STORY EXCERPT

And we have a winner.

Níximon Aeglos smiled slyly as he pushed away from the stone wall he had been leaning against as he scanned the crowd, effortlessly sliding into the bustling throng of people moving about the marketplace. He hurried to catch up with his mark, knowing the well-dressed man ahead of him would have what Níx wanted.

Determining who was an easy mark and who was not was an art form, one that Níx had mastered many years ago. He had perfected his technique over time, becoming quicker, stealthier, better. He could pick someone's pocket in under three seconds, take a pocket watch in two, and then disappear into a puff of smoke in one.

Blending into his surroundings was the first thing he had learned. He was non-descript. Even if someone saw him lift a watch or a coin purse, no one would be able to describe him. Níx worked very hard at appearing uninteresting.

The simple clothing he wore was a big help. Many people wore bright, vivid colors to stand out in a crowd. Níx wore earth tones, browns and tans and creams. People tended to look past him to the more brightly colored outfits, which was exactly what Níx wanted.

Níx weaved his way through the crowd, keeping his eyes on his target as much as he could while scanning his surroundings. As good as he knew he was, there was always someone better. And there were always soldiers patrolling the marketplace looking for troublemakers and anyone else that broke the laws set down by their king.

Being a thief might not be a legal or moral occupation, but it put food in Níx's belly and kept a roof over his head, at least on most days. His upbringing didn't come with a treasure chest full of gold coins, unlike the man he was tracking.

It was obvious from the fine silk of his white tunic and the perfect stitching of his black leather pants and vest that the man came from a rich background. He wouldn't even miss the coin that Níx planned to lift from him.

After making sure there were no eyes watching him, Níx moved in closer to his mark. As he caught up with the man, he couldn't help but appreciate the way the black leather hugged the man's ass and thighs like a second skin.

Whoever had sewn those leathers deserved an award.

From the backside, the guy was gorgeous enough, and Níx bet he was just as stunning from the front. It was really too bad that Níx needed the coin this man could garner him. If he didn't need the money, he'd consider giving up thoughts of stealing from him and just invite him to the alley for a little fun.

Alas, as gorgeous as the man looked, the sword at his side dissuaded Níx. In his experience, not only did soldiers not take kindly to being propositioned for a little fun in the alley, they tended to believe they were better than the average man on the street.

Níx wanted nothing to do with them, no matter how hot one of them might be. Slightly saddened that things had to be that way, Níx slid up closer behind his prey. He carefully checked his peripheral vision, making sure no one was watching too closely and no patrols were in sight.

Once he was sure that the coast was clear, Níx moved in. He waited for just the right moment, watching as the man started to weave his body, turning one way then the other as he moved through a thickening crowd of people.

Just as someone started to bump into the man, Níx slid his small-bladed dagger through the leather straps holding the man's coin purse. He was turning away before he even finished cutting them.

Once the small, black leather bag was free, Níx slid it into the hidden pocket on his vest. He casually walked away, plastering a look on his face that he had perfected through the years, the one that said he was innocent of anything and everything.

And that would have worked great…if he wasn't suddenly grabbed from behind and dragged into the closest alleyway. Níx grunted with pain as he was slammed into the hard stone wall, his cheek scraping along the uneven plaster holding the gray stones together.

Hot, heavy breath beat down on the nape of Níx's neck, sending his heart beat soaring. Níx could feel the buttery softness of leather brushing against him as his hands were pinned against the stone wall.

He had a pretty good idea who had him. He just couldn't figure out how he had gotten caught. The whole process had been flawless. He knew that. He had done it a hundred times in the past. There was absolutely no reason that he should have been caught.

And yet, he was.

Now, Níx just had to figure out how to get free.

Níx quickly went through his options. He could play innocent and cry about being bullied. He could play innocent and get angry that he was being accosted. He could give the guy a boon and admit what he had done, again crying or getting angry.

Or he could just stand there with the gorgeous man pressing him into the wall.

"Stealing is wrong."

Níx groaned as his body reacted to the deep voice rumbling behind him, warming, heating, arousal making his skin tight. Maybe he should consider asking if the guy wanted to have a little fun in the alleyway.

Níx's lips twisted in a wry smile. "I don't know what you're talking about." Níx could barely believe his words, and he was speaking them. Sometimes he even amazed himself. "You must have the wrong guy."

"No, I have the right guy." Níx's eyebrows shot up when he heard a hard sniffing noise near his ear. Was the guy actually sniffing him? "It was you in the marketplace. I could hear you walking behind me. I could smell you."

Níx's denial plan was starting to come apart right before his eyes. He seriously needed to come up with a different game plan. It looked like it would either be crying or getting angry.

"Of course I was in the marketplace, you idiot. That's where you grabbed me."

Okay, anger it was.

ADULT EXCERPT

"You've caught me fair and square, Captain of the Royal Guard of the House of Elvellon," Níx whispered seductively as he could. The Goddess Akasha had smiled on him this morning when they put a handsome warrior in his bed. "Now, what are you going to do with me?"

Níx rolled over, cuddling further under Mael. Feeling Mael's strong arms wrapped around him made Níx feel wanted and protected...and hornier than hell. He pushed his butt back, feeling Mael's cock poke him. It was only half hard, but Níx still wanted to feel it deep inside of him.

Níx yelped when he was flipped onto his back.

"Someone wants a cock buried deep in their ass, doesn't he?"

"Mael," Níx whimpered as a hot wave of lust swept through him. "Please, I need."

"You need me." Mael's deep, whiskey voice floated over Níx like a soft caress.

"Yes!"

Mael growled as he shifted between Níx's legs. He manacled Níx's wrists, bringing them above his head with one hand as the other skimmed down his side. Níx shivered at the contact. Mael's hazel-green eyes were intense as he gazed into Níx's eyes.

Níx groaned when Mael grabbed his neck and kissed him with a hunger that fringed on madness. Níx opened, taking Mael's tongue into his mouth as his legs spread apart, telling his lover that Mael had complete control.

 Níx pulled one hand free and then snaked it between them, grabbing both their cocks in his hand as he pulled at them, trying his best to stroke them, but Mael's cock was too large for his hand, making Níx fumble instead in his efforts. Mael's chest vibrated with a low growl as he ground his cock into Níx's hand.

At that moment, all Níx wanted was to feel Mael deep inside of him.

"Please, Mael. I can't take it." He moaned as Mael sucked his nipple into his mouth. He was too close to the edge.

Mael grinned wickedly around the brown disc. "On your knees," Mael commanded.

Níx rolled to his hands and knees and stuck his ass out, waiting for that wonderful, huge, fat cock to fill him. He hissed when two more fingers entered him. Níx bit his bottom lip, pushing back as Mael stretched him. It felt fantastic. Mael's dry hand skated up his back, making Níx's skin break out in gooseflesh. He was going to pass out from the sheer pleasure Mael was giving him.

Níx's eyes shot open when he felt Mael insert three fingers inside of him. Whoa, that was a lot. Níx squirmed around as Mael moved his fingers inside of him, pressing and twisting, scissoring and bending. Níx soon was fucking Mael's fingers, riding them.

Níx curled his fingers into the blankets as Mael's fingers were pulled free and the warrior's thick cock entered him from behind. He could feel himself stretching wide for Mael. The pleasure racing through his body left him speechless. Níx whimpered and moaned as Mael plunged into him with his cock. He bit the pillow to stop from screaming his head off.

He cried out, the feeling threatening to drown him. Níx spread his legs farther apart as he rocked his ass back and up, wanting Mael to fuck him until he was unconscious. Mael hammered into him. It was raw, fast, and made Níx's head swoon. He keened and mewled, begging his lover to take him harder.

 "My little thief is enjoying this."

"Yes, more. Harder." Níx got what he begged for.

Mael spread his ass cheeks apart and began to pound into him. He turned his powerful thrusts to long, deep, penetrating strokes, hitting Níx's sweet spot every damn time he pulled back or pushed in. Níx was mewling, begging, whining, and pleading. Mael just chuckled as if mastering Níx was his sole purpose in life.

"Níx, my beautiful, little thief," Mael crooned as his body stiffened and he rocketed into Níx's over-sensitized hole.

Fingers dug into his hips as Mael switched his position, tagging Níx's prostate on every damn stroke. His body tingled and buzzed, his heart beating faster as he felt the all-too-familiar tingling shoot up his spine.

Níx shoved his face deeper into the pillow as he came while he met Mael's thrust for thrust. White bursts of light lit up behind his eyes as wave after wave of electricity rocketed through his body.

Mael suddenly jerked behind him and then stiffened, roaring out his release. He pounded harder into Níx, a growl falling from the man's lips as he shot every last drop of cum in his balls into Níx's ass.

Níx shuddered as mini orgasms pulled at his sensitive cock. Níx groaned, holding onto Mael's arms as he rode through them. Never had sex been this mind-blowing. He inhaled deeply, the scent of man and sweat and cum filling the air.

It was intoxicating.

Níx slumped over onto the bed, trying desperately to catch his breath as Mael eased out of him. All Níx wanted was a nap right now. He collapsed down onto the bed, wanting desperately to go back to sleep.

He grunted when he felt the cooling cum underneath him and then crawled onto Mael, lying across his wide chest. He shivered when he felt Mael's callused hands stroke over the skin of his back, starting at the top, between his shoulder blades, and moving down to the crack of his ass and then over the swell of his ass cheeks.

"Careful, Captain," he murmured. "I could get used to this."

"Yes." Mael's response was simple, and yet perfect.

Níx's lips rubbed against Mael's hot, sweaty skin when he smiled. He knew Mael's agreement was truthful. The man just didn't have it in him to lie. He was too honorable for that. Níx just didn't see anything ever coming of it, no matter how much he wished differently.