Prince of Cats Claims a Mate or Two

STORY EXCERPT

Throwing open the door to the classy Readings Restaurant, Drake scanned the room, ignoring the mix of creatures, some he knew and were bristling, ready for whatever had stirred him up. Others were human and alarmed by a big immortal cat shifter flashing his fangs.s.

Following the alluring scent of his prey further into the restaurant, Drake did what came naturally for his kind and many other paranormals. He stalked and would grab and claim. No debate. No talking. His. Have. That was how paranormals were taught from a young age to deal with their fated mates, ensuring there were no claiming issues.

Drake stalked the tall, slender, dark-haired creature silently. He was fast, lethal, and wasn’t giving any time for resistance.

His prey was paranormal and apparently very aware of everything around him. That drool-worthy, lithe, elegant body tensed minutely, and just before Drake grabbed him, the creature was gone from reach, sliding away easily in a move he was extremely impressed with and now frustrated by.

Facing him in a defensive stance was the most stunning creature Drake had ever seen. He was a few centuries old and had his share of gorgeous creatures, this one took his breath away though.

Eyes the color of blue chipped ice turned icier and long razor-sharp talons slid out on the vampire’s slender hands.

Every creature in the place had backed away, some making a hasty exit as most could sense the tension in the air, the heady endorphins that could lead to a scuffle. Drake would do all he could to not injure the vampire, but he was taking the stunning creature down, hard and fast.

The vampire quirked an elegant brow. “Well, well, Prince Drakius of the Sanchez Pride. A pleasure.”

Well damn, now Drake’s cock was throbbing so hard he could bust through his pants. And that was just from the sound of this creature’s voice. He couldn’t wait to strip and claim every inch of the vampire, but first, he had to get his hands on the beauty. Sizing him up, Drake’s mind worked like a computer, analysing, adjusting, calculating. He grinned slowly.

“Pleasure’s all mine. What’s your name, gorgeous?” He moved ever so slightly and stilled immediately.

The vampire’s eyes had gone deadly, a frostiness that nearly leaked out all the blue. It was irritating Drake now, sure he’d seen eyes very similar to the vampire’s before. This creature wasn’t weak, not in any way. He knew how to fight and defend himself. Drake didn’t want to harm the stunning creature. Just take him down, make him submit, fuck, and claim him. Simple.

“Come to me,” Drake ordered.

The vampire merely quirked an brow again, lips smirking. “You do have a reputation for issuing orders. I wonder…” The vampire tapped a long razor-sharp talon against his sweet lips, eyes icy and assessing.

“You can smell me, vampire, you know what I am.” Drake was growing impatient with the vampire’s resistance, like the creature was testing him or toying with him. Vampires were like that, the arrogant bastards. “Our laws—”

“Oh, I am well aware of the laws, cat.” The vampire flicked a hand dismissively. “You are within your rights. As am I. And yes, I can smell you. I do prefer not to be manhandled, though, so I suggest we take a moment to…” The stunning creature gave a somewhat derisive smile. “Chat. Perhaps have a five-minute conversation first, learn each other’s names, even a short synopsis of our lives may be appropriate rather than be tossed on a table.”

“Sure, we can do all that, right after I claim you.” Drake growled now, turned-on and annoyed at the same time. “Stand down, vampire, or we do this in a way I’m guessing you won’t like.”

“Hello, Dominic.”

Drake’s eyes narrowed on his litter mate Dominic as his brother took up position to corner the vampire in. Dominic was a diplomat and negotiator for the pride and council. He knew a great many creatures and also knew how to soothe and calm them down. Drake would rather grab and toss his vampire onto a table now than try to soothe and coax the bastard as his attitude was beginning to grate on Drake’s frigging nerves.

It was all that cat mating heat rising up, demanding he have his mate, and the creature was resisting him, saying they should chat.

Dominic inclined his head as Jax moved around the vampire. A few of the cat shifters who were members of the pride were hanging back but alert and ready to assist when given the signal.

“Hello, Xavier. You haven’t met my brother, Drake.” Dom waved a hand, smiling pleasantly, eyes watchful. “Crown Prince Drake of the Sanchez Pride, meet Lord Xavier Armstrong Dalton of the Armstrong Witch and Wizard Coven and the Durand Vampire Coven of New York and North America.” Dominic inched a little closer, stopping when Xavier smirked at him and shook his head. “Drake, Xavier is Lady Delia’s grandson, and Mason and Laurence’s cousin. Their older vampire cousin who is an esteemed member of the Durand Vampire Coven—”

“My mate,” Drake interrupted, receiving startled looks from every shifter in the place. “So you don’t need to give me a spiel on public relations and being diplomatic, brother. I’m giving you one last chance to stand down, Xavier. I’m gonna claim you right here and now. You know it’s our way, so you can either make it easy or hard. Your choice.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Setting up the food on the table in the lounge room, Drake went to the study and spent half an hour catching up on some e-mails that required an urgent response, and then, when he heard movement from the bedroom, saved his work and closed his computer down. Going through the lounge, he found Keeley sitting at the table nibbling an edge of the sandwich and reading an e-book.k.

“Hey, Keeley, all rested?”

Keeley glanced up with a start, hazel eyes wide. “Drake! Oh, ah, I d–didn’t know you were here.”

“Just in the study doing some work until you woke.” Drake pulled up a seat on the other side of the table and poured Keeley a glass of milk. “I would like to show you around the pride compound this afternoon. I think it would be good for you to see the place, meet a few of the shifters, and see how everything works.”

Keeley shrugged. “Why?”

“Because this is your home now.”

Keeley’s eyes grew dreamy and a little smile played on his pink lips. “So you’ve said. I guess I don’t get any say in that either.”

“I’m responsible for the pride here, and two more in Europe. I spend my time between all three, plus attend Council meetings and committee events. I don’t really get a choice either, my mate, otherwise I’d give you that.”

“Europe? Where in Europe?” Keeley’s eyes lost the dreamy look and grew wide with excitement. “Will you take me to Europe? I want to see Paris and Amsterdam and New York—okay, I’ve been there lots—maybe Jamaica and I want to go to a beer festival in Germany and eat chocolate in Belgium and…” Keeley blushed, dropping his head.

Laughing, and a bit shocked by the outburst, Drake nudged the glass of milk closer to his quirky little human.

“Sure, I’ll take you to all those places. There’s a Sanchez Compound in Prague, close to the gargoyle’s head clan actually, and another in Switzerland.”

“Oh my Gods! Switzerland! Can I go sledding?”

“Sure, my light, we’ll go sledding. I can’t wait to take you.”

Keeley gaped at him. “For real? You’ll let me come along and take me places? You…want to?”

Standing up, Drake couldn’t help himself. He swooped his little mate up into his arms and deposited them both on the sofa, Keeley on his lap. Purring, he nuzzled Keeley’s throat, licking and kissing till he got to those soft pink lips and covered them with his own and thrust his tongue in deep as he gently coaxed Keeley to return the little sweet kisses and let Drake caress his hot little body without nearly jumping out of his arms and tensing up.

Surprisingly, it only took a few minutes to have Keeley melting against Drake, pressing their chests together, and turning so he was straddling Drake’s lap, their groins brushing, making both of them groan as Keeley took over the kiss and explored Drake’s mouth with his lips, tongue, and shy inquisitiveness.

Drake let him. Whatever Keeley wanted, he’d have. His little mate was so warm and shy, quirky and beautiful.

And he kissed like a wet dream come to life! Drake was panting and purring, body thrusting up and humping against his mate’s little one to get closer.

“Wow.” Keeley was breathing heavy as he pulled back, the fingers of one hand tracing Drake’s lips. “You’re not really a big bossy shifter. Err, I mean—”

Chuckling, Drake kissed Keeley’s fingertips. “I have my moments, babe. Probably too many of them but I’m sure you’ll put me in my place. I meant what I said, Keeley. I want to take you to all those places, be with you. Just like Xavier.”

“He doesn’t take me anywhere.” Keeley pouted, actually pouted! His bottom lip jutted out and his face went mutinous.

Biting his tongue to stop from laughing over the look, Drake purred and nibbled his mate’s cute little ear, earning a giggle, a real giggle, from his adorable, soft little mate.

“I’m sure Xavier would love to take you to all those places. He’ll be coming, too. He may be a vamp but he knows how to have fun.”

Keeley snorted. “For real? Have you met Xavier? Like, I love the guy more than life, but he’s not really the sledding type, more like ‘sip a glass of blood wine by the fire and discuss important shit’ type, ya know what I’m sayin?”

Drake grinned. “Yeah, he just needs us to show him how to relax. Sooo, you love Xavier?”

Receiving a “duh” look, Drake snuggled his Keeley closer and purred, nibbling his soft lips again.

“You don’t act it by taking off and leaving him, my light.”

“That’s what Xavier calls me.” Keeley shivered as Drake slipped a hand up beneath his shirt and caressed his narrow chest. “He’s like…well, everything, but he keeps so much to himself.”

“So do you.” Drake slid a hand down the back of Keeley’s tight jeans and between his ass cheeks directly to that perfect little star Drake wanted to feel wrapped around his cock. He tapped his mate’s hole. “I want you, Keeley.”

Sliding his finger in and out of that tight little hole, Drake nibbled Keeley’s jaw, wanting to feel all of his mate, see the pleasure as he came. Moving his hand down Keeley’s chest, over his flat stomach, stopping to play with the fine blond hairs along his treasure trail, Drake got to the button of the tight jeans and flicked it open, followed by the zipper. He grinned as Keeley groaned, tensing a moment then pushing his underwear-covered cock into Drake’s hand.

The Avenger Claims His Mates

STORY EXCERPT

“Have a good day, and Ran, try to stay out of trouble.”

Smirking, Ran Markson slipped the strap of his bag over his shoulder. “Hey now, I wasn’t the one who got in the landlord’s face at our last place and had us run out of town, babe.”

Conceding that point, ungraciously, Deakin Myers rolled his eyes. “This is a good city. We both got jobs, and you were accepted by the pack Alpha to hang around, so abide the rules…and if you can’t, make sure you don’t leave evidence.”

Leaning forward, Ran gave Deak a quick kiss, still grinning, then ambled off down the cobbled road.

Yeah, Deak just knew his long-term boyfriend was going to go ahead and do whatever the hell he wanted, just like he always did. With a smile at that thought, Deak wouldn’t change anything about his boyfriend… Well, okay, he may change the fact that somehow, every freaking time, Ran missed the laundry basket, and the fact he couldn’t seem to clean the bathtub without needing to drink a gallon of beer beforehand, but those were minor things.

Ran was smart, hot, and fun. He was also the only one to ever really get Deakin so hot he couldn’t think. So messing up jobs, being kicked out of towns, and learning to accept the other side of his boyfriend were just some of the things he’d had to live with in order to be with Ran.

It wasn’t like Deak was faultless.

Watching Ran amble down the footpath with headphones on, Deak couldn’t help the smile that spread across his mouth. He recalled the first time he’d met the man, the instant attraction, their first few dates, the way Ran had Deak laughing, how hard and fast he fell for the sexy, gorgeous man. And that, despite Deak’s numerous faults, Ran wasn’t bothered, even seemed amused, and enjoyed all the weird things he did.

Okay, possibly not all, Ran wasn’t a saint, though. He was a wolf shifter. 

With a last look, and puffing out a sigh at seeing his boyfriend being chatted up by an attractive woman—Ha! She was so wasting her time!—Deakin headed into Milson City Council Offices where he worked as a Records Officer, a job he thoroughly enjoyed and was extremely good at.

Ran often said Deakin should try being quietly good at it. Deak was still mulling over what that meant. Knowing Ran, Deak probably didn’t want to think too hard about it.

As usual, he arrived ten minutes, precisely, early. He removed his autumn coat, made sure it hung just right on the hook, then took the following nine and a half minutes to set up his work station and get himself settled. He wasn’t particularly anal, and he wasn’t too OCD. Deak just liked to have things in their place. Having grown up in a large family, he knew chaos. Now he got to choose what type of chaos he wanted to be surrounded with, and discovered fairly quickly— that was none. 

Okay, he wasn’t that bad. After all, he did live with Ran, who missed the hook when hanging up his bath towel. And that peeling the labels off containers in the pantry thing his boyfriend did, didn’t mean Deakin would forget where things were supposed to go. He had a system, and one little, missing label wasn’t going to mess it up.

After four hours of work and deep into scanning old, archived documents into the new document retrieval system, Deakin had the uncanny feeling he wasn’t alone anymore. Careful to save his work and stack the folder, he looked up to find Ran sitting on the counter that separated the records office from the hallway. Usually, staff would arrive at the counter, and if no one in the office was there, they would ring the bell for attention. Rather than do that, Ran was seated on the counter itself, flicking through a magazine with his head-phones on.

Funny how Deakin had never been one to stare at people—or creatures—before meeting Ran. Now he found himself staring at the wolf shifter, often trying to memorize every feature, and sometimes wondering why Ran had picked Deak.

He knew the why, of course. They were mates. Fate picked them. They were the other half of each other. Deakin felt he was extremely fortunate. Ran, though he had declared Deakin was the best thing to ever happen to him and treated Deak extremely well, there were times Deak wasn’t so sure he was exactly what Ran would have personally picked out himself.

Ran wasn’t a big, macho wolf shifter, nor was he dominant and possessive. In fact, at times, Ran was so laid back, if Deak didn’t make a decision, they probably wouldn’t have gotten very far in their personal lives, and definitely work-wise. Ran was good at what he did. He worked in a café, flashed that cheeky, innocent smile with dimples and batted his big, unusual, sapphire-blue eyes. Planning for the future and making a bigger decision than what top he was going to wear or what snack he was going to grab were usually met with a sigh and stalling tactics.

Not that Deak was much better, so they tended to drift along until something caught either of their attention and they settled on that. It worked for them.

“I take it work let you go early,” Deakin said dryly.

“Sure, we can go with that.” Ran slipped the headphones down to his shoulders. “Or, we could say I decided to review my options.”

Tossing out that careless, dimpled grin had Deakin smiling in return and shaking his head.

ADULT EXCERPT

He groaned when the Avenger’s lips touched his. He wrapped his arms around the big creature’s neck when he was pressed tight against that long, hard body, and cried out as he was lifted and a hard, big cock rubbed against his through his jeans.

Holy jinn, he was going to blow just from this.

A squeaking noise had Deakin blinking. Vicus gave him a soft kiss and a smile, then lowered Deakin to his feet, helping him find his balance as Deakin’s legs were wobbly from that mind-blowing kiss.

Then he saw Ran. His wolf shifter was looking cautious and confused, worrying his bottom lip, his stunning, sapphire eyes darting around the room and locking on the living room window.

“Oh, fudge. Ran, calm down. Deep breath, honey.”

“It’s cool. I’m cool. I’m just gonna get some pizza.”

Ran bolted for the window, an obvious exit point since Deakin and Vicus were standing in front of the door. Deakin called out, and Vicus moved faster than anyone Deakin had ever seen. In fact, Deak couldn’t even track the creature. One moment he was in front of Deakin, the next he was across the room and had caught Ran in his arms.

Instantly Deak felt a myriad of emotions. “Oh, ah, he doesn’t like to be caged in—”

“Mine,” Vicus snarled, lifting Ran up as wicked, sharp teeth slid down.

Ran stilled, eyes wide. “N-o.”

“Yes, my mate.”

Deakin raced across the room, jumping on the sofa, and threw himself at the big creature that only a moment ago he was ready to be devoured by and devour himself. Somehow, Vicus caught him while still keeping hold of Ran, and brought them all to the ground, both smaller mates landing on top of him. Catching hold of Deakin, he rolled them both under him.

Deakin cried out as sharp fangs pierced his skin. There was a touch of pain before mind-blowing pleasure overtook his entire body, his cock rock hard and shooting off in his jeans, hands grabbing weakly onto the Avenger, desperately needing to touch and feel as his mind took flight.

As he was coming down, body still zinging, he heard a muffled cry and reached out automatically for Ran, knowing his mate’s voice. His boyfriend’s body was taut and jerking. Deakin opened his eyes to see Vicus’s mouth latched onto Ran’s neck, fangs embedded deep. Wrapping his arms around Ran, he snuggled them close, body still zinging, cock still hard and now rubbing against Ran’s ass as Vicus pressed against their wolf from the front, the big creature’s hands on both of them and stripping off clothes.

It was overpowering, the need he felt. It had been so long since he’d had sex, nearly two years, and now he had his Ran’s body in his arms and Vicus touching him, stimulation and sensations zinging through him. He wanted in his mate, and Vicus, in him now.

“Mine. Now. Need.” Deak panted, helping to tear off some of Ran’s clothes, then his own, eyes locked with Vicus. “I have Ran.”

“As you wish.” Vicus licked his mating bite on Ran’s neck, then leant back and pulled off Ran’s jeans and the little, boy-short underwear. “Nice. Lube?”

“Bedroom bedside table. Check the expiration date. If it’s expired, there’s a new one in the bathroom cabinet.” Deakin moved. “Let’s go into the bedroom, honey.”

Ran was dazed, letting Vicus and Deakin help him up and into the bedroom where Deakin removed the rest of his own clothes while Ran lay down, watching Deakin quietly, those gorgeous, sapphire-blue eyes bright. Vicus located the lube, then tossed it into the waste bin in the corner.

Ran held out a hand. Deakin breathed a sigh of relief and went to his mate, lying beside the gorgeous man. It had been so long since Ran had gotten hard. At first, when it began happening, the lack of libido, Ran still tried to please Deakin, but he caught on pretty quickly to what was happening, and they just ended up holding each other. Now Ran was hard and leaking, his cock, a good size for a small man, red and thick. Deak grasped it in one hand and kissed Ran at the same time, pumping slowly, loving the feel of Ran pressing against him as he kissed Deakin back, always so open and sweet.

Ran was very lean with sinewy muscles, his complexion fair with a few freckles here and there that Deakin used to love to follow around his mate’s body with his lips.

A hand stroking down Deakin’s back had him shivering, eyes drooping a little. The Avenger’s touch was electrifying. It just did things to Deakin’s body, lighting it up and leaving him aching for more, needing more. It was the same with Ran.

The hand on his back stroked and became two hands, gliding, feeling every part of him, from his head to his feet and everything in between before moving around to his front and doing the same, now tweaking his nipples and playing with his cock and balls.

“Get our wolf ready for you, mate.” Vicus spoke softly in Deakin’s ear, his breath fanning across him, making him shiver. “Touch him, open him up while I do the same to you.”

Not ever having been with two guys at once before, Deakin found it difficult to concentrate on what he was doing at first, but with Vicus guiding him, taking Deakin’s hands and running them over their wolf, seeing Ran flush with desire and quivering beneath them, legs falling open, Deakin let instinct take over.

How he’d missed being intimate with his boyfriend. Ran was unlike anyone he had ever come across before. Sweet, so laid back, he was just so relaxing and calm to be around, but he also had a mischievous side, one that teased and stirred Deakin up, and he was caring and just gave of himself. Sure, he very rarely felt any territorial urges, usually only when feeling threatened, and he had absolutely no territorial instincts or urges. He never really got angry, and words could hurt him, but it was all part of Ran, and Deakin had fallen for him so hard and fast so quickly.

Sinking a lube-covered finger into his boyfriend’s tight, little ass, they both sighed in pleasure. Leaning down, Deakin took Ran’s thick, red cock into his mouth and tongued him, playing the way Ran liked, loving the sweet-as-candy taste of his wolf.

A finger going into his own ass had Deakin groaning and wiggling. A big hand soothed over his back, and lips brushed over his sac. As that soothing hand pressed between his shoulder blades, Deakin automatically lowered his top half completely, keeping a hold of Ran’s throbbing dick and sliding another finger in and scissoring to stretch his mate. Behind him, Vicus did the same with his fingers, stroking inside and scissoring, the hand on his back rubbing up and down, touching his spine, then snaking under and grabbing Deakin’s balls that had drawn up close to his body. A quick tug had him panting, but not so close to shooting off.

By the time he had three fingers inside Ran and there were four in him, Ran was thrusting upwards and ready to come. Deakin eased off his man and moved into position by lifting Ran’s legs up as he lay down and took Ran’s mouth.