STORY EXCERPT 

“Not good,” I murmured. The bass pounded in my head, a relentless rhythm that made the room spin. Lights flashed, too bright and too fast, while bodies blurred together in a suffocating crush. 

I tucked my hands against my chest, trying desperately to move through the crowd. If I could just get some fresh air… 

“Wrong way.” Hands gripped my upper arms, turning me in the opposite direction. This wasn’t right. Everything in me screamed to get away from the man guiding me toward the rear exit. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but my gut told me that if I left with him, my life would be over.  

No.” I shook my head even as he pushed me forward. “Let go.” 

“But I promised you a night of fun, dear boy.” His voice was a velvet caress against my senses, drawing me in even as I fought not to surrender. I licked my lips, dying for something to drink.  

“Thirsty.” I stumbled, but he kept me from falling. His low laugh sounded more sinister than sensual, causing me to fight harder against his hold. “Let go.” 

“We’re almost to the door. Just hang on one more minute.” His voice was at my ear, his breath sliding across my skin. Instead of it causing me to shudder, the breath felt like a warning for me to focus, to try harder to get away.  

“I’m pretty sure he said to let him go.”  

I blinked several times at the deep, unfamiliar voice, laced with just enough darkness to seep into my bones, leaving me breathless. 

 “I no wanna go.” I ran a hand over my numb face, wondering what exactly was wrong with me. Drugs weren’t my thing, and I’d only had one drink. Yet, I could barely function.  

“Then you’re not going.” A shadow strode smoothly into view, just clear enough for me to notice his dark features. And the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. They gleamed like fractured sapphires, midnight and moonlight tangled in their depths, sharp enough to cut and deep enough to drown. 

He moved like someone used to being obeyed, his confidence as solid as the hand gripping my arm. His head tilted slightly. “Either let him go or I ruin your night, demon.”  

His voice carried a quiet power, one that didn’t need to shout to make itself known. It simply existed, undeniable and commanding. The word “demon” caught in my mind, but I was too out of it to react. I squinted, my mind shouting for me to get out of there, but my legs wouldn’t move.  

“You should mind your own business, bloodsucker,” the demon countered with a guttural snarl that made the hair on my body stand on end.  

I ran my tongue between my upper lip and gums, frowning when my tongue became stuck.  

I wanted something to drink so badly. My mouth felt like every drop of moisture had been sucked out.  

A hand slid over my back, pulling gently. “I’ll take it from here.” Dark and Sexy paused. “Unless you want to test my patience.” 

The hard grip on my upper arm eased, then the hand dropped away. “This isn’t over. No vampire is going to rob me of my toys.” 

My heart beat faster, my mind refusing to focus, but the warm hand on my back had me leaning closer to danger.  

“Come on, handsome.” Dark and Sexy pulled me through the back door of the club. The night air was jarring, causing my head to spin wildly and the bile to rise. I pivoted, dropped to my knees, and vomited.  

“Get it all out of your system.” He rubbed my back, talking soothingly to me as I puked my guts out. “You’ve no idea how close you came to tragedy, human.” 

With the back of my hand, I wiped my mouth, but I still felt groggy. “Who are you?” 

“Giovanni. And you are?”  

I swallowed a few deep breaths, grimacing when I inhaled not only the contents of my stomach but the foul odor of the alley. “Kyson. Can you help me up?”  

Strong hands lifted me until I was finally upright. Tipsy, but on my feet. The world was a little more focused, though I still felt queasy. “I think that asshole put something in my drink.” 

“That would be my guess.” His hands lingered on my waist, bringing me comfort when the night felt like chaos.  

“I don’t—” The alley seemed like it stretched for miles, riddled with trash from an overfilled dumpster. I blinked repeatedly, wishing my head would clear. “I don’t know if I can make it home in this condition.” 

Vampire. The word whispered through my mind but quickly faded into the dark recesses. Closing my eyes for a second, I swayed, but those firm hands kept me from teetering over.  

When I cracked my eyes open, I was staring into fathomless blue depths that steadily watched me with interest, as if debating on helping me.  

“Tell me where you live,” Giovanni finally said.  

Don’t give him anything that can identify you. Then how was I supposed to make it home? My apartment was ten blocks away. In my condition, I wouldn’t make it to the end of the alley before collapsing.  

With no other choice, I rattled off my address, praying my stupidity didn’t get me killed.  

Giovanni slid his arms around my waist, his solid body warm against mine. Whatever cologne he wore caused me to sink into him just so I could inhale deeper. “What’re you doing?” 

“Getting you home, Kyson,” he whispered into my ear, his voice curling around my senses. “Hold on tight.” 

ADULT EXCERPT 

We fell toward the bed, but I turned at the last second, placing him gently onto his back while telling myself not to rush this. Not when I had something to prove.  

Kyson’s worth. Not just to me, but also to himself. 

Goddamn, he was breathtaking lying under me, a need in his eyes I’d never thought would be aimed at me. He bit my bottom lip, smiling as he lapped at the sting. I’d never met anyone like him, and maybe five years ago, my subconscious had known just how special he truly was when I’d offered to take him home. 

But you failed to keep him safe. 

Something I would always regret, but I was a selfish bastard, unwilling to walk away and leave him untouched.  

My hand cupped the back of his head, the other slipping under his shirt. Kyson froze, but I couldn’t stop now. Not when there was a chance he might shut me out for good if I backed down. 

I trailed my fingers over scars, mapping out his slim chest. He gasped when I tweaked a nipple, then he moaned into my mouth.  

A sound I willingly devoured.  

He was a sensual creature, responding to my every touch, and I wanted to wreck any hope someone else might have of stealing Kyson away from me.  

For him, I would be whatever the male needed me to be. His lover, protector, friend, partner, and anything else that proved the depth of my love for him. Osiris had tried to break him. Instead, the demon had reforged Kyson into something untouchable, even if the male couldn’t see how incredible he truly was. 

His hands skimmed over my dress shirt, and as we kissed, he undid the buttons one at a time, his fingers scraping my skin. His touch was electric, pure fire, and I wanted to rip the damn thing off, to feel his hands on me. But I forced back the urge and allowed him to explore my body, one button at a time.  

A hiss escaped when he pinched my nipples, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my groin. My cock strained against the fabric of my slacks, eager to be set free. He snickered against my lips, a cute, diabolical sound that teased my senses in the best damn way.  

Which only deepened my love for him.  

In retaliation for his teasing, I tickled him, grinning devilishly as my fingers targeted every inch of his sides and stomach.  

“Uncle!” Kyson shouted between fits of laughter, squirming uncontrollably beneath me.  

His laughter moved through me like a whisper of something I’d never had but suddenly craved.  

“Are you going to pinch me again?” Though I’d loved it.  

“I’m waving a white flag.” He held up his hands in surrender.  

“You should never give up that easily, petit oiseau.” I arched a brow.  

“So you can keep tickling me?” he asked incredulously then narrowed his eyes. “I see right through you, Giovanni. You’re not fooling me.”  

Every time he said my name my dick always hardened. “Busted.” I grinned. “I can’t help if I love to hear you laugh.”    

“Then tell me a joke instead.” He smiled up at me. 

Nothing came to mind. Joking didn’t belong in my world. Not when everyone around me was a potential threat, including my own brother. Allowing anyone to get close would only give them easier access to my throat.  

Something I really wanted to remain intact.  

“All I hear are crickets.” Kyson pursed his kiss-swollen lips, tempting me to take them again.  

So I took them, slower this time, trailing my fingers over his ribs until I reached the waistband of his pajama pants. He arched his back, his nails digging into my biceps. 

“Giovanni.” His eyelids fluttered closed, his hips jerking when I curled my hand around his hard cock. The scent of his desire thickened in the air as Kyson whimpered into my mouth.  

I wanted to ravage him, ruin him like I’d wanted to do the night we’d met. To keep him safe, cherish him, and make him unravel beneath me. I moved lower down the bed, taking his pants and underwear with me. 

He grew still, not a single breath leaving his lungs. I inwardly cursed but kept my features neutral. Not even his thighs had escaped Osiris’s torture. Large gashes crisscrossed his pale skin in erratic patterns, pucker marks from burns marring his delicate flesh. His legs trembled when I pressed a kiss over each mark, wishing like hell I could kill the demon a thousand more times.  

And that still wouldn’t be enough to satisfy me.   

Kyson caressed my hair, the touch so light I’d barely felt it. It was as if he was silently pleading for me not to be repulsed. His vulnerability was palpable, fragile in a way that would shatter with one wrong move or word.  

Using the flat of my tongue, I licked my way toward his sac, inhaling the musky fragrance at the center of his body. He tried to spread his legs farther, but the fabric of his clothes restricted his movements. 

In one fluid motion, I pulled his pants free and tossed them aside.