since the last time when he’d been shot by the abuser when he’d come home early and found Blake in his home.

But Blake hadn’t been there engaging in a secret affair. He’d been there to get Timothy Kelley out of there. After the cops had been called and Marshall had been arrested, Blake had taken Timothy two states away, where he stayed with an ex-roommate from college.

To this day Timothy sent him a text on the anniversary of the day Blake had rescued him, letting Blake know he was doing fine and enjoying his new life.

And that had made it well worth the bullet Blake had taken.

“He’s about five hours from here,” Grayson said. “He’s not actually my friend. His father is, but Gleeson is living all the way in Florida with his new wife. He won’t be of any help.”

“I gotcha,” Blake said.

“Word of caution. His boyfriend has one of those doorbell cameras, so it will alert him to any motion. From what Fisher tells me, it’s mounted on the front door. Your best bet is the rear entrance. He said John has some function he has to attend tonight, and Fisher faked having stomach pains, so he’ll be home.”

Blake made a mental note of all that. “Right.”

“I owe you for this, Blake. It guts me that Fisher is going through this. I’ve known him a long time, and he’s too sweet to deal with such a monster.”

“I’ll get him out.” The question was, would Fisher stay out? Some abused went back to the person they were running from. Blake didn’t understand it and hoped that wasn’t the case for Grayson’s friend.

“Let me know when you’ve made it back.” Grayson hung up.

Blake had the rest of the day before he drove to get Fisher. Maybe before then he could get some much-needed sleep.

ADULT EXCERPT

Blake grabbed Fisher’s wrist in a gentle hold as he broke the kiss. He was panting heavily as he closed his eyes. “We have to stop,” he said between gritted teeth. “I’m not the kind of guy who can kiss and pet without wanting more.”

Blake wasn’t the only one who was straining to breathe. But Fisher didn’t want to stop. He’d never wanted anyone the way he wanted Blake. “And if I want more?”

“You’re not ready.” Blake opened his eyes. “I won’t take advantage of you.”

Fisher yanked at his wrists, and Blake released them. “Are you rejecting me?”

Whoa. Wait a minute. Breathe and think through your lust-filled brain. He’s not rejecting you. Blake is looking out for you.

“Not at all.” Blake framed Fisher’s face with his hands. “I just need to make sure this is what you really want.”

“I want you,” Fisher said. “I’ve never been so sure about anything else.”

Blake pulled him close for another mind-blowing kiss. They twisted on the couch. Fisher was placed on his back as he grabbed at Blake’s shirt. He’d been touching these muscles all night, and he’d seen them before, but Blake’s body being revealed to him in this moment, while they were going at it, had Fisher’s heart racing.

Blake pulled Fisher’s shirt over his head and groaned. “Damn you’re beautiful.”

When was the last time a guy had said that to him? Hell, when was the last time anyone looked at him that way? He sucked in a deep breath when Blake lowered his head and sucked at one of Fisher’s nipples. He was going to bust a nut, and they hadn’t even gotten anything started yet.

“So fucking gorgeous,” Blake said as he lapped at the hard nub.

Fisher couldn’t take it any longer. He needed to feel Blake against him, skin against skin. He yanked Blake’s shirt off and tossed his aside, skimming his hands over Blake’s hard chest, biceps, and down his back.

“Need to fix a problem.” Blake reared back and helped Fisher out of his shoes and the rest of his clothes. This felt so damn naughty. Fisher was completely naked in someone’s office, and the thrill of it sent ripples of pleasure through him.

“Your turn,” he said to Blake. “Off with your clothes.”

Blake chuckled. “You almost sounded like the Queen of Hearts. Just as long as you don’t say off with your head, we’re good.”

Blake’s smile was so damn sexy, and it made his dark eyes sparkle. Fisher licked his lips and watched as Blake shoved his pants and underwear down his corded thighs.

Oh fuck. Fisher just knew he was drooling when Blake’s long and hard cock sprang free. He swung up and engulfed Blake’s shaft, sucking the head before he worked his way down the length.

“Fuck, Fisher.” Blake rubbed his hands through Fisher’s hair, grabbing the strands as he fucked Fisher’s mouth. The smell of a man’s musk drove Fisher crazy. He loved how dark and earthy the scent was as he tugged at Blake’s balls.

“Shit, hold on.” Blake pulled back. “I don’t want this to end that damn soon.”

Fisher grinned, loving the compliment. He leaned back as Blake sat and removed his boots then the rest of his clothes. Instead of standing back up, Blake moved onto the couch, forcing Fisher backward until he was lying under Blake.

This was so surreal. Fisher never thought he’d be in this situation again. Not after a year with John. He thought his dating days were over. How could Fisher ever trust another man after what John had done to him?

But this was Blake. The man who had rescued him and who had been nothing but kind and gentle with him. That made all the difference in the world to Fisher.

And as crazy as it sounded in his head, Fisher felt as if he’d known the guy forever. There was just something about Blake that inspired trust and sincerity. He had an easiness that would make anyone fall in love with the big guy.

Love? No. Fisher hadn’t thought that. It was too soon to care that much about anyone else. Fisher had closed his heart off to that prospect. That made a person vulnerable, and Fisher refused to put himself in that situation again.

He shoved that thought aside as Blake kissed his way across Fisher’s neck and jaw. He had a gorgeous, naked guy lying on him, desiring him, and hell if he would clog his thoughts with uncertainties and worries.

Fisher would let everything go and just feel for once, just lose himself in the moment and worry about it later.

“This couch isn’t big enough for this,” Fisher said.

“I can take care of that.” Blake got up and walked across the room. Fisher groaned at his nicely shaped, muscled ass. When this was over, Fisher was taking a nap and using Blake’s butt as a pillow.

He blushed at that thought as Blake came back with a large blanket. “I sometimes crash in here instead of going home, so I stored a blanket in the closet.”

Blake spread it out then grabbed Fisher’s hand and pulled him from the couch. He placed Fisher on his back then hovered over him again. “Is this better?”

“Much.” Fisher pulled Blake’s head down and nibbled at his bearded jaw, loving how the hairs tickled him. He curled his legs around Blake’s tapered waist, resting the heels of his feet just above his ass.

Blake moaned, and Fisher loved the fact that he was the one making this stud feel that way. Blake could’ve had his pick of anyone in the club—he refused to think about Prince—but he’d wanted Fisher, and didn’t that just stroke his ego?

Fisher was so busy working his way to Blake’s lips that he hadn’t seen the tube of lube Blake had set beside them. Not until he’d heard the cap snap and then Blake worked his fingers into Fisher’s ass.

“Oh god.” Fisher’s eyes rolled to the back of his head. He loved having his butt played with, something a certain ex hadn’t done often. Blake devoured Fisher’s mouth as his thick fingers worked back and forth, scissoring and grazing over Fisher’s prostate.