STORY EXCERPT

Craggen was cleaning house, so whatever plans she had must be about ready to bear fruit, and she wanted the panthers gone. He could well and clearly understand why the panthers had gone after them so coldly years ago. Craggen’s people knew how to inspire betrayal and murderous intent to achieve their own ends.

He heard the door close behind him but didn’t turn. He knew by the scent of clean, musky pine that it was his mate. “Hi.”

“What’s the matter?” Voss asked, moving up behind him and dropping a kiss on the back of his neck before dropping down in one of the patio chairs next to him. He took his hand and squeezed. “I know something was bothering you earlier, so don’t say nothing.”

“I was tired, but I have something to show you. I sent Black Ops a message about ten minutes ago.”

“What information?” Voss asked.

Colby sighed deeply. “Come on.” He got to his feet and went inside. “I think we have what we need to drive home the point to the Bayou Devils that Craggen and Anders meant them nothing good.”

“What did you do?” Voss asked carefully.

“Nothing. One of the Order members was killed and she got some information for us first,” he said. “ Black Ops has people trying to confirm her death, but I sent him all the proof he really needs.”

“What was it?” Voss asked.

Colby led him to the living area and the couch where he’d left his laptop. He got it up and running. “I’ll send him a copy of this file, too, in a minute. I just want you to confirm something.”

“What?” Voss asked.

“You’ll see. Give me your email so I can send it to you. I don’t need to see it again.”

Voss gave him the address and he typed it in. While he was sending, Voss went to his own computer to wait for the file. Colby opened the encrypted file to work on it while Voss watched the murders. He still couldn’t get it open and Voss cursed as he stopped the video ten minutes later.

“How much more is there?”

“It’s an hour long,” Colby told him, “and what you saw was the merciful part.”

“I’ll get the guys over here,” he said. “We need to figure out a way to get rid of her ASAP.”

“I’ll make some lunch while you make your calls.” He turned off his computer and went to the kitchen. Voss joined him shortly to help him pull together a light meal.

“What about the file you sent Black Ops?” Voss asked. “What’s on it?”

“The Order agent was a lion breed,” he said. “She was eaten by lions because they found out she’d betrayed them. I have no idea how. Everything was fine when I talked to her a day ago. She’s on day rotation.”

“You witnessed it?”

“They gave me a copy of her execution to remind me where my loyalties lie,” he said tightly. “In case you’re wondering—”

“We’re mated,” Voss said. “I know where they lie.”

“I saw a look on your face this morning. Did you think I was here to put the poison in your food and then serve it up to you?” he asked. “I’d never do that to you or any you love.”

“I was suspicious as to why you were here,” Voss admitted, “but I never assumed you’d kill me. You can’t any more than I could kill you. There is a bond between us that is indestructible now.”

Colby nodded. “It was there before you mated me,” he murmured. “Hell, I started falling in love with you the day I saw you. I knew you were mine.”

Voss gave him a faint smile. “That’s why I didn’t want to mate you,” he said. “I didn’t want you to get hurt. I wanted to protect you.”

“From you?”

“From the power of that bond. It will make us both do anything for each other, and the more we feel for each other, the more dangerous it will make me where you’re concerned,” Voss told him. “It will make me feral if something happens to you. I didn’t want a broken heart after, but I couldn’t stop it from happening. I had to mate you yesterday.”

“You don’t feel anything for me?”

“I feel more than I’ve ever felt for any lover I’ve ever known, and it’s not the mating energy or the bond we share. It’s something—” He put a hand over his heart. “It’s something deep inside me, something raw and new and hot. I’d kill to protect that feeling.”

Before he could answer, the front door opened and a voice called out to him.

Colby swallowed tightly. “What you said last night wasn’t just words.”

ADULT EXCERPT

 He caressed Voss’s hand, needing to feel skin rather than the fine fabric of his suit. “You still haven’t kissed me,” he said softly.

Voss cupped his cheek and lowered his head. “You’re a demanding little cub,” he murmured.

He put his hand on Voss’s hip. “You’re making me this way.”

Voss claimed his lips and kissed him lazily before as he stroked his fingers over the back of Colby’s neck. Colby curled an arm around his waist and leaned into him. He savored the warmth and hardness against him.

Voss’s tongue tangled with his as his fingers pushed into Colby’s hair. He drank greedily from him and Colby savored the taste of him, purring softly.

“Val,” he murmured as Voss kissed the side of his neck. “You should have fucked me this morning. Your dick is like food to my soul.”

“Colby,” he said softly and then bit him as he stroked his hand down the placket of Colby’s jeans.

“I know how freaking pathetic I sound,” he said and pulled away with a low growl. “I hate needing you like this and I don’t understand why when I’ve never been like this.”

“It’s not that simple I guess,” Voss told him. “I can’t tell you what you need to know being a white panther—”

“I’m not a white panther,” he said in irritation. “A white panther would never be able to do the job I do. They aren’t killers.”

“I’ve known them to be vicious killers, but you’re the most sexually voracious one I’ve met.”

“I’m not, Val. I wish I was,” he said softly. “I could really have you and I could give you children.” He hadn’t thought of having a family, but Valentine made him want it all especially a man of his own to love and cherish. He made him want a life outside of killing and death.

Voss went to him where Colby stood near the window now. He cupped his face. “Kitten, I—”

“Don’t.” Colby shook his head. “This is all I need right now.” He leaned forward and captured Voss’s lips in a soft kiss that heated quickly as their tongues met. Colby sank into Voss, loving the feel of hard muscled strength. “Don’t run from me right now. Just feed me, please?”

Voss removed his suit jacket and went to toss it over the arm of the couch. Colby undid his pants as he moved to Voss’s desk. Voss locked the office door before joining him there and taking Colby in his arms. His kiss was hungry, and Colby tasted the same need on him this time.

He didn’t hope that Valentine had the same strange inability to go a second without thinking of him. Right now it didn’t matter. He tugged Valentine’s shirt from his pants before loosening the belt and then the snap of his pants. He met his lover’s eyes as he dragged the zipper down.

“Tell me you’re not doing this just to shut me up,” Colby said and heard the pleading in his tone.

“You don’t have a clue how much I want you, do you?” Voss asked. “How you seduce me past thought.”

“I want you bewitched by me,” Colby said and nipped at Voss’s jaw. “I want you out of your fucking mind with need for me like I am for you.”

Voss kissed him hard. “We don’t need that, kitten,” he murmured and then turned Colby around before tugging open his desk drawer.

“That better be preparation in case I stopped by,” Colby said disgruntled.

Voss chuckled. “I had a life before you,” he said at Colby’s ear, but I didn’t want anyone like I want you.” He pushed Colby’s jeans down before pushing his hands beneath his T-shirt to stroke Colby’s chest. “It’s just you I want now.” He bit down on the lobe of his ear. “Only you.”

Colby moaned. Voss’s fingers plucked at his nipples. “Me?”

“You.”

A knock on the door drew a low growl from Colby.

“My secretary,” Voss murmured. “I’ll get back to you shortly.”

“Sir—”

“Is someone attacking? The building on fire?”

“An important call.”

“It’ll keep.” He kissed the back of Colby’s neck. “See how much I want you?”

“I’ll always want you more.”

Voss pushed the head of cock into the tight confines of Colby’s ass. Colby groaned, felt that warm pulse of moisture lubricate him. “Don’t pull out.”

Voss dropped a hand on his ass. “I’m going to have to start spanking your ass so you’ll remember who’s alpha.”

“You—” He broke off biting down on his bottom lip as Voss’s dick pushed deeper into him. The moisture had his ass so slick inside, there was no pain. “You’re not my alpha, you’re my lover.”

Voss seated himself in him and wrapped an arm around his waist. Colby purred and tightened his muscle around Voss’s thick cock.

“Mmm.”

Voss kissed his ear before drawing out and thrusting back in. “It’s going to be too fast.”

“But good.”

Voss gripped Colby’s hips and thrust into him again. Colby gripped the desk edge and thrust back to meet his lover stroke for stroke. His eyes closed and his lips parted as the pleasure sent him soaring.

Voss’s thrusts lifted him off his feet, his balls slapped Colby’s ass and Colby moaned, reaching back to touch him. His fingers slid into Valentine’s hair, he pulled.

“Fuck,” Voss cried as he hammered into Colby.