STORY EXCERPT

It made no sense. He wasn’t nervous, had no reason to be. In his very long life, he’d experienced fear and anxiety, but nothing like this. Really, it felt more like he’d been zapped with electricity than any emotional response, and he ended up shoving both hands into the pockets of his khakis because he couldn’t get them to stop shaking.

Laughter rang from somewhere close by, bouncing off the stone walls as it echoed down the hallway. One voice in particular stood out to him in sharp relief. It was no louder than the others, but it was clear and crisp, as though the speaker stood just beside him. His heart beat just a little faster, and he had to willfully prevent himself from hurrying his footsteps.

More sounds of jubilation from the kitchen brought that beautiful, musical voice to his ears once more. This time, the laughter seeped into him, warming him from the inside out while his cock twitched with interest.

At last, after what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the kitchen, but Layke hung back in the doorway, surveying the room in his quest to identify the owner of that angelic voice. He knew Cian Murphy, of course, and his mate, Zavion. Zuriel was easy to spot since he was the mirror image of his brother. There was no mistaking Jacobi, though he’d only met him in passing during one of his visits to Haven, and Nithron he’d met that morning.

That left three men in the room he didn’t recognize. They were all small in stature, but watching them laugh and joke with one another, he imagined they had very big personalities. A man with dark hair and lean hips suddenly turned his head toward Layke, and anyone would have thought the guy had seen a ghost.

Leaping down from the barstool where he’d been perched at the center island, he hurried forward and bowed his head, looking down at his feet as he spoke. “Elder Winters, you’re there. I mean, you’re here. Well, I didn’t see you there…here…where you are.” He sighed in defeat and shook his head. “I’m just going to stop talking now.”

“Relax.” It would be bad manners to laugh at the man’s nervousness, but he was kind of cute. “Call me Layke, and stop looking at the floor. We’re all friends here.”

Looking up, the stranger cocked his head to the side and frowned. “Do you know Xander?”

“Yes, I’m familiar with him. Why do you ask?”

“You sound just like him.” He offered his hand, though it was trembling just a bit. “I’m Nikola. It’s a meeting to pleasure you.” He stopped, closed his eyes, and groaned. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Damn, it was getting harder to keep a straight face. “Seriously, though, there’s no reason to be so nervous. Being an elder just makes me old. It doesn’t make me anyone special.”

“Hello, sir.” Another of the strangers pushed away from the counter and bowed his head. When he looked up, there was a shy smile on his lips, but at least he wasn’t shaking like his friend. “I’m Mihail.”

Layke nodded back in acknowledgment. “Again, call me Layke.”

There was nothing wrong with manners and respectful behavior, but he didn’t like the certain level of reverence that came with being an elder. Very rarely was he ever treated like a regular guy. Oh, he had friends, and they certainly tried, but there was still this invisible line that no one wanted to cross with him.

Both shifters were likable, but neither was the owner of the voice that had captivated him. That left just one other man in the room. The smallest person there, he perched on top of the counter, letting his feet dangle over the side while he studied everyone in the room with a vague, mysterious smile.

“Hello.” That was all he said, but Layke swore the room became just a little brighter when he spoke.

Gliding forward as though the velvety voice was reeling him in by an invisible hook, he didn’t stop until he was close enough to reach out and touch the man if he so desired. “Hello.” It wasn’t articulate, and it definitely wasn’t smooth. Not since his teenage years had he been so awkward and unsure. “My name is Layke.” Well, that wasn’t any better, considering he’d just announced his name twice.

“I know.” That vague smile never left his lips, but he did sit up straighter and extend his hand. “I’m Aspen. You have very pretty eyes.”

Layke was tongue tied. Everything he wanted to say somehow got lost in translation between his brain and his lips, and he didn’t want to risk saying something completely ridiculous. Taking the offered hand, he held it in both of his own, swallowing back his gasp of surprise when that restless energy he’d experienced in the hallway increased tenfold.

“Thank you.”

It was Aspen who was beautiful, though. His long ebony locks cascaded over one shoulder. The smooth strands reflected the overhead light, giving them a healthy glow from crown to tip. Small and slender, he had the most delicate features of any man Layke had ever met, yet he wasn’t feminine. Big, stunning blue eyes dominated his face, shimmering with a mischievous twinkle as though he knew more than he was telling.

“Just so you know, Layke…”

By the gods, did nothing affect this man? Layke was about to vibrate out of his skin, but Aspen appeared cool and collected. “Yes?”

The vapid grin morphed into a cocky smirk, and a confident, almost predatory gleam replaced the innocent shimmer in his eyes. Casually, he hooked two fingers into the collar of Layke’s shirt to jerk him forward, stopping just before their mouths met and tracing his tongue seductively over Layke’s bottom lip.

“You’re mine.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Easing in just the tip once the tiny starburst relaxed, he pumped in minuscule movements, working his digit in a little deeper each time. Aspen mewled and howled, rocking up against him and pushing his dick deeper into Layke’s mouth. Encouraged by the eager response, Layke sucked harder, hollowing his cheeks and giving his lover complete control of the tempo.

“I can’t. I can’t stop it.”

Layke didn’t want him to stop, though. Easing out of Aspen’s channel, he teased the opening for a second and pushed back in with two fingers. His mate growled, a deep, predatory sound that made no sense coming from someone so small, but it was incredibly sexy, nonetheless.

“I’m going to—ah!” Fisting both hands in Layke’s hair, he pushed to the back of his throat and convulsed, releasing another volley of semen as his inner walls clamped down on Layke’s digits.

Swallowing every drop, Layke sighed happily and licked his lover clean. He placed little kisses down the crease of Aspen’s thigh and lapped at his tight, hairless sac, sucking one small orb into his mouth and caressing it with his tongue. When Aspen was shaking and moaning once more, Layke smirked, inserting a third finger to loosen and prepare his mate.

Aspen’s youth and virility, combined with his paranormal endurance, were going to make for one very long night. His hormones were raging unchecked, and the hunger burning inside him wouldn’t be sated with just one coupling. Layke looked forward to the challenge, ready and willing to do whatever it took to satisfy his mate’s carnal appetite.

Within minutes, Aspen’s cock swelled and lengthened once again, pulsing heavily against his lower abdomen. Ah, the benefits of youth. Thanks to his own paranormal genes, he’d be able to keep up with his younger mate, but his recovery time still wasn’t as impressive as Aspen’s. Fortunately, he had other ways to keep his cute little demon occupied and happy.

Layke’s cock lay trapped beneath him, hard and throbbing as he humped against the mattress, unconsciously seeking his own relief. Satisfied that Aspen was well stretched, he extracted his fingers, pushed up on his elbows, and rolled to the side, maneuvering until he was leaning against the padded, leather headboard.

“Come here, sweetheart.” Taking his lover’s hand, he pulled him up, guiding him into his lap to straddle his hips. “You have absolute control to go as slow or deep as you want.” His smile was a little strained, but he wanted Aspen to feel reassured. “I’m just here to look pretty.”

“Mmm,” Aspen hummed, winding his arms around Layke’s neck and nuzzling against the side of his throat. “You are very good at it, too.” Aspen’s knees bracketed his thighs, and he insinuated a hand between them to grip Layke’s cock at the base, lining up the engorged crown with his slippery entrance. “Okay.” He spoke aloud, but Layke had the feeling he was talking to himself.

“Take a deep breath and let it out slowly,” he instructed, gripping Aspen’s waist and trying not to grind his teeth into powder. “Nice and easy.”

With a determined nod, Aspen bit down on his bottom lip and breathed through his nose as he lowered himself over Layke’s length in torturously slow increments. His silky channel enveloped Layke’s cock, sucking him in deeper and surrounding him with the tightest, most amazing heat he’d ever felt.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Aspen mumbled when his pert ass rested atop Layke’s thighs. “I thought it would hurt.”

Honestly, Layke had expected there to be some discomfort at first, too. However, he was pleased to know that wasn’t the case. Before he could express his relief, Aspen pressed their lips together, attacking his mouth with an animalistic thirst that belied his usually passive nature.

His hips flexed, and the muscles in his thighs bunched as he rose and fell, creating a hard rhythm that had Layke panting for breath. Digging his fingers into the flesh around Aspen’s hips, he held on in a bruising grip, plundering the depths of his lover’s mouth while he guided his movements.

Blood roared in his ears, his heart hammered wildly against his ribs, and a firestorm erupted inside him, creating a flash burn across his skin. Deserting the kiss, Aspen threw his head back so that his long hair cascaded down his back while he rocked his body in sensual waves.

His movements, while fluid, still held a measure of hesitancy, and Layke got the impression his man was running on pure instinct. His mind may not fully understand, but his body knew just what to do.

Critical thinking skills had abandoned Layke as well, and he was just hanging on for the ride, growling and groaning when Aspen’s inner muscles contracted around his aching length. Gods, he’d never felt anything so intense, didn’t know anything could feel like this.

Grabbing the back of Aspen’s neck, he jerked his mate to him, crushing their mouths together in another scorching kiss that bordered on desperate. His balls rolled, drawing closer to his body, and his stomach clenched with impending orgasm.

Harder and faster, Aspen rode him, practically falling into his lap on each downward plunge. Locking his other arm around his mate’s back, he held tight, stilling Aspen’s movements when his control finally snapped. With a loud snarl, he braced his feet on the mattress, pressed his back into the headboard, and drove upward, snapping his hips in jerky, uncoordinated thrusts.