STORY EXCERPT

Daniel chuckled as Lucas and Jake argued over whose lap Leyland was going to sit in. Leyland just stood to the side, rolling his eyes. That seemed to be a regular occurrence with those three. Daniel had seen it time and time again since the three men had become mated.

He saw it in the other people that sat around the small fire pit as well. Ryland was curled up with his mates, Gregory and Viktor. Cary sat between his mates, Saul and Ryce. Micah sat with his mates, Caleb and Thomas. Even Sasha was curled up with Vadim.

Daniel was the odd man out. Not even Niko, Vadim’s brother and pack beta, was around. Niko was off spending time with his father. Daniel sat all alone with no mate to cuddle with. As miserable as that was, Daniel was used to his single status, even if he didn’t like it. And that fact was pretty sad.

“You’re the last unmated member of the pack, Daniel.” Leyland giggled from where he now sat in Jake’s lap. “We’re going to have to find you a mate now. There are plenty of single men on the island to pick from.”

Daniel gave Leyland a half smile. “I’m good, Leyland, but thank you.”

Sasha scoffed at Daniel from his position on Vadim’s lap. “Daniel, how can you say that? Having a mate is, well, it’s everything we search for our entire lives. We need our mates.”

This so wasn’t a conversation Daniel wanted to have. “I’m fine, I promise you.”

“Daniel, you’re not fine,” Leyland argued. “You need to find your mate. You need to have the bond that a mate brings to you.”

Daniel grimaced. “Please, Leyland, let’s just drop it.”

“Daniel—” Leyland started only to be interrupted by Jake.

“Baby, you need to drop it,” Jake said. Daniel sent him a grateful smile. “Daniel will find his mate when it’s time.”

Daniel’s gaze looked out beyond the firelight as he mused over Jake’s words. He had never explained to Jake about his life with his former pack beyond saying that he had been kicked out for being gay. Some things were just too painful to discuss.

A movement out by the lake caught his eyes. Daniel looked closer. His gaze settled on the figure of a lone man walking along the edge of the lake across the meadow from where Daniel sat.

He could just make out the man’s striking face from where he sat, but what he couldn’t see in the fading sunlight, Daniel could see in his head. He knew the man had a strong, masculine face, blond hair the color of straw, and eyes as blue as the deepest ocean.

A scar ran from the corner of the man’s left eye down to the edge of his square jaw line. The soft smattering of hair across his muscular pecs was dark brown. It matched the dark shadow that always seemed to be on his face no matter how often he shaved.

The hands he had shoved into the pocket of his jeans were thick and callused from hard work. Daniel knew that as rough as they were, they could be soft and gentle and drive a lover to distraction.

And the deep, raspy voice that could whisper sweet nothings enough to make someone swoon could deliver a killing blow, ripping the heart out of even the strongest man. Daniel knew because it had happened to him.

His eyes never wavered from the lone figure, even as he clenched the beer bottle in his hand until the brown glass shattered. He barely heard the gasps of those around him or the words of concern. He only saw the man walk away until he was out of Daniel’s sight.

“Daniel?”

Daniel looked down to see Leyland kneeling at his feet, concern written all over his face. It was only then that Daniel realized that he had a broken beer bottle in his bloody hand. He swore under his breath and shook his hand free of any loose glass.

He used the firelight to light his hand and pulled out any remaining glass. Pulling his shirt over his head, he wrapped it around his hand. He felt like an idiot. Daniel climbed to his feet with the intention of leaving his circle of friends before he embarrassed himself any more. He had walked just beyond the edge of light when Leyland’s voice stopped him.

“Is he mad at me? I didn’t mean to make him mad. Was it because I kept telling him he needed to find his mate?” Leyland’s quiet voice wavered as he spoke. Daniel knew he couldn’t let Leyland think it was something he had done.

“No, Leyland, it was nothing you said,” Daniel said quietly.

“I’m sorry if I upset you, Daniel,” Leyland said quickly. “I guess I’m just so happy with Jake and Lucas that I want everyone to feel that way. I want everyone to find their mate.”

Daniel’s eyes strayed to the edge of the lake again. He desperately searched the area for one last look of the man that haunted his dreams. Or maybe they were his nightmares. When he found none, he turned and smiled weakly at Leyland.

“I already found my mate, Leyland, several years ago.” Daniel looked down at the ground before anyone could see the tears gathering in the corner of his eyes. He would be so embarrassed if anyone found out how much misery that that statement caused him.

“You’ve already found your mate?” Leyland cried out.

Daniel nodded, not lifting his head. “You remember that man at the pier, the tall one with the straw-colored hair and deep blue eyes? He was talking with Gregory and Viktor when we arrived. His name is Brom McGregor. He’s my mate.”

“If he’s your mate, then why in the hell aren’t you two together? Doesn’t he know you’re mates?” Leyland asked.

Daniel smirked. “He knows.”

“Then why—”

Daniel looked up at Leyland. He tried to smile at Leyland but knew he had failed miserably when Leyland’s sad little eyes looked back at him. Daniel felt a single tear fall down his cheek. “He doesn’t want me.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Brom’s hand trembled as he traced the lean muscles of Daniel’s chest. He moved down past Daniel’s belt buckle to the large bulge still wrapped in black slacks. Brom quickly glanced up at Daniel when the man hissed. He squeezed the hardness beneath his hands again, watching in awe as Daniel’s head fell back on his shoulders. A look of pure ecstasy played across Daniel’s face.

Brom couldn’t stand it. He quickly unbuckled Daniel’s belt and slacks, pushing everything down Daniel’s legs until his full cock bounced free. Brom dropped to his knees before Daniel.

His hand trembled as he reached out to touch the engorged flesh. It was hot to the touch, silky, jerking in his hand. A small drop of liquid pooled at the tip. Brom was unable to stop himself from leaning forward and licking the drop away, the distinct taste of his mate exploding across his tongue.

The groan that fell from his lips sounded agonized and needy even to Brom’s ears. He felt his face flush at how needy he appeared. But he couldn’t keep the desperate look off his face as he tilted his head back and gazed up at Daniel.

“Do it,” Daniel demanded fiercely. “Suck my cock, Brom.”

Elation flowed through Brom. It was quickly overshadowed by a desire so turbulent that Brom’s eyes almost crossed. He looked back at Daniel’s cock, anticipation flooding him as he leaned forward and wrapped his lips around the thick shaft.

He ran his tongue around Daniel’s cock, over the small slit in the hood, then under the edges of the mushroomed head. Daniel’s hands gripped Brom’s hair. His hips bucked against him.

It was all the permission Brom needed to continue. He sucked the hard flesh into his mouth until the head butted against the back of his throat. The agonized groan that came from Daniel when he swallowed made Brom suck harder.

He could feel Daniel’s legs tremble under his hands where he gripped them. The man’s moans turned to continuous whimpers and cries of delight. Brom reached down and pushed Daniel’s shoes off his feet, then pushed his slacks the rest of the way down until Daniel stood before him naked.

He knew Daniel wanted the same thing he did when the man spread his legs. Brom stuck two fingers in his mouth along side of Daniel’s cock and got them as wet as he could then moved them back around to the crease of the man’s ass and stroked them over the small, puckered hole waiting for him.

Daniel felt so tight when Brom pushed his fingers in that he almost came in his pants right there and then. No one could be this tight if they were having regular sex. Daniel hadn’t been lying when he said he slept alone every night.

Brom wasn’t sure if that made him happy or sad. Both emotions seemed to war inside of him. He was glad that Daniel had denied this intimate act to anyone but him. He was saddened that Daniel had been alone all of these years. And he was happy that Daniel had been alone.

Brom tried his hardest over the years to not imagine where or who Daniel was with. The pain each imagined image brought him almost tore his soul apart. Despite what he said to Daniel, the man was his mate and always would be, even if they couldn’t be together.

“Oh, God, Brom, harder,” Daniel cried out. His hands pulled at Brom’s hair. “I need you to fuck me.”

Brom pushed his fingers deeper into Daniel. He added a third one and curved them just a bit until he found Daniel’s sweet spot. He knew he grazed it when Daniel’s cries suddenly increased, and his body stiffened.

Hot cream filled Brom’s mouth. The taste, sweet and tangy at the same time, overwhelmed Brom. He was aroused to a fever pitch. Brom licked the last drop of seed from Daniel and then climbed to his feet. Daniel’s eyes were dazed, his expression passion-filled.

Brom picked him up and quickly carried him into the bedroom, laying him down on the bed. It took just moments for Brom to pull his own clothes off and dig around in the nightstand for a bottle of lube that he knew was there. Daniel always kept a bottle of lube in his nightstand.

Brom climbed up on the bed and knelt between Daniel’s spread legs. He squirted some lube between Daniel’s ass cheeks before lathering his own cock. Dropping the lube on the bed, he grabbed Daniel’s legs and hooked them over his shoulders.

He paused long enough to look down into Daniel’s eyes, silently asking for permission. As much as he wanted Daniel, he wouldn’t take the man without his consent. He never forced Daniel in the past, and he wouldn’t do it now.

Daniel’s slow nod was all Brom needed to push deep inside of his tight grip. A moan of ecstasy slipped through Brom’s lips as hot, silky flesh enveloped him. He felt passion rising in him like the hottest fire, clouding his brain.

Sensation took over as Brom began to move, slowly thrusting into Daniel. He felt Daniel’s hands grip his arms. His face seemed rigid, his jaw clenched tight, but his beautiful green eyes sparkled with desire. Brom didn’t think he ever looked more beautiful.

An overpowering need to claim Daniel, to bite him and sink his teeth into his soft flesh, rolled over Brom. He glanced down at Daniel’s throat. He could see the small pulse moving, thumping. Just one small taste, that’s all he wanted.

“Do it,” Daniel whispered.

Brom raised his eyes to find Daniel watching him. His dark eyes smoldered with fire. “Daniel.”

“Do it, Brom. Claim me,” Daniel said before tilting his head back and baring his throat to Brom’s gaze. Hunger unlike anything he ever felt in his life ripped through Brom. He leaned down and swiped his tongue over the rapid pulse there.

Sweet, hot, masculine flavor crashed into Brom. He let his canines extend, scraped them over the soft skin of Daniel’s throat. Desperate need filled him.