STORY EXCERPT

A shadow moved on Felix’s right. A guy emerged from the darkness behind him, only this person wasn’t a homeless guy. The stranger wore his dark hair in soft waves, accentuating his high cheekbones. If Felix had to guess, the guy looked in his late twenties. The man spoke, his voice low and smooth. “You seem lost, human.”

Felix was seriously hating this night already. “I’m not lost.”

The stranger raised an eyebrow. “You’re Eleazar’s boy. His human servant.”

“And you are?” Felix really hated being called anyone’s boy. It was degrading and pissed him off, but he wasn’t telling that to this stranger. He didn’t want to get yanked into the alley and either fed on or fed on then killed. Either way the guy would drink from him. Felix didn’t doubt that for a second, and he wasn’t anyone’s banana bag.

Not even Eleazar fed from him.

“It’s not important who I am. Move along, cattle, before I decide to disregard Eleazar’s order that you’re not to be touched and make you into my snack.”

“Fucking jerk,” Felix mumbled as he headed down the street. He needed to remember to thank Eleazar for this fun-filled trip to Chucky Sleaze.

Luckily Mr. Prick back there hadn’t messed with him. Felix knew all too well the dangers of dealing with vampires. But he had no choice. He had to find out what was going on. He might get bratty with Eleazar, but the vampire’s patience wasn’t infinite. Felix knew when to mouth off and when to shut up. He also knew when to follow an order.

He decided to start by asking around. He went to the shadier parts of the city, the places where the rumors were likely to have started and smart people avoided. Clearly Felix wasn’t one of the smart ones.

He approached a group of rough-looking men and asked if they knew anything about the disappearances. “You know, those rumors of vampires snatching people off the street.”

One man, with a scar on his cheek, eyed him suspiciously. “Why do you wanna know?” he asked, his voice rough and gravelly.

Felix needed hazard pay for this. “I’m just curious,” he lied.

The man snorted. “Curiosity killed the cat, kid. You’d do well to stay out of things that don’t concern you. Run back to your mama before you get spanked.”

Well, okay then. That had worked out fabulously. Felix backed away slowly, but oh man, he really wanted to flip the fucker off. He just didn’t want the biker and his buddies to pound him into the cement. They looked as if they’d shoot someone just for staring at them the wrong way. Felix must have caught them on a good night if they were letting him walk away.

Still, he couldn’t give up so easily. He had to find out what was going on. He wandered through the city, asking anyone who looked like they might know something. But no one would talk to him.

As he made his way down a deserted side street, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw a figure approaching, their face concealed by a hood. Felix’s heart raced as the figure moved inhumanly fast then cut him off.

“Who are you?” Felix asked, trying to sound confident. He might sass Eleazar, but that didn’t make him brave. Not when he left the walls of Eleazar’s estate. Out here on the streets, especially at night, life was a hell of a lot scarier.

The figure didn’t answer. Instead, the person grabbed Felix by the arm and dragged him into the shadows. Felix struggled, but the stranger was too strong.

“Let me go!” Felix yelled.

“Quiet,” the guy hissed. There was no resisting that voice. Fully masculine and deep. “I’m trying to help you.”

Felix stopped struggling, his heart racing with fear. “Who are you?”

“I’m a hunter,” the guy said. “And I know what’s been happening in Ridgeway.”

Felix gasped. He’d never come face to face with a hunter before. He had a real-life wolf shifter in front of him. The revelation was mind-blowing and scary as hell. He’d wanted to find a hunter, and he had. Now all he wanted to do was run.

“Why should I trust you?” he asked, suspicious of the stranger’s intention.

The hunter pulled back his hood, revealing a face that was stern and sympathetic but also downright gorgeous. Felix always imagined shifters foaming at the mouth and howling at the moon. That was the picture Eleazar had painted in Felix’s head. But this guy didn’t have any foam, and he wasn’t howling.

“Because I’m the only one who can help you navigate through this mess. Eleazar sent you on a suicide mission, didn’t he?”

Felix was surprised that the hunter knew about that. “How do you know what I’m doing?”

The hunter smirked. “Let’s just say I have my sources. Now, let’s get out of here before they find us.”

“Hold the hell up.” Felix tugged at his arm, but the guy’s grip was like a steel band. “I don’t know you from Jack. If you know about Eleazar, then you know I work for a vampire. Hunters and vampires are mortal enemies.”

The guy curled his lip. “I love how you just called a vampire mortal.”

“You know what I mean.”

Felix hesitated, unsure if he could trust the hunter. This felt sketchy as hell, but he had no other options. Not when the guy’s hand was still curled around his upper arm. “I’m not going anywhere with you until I at least know your name.”

“Like you have a choice.”

“I could scream my damn head off,” Felix warned.

The stranger snarled, showing off sharp canines. “Call me Rayne.”

ADULT EXCERPT

The two of them moved in perfect sync, their bodies writhing together in a dance of desire. This was a huge risk, but Felix couldn’t help himself. Rayne made him feel alive like no one else ever had. He wanted to feel all of Rayne, to be completely consumed by him. He slid his hands over Rayne’s chest, relishing the hard muscles beneath his fingertips. He wanted to explore every inch of him.

Rayne flipped them over, pinning Felix to the bed as he kissed his way down Felix’s neck. Felix’s breath hitched as Rayne nipped at his skin, leaving marks in his wake. Good lord, if Rayne kept making Felix feel this way, he was a goner.

But at the same time, a small voice in the back of his mind was telling him that he was risking everything by being with a hunter.

But he couldn’t bring himself to care. Right now, all that mattered was the way Rayne was making him feel. And nothing could take that away from him.

He was lost in the moment, lost in the sensations that Rayne was eliciting from him. Felix gasped as Rayne nuzzled Felix’s groin, the heat of his breath making Felix’s cock twitch.

Rayne’s mouth was hot and wet as he took Felix into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the head of his cock. Felix tangled his fingers in Rayne’s hair as he moaned, the pleasure building inside him like a wave. He was teetering on the edge, ready to fall over at any moment. Rayne’s mouth was like heaven, and Felix never wanted these feelings to end.

But then Rayne stopped, and Felix let out a groan of protest. “What’s wrong?” Felix asked, his voice full of need.

“Shh,” Rayne said, the look in his eyes dark with passion. “Just trust me.”

Felix nodded, his eyes pleading with Rayne for him to continue. Rayne returned to his task, his mouth moving faster and faster. Felix’s entire body was on fire with pleasure, every muscle in him tight with need. He was so close, and he knew he couldn’t hold out much longer.

He groaned as Rayne finally released him, the sudden absence of pleasure making him shudder.

“Were you going to come?” Rayne asked, a sly grin on his face.

“What do you think?” Felix said breathlessly. “If this is your way of torturing me, it’s working.”

“Don’t worry,” Rayne said as he grabbed a bottle of lube from the nightstand. “I’ll make this worth your while.”

Felix took a moment to catch his breath, and he looked back up at Rayne in awe. That sensation had been incredible, but he needed more. He needed to feel Rayne’s cock, his length, as he moved inside of Felix.

“Fuck me,” Felix whispered, his voice full of need.

Rayne’s eyes were dark with desire, but his expression was guarded. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice low and husky. “It’s one thing to fool around, but you’re asking me to have sex with you.”

Felix nodded, his cheeks flushing with desire. He was desperate to know what it felt like to be with Rayne in the most intimate way. Felix still hadn’t come, and maybe it was his dick talking, but if he didn’t get Rayne inside of him, and soon, he just might go crazy.

“Please,” Felix said breathlessly.

Rayne grabbed the lube and slicked up his fingers, his eyes never leaving Felix’s. Felix bit his bottom lip as Rayne moved closer, his fingers lightly brushing Felix’s ass. He was so close to Rayne that he could feel the heat radiating from the guy’s body. Felix’s cock was hard as a rock, and he knew he couldn’t wait any longer.

It was almost too much for Felix to bear as Rayne slid a finger inside of him. Felix was writhing with pleasure, loving the way Rayne made him feel. He needed more, and he was begging for it.

Rayne slid a second finger inside of him, watching Felix’s reaction. Felix let out a small whimper as Rayne moved his fingers in and out of him, his nails raking down Felix’s back with his other hand.

“You like this, don’t you?” Rayne asked, the deep gravel of his voice making Felix shudder.

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He was offering himself to Rayne, and the thought of that made his entire body throb with longing.

Rayne moved forward and positioned himself between Felix’s legs, his cock poised at the entrance. Felix bit his lip, waiting for the moment when Rayne would pierce him, when they would finally become one. His entire body tingled with anticipation, and he couldn’t wait to feel Rayne thrust into him.

“What’re you waiting for?” Felix whined.

Rayne grabbed Felix’s legs and pulled him closer, his eyes focused on Felix. Then, without warning, Rayne thrust inside of him, Felix’s body stretching to accommodate him. He cried out as Rayne filled him up, his cock throbbing with need. Felix had never been more desperate for anything in his life.